KVR Audio

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:25 pm

Hi,
I was an unsatisfied user of the M-Audio Keystation 88 Pro. Main drawbacks were:
1) Black keys were much more velocity sensitive than white keys. This can be easily explained by the different leverage of the two keys, clearly not compensated for by software.
2) The white keys had a bad mechanical response due to the high inertia of the hammer.

After asking for support to both M-Audio and the italian dealer, without any helpful response, I decided to DIY. So I disassembled the keyboard.
1) I made three holes 13mm diameter on each hammer of the 52 white keys. Now static weight is only 50g, bounce is more natural, repetition at higher rate is possible and velocity sensitivity is very good (tested with 8 velocity layer piano sample).
2) I used Midi-OX for velocity mapping.
Some details about the Translation Map follow:
White keys
Example. Keys 11 and 12 (lowest B-C notes)
First line
IN
Chan 1
Msg NoteOn
Value 1 Min 11
Value 1 Max 12
Value 2 Min 0
Value 2 Max 100

OUT
Chan 1
Msg MoteOn
Value 1 Min 11
Value 1 Max 12
Value 2 Min 0
Value 2 Max 30

Second line
IN
Chan 1
Msg NoteOn
Value 1 Min 11
Value 1 Max 12
Value 2 Min 101
Value 2 Max 127

OUT
Chan 1
Msg MoteOn
Value 1 Min 11
Value 1 Max 12
Value 2 Min 31
Value 2 Max 127

Black keys
Example. Key 10 (lowest A# note)
Fist line
IN
Chan 1
Msg NoteOn
Value 1 Min 10
Value 1 Max 10
Value 2 Min 0
Value 2 Max 110

OUT
Chan 1
Msg MoteOn
Value 1 Min 10
Value 1 Max 10
Value 2 Min 0
Value 2 Max 30

Second line
IN
Chan 1
Msg NoteOn
Value 1 Min 10
Value 1 Max 10
Value 2 Min 111
Value 2 Max 127

OUT
Chan 1
Msg MoteOn
Value 1 Min 10
Value 1 Max 10
Value 2 Min 31
Value 2 Max 127

To import the very long map from a text file see the thread on Midi-OX forum:
http://www.midiox.com/cgi/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Mapping;
action=display;num=1098895831

The velocity curve selected on the Keystation 88 Pro is the linear one.
Performance with Galaxy Steinway is now fully satisfactory.
If you are satisfied with the mechanical response only point 2) is of interest. In this case you may need to change some values for the white keys two-zone sensitivity mapping.
Regards
Angelo
Bologna, Italy

nutsadamus · Post by **nutsadamus** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:46 pm

Wow,

Thats quite a mod you got there.

I'd love seeing some pictures of what you did to the hammers. I've heard that controller has a Fatar keybed in it, is that true? Not a big fan of those after having to repair dozens of Kurzweil keybeds. Dropped weights, worn pads, full velocity notes, they're a pain to deal with.

no_barcode · Post by **no_barcode** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:58 pm

nutsadamus wrote:Wow,

Thats quite a mod you got there.

I'd love seeing some pictures of what you did to the hammers. I've heard that controller has a Fatar keybed in it, is that true? Not a big fan of those after having to repair dozens of Kurzweil keybeds. Dropped weights, worn pads, full velocity notes, they're a pain to deal with.

I went through 2 in my Kurzweil K2600S - they said I was playing it too hard and causing the weights to break through at first, until Fatar finally admitted to it being a problem with the original mold.

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:03 pm

Another option is to get an rma from m audio and have them send you the second revision...

alexibm · Post by **alexibm** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:49 pm

S_A_P® wrote:Another option is to get an rma from m audio and have them send you the second revision...

What do you mean by RMA and 2nd revision ?

alexibm · Post by **alexibm** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:52 pm

S_A_P® wrote:Another option is to get an rma from m audio and have them send you the second revision...

What do you mean by RMA and 2nd revision ?

ZioKiller · Post by **ZioKiller** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:56 pm

he means read this

alexibm · Post by **alexibm** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:05 pm

ha ! Intresting
So, they haven't updated it yet ?

alexibm · Post by **alexibm** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:06 pm

How about latency ? I read somewhere that keyboard has high internal latency !

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:20 am

Hi
Reply to nutsadamus:

Unfortunately, I have not taken any picture of my work. Anyway, two 13mm holes are side by side on the central part of the hammer (white keys) and the third one is in the square at the end.
I do not now if the keybed is made by Fatar but the manufacturing seems very good.

Reply to alexibm:

I do not use USB connection, only midi and external supply. I have not found any latency problem, and I am very sensible to this point.

Reply to S_A_P® and Ziokiller:

The support by M-Audio and the italian dealer was completely unsatisfactory. M-Audio did not answer at all and the italian dealer gave aswers that did not match with my questions. So I decided to DIY. Now I have a deeper knowledge of the instrument and this an advantage for me.

Best regards. Angelo
Bologna, Italy

Keystation 88 Pro Turbo