Sweetwater GearFest

[christianrock]

When I said I needed MIDI I of course meant 5 pin DIN.

And I know all bout MIDI nao, because this:

You look like you were giggling like a schoolgirl.

I would too.

[Plink Floyd]

Yeah lol.

And it looks like Dave is trying to whisper out of the corner of his mouth "HELP! SECURITY!"

Which, yeah, he kinda was...

[midinut]

I picked up one of those newfangled SpaceStation V3 amplifiers from them over the Gearfest weekend. It just arrived today. So far, I am impressed.

[Plink Floyd]

Wow, that really works? Kool!

[Plink Floyd]

Here we go:



The sky looked like that all weekend. It rained half the time. When I got to the synth tent, the power was off as a precaution, so mfgrs were just standing around talking to people. So I did that too.






I know, I already showed that one. But I like it.

[Plink Floyd]

The power came back pretty soon, so making noise was again possible. I really love the Linnstrument. I will someday have one. Oh yes.




This here is an awesum synth too. played by the designer:

[Plink Floyd]

The Koddessy (sigh). I praise the sound. It duplicates the original EXACTLY.



I lament the form factor. Much as I've tried, I just can't abide the kinder keys. And I was really looking forward to finally trying the Proportional Pitch Control, and IT WAS TERRIBLE! You practically had to stand on it to do any bending at all. I don't know if the original was like that, but this fails. It reminded me of the aftertouch on a Roland A-80.

I looked for Rich F to lodge a formal complaint, but was told he now works for Casio. He probably left because of that thing. I saw him later but he was busy so I didn't bug him.


Here's a slutty rack:




Here's one for CR:

[Plink Floyd]

The bargain tent:





Not too many keys/synths, but tons of guitars, bass & amps though.

[Plink Floyd]

The retail store has been greatly enlarged. Especially the keys area yay!

[Plink Floyd]

Just inside the entrance was an interesting display of Sweetwater's origins. The founder and Prez, Chuck Surack (may he live long and prosper), after touring with a band as keyboardist/saxophonist, began his business as a mobile recording studio in a VW van. Here are some of the vintage tools he used.











Yep, he even still has the van.

[Plink Floyd]

Among other presentations, I attended a couple talks by Anderton. As always, very edumacational.





But to me, this year's highlight was the "Synth Icon Panel" discussion.



Very cool to hear their stories, and to hear their talk of Bob M., Mr. Buchla and others. By their own admission,
they're just a bunch of nerds like us. They're all friends & still get together for BS sessions. They call themselves
"The Dead President Society", because they've all been president of a company that's died.

[Plink Floyd]

Here mah posse (Guitar Boy, his band, & a couple extras).

[Plink Floyd]

And just in case you wondered (and you know you were),

they're real, and they're spectacular...
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[ClavAnother]

...and on the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

7 stacks of marshalls
6 packs of 2-4
5 golden toques
4 pounds of back bacon
3 French toast
2 turtlenecks
and a beer in a tree

[ElectricPuppy]

Nice pics, Plink! Looks like it was fun, wish I could have been there myself.

I thank you!

[christianrock]

Excellent report as always!

[Plink Floyd]

Here's a utoob of the Synth Icon Panel discussion. I haven't watched it, but I've a feeling
that the 'being there' mojo made it more entertaining than watching the vid.



lol at least check the very beginning. At the far right you can see my arms holding up my phoan to take this pic:



Lolol and at the bottom far right of that pic, one row in front of me, is Anderton's bald spot.

[MetroSonus]

So are they real or not?

I dont play guitar.

[christianrock]

Well all I can see is that not a single one is connected or powered up...

[Plink Floyd]

Well all I can see is that not a single one is connected or powered up...

Thank Ghod! Can you imagine, if every guitar dude @ the fest was allowed to blast on that thing?

So are they real or not?

Yeah, I sayed so. And spectacular too.

I wonder if any band ever actually used a real functioning Wall O Marshalls, or were they always fake...