When overclocking unlocked chips, beware!

[dawman]

I played the VL at Skips Music in Sacramento in the late 80s.
Killer harmonica but horns will have to be Kontakt.
I have to have shakes falls .
I get great swells by using STM 1632 channel volume with LPF increased via expression pedal.
But shakes and falls are crucial as samples cannot convince people in the audience unless particular articulations tell them "these are Trumpets dumb ass".

Probably end up getting an XITE1d and sticking with a cheap PC since the biggest fastest stuff isnt needed for Scope Kontakt.

[tlaskows]

Guten Morgen,

You probably meant a breath controller. The BC1 was available since the 80s. The DX7 from 1983 has a BC input. You could make some expressive sounds, but nothing like on the VL1 that came out in 1994. You can use a breath controller with any synth really, but it won't sound that great if it's not virtual acoustic modelling. I think there are some soft synths coming out using this technology. No one bought the VL1 because it was like 10 grand back in 1994 for a monophonic synth.

If you want to have more control, look up MRT Audio. They make a affordable breath controller that spits out MIDI. I got mine a few days ago and it works great with the EX5 VL sounds once you tweak them to respond properly. I paid 300 CAD with shipping from Turkey. Came with all the cables and two extra tubes with mouthpieces.

Cheers,

-Tom

[Bud Weiser]

... but horns will have to be Kontakt.
I have to have shakes falls .
... and sticking with a cheap PC since the biggest fastest stuff isnt needed for Scope Kontakt.

Again,- did you ever consider (or try) ...

http://www.museresearch.com/products/receptor-vip.php

running NI Kontakt ?

That´s what many touring acts do successfully !

You´d get rid of the computer´s screen, keyboard and mouse (but are free connecting all !) on stage and have the unit in your rack.
Live operation is via MIDI and front panel controls.

If they weren´t so insanely expensive here in germany and if there were the service you have in the US,- I already had one.

Robert, demonstrating the Physis K4, used and uses it too.

For touring/gigging, it´s better than any computer or laptop because it has a very good cooling system, reliable case and great sounding audio interface built in.
Just plug in your MIDI cable (and USB if necessary at all) and your 2 audio cables running to mixer and you´re done.

you might find older models like this ...
http://www.museresearch.com/products/re ... lassic.php
.. . in used condition as well.

Just only take care it´s powerfull enough for Kontakt because there were several variants w/ different AMD and Intel processor generations.
Core2Duo might be enough, Intel i5 could be somewhat better.

Bud

[dawman]

I see them all the time.
Peavey has sped up the process of receptorizing instruments too.
Definitely a good option to consider.
Especially since Peavey bought them.

[Bud Weiser]

I see them all the time.
Peavey has sped up the process of receptorizing instruments too.
Definitely a good option to consider.
Especially since Peavey bought them.

wait ...
Peavey bought Muse Research ?
Are you sure ?

AFAIK,- they only collaborated for the smallest device, the MUSE BOX.
I assume that´s why we don´t see MUSE BOX on the MUSE RESEARCH website anymore.
It simply became a "Peavey" product.

But the MUSE BOX isn´t worth a try for heavier loads like Kontakt.

The larger and faster machines, up to now you´d still have to buy from MUSE directly, I think.



Bud

[dawman]

They endorse most keyboard players around here.
We always called Peavey a Country Western Amp....

Ill check out what they're doing tomorrow when I check on some gigs.
FWIW I no longer use an LCD.
Boot up with a tablet.
Physis does everything I need.

[Bud Weiser]

We always called Peavey a Country Western Amp....

so, you could only use it with the ability for playing both styles simultaneously ?

Physis does everything I need.

Is it really reliable and did it (n)ever fail on gigs ?
What´s your real world impression ?

For me it´s actually hard to decide what to buy next future ...
A dedicated new DP,- Kawai or Kurzweil Forte (since I now know it will get full VAST editing very soon) ...

Or Physis K4 and modules only ...

Up to now I´d trust the Kawai MP7 and 11 most because these are so well build.
I´m aware they don´t come w/ the K4 MIDI functionality, but I have still my Miditemp PMM88E in use which is still great until it dies one day.

OTOH, the Physis K4 is my favourite as a master keyboard.

And there´s still the UHL X-2 on my wishlist. Aarghhhh !

Bud

[dawman]

K4 is such a luxury and getting cheaper.
Having the functionality of 4 x BCF 2000s
for a single scene. Then 4 scenes for a single performance is insane.
I fried the K4 by booting it on with a USB Stick that wasn't the new update but my Midget Porn collection.
Got stuck in initialization mode loop.
Luckily I had a spare Casio to cover gigs.

It was serviced stateside and had it back within 2 weeks of the incident.

Had to work my ass off with a MIDI Soltions F8 Casio PX3 and a BCF 2000 just almost cover what the K4 did.

UHL will be great. The HX3 needs just a few MIDI fixes for a total real time hands free module.
My little gripes are minor though.
As it is right now it just smokes anything I tried and is much easier to play than a B3 / 147.

[tlaskows]

Too many choices, Bud?

I like to make my life simple. But I did find that I do need some hardware than Scope cannot replace (yet)...

