Re: Controllers etc.

[Brad Baker <bpb@bpbsn.cca.rockwell.com>]

david somppi writes:

  > It is time for me to get into the 90's with my gear.  I am
  > beginning a search in earnest for some combination of controller
  > and module(s) that will meet the following criteria:

wrong direction david! you need to get into the 60's with your gear!

  > 1) Produce resonably good acoustic piano and Hammond sounds.
  > 2) Be portable.
  > 3) Is cheap.

  > I have a small van so I can move my Leslie 145 around and also
  > have access to a reasonably good Roland amp.  I would appreciate
  > any words of wisdom from you guys about sources of information
  > and/or equipment.

if you insist upon piano sounds then you will need some midi thing
with velocity sensitivity. in this case you will need to run and buy a
hammond xb-2 (check the faq). it has velocity sensitivity, midi
output, drawbars and more. then buy some half-rack piano thing,
ie. kurzweil, whatever. run the xb-2 into the 145 and the piano module
into something else.

this will give you a very good hammond *sound*, (if not the hammond
_experience_ i must point out) and a piano sound that is as good as
you're willing to pay for.

there is, however, a combination controller/module that meets three of
your requirements quite nicely (specially since you've got that small
van) that will provide playing satisfaction second only to the a/b/c
family of hammonds. a hammond m-3 driven into that 145 will satisfy
your organ sound requirement, will be reasonably portable with wheels
under it, and can be found quite inexpensively if you look
diligently. and the setup is a snap compared to controllers/modules/
midi/amps/cords'n'cables/mixers/pedals, etc.

  > I noticed a local store has a Roland A30 on sale(?) for $600 Can
  > (<$500 US).  Is this a reasonable price?

what's a roland a30? does it have drawbars and percussion?

---
bradley baker           "I don't want a module or a synth, I hate
bpb@cca.rockwell.com     them, I want a big bastard Hammond that
                         screems, hums and smells like an old man's
                         house."  - Perry Hemus