Conference napalm::commusic_v1

               <<< Note 1917.0 by ALEX::CONN "Alex Conn, ZKO" >>>
               -< Casio HT6000 Recommendation at closeout price >-
    
    Alex,
    	Some questions:  Full sized keys?  How many keys?  Aftertouch?
    
    		Eirikur
    

RE: .1

Sorry,

61 full-sized keys.  No aftertouch.  Not weighted.  

Also: works on batteries, so it can be nicely powered in locations where
you have no AC.  Also can run off a car with adaptor available from Casio.

Alex

RE: .0

>   o  (As I understand it) there are 62 different basic waveforms,
>      with 16 featuring selected kinds of noise and and another 16 
>      featuring ring modulation. Compare to 31 in the HZ600 with
>      fewer parameters available to set (e.g., noise parameters)

This is slightly incorrect.  There are 64 waveforms (0 is a valid waveform
in all cases, "--" rather than 0 means "not used").  The 16 noise
waveforms, if selected, can be further controlled with adjustments for
attack, decay, sustain, and release time (independent of the same
parameters for VCF (voltage controlled filter) and DCA (digitally
controlled amplifier)).

The Casio has separate buttons and storage (10 presets, 10 internal) for
the lower (left of split) patches.  These patches use only two oscillators
rather than four, and offer only 48 rather than 64 waveforms (the ring
modulation waveforms are omitted).

The RAM card is like doubling the internal storage.  That is, for each
function (upper keyboard, lower keyboard, rhythms, chord/operation
memory), there is an internal and a CARD button.  The RAM card is simply
like adding a second internal bank of storage.  

Other features not mentioned in .0 
	   
	o  Key follow.  Two separate controls (1) to alter VCF cutoff
           point according to the pitch of the key played, and (2) to 
           alter the decay time of the DCA envelope according to the  
           position of the key on the keyboard.  
	   
	o  cut off frequency and separate resonance control to empnasize 
           harmonics near cutoff frequency.  

A assume most or all of these are standard in most analog synths.  I have
found Casio's interface to be relatively easy to use.  I have in just a
few short hours programmed a music box, pan flute, several cathedral organ 
stops, including foot pedals (lower split), a honky tonk piano, a bagpipe, 
a koto, and some others.  My kids can ask for special sounds or changes
and I can do it quickly while they watch/listen!  (I am actually a bit
surprised that the salespeople were not able to do a much better job of
demoing this equipment.)

Alex

    Does this thing support controller messages (from an external device)
    for things like filter cutoff and resonance?   Does it have a mono
    mode with portamento?
    
    	Eirikur
    

RE: .4

I have not played around with MIDI as yet, but I believe the answer to 
your question is no, because the HT series does not have system exclusive. 

It does not have portamento.

Alex

According to Sam Ash, they have sold out of their supply of HT6000s. 
Since the item is still listed in their professional catalog, they may be
still available at some stores, and perhaps from NY Casio dealers (such as 
Smile or Foto Cell).

Warning: If you spot one used and wonder whether to buy it, please DO NOT
evaluate based on the presets.  Some of them are terrible.  Even the
internal defaults (essentially presets that you can overwrite and then
reinitialize later if desired) are much better.  And it doesn't take long
to improve on those!  

The HT6000 is no JX8P/JX10 (which I still consider the best analog synth I 
have ever heard), but with 4 oscillators and a fair amount of control you
can get some really nice sounds out of it.

Alex

Casio just sent me edit sheets with about 45 upper and 20 lower tones
created for the HT6000 (dated August 1988).

They were apparently created by an Andrew Schlesinger of NYC, who has done 
many sounds for their CZ and VZ series. 

If you'd like a copy, send me mail.

Alex

I have begun to hear from Casio HT6000 owners (alas I am not a chorus of
one!), so I have changed the title of the note to "Official Casio HT6000
note."  

I'd like to use this note for exchange of information about features,
available patches, new patches, and any questions.  When I have time, I
will input a patch entry sheet similar to the one int he manual that
should make it easy to pass the information around electronically.  

I've just had this thing for about 20 days and already have had a ball
creating new patches.  Last night I stumbled across a very authentic
sounding medieval Asian sound that has a drum and a chorus of detuned
string instruments.  I say stumbled, because I was halfway between one
ho-hum patch and another.  I tend to enter the VFO/LFO waveform and the 
detune and velocity stuff first to hear the general tonality of the 
instrument before fumbling with wave shaping.  Halfway through the
changes, this patch appeared and I about fell out of my seat.  Even after
a night's sleep, I was blown away again this morning.  (I know, I've 
caught the analog synth bug like the rest of you...)

