Exciting news about 61 note optical midi strips and Rhodes midi kits update from past thread
Tony
I have never been sure about the Gulbransen optical midi strips to be fitted
in a Hammond, though, they use to say on their webpage about fitting in
organs, but neverthelsee, a new company has emerged and handling and
selling/packaging the midi kits is different and lower priced, though still,
perhaps, high priced for the hobbyist.. I have always thought they were WAY
overpriced, in the past, but these kits seem a lot more reasonable.And is is
maintainace-free optical midi.
Double manual organ kit is 995 apparently with the computer midi box, unless
I read it wrong. The old company (not saying they are doing it now) was open
to discounts.
The 61 note optical midi kit could also be great news for people building
acustom controllers (perhaps using real Hammond keys)
Also, I have pasted the notification I received about the Rhode midi kit
allowing the make a Rhodes midi (keep in mind Rhodes optical kits requare a
small part to be installed on each key to avoid double triggering with the
bouncy action) the prices seem drastically reduced unliess I missed
something. The pastes are below my name. This is not put in here for SPAM
(obviously, not afilliated)but could be extremely helpful for someone doing
a midi project. This allows (obviously)one also to play a concert piano
sample with a real Rhodes with other sounds and layering.
Tony
<beginning of pase>
Hi everyone,
This email is to officially announce our new company name change and our new
velocity sensitive organ MIDI retrofit systems.
Recently the former long-time owner of Gulbransen sold our Digital Hymnal
business, along with the Gulbransen name to QRS Music. We will continue
manufacturing only MIDI systems, not Digital Hymnals.
We have now emerged from the transition period with new products and a new
company name: "MIDI 9." (The origin of the new name is explained at the web
site.)
This new MIDI System business is now owned by Dave Starkey, the original
inventor, and Walter Chung, a past president of Gulbransen.
Here is a link to our new web site:
http://www.midi9.com
Our new product line includes:
KS-61 specifically designed for single manual 61 note organ applications
KS-122 designed for double manual organ applications (includes two 61 note
sensor strips)
KS-73 designed for 73 note Rhodes and Yamaha CP70 pianos
All of our products are velocity sensitive and do not change the feel of
your keyboard.
We also are continuing to offer:
KS-1 for standard 88 note pianos
Orchestra III for 61, 73, or 88 note length, includes onboard sequencer and
sound module
We have also reduced prices, the new factory direct prices are:
KS-61 system is only $745.
This includes the 61-note photo-optical sensor strip.
KS-122 system is only $995.
This includes two 61 note strips.
KS-1 $795 (includes 88 note strip and damper sensor)
Orchestra III $1295 (includes one 61, 88, or 73 note strip plus damper
sensor)
Quantity discounts are also available.
Add $25 UPS Ground delivery for all single sensor strip orders, $35 for
double strip order)
We are currently taking advance orders on the KS-61 and KS-122 systems, as
we need a little time to build enough 61-note strips, allow up to 4 weeks
for delivery.
Feel free to email or call me directly to order or for more info.
Jack Butler
MIDI 9
(formerly Gulbransen Inc)
jbu...@midi9.com
800-757-MIDI (6434), 619-469-1456
<paste 2>
Sorry for the long time it has taken since the last 73-note update.
This email is to officially announce our new company name change and our new
Rhodes/CP70 control box.
Recently the former long-time owner of Gulbransen sold our Digital Hymnal
business, along with the Gulbransen name to QRS Music. We will continue
manufacturing only MIDI systems, not Digital Hymnals.
We have now emerged from the transition period with new products and a new
company name: "MIDI 9." (The origin of the new name is explained on the web
site.)
The MIDI System business is now owned by Dave Starkey, the original
inventor, and Walter Chung, a past president of Gulbransen.
Here is a link to our new web site:
http://www.midi9.com
Our new product line includes the KS-73, specifically designed for Rhodes
and Yamaha CP70 pianos.
All of our products are velocity sensitive and do not change the feel of
your keyboard.
We have also reduced prices, the factory direct price of the KS-73 system is
only $795.
This includes the 73-note photo-optical sensor strip and the single sustain
(damper) pedal sensor.
