Check this out - Master Controller Keyboard from CHINA!

[DoubleBlade]

I'll be going there next week...provided I can get some guys to tag along with me...

I might as well learn a thing or 2 about keyboards during the launch

 

[bongman]

see you there !

 

[DoubleBlade]

If you so happen to come across a small boy asking the salesperson a couple of dumb dumb questions , then It's probably ME!!!! :lol:

 

[teraslasch]

If you so happen to come across a small boy asking the salesperson a couple of dumb dumb questions , then It's probably ME!!!! :lol:

that's the same for me, even dumber boy .. :lol:

 

[bongman]

halo guys,

dun be surprise that some of the salesman may be dumber than you.
the person I spoke to on the phone dun seem to know the details of
the product.

like that, how to sell ?
all he knows is to say it's good and attractive price.
when i say the weight is not that light as expected or compare to M-audio
controllers, he stumbled ... see wat happens on Sunday.

 

[Cheez]

Perhaps they will find somebody else to demo it? The guy I spoke to said that they will be "showing us how it works". Hard to "show us" if they don't know much about it! Anyway, they have yet to confirm the venue. The guy said to call him again tomorrow to confirm. I hope he will update us on this website.

Actually, it is not surprising for the sellers not to know much. He may be the marketing person who looks into bringing the product in. Look at Swee Lee for example - they don't know much about their keyboards either. Same with Yamaha. They gave me the wrong info about whether one keyboard was graded or not graded - I had to correct him. At least he knew what was "graded"; another guy I spoke to some time ago had no idea what it meant. He thought it was the same as "weighted".

 

[Cheez]

Oh, and I wonder what module they will be using since it is only a midi controller. It would be really funny if they tried to play it without any external modules! Maybe you guys should bring your notebooks with your VSTi plug-ins to test out the responses to your own hardware.

 

[bongman]

hopefully this Sunday would be a fruitful one!

 

[duskalways]

...whether one keyboard was graded or not graded..

sorry i too do not understand the term 'graded'. could you please explain? thanks!

 

[Cheez]

"Graded" means that the weight of the keys differ throughout the keyboard - heavier on the lower keys and lighter on the higher keys. This is how the actual piano feels like, so it is meant to simulate the "real" piano touch. Graded, therefore, only applies to weighted keys.

The pro of this is that you get a realistic piano feel (eg: Yamaha S90). The con is that you will have problem during sequencing. In sequencing different instruments, you want every key to be evenly weighted so that you don't run into trouble of uneven velocities - particularly in sequencing drums.

Back to the CME seller, actually I thought he wasn't too bad. Because the keyboard is not launched yet and their shop is still under renovation, he actually offered to bring the keyboard to my house for me to try. I thought that was quite a nice gesture - I did not take it up because I'm not sure whether I'll be obligated to buy after that...

 

[bongman]

confirmed:

Sunday 15/05/05

Venue: Jln Besar CC

Time: 2-6pm

Be there or be square!

 

[duskalways]

"Graded" means that the weight of the keys differ throughout the keyboard - heavier on the lower keys and lighter on the higher keys...

thank you cheez for the explanation.

 

[Cheez]

You're welcome

 

[Cheez]

Looking at the CME forum, it appears that there are a number of bugs with the CME with a number of software including Ableton, Sonar, NI etc. Looks like it is safer to use midi instead of USB. But that will mean no USB power and an adapter.

Interesting also to note that they claim their fader potentiometer is second after Yamaha (they claim to be better than Roland, Korg, M-audio, Edirol and Evolution). Bold claim...

 

[DoubleBlade]

Venue: Jln Besar CC

hey , you guys know how to get there and what's the nearest MRT station?

 

[Cheez]

Lavender. Check out www.streetdirectory.com.sg

 

[DoubleBlade]

Maybe you guys should bring your notebooks with your VSTi plug-ins to test out the responses to your own hardware.

Questions :


What's a VSTi plug-in?


Do notebooks have this plug in? or do I have to buy an external interface?


My Acer notebook has this 1EEE 1394 port , is it a firewire port?
Because I remember seeing the specs stating that there's a firewire port included but I can't seem to find it....

 

[DoubleBlade]

Lavender. Check out www.streetdirectory.com.sg

Thanks Cheez...

haha , did not know that it was just right opposite the MRT station

 

[iansoh]

A VSTi plugin is a software synthesizer, essentially. you have to buy these software. some can function as stand-alone applications, some require sequencer software.

hmm, the 1394 port on the laptop should be the very small rectangular one. even smaller than a usb port. look for the symbol that looks like a "Y" shape.

 

[Cheez]

Firewire ports come in 2 types - one is what iansoh described: small rectangular shape. The other looks very much like a USB port but is straight on on end and curved on the other end. Most notebooks have the "1394" label next to the firewire port, so shouldn't be difficult to find. Check your manual. If it is supposed to be included and you REALLY cannot find it, then better call up Acer. Which model of Acer notebook are you using?