I received the RA-100 RAM card from Sam Ash a couple of nights ago.  The
want $40 plus $3 shipping for the thing.  I'd say at least one card is
essential for the HT6000 since it opens up a new bank of buttons (even for
MIDI use) that are otherwise useless.  It's very easy to use and
essentially doubles your memory for patches, patterns, and the
chord/pattern memory.  

If anybody runs across any books that cover the HT6000 (especially ones
with patches) please reply to this note.

Thanks,

Alex

    A local wholesale warehouse store had HT6000s in stock for $449,
    is this a good price?  They had about 12 in stock.
    
    Thanks,
    Mike

$449 is an excellent price.  The best NY price I heard (before they sold
out) was $550.  I felt I got a bargain at $399 for a used one.  The unit
listed in the Casio fall catalog at $1200!

By the way, even after about 4 months, I am surprised at how good this
thing is.  While its most severe drawback is no SYSEX (you can only set up 
the patches from the buttons and knobs provided rather than by a computer
library), many of the other features are clearly worth it in this price
range.  I have been able to develop a number of good patches without too
much effort, and when you want to change a patch, that's easy too.  I
would recommend getting a RAM card. 

By the way, many of Casio's presets are terrible.  Judge only after you
have put in your own.  If there's interest, I will enter some of mine in
the notes file.  

Can you tell us the warehouse?  I have had people ask where they could buy 
one.

Alex

>    Can you tell us the warehouse?  I have had people ask where they could buy 
> one.

Alex, the name of it is Price Savers in Phoenix, AZ.  It is a members
    only, wholesale warehouse that sells everything from food to
    electronics.  Fortunately, DEC is one of the few companies with
    free memberships.
    
    Mike

After about six months of programming patches and playing this unit, I
have finally started to experiment with the patterns.  It turns out that
(surprise) the manual Casio provides does not capture all of things you
can do in the pattern area. 

The manual does tell you that you can select and separately edit the
percussion, bass line, and chords for both the basic pattern and for the
fill-in.  Where they aren't clear is about the interaction of lower
patches, obbligato and each pattern you program.  Essentially, the pattern 
will remember your lower patch and your obbligato settings as long as you
select them before entering the pattern/midi programming mode.  In
addition, I have been able to edit out objectionable rhythms from the
rhythm variation on a given pattern.  

I have not yet found a way to edit the stop pattern, which is disconcerting, 
since they are not very good.   I am hoping that they have it there hidden 
somehow and just did not want to try to describe it in the manual.

However, I was able to recently program a pattern for America from West
Side Story, which presented a bit of a challenge.  However, you appear to
be limited to 3-4 or 4-4 time, or something that you can fake into those
time signatures.  

Alex

               <<< NOVA::DVD12:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;1 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
================================================================================
Note 2199.0                    just a minor thing                      2 replies
CHEFS::SYMONDSK                                       6 lines   8-DEC-1989 09:19
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    One thing that isnt clearly stated  "IS IT TOUCH SENSATIVE"
    
    
    
================================================================================
Note 2199.1                    just a minor thing                         1 of 2
CHEFS::SYMONDSK                                       8 lines   8-DEC-1989 09:27
                                   -< sorry >-
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    sorry i didnt explain myself, i was talking about the note on the
    HT-6000 synth from Casio.
    All the Info on the synth was given but not the Keyboard,
    is the keyboard Touch-Sensative ?
    
    
================================================================================
Note 2199.2                    just a minor thing                         2 of 2
DREGS::BLICKSTEIN "Conliberative"                     7 lines   8-DEC-1989 09:33
                               -< Common error >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You made a common and understandable beginning noters error.
    
    Use REPLY to reply to a particular note.
    
    Use WRITE to create a new topic.
    
    You used WRITE instead of REPLY.

RE: .13, 2199.0,

Yes, the HT-6000 _is_ touch sensitive.  Not only that, but you can vary
the touch sensitivity independently for each of the four waveforms using
10 different velocity waveform shapes.  You also have 5 shapes available
for the filter velocity.

The HT-6000 does not have aftertouch, however.

Alex

    
    Alex,
    
    	Does the HT6000 have note off capabilty?  Could you use it to
    control an SGU Module?
    
    
    Kevin

    
    	Let me restate that correctly, does it have local off?
    
    
    McQ