HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sef@sef1.slisp.cs.cmu.edu
Subject: Re: K2000 teste drive (vs SY99)
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 92 21:42:46 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon


    From: JROSSI@EAGLE.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL

    As for the effects processor, it is independent of the DSPs which produce
    VAST.  Basically, it is the same effects DSP used in the Digitech DSP 256+.
    ...
    Some of the long decay
    and delay effects add some hiss to the signal.  While the thing is still
    about 20 dB quieter than the dry machine being processed by a Quadraverb
    would be, the hiss can still be heard in a dead-quiet system.

I'm almost as fond of my K2000 as John Rossi seems to be of his, but I
think he's being a bit too kind here.  The effects chip makes a clearly
audible hiss on most of the effects programs whenever the wet/dry mix is
turned up.  This isn't long-decay grunge caused by coarse digitization, but
is real analog hiss, sizzling through the delay line (so it echos, etc.).
It doesn't matter if you're playing a note or not, the hiss is still there
when the effects output is added to the output mix in significant amounts.

Furthermore, if you switch from one program to another in the normal mode,
with the effect and wet-dry mix being selected by the program, you get
different-sounding hiss (louder, softer, reverberating...) for each
program, even if you're not sounding a note -- very distracting at times.
And sometimes you get a pop or ping as something already in the
effects-chip delay line empties out under a new algorithm.  (This was
described by someone as "speaker-blowing glitches.  I've never found it to
be that bad, but it can be startling.)

You can avoid this by disabling per-program effects selection and just
using the chip as if it were a global effects box.  The only problem with
this is that when you use per-voice effects, you have a choice of any
global control source (and there are many) to control wet/dry mix and other
effects parameters; when you use the effects globally, the only control is
the standard MIDI "effects amount" controller -- MIDI 91, I think it is --
and you have to program some slider or pedal to send that for you.
    
Of course, you could also use whatever external effects box you like and
cut the internal effects chip out of the loop.  You get two independent
pairs of outputs.

It may be that John's experience differs from mine for a couple of
possible reasons: (1) I use headphones most of the time, so hiss is very
noticeable; (2) I don't have a Quadraverb around making everything else
sound clean by comparison; or (3) I might have a noisier K2000 than he does
-- the noise is in the analog circuitry, so it might vary some between
units.

As John says, the effects chip in the K2000 is still a very nice thing to
have if you consider it as an add-on.  There are lots of situations in
which the added hiss isn't fatal.

-- Scott

===========================================================================
Scott E. Fahlman
School of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Internet: sef+@cs.cmu.edu

Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: kalin@silver.lcs.mit.edu (Dan Kalin)
Subject: Re: K2000 problem
Organization: MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 19:55:11 GMT

In article <1992Aug18.164211.23876@brtph560.bnr.ca> trice@bnr.ca (Tony Rice) writes:
>
>I've seen almost nothing but good stuff about the K2000 lately.
>A friend of mine almost bought one until he learned that
>Kurzweil is struggling with an overheating problem in them.  
>
>Seems that a fan needs to be installed to prevent the system 
>from cooking itself.
>

I'd like to clarify this, because it is extremely vague.

The base K2000 with no options does not have a heat problem.  If you 
want to install an internal hard drive, or a huge SIMM card stash
(4 4megs, or 16 meg SIMMs), then you must install a fan.  With these
options you really start to have something under the hood kind of
like a Mac or a PC, which are shipped with fans.  You ought to be able
to put in the sampling option, the Soundblock options, and the program
RAM option, without the fan.  We do recommend (require?) that you put
in a fan when installing any options.  The fan is very quiet, well suited
for the requirements of a music studio.  

We now return you to your regularly scheduled flame wars. ;-)

