Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Fender did in fact go out of business for a short period of time. They 
suspended shipments and I thought that my three guitars were about to 
skyrocket in value. Instead the President of Fender bought the company 
form the parent company (CBS). At least that's what I've heard. Anyway 
they are back in business now and hopefully for quite some time.

dave

	re .0:The akai is pretty cool, esp when linked with the Akai digital
sampler, however, in my opinion it doesn't track worth a crap. What then is
the value of it's awesome sounds??
-wjb

re: 2.

What do you mean by "doesnt track"?

	I mean what I said. Try and play fast runs on the keyboard. The sampled
	sounds come out after you've played the initial lick. Now that 
	opinion is basrd on a demo with the AX-80 & the Digital Sampler.
	The AX-80 alone is fine.
-wjb

    I have a chance to buy an AKAI AX-80 for $300.  Is this a good deal?
    I'm not familiar with the unit, could someone please fill me in
    on its features?
    
    Also, I need to settle an argument with my wife.  We're looking
    into a piano or synth for our oldest son (whose starting lessons).
    I say buy a synth, she says buy a piano.  Which is better to learn
    on?  She is concerned with the pedals on the piano, I say a synth
    probably does the same with a flick of a switch.  Could someone
    please speak intelligently to the comparison and the various
    advantages/disadvantages?
    
    Thanks,
    Mike

RE < Note 166.5 by PNO::HEISER "Lakers are Fakers once again!!!" >

	An AX80 for $300 is a good price.  It was never a market-bursting 
product, but it has its good points.  I like the fact that all parameters are
visible with those bar-graph LED's.  It also was one of the few analogs in
its time to give a fairly decent piano sound - about as good as FM synthesis'
approximation of the piano.

	As far as your battle over piano vs. synth, the question really comes 
down to what kind of lessons is your son taking.  If he's taking piano lessons,
only a piano (or a VERY well built MIDI controller with weighted action) will
do.  The AX80 will not respond like a piano ought to and will hamper his
learning curve.  If he is learning keyboards in general, this will obviously not
be a problem.

	As far as recommendations for MIDI controllers with piano action, you 
could try the Roland RD300S, the Yamaha KX88 or PF85, Elka has a controller 
(MK88?) as does Kawai.  Expect to spend in the neighborhood of $2,000 for one 
new, though.  The advantage you'll have with going this route is that it will
be an expandable system.

	Dan

Just a quick note.  Earlier this year the Yamaha KX88 was $1295 and the Kawai
M8000 was $1250 at Sam Ash.  Both are 88 key weighted action controllers.
They don't produce sound however.

Chad

RE < Note 166.7 by NORGE::CHAD "Ich glaube Ich t�te Ich h�tte" >

	That's right, the controller alone could be had for those prices, but 
there's still a need for a sound generating module.  The cheapest solution to
getting piano sounds is via the Yamaha box (EM-something-or-other?).  I've
heard its sounds and they are not bad.  You'd be limited in polyphony to
something like 8 voices, though, but the thing can be had for anywhere from
$315 (lowest price I've heard) to $350 (average price).

	So, for the very least, Mike would expect to pay in excess of $1600
if he bought these things new.  A decent used digital piano like a Roland RD___
unit could be had for somewhere around $1000.

	Dan

    Mike, 
    
    Getting a piano is a piece of cake.  Whenever I've bothered to check
    (like in WantAdvertizer) I've been able to spot someone selling
    a piano for $200.  The problem is that these are usually U-move-it
    and may be in need of tuning or repair.  But, if you do your homework
    and spend $100 or so to have it tuned and maybe fixed, you can wind up 
    with a really good deal.  (I've found that tuning needs to be done
    by an expert, but fixing is not all that hard if you are a bit
    mechanically inclined.)
    
    And, with the money you save, you can go buy the AX (for the child,
    of course - so he can broaden his keyboard studies, if your wife
    will bite on that).
    
    One more thought, if wifey says it has to be a real piano, it's
    gotta be a real piano.  You can spout specs until you're blue in
    the face about polyphonic aftertouch, velocity sensitivity and dynamic
    voice allocation.  She will not be convinced.  Believe me, I know
    what I'm talking about from experience ...

    Steve_who_was_allowed_to_sell_his_synths_but_not_the_piano

    Thanks for the inputs guys!  I guess I'll see what kind of deals
    are out there in the used market.
    
    I went to a local keyboard shop this weekend to get a look at some
    of the 88 key synths and to get a MIDI demo (I wanted my wife to
    see its advantages).  First the salesman said, "Nobody is making
    88 key synths today.  Most are 61 keys."  Then I asked for a MIDI
    demo and was turned down.  They had an Apple Mac for their setup
    but another salesman was "using" it.  There was also an Atari ST
    sitting there doing nothing.  
    
    I don't think I'll be back to that store...
    
    Mike

Don't give up.  That store doesn't seem so interesting anyway...

That salesman I guess hasn't heard of the NEW Roland A80 or the to-be
Korg T1...

Though I would have to vote for a real piano for the kid.  If your going to play
piano, play on a piano for practice (at first).

Chad

    To Mike PNO::HEISER ;
    
    PNO is Phoenix, right ?  go to Synthony Music at Indian School and
    Scottsdale Rd in Scottsdale.  Keys and MIDI is ALL they do.  LOTS
    of setups.
    
    karl

>    < Note 166.12 by SALSA::MOELLER "Never say 'forget it' to a computer." >
>    To Mike PNO::HEISER ;
>    PNO is Phoenix, right ?  go to Synthony Music at Indian School and
>    Scottsdale Rd in Scottsdale.  Keys and MIDI is ALL they do.  LOTS
>    of setups.
    
    karl, yeah I heard so many good things about them that I took advantage
    of the holiday on Monday to go down there.  Too bad that they are
    the store referred to in my last reply.  They had all sorts of neat 
    gear laying around but they weren't very helpful at all.
    
    I almost laughed this afternoon when I saw their ad in an old issue
    of Keyboard Magazine.

    You have to wonder about a store when a salesman's MIDI experiments
    take precedence over a potential customer!
    
    Mike

	You should take a look at the Yamaha PF85 mentioned in an earlier
	reply.  Less than $1500 (on discount) and it's usable out of the
	box as a piano, 88 keys, weighted action, pedal, built-in
	speakers and amplifier.  It's also MIDIed with 5 voices and
	stereo chorus.  I like mine... 



	John

    Does anyone out there know where I can find some patches for the
    AX80?
    
    		Thanks,
    		Mark
    

    
    	Does anyone have the Spec's on this keyboard?  What can it actually
    do?
    
    
    McQ