tube pedal

[X-Trade]

I prefer on-board distortion, especially for organs. the drive needs to come before the rotary effect, otherwise its just weird. Unless you're using an actual rotary or a rotary pedal too.

Often you can get a great sound in the keyboard if you spend a while tweaking, even if you have to introduce EQ and compression before and after the drive, I think its worth it.

[jeffrey]

Not really the same thing, but I use a Fender Hpt Rod Deluxe tube amp for one channel of my keyboard in my studio for a left/right stereo setup. I don't think you would be able to use it live unless you turned the bass level down, but at moderate levels it sounds incredible! I output the other channel to a cheap Behringer K3000fx keyboard amp (which actually sounds pretty good by itself) and sit in between the two amps which are about 10 feet apart. They obviously don't sound the SAME, but the blend is really really good.

I was actually just considering putting a tube preamp I have laying around (either the cheap ART or the BlueTube) in between the Behringer and keyboard the other day but thought I'd try the Fender amp first. Glad I tried the tube amp first but will probably put the tube pre in between the solid state amp soon too just to see what it can do...

[nitekatt2010]

I can name a few:

Some of them are NOT cheap, but amazing in sound and portability

The Bose L1 System with 2 subs and the ToneMatch. These run at almost $3000 but they are amazing in sound! They are feedback FREE. The ToneMatch Module has a built-in Stereo Mixer, Effects Unit, EQ, Compression, Separate Line and Mic Inputs, PreAmp Outputs, Master Outputs, Secondary Aux Ouputs and it's also a USB Audio Interface!

There are some accessories you will need as well. But this system will give your keyboard an unbelievable sound!

This is my TOP choice if you want the best you can get in portable PA Systems.

A cheaper choice would be the Fender Passport 500 PRO. Incredibly feature packed, great sound and it all comes together into its own case. It's really amazing how good this thing is. This is $1000.

Now of you want the BEST value money can by with the features and benefits of the two above systems I just mentioned:

I'd have to say the Yamaha StagePAS 300 or the 500. The mixer is amazingly clean for a powered mixer (which is also your amp for your speakers). and the speakers in BOTH models pack a very clean punchy sound. This is a GREAT alternative to the Bose in sound and makes it a very good value.

I'd stay away from Behringer as they tend to break down a lot. So do Mackies. The quality just isn't there in either of them, IMO.

JBL is now all marketing so they make a LOT of overpriced crap and claim that they are the best.

If you want a good high-end pair of PA Speakers and use your current gear, you need to have a listen to QSC. They make some of THE BEST PA speakers out there. The K12's are phenomenal and blow away just about everything else in the same or higher price range. I have yet to hear ONE person say that their QSC Speakers have broken down or failed on them. They are amazing in quality, sound and reliability. I can't say enough good things about them.

I LOVE QSC speakers and anyone who asks me about PA Speakers I take them for a treat with this brand.

PA Systems are Yamaha Fender and Bose. Most of the others either suck, or are just too expensive in comparison to the above systems. Peavey is cheap plastic sounding crap these days. Samson is crap, and so are many other brands.

The Bose is NOT cheap but its worth every last penny and can potentially replace an entire TRUCKLOAD of gear because of what it offers. When I take my OASYS to other places or gigs sometimes, I have TWO Bose L1 systems with 4 Subs and 2 ToneMatch Modules. They are SO compact and are SO EASY to set up that you wouldn't dare use anything else anymore. In 15 minutes I am up and running with the Bose L1 Systems. Any other system, such as a set of QSC Speakers and a Mixer, would take me a half-hour or more because, I then need a whole other rack of signal processing and a crap load of cables and snakes to get everything set up. Then I have to do a sound check as well for another 15 minutes just to make sure everything is good.

The Bose gets rid of all that INCLUDING the soundcheck! In 15 minutes MAX your up and running! It's really an AMAZING system!

Sina

Thanks for the info about the Bose. I went to their site and they have many high reviews for the L1 System. I will also check out the QSC speakers. I would assume they are passive, not active powered monitors. Is that right? Any possible way to save a minute and labor to set up a keyboard player's live rig is a plus, that's for sure. I have also heard good things like you mentioned about the Fender/Yamaha PA series which is portable that I will also look into.

Thanks again

katt

[Sina172]

...

[nitekatt2010]

Kat, the absolue BEAUTY of the QSC's are the fact that they ARE powered! You plug them in, connect the monitor outs from your mixer into them, and you're good to go! BUT! If you just do that and you connect your keyboard into the mixer, you may not get the sound you want because the EQ may not be right, feedback might be an issue if you're using mics, etc. That's actually why in a GOOD PA rig, many people use external EQ's, PreAmps and Compressors. They also use Digital Monitor/PA Controllers (some of them are NOT cheap) which do two things: one you can calibrate your speakers to the digital crossovers built-in to them and separate the frequencies so you get a cleaner sound, but also control the overall volume of the speakers so you don't overload them, or blow them in case something happens. You see what I'm saying here? Even if you got the Yamaha or the Fender systems, you will be running into these issues, but they'll be much less prevalent as everything is self- contained in those systems.