-Dan Kalin 


Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: xrjdm@twinpeaks.gsfc.nasa.gov (Joseph D. McMahon)
Subject: Re: Need Recommendations on Adding Polyphony
Keywords: polyphony
Reply-To: xrjdm@calvin.gsfc.nasa.gov 
Organization: NASA/GSFC NCCS
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 13:31:29 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.123141.7977@cbnewsk.cb.att.com>, paulb@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (paul.l.bidwell) writes:
> 
> I have a VFXsd that has 21 voice polyphony. I find myself needing to
> add more polyphony, and I'm looking for some advice as to the most 
> economical way to do so.
I'm in the same position; here are my thoughts as of the moment. I'll speak
from my position, which is that the VFXsd is my entire studio. I have no
mixer, no outboard effects, and a stereo cassette deck for mastering. I
use only the sequencer on the VFXsd; I have a voice librarian which I am
not using yet, but will be soon.
> 
> Options I've considered are:
> 
> 1.  Upgrading to an SD-1, which gives me 32 voice, but is quite expensive
>     ($700).
> 2.  Buying a sound module (e.g. Proteus-1, and Sound Canvas). Again, not
>     cheap ($600-$700). Anyone interested in selling a used one?
> 3.  My local dealer told me that Kawai sells a module for around $300. I
>     don't know the model number.
> 
> What do just piano modules go for? I typically use a lot of piano notes
> and I have thought that might be an alternative.
> 
> I don't want to spend a log of money, and I don't really want another
> keyboard - one is enough.
> 
The SD-1 upgrade has the advantage that your studio has not grown in size or
relative complexity, but has gained almost half again as many voices as it
had before. On the other hand, these voices are still inside the SD-1, so they
are limited to the same effects as everything else in a given track. For me,
this isn't such a bad deal.

Buying a sound module adds the complexity of having to expand into a MIDI-
controlled rig of some kind or another. You will at least have to have an
out line to the module. If the module does not have built-in effects, you 
will probably want to spring for a MicroVerb or similar to add on. You will 
also need some kind of mixer or another, whether integrated (such as in the
PortaStudio-type recorders) or not (a Mackie, etc.). If you aren't planning
to grow much beyond this, there are small, quiet mixers under $200. But you'll
still need one. The big advantage, of course is that you can choose something
which has a very different sound from the VFXsd (say a used FB-01, or a
Matrix-1000). Perhaps a drum machine would be more useful, if you do a lot of
rhythm tracks (especially busy ones that use a lot of voices). This can really
expand your resources and allow you to move in directions which aren't 
available to you now. (I heard a QY-10 this weekend through real speakers and
was impressed with the sound quality. Not bad at all.)

Tell us a little more about the kind of music you make. That will help us to
point you to the kind of addition you might want.

-- 
 --- Joe M.

                            THE AUDIENCE IS NOW DEAF
From: dnibby@asylum.UUCP (Dana Nibby)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: TR-808/TB303
Date: 14 Aug 92 16:02:26 GMT


     Is there any drum machine besides the TR-808 that makes those
incredibly low frequency bass notes? Can anyone suggest an inexpensive
model that will produce these notes?

     Also, can anyone give a description of the Roland TB303? I've heard
that it makes great bass sounds. Is it a drum machine? Is it still on the
market? Is there anything else similar to it on the market?

     Lastly, which drum machines on the market today have the best
house/techno sounds on them?

     Thanks,

       Dana

     P.S. Please respond by e-mail if possible. I haven't had time
to keep up with all the posts on this list.
From: ITB650CLOW@redgum.qut.edu.au (The Bard)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Proph VS v Wave >> Arpegiators?
Date: 18 Aug 1992 19:58:39 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

geoff.peters@p4.f820.n680.z3.fido.zeta.org.au (Geoff Peters)

wrote:

>The arpeggiator is what I love most! That was one of the main reasons for my
>Emulator purchase! My JP-8 is used heavily, with the arpeggiator clocked off
>my JamBox interface!

What is an arpeggiator, how is it used, and most importantly what does it
sound like?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bard  equ  itb650clow

Every where I look I see SPU  --  Sample Playback Units
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.multimedia
From: archer@elysium.esd.sgi.com (Archer Sully)
Subject: Re: multimedia question
Organization:  Silicon Graphics, Inc.  Mountain View, CA
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 19:55:49 GMT

In <602@toontown.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM> craig@toontown.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Craig S. Williamson) writes:


*We are looking at putting together a multimedia PC and I have a 
*question about the MIDI side of it.  Should we be getting a General
*MIDI sound module or does that really matter?  We like the sound and
*flexability of a sampler and are looking at the EPS 16+ Turbo.  If 
*we were looking for General MIDI we would be looking at the Sound Canvas
*or 03R/W.  Would General MIDI be a better choiceand easier to integrate?
*This will be for a Product Center to showcase our new machines and we want
*to be able to give a good presentation.  Any advice will be appreciated.
*
*Craig

Here's my view, for what its worth:

If you are doing authoring, you need GM.  

