Novation ReMOTE SL boasts Automap feature for intelligent MIDI control
March 4, 2006
The Novation ReMOTE SL MIDI controller keyboard introduces a new way to control music software, with its proprietary addition to MIDI called Automap.
The keyboard features a host of controller inputs plus two large, brightly backlit 144-character LCD screens which intelligently change, along with all the controllers, to useful items when compatible software (such as Ableton Live, Reason, and Cubase) changes.
Or, as Novation’s site puts it:
Finally, recording in the dark is a thing of the past. The SL shines a light on the murky world of MIDI control by providing two giant, brightly lit LCD screens alongside an intelligent Automap mode*, which detects what instruments you have in your project and intelligently and logically maps the controls to the SL’s front panel.
The keyboard itself is semi-weighted, velocity and aftertouch-sensitive, and comes with an assignable X/Y touchpad, joystick, and a total of 64 assignable knobs, buttons and sliders, plus 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads, plus dedicated transport controls.
See specifications, videos, review quotes, and more, at the official Novation site.
(Via Gizmag.co.uk)
Orla PK400 accordion keyboard
March 4, 2006
Ever fancied playing an accordion keyboard synth? Then the Orla PK400 could be for you!
It has to be one of the more unusual keyboard layouts I’ve seen. What do you think?
- See the full specifications.
Piano history and cultural relevance
March 4, 2006
An interesting little article: The History and Role of the Piano in the Modern World, covering the origin and ongoing cultural relevance of the piano.
Classic Cable-Nelson piano brand revived by Yamaha
March 4, 2006
Yamaha have revived the classic Cable-Nelson American piano brand with their entry-level CN116 upright acoustic piano.
Presented as the entry-level to Yamaha quality, this revived brand will be produced at the new Yamaha factory outside of Shanghai, China, with all design and manufacture to be executed by Yamaha using Yamaha employees and equipment. The Cable-Nelson product will offer the same 10-year warranty as other Yamaha brands, with the full support of Yamaha Corporation of America.
The new Cable-Nelson CN116 is a 46″ (116 cm) studio-size vertical piano features a traditional cabinet with toe block and square legs, and will be offered in a high-gloss polyester ebony finish.
Like all Yamaha pianos, it looks fantastic. Entry-level it may be, but it will surely be a fantastic instrument to own and play when space is at more of a premium.
- Read the full press release
Piano keyboard musical frequency chart and explanation
March 4, 2006
Vibrationdata.com has a useful article which shows the fundamental and overtone frequencies for all the notes on a standard tuned piano, and describes the relationship between notes.
If you’re interested in the physics behind your piano playing, take a look at their
piano page.
I weakened - P140 now sits next to me
March 4, 2006
Yes, I was weak…
I looked at a local music dealer’s web site and saw the lowest price yet on a Yamaha P140S digital piano.
I got it for £699 when the RRP is £925.
How could I refuse?
So, now it’s sitting looking all gorgeous.
I will probably show off some pictures soon. Yes, I know you can see pictures at the Yamaha site, but this is my P140S
Now, time to play some more.
Yamaha P140 digital piano favourably reviewed by Keyboard magazine
March 4, 2006
The January issue of Keyboard Magazine (links to scanned copy) has a very positive review of one of Yamaha’s latest digital stage pianos, the P140 (P140S).
Which is good, because I’m just about to go and buy one…
The review includes a clear diagram of the instrument, pointing out all the main features.
Let’s cut to the important bits, as Keyboard Magazine sees it:
Pros:
- High-quality piano-like keyboard action
- Rich and variable sounds
- Strong clean sound from built-in speakers
- Lightweight for an 88-key digital piano
- Attractive
Cons:
- No 1/4″ outputs
- RCA output level (volume) not adjustable
- Some buzzing from internal speakers at maximum volume
To be honest, if these are the only problems the reviewer found, this is praise indeed for the Yamaha piano.
The output issue can be resolved with use of converter cables and a good mixing desk/amplifier.
Most keyboards I’ve ever played emit some kind of buzz or vibration when playing at full volume through the internal speakers: solution - don’t play at full volume!
The P140 (black) and P140S (silver) were reviewed by Michael Gallant, a professional musician/pianist, so he should know what he’s talking about.
All in all a very positive review and proof that Yamaha continue to produce high-quality digital instruments.
Links:
- Keyboard Magazine
- Yamaha P140 product page
- Yamaha P120 and P140 comparison
- Yamaha’s range of home, contemporary and stage pianos
The IN’s and OUT’s of MIDI
March 4, 2006
MidiStudio.com have a useful article aimed primarily at the beginning home/amateur musician who wants to understand MIDI and audio setups, and get a few MIDI synths and PC connected together.
