Topic by Tinknocker

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  • Tinknocker
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Topic: What a difference a keyboard makes!

I bought a Korg SP-170 about a year ago to replace the unweighted keyboard I'd been teaching myself on,  Pretty decent action, but definitely entry level. Sounded pretty nice, until I tried Pianoteq.  Even through my $20 computer speakers, Pianoteq just blew the built-in piano sounds away.  I bought some decent speakers, and ended up only using the Korg as a midi controller for Pianoteq. I just sold the Korg and got a Studiologic SL-990xp. It's ugly as sin, and the controls are nearly useless, but the keyboard is a quantum leap up in quality from the Korg, and it cost a lot less. I knew I would get a better piano feel with the Fatar keyboard, but I didn't realize how much difference it would make in the sound I get out of Pianoteq. So much more control, it's like I upgraded Pianoteq along with my keyboard.

Reply by tb303

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Re: What a difference a keyboard makes!

Hi TinKnocker,

Glad that you like the Sl-990Xp. I purchased one overn a year and a half ago to use with pianoteq also although I have never managed to get a sound from Pianoteq that sounded like a piano. I was thinking that it maybe down to the velocity curve I was using. Did you manage to find a curve that suits the Sl-990XP? I have had issues with the SL-990 in relation to uneven response across the keyboard (Some keys being far louder than others when played at the same velocity).

Thanks,

Niall

Reply by Tinknocker

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Re: What a difference a keyboard makes!

tb303 wrote:

Hi TinKnocker,

Glad that you like the Sl-990Xp. I purchased one overn a year and a half ago to use with pianoteq also although I have never managed to get a sound from Pianoteq that sounded like a piano. I was thinking that it maybe down to the velocity curve I was using. Did you manage to find a curve that suits the Sl-990XP? I have had issues with the SL-990 in relation to uneven response across the keyboard (Some keys being far louder than others when played at the same velocity).

Thanks,

Niall

Hi Niall,
I read about the velocity issue, maybe a review by you? First thing I did was scales and chords up and down the board and monitored the midi signals in Pianoteq. . The only errors which occurred were between the bench and the keyboard. I've kept the shipping carton, just in case, Electronic problems usually show up right away, so I'm pretty hopeful.

I'm using a slight "S" curve for the velocity, nothing fancy. This may just be my way of adjusting to the change from the Korg, it was definitely playable with the straight line default.

Is your problem with specific keys, or a random occurrence? If it is specific keys, it's probably treatable, improperly seated contacts or something striking them prematurely. If you've had the board for a year and a half you don't have anything to lose by taking it apart and checking. If it's random, you're probably SOL at this point.

Reply by tb303

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Re: What a difference a keyboard makes!

Hello again,

Thanks for your reply. They are sturdy keyboards I'll say that much and I do like the action, it's served it's purpose for sure.
Yes the problem I have is with specific keys in the higher register. In general the black keys are louder but there are a few keys c# / f# that are particularily problematic. I heard that with the Numa you can set a separate velocity curve for the black keys (Correct me if I'm wrong).
I have never used the control's on the Sl990XP, I have literally always just plugged in and played and it worked straight out of the box. At this point I would not bother opening the keyboard up or anything, if it fails pretty badly I will just replace it I think.
I found a velocity curve here on this site in the Velocity curve section for the Studiologic SL990Pro (There were a few suggestions there) which got me closer to where I wanted to be. You should check them out....

Reply by Michael H

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Re: What a difference a keyboard makes!

Tinknocker, congratulations on the Fatar. I have another model, the VMK188plus, and I agree the Fatar actions are great!

tb303, there are a few freeware midi utilities for adjusting velocity curves IF you're using Windows XP. My favorite is called Piano Tuner (unfortunate name), by someone named Joachim Elen, you could do a search and find it if that's your OS. That utility lets you create velocity curves note by note.

Michael

Last edited by Michael H (13-04-2011 22:54)