If you are playing back pre-recorded MM presentations, you need GM.

If you are doing your own MM stuff for your own use, or for systems
that will be equipped as yours is, then EPS-16+ may be a good choice.
But bear in mind that you will be showing off the EPS rather than the
computer or your own product.  

Bottom line, don't buy things for work because you like them.  Buy them
because they do the best job for the least money.


                    Archer Sully <archer@sgi.com>          

          "Whoso pulleth this linoleum knife from the mailman is 
                        King born of all England!"
From: David.Sotnick@psycho.fidonet.org (David Sotnick)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: CD-AUDIO Reading
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 92 15:07:32 EDT
Organization: Psycho: The Usenet<->Fidonet Gateway of St. Pete Florida

I worked for a large corporation helping to test the fairly new SONY CD-ROM drive which allows for red-book audio reading. I wrote test cases and programs which read 512 byte blocks from the drive into a ramdrive (a hardfile wasn't fast enough) and then displayed the bytes on the screen. The test pattern was a 1Khz sine wave, and displayed quite nicely on the screen. Unfortunately SONY had a microcode bug which put a glitch in the wave every 13ms (approx 1  512 byte block). So, maybe SGI uses the sony driv

e, but this one definitely allows reading of red-book audio (regular cd-audio) over the SCSI bus (if you have a fast enough transfer rate to get real-time audio).

David Sotnick
ex-SCSI optical/tape development engineer turned poor musician/e-mu fan



--  
Internet: David.Sotnick@psycho.fidonet.org
UUCP: ...!myrddin!tct!psycho!David.Sotnick
Note:psycho is a free gateway between Usenet & Fidonet. For info write to
     root@psycho.fidonet.org.
From: rry@tachyon.att.com (Raghu Yadavalli)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Request for opinions on Keyboards
Summary: Yamaha or Casio?
Date: 13 Aug 92 23:30:24 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T


Hi everyone,

I am in the market for a basic MIDI keyboard to play with
using my PC.  The local BEST stores have the Yamaha PSR 300
and the Casio CT-700 models on sale for $279.  I gather that
that it is a good price for either one of the keyboards.
I can also get a Yamaha PSR 400 for $329 from mail-order.

I am interested in hearing opinions from people familiar with
the keyboards as to which is a better keyborad and what
advantages/disadvantages each might have. 

Should I go for the Yamaha or the Casio?
Is the PSR 400 worth the extra $60?
Are there any other keyboards in the price range I should be
considering?

Please e-mail responses if you don't think this is of
general interest.

Thank you all in advance for your help.


Raghu Yadavalli
raghu.yadavalli@att.com
From: darling@cellar.org (Thomas Darling)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: New MIDI message
Date: 21 Aug 92 00:16:08 GMT
Organization: The Cellar BBS and public access system

aedwards@JUPITER.CSD.UNB.CA (Alan Edwards) writes:

> The drummer and I were discussing the need for a colossal sound at the end
> of a piece, as well as MIDI things in general.
> We decided that a new MIDI message was needed:  All Notes On

Well I agree, there's definately a need for this kind of thing.  But "All
Notes On" doesn't really go far enough.  What we need, instead, is a new
designated controller called "Mayhem Mode."  It would be a switch-type
message, like a pedal.  When switched to 126 (on), it would not only turn on
as many notes as the recieving synth was capable of, it would open all
filters, set MIDI volumes to full, crank all onboard effects to maximum
reverb, and basically raise all-around digital hell.

Sending the controller at 0 (off) would abruptly knock everything back to
normal (or wherever it was before).

> We thought it was a good idea, but are not sure how to present it to the
> IMA.

Those crusty old stodgers wouldn't know an exciting idea if it picked up
a lowpass filter and four-poled them.  Ours is a dream deferred, I'm afraid.

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\\\^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Thomas A. Darling \\\ Fact HQ Studio * record production * dance re-mixing
darling@cellar.org \\\ music for film * The Cellar BBS:215/654-9184 * FACT
v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~\\\~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~v~
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: jtn@ADS.COM (John T. Nelson)
Subject: Re: K2000 teste drive (vs SY99)
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mtn. View, CA (415) 960-7300
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 04:36:50 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.073910.106801@cs.cmu.edu> sef@sef-pmax.slisp.cs.cmu.edu writes:
>
>    Should I wait for the K3000?
>    
>Well, the K3000 will be pretty neat, but I hear Seymour Cray is doing a
>liquid-helium cooled galluim arsenide DSP engine for the K4000, so maybe
>you'd better not rush into an impulsive purchase...  In the meantime, keep
>practicing your chops on that Casio thingy you bought at K-mart.

