Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to use it 
with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch sensitivity 
was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything from it. 
I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...

On Sunday 09 December 2001 10:57 am, you wrote:
> Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to use it
> with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch sensitivity
> was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything from it.
> I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...
>

Yes, there is a simple solution :) Practice!

Honestly, the Ensoniq's have fairly 'hard' velocity curves, even the 'soft 1' 
curve is relatively heavy compared to other synths (btw, make sure you have 
it set to Soft 1).

Really though, the more you play it, the more you'll get used to it, 
eventually you'll find that you expect velocity to be so heavy and other 
synths will seem too 'spongy'.

The Ensoniq's do lack some major control over velocity though, a level of 
control that you cannot achieve with just getting used to it. For example 
there is no 'flat' curve, or any of the weird curves that are on other 
synths, the Ensoniq is either 'soft' or 'hard' or somewhere between. 
Personally I gain back a lot of control over the velocity by using a Logic 
environment page that gives me a 9 level curve selector (with exponential and 
custom (drawn with a input vs output graph) curves, including a 'flat' 
curve). Its not that easy in cakewalk, but you MAY be able to get some 
velocity modification out of the 'MIDI FX' feature.

Its a shame that ensoniq didn't put a little more thought into the velocity 
control (take a look at kurzweil's user defined velocity maps - up to 100 can 
be stored - for an idea of perfection), but its something we have to live 
with.

Btw, If you've never taken proper lessons, most teachers will tell you that 
you don't play near the end of the keys, but play each key with your finger 
pressing around the area where the black keys end . Doing this gives you a 
lot more leverage on velocity, since you're moving the key closer to the 
pivot point (it also makes the difference between a sharp and natural more 
fluid, making sharps less of a pain to play). So, if you play with your 
fingers coming into contact nearer the key ends, you may want to try and 
re-adjust to playing 'properly'.

Howdy,
Actually, I think you can set different velocity curves for different
envelopes within a patch.  However, I think he's saying that somthing is
different when he connects his keyboard to his computer.  

Nathan


On 9 Dec 2001 23:16:40 -0000 Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com writes:
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Ensoniq-VFX-SD-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> 
> 
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> There are 2 messages in this issue.
> 
> Topics in this digest:
> 
>       1. VFX-SD with Computer problem
>            From: "zappedguy" <zappedone@...>
>       2. Re: VFX-SD with Computer problem
>            From: Suzanne Archibald <suzanne@...>
> 
> 
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
________________________________________________________________________
> 
> Message: 1
>    Date: Sun, 09 Dec 2001 15:57:30 -0000
>    From: "zappedguy" <zappedone@...>
> Subject: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> 
> Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to use it 
> 
> with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch sensitivity 
> was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything from 
> it. 
> I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...
> 
> 
> 
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
________________________________________________________________________
> 
> Message: 2
>    Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 11:10:19 -0500
>    From: Suzanne Archibald <suzanne@...>
> Subject: Re: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> 
> On Sunday 09 December 2001 10:57 am, you wrote:
> > Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to use 
> it
> > with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch 
> sensitivity
> > was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything from 
> it.
> > I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...
> >
> 
> Yes, there is a simple solution :) Practice!
> 
> Honestly, the Ensoniq's have fairly 'hard' velocity curves, even the 
> 'soft 1' 
> curve is relatively heavy compared to other synths (btw, make sure 
> you have 
> it set to Soft 1).
> 
> Really though, the more you play it, the more you'll get used to it, 
> 
> eventually you'll find that you expect velocity to be so heavy and 
> other 
> synths will seem too 'spongy'.
> 
> The Ensoniq's do lack some major control over velocity though, a 
> level of 
> control that you cannot achieve with just getting used to it. For 
> example 
> there is no 'flat' curve, or any of the weird curves that are on 
> other 
> synths, the Ensoniq is either 'soft' or 'hard' or somewhere between. 
> 
> Personally I gain back a lot of control over the velocity by using a 
> Logic 
> environment page that gives me a 9 level curve selector (with 
> exponential and 
> custom (drawn with a input vs output graph) curves, including a 
> 'flat' 
> curve). Its not that easy in cakewalk, but you MAY be able to get 
> some 
> velocity modification out of the 'MIDI FX' feature.
> 
> Its a shame that ensoniq didn't put a little more thought into the 
> velocity 
> control (take a look at kurzweil's user defined velocity maps - up 
> to 100 can 
> be stored - for an idea of perfection), but its something we have to 
> live 
> with.
> 
> Btw, If you've never taken proper lessons, most teachers will tell 
> you that 
> you don't play near the end of the keys, but play each key with your 
> finger 
> pressing around the area where the black keys end . Doing this gives 
> you a 
> lot more leverage on velocity, since you're moving the key closer to 
> the 
> pivot point (it also makes the difference between a sharp and 
> natural more 
> fluid, making sharps less of a pain to play). So, if you play with 
> your 
> fingers coming into contact nearer the key ends, you may want to try 
> and 
> re-adjust to playing 'properly'.
> 
> 
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
________________________________________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 
> 
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
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Nathan, you are right. The touch is completely different when 
attempting to use the VFX to drive the computer synth. I've had my 
VFX for years and have come to really appreciate it's touch when 
playing it. The touch is almost un-useable when used with the 
computer. I hope someone has an explanation. Thanks for responding!


