Any control freaks here? - Foot pedal madness!!!

[Rogue Ai]

How many feet do you have?

[camden_guitarist]

Nice, and the rest of the rig??? I'm really interested, I found this pic the other day while scrounging for Mr V's rig, the picture's not mine, but for the life of me, I just can't find the original link anymore since I renamed the picture after downloading it so I wouldn't lose it in confusion. See the 2 white boxes on his right side??? Those must be his 2 DIRECT boxes. Damn, it looks more like the cockpit of a space ship then a musicians rig

[AnalogGuy]

Originally Posted by camden_guitarist

Nice, and the rest of the rig??? I'm really interested, I found this pic the other day while scrounging for Mr V's rig, the picture's not mine, but for the life of me, I just can't find the original link anymore since I renamed the picture after downloading it so I wouldn't lose it in confusion. See the 2 white boxes on his right side??? Those must be his 2 DIRECT boxes. Damn, it looks more like the cockpit of a space ship then a musicians rig

Nope. It's this newer system Vangelis uses in these days since the Mythodea concert, with white little boxes selecting the presets and those two bigger boxes are the transposer units. Vangelis does not use Direct-box that much anymore.

[AnalogGuy]

Originally Posted by Rogue Ai

How many feet do you have?

How many hands you have got when compared to keyboards?

Same principle with pedals. It's just like a palette where you can mix the audio in any way you want.

[camden_guitarist]

Hi,

I actually meant pictures of your rig! lol Anyway, where'd you get a close up like that of Vangelis' rig? What do you think about the soft synth setup I posted?

Cheers

[AnalogGuy]

Originally Posted by camden_guitarist

Hi,

I actually meant pictures of your rig! lol Anyway, where'd you get a close up like that of Vangelis' rig? What do you think about the soft synth setup I posted?

Cheers

Oh, mine? Okay, here it is:












For exact listing:

Synthesizers/Keyboards:

Digitals:
Generalmusic S3 Turbo
Technics SX-WSA1
Roland XV-5050 (+ Complete Piano)
Roland JV-2080 (+ Vintage Synth, Orchestral)
Roland JD-990 (+ Vintage Synth, M-256E)
Korg 05R/W
Korg X3R
Yamaha EX-5R (+ BC3, ASIB1, JAZ 1Gb)
Korg O3 Symphony Module (+ POC-01, POC-04)

Analogs:
Yamaha SY-1
Yamaha CS-50
Roland RS-505 Paraphonic
Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter
Roland SH-09
Hohner String Melody II

Electro-acoustic:
Yamaha CP-60M Electric Upright


Effects processors:
Lexicon PCM-70 (Ver 3.01)
Boss Chorus CE-3


Midi tools:
Zyklus MPS-1 - Midi Performance System !!!
(+ 2 x DC-1 - Data Cartridge)
Oberheim Cyclone - Perf/x
Oberheim Systemizer - Perf/x
Oberheim Navigator - Perf/x (x2!)
Oberheim Drummer - Perf/x
Oberheim Strummer - Perf/x
EES M2C - Midi Multi Converter / Transposer
Yamaha MCS2 - Midi Control Station
Emagic unitor 8 - Midi patchbay
Doepfer MCV1


Other gear:
Boss DR-55 - analog drum machine
Mackie LM-3204 - rackmixer
Boss BX-16 - mixer
E-MU 0404 PCI - sound card
Sennheiser HD-205 - headphones
Spectrasonic Symphony Of Voices - sampler cd-set
Zampoña - A small Andean panflute
Glockenspiel



Oh, right. It's this place where you can see the photos from Vangelis' Qatar concert preparation:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1120141...CIbg05X8uvaHNg

IMO it's very difficult to create similar system with software since you still need all the connections for the pedals.

[camden_guitarist]

If you ask me, it's probably a large hardware version of iPad Garagaband LOL, you've got Smart Keyboard, Smart Strings and Smart Guitar in there, and I guess that Vangelis' rig uses the mother of that technology, patching in whatever instrument he wants, adding it with the pedal when he needs it and choosing in advance the key he wants to play in, and off you go, add to that, that he probably uses some of the pedals as well to choose the type of arpeggiation he wants when pressing keys and there you go, it's an amazing system and I'd love to just have a go at it He should do a roadshow where he showcases this stuff and have a workshop to 'teach' new composers how to work like that...

