--- In
yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com, marzzz@a... wrote:
>
> In a message dated 9/30/04 10:06:37 PM, david@t... writes:
>
> >
> > So, what about the MIDIBoard? I haven't seen one in many years and
> > don't remember the feel. How does it compare to the CS-80? Even
> > better - anyone using one to control the CS80v program? Does it
> > respond like the real thing? They pop up on eBay once in a while,
> > so I'm wondering if one would be worth going after.
> >
> How best to put this? F#%@^%@ing YES!!!!! Now that I have secured
mine, I can
> let out the secret: Short of actually owning a mint CS-80, the Kurz
MidiBoard
> is simply the absolutely best implementation of controlling Poly AT
ever
> made. The piano touch is good- not quite as good as an A-80 (which I
feel was one
> of the best, even better than many boards that came after it) but the
> MidiBoard has that same spongy "give" that makes it easy to control
Poly AT, even if
> you are using your 5th digit to bring out one note.
>
> The only caveat is that the MidiBoard was made for a number of
years- there
> were three OS revisions, and you DEFINITELY want the latest, 3.0; It
is nearly
> impossible to update early versions. In addition, the actual keyboard
> mechanism was changed late in its run, to a "Suzuki" piano action
which was a vast
> improvement over the original. I can give you more details privately
if you want.
>
> I am using it to control the CS-80V (as well as various softsynths,
and a
> PolyEvolver) and to say I love it is an understatement! The CS-80V
does a
> "decent" job of emulating a real CS-80, but of course it pales in
direct comparison.
> Still, it is good enough for me.....the MidiBoard does an excellent
job of
> interacting with the CS-80V software to really make it respond to
playing
> technique. The only major bummer is that the virtual ribbon
(controlled by pitch
> wheel in the software) does not drive the oscillators down to zero
like the real
> thing. It has been suggested to fix this in the next software revision.
Marshall,
thanks for the great info! Any idea on serial number ranges for the
later MIDIBoards with the Suzuki action? Also, regarding CS80V not
getting the ribbon right: I complained about that when it first came
out. I just asked Xavier again, and he said that version 1.2 has a
linear option for the ribbon!!! I haven't been able to try it since
the demo version is still at 1.1. If you're a registered owner,
please give it a try and report. Here's the info he sent me:
>Here are the link for the version 1.2 of the CS-80V. The ribbon
>controller has been updated : you can select the position "cs >linear".
>In that way, the ribbon modulate teh frequency in linear, as the
>original. The first clic of the mouse set the zero point. This zero
>point is updated to the middle after a while. In that way, the
>keybord pitch bend still works correctly.
> ftp://test_area@.../cs80v_1.2_test/cs80v_1_2.sit
>
ftp://
test_area@.../cs80v_1.2_test/CS-80V_1.2_win_setup.exe
> Pass word if needed: berlioz
David