what do u call this instrument?

[ellenshane]

sorry for the ignorance, but what do u call this instrument played by the woman in the middle of the pic?

[/img]

 

[gordonzz]

hand piano?











ok.. im just crapping :lol:

 

[hofner]

...................

 

[mikemann]

Some call it a funny keyboard, other call it a guitar synth, its also called some form of midi controller. It works like a synth normally, int or ext sound, basically a form of keyboard.

Was quite popular in the 80's, many pop vids like to use this to look space age like.

Up to you to determine it's usage, these days it's not common. Good if you want to make a statement.

 

[ellenshane]

thanks!
but seriously can someone explain to me once and for all how a synth works???

 

[hofner]

.................

 

[ellenshane]

oh yeah it isn't a pianica/melodica for sure.. im wondering if there're any buttons where the "guitar" part is?

 

[nitrovo]

haha its one of those cool 80's electronica things

look at http://www.howstuffworks.com/ I would but my internets really slow atm

 

[iansoh]

it's a midi controller that runs on batteries. the player has a long midi cable attached to a synthesizer. so it's basically playing that synthesizer without having to stand behind it.

too bad, keyboardists don't have wireless transmitters like guitarists and vocalists.

 

[Frozen]

maybe those keyboardists made the instrument because they got jealous of the guitarists and bassists who can jump around while playing.

Imagine some drummer with marching drums attached to his body jumping around while playing.

 

[Cheez]

too bad, keyboardists don't have wireless transmitters like guitarists and vocalists.

Well, there is now wireless midi, but hasn't quite catch on yet. It has been around for a while. Not sure why few people uses it - maybe it is the latency issue.

 

[bongman]

as a band player, I'd rather hide myself behind the racks of gear than jumping around like a monkey

 

[bongman]

wow! this a pic from PeopleMountainPeopleSea website?
You a Huang Yaoming / Tat Ming Pair fan?

 

[Vaiyen]

Michael Jackson and Steve Vai both used to have someone like that in their bands.

 

[bongman]

isn't it common to play a portable keyboard in a band?

Thomas Dolby played a very good outro solo to 'Another Brick in the Wall'
in Roger Waters 'The Wall' concert in the year where West and East Germany merged and becomes the current Germany.

Howard Jones used a modified Yamaha KX5 in almost all his concert.

Roland AX7 seems a good current model.

 

[ellenshane]

wow! this a pic from PeopleMountainPeopleSea website?
You a Huang Yaoming / Tat Ming Pair fan?

im more of a veegay/material girls/at17 fan. not sure if u know who they are but they're the coolest asian musicians around!

 

[DoubleBlade]

But in my opinion , don't you think you'll feel uncomfortable playing that portable MIDI controller? I mean , the keyboard is slanted face down and you have to curve your wrist down to play it? and besides , by playing in this position , it kinda restricts the entire view of the keyboard when playing doesn't it?

 

[bongman]

if you are a good player, you can play in any position, just a matter of practice. Use the remote keyboard controller to play like a guitar and changing sound via MIDI you can have lots of it than a guitarist! I believe keyboardist still have some edge ???

 

[lppier]

Keytar? :lol:

Pier.

 

[DoubleBlade]

Maybe mrkeyboardman could show us a thing or two on how to play like that :lol: