I am going to look at and possibly buy a Triton Classic in a few days. I know nothing about these other than the mountains of literature I have read online (I am a bassist and need a good keyb/synth for my home studio). I have yet to come across advise on checking out a used Triton before purchase. Is there anything I should be looking out for? Is there anything I can check on the screen which might tell me that the keyboard is either good or bad? Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Xavier
Spot Checking a Triton Classic before purchase...
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studio6460
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John Hendry
- Senior Member
- Posts: 422
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:13 am
- Location: America
Most important concern for any synth equipment, new or used.
Your biggest concern should be the history of the condition of the A/C supplying electricity to it. Switching power supply’s produce harmonics and in low voltage conditions the harmonics can and do damage the chips used. I once had my phone ringing of the hook when every Logitech mouse in my neighborhood failed at the same time due to harmonics.
The electric co (and their attorneys) will be of no use in acquiring the needed and obvious (to them) information related to known damaging service locations and issues in certain areas to avoid. It will be up to you to determine the units A/C supply history. No two wall sockets supply the same exact specs. If it was used in a home/ studio, not on the road unprotected where power quality varies, and had good A/C and was protected by a filtered surge suppression unit of reasonable quality such as the ISOBAR 6 or 8, a cheap but functioning unit it should be a safe buy. These are computers and require protection even in good service areas. Your own use, as well as your neighbors off the same step down transformer of the A/C supply can and will affect it. By looking at the step down transformers on the poles you can sometimes get an idea of the A/C service quality it has received. If you see an old transformer supplying new homes in the neighborhood this is a good warning sign of possible problems. The larger the step down transformer ratio to amp service the better. Talking to the neighbors can often give you an idea of the service condition of an area, as dim lights will show or a simple volt meter you bring with you. If voltage is low where used I would walk away from it and pay attention to peak load times such at dinner time when demand is high but not met. My history of equipment failure in Hawaii is a warning to all... but since using BIT below have not had a single failure and there is a side benefit to all this goodness coming called cleaner and clearer sound. As always the better the equipment, the greater the difference noticed. If it says Korg on it...worth the expence.
The best protection I have found is using balanced 120v A/C obtained by using a Balanced Isolation Transformer invented by Martin Glasband whom I had the good fortune of dealing with because of lawsuit.
http://www.equitech.com/articles/origin.html (Martin wrote the NEC codes BTW)
Reprinted from the September 1997 Issue of "Sound & Video Contractor" Magazine with permission from Intertec Publishing Co. (c) Copyright 1997 all rights reserved
.
"With the inclusion of balanced power in the 1996 National Electrical Code (Art. 530 Part "G"), the technology is no longer a myth. The advantages of using balanced power are a proven fact. When at one time a technician might have asked, "Do I dare use balanced AC to keep the system clean? The question today is different. The question today is, "Do I dare not use balanced AC?"
http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/20 ... 20-II.html
"Low-level signals define harmonics, instrument timber, high-frequency extension, spatial cues, fast transient attacks, and other signals that provide resolution and depth to high-end audio and video," said Dave Keller, executive vice president of Furman Sound. JFH^^ Note: Martin's units are much better made with no patents to avoid to my knowledge. Why do I have a Furman IT1220? Better to pull a big fish into Court on your side than a little one, only reason. Always support the inventor or you will run out of the good ones.^^
This is getting long so just one more piece of pie to show this reality:
http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=1126.0
"OK so how does it sound? These are the notes I wrote when I first switched from powering the Snappers through the Q to plugging them directly into the wall outlets:
"Immediate sense of dullness. Clouded, less dynamic. Tone of violin and upper cello metallic ringing. Bass is smaller and looser. Piano transients are aggressive and harsh. Music is confusing, tense, cluttered. How many musicians are there in this trio? It feels like people coming and going. Muffled, tone thin. Background noise (hiss) without music is audible for first time in months (since before Q.) Noticeable during music as missing the black background that makes colors clearer and brighter. But the noise is subtle compared to the music distortion which is blatant and obvious. Piano sounds like bells, imagine a toy Fender Rhodes on the attack. Sustained tones are thinner."
I left it that way for a while to get my brain somewhat adjusted to it. It was difficult because the sound was so harsh and confusing, dull.
Putting it back in I noted:
"Clarity, bass impact, low noise, tonal perfection, piano delicacy, harshness gone. Dynamics greater, but more subtle. Relaxing, intimate, presence of the performers is felt - "they're back...." Instrumentalists are people, not just sounds and notes. Harmonic inner detail is intensely clear. The difference is obvious. I can't wait to try this on other people's systems to see their reactions!
It's hard to believe that I have been listening to music without Q for so long, I never knew how much power quality could affect the musical performance."
I agree and noted the same things.
One important thing to remember: NEVER EVER plug a filtered serge suppressor into another one. I don't think I need to tell this forum what a filter does to a signal when you combine them. This is a good reason to pay attention to what you are plugging your equipment into especially if you bring an ISOBAR or other filtered surge protection with you. Hard to see whats under a stage before the show starts. BTW ISOBAR 8s that range from 50 db to 120db designed for computer PS can harm the sound while protecting the equipment and even prevent booting of a Fatar 2001 @120db w/124v at the wall socket.
