2 Newbie Questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kaulback
  • Start date Start date
Also from what I can see, you can play faster on nonweighted keys, so what's really the point in weighted keys?

No, thats not true.

It depends on your Playing style and how fast you yourself want to play. Personally, I play slower on nonweighted keybeds. This is because I am a Piano player and I love weighted keys. So, it depends on what you play and what your style is.

And the point of weighted keys is if you are a Piano Player, you play weighted keys and are used to them, so you will be comfortable playing them.

P120Dude
 
P120Dude said:
Also from what I can see, you can play faster on nonweighted keys, so what's really the point in weighted keys?

No, thats not true.

It depends on your Playing style and how fast you yourself want to play. Personally, I play slower on nonweighted keybeds. This is because I am a Piano player and I love weighted keys. So, it depends on what you play and what your style is.

P120Dude
Would it not be more difficult to play a fast-paced keyboard solo with weighted keys? Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm actually hoping I am.
 
Kaulback said:
Would it not be more difficult to play a fast-paced keyboard solo with weighted keys? Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm actually hoping I am.

It depends.

Personally, I can play faster on weighted keys because I play weighted keys all the time.

If you are a synth player, then you probably are more comfortable with playing on synth keys, therefore, you can play faster.

The speed of your playing depends on what you are used to. There is no yes or no answer. It all depends on your playing style and preference.

P120Dude
 
Where to start?

OK Keith Emerson was incredible to watch on the mighty modular while he was playing with one hand patching with the other. Makes you realize just how easy we have it these days.

I hope Stephen Kay does release KARMA for bulk MIDI Data. It would make every synth I own, worth there weight in Gold, inspirationaly.

I grew up playing on a pipe organ, and an OLD church organ, with thunky old hardwood keys, Very fast action with lower mass then that of most pianos. They were like early synth keys 19th century style. So being a player of traditional piano as well, which do I prefer? BOTH!!!
I can play equally fast on both. For warm balanceded (Comfortable) I perfer weighted. For Extreme Velocity, Knuckle Busting slides, Synth action all the way.

HI Synthesis: Propeirtary KORG processing. The actual synthesis architecture of the processors-Used by Trinity, Triton, and KARMA keyboards

Keyboardists usually use effects just like guitarists. More often they are rackmounted boxes instead of pedals.

DAW=Digital Audio Workstation (i.e. Computer recording system often using soft(ware) synths, harddisk recorders, etc). Search around these forums for more on those subjects.
 
Atterion said:
And my point. You need a KARMA, controllers won't do what KARMA does without a whole lot of headache. But a KARMA can't do it all, so you need a nice 88 key graded hammer action keyboard with great piano sounds. Don't get me wrong I LOVE KORG!!! But HI synthesis pianos are....well....OK I won't speak I'll of the KARMA, but there are much better piano sounds out there (and brass sounds).
The thing is, THESE are the types of keyboard sounds I plan on trying my best to recreate (not perfectly of course), and I'm no expert (literally...I know next to nothing) but judge for yourself...I think it's alot more of a synthesizer sound than a digital piano sound.
 
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I don’t think the weight of the keys slows you down much if you have the finger strength… but it does slow you slightly. My keyboard is rather heavily weighted, more so than most pianos (it’s a Korg N1.) I use the N1 for 95% of what I play, so I developed quite a bit of finger strength do to that. With all that strength, when I switch to unweighted keys for that 5%, I can really fly over the board.

I doubt I could play that fast on the unweighted keys without the finger strength I have from using the weighted keys all the time.

------------------

I’ll use 2 boards, the 88key weighted N1 on the bottom, and a small unweighted controller on the top.

Often, I’ll have a solo type sound on the top keyboard (Snyth sounds, horns, violins, organs…) The bottom keyboard, which I’ll use for most of the time, will be set to play the main sounds for the song (piano, ep, strings, organ…) This allows me to solo with my right hand when needed and still do my other part with my left. It also eliminates the need to change from one patch to another mid-song.

With this, I can lay down a warm string part with the bottom keyboard while playing a sweet violin solo on the top… Or a rolling rock organ on the bottom and a hot sax on the top…
It works out very nice for me.

