The Keyboards In My Life

[ClavAnother]

Circa 1985. (Casio PT-82. Yes, it is a children's synth)

AH! I forgot the Casio SK-5

[ClavAnother]

Cool guys! Also, what year did you get your first synth/board?

That Wurly is actually the very first keyboard I ever bought for myself, in spring of 1984, for $50. The Juno 106 (and a Korg EX800, now part of Metro's collection) was bought a year later.

Awesome that you kept it. I sold my 200 years ago, and would very much like to get another one (but where to put it?? I'm at capacity!)

[ClavAnother]

Holy cow, I just glanced at my OP, that list is scary long. I should reformat it like sir soundwave did

Nah man. The bigger the list, the cooler you appear.

I counted 56 from that list. There could have been more. That's crazy, man.

[ClavAnother]

Uh and teh Fizmo...57

[ClavAnother]

Christ, Clav. That's a shit ton.

(in order of appearance) (keys and modules/racks/desktops)

Casio PT-82 (current)
Casio SK-1 (current)
Kimball Spinet Piano (current)
Yamaha PSR-540 (current)
Korg MicroKorg (sold)
Alesis Micron (sold)
Korg MS2000br (current)
Clavia Nord Lead 2x (sold)
Waldorf Blofeld (sold)
Roland Gaia (FUCKING RETURNED TO SENDER)
Roland SH-201 (current)
Kurzweil K2000 (current)
Korg KingKORG (current)
Korg Minilogue (sold)
Roland JU-06 (sold)
Roland System 8 (current)

I wanted to do chronological, but I'm not certain I can..It's almost thirty years, and twice as many items

[selfinflikted]

I wanted to do chronological, but I'm not certain I can..It's almost thirty years, and twice as many items

It was easy for me because my list is short(er). Plus, my mind doesn't forget things like that. What happened yesterday? Couldn't tell you. But in circa 1985 that Casio PT-82 (that came with a ROM "tape") taught me how to play Greensleeves. I will never forget that.

[ClavAnother]

Nice. Did it show you how to do it like this?

[soundwave106]

Cool guys! Also, what year did you get your first synth/board?

I got the DX27S in 1988 I believe. The Juno 106 and D-50 followed around say 1991ish. Hard to remember.

It's funny, much of what I have had for some reason is rackmount or desktop. Not counting "drum machine" type stuff that list would be: DSI Evolver, Polyevolver rack; Waldorf Pulse, Pulse Plus, Microwave 1, Microwave 2; Yamaha TX16W, A3000; Roland MKS-80, JV1010; Elektron Monomachine; Future Retro 777, XS; Kawai K5000R; Oberheim SEM (reissue); Moog Minitaur.

Only one of those rack / desktop synths is left (bolded), and it is in not very great condition, kind of sitting in the garage.

[ElectricPuppy]

I've always been intrigued by the additive harmonic Kawais. It seems like they ought to be capable of some nearly realistic or unearthly sounds. What say you, SWave?

[ClavAnother]

JP-8000 how could I forget...58

[soundwave106]

I've always been intrigued by the additive harmonic Kawais. It seems like they ought to be capable of some nearly realistic or unearthly sounds. What say you, SWave?

Realistic is tough with *just* additive -- although in theory it's possible, in practice it probably would take a little more than "just" partials and envelopes (you'd have to synthesize any non-partial elements / noise elements, which many instruments have quite a bit of). You could probably go a long way if you had a "D-50" style PCM section of plucks and strike sounds to add to your additive voice.

Unearthly sounds, yes. The Kawai K5000S excelled at a particular type of icy or mystical / twinkling type of pad. Ultimately I felt the programming was too painful for what it did, random programming seemed to lean towards the "cold" side of mystical pads. But I can't think of too many synths that excel in the K5000 series' sweet spot. Some people don't mind the pain; the K5000 series seems to have a bit of a cult following (like other "non standard" synths of the time, eg the Fizmo)

In my opinion, the now dearly departed Camel Alchemy (unless you are a Apple Logic user) can kind of cover the same ground, although the tone is different. For something like additive I *prefer* computers to any hardware interface. (Even then it's still time consuming compared to standard subtractive, so I have this tendency with Alchemy to let others do the programming for me. )

[ElectricPuppy]

Thanks for the thoughts, sir!


Also Clav, I think if you think about it some more, you can cough up a 59 or even 60th keyboard.

[ClavAnother]

I'm working on it

[ClavAnother]

I wanted to start this thread to put my synth addiction into perspective. I knew I had a problem, I just had no idea how seriously bad it was. You guys probably already knew.

[ElectricPuppy]

We had an inkling. It works out for me, though, because I get to hear about keys I'll probably never have, so MOAR POWAR TO YOU SIR

[ClavAnother]

ha. yes. well good.

You know I should have done gear demo thread posts for them all while they were here.

Anyway, my final analysis:

They are ALL good!




Except the FIZMO. THe Fizmo sux

[Plink Floyd]

I wanted to start this thread to put my synth addiction into perspective. I knew I had a problem, I just had no idea how seriously bad it was. You guys probably already knew.

Yes, the hardest step is admitting you have a problem. Of course, deep down you know the only cure is GIVE THEM ALL TO ME! AT ONCE, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

I and my truk will be there tomorrow, like a true friend should do. Just stay out of the basement till after, it'll be easier that way.

There there.

[ElectricPuppy]

There there.

Quoted for comfort.

[ClavAnother]

New plan. I'm going to feed the addiction whatever it wants

[selfinflikted]

New plan. I'm going to feed the addiction whatever it wants

I approve of this plan.