Joystick design on Tritons often stick too as Lorenzo pointed out, mine since new but it still works. I am long time R/C pilot and would develope bad habits using one and prefer wheels as used on Fatars.
John^^
The electric co (and their attorneys) will be of no use in acquiring the needed and obvious (to them) information related to known damaging service locations and issues in certain areas to avoid. It will be up to you to determine the units A/C supply history. No two wall sockets supply the same exact specs. If it was used in a home/ studio, not on the road unprotected where power quality varies, and had good A/C and was protected by a filtered surge suppression unit of reasonable quality such as the ISOBAR 6 or 8, a cheap but functioning unit it should be a safe buy. These are computers and require protection even in good service areas. Your own use, as well as your neighbors off the same step down transformer of the A/C supply can and will affect it. By looking at the step down transformers on the poles you can sometimes get an idea of the A/C service quality it has received. If you see an old transformer supplying new homes in the neighborhood this is a good warning sign of possible problems. The larger the step down transformer ratio to amp service the better. Talking to the neighbors can often give you an idea of the service condition of an area, as dim lights will show or a simple volt meter you bring with you. If voltage is low where used I would walk away from it and pay attention to peak load times such at dinner time when demand is high but not met. My history of equipment failure in Hawaii is a warning to all... but since using BIT below have not had a single failure and there is a side benefit to all this goodness coming called cleaner and clearer sound. As always the better the equipment, the greater the difference noticed. If it says Korg on it...worth the expence.
The best protection I have found is using balanced 120v A/C obtained by using a Balanced Isolation Transformer invented by Martin Glasband whom I had the good fortune of dealing with because of lawsuit.
http://www.equitech.com/articles/origin.html (Martin wrote the NEC codes BTW)
Reprinted from the September 1997 Issue of "Sound & Video Contractor" Magazine with permission from Intertec Publishing Co. (c) Copyright 1997 all rights reserved
.
"With the inclusion of balanced power in the 1996 National Electrical Code (Art. 530 Part "G"), the technology is no longer a myth. The advantages of using balanced power are a proven fact. When at one time a technician might have asked, "Do I dare use balanced AC to keep the system clean? The question today is different. The question today is, "Do I dare not use balanced AC?"
http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/20 ... 20-II.html
"Low-level signals define harmonics, instrument timber, high-frequency extension, spatial cues, fast transient attacks, and other signals that provide resolution and depth to high-end audio and video," said Dave Keller, executive vice president of Furman Sound. JFH^^ Note: Martin's units are much better made with no patents to avoid to my knowledge. Why do I have a Furman IT1220? Better to pull a big fish into Court on your side than a little one, only reason. Always support the inventor or you will run out of the good ones.^^
This is getting long so just one more piece of pie to show this reality:
http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=1126.0
"OK so how does it sound? These are the notes I wrote when I first switched from powering the Snappers through the Q to plugging them directly into the wall outlets:
"Immediate sense of dullness. Clouded, less dynamic. Tone of violin and upper cello metallic ringing. Bass is smaller and looser. Piano transients are aggressive and harsh. Music is confusing, tense, cluttered. How many musicians are there in this trio? It feels like people coming and going. Muffled, tone thin. Background noise (hiss) without music is audible for first time in months (since before Q.) Noticeable during music as missing the black background that makes colors clearer and brighter. But the noise is subtle compared to the music distortion which is blatant and obvious. Piano sounds like bells, imagine a toy Fender Rhodes on the attack. Sustained tones are thinner."
I left it that way for a while to get my brain somewhat adjusted to it. It was difficult because the sound was so harsh and confusing, dull.
Putting it back in I noted:
"Clarity, bass impact, low noise, tonal perfection, piano delicacy, harshness gone. Dynamics greater, but more subtle. Relaxing, intimate, presence of the performers is felt - "they're back...." Instrumentalists are people, not just sounds and notes. Harmonic inner detail is intensely clear. The difference is obvious. I can't wait to try this on other people's systems to see their reactions!
It's hard to believe that I have been listening to music without Q for so long, I never knew how much power quality could affect the musical performance."
I agree and noted the same things.
One important thing to remember: NEVER EVER plug a filtered serge suppressor into another one. I don't think I need to tell this forum what a filter does to a signal when you combine them. This is a good reason to pay attention to what you are plugging your equipment into especially if you bring an ISOBAR or other filtered surge protection with you. Hard to see whats under a stage before the show starts. BTW ISOBAR 8s that range from 50 db to 120db designed for computer PS can harm the sound while protecting the equipment and even prevent booting of a Fatar 2001 @120db w/124v at the wall socket.
Joystick design on Tritons often stick too as Lorenzo pointed out, mine since new but it still works. I am long time R/C pilot and would develope bad habits using one and prefer wheels as used on Fatars.
John^^
Think Peace...
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studio6460
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 6:27 pm