HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mlloyd@cbnewse.cb.att.com (michael.lloyd)
Subject: Comments on Yamaha PSR-SQ16
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 15:04:44 GMT
Keywords: any good?, any competing products?


Greetings:

I'm interested in acquiring one of those all-in-one keyboard "toys".
My basic requirements are: minimum 61 keys, touch sensitive, built-
in "real" sequencer (not the simple "record what you play" feature 
usually provided), built-in drum rhythms, midi interface abilities
usual for decent synths. Extras that would be nice to have are: 
built-in array of acoustic effects (eg. reverb) and disk drive for 
the sequencer. I do not need the ability to create new sounds
(ie I don't need the creative abilities of a synthesizer).

My motivations: beginner, not planning to get famous or even make 
a living at playing. I want something that I can grow into and
have fun with (translation: this is the first and last one!)
Finally, I'm not the type to buy something, play with it for a
month and let it get dusty, so I need something that's durable.

All but one unit I've looked at so far are not close to what I'm
looking for. The Yamaha PSR-SQ16 seems to be exactly what I want.
I think the MSRP price is around the $1900 range. Initially, this
range is higher than I planned to spend, but my further investigations
lead me to conclude that for the features I want, this is ballpark
(true?) 

Yes, I realize that that it's possible to acquire separate units and
combine via midi cables to do this, I want the convenience and 
portability of an all-in-one system.

A couple of questions:

1. Are there other machines out there that I should investigate? I
   would think that Kawai and Roland would have something competitive.

2. I prefer to deal with a local shop, but if they insist on trying
   to sell at MSRP, I suppose I'll be forced to go mail order.
   Any recommendations?

Email to me and I'll summarize if interest warrants. If a FAQL exists
that addresses this stuff, pointers would be appreciated.

Much Thanks!
Michael Lloyd
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: cassiel@cassiel.demon.co.uk (Nick Rothwell)
Subject: Re: MIDI Footwear
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 18:53:21 +0000

>The MIDI condom.

Now, that's exactly what I need to unleash my creativity in new directions
and really "make it."

Problem is, I currently perform solo, so it wouldn't be that rewarding. I'd
have to find a partner. I guess I could hold auditions.

What sort of feedback does the MIDI condom produce? Is it easy to use?

What's the second-hand market like?

                      Nick Rothwell  |  "Say, how many contemporary dancers
   CASSIEL Contemporary Music/Dance  |     are there in this bar?"
        cassiel@cassiel.demon.co.uk  |  "Dunno; count the Dr. Martens
        cassiel@cix.compulink.co.uk  |     and divide by two..."
From: archer@elysium.esd.sgi.com (Archer Sully)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Oberheim Matrix 1000 questions
Date: 17 Dec 92 18:38:38 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.  Mountain View, CA

In <1992Dec17.140825.18667@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> tsines@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Todd J Sines) writes:

*speaking of which, what is the difficulty to use something like a roland PG-800
*or something similar to control program the Matrix-1000....
*
*
*IN REAL TIME?
*
*i thought that it would be nice to have a rack mount synth but also have the 
*sliders on your stand (to compliment my esq.1, sh.101. mg.1, mc.202, and 
*tb.303) so you could change the ADSR, the LFO mod rate, the waves, etc....
*

Get a Macintosh (a used plus or SE should do fine for this), and use Max
to map the PG-800 (or whatever you have) to controllers that your Matrix 
patches will understand.  The Oberheim boxes understand lots of controllers.

-- archer
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: hak@jyu.fi (Henry Hente Kolari)
Subject: K2000 mailinglist...
Organization: University of Jyvaskyla, Finland
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 14:34:01 GMT


Hello again!!

Yesterday I announced about the archive of K2000 sounds... That is true and
I'm also putting up a mailinglist for K2000 users... Perhaps there is already
one, but I'll do this anyway, because of the better communication via K2000
users and more efficient sound-exchanging...

Again, if you are interested to join to the list or to swap sounds, e-mail me
to:  hak@jyu.fi   or   hak@tukki.jyu.fi


  -Henry Kolari
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  Henry A.Kolari (hak@jyu.fi)              "Sound, the final frontier"       -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: mmangieri@vitro.com (Mikey)
Subject: Volume (Expression) Pedal for D20
Organization: Vitro Corporation
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 20:26:12 GMT

Does anyone know whether or not an expression pedal exists for the Roland D-20?
I know that Roland doesn't make one, but someone told me that there exists a
pedal that essentially transmits MIDI Controller 7 to the MIDI-In on the D20. I
would appreciate any info on this - if it exists, where I could get it, cost,
etc.

