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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Keyboard layout question

From: Rick Blechta <rick@rickblechta.com>
Date: 2009-01-30


On Jan 30, 2009, at 8:53 AM, jwright10401 wrote:

Just wondering. Why did the M400, and others, end up with a 35 note 
keyboard? Was it a carryover from the Chamberlins? Apart from a 
Tron, I don't think I've ever seen another 35 note keybord/midi 
controller.

The quick and easy answer is that most instruments don't have a range that's much bigger than that, and some (the human voice, for instance) are quite a bit smaller. 

I personally feel awfully sorry for the poor sod who recorded the trumpet voice all those years ago. I've approached a few people in Toronto to re-record it and the response has been, "You want me to play a G above high C (due to the transposing nature of the trumpet) for HOW long???"

Rick