Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

W O W !

THANK YOU to everyone for responding so quickly. I think I'm going to like it here!

And thanks Jon for the tip (Q-tip?) that was an "old guy" lame attempt at humor.

But that's helpful and advice I'll try.

Scott



--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Carroll" <joncarroll@...> wrote:
>
> it also helps if you go in and clean the contact area on the keys and the 
> circuit board... yes, every little one... rubbing alcohol is adequate for 
> this.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "jeancharles.printz" <jeancharles.printz@...>
> To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 12:15 PM
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: VFX noob seeks advice
> 
> 
> > Hi
> >
> > I bought my VFX/SD recently for 200 euros. The synth was in perfect 
> > condition, but I had to repair the famous AT malfunction, calibration 
> > error ... The guitarist of my band soldered the two boards together and 
> > the synth is now ok. The poly AT works normally. I have to say that the 
> > synth was in real perfect condition, bought from the first owner, not used 
> > since 1990. I wouldn't dare any comparison with the CS80. I'm a Yamaha fan 
> > (owned the DX7 I and II, SY77 and 99). They are very sturdy and reliable.
> > I understand and feel like you : I couldn't bear to use an instrument that 
> > doesn't work normally.
> > When I opened the VFX to repair it, I noticed a large space between the 
> > keys and the boards. It seems that you have to play strongly to activate 
> > the AT, making contact close enough.
> >
> >
> > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Scott" <gl2tgr@> wrote:
> >>
> >> Steve, that is *awesomely* useful information.
> >>
> >> The CS80 is my "impossible dream" synth, because I know that I'll never 
> >> be able to save and bring myself to spend the money to get one. But I've 
> >> never touched one. I'm a big Eddie Jobson fan as well, more CS80 madness!
> >>
> >> Frankly the Poly-AT was the main reason I wanted the VFX. My expectations 
> >> (re: aftertouch) are modest - I wouldn't expect a used Ensoniq to come 
> >> close to the feel/performance of a high-end unit like a CS80 or a VAX77. 
> >> But just the fact that it has the feature *at*all* was enough.
> >>
> >> Your info re: the S2 or S3 is great.
> >>
> >> Thanks! Scott
> >>
> >> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "steve" <sataraszewski@> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Scott,
> >> >
> >> > It seems to me that the item is not in in "PERFECT OPERATING 
> >> > CONDITION", as you have noted. If it were me, I would definitely 
> >> > contact the seller and let him/her know of the situation and either 
> >> > suggest that the seller either give you 1) a partial refund to pay for 
> >> > the repair or 2) be prepared to receive the unit back.
> >> >
> >> > I had purchased two VFX-SDs from ebay dealers and neither of the 
> >> > machines functioned as described. However, I contacted the sellers and 
> >> > rationally explained the problems and was compensated to my 
> >> > satisfaction. I was specifically looking for poly-aftertouch 
> >> > capabilities when I bought the VFX-SDs to replicate the hardware feel 
> >> > of my old yamaha CS80 when using my Arturia CS80V software. That was a 
> >> > pipe dream :)  Although both of the VFXs do have functioning poly-AT, 
> >> > the feel is a bit off for me in that I do seem to have to press rather 
> >> > firmly to engage the poly-AT and then, the poly-AT "curve" is anything 
> >> > but linear. May I suggest that, if you are looking for something a bit 
> >> > more performance oriented in terms of poly-AT, you try to dig up an old 
> >> > GEM S2 or S3 turbo.  I found one of these at a Guitar Center and 
> >> > snapped it up, but only after I had bought the VFXs. And, although the 
> >> > VFXs do sound nice, I probably would never had purchased them given the 
> >> > beautiful feel of the GEM keyboard and my original reason for buying 
> >> > another controller in the first place.
> >> >
> >> > Just a thought,
> >> > steve
> >> >
> >> > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Scott" <gl2tgr@> wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > Bill, thank you for the response! But what I am specifically looking 
> >> > > for is opinions on: HOW MUCH TROUBLE WILL IT BE for me to get the 
> >> > > aftertouch on this unit to respond as it should? (Even if it takes a 
> >> > > lot of pressure, I don't care) - I just want it to work!
> >> > >
> >> > > The seller (again) appears to be a straight-shoter BUT he described 
> >> > > the unit as "IN PERFECT OPERATING CONDITION" - so I'm trying to 
> >> > > decide whether to send it back or not.
> >> > >
> >> > > The point is POLY aftertouch, you can't replicate that with a pedal 
> >> > > and entering it as MIDI events in a sequencer NOT what I'm interested 
> >> > > in - it's a performance/improvisation issue.
> >> > >
> >> > > Anyone else, any thoughts about adjusting/restoring the aftertouch on 
> >> > > one of these?
> >> > >
> >> > > Thanks! Scott
> >> > >
> >> > > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "William J. Niemi" <bill@> 
> >> > > wrote:
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Hi, Scott,
> >> > > >
> >> > > > I have an SD-1, and it was in a heavily smoked studio for a number 
> >> > > > of
> >> > > > years.  No more though... otherwise I'd probably not be writing to 
> >> > > > you.  :-)
> >> > > >
> >> > > > I never thought the aftertouch on the SD-1 was that great compared 
> >> > > > to
> >> > > > other keyboard synths I have played.  It always seemed to me that 
> >> > > > you
> >> > > > have to play very hard to get that controller to work.
> >> > > >
> >> > > > If it ever becomes a big issue with you, you might consider getting 
> >> > > > a
> >> > > > pedal like a Digitech Control 8 (long out of production but still
> >> > > > supported by the factory!)  which you could set for the controller 
> >> > > > # and
> >> > > > operate with your foot.  I know it's a workaround but that would be
> >> > > > one.  Also, if you are recording MIDI, some programs (like Sonar) 
> >> > > > will
> >> > > > allow you to manually enter controller parameters on the track as
> >> > > > necessary.  So there's 2 workarounds.
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your SD as much as I do.  There are
> >> > > > still some patches on that box that I rank right up there with the
> >> > > > best... such as the "Organizer" patch with the Digitech controlling 
> >> > > > the
> >> > > > Leslie simulation... way cool.  I have a Hammond A-100 with the 
> >> > > > matching
> >> > > > Leslie 251 in my studio and that patch, pound for pound, is way 
> >> > > > easier
> >> > > > for the working musician!
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Best,
> >> > > > Bill
> >> > > >
> >> > >
> >> >
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>