Thanks
Mikey
         __________________________________________________________________
        / Michael J. Mangieri                 Internet: mmangieri@vitro.com
__     /  Vitro Corporation                      Voice:      (301) 231-3016
  \   /   MX-SP 4-2311                             FAX:      (301) 231-1233
   \ /    14000 Georgia Ave.              
    *     Silver Spring, MD 20906-2972    

         "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
                                                       - A. Einstein
From: hnyberg@elektra.cs.hut.fi (Henrik Rickard Sebastian Nyberg)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Yamaha TG100+Synth+IBM PC help needed. Please read!
Date: 19 Dec 1992 16:04:45 GMT
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, CS lab
Distribution: inet
NNTP-Posting-Host: elektra.cs.hut.fi

Well, this is how it is: I have decided to buy a TG 100 and a keyboard
synth, perhaps a Kawai K1, and have the following questions:

1) How many voices does the TG100 use per instrument? Is it one or two?

2) I have an IBM PC (486).
   Which Windows-based sequencers recognize the TG100 TO HOST-connection?
   Does CakewalkPro for Windows do it?

3) I know the TG100's sound editing capabilities are not worth too much,
   but still: Can you dump its edited voices to your computer?

4) If I connect the TG100 to my PC with the TO HOST-connection, and hook up
   the keyboard synth to the TG100 via MIDI, then how can I assign certain
   channels to the TG100 and certain channels to the other synth?

5) I have a PAS-16 sound card. Supposing I buy a midi connector box for it
   and connect the TG100 and the synth to it, how do I proceed to play the
   TG100 sounds with the other keyboard? Can I assign the TG100 sounds
   to the other synth using the sequencer, or do I have to reconnect the
   MIDI cables every time?

6) The TG100 can mix its sounds with an external sound source. I plan to
   connect the other synth's stereo output jack to the TG100's AUDIO IN,
   mix the two sound sources and connect the TG100 to my stereo, so that I
   can get the sounds from both synths played through the loudspeakers and 
   saved to tape.
   Does this work well? Does anyone have any experience in this matter?

7) Which one is better to use: the TO HOST output jack or MIDI connection?

8) About the other synth: I don't plan to spend too much money (about as much
   as on the new TG100) on it.
   I'd like to get a second hand synth with good synthethic sounds, good
   sound editing capabilities and ability of dumping voices to the PC. It
   wouldn't have to be more than 4-part multitimbral, and drum sounds
   are not necessesary at all. Any suggestions?

If you know the answer to any of this questions, or have general comments,
corrections, advice etc., then please mail! Thanks!
--
Baseman
Helsinki University of Technology     
hnyberg@niksula.hut.fi                            Sound_Scape Engineer
-
Xref: sparky rec.music.synth:19574 comp.music:5753
From: gbutulis@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.music
Subject: Re: mirage disks
Date: 20 Dec 92 17:45:19 GMT
Organization: Wright State University

In article <R6V=mPB@engin.umich.edu>, malouin@engin.umich.edu (Curt Malouin) writes:
> In article <1992Dec19.101414.9848@eskimo.com> smill@eskimo.com (Steven Miller) writes:
>>Does anyone know if it is possible to format bland DS/DD disks
>>on a Mirage?  I was looking through a manual the other day,
>>considering buting one real chaep, but the manual only refers
>>to Ensoniq Formatted Disks, available from your dealer (yech...).
>>So what gives?  Do you really have to but pre-formatted disks for this
>>thing?  I find that really hard to believe...
>>-- 
>>Steven M. Miller       		"The history of music evolution is
> 
> My partner and I bought a Mirage a while back, and the manual
> says that there is a "formatting disk" which you use to format
> blank disks for use with the Mirage.  Unfortunately, ours didn't
> come with a formatting disk.  I assume Ensoniq could provide us
> with one, but we haven't called yet.  This seems like a poor way
> to handle such a basic task, though, so I wonder if there is
> some way to format disks from the MASOS system disk.  Anyone know?
> 
> Great sampler, BTW.
> 
> 	-curt
> 
> --
> Curt Malouin                                Hotline Counselor, Printer Support
> engin.umich.edu                     Computer Aided Engineering Network

     No, I don't think there is a way to format via MASOS.  There is a reason
why they made the formatting procedure into a separate disk (regarding memory).
I think the only way out is to call Ensoniq and get a formatting disk from
them (although, looking at my disk and manual, I see no copyright or
proprietary info on the formatting disk itself.  Given that, you could
probably copy it off someone). 

