Today I bought a Studiologic SL880 midi controller (keyboard with weighted keys and all that). It’s a lovely thing but makes no noise. I’m after an (ideally) rackmount midi-controlled synth module which can do a decent piano and ideally Hammond organ sounds, for live work. Anything else is a bonus – I don’t need helicopter or croaking frog sounds, for instance.
Any ideas, musos of the Massive?
Been a while since I bought one but for real sounds in a module I always went for Roland.y old jv1080 with Hammond/electric piano expansion card was always useful. Presume they’ve made more recent equivalents. eBay is your friend then.
The Roland Integra looks beautiful. Although at over a grand it’s a wee bit pricey!
I only paid 20 quid for the keyboard!
The Integra is the dogs bollocks but quite pricey.
I’d definitely look at the Roland JV1080/2080. Lots of good sounds on them.
I have an old Roland JV1010 which was my first thought too. ..quick look at ebay suggests they are now trendy again – 150 quid upwards!
I used to use the Roland XV-2020, which had some superb EP and organ sounds, but the Roland piano sound is not for all. I sold mine on eBay a couple of years ago sadly.
I’ve heard really good things about the iOS Korg stuff. I’m pretty sure you can get MIDI interfaces to connect with phone/iPad.
Failing that, the Nord Lead rack is incredible (I use a Nord as my main keyboard) but it won’t really do piano. Just synth.
Unfortunately I mostly use soft synths or mini analogues – don’t have a standalone midi controller – so I can’t really help you out any better than that, Steve. 🙂
Just checked. The iRig midi from IKM looks good and is ÂŁ70. And then – http://www.korg.com/uk/products/software/korg_module/index.php
The app is ÂŁ20 plus in-app purchases.
I want hardware. I don’t trust anything with an operating system for live work. I lug twin CD decks around when I’m DJing, don’t trust a laptop. There’s nothing quite like the sound of silence which accompanies “an unexpected error has occured” or “Windows is automatically updating”.
The only thing I’m prepared to allow is my Fiio X3 for interval music.
Basically, I still live in 1991. Along with Moose and Skirky.
Fair dos! Basically anything Roland or Korg will be solid and good, then.
I can honestly say ,and fair play to everyone concerned,I haven’t a clue what this thread is about.
To be honest, I’m a well out of my comfort zone. If it doesn’t say Fender and either Jazz or Precision on the headstock, I’m a bit lost.
Thanks to all for the advice. Looks like I’ll be after a Roland or Korg, or a Nord if I can afford it.
For older kit eBay is the place. If poss you want to see it in person, to check for wear and tear and ahem that the knobs work.
This is the probably what I would go for, the proper instruments sounds will be great. And there will be strings and synths and drums and guitars.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/222308354326?chn=ps&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=pla-142405568706&abcId=&adtype=pla&merchantid=6995734&poi=&googleloc=9045605&device=m&campaignid=207297426&crdt=0&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fmpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252Fitm%25252Flike%25252F222308354326%25253Fchn%25253Dps%2526itemid%253D222308354326%2526targetid%253D142405568706%2526device%253Dm%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9045605%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D207297426%2526adgroupid%253D13585920426%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-142405568706%2526abcId%253D%2526merchantid%253D6995734%2526gclid%253DCjwKEAjw3drIBRCOwfC-_qqyjQ8SJADvoWQpbCcdVdDrJEa9e6R_CI9X6BPPwI2_hJ4j63RoKc9MrxoC3Hrw_wcB%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvr_id%253D1214547977606
These sound modules are all sample based. So older machines may be cheaper but will have less memory. So less samples so less realistic response to playing. Quiet to loud for instance won’t be like a real piano regardless of the keyboard action. More samples involved the more realistic the reaction of the sound.
There’s a Kurzweil Micropiano in Cambridge on eBay at the moment. I might know who it is selling it – I did sound for a band where the keyboard player had one of those, and bought a big red Nord stage piano.
I’m flogging a sound module on ebay right now which is going depressingly cheap at the moment with decent sounds actually. …
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262972385497
I’ve got something very similar to this, which I’m very happy with. Good piano/electric piano but no Hammond. The US eBay market is awash with cheap sound modules, but shipping/voltage differences may be an issue. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/E-MU-9101-Proformance-Piano-Sound-Module-/332214748594?hash=item4d598ac5b2%3Ag%3A0esAAOSww5hZExR4&_trkparms=pageci%253A08e565ba-3875-11e7-b7b1-74dbd18068a1%257Cparentrq%253A05cf652615c0ab4db1a5a495fffee3ef%257Ciid%253A5.
The Alesis nanopiano is another one that springs to mind.
I had an Alesis microverb once. Not for long – it was absolutely awful. Not no much microverb as microhiss.
I’ve had pretty good experiences with Alesis products. Their SR-16 drum machine is widely regarded, and still in production after 27 years on the market.
I had their DR5 drum module which was excellent.