Looking for Main Controller/Workstation

[happyrat1]

So wonderful of both of you to argue over what sort of feel *I'M* looking for.

I've already confirmed I'm getting a Nautilus 88 as soon as it arrives.

By all reports it's similar in feel to the Kronos and overall a decent action.

If it's half as good as the Juno is or half as good as my PC3K then I'll have no complaints.

If it feels like crap, I'll flip it at the earliest opportunity.

Either way, with these infernal supply chain shortages, Canadians are ALWAYS the last ones served.



It's not like I can even find most models that come up when talking stage pianos and workstations.

Kurzweil no longer sells here... They're out.

Yamaha was never a real option for me.

Roland doesn't currently offer anything in my budget range that gives me the tingles.

I started out with a Korg TR76 as my very first "pro board" and I'm OK with reuniting the relationship.

So if anyone has anymore suggestions, then it better wow me.

My mind is 99.9999999999999999% made up.

If some quantum jump in a neuron's electron happens in a VERRRRY specific way, I might change my mind

Gary

 

[Davegrahamlive]

I included the Nautilus 88 and not the Kronos 88 because of the extra grand or two it would set me back.

You don't buy a new Kronos 88 in Canada for under 5K and change.

I'm not made of money and the Nautilus can pretty much do everything the Kronos can.

I'll live without aftertouch, it ain't a dealbreaker for me.

Gary

Gotcha! I missed the part where you want 88 keys. Good luck!

 

[Biggles]

I’ll look forward to your thoughts on the Nautilus after you have used it fir a while.

Interested in the drawbar and rotary settings/effects specifically, but presume inline with other Korg models the drawbars are virtual on the screen.

 

[happyrat1]

I've been reading up on the specs and the quick start guide and have reached the conclusion that this is nothing more than a keyboard attached to a proprietary micro-computer running a customized operating system devoted to sound manipulation. (Probably Linux roots.)

For instance, "Turning on and off rapidly can damage the software." & "3 Minute boot time" means to me that this monster requires a devoted UPS to operate safely.

Honestly I would be much MUCH happier if Korg sold this as a module and I could attach any controller I wanted to it.

I'm sort of scared about how well this board will hold a resale value in the years to come.

What happens when Korg decides to discontinue in 4 or 5 years and stops sending updates?

Anything this dependent on software is an accident waiting to happen.

Over the holidays my Linux boxes didn't receive any updates for two weeks straight and they started having nervous breakdowns.

What are the chances that anyone will find any sort of support for the Nautilus 10 years from now or more?

These are not trivial concerns and I am still considering alternatives.

That 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% neuron just fired enough to unmarry me to the idea of owning this potential boat anchor.

Gary

 

[Biggles]

Your concerns are precisely why I have not bought a Korg Pa4X, great board but oldish tech. Last major OS update was 2018 and only minor ones since.

A OS update for the Korg Kross 2 that I had took 18 months.

Korg do seem to get most bugs sorted but eventually and plateau the OS with an update the unlocks features, with only only minor bug fixes thereafter.

The PA700 that I had and the PA1000 were both released in 2017 and there has been zero significant updates since release, only bug fixes and minor changes.

Korg do seem to release products late Summer / early Autumn but given the Covid and chip issues anything is possible.

If you have not yet done so, do join Korg Forums and trawl the Nautilus section for users pros and cons of the keyboard.

Sorry if this is screwing up your neurons.

 

[happyrat1]

It's OK... I align my chakras with a balpeen hammer anyway

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

I think there's an RD-2000 available at a local shop.

I may walk in and make an offer.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

Minor update.

My Juno DS88 will hopefully be sold this weekend.

I may have to break down and preorder the frigging Nautilus.

I AM NOT pleased with having to provide a vendor with 3 months financing of $4K CDN before one finally gets here on a slow boat from China.

Barring covid, typhoons, tidal waves, monsoons, hurricanes, tornadoes and flooded rail lines

Maybe I should take up drumming instead

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

I sold the Juno yesterday to a very nice fellow for $1000 CDN.

A very fair deal for the both of us.

Also placed a preorder for the Nautilus yesterday with a 7% discount code.

Came up to about $3800 and change with taxes and free shipping included.

Expecting it by the end of next month.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Here's what the studio looks like right now

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

You know something?

It's only been gone 24 hours and I really miss the Juno...