-Garrett

BTW Although it is not the world's most advanced sampler, it does do a decent
    job.  I still find it pretty useful.
Xref: sparky rec.music.synth:19573 rec.music.makers.synth:851
Via: uk.ac.leeds.scs; Sat, 19 Dec 1992 19:57:25 +0000
Distribution: world
X-News-Gateway: NewsGateway@phaze.UUCP (NewsGateway 1.0 by Pierre Rioux)
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 92 19:58:16 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers.synth
Organization: The University of Leeds, School of Computer Studies
From: ross-c@scs.leeds.ac.uk
To: usenet@phaze.cam.org
Cc: 
Subject: Attempt to buy Peavey SP from A1 Music (Manchester)

I've just had an interesting (though slightly disappointing) experience. Today
I attempted to buy a Peavey SP from A1 Music, a large music shop in Manchester.
Having seen various reports in this newsgroup and in reviews (e.g. Sound on
Sound) that various parts of the Peavey OS didn't work (i.e. SCSI), I 
naturally asked if the units they were selling actually could be used with
SCSI and sample dump standard. The attendant I was speaking to assured me
that they could, and quoted the example of a friend of his who was using
SCSI to transfer samples between different samplers. Then I asked if they
would attach the phrase "This item is fit for the purpose of recieving
samples via MIDI sample dump standard and SCSI" to the receipt should I buy 
one.

This caused massive negotiations with the power structure of the shop, going
from attendant, to "the woman in charge" to "the guy who knows the technical
side of things" etc etc etc. Initially I was offerred one week trial period.
This may be satisfactory for those using canned software, but not to those
developing. I certainly don't want to be left with something that can't do
the job I require of it.

Explaining that I was not requesting a trial period, but simply a written
assurance that the item worked as advertised, and repeatedly claimed verbally,
met with a stone wall. The end result was that I left with a polite "thank you"
and an intact wallet.

I'd like to ask what people think of this incident. Do you think it's reasonable
to ask for a written assurance that goods actually work as advertised? 
Especially when we're paying premium prices in the UK, surely we get *some*
sort of service better than we would for a grey import.

Also, obviously this shop is not confident that the goods they are selling
actually work. If so, why are they so eager to *verbally* claim that they
do? Another case of actions speak louder than words I think. It certainly
isn't confidence inspiring for potential purchasers, and I will be looking
for somewhere else that is willing to stand behind their product.

Cheers,

Ross-c
Xref: sparky rec.music.synth:19478 rec.music.makers:11511
From: simmons@ittc.wec.com (Garry Simmons)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers
Subject: Homemade Drum Pad for Foot? Info needed...
Summary: MIDI foot fetish
Date: 16 Dec 92 15:04:42 GMT
Followup-To: rec.music.synth
Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., ITTC, Pgh. PA.

Since there was a short thread about MIDI-footwear, I thought of the Daus sneaker
or somesuch device that let you tap your heel and use that as a MIDI trigger for
a kick drum. I was toying with the idea of using a Rat Shack piezo and a few layers
of appropriate materials to make a small pad to stomp my heel on. I find that I
can tap my heel in better time than my toes when sitting down. The leverage seems
better/smoother or something. I'm not a drummer by the way.

Has anybody out there tried this or can offer suggestions on how to build the
pad to eliminate false/missing triggers? I know lots of you have built pads
out of RS piezos, but I never saved any of the posts on construction how-to...
Of course, I didn't own a DrumKAT then either...

I'm envisioning a small wood slab with small screws pointing down into the floor
to keep it from moving. I also figure that some layering of rubber/plastic/piezo/
wood or somesuch thing on top to stomp on. Total size would be about 3" square
with a 1/4" jack for the trigger output.

I can't post to the new rec.music.makers.percussion since our system hasn't
caught up with the recent changes, but I do read rec.music.makers and 
rec.music.synth everyday. E-mail is fine as well.

