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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

109.0. "Recommendation: What Keyboard To Buy" by RAINBO::SAVAGE () Tue Jul 02 1985 16:26

I suppose I should get a decent midi controlling keyboard or synth. Prefer
something that does velocity information and if it's a synth can do two or
more voices w/independent control.

So.... If anyone has something out there to sell, or even some informed
advice give me a ring to this board or direct to rainbo::savage.

/Dennis Savage

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109.1SAUTER::SAUTERTue Jul 02 1985 17:445
All I can provide is informed advice.  The Sequential Circuits Six-track
can do up to 6 voices independently, but does not have a velocity-sensing
keyboard.  The Yamaha DX7 has a velocity-sensing keyboard but plays only
one instrument at a time.
    John Sauter
109.2FRSBEE::FOSTERWed Jul 03 1985 13:175
The June issue of Keyboard features a mini-record vinyl insert with a vendor's
discussion and sample of a multi-timbre, 6-track machine.  I believe it was
Sequential's "Multi-Trak" machine, and if I remember right, they did say it
had velocity sensitive keyboard action.  Anyhow, it sounded mighty fine for
$1499 (list) to my novice ears.
109.3BOOLE::SPEEDMon Jul 08 1985 19:3713
Another alternative to look at is the Roland series of keyboard controllers
(they are all touch sensitive: the MKB-1000 is 88 notes of weighted wooden
keys; the MKB-300 is 73 notes of unweighted plastic keys; the recently announced
MKB-200 is 61 notes of weighted wooden keys) and either rack mount or standalone
expansion modules.  Almost all the major vendors make rack mount units of
some sort.

The Roland controllers are all very nice and give you the option of weighted
keys for piano players or unweighted plastic keys for those weaned on synths
or organ.  If I had the bucks, I would definitely go the route of one excellent
keyboard controller and then adding modules as time goes by.

	Derek
109.5TOMCAT::GRIERSat Jul 13 1985 12:1524
   The Yamaha KB88 (I think that's the number) is at Daddy's in Nashua,
right now.  If you go, please don't be too mean to it, because that one's
MINE.  I have money down on it, and it's the only one they have got.

   It's REAL NICE.  The price is somewhere in the 1600-1700 dollar range
and they also have the TX7, which is basically a non-programmable
DX7 without a keyboard (I'm getting one of those to run off the keyboard.)

   This keyboard has all the neat and whizzy things you could ask for.
Breath controls, multiple footswitches, and pedals (2 each if I remember),
and all sorts of level adjustors and such.

   I originally had money down on a DX7, but it didn't look like they were
EVER going to get in, so I talked to one of the salesmen (Rick), and
he suggested this sort of setup.  With the full action keyboard and
everything, it's only $2550.  For $550 more than a DX7, you get a real
piano style keyboard, and real versatile MIDI controller.  The only problem
is that it's non-programmable (the TX7 that is) without a DX7 (or, I imagine,
a CX5M).

   So, go check it out, but BE NICE please!

                       -Mike Grier
 
109.6SAUTER::SAUTERSun Jul 14 1985 15:543
If you have an Apple II or (I think) an IBM PC you can get software which
lets you program the TX7.
    John Sauter
109.7TOMCAT::GRIERSun Jul 21 1985 17:449
   I have neither an apple nor a PC, so I'm looking towards the CX5M
to program it.  Not my favorite computer, but it's cheap and right now
the KX88 and TX7 are enough of a $$$ drain without the future musical
purchases I'm looking towards, let alone getting a good personal computer.
I see enough bloody computers between college and work, that's why I
play music.

                                -Mike Grier

109.8NOVA::RAVANMon Jul 22 1985 13:1112
I decided to stay away from the CX5M when I found out it could not be
programmed from external sources.  That was enough to turn me off.
And it's not an overwhelming PC anyway... AND I HATED THE KEYBOARDS! YUCH!
The kinds of things I want to be able to do with computer-assist just couldn't
be done on that machine.

But it is cheap.  If all you want to be able to do is some n-part harmony with
rhythm accompaniment, give it a look.  If you're thinking of buying a PC as the
basis for a much larger computer-controlled ensemble (as I am), I'd stear clear
of this one.  But give it a look first.  You may disagree with me.

-jim
109.9GAUSS::DICKENSMon Jul 22 1985 15:289
Has anyone seen the new Yamaha YCAMS system ?  It comprises the QX1 midi 
programmer/sequencer, the RX11 drum machine and the TX816 voice unit.
(thats the thing with 8 dx7s in a rack mount box)

Looks good, but how does it compare to the CX computer ?

