Fatar keybeds

[milty]

Hey all, been lurking for a while here, and a question has come up that I've been unable to find a conclusive answer for.

I have a Novation Remote SL 61. The keyboard feels alright, but it's a bit loud sometimes, and when trying to play anything piano related, it's all screwy - soft parts have missed notes, when I play hard sometimes notes come in too hard randomly. I guess the velocity response curves are weird on it... I've tried the alternate curves available to no avail.

Now, I've been eyeing getting an Access Virus of one form or another for a while here. My concern is this: the Virus uses a Fatar keybed, which is what my Novation uses. My question is this: are they different models from Fatar? Is there a gradiation in the quality of the keybed? Has anyone compared the Novation Remote SL's key action/velocity curves to that of an Access Virus keybed?

Unfortunately I have no possible way of getting anywhere that I can A/B a bunch of keyboards side by side, which is why I am here...

[Edit: Expanding further... I want to know whether if I dislike one Fatar keybed, I'm going to dislike all of them...

I've found a number of threads like this: Opinions on the best keybeds? where people complain about the keybed of the Novation Remote SL. I haven't really found anything similar with the Virus. But I've also found people going on and on about how much they love the Novation Remote SL's key action... you see why this is confusing. ]

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by milty

My concern is this: the Virus uses a Fatar keybed, which is what my Novation uses. My question is this: are they different models from Fatar?

Yes. The Virus has squared keys - more like an organ or piano. See http://tresch.tv/forsale/virus/images/IMG_8253.jpg

Is there a gradiation in the quality of the keybed? Has anyone compared the Novation Remote SL's key action/velocity curves to that of an Access Virus keybed?

It's not the same. The SL, while nice, is not like that of the Virus KB and KC. The older Novation (Supernova II keys, Nova II keys) have a keyboard that reminded me of the Virus KB.

[milty]

Hey, thanks for that photo - that makes it more apparent. The Remote's keys are a lot more curved which can be somewhat annoying when playing quickly - maybe I just suck but it leaves me slipping off the keys sometimes.

Also another complaint would be that the plastic shell allows the whole thing to bend a bit when using aftertouch. I assume this is a total non-issue due to the Virus being in a steel shell.

[Arcadia]

The Virus TI 2 keyboard is by far the best I've ever played (IMHO). The Polar's is decent, but not that special. If you want top have a nice 5-octave controller for softsynths or just to play the TI sounds, you should really go for the TI 2 61-key.

[milty]

The keybed across the KB/KC/TI/TI2 models is basically identical, right?

Not sure I can afford to get a nice new TI2 at the moment. One of these days though, IT WILL BE MINE...

[Arcadia]

Yes, it's the same. Only the Indigo vs. Indigo 2 vs. Polar have seen changes.

[Oli]

I rather like the Ti2 Keybed. Haven't played the others. It is a fairly stiff action for a synth, but not hammer action. If you are used to playing a real piano, it's still not the same, but closer than most synths will provide. Personally I prefer this to a hammer action anyway. The keys also have a higher friction surface than most, which provides a more tactile sensation.

P.S. Fatar have done many keybeds, so don't read too much into the branding.

[fragmentated]

I had a Remote SL 61 MK1 (first one, not the most recent one) and I also have a Virus TI keyboard. While I enjoyed the keybed on the Novation when I had it, once I got the Virus I realized how much better it was than the Novation IMO. To me here was a huge difference in the feel of the two. For a semi weighted board the Virus keybed is the nicest I've felt. I'm only referring to the 61 key Virus boards when I say that. The smaller ones (Polar) have a different keybed that I wasn't as fond of.

[Tibbon]

The Moog Voyager also uses a Fatar keyboard, as do Kurzweil keyboards. All of them are certainly not created equal.

[danielb]

When I bought it, I was told that my Quasimidi Raven has a Fatar keyboard.

I actually bought it to use as a controller keyboard, rather than for its sounds.

Assuming that this information is correct, I can certainly recommend it; it's an excellent keyboard.

[milty]

Snagged a mint condition Virus KC off Ebay for about 800 bucks... it's on the way. Excited! It will be my first hardware synth!

I'm not sure if this would be asking too much, but can anyone verify if my accompanying gear selection here is decent?

I'm currently using an E-MU 0202 USB for an audio interface. The wife's going to take it over soon. I assume I can't keep using it as it lacks a pair of 1/4 inputs (hence I wouldn't be able to get stereo sound from the Virus).

I was thinking this might work well: E-MU Systems - Tracker Pre USB 2.0 - USB Audio/MIDI Interfaces

It has two 1/4 inputs and one 1/8 stereo input. I would like to be able to stick a guitar in there as well, but I can't seem to find anything people have considered decent (on this forum, at least) for under 200 bucks with more than two 1/4 inputs.

As far as a USB->MIDI interface, I had this in mind: E-MU Systems - Xmidi 1x1 - USB MIDI Interface

Anyone have any horrid experiences with any of this? Want to make sure I'm not doing something really stupid before I place the orders.

Thanks for all the help so far - really appreciate it guys!

[milty]

Got the KC in front of me. I LOVE the key action! This is how a keyboard should feel.

[milty]

I decided I probably should elaborate more on the differences as I'm sure there's others out there going mad on Google trying to find info like I was (hey guys!)

With the Novation, problems were as follows:
-- The black keys were slippery and rounded and it was easy to slide off and hit wrong notes when playing quickly.
-- The keys got really stiff near the tops and it was outright impossible to play in that region. This issue was aggravated by the shortness of the black keys.
-- Aftertouch was creaky, took too much pressure, and the whole board bent (even when the Novation was on a solid surface) as you used it.
-- Velocity response was sometimes weird. Soft notes often dropped out.

All of these problems are averted by the Virus keybed. The black keys are significantly longer, and have a somewhat roughened surface. All the keys in general are less slippery and not as stiff, *particularly* near the tops. They aren't much stiffer in that zone than at the ends. The frame is so solidly built that the aftertouch (which is already much smoother and more expressive) doesn't bend the keybed or anything like that. And I have yet to have a soft note drop out, as much as I tried.