Kurzweil MIDIBoard for Dummies? Advise sought.

First off....I'm a guitarist that uses an Axon trigger & piezo pickups for several synth modules.

Primarily, I'm using a KORG Triton rack, Roland JD-990 and/or a Roland JV-1080.

I've started working with several keyboard players from a urban contemporary gospel background. I don't know that they've ever used a keyboard with less than 88 keys except a Hammond organ. :poke:

The only real keyboard I have is a Roland JD-800...except the key weights recently decided to unglue themselves leaving red epoxy puddles everywhere.

SO...I put the word out that I needed a reasonably priced 88-key MIDI controller of decent quality (READ: NOT M-Audio I was told) to allow these guys to use some of my rack synths with in a converted barn practice room we're using.

A gear swapping friend called late last week from a large outdoor flea market/auction and asked if I could use a big keyboard called a Kurzweil MIDIBoard in VERY nice shape. A quick check on Google indicated that this unit was old but might do the job.

The MIDIBoard went cheap enough to take a chance and it appears to be the latest updated version if I'm not mistaked about the startup screen display...so it's coming my way with an owners manual (along with a well worn Kurzweil Grande Ensemble that was part of the auction "lot").

What have I gotten myself into?

Is this going to be a serious PITA to hookup to my rack units?

Is it REALLY as heavy as my friend threatens? (He says it feels like he's moving a condensed Hammond C3)

Is this Kurzweil one of those old dinosaurs best left to you old hands that purchased your first Kurzweil MIDIBoard in the same year as your beloved Kaypro computer?

I ask because I tend to jump into some gear projects in which I didn't quite see the big picture beforehand....and I fear I might have just done it again.

What kind of trouble am I facing?

Any advise, information, warnings, suggestions or stray thoughts from those familiar with this older controller would be greatly appreciated!

-- Sonar

well .. mm

i sent you i private . message

You have purchased one of the all-time great keyboard controllers, which is built like a tank and has served its owners without problems for decades...

No moreso than any other mdern MIDI controller.

In a word, yes. With a hard case it is about 115-120 lbs.

Is this Kurzweil one of those old dinosaurs best left to you old hands that purchased your first Kurzweil MIDIBoard in the same year as your beloved Kaypro computer?

The MIDIBoard is something that will need to pried from our cold, dead fingers- unless somebody out there decides to produce a keyboard with PolyAT (VAX77?).

What kind of trouble am I facing?

If it is a Rev 3.0, probably very little other than the weight factor. Good luck and post some pics when you get it!

wow does that thing have poly after touch?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep!!

Got your message.

I'm not interested in selling it as I haven't even SEEN it yet.

I did look for other reviews as you suggest, but most go something like this:

"It's old...it has poly aftertouch...It's incredibly heavy...with poly aftertouch...you can't get repair parts...current owners of Kurzweil won't support anything about this unit...it's practically the only controller with poly aftertouch...no upgrades available...the keyboard makes a lot of noise...the keyboard action can be dangerous for tendinitis...did we mention the POLY AFTERTOUCH?!?

...AND I would not trade it for the world and wholly expect to be buried with it till the end of time."

Basically...reading the reviews is quite confusing.

The reviews make it appear as if this controller is basically a boat anchor WITH POLY AFTERTOUCH.

Sounds to me like you were looking for a rehearsal keyboard. The one you ended up buying is capable of much more, but weight should not be an issue if you aren't gigging it.

Yeah....I've heard something about that PolyAT.

In real world applications, would you suspect I could use this PolyAT feature with my current rack gear? (ie: KORG Triton rack, Roland JD-990 and/or a Roland JV-1080)

Are there certain rack units that really take particular advantage of or specifically support this poly aftertouch feature?

I have a vague idea how the PolyAT would work, but I have no concept of it's practical application with late '90s/early 2000 synth rack gear I own. Any insight on this?

Thanks!

Good score!!!

Yes, you have one great board. It weighs about 80 pounds, so moving it isn't trivial. There's a bit of further info out there but it's scattered. Here are a couple of threads:

http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=65589&page=14&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1445534&highlight=midiboard

depends on the part--my local computer repair guy was able to replace the sliders on mine

the keyboard action is different from a standard piano action--will it cause tendinitis? Not me, not yet.

Oh, and if it doesn't work out for you, let me know.

You appear quite correct...but for $175 for the two keyboards, I wasn't turning it down.

Heck...this MIDIBoard might not even work correctly...I only know that it fires up and puts various hieroglyphics up in the rather odd display window...or so Im told.

