Conference napalm::commusic_v1

	There are a lot of keyboards out there.  How much would you want to 
spend?

	One thing you may not realize...  Most of the newer SGU's will handle
splits and layers on their own.  If you want to have a split between two 
different SGU's (say, bass from MKS30, piano from TX7), it gets a bit more 
complicated.  Some SGUs will allow you to set "soft" limits on what MIDI note 
numbers it will respond to (almost like setting up a split with one of the 
voices being a null voice).  Or, you could get an outboard devise (like the MX8)
that will set your controller up to split at programmable split points.

	The reason I say this is that I don't think there are a lot of older
keyboard that transmit more than one channel.

	I personally suggest finding a keyboard that already has an SGU built
in.  Keyboard controllers are nice in that they do the more esoteric things
like splits, layers, transmit on multiple channels, etc., but you always have
to lug around something extra (rack with SGU's) to get any sound of them.  Of
course there is a trade-off (isn't there always?) in that you start to find a
lot of annoying limitations in what older keybaords did with MIDI.

	For example...  The DX7 transmits velocity and aftertouch, but has two 
major zits: (1)  It only transmits on ch 1 and (2) it transmits a limited number
of velocity values (1-118, as opposed to 1-128).  Or take the JX8P - it 
transmits velocity and aftertouch as well, but has no local off (essential 
feature, in my opinion) and the velocity scaling is kind of strange (you have 
to try it to know what I mean - you try to hit the keys at what you feel is 
the right amount of velocity, but it responds differently).

	There's a lot to it, if you're at all picky.  Do you want synth weight
keys or piano weight keys?  

	Below are the keyboards that come to mind when I think of older units
with velocity sensitive keyboards:

	Roland:
		JX8P ($400-$600), JX10 ($800-$1k), Alpha Juno II ($400-$500), 
		RD200 ($600-$900)
	Yamaha:
		DX7 ($600-$900), DX11($400-$600)
	AKAI:
		AX80 ($350-$500)
	Casio:
		CZ1 ($350-$600)
	Rhodes:
		Chroma Polaris ($300-$600)
	Sequential:
		Split Eight ($350-$600)
	Korg:
		DW8000 ($400-$600), 707 ($350-$600)
    
	I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones that come to mind.  The
prices in parenthesis are what I'd expect to find on the used market.

	Dan
    

Re: .0 - Good question. That's similar to the situation I'm in. Limited 
funds, no MIDI now--but I don't want exclude the possibility of getting a
sequencer or additional SGU someday, and I definitely want a velocity
sensitive keyboard action. 

My solution was the DW-8000, which is in Dan's list.  I picked it up from
Sam Ash (mail order) for 399.00 new.  I've only had it a few days, however, 
so I'm not ready to make a complete review.  Also, I'm not that familiar 
with MIDI.  While the DW-8000 does have a lot of MIDI functionality, I 
wouldn't be surprised if it's limited in some sense--but then, that's not
a big priority for me right now.  My main priority was to replace (and make
some kind of an upgrade from) my non-velocity-sensitive Casio CZ-1000.

Oh, and one more criteria for me was availability of third-party patches.
That way if I ever did get tired of the keyboard, I could always order a tape
of a few hundred new sounds to peak my interest again.  That worked with the 
CZ-1000.

Peter

    
    re: 1	I guess I could have been a little more specific regarding
    	price etc. and style (analog,digital).  I guess subconsciously
    	I would like an older analog synth that I could control a digital
    	sound module from(naturally with all the niceties included).
    	Well, if I could get close I should be happy.
    
    		Thanks, Dan.  At least I was aware of most of the list
    	you compiled for me, and thanks again for infoming me of the
    	ones I wasn't.
    
    re: 2	I wasn't aware of the DW-8000.  I did go back and check
    	the note on it.  Could you list the specifics of it, the note
    	on it wasn't overly explicit.  It sounded like a nice keyboard
    	for the price, very functional.
    
    		Thanks, Pete for adding your thoughts
    
    
    Kevin 

    Kevin - there were some problems with the DW8000 keyboard contact
    mechanism wearing out with a great deal of use ... notes mistriggered
    randomly or transmitted the wrong velocity values.  I am not sure that
    Korg ever fixed the problem (although they would pay for the
    repair/replacement of the contact modules). 

    Given that the D50 is going new now for close to $1000, it might be
    worth your while to think about one of those, too.  There are still
    analog modules around that sound good (MKS70, Matrix6, Matrix 1000,
    etc). 

    In fact, the ESQ-1 is a *great* way to get started (not to start
    another ESQ topic) ... 

-b

    My two cents: I have a Roland Super JX-10, which I bought to (1) get a
    good controller and (2) get some of those great analog sounds. Unlike
    nearly everything else on the planet, the JX-10 features 76 keys. It is
    also a great controller; I'm not sure why, but that's what all the
    sales folk at Wurlitzer's and Lasalle's say when I mention the JX.
    
    Professor Fehskens is a JX-10 expert extrordinaire, and has waxed
    eloquent on this topic several times. Try a keyword search.
    
    I love mine!
    
    - Hoyt