--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@y..., Nathan I Smutz <n.smutz@j...> wrote:
> Howdy,
> Actually, I think you can set different velocity curves for 
different
> envelopes within a patch.  However, I think he's saying that 
somthing is
> different when he connects his keyboard to his computer.  
> 
> Nathan
> 
> 
> On 9 Dec 2001 23:16:40 -0000 Ensoniq-VFX-SD@y... writes:
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > Ensoniq-VFX-SD-unsubscribe@e...
> > 
> > 
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----
> > 
> > There are 2 messages in this issue.
> > 
> > Topics in this digest:
> > 
> >       1. VFX-SD with Computer problem
> >            From: "zappedguy" <zappedone@a...>
> >       2. Re: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> >            From: Suzanne Archibald <suzanne@c...>
> > 
> > 
> >
> 
______________________________________________________________________
__
> >
> 
______________________________________________________________________
__
> > 
> > Message: 1
> >    Date: Sun, 09 Dec 2001 15:57:30 -0000
> >    From: "zappedguy" <zappedone@a...>
> > Subject: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> > 
> > Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to use 
it 
> > 
> > with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch 
sensitivity 
> > was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything from 
> > it. 
> > I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >
> 
______________________________________________________________________
__
> >
> 
______________________________________________________________________
__
> > 
> > Message: 2
> >    Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 11:10:19 -0500
> >    From: Suzanne Archibald <suzanne@c...>
> > Subject: Re: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> > 
> > On Sunday 09 December 2001 10:57 am, you wrote:
> > > Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to 
use 
> > it
> > > with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch 
> > sensitivity
> > > was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything 
from 
> > it.
> > > I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...
> > >
> > 
> > Yes, there is a simple solution :) Practice!
> > 
> > Honestly, the Ensoniq's have fairly 'hard' velocity curves, even 
the 
> > 'soft 1' 
> > curve is relatively heavy compared to other synths (btw, make 
sure 
> > you have 
> > it set to Soft 1).
> > 
> > Really though, the more you play it, the more you'll get used to 
it, 
> > 
> > eventually you'll find that you expect velocity to be so heavy 
and 
> > other 
> > synths will seem too 'spongy'.
> > 
> > The Ensoniq's do lack some major control over velocity though, a 
> > level of 
> > control that you cannot achieve with just getting used to it. For 
> > example 
> > there is no 'flat' curve, or any of the weird curves that are on 
> > other 
> > synths, the Ensoniq is either 'soft' or 'hard' or somewhere 
between. 
> > 
> > Personally I gain back a lot of control over the velocity by 
using a 
> > Logic 
> > environment page that gives me a 9 level curve selector (with 
> > exponential and 
> > custom (drawn with a input vs output graph) curves, including a 
> > 'flat' 
> > curve). Its not that easy in cakewalk, but you MAY be able to get 
> > some 
> > velocity modification out of the 'MIDI FX' feature.
> > 
> > Its a shame that ensoniq didn't put a little more thought into 
the 
> > velocity 
> > control (take a look at kurzweil's user defined velocity maps - 
up 
> > to 100 can 
> > be stored - for an idea of perfection), but its something we have 
to 
> > live 
> > with.
> > 
> > Btw, If you've never taken proper lessons, most teachers will 
tell 
> > you that 
> > you don't play near the end of the keys, but play each key with 
your 
> > finger 
> > pressing around the area where the black keys end . Doing this 
gives 
> > you a 
> > lot more leverage on velocity, since you're moving the key closer 
to 
> > the 
> > pivot point (it also makes the difference between a sharp and 
> > natural more 
> > fluid, making sharps less of a pain to play). So, if you play 
with 
> > your 
> > fingers coming into contact nearer the key ends, you may want to 
try 
> > and 
> > re-adjust to playing 'properly'.
> > 
> > 
> >
> 
______________________________________________________________________
__
> >
> 
______________________________________________________________________
__

> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.