-------------------------

I also layer sounds… I use the sounds in my Korg N1 keyboard together with a Roland JV1010 module to make the sounds for the bottom keyboard. Playing with this setup I get some nice, fat sounds.

The top keyboard, which has no sounds of its own, controls a Yamaha Motif rack module.
(Actually, it’s not that simple. I often use the bottom keyboard with the Yamaha as well, because I am in love with my motif… But there is no need for me to get into my midi weirdness)

- Gun
 
hixmix said:
I've never played a KARMA.

I knew you were screwed up.

:D

I have a KX88 too! A great board! I'll never part with mine.


Kaulback- Just to clarify things somewhat. Softsynths are synths that reside only in software. No hardware. You play them via MIDI from your computer.

Splits/layers- Most modern synths and controllers are capable of addressing different MIDI channels simultaneously in different configurations. A split would be when you split the keyboard into different zones, each assigned to different MIDI channels. A layer would be when you have more than one channel assigned to a given range of keys.

There are two different kinds of MIDI pedals- control pedals and switches. Control pedals are used for things like volume. Often, especially on newer synths and most controllers, you can assign any MIDI controller to them so you could use them as a wah-wah for instance by assigning it to control the filter. Switches can be used for, as you thought, changing patches. The sustain pedal is also a switch.

Atterion- Do you have a KARMA currently? If so, you know that you can send the data to other instruments already using the VMD (Virtual MIDI Driver) that's now included in the latest version, right?

Ted
 
I do, and to be honest I never really checked into it. I will do that, I'm guessing I can use MIDI-OX to route it around the PC too. Thanks Ted.
 
Kaulback said:
Just seems really money-inefficient to buy a whole other keyboard just for the sounds to me... :rolleyes:
It also has to do with playing a line on one set to one patch and playing a line on another one set to another patch. You could circumvent this in the PC playback realm but not on stage.
 
As a multi keyboardist, I couldn't imagine playing with anything less than 2 keyboards. In fact, I have an audition next weekend and will be bringing five keyboards.

First to address is the different feel of each board. Between the weighted, semi weighted and non weighted keys, I have at least three different approaches that yeild three different results.

Next, I'll address the HUGE advantage of getting different sounds out of different keyboards. Just by playing another keyboard I can change to a completely different sound LIVE. That's is enormously important. Especially since I program my own sounds. There are limits to sound modules and synths to create some sounds over others. Therefore, different sound sources are a nessesity. I use a MiniKorg MK-1 and a Yamaha AN200 for lead sounds. The MiniKorg is vintage analog (monophonic). There are some sounds in this little board that cannot be reproduced by any other instrument. Also, the MiniKorg was made before MIDI. So, if I want the sounds from the MiniKorg I have to play the MiniKorg. It is of course, monophonic so it is ill suited for any other job than leads and bass lines. The AN200 (polyphonic) and like the MiniKorg is capable of sounds that simply cannot be made by any other module. It has no keyboard of its own, so I play it through any of three other keyboards in my rig. Mostly my Evolution MK-125 gets connected to the AN2000.

Onto my meatier keyboards. I have a Roland RD-100 which has 88 weighted keys. If I'm going to play piano sounds, this is the keyboard I will always use. Regardless of whether I use the keyboard's internal sounds or not. For my puposes as a serious piano player, the RD-100 IS a piano. Would I be able to play leads with the RD-100? Sure I could, but not as well. Also, if I were to play leads with with the RD-100 my left hand would be sleeping on the job. You can't comp leads with the same lead sound. I could split the RD-100, but that would either religate my highest two octaves to leads (which is not often the register that I like to play my leads from) or severly limit my comping real estate to the lowest registers.

If I can't bring the RD-100 along, I'll play piano parts on my Roland EP-7II, but the semi weighted action costs me in expressivness. However, that semi weighted action works great for organs, pads and other timbers. Between my EP7 and my MiniKorg is another MIDI controller with 61 keys This is unweighted and I use this as my "catch all" controller. Typically, I'll use it for anything that I've run out of keyboards for. Pads when the EP7 is being used for Hammond sounds. Bass lines when the MiniKorg is being used for leads and the AN200 is being used for funky fat AN200 sounds.