Anyway, nice rig you got yourself, some nice vintage synths, the MPS looks totally awesome, can you post some of your tracks to Soundcloud, I'm on there as well, my synth compositions don't sound like much yet, but I'm getting there, I'll be getting my ELKA MK88 next week, I can't wait to get busy with it...6 zones, polyphonic aftertouch, woohoo

Cheers!

[AnalogGuy]

Originally Posted by camden_guitarist

can you post some of your tracks to Soundcloud, I'm on there as well

I post my songs to here:

AnalogGuy - Mikseri.net

At the upper left corner there's "Omat projektit" = My projects. It includes all kind of soundtracks and other works. In each project section you can choose english information instead of my native, finnish.

[camden_guitarist]

Hey Analog guy,

I was wondering, did B. Keizer get any more information up about his Improvisor app? I downloaded the Mac OSX version, but haven't gotten round to implementing it yet, I need VSTlord to use it in Logic, other than that I should maybe go as well the hardware way with synths because there's not too many USB midi control pedals (continuous) And could you tell me which manufacturer eventually took up the project from Bill Marshall? He was aluding to it in some article I read but he never said who it was.

Cheers,

Paul.

[JestaJX10]

Holy crap, I've got to stop this insanity!

Was searching old threads for pedal set-up ideas, and well.....

My JX10 has (2) EV-5 outlets for C1; C2; plus sustain and switch ports, not counting the Miniak expression plus sustain and the sustain and expression for the stage piano.
That's (8) potential pedals......WT F? Everytime I think about downsizing them, it just doesn't happen. The JX with sweeps and volume is awesome. Same with the Miniak expression....not counting the new Casio on order that uses the expresion for "wa wa" clavs etc...Got to have sustain.....Good God is this insanity? Must stop.
Must stop now.

[AnalogGuy]

Originally Posted by camden_guitarist

Hey Analog guy,

I was wondering, did B. Keizer get any more information up about his Improvisor app? I downloaded the Mac OSX version, but haven't gotten round to implementing it yet, I need VSTlord to use it in Logic, other than that I should maybe go as well the hardware way with synths because there's not too many USB midi control pedals (continuous) And could you tell me which manufacturer eventually took up the project from Bill Marshall? He was aluding to it in some article I read but he never said who it was.

Cheers,

Paul.

Sorry, didn't notice your post ever. I don't know any Keizers, unless B stands for Bronswerk?

It was Bill Marshall's invented and implemented master keyboard, the project which was sold for CME but since then never heard about it again. Not even Marshall himself. I am afraid they abandoned it just like that...

Originally Posted by JestaJX10

Holy crap, I've got to stop this insanity!

Was searching old threads for pedal set-up ideas, and well.....

My JX10 has (2) EV-5 outlets for C1; C2; plus sustain and switch ports, not counting the Miniak expression plus sustain and the sustain and expression for the stage piano.
That's (8) potential pedals......WT F? Everytime I think about downsizing them, it just doesn't happen. The JX with sweeps and volume is awesome. Same with the Miniak expression....not counting the new Casio on order that uses the expresion for "wa wa" clavs etc...Got to have sustain.....Good God is this insanity? Must stop.
Must stop now.

First of all, it's not madness. It's what I call, an important part of expression. For example, I am currently trying to practice the techniques of violin. Because it is (practically) new instrument for me, I can say, it's madness trying to learn the technique for vibrato! But however, I know that's not true. It's only because it requires so much of learning (I heard it requires about 3 years of practice!!!). Same thing applies to multiple pedals. As long as you are practicing with them, you will learn great new things about them. Then sooner or later, they will be inseparable part of your expression.

Just listen and see what you can do with practice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkOWLigKvm4

What you are hearing are nothing more than clever use of volume pedals.

[Konnector]

Well, I'm up to about 11 or 12 foot pedals / switch pedals.

Looks like I have some catching up to do!

[chevybusa]

See sig. I am a TOTAL control fantatic! That's why I use the S80, cuz it's the only board I know of (except for the more expensive S90 and S90ES which doesn't matter cuz I'm only using it as a controller) that has 88 weigted keys with AT, a PB and MW, 2 FC jacks that can be assigned to anything, but I have them as EXP and one routed through the MW so I don't have to use my hand, an assingable FS. and an assignble BC and a dedcated sustain pedal....It really is fantastic for Reason, and Logic, and then it's great having the BCR200 for real time control with 32 assignable knobs and 8 assignable buttons...

What I REALLY want though is an organ style pedal board, I really want to get to MPK117s but I'm broke as hell and can't afford them...Or maybe something from Keith MacMillan...oh well, maybe someday!

[camden_guitarist]

Hi Analog Guy,

Thanks for finally replying, that's ok for the lateness, anyway, I'm onto a JV1080 now but I'm still looking for a good keyboard, I've bought a second hand ELKA MK88 but I was kinda ****ed over for it, it came to me with 2 badly glued keys and the aftertouch strip is in kinda bad shape as well, I am gutted coz it costed me 300 euros plus shipping. It really would have been cool though, it's got 6 definable zones which is already not bad, I'd just have to get a racksynth for each zone and a usb mixer with at least 12 channels and I'd be set, I can add stereo volume pedals to the whole afterwards.

But as I said, I'm kinda stuck but the keyboard is sitting around, I can't find anybody who can still repair it since the keys are kinda special and all. I wish I'd gone with a Roland A80 with only 4 zones but aftertouch and still supported and repairable...I've found a Korg T1 for only 400 but I don't know how long it will be available, but at least it's in Paris this time so I can test it first. I'll see about it, but I am seriously motivated to start composing this way.

CME had an Omnipotent master keyboard, but it's been discontinued, but there's no info on how many zones you can control. 4 is not that bad but 8 would be best, 16 being just to many, but then again, it gives you more options on the fly of course

Take care and I'll keep in touch, you can imagine that I have thus far not tried out the Zyklus Improvisor, I need to get a working keyboard...

Cheers!

[camden_guitarist]

By the way, in the video you posted with Vangelis you can clearly see his 'DIRECT' box and the selector/transposer box underneath it (the one you can identify clearly in the Musiques au Coeur interview) I love this particular video a lot, it shows so nicely how he composes out of the blue, just by adding/subtracting parts with the pedals, it's just amazing!

[camden_guitarist]

Geez, I just found on youtube some original demo tracks of the EMU Emulator II and you can hear that Vangelis is still using its samples during the Musiques au Coeur interview, listen to the spanish guitar sample used at 2:35 and listen back to the part where the interviewer asks for a guitar in the interview, it's amazing!!!

E-mu Emulator II original demo 1985 track 4 - YouTube

Cheers!

[AnalogGuy]

Originally Posted by camden_guitarist

Geez, I just found on youtube some original demo tracks of the EMU Emulator II and you can hear that Vangelis is still using its samples during the Musiques au Coeur interview, listen to the spanish guitar sample used at 2:35 and listen back to the part where the interviewer asks for a guitar in the interview, it's amazing!!!

E-mu Emulator II original demo 1985 track 4 - YouTube

Cheers!

I think this sound comes from basic S+S Rompler. Listen the song "Little guitar" from Page of Life. It's exactly the same sound as in Musiques au coeur and you can hear it doesn't have that analog tone of Emulator, but instead just same crystal clear digital sound of 90's rompler. I am actually quite impressed how static the guitar sound really is, but seems like that's no problem for Vangelis.

[camden_guitarist]

Hey Man, cool to see you're still out there

I've been meaning to ask you, do you use the improvisor a lot? and if yes, how do you set it up with hardware synths? as I said I have a JV1080 now and I'd love to set it up with the improvisor, I know you can hook up to 8 synths to it apparently but I just want to use 8 parts from this synth for the moment, how do you set it up?

Cheers,

Paul

[sad computer]

hey analogguy, just wanted to say you have a badass setup, and you've inspired me to consider getting a bunch of volume pedals..