Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Ok, I know this is *subjective* but can anybody comment on the feel of
the keyboard of the Poly? I mean, it says "semi-weighted synth action"
which could mean anything. The boards on my Roland JD-800 and my Kawai
K5000 are excellent imho if that's any indication...
The poly rack is sweet but I'm considering getting a "big brother" for
it to play with ;)
Thanks people!
Best Regards, James
--
http://www.carbon111.com

On 5/25/05, Carbon111 <carbon111@...> wrote:
> Ok, I know this is *subjective* but can anybody comment on the feel of
> the keyboard of the Poly? I mean, it says "semi-weighted synth action"
> which could mean anything.

It's supposedly the exact same action as the Alesis Andromeda (made by
Fatar), if you have one of those handy....

I think the Andromeda keyboard feels basically decent but slightly
cheap, if that makes any sense -- it sort of rattles a bit or
something, has a "not entirely solid" feel to it.  But then the entire
Andromeda UI has a slightly cheesy vibe (in terms of physical
construction), so I suppose it could simply be the way the keybed is
mounted or some other assembly issue.

Anyone know of any other synths that use that same keybed?  [How about
the Nord G2X?  That feels great, has the same specs, and I thought
Clavia used fatar keybeds...]

-Miles
-- 
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

Miles Bader wrote:

>On 5/25/05, Carbon111 <carbon111@...> wrote:
>  
>
>>Ok, I know this is *subjective* but can anybody comment on the feel of
>>the keyboard of the Poly? I mean, it says "semi-weighted synth action"
>>which could mean anything.
>>    
>>
>
>It's supposedly the exact same action as the Alesis Andromeda (made by
>Fatar), if you have one of those handy....
>
>  
>
Interesting.  I have an andromeda and they dont feel the same to me. 
the poly feels a little lighter than the andromeda.  Definitly more 
'synthy' feeling.  Personaly, I like a lighter action on a synth, as I 
am not from any kind of piano background.  

>I think the Andromeda keyboard feels basically decent but slightly
>cheap, if that makes any sense -- it sort of rattles a bit or
>something, has a "not entirely solid" feel to it.  But then the entire
>Andromeda UI has a slightly cheesy vibe (in terms of physical
>construction), so I suppose it could simply be the way the keybed is
>mounted or some other assembly issue.
>
>  
>
I'd say this is very subjective, as I really like the Andromeda's 
constructon.  With the exception of its plastic end panels (which I 
replaced with wooden ones on my unit) it feels very well built.

>Anyone know of any other synths that use that same keybed?  [How about
>the Nord G2X?  That feels great, has the same specs, and I thought
>Clavia used fatar keybeds...]
>
>  
>
Dont know about the g2x but the g2 keyboard feels the same as the 
andromeda exactly.  the PEK feels more like the Korg MS2000, only 
slightly heavier and less plasticky. 

Tony

marzzz@... said  on 5/25/2005 8:24 AM:
> 
> In a message dated 5/25/05 5:00:47 AM, tony@... writes:
> 
> 
> You wouldn't happen to have a pic of that, would you?
> 

Ill take one and forward it on later.  I am not in my studio atm.

Tony

Tony Scharf <tony@...> writes:
> Dont know about the g2x but the g2 keyboard feels the same as the 
> andromeda exactly.

This is how Clavia describes them:

   G2    -- 3 octave synth keyboard with aftertouch.
   G2X   -- 5 octave semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch.
  	 
The Andromeda/PEK keyboard is also supposed to be "semi-weighted".
Still the G2X feels even better than the A6 to me.  I wish I had more
qualitative information so I could know whether I'm being fooled by
other factors (the G2X is just generally a lot more solid feeling than
the A6, so I could simply be reacting to that).

Any of you guys wanna open up your machines and find the keybed model
number somewhere...? :-)

[Yes, you could say "if it feels better why do you care the reason?" but
in my experience such perceptions tend to change after continued use if
they have no solid underlying basis, so it's nice to know if there is
such a basis or not.]

