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From: ach@pucc-h (Stephen Uitti)
Newsgroups: net.music.synth
Subject: Re: synth shopping...
Message-ID: <2579@pucc-h>
Date: Tue, 28-Jan-86 14:24:34 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.2579
Posted: Tue Jan 28 14:24:34 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Jan-86 04:49:28 EST
References: <661@aicchi.UUCP>
Reply-To: ach@pucc-h.UUCP (Stephen Uitti)
Distribution: net
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 57

In article <661@aicchi.UUCP> mdb@aicchi.UUCP (Blackwell) writes:
> I'm looking to get a synth [...] need some advice [...] I usually
> play piano...  I would like to [...] write multi-intrument scores
> [...] the keyboard/controller *must* have velocity sensing. [...]
> below $5k.
	I'd go with an 88 key MIDI controller, Roland makes a good
one.  As a pianist, I liked it's feel in the store...  Then get
an Oberheim Xpander or Matrix-6 (a Matrix 12 is twice the voices, but
I'm not sure your budget can withstand it.)  All of these machines can
do poliphony with arbitrary split/layering.  The Xpander and Matrix-6
do 6 voices (the Xpander has no keyboard of it's own).  The Matrix-12
does 12 voices (I just took delivery of one - it's awesome, even compared
with my Prophet T8 and certainly my DX7).
> I would like to be able to print out the scores in serveral formats
> (eg, piano, band, vocal).  Scores should be enterable(?) by computer or
> keyboard.  Hopefully some good editing should be available, too.
	Get a computer and some software.  Don't buy this sight
unseen!  I've heard good reviews of Roland's MPS that runs on an IBM
PC.  I think it does what you want.  You might be able to save yourself
some money by using an IBM PC clone (made by someone other than IBM).
Make sure that the system works for what you want to do before any
commitments are made.  I should stress that again: make sure the
computer does what you want.
	I think there is similar software available for an apple, and
probably a Mac.  Look around.
>Well... Is this all possible???
	Sure it's possible.  You could go even cheaper by getting a
Sequential Circuits Six Track, or something.  I've heard (but haven't
verified myself) that a Casio CZ-101 can do 4 differant sounds at a time
(and you can MIDI it to a real keyboard).  The Casio can be had for ~$300.
This might be acceptable if you don't care too to much what it sounds
like, as long as it's "close" (for example, if you want a band to play
it normally).
>I also saw a very nice thing called a sampler, by akai.  VERY nice sounds.
>Is this gadget worth the ~$1500 price tag?
	I've seen it advertised (in Chicago) for just under $1000.  It
sounded pretty good.  I'm not really into sampling machines, myself.
The prophet 2000 sounded pretty good too.  Often samplers are noisy, and
therefore have difficulty with bells.  The Akai has a Vibes patch that
didn't seem to suffer from this.  On the other hand, the sound system
that it was played through wasn't the best.
>BTW: It seems no-one can do a good acoustic piano on a synth (or sampler).
>Why???
	Piano's are incredibly complicated sounding.  The harmonic structure
varies considerably in time.  The envelope is only approximated by ADSR,
or the ADR, ADRR variations.  The sounds are differant up and down the
keyboard.  Also, every piano is differant.  One of the better piano's can
be found on the Kurzwell.  It's sort of a sampling machine for $13K.
The Fairlight does pretty good too, but for $40K...  The best piano I've
heard on an "analog" synth is on the Matrix-12.  Some people don't agree.
Other people don't think that some pianos aren't good piano imitations.
It can be very difficult to figure out how to record real pianos so that
they sound OK on playback.  The room the piano is in can have a real
impact on the sound.  Every detail is important.
>Thank you all in advance for any help you can supply.
> Mike Blackwell	ihnp4!aicchi!mdb
	Stephen Uitti, Purdue University.  ach@pucc-j