And I really shouldn't say a word about the weight when the other keyboards in the rehersal area are a Hammond B3 / w 2-147 Leslies, Fender 76 Rhodes Stage, Hohner D6 and a Wurlitzer 200A.

I wish the current crop of gospel players were a bit more "old school" and less addicted to their Motif/Triton/Fantom kits.

PLUS....it just seems unnatural to find something shaped like a controller that can't be carried under your arm these days.

But, then again, I'm just a guitarist and everyone knows we do a GREAT disappearing act when it's time to actually MOVE the keyboard rig! :D

The physical hookup to other synths, by the way, is run a cord from its MIDI out to the other synth's MIDI in and make sure you're sending on the right channel. No more to it than that.

The first bunch of presets will probably cover your needs, but you can make it do some wonderful things if you read the manual and give yourself a few hours to punch in the programs.

o becuase maybe after seing the reviews , you might not want it

you paid that much ? for 3 keyboards???

Yeah....I've heard something about that PolyAT. In real world applications, would you suspect I could use this PolyAT feature with my current rack gear? (ie: KORG Triton rack, Roland JD-990 and/or a Roland JV-1080) Are there certain rack units that really take particular advantage of or specifically support this poly aftertouch feature? I have a vague idea how the PolyAT would work, but I have no concept of it's practical application with late '90s/early 2000 synth rack gear I own. Any insight on this? Thanks!

Channel AT example: -> You have aftertouch programmed to sweep the filter. You play a chord and hold it. You press one finger down more, and the filters of all the notes sweep. Boo.

Poly AT example: -> You have aftertouch programmed to sweep the filter. You play a chord and hold it. You press one finger down more, and the filter of ONLY THAT NOTE sweeps. Yay! Same for adding vibrato, pitch bend, whatever.

It makes the machine more alive, and sound like individual notes by individual players in an ensemble, rather than holding chords on an organ. Think Blade Runner and those glorious CS-80 brass sounds.

Most modern rompler engines will respond to poly AT. That's the easy part - the hard part is building the physical keyboard capable of sending it.

The only thing "obsolete" about the MIDIBoard is it does not transmit 14-bit NRPN messages which is only an issue if you are controlling things like MIDI knob CCs. There are tabletop "knobby" controllers that are better suited for this than the MB so don't sweat it.

Other than that it is an excellent controller. Anyone who says the action will cause tendinitis has never played a piano. This thing has the best piano action yet.

My Kurzweil MIDIBoard arrived intact and I will post some photos soon.

Basically, it's in perfect condition....not a scratch. Sliders smooth and all touch buttons register nicely. I don't know enough yet to say that EVERY function is 100%, but so far everything checks out.

It is the Rev 3.0 and I wonder if it was an upgraded older model as it is labeled as MADE IN THE USA. Serial number begins 870701XX with a P/N of 19001502.

I hooked it up to a nearby Roland JD900 and it sprang to life immediately and performs beautifully.

That's where things stand to date....I'll follow up with photos soon.

You made a seriously nice find, and I'm seriously envious.

rememebr if you dont like it to havey hard to program ,, your hands hurt beucase of heavy keys .. ..... give me a call

My Kurzweil MIDIBoard arrived intact and I will post some photos soon. Basically, it's in perfect condition....not a scratch. Sliders smooth and all touch buttons register nicely. I don't know enough yet to say that EVERY function is 100%, but so far everything checks out. It is the Rev 3.0 and I wonder if it was an upgraded older model as it is labeled as MADE IN THE USA. Serial number begins 870701XX with a P/N of 19001502. I hooked it up to a nearby Roland JD900 and it sprang to life immediately and performs beautifully. That's where things stand to date....I'll follow up with photos soon.

Cool- now you will find out that the JD-990 does NOT respond to PolyAT. If the MIDIBoard says 3.0 on startup, then you are good to go. I think yours was also late enough in production that you have one of the improved "Suzuki" actions, which corrected some earlier problems. The Real MC will be able to chime in about that.

Congrats!

Also, Bank Change commands weren't implemented until 1995. So, only Program Change commands from 0-127 (1-128) will be sent.

The prevailing trend suggests that MBs with the "Made In Japan" badges have the superior Hammond Suzuki keyset, which provides a really nice action that piano players will love.

i dont know you play guitar .. if you play that maybe it will afect your playing i really know know maybe it wll . i have played piano since i was like 9 i cantrade it for key that feels more like i gui8tar .. .