We are currently taking advance orders on the KS-73 system, as we need a
little time to build the 73-note strips, allow up to 4 weeks for delivery.
Paul Zein
news:84991f646067afb1cef94ba3640a53ac@TeraNews:
> We had a small thread about this earliar and here is an update:
>
> I have never been sure about the Gulbransen optical midi strips to be
looked at pdf it dont have presets so if u put kit in hammond & if ya can
get it happenin ta make midi how could ya easily change sounds ta sound
module?
the rhodes thing is pretty cool here i go linkin again
http://www.oceanbeach.com/ches/daves_gear/rhodes.html
Paul
Tony
> looked at pdf it dont have presets so if u put kit in hammond & if ya can
> get it happenin ta make midi how could ya easily change sounds ta sound
> module?
Just email them and ask them. Probably has a channel selection switch like a
Fatar controller
>the rhodes thing is pretty cool here i go linkin again
> http://www.oceanbeach.com/ches/daves_gear/rhodes.html
I think that is the old controller box that was much more expensive but may
have had more zones (?)
The backcheck job looks simple, but a monotonous chore to enable midi, but
makes the Rhodes action more 'piano like' for running piano samples. Someone
did this without backchecks, also, by ripping apart a Roland A-30
controller that used the veleocity contact strip that was modified. He has a
webpage somewhere. Not as neat a job though as the midi9 kit and easy
install that is said to take an hour.
As for making a B3 midi, sounds great, but I would think this to be more a
theater organists delight, though it would spare some keyboards being placed
on the organ. Playing piano, would seem to me (besides the lack of weighed
keys) very limited with a 61 note organ keyboard. (why everyone, just about,
prefers the 73 Electro) Though it might be cool to have some strings and
change the bass tone, perhaps Rhodes on the Hammond keyboard.. I think
McGriff used a midi B3 at one time. It would be interesting to ask what
samples people would play with their B3/A100/any3series if they had midi,
yet, I am not sure that this double manual kit will work in a Hammond
console, maybe someone can clear that up. Could be a hell of a job too,
fitting, etc, if it did work.
Tony
Tony
page.
http://www.oceanbeach.com/ches/daves_gear/rhodes.html
He had a few interesting things to comment on about Hammond organ
midification and I thought, *with his permission*, to paste it here below my
name and share his remarks
Tony
<beginning of paste>
Howdy,
I happened to catch your post and thought I'd forward you my two cents on
the matter. I used to work for Gulbransen (I'm the guy with that MIDI
Rhodes page you may have seen), and while I haven't worked for the
company or its principals in many years, I keep in contact with them. I'm
happy
to see new life breathed into the sensor strip product line, and I agree
with you about the pricing. Hopefully the price of these strips will
continue to fall as the technology improves.
Back in the day, I tried to figure out how to fit a Gulbransen sensor
strip in a Hammond and it just didn't seem workable. Last week I did speak
at
length with Starkey about this, and he said that he's talked to a guy
who's done it. I would love to see that install. I bet it was a lot of work.
From what I hear, there was a lot of metal cutting involved.
As I see it, there are two big challenges. One is that the key is
hollow and doesn't have much travel. So, you want the strip to be as close
to
the player end of the key as possible to maximize the amount of travel
captured. The second problem is that right at the end of the black keys
there's a big complicated keycomb which acts as a guide for each key.
This keycomb is right where you'd want to put a sensor strip.
I did do an install in the lower manual of an old Korg BX-3 (which also
has hollow keys but no keycomb), and that worked out okay. I think a
Hammond install would take exceptional skills, far beyond what's required to
put this strip in a regular piano or a Rhodes. Just to put things in
perspective, historically, the biggest market for 61-note strips has
been pipe organs, which typically have wooden keys much more like a piano
than a Hammond.
There is talk of a new sensor strip, and if that actually happens I'd
say it's probably a safe bet that the Hammond organ would be taken into
consideration for its design. But at this point, to my knowledge,
things are still in the conceptual phase. <end of paste>
Tony
for those who care to read it.
http://www.oceanbeach.com/ches/daves_gear/hammond.html
Tony
I wrote