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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

892.0. "Alesis MIDIverb II vs. Yamaha SPX90 for recording" by DECSIM::BERRETTINI (Penn Jacobs, DTN 225-5671) Fri Jul 31 1987 15:15

	I  have  an  Alesis  microverb  which  I  use  on  4-track home
	recordings.  I've been thinking that I would like a second unit
	for recording drums (different rooms on different drums, etc.),
	and I'm thinking about a more generalized digital effects  box.
	I  keep  hearing  about  the Midiverb II and the Yamaha SPX-90.
	The Yamaha is more expensive.  They're both  16-bit  resolution
	devices.   They're  both  multi-effect  devices.   I  know  the
	Midiverb is Midi-controllable, I assume the Yamaha is as  well.
	Does anybody know any other differences?  Quality of A/D -- D/A
	conversion?  Number  of  presets/effects?   Parameter  control?
	SOUND?   I  am very happy with the Microverb (nice clean reverb
	-- liked it a lot better than the comparable  Korg  unit  which
	had loads of presets but wasn't as clean).
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892.1The SPX90 may not be the ticketMAY20::BAILEYSteph BaileyFri Jul 31 1987 16:2019
    The SPX-90 is much more a ``multi effect'' box than a reverb box. I
    mean, the kitchen sink can be found somewhere inside there.  It is a
    very versatile unit, providing a wide variety of effects and can even
    be used to play a sampled input (can you say ``Clich�d orchestra
    hit''?), but it is not what you would probably consider to be a
    flexible reverb unit.  Also, I hear that it is fairly noisy compared to
    reverb-only units. 
    
    Everybody I know who has an SPX90 (and most of the magazines) really
    love them, but they are not trying to get that PCM70 sound out of
    it.  If you can't decide whether you want a chorus, or equalization,
    or delay, or reverb, or pitch shift in a particular context, then
    the SPX90 is great.
    
    As far as putting different rooms on different drums, you would
    probably be better off looking for something else.
           
    Steph
    
892.2Good (but not great) multi-purpose unitDREGS::BLICKSTEINDaveSun Aug 02 1987 21:0220
    I've A/B (and C'ed) the ProVerb, MidiVerb II and the SPX-90.  The
    SPX-90 is definitely noiser and (to my ears) not as realistic as
    the other full-time reverbs.  However, it does tons more (delay
    effects, reverb, compression, harmonizer, noise gate, etc.).
    
    I think if you need GOOD reverb and can afford it, I'd get the MidiVerb
    II (I liked it more than the Proverb), but if you can't afford and
    NEED reverb, compression, limiting, harmonizing, noise gating, ....
    get the SPX-90.   It's not great at any one of those tasks, but
    it's good at all of them.  I'd also get if there are times when
    you need a second reverb, a second delay, a second compressor, or
    whatever.
    
    BTW, Yamaha is coming out with an upgrade to the SPX-90.  I've heard
    it refered to as the "SPX-90 Mark B".  Original SPX-90's are upgradable
    to Mark B specs (which suggests that it's largely a software and
    memory upgrade), but you may want to wait until the Mark B arrives
    in the stores before buying a "mark A".
    
    	db
892.3dark sound ok for reverb, butJON::ROSSNetwork partner excited first try!{pant}Mon Aug 03 1987 12:008
    effects on the SPX have about a 10Khz bandwidth.
    
    effects on MVII is 15Khz band. 
    
    The SPX has some more effects but dont forget: one at a time.
    
    Doesnt the MVII have delay, stereo, reverse and gate, (and...?)
    
892.4You should hear Shane talk about MVII by phoneECADSR::SHERMANone rubber nose!Mon Aug 03 1987 17:044
    re -.1 MVII also has flanging and 'bloom'.  I'm never going back
    to anything else!
    
    Steve_still_content_would_you_believe?
892.5SPX xxxxMINDER::KENTThu Aug 06 1987 11:5217
    
    I have recently aquired the aformentioned SPX90 II and am reasonably
    happy with it. I had it out on loan, before purchase, and was able
    to compare it in my home studio against the DEP 5, MidiVerb II and
    my current Midiverb 1.
    
    I chose the SPX because in a general Studio environment the multiple
    effects wiil be much more use in the long run. The Midiverb sounded
    great but not that much better to my ears. The Dep 5 was also good
    but you need a degree to keep ahead of the programming. I personally
    like a machine without too many programming options. 
    
    The Midiverb would have won if it could have done pitch-shifting.
    
    I'me suffering from Jet-Lag. Can you tell ?
    