The ad is in the center fold of this months Musician magazine.

					-Jeff
109.10BOOLE::SPEEDMon Jul 22 1985 14:495
Just a quick question on the TX7: price?  I saw a price for the KB88 but
not for the TX7.  Anyone know?

		Derek

109.11LATOUR::MCARLETONTue Jul 23 1985 20:3720
I have a CX5M Music computer.  Its not as bad of a computer as it looks.
Oh its not an IBM or Apple by any means but the BASIC is good and most of
the Musical things I plan can be done with it.

The bad part of the CX5M is the synth.  My guess is that the 5 volt supply
that the synth uses just does not allow a good signal to noise ratio.
The voices do not have much harmonic content.  I might like to look into
the TX7 to solve this problem if it is cheap enough.

In all I don't regret buying the CX5M because it has most of what I need.
I can use each of the eight voices on the same insterment or up to 8
different insterments.  It has some of the basic drum machine functions and
it has MIDI if I want to expand later.  I think that I have more comtrol
over the synth in the CX5M then I would via MIDI to some other synth.

All I need now is a disk, CPM or a C compiler and the internal address and
formats to drive the synth from Z-80 assembly language.

					Mike.

109.12ASGNQH::GRIERSat Aug 10 1985 16:387
Re: .-2

  The TX7 goes for around $800.00 (+/- $50) - with the CX5M driving it,
I imagine it would be an excellent system for a computer programmer who
wanted to make composition programs.


109.13STORMY::RILEYI *am* the D.J.Sun Sep 03 1989 19:0714
    This topic hasn't been touched since 1985, so I hope that noone
    minds me putting in an absolutely unrelated question that isn't
    worth starting it's own base note.  Okey dokey?
    
    Let's play name the synth.....
    
    On the Arsenio Hall show, one of the keyboard they use is this grey
    colored behemoth (well, it looks "big").  On the side panel is a
    logo consisting of three stacked horizontal bars and three vertical
    bars (looks like an EM).  Since I'm not a synth know-it-all, I'm
    asking, what unit is this?
    
    Thanks, 
    "jackin' the house", bob
109.14The name is...OSLLAV::SVEINSvein Mulelid, FS Product Management, NWOMon Sep 04 1989 14:316
    Hi.
    
    The "synth" were probably a Emulator III sampler.
    
    Svein
    
109.15Casio CZ-5000 Sythn- whats it worth?CUSTOM::PRUNIERWed Jan 23 1991 12:0911

	Hi,

	I have the opportunity to purchase a used Casio CZ-5000 Synthesizer,
	and have no idea what a fair offer is. Could any of you experts 
	offer opinions?

	Thanks very much!!!!

	Steve
109.16(Not much)PENUTS::HNELSONResolved: 192# now, 175# by MayWed Jan 23 1991 13:4510
    I'm no expert, but:
    
    It's a nice synth in that it's one of a family that was very
    well-supported a few years ago, and you'll probably have no problem
    finding patches and patch editors cheap. The 5000 was the
    top-of-the-line, I think. It's touch-sensitive, right? I vaguely recall
    seeing one in the Want-Advertiser (Boston area) in the last couple
    months in the three-hundred dollar range.
    
    FWIW(NM) - Hoyt
109.17I know a relative...TLE::TLET8::ASHFORTHThe Lord is my lightWed Jan 23 1991 13:531
When announced I believe the CZ-1000 listed for about $1K, if that's a help.
109.18LANDO::ALLISONWed Jan 23 1991 17:496
    	The CZ-5000 is not touch sensitive...  Its a 5 octave, 8 voice
    implementation of the CZ with a crude 8 track sequencer.  I'd say that
    the mid-range consumer keyboards (Yamaha PSR-38?? ~$280), have the same
    capability and probably better sounds at the expense of programability
    and the sequencer.  I would think that $250-$300 would be a fair price.
    
109.19GSRC::COOPERMajor MIDI Rack Puke (tm)Mon Feb 11 1991 18:027
    Agreed.  I saw one used at a  pawn shop here in Colorado Springs
    for $300...  Some of my friends talked me out of it due to it's
    "crude 8 track sequencer".
    
    jc (Who needs a synth/sequencer, but has not keyboard chops, so it's
        gotta be friendly)