I can't offer an explanation.  However, I can say that mine works fine,
talking to either my PC or to my Mac.

Geren W. Mortensen, Jr.
Columbia, Maryland, USA

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: zappedguy [mailto:zappedone@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 7:47 AM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: VFX-SD with Computer problem
>
>
> Nathan, you are right. The touch is completely different when
> attempting to use the VFX to drive the computer synth. I've had my
> VFX for years and have come to really appreciate it's touch when
> playing it. The touch is almost un-useable when used with the
> computer. I hope someone has an explanation. Thanks for responding!
>
>
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@y..., Nathan I Smutz <n.smutz@j...> wrote:
> > Howdy,
> > Actually, I think you can set different velocity curves for
> different
> > envelopes within a patch.  However, I think he's saying that
> somthing is
> > different when he connects his keyboard to his computer.
> >
> > Nathan
> >
> >
> > On 9 Dec 2001 23:16:40 -0000 Ensoniq-VFX-SD@y... writes:
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > Ensoniq-VFX-SD-unsubscribe@e...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
> > >
> > > There are 2 messages in this issue.
> > >
> > > Topics in this digest:
> > >
> > >       1. VFX-SD with Computer problem
> > >            From: "zappedguy" <zappedone@a...>
> > >       2. Re: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> > >            From: Suzanne Archibald <suzanne@c...>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
> > >
> > > Message: 1
> > >    Date: Sun, 09 Dec 2001 15:57:30 -0000
> > >    From: "zappedguy" <zappedone@a...>
> > > Subject: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> > >
> > > Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to use
> it
> > >
> > > with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch
> sensitivity
> > > was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything from
> > > it.
> > > I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
> > >
> > > Message: 2
> > >    Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 11:10:19 -0500
> > >    From: Suzanne Archibald <suzanne@c...>
> > > Subject: Re: VFX-SD with Computer problem
> > >
> > > On Sunday 09 December 2001 10:57 am, you wrote:
> > > > Have any of you ever connected your VFX to a PC and tried to
> use
> > > it
> > > > with Cakewalk? When I tried it, I found that the touch
> > > sensitivity
> > > > was way off. I had to pound the keys to get much of anything
> from
> > > it.
> > > > I'm sure there must be a simple solution. Help Please...
> > > >
> > >
> > > Yes, there is a simple solution :) Practice!
> > >
> > > Honestly, the Ensoniq's have fairly 'hard' velocity curves, even
> the
> > > 'soft 1'
> > > curve is relatively heavy compared to other synths (btw, make
> sure
> > > you have
> > > it set to Soft 1).
> > >
> > > Really though, the more you play it, the more you'll get used to
> it,
> > >
> > > eventually you'll find that you expect velocity to be so heavy
> and
> > > other
> > > synths will seem too 'spongy'.
> > >
> > > The Ensoniq's do lack some major control over velocity though, a
> > > level of
> > > control that you cannot achieve with just getting used to it. For
> > > example
> > > there is no 'flat' curve, or any of the weird curves that are on
> > > other
> > > synths, the Ensoniq is either 'soft' or 'hard' or somewhere
> between.
> > >
> > > Personally I gain back a lot of control over the velocity by
> using a
> > > Logic
> > > environment page that gives me a 9 level curve selector (with
> > > exponential and
> > > custom (drawn with a input vs output graph) curves, including a
> > > 'flat'
> > > curve). Its not that easy in cakewalk, but you MAY be able to get
> > > some
> > > velocity modification out of the 'MIDI FX' feature.
> > >
> > > Its a shame that ensoniq didn't put a little more thought into
> the
> > > velocity
> > > control (take a look at kurzweil's user defined velocity maps -
> up
> > > to 100 can
> > > be stored - for an idea of perfection), but its something we have
> to
> > > live
> > > with.
> > >
> > > Btw, If you've never taken proper lessons, most teachers will
> tell
> > > you that
> > > you don't play near the end of the keys, but play each key with
> your
> > > finger
> > > pressing around the area where the black keys end . Doing this
> gives
> > > you a
> > > lot more leverage on velocity, since you're moving the key closer
> to
> > > the
> > > pivot point (it also makes the difference between a sharp and
> > > natural more
> > > fluid, making sharps less of a pain to play). So, if you play
> with
> > > your
> > > fingers coming into contact nearer the key ends, you may want to
> try
> > > and
> > > re-adjust to playing 'properly'.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Ensoniq-VFX-SD-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>