Korg Forums

KingJ · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:08 pm Post subject: Stevie Wonder has an M3?

I heard a rumor over on Motifator.com that Stevie Wonder not only has a Motif XS, but he also now has a Korg M3. I'm also blind, like Stevie, so I'm really curious as to how he gets around the touch screen. If he can do it, then I'm sure I could learn how. I thought that touch screens were impossible for blind people to navigate, but I'm beginning to think that I was wrong.
My fiancee and I got a brief chance to look at an M3 again Yesterday. I noticed that the touch screen on the M3 is a lot smaller than I expected it to be. This may make it much easier for blind people to navigate, if everything stays in pretty much the same place on the screen. For example, if there was always an edit link on the top right hand corner, a blind person could probably learn exactly where the edit link is. Blind people have to memorize screens, with the help of a sighted person, and I wonder if it might even be easier for us to memorize a touch screen, rather than memorizing button pushes. I know it's easier for a sighted person.

bctines · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:28 am Post subject:

I became partially blind a few months ago and find that there is quite a bit of continuity between screens. As you say that's very helpful. The page select screen is especially good about that. And most other page screen have their tabs in the same place.

Another thing that helps is that once you memorize where data entry fields are having both inc/dec buttons, as well as the number pad really helps. The data wheel doesn't work for me because I can't really feel the stops. Selecting programs and combis is pretty easy because you can inc/dec with the +/- buttons once the field is highlighted and that field is always in the same place.

I also have a Yamaha XS. It is much more awkward to use, but it does have hard keys for selecting some items on screen. That might be a plus.

Once you learn your way around all the features of the control surface on the M3, you can do a whole heck of a lot because you don't have to select fields first like on the XS in so many places. But it could be argued that field selection on the XS is easier because once you know you are at a certain screen you can just use cursor buttons to navigate from field to field. That's not too hard to memorize.

If sequencing is a biggie for you, then the XS is likely much easier as it is all done with buttons. Not the M3.

But all in all, if I lost all sight I think I'd find the M3 more rewarding, less frustrating.

But it's all so subjective. Got to try them out at leisure.

Maybe if you called someone like Sweetwater and told them your circumstances, you could get an extended trial at home which would certainly be a better environment. Probably have to speak with someone above the Sales Engineer level for that.

But whichever machine you pick, it'll provide you with a lifetime of reward, well worth the extensive effort.

Good luck and feel free to PM me if I can help further.

PS: Here's a thought that might really work well with the M3 touch screen.

It could be carefully measured and someone could make you templates from art or cardboard that you'd place over the screen. It'd have cut-outs for whatever fields you wanted. you could create different templates for different screens. Come to think of it, I think that's work really well and may give it a try.

KingJ · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: Stevie Wonder has an M3?

Sina172 · Platinum Member Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 1194

.........

Vadim · Platinum Member Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 625

I bet every "pro" keyboardist, producer, etc... has a KORG WorkStation or atleast a module....

I can't imagine not having a KORG....
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bctines · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject:

King 3...

KingJ · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject:

Bctines, the only things that are preventing me from getting an Oasys are money, and space. I just don't have 6 to 9 grand to burn right now, and I currently don't have enough space in my studio for it. The Oasys sounds like it would be the way to go when purchasing a Korg keyboard. I went on ahead today, and got the XS, but that doesn't mean I won't get the Oasys later on. I have to get the money, and I have to move to a house where I'll have enough room for it, before I can get it. I hope to have one in my studio some day soon. The Oasys is probably the closest thing to my all time favorite synth, the Synclavier, and that's why I want one, but I just can't afford one right now. Thanks for your suggestions about the Oasys, rather than the M3. Today, I had to make a decision between the M3M, and the XS, and for the types of music I play, the XS clearly has more of the right sounds. Even if and when I get an Oasys, I don't want to get rid of my XS any time soon. Both the Oasys and the XS have great points. I really like Motifator, but I also am really starting to like this site as well. I hope you all don't mind me posting on this site every now and then, until I get an Oasys.

bctines · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject:

Nah..I'm sure you're welcome to post anytime.

Good luck with the XS. It's a nice board. But the OASYS-76 is physically not much bigger than the XS. Save up, it's the best choice by far.

dorremifasol · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:00 pm Post subject:

The fact that blind people can actually operate both the Oasys and the M3 is amazing, I never thought it to be possible.

I still have much to learn!

Cheers

cowtothesky · Full Member Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 177

Back in the day, Greg Phillingaines (Stevie's keyboardist) was in town and got up with my band to jam. I had a Korg DW-8000 at the time and he played that as well as a DX-7. He commented to me how much he liked my string patches on the Korg Smile

. This made my day!

And yes, I did tweak them. So, they were original patches. Wink

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bctines · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:43 am Post subject:

Hope he autographed the synths.

KingJ · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:52 am Post subject:

KingJ · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:04 am Post subject:

I'm pretty sure that Greg Phillingaines plays with Toto now. He also played on Michael Jackson's Thriller album. It must have been great to meat him. One of the Toto guies, either Greg Phillingaines or the other guy, I can't remember, plays a Triton, and also a Motif, but he has the Korg name blacked out on his Triton, because he's got some kind of deal with Yamaha. Now that I think about it, I think it's the other keyboard player. Toto is one of my favorite groups of their day, and they still rock!

dorremifasol · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:21 am Post subject:

Hey Josh, yes I thought it was you Very Happy

Probably you couldn't go wrong with the OASYS if you can afford it in the future, it sounds amazing and has a sound quality beyond any other synthesizer. I'ts not cheap, though, but once you check how many sounds, ROM and synthesis engines it has you will see that it's not that expensive.

KingJ · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject:

Vadim, "say no to auto accompaniment keyboards?" I have a Yamaha Tyros2, but I didn't get it for the built-in styles, I got it for the sounds. Most of the stuff I sequence is in realtime, but I occasionally make my own styles for drum loops. I don't like using the built-in styles at a gig, because it feels like cheeting to me. However, if I use my own style instead, I feel like it's still my work.

BTW, isn't Karma a form of auto accompaniment, with even less control over it than you would have on a pro arranger? I wouldn't knock all arranger users either, if I were you. Just look at all the professional features that the PA2X has.