Actually its a D-50, Roland's flagship synthesiser with built-in white
noise and distortion generators in each and every patch!

- Dark Hacker
--
---

Dark Hacker				hacker@black-silicon.mclean.va.us

Xref: sparky rec.music.synth:13581 comp.music:4135 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:11550 comp.sys.mac.misc:14918
From: moon!cyberden!system@well.sf.ca.us
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.music,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: New specs of Atari Falcon (500 Pounds)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 92 10:38:49 PDT
Organization: Indescribable Creations

mspace@netcom.com (Brian Hall) writes:

> system@cyberden.uucp (Xorcist) writes:
> 
> >Um... err... a Mac setup to do 8 Ch. DSP 50K playback and recording
> >would run yer ass $10,000 US dollars or higher... 2 Pro-Tools with
> >software, Tax, etc... for $700, this little gem MIGHT kick some 
> >butt... Now we just have to see what software will be driving it.
> > 
> >The other consideration is if the S/PDIF AES/EBU ports are OPTIONAL for a 
> >gazillion dollars, or standard.
> ><X>orcist
> 
> While not $700, you could look into SampleCell NuBus cards for your Mac.
> 
> Having been an Atari developer in the early-mid eighties, I would not
> ohold my breath for any piece of hardware from the Tramiel Atari.
> 
True, yet Sample Cells (8 voices) will not record, and are $2000 w/0 RAM 
(are my prices correct here, that's what I remember).

Let's just see Atari screw things up and not use standard SIMMS... naaa.. 
they wouldn't do that... perhaps a 8 MB RAM limitation? Naaa... ok, back 
to work
<X>

__________________________________________________________________________
   |       /         |\
   | H E   \ Y B E R |/ E N       [ moon!cyberden!system@well.sf.ca.us ]
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: dhardma@intelhf.hf.intel.com (Dave Hardman)
Subject: Alesis D4 - some questions
Organization: Development Tools Operation, Intel Corp., Hillsboro  OR
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 92 21:57:22 GMT

All this talk about the Alesis D4 makes me want one!
But, I have a couple of questions for you D4 users.

1.  How much does one of these cost?  Where is the
    best place to get one?

2.  For those of you that have built your own pads,
    are you happy with them?  Is there enough 
    sensetivity to dynamics?

Your advice/comments are greatly appreciated.

Dave
dhardman@pcocd2.intel.com
From: geoff.peters@p4.f820.n680.z3.fido.zeta.org.au (Geoff Peters)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Prophet VS versus KORG Wa
Date: 10 Aug 92 16:20:02 GMT
Organization: Fidonet. Gate admin is fido@socs.uts.edu.au

Original to: jrblack
 > RE: Prophet VS versus KORG Wavestation...
 > 
 > >.... Yes and how about the wonderful arpeggiator of the VS ??
 > >The super expert of cannibalization (KORG) were able to get rid of
 > >that beautiful tool even on the Wavestation !!!
 > 
 >         Don't you think it would be a bit redundant to add an arpeggiator
to
 > a machine that features wave sequencing which allows you to create
arpeggio's?
 > True - a little more difficult - but do-able.

Pish and tush!

The arpeggiator is what I love most! That was one of the main reasons for my
Emulator purchase! My JP-8 is used heavily, with the arpeggiator clocked off
my JamBox interface!

I looked at the WaveStation A/D and thought, "mmm, nice sounds in places,
but not my scene ...".

By the way, if anyone actually _reads_ this, could you reply? I'm testing a
new fido<->internet gate and no-one is really sure whether posting to a
group like this actually works :-)


Geoff


--- Jabberwocky Demo
 * Origin: No! Not that! Not the Minimoog! (3:680/820.4)
From: pgr@ramandu.ext.vt.edu (Patrick Robinson)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Tangerine Dream Equipment on this tour
Date: 18 Aug 92 19:25:05 GMT

Gordon Van Huizen writes
> Maybe it's time for a TD Reunion Tour. Whatever happened to Peter Baumann  
> and Chris Franke anyway?

