Visibility of the screen should be your LAST reason to want shade when you perform... The heat build up from playing in direct sunlight will KILL your expensive LCD displays, and probably warp your keyboard's plastic body, and perhaps fry your innards too (the keyboard's, if not yours! )

It is definitely a concern, but MUCH worse things can happen from playing in direct sunlight!

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome back. I was wondering how many people here might still remember me. Though I haven't posted here in a long time (7+ months!), I've still (as time has permitted) tried to keep up with some of the interesting posting threads, sometimes amusing, and often heated debate, but got to admit it's been nice to just sit back on the side-lines as a spectator for a change. I'll probably remain a spectator most of the time, but will post if I believe I have something of VALUE or interest to contribute, answer specific questions, and ask for help if needed myself.

By the way, a couple of weeks ago I finally had a chance to audition and play a Yamaha S900 keyboard at my local Guitar Center store. I immediately appreciated how "ultra" compact & lightweight the S900 is, as well as by it's more professional cosmetic appearance than its predecessor. Following reports heard that the S900's key feel an improvement over the PSR3000, I sat down & played some melodic runs (scales & arpeggios), but immediately disappointed to discover the S900 key feel (at least to me) essentially the same as the PSR3000: spongy (sluggish) key response, making passages which require quick expressive articulation difficult to achieve. Even though, I still highly recommend the S900 as it includes MANY IMPORTANT niceties (SA voices, Audio Recording, Text lyrics support), and at a very NICE price. I also have to acknowledge that the S900 (like the the rest of the PSR series, and to a lesser extent the Tyros series), with paint on plastic casing doesn't seem as road rugged as the much heavier (in weight) built brand keyboards, but then again, because Yamaha arranger keyboards are substantially lighter (26-32 lbs vs 45-50 lbs), and if treated with reasonable care, can endure a rigorous transport schedule, as all my Yamaha keyboards (from PSR2000 to Tyros2) have (and continue to) served me well, and (most importantly) helped to prevent possible back strain or injury.

On another note, in addition to my usual gigs, I've embarked on another musical adventure. I've hooked up with an accomplished oboist (visiting University professor -musician from Italy) performing baroque period classical music together, which has given me the opportunity to discover the Tyros2's authentically realistic sounding 'SA harpsichord' voice. We're currently working on the Telemann: "Sonata in A Minor for Oboe & Piano (harpsichord)" and plan to perform it together in concert next month. The nice thing is that the keyboard part for this (and many baroque period pieces) is typically within the 5 octave range of a 61 keyboard.

Ok, back to KB screen visibility outdoors. I need to EMPHASIZE that the CompUShade (I mentioned above) offers about a 30% visibility improvement, and does not completely eliminate the outdoor visibility problem. It's important to add that the Yamaha Tyros2 includes an INDEPENDENT fully "tilt-able" LCD Screen Unit, allowing the CompUShade to attach to it, fully surrounding it on 3 sides, but most importantly tilt WITH it, allowing for adjustment to better help keep ambient light from entering the screen depending on positioning of the KB. I can't say how much benefit (if any) to keyboards that don't include a "fully independent" tilt ajustable screen to mount to & surround would provide. Another thing to consider is that the CompUShade units sold on Ebay for around $9 are an older model (with thinner gauge vinyl & vulnerable to bending in the wind) vs the heavier gauge vinyl on the one's
currently manufactured by & available from the CompUShade website. Ok, here are pics of the Tyros2 LCD screen both without & with CompuShade attached, as well as a shot of the CompuShade folded flat.







Back to making music . . .

Catch you soon.


Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 07-31-2007).]

Freddy: Wow. Sounds exciting. Have a terrific vacation. Hope you post some pics on your return.



Carol & Stephenm52 (hope you didn't jump the gun and order it for your MPP already! ), I don't recommend the CompuShade for the MusicPad Pro. I tested the CompuShade on my MPP+ outdoors and unfortunately saw very little (if any) improvement. That said, I think visibility outdoors (without CompUshade) on the MPP+ is far better than the Tyros2 screen and quite acceptable (to my eyes) when viewed in the shade. I suspect the reason is that the MPP+ includes an anti-glare glass surface whereas the T2 screen is highly reflective (like a mirror).



Al, unfortunately not with the polarized sunglasses I tried it with viewing my Tyros2's screen, as the polarization produces a modled artifact appearance on the screen.




Diki, I agree. As I prefaced in my original post, I always perform in the shade, but screen visibility even outdoors in the SHADE is compromised from surrounding ambient daylight. This is where the CompUShade offers 'some' improvement, and the introduction by keyboard manufacturers of an improved LCD screen viewable both OUTDOORS and INDOORS would be greatly appreciated.

Scott,
it's good to see you back here.

Good to have you back on the SZ, Scott. Good post too, as always. Stick around (as I'm sure you quietly have).

------------------
Cass Pawlowski - Detroit
www.cassponline.com/

Actually a couple of weeks ago I was looking for a shade for my wife's laptop, in the summer months we sit out on our deck and the glossy screen makes her laptop hard to view, but my primary motivation was for the MPP After Scott's comment about use with the MPP, looks like my wife will have a sunshade for use all the time

Btw, the screen is only half the problem. In the sunglight you can't see the lights on the buttons either! This can lead to disasterous consequences!

First, Good to see your posts again Scott.
The topic of shading the keyboard screen was discussed about a year or two ago and taking some of the suggestions made at that time, I constructed a shade of cardboard and Velcro. Well, last week I played a large Italian Festa and forgot to bring the shade. So, I took and old music stand and reversed it to shade the screen. However, the stand surface has holes, so I had to put a binder on the stand to block the holes. I also attached my golf umbrella to my mic stand to provide some extra shade so my set up looked like a Rube Goldberg design – if anyone remembers the Rube Goldberg method of design - it worked. I tried to post a photo, but no luck.
Ciao,
Jerry

Scott .. good to see you back here ...

Question to all - Do the LCD screens on your KBs, whatever you play, have an adjustment slide for the screen? ... my technics KN6000 does and I really don't have a sun problem on outdoor gigs ...

Now for the BAD news ... somehow when packing up or unloading from a gig today I broke the key for middle C ... got to find a repair place in a hurry ....
t.

[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 08-03-2007).]

Tony meanwhile while its in the shop for a while go buy a S900 for backup....everyone else is