From k2mojo@groovedaddies.com Tue Jan 22 23:12:20 2002
Subject:Re: Units on the market

Well, my original goal was to muddy up the waters a bit and I think I've
done an admirable job ;-)

(sgtpepper writes)
> I may have missed the point, but I don't think that keyboards like the
Kurzweil and the Yamaha mentioned in the other posts pass the primary test >
mentioned by Bruce: the unit's PRIMARY purpose is to serve as a Hammond
Organ emulator. These units may have excellent Hammond emulations, > but
their primary purpose is "General Purpose Synth"

This definition would eliminate the Nord Electro from the list o' clones. I
agree with Bruce's definition (b) about an independent Hammond mode being
necessary. KB3 Mode on a Kurzweil is created with physical modeling and is
much more than just a ROMpler.

(Dan writes)
> I agree Ed. I would also add the Kurzweil PC2 to the list, since it has
the same KB-3 mode.You have to use a toggle switch to get to eight >
drawbars (only four sliders), but it has much more polyphony so you are able
to use it in a setup. The KB-3 mode on the 2500 and 2600 sucks up most of >
the polyphony of the instrument so it is almost impossible to use it in a
multi-sound setup.

The PC2 slipped my mind (and I have one). Both the K2500/2600 and the PC2,
when in KB3 Mode, have 48-note polyphony, which is plenty of notes for any
smear my big old paws can accomplish. Sliders/drawbars and non-Hammond
action are a problem on the keyboard versions of these units, but as I wrote
earlier the rack versions coupled with organ-feel MIDI controllers and MIDI
sliders would work very well. I used my K2000 (61 note, synth feel) to
control a PC2 rack with great results.

> I do not care for the KB-3 sound as much as I like the CX-3, but when
stage space and/or load-on time is tight, there is an advantage to
> using only one keyboard and no modules.

I agree. I prefer my CX-3 for live gigs; it's just really fun to play. But
for short, pick-up gigs I usually just take one of my Kurzweils.

(please take note of my tongue firmly planted in my cheek) It's time for a
new poll!! There's new stuff from NAMM, and now my beloved Kurzweils
qualify for esteemed clone status. And don't forget the Alesis "Vertigo".
Now that you have a helper Bruce, it should be no problem to keep the poll
du'jour current ;-)

Impishly yours,

Ed Fliege
k2mojo@groovedaddies.com
www.groovedaddies.com

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