Sound Modules for Keyboard

nataliaK

New member
Anywhere I can rent or buy Sound Modules for Keyboard? Preferably rent...Looking for sound module that has Chinese Instruments Sounds (e.g. erhu, flute).
for use as plug-in into keyboard.

help!
 
Go for Roland. It appears you only want to use it once or twice - hence renting? If you can't rent one and want a low cost solution - Roland JV1010. World Expansion is great for erhu; Orchestral Expansion is excellent for flute. Problem is JV1010 only fits one expansion card. But if you can live with the build-in flute in JV1010, then it's fine. Unless you are talking about the Chinese flute (Dizi or Xiao), then the World Expansion card will do.

If you want to go higher cost, go for any of the XV modules. Then get the expansion cards.

If you want to go for ultra-realism - then go samples. Best chinese instrument samples on planet earth comes from Chineekong. Their website seems to be down now - for whatever reasons. Anymore realistic than that, you have to get a real player.

What keyboard are you using currently?
 
Go for Roland. It appears you only want to use it once or twice - hence renting? If you can't rent one and want a low cost solution - Roland JV1010. World Expansion is great for erhu; Orchestral Expansion is excellent for flute. Problem is JV1010 only fits one expansion card. But if you can live with the build-in flute in JV1010, then it's fine. Unless you are talking about the Chinese flute (Dizi or Xiao), then the World Expansion card will do.

If you want to go higher cost, go for any of the XV modules. Then get the expansion cards.

If you want to go for ultra-realism - then go samples. Best chinese instrument samples on planet earth comes from Chineekong. Their website seems to be down now - for whatever reasons. Anymore realistic than that, you have to get a real player.

What keyboard are you using currently?

THanks so much for your kind suggestions. U know how much these cost in SGD? This Roland model? I am only using Yamaha S03..

i have another question. This Yamaha model i am using is not touch sensitive, is there any way i can plug-in another controler to my keyboard so that i can make use of my yamaha sounds, but play thru the controller which is touch sensitive? Hope i don't sound ridiculous to you.. sorry alot to learn in these aspects!

Cheers!
 
You need to go to Sweelee in Brasbasah or Sims Drive and find out what they have to offer. Reg. Modules, You can buy a Fantom XR with a World Expansion Card which will be under S$3k will solve all your problems.

Also regarding controllers, you can go in for M-Audio or other brands ranging from 25 keys to 88 keys controllers....
 
oh yes!

the Fantom XR costs S$2400 ++
the World SRX card S$420 ++

my findings since the last attempt to buy !!!
 
oh yes!

the Fantom XR costs S$2400 ++
the World SRX card S$420 ++

my findings since the last attempt to buy !!!

Thanks so much u guys are really helpful, however with regards to my other question about connecting a controller (which is touch sensitive) to my keyboard so that I can play the sounds from my keyboard using the controller... is this even posible at all!? ahah sorry it may sound crap to u guys but i was just wondering if there is anyway to do it coz i want the sounds from my keyboard, but it is not touch sensitive enough.

Cheers!
 
Absolutely. It appears you are going the hardware route. And if you do get a module + you S03, I imagine you'll be expanding in the future. In this case, aim for a controller with 4 midi outs (minimum 2). When you start expanding your hardware, you'll see the benefits. Individual midi out to a module/keyboard gives much more control and flexibility than daisy-chaining midi cables using midi thru.

The other alternative is to get rid of your S03 and get a higher-end Yamaha keyboard (such as the CP300 or S90ES) which can also function as a fairly OK master controller.
 
No Cheez...

A second hand Triton or Trinity would perform as a good controller. In my own experience, I've seen Tritons work very well as controllers...speak well with any make modules...
 
Bong !

You will never buy this....Ha...ha..ha...dreaming around for years I see you.... :)

Still planning ????
haha ! after I bought the Roland XV5080, Korg Triton Pro
and Yamaha Motif rack, may not buy the Fantom XR anymore...

it's 2008 next year, and Roland will release a new model !!!
all the hardware maunfacturers launch new models every
4 -5 years, Fantom XR was launched in 2004.

so shall wait for the new release !
 
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Joel68, yes, Tritons work well as controllers. The reason I suggested Yamaha is because the threadstarter is currently using a Yamaha S03. I assumed he is familiar with Yamaha sounds and will like to keep it.
 
No Cheez...

A second hand Triton or Trinity would perform as a good controller. In my own experience, I've seen Tritons work very well as controllers...speak well with any make modules...

oh yes, I agree with Joel68... but Trinity combis still sound good after all these years !!!

Triton combis with its workstation functions can do great things !!!
 
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Actually, the best midi controllers are those dedicated as midi controllers. Workstations had too much fluff in it. If one needs a workstation anyway, then getting one will serve 2 purposes. But if somebody is mainly into controlling external sound sources, a dedicated midi controller is better. In live playing, the key is to make changes quickly. And controlling multiple external sources can be tricky if there's a need to navigate through multiple screens etc.

I actually find Korg slightly more difficult as a midi controller. But that maybe because I'm less familiar with it than with Yamaha and Roland. The combis are fine - but that's not midi control.

However, when using a midi controller (eg: my trusty old Roland A70), I can program things on the fly and troubleshoot live very quickly. Not to forget, that's a nice "panic button" that reset everything by just pressing it. In the end, it's personal preference again.
 
Cheez is right... KORG work stations are not as good as a midi controller... it's control surface design issue. As a work station, it's a powerful tool, performance wise and studio wise... it has full midi implementations. It will be duff to use it solely as a midi controller, but what it can offer is to use it as a synthesizer, programme things on it, plus control external synths messages... stuffs... but not as easy, need to be very "into" it in order to fully utilise the entire function. So in this aspect, it is not ace for performance as it does not offer "direct" midi control UNLESS you know the workstation inside out, plus knowing your software inside out; in this sense, the "midi learn" function in midi is imporatant... software and hardware wise.

Speaking of which, the KORG's midi controllers (forget about the K-series, they are quite a disappointment honestly)... KONTROL49, MicroKONTROL, padKONTROL... they are very intuitive and performance oriented controllers... still one of the best out there... of course if you are a "control freak" you can try the new AKAI MPK49 or CME bitstream 3X; and if you are going for software programming, Monome is the best option... if you are rich enough you can try the JazzMutant Lemur... yumsss... and if your are crazy enough you can go for the sonolog GypsyMIDI motion capture body controller :P
 
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