Re: New Keyboard mag

[jjp@mink.mt.att.com]

> I failed to get a keyboard magazine here in germany.
> 
> Could somebody send me a copy or fax or scanned data of that article?

Not an article, just a letter.  Here's the whole thing:

        "I enjoyed your article on Leslie simulators [May '95].  I use
        a Korg Toneworks G4 with my XB-2. The only drawback of the G4 is
        that it doesn't have any way of controlling speed switches via
        MIDI. Fortunately, I have found a MIDI solution, thanks to a
        company that advertises in your magazine, called - what else? -
        MIDI Solutions. Their Relay switching unit can be activated by
        MIDI messages. The unit has a 1/4" jack and MIDI in and out
        jacks. I plug the 1/4" output of the Relay into the G4 speed
        footswitch jack, using a regular cable. The MIDI out of the XB-2
        goes to the MIDI in of the sequencer, MIDI out of the sequencer
        to the XB-2 MIDI in, and the MIDI thru of the XB-2 to the MIDI
        in of the Relay. The Relay can be programmed to respond to any
        control change, sys-ex, or other types of MIDI messages. It
        retains these settings in nonvolatile memory and can be programmed
        by way of a sequencer, using a sys-ex dump. I have mine set for
        CC#92, which is the Leslie on/off switch number on the XB-2.
        When I'm sequencing, I use this control to switch between fast
        and slow in the G4, and the sequence saves this to the program.
        Thus, the G4 is somewhat MIDIfied.
                                                         Herb Ross
                                                         Somerville, MA"
                                                         
Of course, it's not necessary to have the sequencer in the setup.
This guy's example shows how speed changes can be recorded then
played back using a sequencer.  A simpler setup (and the way I plan
to use it) is MIDI out of the XB-2 to the Relay, with the Relay
connected to my PRO-3 with a standard 1/4" cord.  This will give
speed control of the PRO-3 from the XB-2's Leslie tab, with visual
indication of the speed via the tab's light.  If you prefer a footswitch
for controlling speed, the XB-2's footswitch jack can be used.  The
advantage of that over using just the PRO-3's footswitch is the visual
feedback that will still be reflected at the Leslie tab.  The only
drawback to this scheme is that you are restricted to slow/fast
operation - not brake (that's okay with me).

FYI, this box is apparently powered form the MIDI line itself.
There's no external power cords or batteries.

I don't know if their are other vendors out there with similar products.
One to check might be Anatek (800-736-1271); they're the makers of
those "Pocket" MIDI boxes (Thru, Merge, Sync, etc).

John Pittas