From ynottnaro@yahoo.com Thu Oct 09 18:07:24 2003
Subject:Re: Let's make a good midi controller already!

The argument is good, but doesn't hold up when you
think of things like Rolands Aseries controllers.
Midi latency has improved over the last decade, and as
someone who has used a pretty sick midi rig for a long
time (although nothing as sick as some pro tours where
midi controls lighting, video cues, sequencing starts
n stops....my rig was a controller and about 9
different modules) the latency didn't present any
issues to me.

The bottom line is while pros gravitated towards
controller/modules and most still do (Phillangenes,
Sancious come to mind), most folks didn't want to be
bothered with the extra set-up or programming (too bad
for them). There are huge benefits to this style, but
the drawback is spontaneity can be ...well, not so
spontaneous. (Keeping a keyboard out of the midi loop
is one fix-it.) Those that still required the massive
power that midi rigs offer have integrated computers
into their systems, and the computers can handle a LOT
more functionality than any controller (even my trusty
A90), and allow the user to use any keyboard as a
controller to boot.

The controller/module rig is still very cool and
enabled me to own/play some keyboards that I couldn't
necessarily play because of the controller supplied
with the unit (the Yamaha EX5 comes to mind as does
just about any Korg synth).

And as for gliss/sticking, using my A90 to control my
Hammond XMc unit or my Voce v5, I NEVER experienced
any problems.

T
--- elggobo wrote:
> --- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, "T.Z."
> wrote:
> > Back in the 80's I thought all
> > keyboard players in the future would be using
> Yamaha KX
> controllers
> > and that they would only be changing rack units.
> Well this didn't
> > quite take off the way I thought it would. I think
>
> the "workstation"
> > concept cut into this path.
>
> I think there are a couple of other reasons for this
> as well:
>
> 1) MIDI introduces delays between the keyboard and
> the sound
> generator.
>
> Keyboard based synths have a faster action (lower
> latency) than
> using a controller and a module. In a synth with a
> keyboard,
> the "local" connection to the tone generator is
> usually operating at
> a much faster buss speed than MIDI, giving a much
> faster response
> time. Playing a VK-8 or CX-3 with local off and a
> MIDI cable from
> output to input will be quite different to playing
> it with local on
> because the MIDI chain introduces delays. It is
> also very
> noticeable when playing chords with lots of notes
> spread over a
> large range. In a 10 note chord, there may be 10ms
> of delay between
> the first and last notes.
>
> 2) Synths and particularly digital pianos work best
> when there is a
> good match between the velocity response of the
> keyboard action, and
> that of the tone generator.
>
> In a digital piano, the velocity curves can be
> matched at the
> factory when the unit is being developed. An
> example of this would
> be using a DX-7 with a piano module that expects
> 0-127 velocity.
> The DX-7 cannot generate values up to 127 and is
> limited to 100 (I
> think). You would not be able to get the loudest
> tones out of the
> module.
>
> Regards
>
> James
>

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