Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Wow, and to think I like my VFX & VFX-SD's feel better than anything
I've found more recently in the stores.  Maybe because I find it's
more like a piano, the resistance to movement is more or less constant
from the top to bottom of travel; other keyboards seem to increase
resistance the closer you get to the bottom of the key travel, as if
you're compressing a spring.

To each his own, I guess.

--> Steve

On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 09:15:20AM -0700, john bluhm wrote:

> I also think the key action is too heavy. I think the key travel
> distance is too deep for my taste, too.
> 
> What I did was shorten the key travel distance by an eigth inch. I
> did this by attaching pieces of rubber (which I carefully cut to
> size) to the key stops. The shorter key travel allows me to play
> much faster than I could with the standard keyboard.
> 
> As for getting rid of the stiffness, I took a screw driver and
> twisted the springs open until I liked the 'feel'. I twisted open
> each key spring at three places - that yielded a touch that feels
> very much like an old Hammond [sp?] organ. Hope that helps.

-- 
Steve Wahl    steve@...

There are only 10 kinds of people in this world... those who
understand binary and those who don't.  -- Unknown

One of the really special features of the VFX-SD is polyphonic aftertouch (Ensoniq called it Poly-Key Pressure).  I'm not sure any manufacturers are producing polyphonic aftertouch keyboards anymore, opting for the cheaper channel aftertouch only.  Aftertouch lets you change the sound by pressing down harder on the key after you've played and held a note.  Polyphonic lets you do this for each key individually; "channel" applies the aftertouch effect to all of the notes being held.  You can experience this best with the Violin or Oboe patches.  Check it out -- it's very expressive, and one of the best things about the VFX-SD.

I would definitely think twice before doing this hardware modifications falconjohnney is recommending, lest you break this functionality.  

As far as getting a replacement keyboard, you're likely to be out of luck, since Ensoniq no longer exists.  You could always get an M-Audio controller keyboard on the side... 

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, john bluhm <falconjohnney@...> wrote:

>
> I also think the key action is too heavy. I think the key travel distance is too deep for my
> taste, too.
>  
> What I did was shorten the key travel distance by an eigth inch. I did this by attaching
> pieces of rubber (which I carefully cut to size) to the key stops. The shorter key travel
> allows me to play much faster than I could with the standard keyboard.
>  
> As for getting rid of the stiffness, I took a screw driver and twisted the springs open until
> I liked the 'feel'. I twisted open each key spring at three places - that yielded a touch that
> feels very much like an old Hammond [sp?] organ. Hope that helps. 
>

I don't think John, the modifier knows what aftertouch on a synth is because he would realize the mod will essential disable or greatly diminish the aftertouch capabilty of the VFX-SD...

Bob
El Segundo, CA

-----Original Message-----

>From: az_spunky <danrue@...>
>Sent: Oct 24, 2009 5:42 PM
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Keyboard adjustments
>
>One of the really special features of the VFX-SD is polyphonic aftertouch (Ensoniq called it Poly-Key Pressure).  I'm not sure any manufacturers are producing polyphonic aftertouch keyboards anymore, opting for the cheaper channel aftertouch only.  Aftertouch lets you change the sound by pressing down harder on the key after you've played and held a note.  Polyphonic lets you do this for each key individually; "channel" applies the aftertouch effect to all of the notes being held.  You can experience this best with the Violin or Oboe patches.  Check it out -- it's very expressive, and one of the best things about the VFX-SD.
>
>I would definitely think twice before doing this hardware modifications falconjohnney is recommending, lest you break this functionality.  
>
>As far as getting a replacement keyboard, you're likely to be out of luck, since Ensoniq no longer exists.  You could always get an M-Audio controller keyboard on the side... 
>
>--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, john bluhm <falconjohnney@...> wrote:
>>
>> I also think the key action is too heavy. I think the key travel distance is too deep for my
>> taste, too.
>>  
>> What I did was shorten the key travel distance by an eigth inch. I did this by attaching
>> pieces of rubber (which I carefully cut to size) to the key stops. The shorter key travel
>> allows me to play much faster than I could with the standard keyboard.
>>  
>> As for getting rid of the stiffness, I took a screw driver and twisted the springs open until
>> I liked the 'feel'. I twisted open each key spring at three places - that yielded a touch that
>> feels very much like an old Hammond [sp?] organ. Hope that helps. 
>>
>
>

----- Original Message -----

From: jammie

To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 1:53 AM

Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Keyboard adjustments

the keyboard itself is made by fatar but the poly aftertouch pcbs that the keybed sits on is a ensoniq design as is the poly scanner cpu you can get replacement key bed from fatar as i have brought new keys and springs

they used fatar as they were a reputable keyboard manufacturer and it kept the cost down for ensoniq not having to make the key bed them selfs

----- Original Message -----

From: az_spunky

To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 10:42 PM

Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Keyboard adjustments

One of the really special features of the VFX-SD is polyphonic aftertouch (Ensoniq called it Poly-Key Pressure). I'm not sure any manufacturers are producing polyphonic aftertouch keyboards anymore, opting for the cheaper channel aftertouch only. Aftertouch lets you change the sound by pressing down harder on the key after you've played and held a note. Polyphonic lets you do this for each key individually; "channel" applies the aftertouch effect to all of the notes being held. You can experience this best with the Violin or Oboe patches. Check it out -- it's very expressive, and one of the best things about the VFX-SD.

I would definitely think twice before doing this hardware modifications falconjohnney is recommending, lest you break this functionality.

As far as getting a replacement keyboard, you're likely to be out of luck, since Ensoniq no longer exists. You could always get an M-Audio controller keyboard on the side...

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, john bluhm ...> wrote:
>
> I also think the key action is too heavy. I think the key travel distance is too deep for my
> taste, too.
>;
> What I did was shorten the key travel distance by an eigth inch. I did this by attaching
> pieces of rubber (which I carefully cut to size) to the key stops. The shorter key travel
>; allows me to play much faster than I could with the standard keyboard.
>
> As for getting rid of the stiffness, I took a screw driver and twisted the springs open until
> I liked the 'feel'. I twisted open each key spring at three places - that yielded a touch that
> feels very much like an old Hammond [sp?] organ. Hope that helps.
>

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