Practicing on the Wavestate and the Take 5 is weird and fun and has prompted me do some deeper exploration but I really don't know if I can survive a month without a practice 88 keyboard in the living room.

I think the saddest day in any musician's life is the day he sells the beaten up and worn out instrument that he's had for years to replace it with something a little sexier, flashier, and harder on the wallet.

I think we all get a little attached to our instruments. Maybe a LOT attached?

Meanwhile I'm like a kid before Xmas, waiting for the man in the blue/brown/red uniform to bring me the Nautilus.

Mixed emotions.

In German, we call it : "Übermut."

Sort of like watching your ex drive off a cliff in a brand new Mercedes

Gary

 

[3dc]

C'mon Gary. Could be worse. After COVID the world is busy to start WWIII in Ukraine.

But I have to say the room without Juno looks pretty sad. Fortunately in one month you will be driving a "RR" among keyboards. I hear that the keybed is smooth like butter. Plus Wavestate and the Take 5. What more can you ask for.

Meanwhile I am still looking for some sort of excuse to buy MODX.

 

[Biggles]

You know something?

It's only been gone 24 hours and I really miss the Juno...

Practicing on the Wavestate and the Take 5 is weird and fun and has prompted me do some deeper exploration but I really don't know if I can survive a month without a practice 88 keyboard in the living room.

I think the saddest day in any musician's life is the day he sells the beaten up and worn out instrument that he's had for years to replace it with something a little sexier, flashier, and harder on the wallet.

I think we all get a little attached to our instruments. Maybe a LOT attached?

Meanwhile I'm like a kid before Xmas, waiting for the man in the blue/brown/red uniform to bring me the Nautilus.

Mixed emotions.

In German, we call it : "Übermut."

Sort of like watching your ex drive off a cliff in a brand new Mercedes

Gary

The difference is Gary that I would like to see a Mercedes driven off a cliff.

Just the car mind you.

 

[happyrat1]

Biggles: What if it was YOUR Mercedes?

3dc: The only advice I can give about buying Yamaha is, "DON'T!!!"

Gary

 

[Biggles]

Gary

I would not be dense enough to buy a Mercedes in the first place so it is a moot point.

I have had Merc loaners and they are rubbish.

A work colleague was a Merc fanboy even though they spent a disproportionate amount of time in the dealership repair shop

One day purely out of interest when I was looking to change I went into a Merc dealership and looked at a range, poor paint finish and cheap looking plastic abounded in all interiors except for the leather clad everything of the S that was on show. To make matters worst I pulled some loose looking trim thinking it was a cubby hole and half the dash came away, so yep they are cr4p.

let’s spell it out more clearly, in my mind Mercedes is the equivalent of Yamaha keyboards.

 

[happyrat1]

Don't be coy...

How do you feel about Audis?

Gary

 

[Biggles]

Don't be coy...

How do you feel about Audis?

Gary

Audi’s - bland looks, reasonable performance, handling variable, build quality not bad, internally much better than Mercedes, Sat Nav needs a degree in computer programming to get it set up quickly. RS models have great performance but a terrible harsh ride.

This is the Audi I bought (and then sold two years later) and is now part of the legal class action against Audi for them being creative with the emissions.

We wanted a compact SUV and at the time there was not much quality opposition.

 

[happyrat1]

Well, if you never want to drive in the rain you could always buy a Jaguar

 

[Biggles]

Well, if you never want to drive in the rain you could always buy a Jaguar

I did have a 3.0 SE many years ago, BMW and especially Mercs got stuck in the snow but the Jag kept going.

Great car, cr4p after sales service.

 

[happyrat1]

Jaguar, created by BMW. At least that's who owned the company then.

Personally I've always driven either Japanese or Domestic.

Now THOSE are reliable cars.

Gary

 

[Biggles]

Jaguar was owned by Ford when I bought mine.

Of the original British Car companies, Jaguar Land Rover were sold on to an Indian comglomerate.

Mini were sold off to BMW

Bentley > VW

Rolls Royce > BMW

MG went to China.

That makes Morgan as the last British make proper.

Canadian owned Aston Martin

Vauxhall was GM > now Stellantis

Lotus still exists.

Then there are Mclaren and a few other small specialist.

Sad really when bean counters rule the roost and design by committee produced such classics (not) as the Austin Allegro and Austin Princess.

Drove Honda’s for six years, super reliable but boring to drive. British built in Swindon or rather assembled.

Last time I was over in North America specifically in Alberta this monster is what we drove.