From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Fri Sep 20 21:12:36 2002
Subject:Re: CX3 waterfall keyboard

Hi Herb,

>I've been hiding in the background reading and learning from
>things that are discussed here. Well, after absorbing much info
>that has been posted, I finally purchased a CX-3. Now after reading
>this post I would like to know if in fact mine is the older or newer
>version.
>Mine has the "lipped" keys. I thought that the all CX-3's had these
>and that it was the BX-3 that had the "real" waterfall keys and that
>"Ver. 2" pertained to the software upgrade. Am I correct in my
>thinking here?

Yes and no. There is a v2.x software that is loaded in the BX-3 and the newest of CX-3s. This software should be available soon to v1.x users, allowing them to upgrade the sound and features of their organs to v2.x level.

Beyond that, there is the difference in the keys. The latest (v2.x) CX-3s also have the waterfall keyboards. I haven't personally seen a v2.x CX-3 yet, so I can't tell you if there is a noticeable difference in the performance of the two keyboards. I can say the "lipped" CX-3s, with their wide, smooth lipped key edges, are well suited to things like palm glisses and fast smears, despite the small key lips.

>I don't have the unit here right but I remember reading about
>Serial #'s above a certain number that had certain bugs fixed.

I have a full list of the issues on my website at http://music.ashbysolutions.com/clonewheel. If you power up your CX-3 while holding down the Display key, you will see a revision code something like "M00123456 S00123456." If your "M" value is either 00111500 or 1070501, you already have the lion's share of the early issues corrected.

>In my manual under the "MIDI Imp Chart", it has info saying:
>Date: 2000. 06. 15
> Ver. 1
>I don't know if this refers to the MIDI Specs or the unit itself.

This is just the MIDI chart revision; it has nothing to do with the organ version.

>I'd appreciate any info that I can get so that if in fact mine is the
>older version, I can "take it back" and get the newer one.

Before you take it back, you should probably consider: a) the price you paid for your CX-3 (the v2.x ones may command more money); b) whether the v2.x units are readily available at your dealer; and c) how important the waterfall keys are to you. If you got your CX-3 at a terrific price, you may have to live with it's v1.x status. Once the software update is available, the only issue left will be the keys.

I'm not saying that the waterfall keys aren't a nice addition. But, just as people debated the VK-7 at sale prices vs. VK-8 at near-retail dilemma when the models crossed over, there may be some tradeoffs over v1.x vs. v2.x.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™ http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com