Thanks All,

Garry Simmons
simmons@ittc.wec.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: scotti@cscns.com (Stewart Scott)
Subject: Looking for Ensoniq EPS/ASR Samples.
Organization: Community_News_Service
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 03:33:13 GMT

I'm looking a place that has alot of EPS/ASR samples. Anybody know of a
place to find them?  Also is there a PC program that will allow me to
transfer the samples to the Ensoniq's disks.

Scotti

Xref: sparky rec.music.synth:19493 rec.music.makers.synth:786
From: bakuld@natinst.com (Bakul Damle)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers.synth
Subject: Roland E-XX
Followup-To: poster
Date: 16 Dec 1992 18:00:52 -0600
Organization: National Instruments, Austin, TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: eagle.natinst.com
Keywords: Roland

Does anyone on the net know of any upgrades on the E-series keyboards of
Roland? The E-15, E-35 and the E70 came out a year and a half ago, right?
Is it normal to have a lot of new keyboards coming on the market right
after the trade show in Anaheim, California in mid-January?

Bakul Damle			bakuld@natinst.com


Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: nosekw@odin.icd.ab.com (Ken W. Nose')
Subject: Roland MC-50 & info wanted
Keywords: MC-50, sequencer, wanted
Organization: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 21:42:39 GMT


    I am considering buying a Roland MC-50 sequencer, and it seems
to have all the features/functionality that I'm looking for.  I'm
curious if anyone has had negative expeiences with this sequencer or
if there is a better one cheaper.  Also, if you have one that you would
like to sell, don't hesitate to get a hold of me.  Thanks in advance,

Ken Nose'
nosekw@odin.icd.ab.com
Allen Bradley Company, Inc.
standard disclaimer

Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: KOH@mindlink.bc.ca (Kenneth O'Heskin)
Subject: Midi File Format
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 10:10:59 GMT

        Can anyone in this newsgroup point me to information
        on the MIDI File Format specifications?  Preferably
        in electronic form, as a file or if someone could
        mail me the info.  Any assistance, pointers would be
        much appreciated.  A short pragmatic summary would
        be fine, (I don't need the chapter & verse in micro-
        scopic detail in some excruciating committee-ese
        dialect!).

        I assume there would be a header block with pointers
        to track starting offsets, binary dumps of the tracks
        themselves, plus initial MIDI parameter settings
        (tempo etc.).

        Thanks.

        -koh
--

        .  kenneth o'heskin              .  art of programming bbs
               . . . .                   .  (604) 826-9663 24/hr 2400 8n1
        .  koh@mindlink.bc.ca            .  grafix.midi.800+ forth files.
From: grahame@skyfox
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: WANTED: used Master Tracks Pro for the PC
Date: 16 DEC 92 02:22:16 GMT
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
NNTP-Posting-Host: sask.usask.ca


I'm looking for a used copy of MT pro for the PC. If you've
got one that you'd be willing to part with, email me at

Grahame@Sask.Usask.CA

JG
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers.synth
From: jrl8@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (James R Lendino)
Subject: Can a "regular" receiver be used for a small studio?
Summary: A stereo doing double-duty
Reply-To: jrl8@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (James R Lendino)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 19:06:14 GMT

    I apologize if this is a "dumb" question, but I get varied responses
depending on the people I talk to.

    I'm putting together a modestly-powered stereo with ~60 watts per
channel, cd player, and Paradigm speakers (rated to handle 150 watts
continuous power).

    I've got a few keyboards, an Alesis D4, and some other electronic
goodies which I'm sequencing from a PC.

    Could I pick up a small mixer (like a small Mackie, I'm still
looking for a used one if anyone has it) and hook it into the AUX
inputs on the stereo?  I see no reason why I can't do this since I'm
not touring with it or anything.  I also have an AudioControl C101
spectrum analyzer/EQ so I can monitor the signal to make sure it isn't
any stronger than a recorded CD.

    Thanks in advance for any assistance, and happy holidays!

-JRL



-------------------------------
James R. Lendino
jrl8@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu
-------------------------------
From: jdzakar@afterlife.ncsc.mil (Joseph D. Zakar)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Technics KN1000 question
Date: 16 Dec 92 02:14:27 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Great Beyond


This seems like the right newsgroup for this question.
My father-in-law has a Technics KN1000 keyboard and it has a 3.5" disk
drive attached to it.  My question(s):

     1. Does anyone know the format of the disks?

     2. Is this format a standard one or peculiar to this keyboard?

Thanks in advance for any help you can lend.

