From oldzuto@yahoo.com Thu Dec 14 09:54:36 2006
Subject:Re: 2nd manual for CX-3

Also the Doepfer d3m is very light weight. Got to be one of the lightest keyboards ever!
I use mine all the time and love it.

Hugh Birkenhead wrote:
Hi Tom,

I was asking the same question as you several months ago. In the end,
I found the perfect dual-manual solution using a Doepfer D3M waterfall
controller and a modified Quiklok stand:

http://launch.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/CloneWheel/photos/browse/dd31

This solution is easy to carry out, is rock solid, allows the manuals
to be exactly the right distance from each other, is really quick to
set up and tear down at gigs, and most importantly, is SO much cheaper
than the alternatives (BX-3/VK-88, XLK-3, etc.).

As others have said, the only real option is to have the second manual
below the organ, not just because most clones only allow the lower
part to be controlled by the second manual, but because you would
obscure the drawbars and other controls by placing it on top.

The Doepfer D3M is by far the best choice in this situation, because
of its small size, proper waterfall keyboard, and great price (only
about 340 Euros). If your CX-3 is "version 2", it will use the same
Fatar keybed as the D3M, which means the touch will be identical on
both manuals.

It might not bother you, but the touch on the D3M by default is 'deep
triggering' (you have to push the keys down all the way). See here for
the original discussion:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/CloneWheel/message/39802. I
actually had to contact Doepfer to see if they would produce
alternative firmware to allow shallow triggering -- and they did. But
I only got hold of it so easily because I was the first "beta tester".
If you wanted to modify your D3M in this way, you'd have to contact
Doepfer (software@doepfer.de) and ask if you could pay a (very) small
price for an upgraded chip.

If this sounds like a good idea and want more photos and design
information, I can provide it!

Cheers
Hugo