Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Ubiquitousblack, I have a K2500X embedded in my studio as the controller
for my just about everything, but I don't think it is well suited for
synthy leads from the Evolver. The K2500X is also way too heavy for
gigging and it's a real pain to set back up - making my studio unusable
for too long. This is why I ended up buying a Studio Logic Fatar 1176
(used from craigslist) that stays in the case when I'm not on a gig or
certain rehearsals. The Roland XV-5080 is the center of my live rig and
the Fatar controls that. 
 
The Fatar 1176 has 76 weighted keys, which is about all I need, and I
very much prefer the feel over the Kurzweil. I believe Fatar makes the
key bed for Kurzwiels', but I can tell you the feel is not the same. 61
keys too limiting and 88 is too big for smaller clubs and too unwieldy
for me to transport. 
 
I'm considering replacing the two items (Fatar and Roland XV), with a
Fantom X7 to cut down on things to carry. I'm familiar with Roland, like
their sounds, and have 4 expansion cards I'd hate to do without.
 
Also, you mentioned the M-Audio 88 key controller. IMO the M-Audio
Keystation Pro is one of the worst keyboards I've ever tried. The keys
have a strange action where the resistance disappears just before the
key is all the way down, which makes it difficult to play softly.
 
Regards,
-- Iain

________________________________

From: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of ubiquitousblack
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 2:42 PM
To: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DSI Synths] 49 and 61 key controllers





Iain and Dale, 

Thanks for your reply's.
Dale, I've been using my Kurz 2500xs (88 full weighted fatar) for years
and no longer want to put it through the strain of transport and gig'n
plus its damn heavy compared to the rest of my gear. I like 88's but
find I only use all those keys at home. 61 is about the most spread I've
ever used live and 49 at times (my Nord) can just seem a bit small
unless those octave keys are easy to hit.
Iain, your reply was very informative on the MPK and has made it more
appealing than the Novations since they have a very similar keybed.

I'm either going Akai, used Kurzweil/Studiologic or Novation, will
depend on a deal I could get on a Novation. This is only for playability
not DAW interface capability, I use the maps on my ps2-pc-keybed for
that.

My take on controllers discussed (my personal take, not yours):
I have since tried all the ones I mentioned as well as some that I
didn't. 
I found that the M-Audio keybed is poor though looks good, the only one
seemingly worth while is the 88 grand bed with all the sliders / pads /
knobs, the rest have a poor feel when playing hard on the keys as it
makes the whole keybed jiggle (fortissimo on a regular piano). 
The edirol's have that wierd (to me) rounded keys that don't handle my
fingers so well when playing inside the keys, allows for too much slip
and the only thing to me that felt really cheap was the x-fader = POS,
the rest was pretty tight however and the sliders were very smooth with
that little extra resistance. 
The other boards just lacked in quality ESPECIALLY the Yamaha KX series,
wow, I never thought something would feel more cheap than a Yam..PSR270,
totally expected that cheapness from the m-audio's, you can even see the
plastic mounts for the black keys and the 61 key bed weighs around 3
pounds or so, I'd even go back to CME instead of going with that and I
detest CME. The Yamaha MM6 felt even better than the KX and has a pretty
low cost, even the Roland SH201 feels ok and stores have deals here and
there, for an extra $100, worth it in my eyes to get an ok synth
included.






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