Joe Zakar
jdzakar@afterlife.ncsc.mil
From: dan@cafws2.eng.uci.edu (Dan Harkless)
Subject: Re: Military Compound Bow forsale!!
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 16 Dec 92 01:23:05 GMT
Distribution: na

In article <Bz87F0.AyD@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> patelpp@fe710.cc.purdue.edu (Paresh Patel) writes:
>
>
>Military Compound Bow...
>top of the line bow
>including hard case
>10 aluminum camaflouge arrows (worth 8 dollars each)
>glove and arm guard
>over 20 tips including razor hunting tips and aero tips
>quiver (the thing that holds the arrows)
>sight
>and allen keys

	And that twangy timbre just can't be beat, eh, Paresh??

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Dan Harkless                | "The sore in my soul                         |
| dan@cafws1.eng.uci.edu      |  The mark in my heart  ->  Front 242,        |
| dharkles@bonnie.ics.uci.edu |  Her acid reign..."        Tragedy >For You< |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: a740416@tiuk.ti.com (Jonathan Jeacocke    (0004 jeac))
Subject: SYSEX Dumper
Reply-To: a740416@tiuk.ti.com
Organization: Texas Instruments Ltd.
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 13:00:10 GMT

Keywords: MIDI, sysex, K1, M1

Hi,
Does anyone have a very simple (or complicated) piece of software (ST)
that reads and dumps sysex files to/from a K1 and/or M1 ?
It can either be source or compiled. I know it would probably be a simple
exercise to write one myself, but as I spend my entire life in front of a SPARC,
I really don't have the energy/enthusiasm to waste time reinventing the wheel 
when I could be actually playing my keyboards. (that's why I got them :-) ...)

Also, a friend of mine needs info on the protocols of a MIDI card for a PC.
More the PC -> card stuff. Ta!

Any postings or email (a740416@server1.tiuk.ti.com ) would be much appreciated.


    Jonathan Jeacocke  
        Smail: MOS Design, TI, Bedford, UK      |    All witticism comes to an   
        Vmail: (0234) 223336                    |    end ... eventually.
        Email: a740416@server1.tiuk.ti.com      |




Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers.synth,rec.music.forsale
From: kocherp@leland.Stanford.EDU (Paul Carl Kocher)
Subject: Wanted: Old version of Cakewalk for DOS
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 92 21:19:10 GMT

Hello --

I'm hoping to buy an old version of Cakewalk that will run on a
PC-AT with only Hercules/mono graphics.

If you have an old copy that you aren't using (or have replaced with
a newer version), I'd love to get it!

Thanks --
Paul Kocher
kocherp@leland.stanford.edu
From: trog@midiline.la.ca.us (Ralph Stempel)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Who likes their digital piano?
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 92 05:21:53 PST
Organization: MIDILine BBS - Altadena, CA - (818) 797-3285

shiv@bnr.ca (Shiv Naimpally) writes:

> A friend bought the Korg SG-1 sampled grand many years ago and has been
> very happy. There are really 2 aspects: action and sound. Whether
> the piano's action is close to a real acoustic only you can decide
> since everyone's opinion seems to vary on this. As far as sound,
> the new pianos use better technology to get a better sound. The
> Emu Proformance has some amazingly good piano sounds. Many friends
> have bought one of these and a used 88 weighted controller (eg. KX88)
> for a nice setup.

   The Proformance does have nice piano samples, but it suffers from the 
same near-fatal flaw as the Proteus; It has no filters. This means that 
when you hit a note with varying velocities the volume will change, but 
the tone will not. Actually there is a tiny bit of tone-change, but this 
appears to be done via some treble-boosting kludge applied to the audio 
signal itself.
   The result is very unrealistic-sounding, especially in exposed 
passages. In the Proteii this can be partly overcome by layering bright 
and muted samples and cross-fading between them, but there's no such luck 
with the Proformance.

-----
trog@midiline.la.ca.us (Ralph Stempel) 
MIDILine BBS (midiline.la.ca.us) - Altadena CA - (818)797-3285