So in the case of the two brands I just mentioned, a speaker controller is not really needed. But with the QSC's they are highly recommended. T.C. Electronic makes one called the X024 which is around $800. AMAZING unit for the money! One of Samson's good products are their Monitor Controllers which are actually very good and you won't have to spend a crap load of cash for them. And then there's DBX. HUGE range of products for just about EVERY need and if you want the BEST, it's DBX when in comes to monitor controllers.

For EQ's, Behringer is a GREAT brand. Low cost, incredibly low noise, and they give you a GREAT sound. If you got 2 single-channel 31-band EQ's, you'll get a tremendous amount of flexibility and they have a model with a built-in feedback eliminator so if your mic is too close, you won't blow your eardrums.

The better EQ's are definitely Ashly, Rane, Yamaha, BBE and DBX. The BEST EQ's I think are either gonna be Rane or Ashly.

Peavey makes on OK EQ, but on the other end of the spectrum (and this may surprise you), I think Behringer has a MUCH better value.

The Bose on the other replaces ALL of this. ESPECIALLY if you got TWO units, with all the necessary accessories, you will NEVER need another PA System! If money is tight, I say get one system to start with and 2 subs with the ToneMatch Module, and as you get more money, get the second one. Also if you DO get a Bose L1 system, get the ORIGINAL Model 1 version. The newer Model II and Compact Systems, while more compact, don't sound as good, IMO and don't have have as many inputs. I don't think the Compact even HAS any inputs and forces you to rely on the ToneMatch Module as your input device.

Hope that helps!

Sina

Sina, you offer a wealth of info about how we can make all these amazing keyboards on the market these sound optimal. I read many posts on pianoworld.com and harmonycentral.com and keyboardforums.com on players who want to know what the best keyboard amps to buy, powered monitors for their home studios or PA gear to reproduce the stereo image they are hearing through their headphones. Many players are surprised the first time they take their new keyboard rig to a gig and are quite disappointed in the sound quality live.

And of course we all know how anal guitar players are about their tone. They mostly all want tube amps.

Now you have the Korg Oasys, is that right? What a keyboard. And I am still in awe of playing and hearing my Korg m50 88 almost daily. The machine has so much complexity, sounds, programs/combis, the possibilities are infinite on modifying anything on that board. The only issue with the M50 88 is the weight. At about 46 lbs, plus a 15 pound padded case, it takes a bit of work to move it to gigs. I probably should have gotten the 73 note board, same engine anyway, but our local GC never had it on the floor, only the 61 note and the 88. But the M50 88 is the best keyboard action I've ever played, for my touch anyway. plus I like some of the Yamaha Stage piano key beds.

One thing I was curious about was your opinion about Mackie mixers. I have had the original 1202 I bought in 1997 and it's still going strong. The only thing I miss is the EQ on that one only has a low and high control, no mid which I find really is important for acoustic piano samples. The new 1202 series has many more features and a 3 or 4 band EQ, plus it may also be USB or FireWire to use with a Mac/PC.

What mixers do you feel are top of the line if not Mackie? Also, you take out a lot of gear for your live gigs. Are you in an original or cover band, jazz group or all of the above?

Regards

katt

[Sina172]

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[nitekatt2010]

Kat,

I sincerely appreciate your kind remarks. Thank you.

In regards to the OASYS I now have 2. I had one and it got stolen from me which literally put my entire life to a halt. I couldn't do anything, I wanted to just give up and say f**K it and as a result I couldn't get myself to move on. It was probably THE WORST downfall of my life that I had ever experienced. In May of '09 (the OASYS was stolen in November of '08), I was the best man at my friends wedding and I got a very generous gift card of $1200. At that time, I had a sufficient amount of gear to make a decent piece of music. But despite all that equipment, everything I had was rendered useless, because my entire world was in my OASYS. I was living my dream when I had it, it was the crown jewel to my studio and with it gone, I couldn't get myself to focus on what I still have. Many people told me that it's gone and to just forget about it, but I couldn't. Even when things got slightly better, they would fall apart very quickly because my dream was gone. My entire world that I had put my whole life of music was gone. I was a mess. I had severe anger tantrums, I went to therapy, I was looking for methods of emothonal healing which helped, but I KNEW that NOTHING was gonna help me unless I got my OASYS back. So when I got this $1200 gift card, I decided I wanted an M50-88. I gotta tell you, when I played the M50 at my local music shop, I was amazed! No it wasn't an OASYS but the mere fact that I was able to get a similar sound to it, made me very happy. Christmas comes by and my parents pitch in the rest of the money and I got my M50-88. I went with the M50 instead of the M3 (in case you were wondering) because I needed Sequencing, Program Mode and Combi Mode and that was it. I couldn't settle with an M3 because the interface and the screen is too much of a mediocrity compared to the OASYS and I would've HATED it because of it. The M50 was PEFECTION to the highest degree for me right next to an OASYS.