Though it’s entitled The In’s and Out’s of MIDI it actually covers other principles such as PC cards, audio mixers, connection cables, and sequencing software.
It’s not an exhaustive introduction to MIDI but it’s a useful ‘hands-on’ guide to setting up a basic home studio, and there’s a link to a fairly active forum on the topic as well.
Principles of sound synthesis
March 3, 2006
Those clever people at Salford University (UK) has produced an online guide to the principles of sound synthesis.
This article aims to discuss principles, techniques and popular equipment to synthesise musical instrument sounds.
It has sections on:
- The structure of sound
- Acoustic sound generation
- Additive synthesis
- Subtractive synthesis
- Wave equations beyond the 1D case
- Frequency modulation
- Sampling
- Virtual modular synthesis
- Digital wave-guide modelling
Minod Vorga: new analog synth
March 3, 2006
The Minod Vorga is a new analog synth (being released this month) “designed to offer a unique sound and an easy-to-use interface.”
The official website describes the effort that has gone into designing a fast and easy interface with much reliance on the joystick.
The analog joystick by default controls pitch bend and modulation. But any other control can be assigned to it in any combination. For example, you can have filter cutoff frequency on the vertical axis and LFO frequency on the horizontal.
The joystick is also used to load and store patches and sequences and to select MIDI channels.
The Vorga comes with brief instructions inscribed on the front panel, which is probably just as well as, although the website suggests that “you will master the interface after a few minutes of practice”, you might sometimes be wondering just which button to press to accomplish a particular effect.
It certainly looks the part, made from a choice of wood, and aluminium, but what can it do?
DCO (Digitally Controlled Oscillator):
The DCO is directly controlled by the MIDI unit. The timing of the waveforms is controlled by a quartz crystal but the waveform itself is generated by analog circuitry. The waveshaper has two outputs:
- variable width pulse waveform
- saw or hard synch waveform
The timbre knob controls both pulse width and synch slave frequency. The DCO/waveshaper also has the ability to glide, animate and to add vibrato to the sound.
VCF (Voltage-Controlled Filter):
The MINOD® VORGA filter is the backbone of its original sound. It has two modes set by a switch: 24dB Low pass (4-pole) or 12dB Band pass (2×2-pole) with variable width, where both ends are 2-pole or 12dB/oct. The cutoff frequency and bandwidth can be varied independently. What makes the filter unique is the two resonance peaks, one on each side of the band pass filter. This creates timbres not available on traditional analog synths. The drive control helps too.
The filter has six parameters: cutoff, offset, resonance (dubbed Q in the schematic), drive, velocity, and envelope. The first controls the center frequency of the filter. The second controls the bandwidth. resonance sets the resonant response on both peaks. The drive controls the power driven into the filter and can give distortion effects. Velocity controls the MIDI velocity influence on the cutoff. Finally, envelope controls the amount of envelope influence on the cutoff frequencies.
LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator:
The LFO in the VORGA has one control for the Rate, or frequency. It goes from very slow into audio (well above 100Hz). It has a triangular or random waveform. It can be synched to MIDI.
Envelope Generator:
The envelope generator on the VORGA is the standard ADSR (attack time, decay time, sustain level and release time) found on most analog synthesizers. It controls the VCA output driving the filter, can influence the waveform via the animation control, and influences the filter cutoff frequency of the filer via the envelope knob. The VCA level is also influenced by MIDI velocity, as controlled by the accent control.
Sequencer:
The built in sequencer works like an analog sequencer. You set the notes by turning the knobs. Velocity can be edited for each note. Notes can be turned off or joined to the previous one. The note length can be set from very short to overlapping, to allow glide effctes. The sequence length can be set to 6 or 8, in 16ths or 8ths, straight or swing. The sequence can be transposed by an external MIDI keyboard, the internal keys or using the joystick.
The joystick keeps its setting when going into sequence mode, so assigned sound patch controls can be accessed during sequence mode.
MIDI:
The MINOD® VORGA supports a full MIDI interface. It can function as a master sequencer, be used as a general controller or playback an external sequence track. All parameters can be controlled at any time via MIDI.
Using SYSEX commands, patches and sequences can be uploaded to a computer and stored for later use. The firmware can also be upgraded via MIDI as bug fixes and new features comes along.
This is a pretty cool looking and sounding synth, that may well feature best as part of a bigger setup. Keyboard-heads like me might struggle with it on its own, though it obviously has potential as the demo MP3s on the site suggest.
Visit Minod Vorga site (via Synthtopia)