I also have a Rhodes (which is seeing less and less use and may be sold soon), a Hammond Organ and a Korg CX-3. None of these instruments are MIDI (the CX is the vintage one) but each has a sound that cannot be recreated using the technology available today (although the Rhodes may be phased out soon).

My Roland JX-8P and my DX-100 are only being kept until I get my hands on rack mountable versions of both. For now, these keyboards are set up near my rig but not as part of it. I control them via MIDI and they get A LOT of use.

I should mention that I am primarily a Progressive Rock and Jazz Fusion performer. If I were in a top 40 band I could probably get away with a lot less gear. However, my material is usually long playing and the soundscape is almost always complex and well developed. When you change keys and tempos several times in a composition, you can't keep relying on a pad sound or a Wurlitzer sound without getting boring.

Carl
 
Keyboard stands are not all created equal. There are differet varities for different uses and tastes.

First of all, some stands are stronger than others. That's just a fact. Stands are rated for what they can support so just ask before you buy.

The most obvious difference in stands is the footprint. Most utilize the alphabit to distinguish from one to the other.

The "X" stand looks just like its letter designation. It is pretty simple. Just two or four supports that join together by a single pivot point and form an "X" when open. You lay a single keyboard on top of the "X" shape. The pros for the "X" stand are that they fold and open easily, are easy to carry around and are usually the least expensive stand in the store. The cons are they are not too stable, typically are rated for the least amount of weight and most importantly they fight your knees and feet for real estate if you happen to play in a sitting position.

The "Z" stand looks like a "Z" from the side. Essentially it is two "Z" shaped bars that are bridged together by at least one securing bar. If you imagine to "Z"s seperated by about three feet, you can see how you lay your keyboard on top of and between the two "Z"s. The pros are that these are particularly sturdy and stable stands. They don't "walk" all over the stage and can support more weight than "X" stands. The biggest advantage is that you can sit quite comfortably behind a "Z" stand and not bang your knees or try to drag pedals back from between it's legs. Cons are that they take a bit of time to set up (usually two wing nuts on either side of the bracing bar) and break down into at least three parts making transportation a bit more difficult. They are usually moderately priced.

"A" frame stands are the sturdies of all. Like the "Z" stands, imagine two "A"s that are joined togther by several connectors. The keyboards usually sit about halfway up from the bottom and top of one side of the "A" shape. These stands can hold more weight than the "Z" and take up the most floorspace. The pros of such stands are that they also leave your legs free, can hold the most keyboards (I'll explain tiers in a bit) and once finalized can be broken down and set up pretty easily. Still it takes longer to do than the "Z" but everything fits into a thin bag for easy transportation. Ultimate Support Systems make the best "A" frame stands.

The table top stand is probably the simplest variety. Typically it's just a narrow rectangular table with folding legs. You unfold the table and put your keyboard ontop of that. These stands are not as stable as the "Z" or "A" stands but are more stable than the "X".

The Apex stand, made by USS, is another breed of stand all together. I single column holds all of your boards. This column stands on a tripod pedestal at the bottom. The entire thing sets up and breaks down in seconds. All of the parts fold up inside the column. Just pick it up and go. However, this is the least versitile stand of all. You're stuck with the manufacturer's tier positions and the column tends to get in the way. The tripod pedestal makes pedal placement difficult as well.

About tiers. When you play more than one keyboard, you are going to want to attach tiers to you stand. This lets you physically layer one keyboard atop of another. With two, three or four keyboards sitting just above and below each other, it allow for easy playing access and takes up less stage space. The "A" frame can support the most tiers, the "X" the least.

Hope that explains stands to you.

Carl
 
New Newbie Question
What is a sequencer and what does it mean to sequence? My best guess is it is modifying synth sounds but it's only a guess...
 
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A sequence is a series of musical notes or drum beats. Sequencing is playing and/or programming those notes/beats. A sequencer is a device that records and plays back the notes/beats.

Normally, sequencing is a refernce to a MIDI program, in which you play/program performance data. The MIDI program then plays back that sequence of notes/beats and you can assign the performance to any given keyboard or sound module.

A player piano acts much like a sequence, since the performance has already been "program" and that program tells the piano to play the programmed notes.

The act of recording is committing a perforance to a recorded media. However when recording you actually record the audio data as well as the performance data - with sequencing you capture the performance, but not the audio.
 
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