From formercakid@yahoo.com Mon Apr 05 08:33:48 2004
Subject:Re: VK-8M unpacked 1st impression

Don't waste your money on the Southside upgrade, get a
copy of Sounddiver and the VK-8M adaptation. You will
realize the hidden functions via Sounddiver. I have
the stand with the holder plate made especially for
the VK-8M, think it is great, works out well
positioning it over my synth. Get a Speakeasy
Shotglass preamp if you are using the VK-8M in a solid
state environment, although you will find that you
only need to keep the gain on the Speakeasy at a very
low setting. Tweak the Leslie effect by making the
mike distance closer, mess with the stereo spread and
the randomize a bit to your taste.
--- jake92028 wrote:
> Okay, I got this kind-of big module set up in my
> little home studio.
> First off, I'm really impressed with the 'bite' -
> like sharp, crisp,
> tone that gets more so at the high end. I played my
> Electro at a loud
> gig last night through a MS145 and have been
> practicing with a V5 and
> controller at home - same controller I set up with
> the VK module - so
> that's my point of reference, plus recalling my
> recently sold CX3.
> The VK seems to have more bright, clear tones as I
> pull drawbars than
> any of the above. The C/V to me are just right for
> all 6, as are all
> the percussion settings. Although without knowing
> how to edit yet,
> the pedal tones only seem to be available by
> selecting a preset which
> already has the pedals set. Switching the sound
> output to Pedal, then
> using the two pedal drawbars, 16' & 8,' which are
> the only available
> for the pedals, they can be pushed in/out and
> readjusted, like a V5
> preset works. The pedal tones use a pretty
> well-balanced foldback to
> go down to the lowest notes - below a typical lower
> manual's end
> note. It'll keep going down to the bottom of a 76
> key controller and
> with the controller's octave shift Down, I think I
> can hear some too-
> low tones sound waves (??? forgot to bring my
> ER-20's last night =
> half deaf). The upper register goes all the way up
> out of range also
> with volume dropping off as tone gets 'squealy.'
> Best pedal sound
> seems to be 84 (804) which is pretty impressive
> pedal bass, even 80
> sounds good.
>
> Two negatives I think right off: The D-beam control
> or manual switch
> for Rotary on off could be a real pain to use either
> live. I'd be
> using my MS Leslie with the Rotary Brake set, might
> try the bypass
> software, or maybe it will sound good on Brake with
> one of the 4 Amp
> models. I'd think there must be a way to edit and
> use the Expression
> jack for Rotary On/Off, with the module getting
> CC#11 from a
> controller - didn't get deep enough into the manual
> yet to find out->
> it's pretty bad plus I don't do hexadecimal.
>
> Next, the Rotary effect sounds even worse than I
> remember when I
> A/B'd my CX3 vs a VK-8 keyboard. Again with the MS
> Leslie, not a
> problem, but it'd be nice to have the Rotary effect
> as good as
> possible. The module itself is too darn big, needs a
> good way to set
> it up close enough to work with without too big a
> footprint. The
> Roland accessory stand picture looks weird, can't
> tell how bulky it
> is from the ad photo. The Overdrive effect is
> overkill, has that
> radio static sound as soon as I start to dial some
> in, just like the
> V5; I wouldn't use it.
>
> Overall impression: Great humongous drawbar tone
> generator with the
> real deal percussion, foldback, and C/V; great pedal
> sound which is
> the main reason I got it - try to overlook the
> Roland silly stuff.
> The D-Beam could go where the sun don't shine for my
> nickel.. how
> many times are you going to use the Tonewheel brake
> effect before
> significant others (formerly friendly musicians)
> start to throw stuff
> at you? Yes, the D-Beam is fun to play with - I have
> been for hours
> and can hear the neighbors kids crying when the Ring
> Modulator
> reminds them of scary movies = stop it Walter! If
> someone knows how
> to set up to pedal-switch the Rotary On/Off, I'd
> appreciate that info
> and any more about the Soundside tweaks (yes/no?)
> plus lowdown on the
> stand package - maybe the adapter would fit on a
> mike stand, or? My
> Roland A-33's will barely hold the V5 with a 'mini'
> Digiverb, and the
> VK module covers this keyboard from front to back.
> TIA, hope
> my 'review' covered some bases of interest. Wj
>

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway
http://promotions.yahoo.com/design_giveaway/