From mlongo@highmarkdesign.com Thu Jan 17 11:14:28 2002
Subject:Re: Robustness of CX-3 Keyboard


Korg has still not fixed the so-called "double trigger" problem.
My CX-3's serial number is way past when Korg claims to have fixed
this problem. I've discussed this with another list member who also
has this problem on his recent vintage CX-3.

Specifically, the problem occurs when the key is fully depressed
and is allowed to spring back up through the air against the upper
stop, rather than for the key to be released more slowly under the
decreasing pressure of your finger. When it springs upward on it's
own and hits the stop at the top of it's upward travel, it rebounds
downward far enough to enter the MIDI sensor's range and send a "note
on" event to the sound engine, followed immediately by a "note off"
event as it travels back up toward it's stop again. In some
instances this can actually happen two or more times for each not
played.

The CX-3 is unique in that the keys begin making sound (send
a "note on" event) VERY near the top of their downward travel (when
compared to other keyboards), so the keyboard doesn't have to rebound
very far to make the "double trigger" happen. Apparently Korg feels
that this relatively high action is an important part of the CX-3
feel, which it probably is.

It's probable that all players won't notice this problem. You
have to have a style where your hand depresses the keys far enough
downward and then releases them faster than they can spring up on
their own. I guess I'm heavy handed enough to have that happen. It
happens during very percussive passages where you are doing a sort of
a two handed drum stroke on the keys, which is part of my funk
style. And like I said, it's very annoying.

> He had developed a technique that exploited the double-trigger
> when wanted and disguised it when not wanted. He also told me
> that "this is what makes it like a B3!" but I question
> the validity of this statement because my A101 does not double-
> trigger.

This is absurd. Certainly no real Hammond or other clone I've
owned has ever done this. Oh-well, maybe have to switch to the
Electro...

Mark Longo