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Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of or seen a waterfall keybed / midi controller that could make great playability for the CX3 engine in the O? (Maybe even with drawbars too!)

I remember seeing a foot pedal set (similar to the Hammond) that was setup for midi but don't know if that still exists either.

Any thoughts?

Ken

Hi Ken!

Look at this: http://www.doepfer.de/D3.htm

I own a single d3m with the wooden side plates, which looks absolutely nice, and am very happy with it. I'd really like to buy the other parts to complete the organ setup one day!

Holger,

Thanks for sharing that with me! I was wondering if Fatar might be involved with something like that, and it appears they are a supplier.

Do you use the d3m with your Oasys?

Any midi problems as a result of this sentence from the website:

"Following previous organ designs the buttons are organized as 10 preset bank buttons and 12 preset number buttons. " ?

By the way, I found some old literature from Roland yesterday that showed the other midi bass pedal I had been thinking of. I don't know if they still make it though.

I sent Doepfer an email asking if they have a USA distributor and downloaded both manuals to look into it a little deeper.

Thanks again,

Ken

kenackr wrote:Holger,

Do you use the d3m with your Oasys?

Any midi problems as a result of this sentence from the website:

"Following previous organ designs the buttons are organized as 10 preset bank buttons and 12 preset number buttons. " ?

Ken

Yes, I use it with my Oasys. There hasn't been a midi problem up to now, but I'm just using it as a second manual on midi channel 1. So, if I set up a new combi with an organ it will sit on channel 1 waiting for midi messages from outer space . The unusual bank-preset count seems to be related to the fact that this was originally designed to work with B4 or other organ VSTi. Might be better to ask Doepfer about it.

All I can say, it works! Some people say, the keys are not that smooth compared to other waterfall keyboards but it was just right for me.

To anyone who cares,

There is a US distributor (there is only one) for the Doepfer waterfall midi keybeds and the controller that goes with them. Contact info as follows:

Analogue Haven
attn: Shawn Cleary
1223 Wilshire Blvd. # 597
Santa Monica, CA 90403
web site: www.analoguehaven.com
email: email@analoguehaven.com
phone 310-451-7744

You can buy either 1 or 2 keybeds and mount them one on top of the other. The controller, with many draw bars can go on top of the keybed(s). Mounting hardware is optional. The keybed module(s) can be used without the contoller, but having one puts those draw bars and other controls at your finger tips.

The Analoque Haven site has exactly the same written info as the Doepfer site. The price listed on the site is $599 US per module.

They are also bringing out a midi bass pedal setup price to be announced.

I have nothing to do with the product or the folks selling it, just passing information on to whoever wants to take a look.

Once I get settled in my new studio, I'm probably going to put one together.

Thanks again to Pandel for providing the tip off.

Ken

The last time I checked, the only affordable option was the Fatar/Studiologic VMK-161 Organ:

http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/VMK_161org.html

I've been tempted to buy it. Take a look.

Mark

Mark,

Thanks for the tip!

I wasn't looking for something that had it's own sounds, but on the other hand if the price were right, who knows? The other thing that I wanted to make sure of was that the action was in fact waterfall. Their description just said "original organ key feel". I honestly don't know if that is waterfall or not.

If it turned out that the action was similar to "synth" action (non weighted) then I could always use my Wavestation EX.

I did not see a price mentioned on the website, but then I didn't look at ever page either. Do you know what they go for? Do you know if they have a US distributor?

I remember that when I owned a music store we used to get Fatar midi controller/keybeds from a regional rep firm, but I never knew who their supplier was. It could have been direct from Fatar for all I know.

At any rate, the Doepfer allows one to build a double manual key bed with a controller on top that handles drawbars, leslie, and other functions and effects.

Ken

The Studiologic controller has waterfall keys; it's advertised as such on their main page (http://www.studiologic.net/). The VMK-161 comes in either the "Plus" model with regular keys or the "Organ" model with waterfall keys. And neither have built it sounds.

They don't seem to have a lot of US distributors but there are US websites that say they have them in stock, and the prices I've seen are between $500-550. Here's one website with them in stock, though I've never had an experience with this retailer: http://www.midi-store.com/product.php?productid=17347

I'd imagine the Doepfer is a nice controller. I only mentioned the Studiologic because it is cheaper - but if you have the extra budget, go for the Doepfer!

Mark

Hi Ken,

I own and use the new HAMMOND XK3c.

It has very good waterfall keys and a (what is quite new for HAMMOND) pretty good MIDI implementation, I would say.

Manfred

Mark,

Thanks again for the new information.

I'm beginning to see better what you were saying. It is just a midi controller with no sounds. I just tried out the direct link you gave to StudioLogic but at the moment it wasn't working. I'll try it again later.

It does look appealing at that price point. I'll dig into it more.


Ken

Manfred,

Thanks for the tip. I haven't really kept pace with Hammond for many years. It's certainly something to think about.

Ken