-Tom

[garyb]

hardware is always best.
Scope is the best value, and the best bridge between the hardware and software world.

[dawman]

Without Scope I'd be using a hardware mixer.
Scope must be seen as hardware and software.
If that isn't enough turn it into a Modular Synth.
Either way whichever way I face.
East west north south.....Scope is there.

It's so old when I took under my arms to an antique store fearing it would be stolen from my car the shopkeeper tried to take it from me claiming I was stealing one of her antiques.....


Ankyu

[tlaskows]

Yes, Scope is great. But you need an easy way to control it all... Somehow the mouse doesn't give the same experience as touching a physical slider/knob. I know my DX7s is obsolete, but just plug that into Scope run it through some effects like the plate and the sound is great! Sure, it's noisy as hell, but I can't hear the noise really. I think the noise adds character.

I've been so busy ricing up my EX5. I'm playing around with the VL sounds for the most part. It's not a VL1, but it's very usable!

-Tom

[garyb]

well, the mouse is way easier than a DX7....

[tlaskows]

That's a good one Gary!

Come on it's 80s technology. We're lucky to have a backlid LCD display

Yes, I figured out how to change the parameters from the panel of the DX7. Ahm, let's just say it's super not easy. I don't understand how people programmed these things. I'm sure there were editors for the Atari ST or something.

-Tom

[tlaskows]

Awe yeah, I was right!

this looks something like we could use:



-Tom

[garyb]

mouse....

[Bud Weiser]

I'm sure there were editors for the Atari ST or something.

-Tom

Yep,- that´s why I still have Ataris in stock ...
Steinberg Synthworks editor/bankmanagers are hard to beat.
I use ´em for Yammi DX7mkIIFD, TX816, TG77 and Roland D550.
C-Lab X-alyzer is also great for DX/TX range of synths.

Keep your old DX as long as you can,- the action alone is still world class and pitch/mod-wheels are rugged while the pots never wear out !
Replacing Omron tact switches on a DX7 / DX7mkII is dead-on cheap, that´s what I did after 25+ years of usage and now it feels like new.

Playing Minimax, Prodyssey, Profit-5 and such w/ DX7 keyboard is great.

Bud

[tlaskows]

Yes, the DX7s has a nice keyboard. but but. I used to have two Yamaha VL7s. The best keyboard on a synth ever! I guess that's why they cost as much as they did when they came out. The Jupiter keyboard was a joke. Very flimsy much like the cheap MIDI keyboards from M-Audio. The EX5 action is very much the same as the DX7s, very good. But the aftertouch is a bit off. I opened it up and adjusted the offset and gain pots for the aftertouch, but it really didn't help much. Crappy. Basically, it's almost like an on/off switch. There is not much range, so you have to set your modulation depth to not too high. The aftertouch on the M3? Amazing! When I got it, I don't think anyone calibrated it cause I had to put all my weight on the damn keys to get it to work. I calibrated it to my liking, so I don't have to press as hard. Works quite well, but I'm not a piano player, so I prefer synth keys. VL7 definitely has the best synth action keyboard ever in a synthesizer. Trust me!

-Tom

[Bud Weiser]

... But the aftertouch is a bit off. I opened it up and adjusted the offset and gain pots for the aftertouch, but it really didn't help much. Crappy. Basically, it's almost like an on/off switch. There is not much range, so you have to set your modulation depth to not too high.

It´s possibly not fixable using the trim pots only,- there might be other resistors in the AT circuitry too.
I remember on Roland A70 and A90 keyboards, users removed a resistor and experimented w/ replacments of different values.
Once found, replacing only one cheapo resitsor fixed the issue.

Like Yammi KX88/ 77, DX7, DX7mkII,- when playing AT on the Rolands, it broke your finger and/or the key.

The aftertouch on the M3? Amazing! When I got it, I don't think anyone calibrated it cause I had to put all my weight on the damn keys to get it to work. I calibrated it to my liking, so I don't have to press as hard. Works quite well, but I'm not a piano player, so I prefer synth keys. VL7 definitely has the best synth action keyboard ever in a synthesizer. Trust me!

-Tom

I always was a fan of the original DX7 keybed followed by the DX7mkII and KX76 which I both still own.
Never played a VL7 keyboard ...
Can it be they used the same keybed which you find in the DX7mkII / KX76 ?

I agree on the KORG M3 synth action,- it´s excellent too.

Same for Fatar TP9S which you find in Kurzweil PC361 and PC3K6.
I love it and channel AT is a pleasure, user adjustable/scalable too ...

But I have to press a key slightly deeper compared to DX7mkII/ KX76 keybed where the trigger point is about 2.0mm higher and makes extremely fast runs and phrases still a bit easier.

Bud

[tlaskows]

Good morning. I think I need another cup of Joe to wake up

No, the VL1/7 uses a totally different keybed than any other synth I've owned over the years. The keys are REALLY solid. They have a little bit of weight to them. Not flimsy at all. And the AT response is amazing! I don't know what they used. I think Korg makes their own and they are very good indeed. I don't have a problem with the AT on the DX7s(maybe they fixed it from the original DX?). Seems to work well. Don't have to break the keys or my fingers to engage it

-Tom