Original: b rock

Let's complicate things even further. Here's my suggestion: get two PCR-M1's, and two Novation Remote25's. Sacrifice the Korg Kontrol49 for a Trigger Finger, and go all b-rock instead. Five unique controllers that can be configured as one huge controller, five separate ones, or any combination in-between. It's not a keyboard stack per se; more like an Array.

Even better: it's a Blissfully Redundant Orchestra of Capable Keyboards -- a B ROCK!

- Jim

ORIGINAL: techead

ORIGINAL: Brandon Ryan [Cakewalk]
This thing looks really slick...oh man now what do I do....what do I do....? I have to say, I really want one of these. Maybe I need a triple-manual setup:

PCRM80
Remote 61
Kontrol49

I could put them all around me and go all prog-rock!

Given the rave reviews everyone is logging for your presentations I'm sure yer boss will get you all those--especially if it helps sell software, right?

Yeah....uhm....Greg?

Yeah....uhm....Greg?

Maybe get him a donut to grease the skids...

Hi Henry,

I'm pretty confident that you'll like the Remote a lot. Happy shopping!

ben

ORIGINAL: Bradster

Only problem is that the left hand gets jealous of the Novation's action.

Well that's why the make the Remote 25, right? <g>

ORIGINAL: pwal

I'm using a lowly PCR30 (keys, buttons, knobs, sliders, air) as I'm not the piano man. Does me.

p

Actually the PCR30 makes a very nice controller for P5. Not so "lowly". I've used one on tours and events quite a bit.

I made the mistake of auditioning a Novation ReMOTE. Love at first (after)touch.

Bradster, I'm starting to feel like an evil influence. I know that you're going to fall hard for that Novation. There's a 2.3 O/S now, an April MIDI driver, and a brand new version of the Remote Editor out now. Grab 'em: these have really matured from the 1.x versions. Did you get the Learn preferences d/l?

Let me ask a favor: I wonder if you'd consider beta-testing some of the more complex tutorial clusters that I have in the works. Our setups contain many of the same elements, and I was hoping that you could flush out the errors before I upload. I'll return the favor with some sets of made-to-order templates if you'd like, or something that you'd value more.

One tutorial group exploits some unique qualities found in a Novation, the Trigger Finger, and a left-hand M-Audio [any model]. This gives me a good excuse to include the companion Novation and TF templates. It involves the new V2 features and Dimension, and (of course) utilizes the 2.01 aftertouch inclusion.

Something to try with the X/Y: mix up the X/Y types on each axis, like No Spring for Y on a Cutoff, and Spring Center or Left on X for pitchbend. Each setting offers some great options [especially for guitarists/synthesists], and it''s programmable per-template. Then there's the tricks with the Step value for CC#s, and the keyboard splits, and the dedicated MIDI channel buttons, and the ...

Your suggestion about using a smaller board off the side worked out better than I had anticipated.

I'm a crusader when it comes to this. Configurable by template or MIDI channel as individual KB's; one large KB; anything between. Slide that Trigger Finger between the two, and suddenly your KB technique resembles Jon Lord with a good buzz on.

I'm actually dying to figure out how to use the afterglow, er, aftertouch on the many synths. I found a control on the Pentagon, but that's it so far.

Here's a few suggestions for starters: Open the MIDI Matrix in Dimension, and you'll get lost using channel aftertouch as a source for the many destinations. Most all of the programs are configured to use AT by default. One example: check out the Twelve Strings Guitar (or most any of the other guitar) preset for a subtle enhanced detuning using the Pitch LFO Depth in one of the two Elements.

It's a similar situation in Z3ta+, with more flexibility of control in the Modulation Matrix. Select ChanAft is in the Control section, the destinations are dealer's choice, and you have the added enhancements of curves, sources, and the range 'sliders'. In PSYN, you can control the LFOs with AT [leave the static Depth slider at 0], and bump up the Control [After] and Modulation Depth of a selected destination. In the DS864, there's a similar setup: In the LFOs, bump up the Aft knobs, leave the depth at zero, and select a destination to control with AT.

In 2.01, you can now see and edit the channel aftertouch messages that were always recorded 'invisibly' in V2. So now you have the option to create AT automation curves (even with the mouse), or edit your perfomances to fine-tune and smooth out the AT messages. You can even separate a channel AT message from one pattern, and apply it to another performance. This was the best part of the 2.01 update for me.

Don't forget to use AT in the pressure-sensitive pads of the Trigger Finger to override/augment your Remote performances. Remember that channel aftertouch sends one value for all of your key presses combined. That value usually defaults to the highest value (hardest individual key pressed) of all the keys activated.

I hope that'll get you started. [Edit: How could I have neglected to include using AT as a Control Source for most anything P5 in MIDI Remote Control?]

a $400 ReMOTE is a far cry from a red Porsche and running off with a 25-year old, so I figure I got some wiggle room here.

I don't see why you can't have them all, although if something had to give, I could do without the Porsche. Impractical for swamp-dwelling ...

Send off the tutorials.

They're not completed as yet, but I wanted to see how you felt about this first. I haven't talked to you since before the NY trip, so I didn't just want to dump these attachments on you. But as soon as I've tested everything myself, you'll be the next one to try them out. Thanks for agreeing to this, Brad. Your feedback is always well thought out, very informative & helpful to me, and just plain fun to read.

My currrent setup for both P5 and Sonar is:

Keystation 88 Pro (I love this baby, and LOTS of knobs/faders/programmability);
Radium 61 (not a piano feel at all, but great for techno/dance stuff, and nice size with lots of knobs);
Trigger Finger (just got it, love it too).

I have lots of other external synths I ocassionally used to use, but don't need to these days.

ORIGINAL: Nick Haddad [Cakewalk]

What a question. Wrench is right, I'm a big fan of the USB midi controller. Here are some favorites

1) Edirol PCR-30 and PRC-50, i have both of these. But, the PCR-M30 and PCR-M50 are even better. They have the same high quality synth action as Roland's Phantom keyboards and are very nice feeling. Plus they are charcoal colored, which is the next silver

2) The Korg Kontrol49 is really really cool, nice velocity sensative pads, and a pretty good editor from what I've heard.

3) The Evolution UC-33 is excellent too if you just need a knob box.

4) If you got the money for it the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 is also really cool. It's a nice hammer action keyboard with a bunch of knobs and sliders. You are basically getting a pretty good keyboard, a UC-33, and a bunch of sliders for around $500.

Of course if I had infinite funds I would purchase all of these controllers.

Wrench...I know...I have a problem