I was watching "Raven" (on TV), probably a month or so ago, and
I saw "Music - Chris Franke" in the closing credits.  Anyone know
if this is the same Chris Franke?

-Patrick
 pgr@ramandu.ext.vt.edu
From: D_NIBBY@UNHH.UNH.EDU (Dana   Nibby)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Korg "T" series
Date: 17 Aug 92 12:49:09 GMT


I've been told the Korg "T" series uses .SDS sample dump standard.
So if I bought a Korg T1 or T3 (which is the keyboard model vs. rack mount?),
where could I pick-up samples from? Do Ensoniq EPS 16+ keyboards use S.SADS as
well? I've been planning on buying a Korg M1 for awhile, but if the T"T" series
has .SDS, it seems like the obvious choice. (making the M1 a dinosaur)
Why did Korg stop production on the "T" series? They still produce the
M1! I know they're pushing the O1/W right now, but why not make only T1"T"s
with the .SDS and not M1as? Does anyone here own a T1? If so, please e-mail.
I'm seriously considering buying one in the next few ewweeks if I can
find a used one. Also, what is a reasonable price for a used "T" series
keyboard (standard... no fancy things like weighted keys or anything)

   Thanks,

    Dana (D_NIBBY@UNHH.UNH.EDYU)
From: davei@comp.lancs.ac.uk (Mr D Ingles)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Yamaha PSR-400 PSR 500.. Help!
Date: 20 Aug 92 13:27:50 GMT
Organization: Department of Computing at Lancaster University, UK.

In article <SYNTH-L%92081919132256@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU> DELACRUZ@UTFSM writes:
>
>    I am planning to purchase a keyboard.(I've allready set most of the
> features I want from a keyboard). I've been recently taking a look on
> the Yamaha PSR-500, and I noticed that the closer model, the PSR-400
> is almost the same thing, but less memory banks. Is it a big difference?
> I want my keyboard for general use , and I have already a MIDI interface
> on my PC (W/ Soundblaster Pro). Please advice me , should I buy another
> kind of keyboard?...Is it true the 28 voice polyphony..Can I make
> patches?..

I once was looking at a PSR-400 / PSR-500 but i decided to go for a
KAWAI K4r rackmount and separate full size keyboard.  KAWAI make a K4
also, which is almost the same as the K4r but it has a built in
keyboard.  There are quite a few patches for the k4 - I have something
in the region of 500-600 of them.  The K4 is about the same price as the
Yamaha PSR 400 / 500.  I would suggest that you take a look at it before
spending your cash.

Davei
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Money to spend...
From: sands@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz (Greg Sands)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 04:59:27 GMT
Reply-To: g.sands@aukuni.ac.nz
Organization: University of Auckland

moon!cyberden!system@well.sf.ca.us writes:
>Maybe a Korg M1? T1? T2? Or perhaps the new
>Emu performance Synth? Those sound good and cheap. (No, wait, I meant good
>sounding, cheap price!)

I thought the M1 & T1 only had 61 keys.  I haven't seen anything about the
Emu.  Have you any info on it?  

Greg.
-- 
Greg Sands.                           |  Department of Engineering Science
-----------                           |  University of Auckland           
g.sands@aukuni.ac.nz                  |  New Zealand.
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: mikek@iex.UUCP (Mike Keilhofer)
Subject: JV80 sound cards (anybody heard them?)
Organization: IEX Corporation
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 19:47:23 GMT

Has anyone heard the PCM cards for the JV80? In particular
the Drum card? Also, I'm somewhat confused on how you use them.

Any help appreciated.

Michael K.

==================================================
Michael Keilhofer          
Email: [uunet!]iex!mikek or mikek@iex.com
==================================================

From: bollard@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Lee M. Bollard)
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 15:02:17 GMT
Subject: Module for midi AND games?
Organization: Hewlett Packard Company, Spokane, Wa.
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth

Is there a sound board/module that will do what the Soundblaster-type
cards do, and also provide high quality midi-controlled sound?

I would like to buy an external module, have it be "general midi" 
compatible, and be able to use it to play the sounds from PC games too.


Regards,

Lee Bollard              
HP Spokane Division
bollard@hpspkla.spk.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth