new VAX 77

This will surely show my age, but the thread title immediately reminds me of a VAX "mini-computer" introduced in 1977, for which I did some (assembly) programming during my university computer science studies....

http://www.yourdictionary.com/computer/vax

And no, this is not an april's fool joke...pretty nice "little" machines for the times.

The VAX77 offers POLYPHONIC AFTERTOUCH, which is excellent news,
and it is very light and portable (magnesium alloy case, and it folds in half!)
So that makes it an excellent gigging keyboard.
I have no idea what it would be like for piano technique though.

Here's a review in Keyboard Magazine
http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/infi...010/110695

This is what I fear most: (for a piano player) does it feel strange? Does anyone have real experiences of VAX or something close to it?

No, monophonic AT is still fine. But polyphonic is a bit mess. Imagine playing a piano with clavinet keys, or something like that.

I have the AT turned off most of the time on my MIDIBOARD. It makes no interesting difference in the feel of the keys--the key hits a fairly hard bottom and you press harder for AT.

For pads especially, poly AT is very nice. Very very nice. I've also worked a bit with having the PAT control individual note pitch, so that I can get pedal steel note-bending effects; but it's pretty hard to control.

But for a struck note like a piano's (or Pianoteq), I'm not sure what it would control. Pitch perhaps, like a clavinet. But, if I understand correctly, Pianoteq calculates most/all parameters on 'impact' and it would be very hard to mess with them after the fact. I may be wrong...

The Vax77 does not feel like a grand piano - ref: http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic...627#p10627

Greg.

I took the plunge. I saw it at the website, read about it (I'm VERY techie), and I bought one. My VAX77 is the first one I've ever played or even seen up close. Now: How Is It?
1. It doesn't "feel" like a piano when you press the keys. There's no escapement jack "bump". The key-drop pressure and distance (3/8") are quite pianistic though (I got the "heavy" key-drop), and the key surface is textured like ivory instead of shiny plastic. (The whole instrument feels very expensive, dahling...) When you hook it up to Mainstage II, all of a sudden, it feels VERY much like a piano. What I really enjoyed though, was the incredible expressiveness. It's possible to play much more lyrically than with ANY other controller I've used. Without the hammer mass to throw when you play, it's possible to rip off a solo at synth speeds easily. It also doesn't fight you when you do Hammond "wipes" like a piano board does.
2. There are 77 keys, 76 of which are active for playing. The keys run from A to C, which makes it ideal for piano music - only the top octave is missing. They body of the keyboard is unusually thin at 3 1/4" at the fattest part. It folds in half, coming in at 23 1/2" long. 77 is the maximum number of keys you can fit in a board like this and still get it on a lot of airlines as carry on.
3. It has provisions for 4 analog pedals (the damper is continuous if you like). I modified a Fender Volume/Tone pedal with 10k linear pots, and it's an ideal two pedal under one foot solution. Next to that is the damper, and the fourth pedal is a pot on my wife's microphone (yeah, another mod) which I can assign to whatever she might need to adjust in Mainstage.
4. I can fit my entire kit in the back of a Mini Clubman, and wheel it to the stage without assistance or even an additional hand truck.

So, yeah, it's a little spendy. But what do you get? It can't be got anywhere else. If you want a portable rig that really works, you need to seriously consider the VAX77. I believe it's totally worth it.

Thanks for the review!

Now, regarding the 77th key, my understanding is that there is an OPTION to have this active for playing - is that correct? (I enquired about this directly with the company some time ago)

Greg.

Another ex DECcie! Did you participate in the Notes conference called COMMUSIC, aandrmusic? I did - too much. ;^)

Greg.

When I asked Infinite Response if there's a chance to buy VAX77 from Europe I got this answer:

"We will be receiving CE mark in 2 months. Then we will be able to sell in Europe. Shipping is free, anywhere in the world."

People in Europe, let's wait and see. Anyway this is an interesting product. At least for those of us who are tired to carry 88-keys pianos to here and there. Hopefully some day there's also chance to test it by our own hands. (I don't trust any review anymore; I just had a terrible disappointment with "celebrated" AKAI mpk 49 which I sent back...)

I am the keyboard player who sold Michael H the VMK. LHogan states the VAX77 feature set and playability very eloquently. I would simply add that it is the MOST RESPONSIVE keyboard action I have ever played, being versatile enough to play organ and synth VI's with the requisite degree of flexibility and velocity. AND I can play virtual Pianos (I have Ivory, but am interested in Pianoteq 3 PRO) with an unprecedented degree of dynamic control. Plus the matte finish faux Ivory keys feel great! Worth every penny of the 3K.

Wow! that Adventure game
I played the version ported to the Sinclair ZX Spectrum a lot.

Another VAX 77 user review here.

I bet a VAX88 would be a winner. For how many players is it terribly important that the keyboard can fit the size requirements for carry on luggage, as opposed to the number of players who need 88 keys? And I imagine the weight difference would be negligible.

Perhaps there are some physical or electronic design constraints that would make an 88er unfeasible.
Too bad for whatever reason, because I suspect a lot of players won't give this controller serious consideration without 88 keys. And there's a real need for good controllers, because of all the mediocre (or worse) ones that are currently available.

Michael

If you play together with a (double)bass-player the change is small of using the lowest notes so 77 keys would do. But on the other hand it sometimes feels good to hit a very low note very hard like thunder

As an update, both the VAX77 and Pianoteq handle the high resolution velocity CC #88 (for 16,000+ steps of velocity instead of the standard 0-127), and with a Korg DS-1H pedal, the half-pedaling techniques work well with the VAX77/Pianoteq.