From goff747@yahoo.com Sun Mar 08 05:12:48 2015
Subject:Re: Midi controller/keyboard advice needed

the original hammond console keys are pushing a 9-stack system of plungers on each and every key.
http://www.organhouse.com/images/shrightfrt.jpg
http://www.b3sforsale.com/Hammond_2_note_box/Contacts_best.jpeg

the resistance and the key fulcrum point on the original is like none other. and so is the 9-stack key-switches which you will not get in any clone (until hologram switching becomes clone technology, maybe? LLAP!)

my advice, try out a real console for a while should you have access to one in your town and see how that feels. be a pest. then go and look for a clone waterfall controller/board.

at least you would've initiated on the real thing as a departure.
wax on... wax off...

g-


On Sunday, March 8, 2015 9:34 AM, "James Fry groups@jamesfry.com [CloneWheel]" wrote:


  On 7 March 2015 at 21:02, vthill1@warpmail.net [CloneWheel] wrote:

Hi, first post here.  I'm a newbie keyboard player (playing for 3 months now).  I have an akai mpk49 midi controller, which I'm using with NI vintage organs software.  The problems i'm having are:1) the MPK's keys are really stiff
You might be surprised at how stiff many instruments are - especially pianos and pipe organs. Your fingers will strengthen up with practice :-) 
2) (1) wouldn't be so bad, but they don't send a midi on signal until the key is depressed about 3/8".  this makes it hard for me to do trills, among other things
Again, practice makes perfect - 3/8" is pretty standard for a piano and hence many controllers and concert pianists are able to pull off some pretty slick trills (admittedly the action of the piano helps a lot there though compared to synth / organ keys, and is generally a lot heavier than most keyboard actions).
3) 49 keys is pretty cramped for two hands, as I'm finding out.
Yep - 61 is really a minimum for two handed work (there's a reason organs have more than one keyboard and a pedal board after all!). Two 49 note keyboards can work well for organ (it's similar to a spinet, so you can set them with an octave offset).
My ideal keyboard would have at least 61 waterfall keys, with a high trigger point (i think that's what its called). It could have built-in organ capability, like the roland VR-09, or just be a midi controller, like the studiologic vmk-161 organ model.  Initially, the vmk-161 sounded ideal, but there haven't been a lot of glowing reviews of it.  Given my current ability level, it seems like spending 2k+ on an sk1 or other serious clonewheel doesn't make a lot of sense, but then again, maybe a used sk1 is a better choice than a new vr-09.  I dunno, so many choices & questions.... any help is appreciated

My advice would be to not rush into it. If you can spend some time in a well stocked store then do that a few times before committing (and then buy from the store). Also consider the amplification you are going to use, and don't ever buy a Roland KC amp...
The high trigger point is only useful for organ sounds where touch response is not required, and you may find that with the right keyboard action you don't actually need it. Eg the Korg Kronos 61 has a fantastic action that is nothing like a Hammond organ, but is light and responsive enough to allow most tricks and yet expressive enough for convincing piano playing.
I have an SK1 - it's in its box while I get round to advertising it as I dislike the non-organ sounds and now have better 'all in one' keyboards. Craig had one too and had similar issues with the sounds (I think he considered his faulty due to noise, but I can hear the noise on every SK instrument I've tried and on the Hammond website demos, so I consider it a design fault). Others here love their SK1/2/XK1c, so you really need to try out the instruments you are thinking of buying.

I'd second Craig's suggestions - the Roland VR09 gives a lot of bang for the buck and has some great sounds (it has some quirks too, but these are unlikely to bother / affect you at this stage), and VB3 and a better controller keyboard will give a great Hammond experience for even less outlay (if you ignore the cost of the computer!)
What budget do you have? What styles of music/performers do you listen to most and/or want to play like? Are you going to be using the instrument solely at home, or do you intend to take it out and play at rehearsals / gigs at some point? All these things have a bearing on what is the best option!

Regards
James

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