From retenat@yahoo.co.uk Sat Nov 10 07:54:52 2001
Subject:Re: Got a minute, or like 20?

>> Welcome Perry,
Did you get answers back from ELM re: the seven questions you asked
him about his ibook based rig? I'm also intrigued by the idea of
gigging with a laptop and a MIDI controller or two. My back likes
the idea too.

Ed Fliege<<<

Hi Ed,

Below is the reply I got from elm. I think it is very interesting
what he has to say, including the fact that you can make your notes
on screen while rehearsing and have your sheet music at hand while
playing etc.

From: logic user group
Date: Fri Nov 9, 2001 4:55 pm
Subject: Re: [rhodes] Re: a baby in the digital world


Sorry Perry,

didn't mean to sound annoyed.! The fact is I totally agree with you.
I will always go for the house instrument over virtual.I really wish
I had decent pianos, good sound system and a nice Hammond, Clavi
etc. ! always play better and feel better and Look better! A copy is
never as good as an original. Its just that for various reasons I
cant lug my Rhodes around too much, and as its a priceless Mint
condition mark 1 88 suitcase that belonged to the moody blues I
don't want to bash it up, as I use it a lot for recording at home..
Its the best sounding Rhodes I have ever played.. (I am also very
puritanical, and only own/ play analogue synths etc etc.) However in
the context of being part of the rhythm section its ok. Solo
recitals/ performances maybe less so...

1. How do you switch from, say, Rhodes (EVP88) to Hammond (NI B4)?

Depends on the sequencer. I use Logic audio or cubase and have the
instruments set up as VST. I have Halion playing bosendorfer piano
sample (1.7 gigs of piano samples, each note sampled 8 times). Evp88
for Rhodes and B4 for organ , I am mainly a pianist so I use the b4
very rarely. Simply switch track on the arrange page of the sequencer
and the sound changes. I.e. track 1 Rhodes . 2 piano, 3 b4.

2. Can you play BOTH Rhodes AND Hammond by using the 'split
function'
on your keyboard (maybe by sending MIDI through different
channels??)

yes in logic not sure about cubase. I haven't tried this though. I
have had samples on the top 8 notes of the evp88.

3. How stable is your computer set-up? have you ever
experienced 'a
hang' of your ibook or any of the software during play?

Well its a computer.......I have done aprox 30 rehearsals and about
17 gigs with it since I got it in September, only had one fu*k up in
a rehearsal. I have a lean system, mostly audio apps on it, and I'm
careful what gets installed . There are a few things you have to
watch out for (on an ibook), pulling out leads, etc. But Once you get
used to it its very reliable. Had no problems live yet. Bound to
happen soon though...( I have had an EMU e4 crash on me live). I am
fairly used to macs as I have been using them for 10 years, maybe a
novice would crash more...dunno.

>>So I have an apple ib00k running esx24 with 300
> meg piano sample<<
Could you explain this part of your message for me? Is that 300
meg
worth of samples, or just one sound/how does it work?

yes, that example was in logic with esx24 (its sampler) Halion
however streams of the hard disk so you don't have ram
limitations. It also reads gigafiles so the piano bank I have is
1.7 gigs. (just piano)(1700megs) Sounds very nice.

5. >>spend 400 or so on a good 24bit audio card all the
better.<<
Do you have any recommendations? Will the quality of the sound
be
much improved by a better soundcard, or is the improvement only
in
the extra in/outputs and cable connections?

Yes the quality will really improve. Im in the process of trying
usb audio interfaces..Im not settled on a particular one yet.. USB
pre is rugged but has software bug

6. >>And I'm also really happy with the native instruments b4
as
well. A little clean but live through a pa and a few pedals it
sounds good<<

Nothing to change the sound. I run it through a few moogerfooger
pedals or maybe a sansamp psa1 just to warm it up a little. As I said
before, pianos are the main thing I play.

How did you get the idea/encouragement/trust to go for this
approach? Do you have any good links for me?

I began to realize that the computers are leaving conventional
hardware far behind. New thing are coming out every day as there are
no hardware costs. The gigapianos are a case in point, and the evp 88
is really amazing. No sound module gets close to these in realism in
my opinion, (and re evp88 it seems Herbie Hancock is also feeling
this. check this kit for his forth coming tours). I can also store
all my charts on screen (no more bulky fake books, lost pieces of
paper) charts can be transposed to nasty keys to placate fussy
singers, it notates quickly, you can sketch out ideas on those long
tour journeys, I can record rehearsals, or band members at the touch
of a button, I can have gigs of samples ready to play live if needed
(I have 10 gigs of samples on the hard disk (strings, percussion
clavi, SFX etc) that can be instantly accessed. For me in the past
all this stuff would have needed an sh101, a rhodes, a clavi, an emu
sampler plus maybe a submixer to hang it all together. (I personally
hate the big digi tritons etc way of doing things.) Its also
versatile, I got a small gig adding noises to a electronica band, and
it it was just the job.
Unless my career takes a massive up turn and money/time becomes no
object I'm gonna hang with it for a bit!

-ibook (titanium g4 powerbook would be better)
Logic audio/ Cubase (only one is needed) Logic uses a
dongle so I just use the dongle from the main studio mac)
Esx24 (and just recently Halion) for pianos/ strings/ clavis
B4 (hardly used)
Evp78 for rhodes
There is also an amazing synth called absynth I am thinking
of adding.
Samples.
USB pre io.
Sometimes use Pedals Moogerfooger lowpass, ringmod, sansamp
psa1 (occasionally) and crybaby.
kbd

Not sure about links but here are some to the software I use. (all
works on the laptop)

http://www.emagic.de/ (logic and evp)

http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=EW-
104 (Giga Bosendorfer)

http://www.native-instruments.net/index.php?home_us
(check Absynth!)

http://www.steinberg.net/ (cubase Halion)

hope that helps.

elm.

From: retenat@yahoo.co.uk
Reply-To: rhodes@yahoogroups.com
Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2001 13:16:40 -0000
To: rhodes@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [rhodes] Re: a baby in the digital world

Hey Elm,

I get the feeling that in the fury and sentiments of the discussion
topic of "digital world against the vintage world" you must have
missed my follow-up questions regarding your setup (see below).

Don't get me wrong, I think the issues of ethics and psychology that
have resulted from my original questions (though unintended) are
certainly worth dealing with on this forum.
In my opinion, the nostalgic looks, smell and feel of vintage
equipment being played are part of the "total experience" of enjoying
music with vintage sound. Knowing that something is 'real' adds to
the experience, so to speak. I think one can compare it to the
experience of looking at a real Rembrandt or a perfect replica: When
you know it is a replica (though perfect) will result in less
excitement. However, if you would want to use the image of a painting
only as a source for making, for instance, a cover of a magazine, you
could not care less, if the image is the original or a perfect
replica. That is my angle on this discussion: I am not looking for
the 'whole vintage experience', I just need a perfect replica sound
in a convenient way, to add this to the music I create today.

However, I would still appreciate your input on the previously posed
questions,