Hope someone can advise on the following query...: I have an SL990 controller keyboard connected to an old Emu sampler which I use to practice piano - One of my kids was messing with the control buttons and the volume now is very low. I know I need to press one of the control buttons on the SL990 in conjunction with one of the keys on the keyboard to change volume but for the life of me can't find how to do it!... Anybody know? Thanks
I've tried google on this but the only thing I've found is how to reset to factory the sl880... don't know if it can help, anyway they say:
Power up the keyboard while holding down all three UP-DOWN-ENTER buttons, hold for a few seconds then release all three buttons"
Thanks - I'll give it a try...
Are you sure volume is the problem? Is the device an SL990 Pro? I read in the manual that the velocity curve can be selected. Maybe the keyboard is just set to a very low velocity setting. If this should be the case, you should press the 'shape' button together with the key marked '0' on the keyboard. Don't know if this works, but this is how I read the manual. There apparently is a second version of the keyboard, the SL 990 XP, which does not seem to have an adjustable velocity curve setting.
Hi,
in the past I used a first generation SL-990 and it does not restore any selected velocity-shapes after power-cycle. So OFF/ON should reset the shape to its default, if there are any loudness-issues from velocity. This SL-990 has four (non-inverted) shapes and the linear shape (default) can be manually selected by holding the shape button, hit the key labeled "1" and release shape again.
Thanks! - that did the trick...
I wonder, do you recommend it to a frequent piano player?
I have used the SL990 for 10 years, at home and at gigs, and am very happy with it. I'll be happy to elaborate if you need further information.
I have used the SL990 for 10 years, at home and at gigs, and am very happy with it. I'll be happy to elaborate if you need further information.
Thanks Torsten, I have been doing a theorocal research on the internet and following up all reviews and comments people write here and there about different piano controllers and I must say it's not easy to get a conclusion out of that..
For now it seems the VPC1 is a clear winner but I'm sure there are some other good candidates and I wonder if the difference in quality i.e. between the SL990 and the VPC1 justifies the big difference in price..
I know TP40GH which is a quite decent action is set in the SL990, and I don't really think it's a good idea to look for the "most realistic" touch cause I don't believe that can be achieved with a plastic and metal stuff, so I just stick to the idea of a simply nice action, that would suffice for me.
Having said that, would you recommend the SL990 to a piano player?
I'll try to play some of them before buying just to judge by myselfs s but I want to gather as much information as possible before traveling to another city just to try them, not so many choices here around me.
Thanks and regards.
I grew up with an acoustic piano, and had a grand piano in my flat for 10 years. I bought the SL990 when I let the grand go - and I chose it because the recommendations at that time said that it was one of the best (for the price) for someone who wanted something similar to a real piano action.
I have been happy with it, and agree with the reviews from back then that it is really a good replacement. You can look at the Yamaha Avantgrand, which are better but also is 10 time the price of what I paid for the SL990. I have no intention of replacing it, and if it break down I might consider finding the same model again - but in other words, I have not been paying any attention to what has happened in that market segment.
One thing I will recommend is to get a DP10 or similar, and attach that to the volume input on the SL990, and then reconfigure PianoTeq to use CC7 as sustain pedal - then you will have the full feel of the pedal as on a real piano. Then you can use the sustain input for either a sostenuto or a soft pedal, to your taste (I chose sostenuto).
And by the way, just noticed that you use Scarlett 2i4 - works fine with PianoTeq and SL9990 :-).
At a time I did consider a replacement, because I tried the Avantgrand at a dealer, and it sounded so much better than my setup. But then I bought the Scarlett soundcard and a better set of headphones - set me back US$500, considerably cheaper than the US$10.000 that is the list price of the Avantgrand. And I was happy again with PianoTeq and SL990.
And by the way, just noticed that you use Scarlett 2i4 - works fine with PianoTeq and SL9990 :-).
At a time I did consider a replacement, because I tried the Avantgrand at a dealer, and it sounded so much better than my setup. But then I bought the Scarlett soundcard and a better set of headphones - set me back US$500, considerably cheaper than the US$10.000 that is the list price of the Avantgrand. And I was happy again with PianoTeq and SL990.
Thanks a lot Torsten, your opinion is being really helpful. I'm attracted to the fact that the SL990pro is less than half the price of any other controller, besides it's got a nice (as per reviews) key touch plus 3 sensor action, so why to pay tripple as much?
Some people would say cause VPC1 or whatever else is more like a piano touch.. NOTHING is like piano touch, the best you can do is just be happy with a nice keytouch, don't fall in the marketing trap..
However, have you tried any other piano controllers? Would you consider any other competitor?
As I wrote, I have not looked around much since I bought it, only tried the Avantgrand - it does have a real good feel, though, but it is because there is full grand piano mechanic setup in it. So sorry, I do not know anything about the alternatives available today.
Hello RogFrancomb,
I had an SL880Pro and now an VMK188+ which has the same keybed Fatar TP40GH. AFAIK, it only has 2 sensor but I'm very happy with it. I also have an external soundcard (Infrasonic AMON) and Pianoteq 5 Pro with the Blüthner addon.
If you could wait (2016) you could consider the new VAX midi controller:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/12...controller
I do believe that the Kawai's VPC1 should be even better but I´ll have to try it to be sure if it justifies the difference in cost.
I also think that the SL990 has the most attractive benefit cost ratio.
Regards!