Good afternoon, I'm a pianist-now-keyboard-player in a band and need a live rig! I'm somewhat unimpressed with hardware keyboards, having used Logic's internal sounds for 6 months. My afternoon at Guitar Center left me uninspired (tried rd700gx, yamaha s90es, etc..) So, I'm intrigued about going either the Laptop/Mainstage route or the Muse Receptor path. Here's what I own already - kurzweil sp88, Apogee Duet, 24"iMac with 3GytesRAM, LogicPro installed along with Mainstage. So, I have all that I need to run mainstage really. So, a few Mainstage options (before getting to the Receptor):
(1) Would I be nuts to take my home 24" iMac to gigs? I was using Mainstage yesterday on the iMac and it was working just fine, no stability problems (I have 3 gbytes ram, intel duo, running 10.4.2). Also, THIS OPTION IS FREE - just bring the computer! Any crates/cases for iMacs that would make this safe/feasible? I could just get a 10k external drive & run Ivory and be all set. This option is very cheap and just uses what I already have.
(2) "Take an iMac to gigs??? You nuts - buy a new macbookpro!!" Of course, this costs at least $2500 more than the free "use iMac" option, but is more naturally portable. I'm concerned (based on some apple.com discussions) that I might buy a new mbp, with the newest OS, only to find that the stability I see on my iMac doesn't carry over to the new MBP! And, at that point, I would have bought a MBP for nothing - and blown my "otherwise" keyboard budget on a MBP I don't really need.
(3) Computer, schmuter - just buy a Muse Receptor! Here's my questions on the Receptor:
1. is there any way to get an old copy of Ivory pre-installed, something like that? I'd be bummed to
not be able to get Ivory - just love the demos for that one.
2. Can you run vocals (for effects) and keys through the receptor at the same time? Would you need
to have a vocal track in each "multi" (i think they are called)?
3. How do you make on the fly changes to B3 type sounds via the Receptor?
4. Will my Traynor K4 keyboard amp (have a pair of them now) even "reveal" the differences in quality from a Receptor?
Anyway, you can see that my questions about the Receptor are primarily in comparison to just trying
Researching the Receptor for purchase, keyboardist rig
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- KVRist
- 65 posts since 18 Dec, 2006 from NE US
How you doin...I cant answer all of your questions, but I'll drop my experiences using a Rec pro Jr...
I had a Roland rd700sx....bought the Rec for piano as I am amazed that the technology available to these keyboard mftr's, and yet still not a decent grand...dont get me wrong, the 700 was a great board and had the best piano action Ive found yet, but after using the Rec jr and Ivory, with the Italian grand, I simply wont use anything else, unless theres a 7 or 9' Stway on the job, which luckily, sometimes there are. Im using it with a simple Roland fp3 as I like the rhodes on that, and its only 40 lp's..plus the action suits me.
It not only sounds great, but I can actually feel the wood, so if your a pianist, you may know what Im talking about on that.
As far as organ, a few friends of mine tell me they use B4 on their units and its simply incredible..I guess you can set it up to utilize the drawbars, but Im not sure.
The Rec was expensive, but it was well worth it, and to me it was a great investment. I may ether it to my mac setup and look at the new small musebox coming out simply because I would only use it for piano, but I have to look into that, as I just read about it.
I have a friend who lugs his G4 to gigs...long setup times...Im not sure I would want to go that route, taking a mac or even a laptop to gigs. The Rec is simply another module, so to me its a no brainer.
Just my 2cts, good luck on your decision.
A.
I had a Roland rd700sx....bought the Rec for piano as I am amazed that the technology available to these keyboard mftr's, and yet still not a decent grand...dont get me wrong, the 700 was a great board and had the best piano action Ive found yet, but after using the Rec jr and Ivory, with the Italian grand, I simply wont use anything else, unless theres a 7 or 9' Stway on the job, which luckily, sometimes there are. Im using it with a simple Roland fp3 as I like the rhodes on that, and its only 40 lp's..plus the action suits me.
It not only sounds great, but I can actually feel the wood, so if your a pianist, you may know what Im talking about on that.
As far as organ, a few friends of mine tell me they use B4 on their units and its simply incredible..I guess you can set it up to utilize the drawbars, but Im not sure.
The Rec was expensive, but it was well worth it, and to me it was a great investment. I may ether it to my mac setup and look at the new small musebox coming out simply because I would only use it for piano, but I have to look into that, as I just read about it.
I have a friend who lugs his G4 to gigs...long setup times...Im not sure I would want to go that route, taking a mac or even a laptop to gigs. The Rec is simply another module, so to me its a no brainer.
Just my 2cts, good luck on your decision.
A.
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- KVRist
- 65 posts since 18 Dec, 2006 from NE US
Oh I forgot, on the amp? I went thru a lot of different powered speakers b4 I settled on a Yamaha w/an adjustable crossover. I found that it was quite a job getting it to sound how I liked...Think I tried every piece I could get my hands on, so unless your traynor has some b*lls, u may find yourself looking.
Nothing smaller than a 12", 15 is better for the depth.
Nothing smaller than a 12", 15 is better for the depth.