Then in Jan. of THIS year, a miracle beyond my wildest dreams manifested into my life and while I can't say what it is right now, I will say this: It was SO big that when it happened my music was continued from where I left off when my OASYS got stolen. I did not have to start all over again!

Now I'm back, amazingly happy, financial miracles have happened to me in ways to not even I was able to comprehend and on top of all that, I am having the grandest time of my life! My studio is expanding HUGELY, and I am loving it!

I few weeks ago I found another OASYS 88 at a price that would make you think it was a fraud, but was actually legit. It was LITERALLY BRAND NEW! EVERYTHING was included with it! ALL Expansions, KARO Libribraries, etc. It was a very secret sale because the price I paid for it was so low it would blow your mind as to how fantastic of a deal I got!

That's a brief story of what I went through in the last 2 years.

On to your Q's now:

Mackie Mixers aren't bad. I own a flagship ONYX 4880 and several smaller mixers by them as well. I have 4 DXB 200's and I also have a 8 d8b's now that I've always wanted becase of their flexibility that was unheard of when they first came out. They are complete with 2 HDR-2496's and the Remote 48 and all expansions.

I think Mackie is a great MIDDLE of the range brand. And I say middle because companies such as Allen & Heath and Soundcraft now offer Mixers at the same price class with a WAY better quality product and sound. It's amazing to me now how amazing of a mixer you can get at ridiculously low prices that are NOT from Mackie or Behringer, but from a HIGH-END Brand!

So Mackie is a great product, but compared to Soundcraft and Allen and Heath. the latter products are MUCH better deals.

And if you went with an Allen and Heath mixer you'll get fully parametric EQ's on EVERY channel! That's AMAZING to me! Plus the newer ZED Series mixers now have USB ports so they can now double as an audio interface/mixer to your Mac or PC!

Sina

Wow, Sina, so sorry to hear about getting your Oasys stolen. But it sounds like you are recovering fine and back in the biz. I've had gear stolen too, fortunately not a keyboard. It is also for that reason I use my Casio Privias MIDId up to several racks for live gigs and to save on the weight issue. I'm trying to also figure out how I can insure all my gear for fire, theft, floods, AC blowouts, etc. I'm still checking that out.

I have never even heard of Allen, Souncraft or Heath mixers. Of all the musicians I know or ever played with never owned one to my knowledge. Mostly we all had Mackies or Alesis models. So now I will go online and check those mixers out. You say they are priced in the Mackie range.

I check those out and let you know what I find. Thanks

katt

[Sina172]

...

[mocando]

I had robbers into my home back in december. Fortunately we weren't there. We traveled to another city to spend christmas with the family and we took all our music gear with us, my keyboards, my son's acoustic drums, etc. Still we lost a few things, like a Yamaha snare (cheap, came with the drumset) half of a double kick drum pedal, but the rest of the stuff, two computers, mine was a monster with 8 gigs of ram, a state of the art video card, teras of hard disk space, two printers (laser and photo quality ink), a washing machine, microwave oven, clothing, gas gardening trimmer, even the silverware. They kept entering the house for several days and taking more things every day. I found out on my birthday, december 29th, and it was a very ugly moment. When we arrived home on the 1st of january the destruction was horrible. They even took brand new Star Wars action figures that one of my sons collected. Watching him cry broke my heart. I felt rage.
Who steal a toy from a kid? They must have been possessed by the demon. To add to a sad story, I lost my job in february and haven't got a new one ever since.
Six months later, we are moving out of the city that has caused the most grieve in our life. My Dad, Mom and only brother died here from 1999 to 2006. Thankfully God gave me a big family, 3 boys and 2 girls, from 10 to 17 years old, and a wonderful wife.
We are moving to a place called Margarita Island. Some of you that have traveled down here might know about it. Is a small paradise. I already made arrangements with some businesses there, and I'll be doing some computer support for them. We also are planning to build a recording and practice studio. Music is a big business there, and I happen to have a sister in law working as the Nueva Esparta Symphonic Orchestra manager, so we are on the right track.
So, in this troubled times, if it weren't for God and my family, I might have become crazy or ill. But finally, at my 44 years of age I found my north: Music. I never believed I was going to live from Music, but everything dictates that it will be.
I'll let you know once I'm settled.

BTW, thanks for reading this far. It was completely off topic, but helped me discharge a bit of what I have inside, and my personal experience.

Cheers