    					Paul.
892.6Hold the Phone !!COUGAR::JACQUESWed Sep 02 1987 10:4810
    I am a midiverbII owner. Up until now I have been delighted
    with it. The last couple of days, I am experienceing a problem
    with it. I'll be playing along and all of sudden, it starts
    jumping around from one program to another randomly. I bought
    this unit from Ted Herbert's in Manchester N.H. but live in
    Worcester, Ma. Now I wish I had paid the extra $75.oo and 
    bought it from Union Music. Live and learn.
    
    						Mark Jacques
    
892.7Curious...JAWS::COTENote stuck? Try Kawai...Wed Sep 02 1987 10:513
    Might you be pickin' up some static from somewhere???
    
    Edd
892.8Check your channels?ECADSR::SHERMANbut I DID simulate...sort of...Wed Sep 02 1987 11:076
    You might take a good look at how the MVII is set up MIDIwise and
    verify that you aren't sending patch changes and such to a synth
    *and* the MVII.  Sounds like it may be responding to another synth's
    stuff, maybe?
    
    Steve_who_still_loves_his_MVII
892.9It may be doing what it's told!BARNUM::RHODESWed Sep 02 1987 13:115
Betcha Steve's right.  My drum machine gets confused from MIDI data every
now and then when I leave it in Omni mode...  It may not be broken!

Todd.

892.10MTBLUE::BOTTOM_DAVIDWed Sep 02 1987 13:235
    it's those hot new pickups on your tele :-)
    
    duncans scream.....midiverb quakes....:-)
    
    dave
892.11warning: garbage humor follows, FCC noncompliantCANYON::MOELLERWed Sep 02 1987 19:394
    ... it's probably garfing due to interference from a nearby
    television..
    
    karl
892.12DECMS priority return policy??JAWS::COTEfeelin' kinda hyper...Mon Jul 25 1988 09:5224
    ...seems like as good a note as any...
    
    I picked up a second MVII 2 weeks ago to stuff in my rack. (Doncha
    just HATE empty spaces??)
    
    Saturday night she goes boom. Well, not completely dead. First I
    noticed the the OVLD light was on steady, even though the green
    signal light was out. This was odd, as I wasn't playing anything
    at the moment. So I tried changing programs et al. Nope.
    
    So I unplugged it and booted again. No OVLD for a couple minutes.
    (Thermal?). Tried the power-up sequence again. Same thing, but this
    time the OVLD comes on in seconds. Finally, it deteriorated to the
    point where the light just came on at power-up and stayed on, even
    after being shut down for hours.
    
    Oddly, all the programs seem to work OK, with no distortion. While
    it may be something as 'simple' as a malfunction OVLD LED circuit,
    it's going back to Union today. (Which, hopefully, will be an 
    uneventfull swap for a good one... it's only 2 weeks old!)
    
    Will report...
    
    Edd
892.13veja duIAMOK::CROWLEYNo we're not gonna do bloody Stonhenge!Mon Jul 25 1988 12:3111
    
    
    Hey Edd, you sure you weren't confused and somehow ended up at my
    place?  My 2 week old MVII did the exact same thing this weekend!!
    Wierd.....no distortion, but then how am I supposed to know if I'm
    overloading the thing or not?  Guess I'll have to make another
    trip back to Wurly's.  :^(
    
    Ralph
    
    
892.14Veja do-do...JAWS::COTEfeelin' kinda hyper...Mon Jul 25 1988 13:327
    No kiddin'????
    
    I just exchanged mine a Union. No hassle at all...
    
    Should we call Alesis?
    
    Edd
892.15Customer is always usually right???JAWS::COTEfeelin' kinda hyper...Mon Jul 25 1988 16:5211
    I just got off the phone after talking with QC at Alesis about the
    2 possibly related failures.
    
    Why do I bother? The guy I spoke with seemed unconcerned, and explained
    that "there are lots of reasons for that to happen". No kiddin'.
    Do they want to know now or when they possibly get these things
    back in droves???
    
    grrrr......
    
    Edd
892.16A form of enrichment.PANGLS::BAILEYMon Jul 25 1988 17:029
    > Why do I bother?
    
    One good reason is to entertain your fellow Commusicians with your
    snappy sense of humor. The world would be a less bright place if you
    didn't bother. 
    
    Keep up the good work.
    
    Steph
892.17SALSA::MOELLERMon Jul 25 1988 17:066
    < Note 892.16 by PANGLS::BAILEY >
 >> Why do I bother?
>The world would be a less bright place if you didn't bother. 
>    Steph

    that's easy for YOU to say, Stephanie
892.18JAWS::COTEfeelin&#039; kinda hyper...Mon Jul 25 1988 17:138
    >that's easy for YOU to say, Stephanie
    
    Karl, I'm crushed. Especially in light of all those nice things
    I've said about your music. Just like you asked.
    
    Add some squeeks!!! NYAH!! NYAH!!!
    
    Edd