-Miles
-- 
`To alcohol!  The cause of, and solution to,
 all of life's problems' --Homer J. Simpson

Hey there, I am new to this group, being the proud owner of a new PEK 
that arrived a few weeks ago.  I'm a regular over at Dave Bryce's 
Keyboard Corner forum and just stumbled onto this group after getting 
the PEK.

Let me just say that I really dig the keyboard action on the PEK.  It 
is very robust and pummel-worthy.  It has a nice quick synth-like 
action, but it has a tad bit more resistance than the ubiquitous Motif 
and Triton-type synth action.  I think it is a better action.  The 
only semi-weighted action I prefer is that of my Nord Electro, which 
is a different beast anyways, being a waterfall/squared-off shape with 
heavier springs that create more resistance.

The PEK action is a Fatar TP-9, the very same action used in the 
Andromeda.  It was a selling point to me, as I was close to just 
getting the PE Rack.  If the PEK had some cheesy action, I would not 
have been interested.  The keyboard action makes it that much more of 
a bonafide performance instrument, in my opinion.

This is a cool forum.  I have searched through a number of threads and 
found good info.  Looking forward to participating some more.  I have 
already written quite a bit of content over at the Keyboard Corner 
forum based on my first few weeks with the PEK.

Regards,
Eric

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, "Carbon111" <carbon111@v...> wrote:
> Ok, I know this is *subjective* but can anybody comment on the feel 
of
> the keyboard of the Poly? I mean, it says "semi-weighted synth 
action"
> which could mean anything. The boards on my Roland JD-800 and my 
Kawai
> K5000 are excellent imho if that's any indication...
> The poly rack is sweet but I'm considering getting a "big brother" 
for

> it to play with ;)
> Thanks people!
> Best Regards, James
> --
> http://www.carbon111.com

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Lawson" <eslawson@c...> wrote:
 
> The PEK action is a Fatar TP-9, the very same action used in the Andromeda. 

Correct.  

I participated in choosing the TP-9 for Andromeda, and suggested it to Dave for the PEK.

dB
DSI

Okay, I've never played an Andromeda but, regardless, it sounds like
it has a good action - nobody used the word "spongy" in their
description ;)

The upshot is that I'm sold. I will have my PEK in a few days! 
The downside is that I have to get rid of some sweet instruments at
this point. Rest assured though, my experience with the Rack the last
couple of weeks has convinced me this is going to be
more-than-worth-it!

Thanks everybody!

Best Regards, James
--
http://www.carbon111.com

.. and the same amazing FATAR TP9 is also inside my k5000s and virus kc .. 
what a lovely synth-touch feeling it has ! 
not to mention how smooth/gradual and sensitive is the ATouch too ! 

anyway i still find it Amazing that in 2005 there is "ONE" Kbd factory in the 
all world that can manufacture a good quality one .... argh ! 

Regards
--------------------------------------------------Env1-----Env2--Env3-----------
Andrea.TONI@...                               Vco1 \    |     |  \
Solar-Terrestrial Missions (Sci-Sh)               Vco2-->--Vcf-->Vca-->Ducati996 
www.rssd.esa.int                                  Vco3 /    |     |  /
--------------------------------------------------Lfo1-----Lfo2--Lfo3-----------

> The PEK action is a Fatar TP-9, the very same action used in the 
> Andromeda.

On 5/26/05, Andrea TONI <Andrea.Toni@...> wrote:
> .. and the same amazing FATAR TP9 is also inside my k5000s and virus kc ..
> what a lovely synth-touch feeling it has !
> not to mention how smooth/gradual and sensitive is the ATouch too !
> 
> anyway i still find it Amazing that in 2005 there is "ONE" Kbd factory in the
> all world that can manufacture a good quality one .... argh !

Well that's not quite fair -- the Yamaha synth action which is
descended from the DX7 action (I guess they now use it in stuff like
the motif) is quite lovely.

-Miles
-- 
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.