The last 3 gigs[all outdoor], with my Trio..I have used my M-Audio Axiom61 controller..controlling my VST's on my laptop..The Axiom61 is a USB, 4 zone controller with a multitude of sliders , knobs, buttons, and pads..
I have set it up very basic for now[since I had trouble setting default sliders for drawbars..most likely human error], I set 4 zones , key range and program changes, along with CC7 for expression on pedal and slider #9..
The easy hookup [USB] is quick and clean[no extra wires or interface]...

I am set up[with Forte] to play my VST's..and B4 as a stand alone..I am playing my VST's live along with/and over MP3's, sequences[VanBasco player], and when needed , JammerLive[arranger]..
After 3 gigs with this set up, I am happy to report..no crashes or unexpected /or expected problems..

The Axiom61 has a semi weighted key pad, so it is comfortable to play compared to virtually all the synth action controllers I have tried..The fully weighted ones are too much for me, to use on long gigs..

The one thing that I am compromising on...61 keys, if Axiom had a 76 key version, I would go that way..I find my self going off the board looking for that low "E" bass...

Last night I played at the shore, and the fog moved in so bad[outdoors , remind you]..It was like soup..I had to continually wipe down mics, stands, keyboard, mixer, and laptop..

I was glad I was using a$300 controller, rather than a $3,000 G70..I would have called it if I was playing my G70..I wouldn't expose the G70 to that[against my nature]..

Overall it has been a pleasant surprise working this way with the Axiom61..I will let you all know how things work out as I set up the Axiom61 to do more control...

Very KOOL Fran.....
good luck with the new setup ......
Save the G70 for the Serious Stuff

I've been gigging the G70 on the shore for two years now, often under those humid conditions. Before that, the G1000 for eight years or so. Before that, the G800.

No problems whatsoever (except due to direct sunlight!)...

You don't have to baby them, Roland arrangers are close to bulletproof...

(My usual disclaimer... Your mileage may vary, objects in mirror... yad yada yada. I ALWAYS use an ATA flight case, Always cover it on breaks, ALWAYS power down on breaks, ALWAYS wipe down at the end of the gig, and do a deep clean every month or so. My eight year old G1000 looked virtually showroom when I sold it. Mistreat ANY keyboard, you'll have problems, but normal caution is enough to keep Roland's ticking along just fine).

Great Tips Diki.....especially in Florida temerature......btw Fran is getting old

I didn't let my kids play in the rain, either....I guess I care more for the important things in my life..Like my family, friends and G1000..

BTW: taking care of our instruments pays off..Did I mention that my G1000 sold for more than $1,300 [2 weeks ago]..

So you got $1300 for the G1000... How much for your family and friends?? (Just kidding, Fran!)

(I only got $1200 for my G1000, but I sold it to a VERY good friend!!)

Me, personally, I'd be MUCH more worried about a laptop's reliability under humid conditions than my G70...

After all is said and done..I just spent the last half hour playing the G70 ..what a joy, even compared to the "controller method last night"..Maybe I should buy another G70 for foggy/rainy gigs..

My initial reason for going via controller..to leave my set up[keys] on the jobs that are 1 or 2 months at a time..Rather than breaking down and setting up on these 3 days a week gigs..The trio , I do not need the G70 capabilities..I would enjoy playing it, but the traffic from this busy venue , makes it hard to set up..too many people waiting to be seated[The Crab Trap]..

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 06-20-2007).]

Rub it in Fran, UPS won't be delivering my G70 until Monday All kidding put aside, I'm glad to hear it's a joy to play.

Steve I bet its hard to sleep !!!!

Sleep what's that ?..... I must have listened to the demos on Roland's site about 50 times, while sitting there reading the manual, then going to roland-arranger.com finding more info and demos. Last night somewhere around 12:30 I figured I should try to get some sleep, rest up for my day job.

Here's a link to some songs I did when I had one. http://donmasonmusic.com/temp%20songs/
DonM

Here is a recording of this tune (Europa] on the G70..You guys that have a G70 play over top of this with a piano..the key is G minor..

Stephen ..you will have to wait..
http://download.yousendit.com/447957867DFFB9EF


Here is the tune with a Santana feel..I love this G70 listen to organ changes.
http://download.yousendit.com/D816EE4F578BA1CD

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 06-20-2007).]

Steve dont worry .....we all have a Kid On Xmas Morning in us!!! You'll be fine ....best part is that you have so many knowledgeable people to help you .....of course in the beginning its a bit different regarding the OS but after some hands on experience you be fine Im sure!!

Fran, you are a member at roland-arranger,com? They can host songs there with no expiration problems...

Where did the backing track come from, Fran? What's with the weird flanged 8th note hi-hats?

I used the V-brush kit..

Diki I was thinking the same thing....might have to go in and adjust the high hat a bit......Im gonna take a shot at it with my SD1+ and post the same song why dont you try it also on the G70.....so we can all compare.

you guys have sand in your ears...I don't hear what you hear..I isolated the drums and it is just the hi hat[clean] and a brush across the snare drum..Maybe the overall mix is misleading you..any way if this is the only nit pic that can be found I guess it is cool..

Fran the HH just stands out a bit much , maybe a velocity tweak?

maybe I have sand in my ear..

Diki, check your mail..

Fran, nice work love that Santana feel, great organ changes, very Hammond. ( must be some sand in my ears too)

Don, great guitar work. My favorite is The Way You Do the Things You Do.

Maybe it's the Mp3 encoder... but they sound a bit flanged at my end (MOTU 2408II into Mackie HR824s). But it's also that they are just horrible for the tune (IMO), Quarter notes would have been better, and on a ride, too...

So just exactly what are you actually playing, on this track (the sax one)? Or is that just SMF playback?

Diki, a ride instead of the hi hat...right that would be realistic..Heck of a drummer...playing a snare drum with brushes and a ride cymbal on 16ths or even eights..

I see you are really keen about drums..

Your solution has no merit..

Fran, may I ask you for the backing as well? I'd like to try this on my E-50

Sometimes a wrong sound will be heared in the drumtrack when at the same time two of the same instruments are played. This could be caused by changing instruments in the Make up.
When you change instrument A to B and change
also instrument C to B. You will have a wrong sound when they are played at the same time.
The way to get this double note out is erasing one of them in the Micro Mode.

Fran, you've never seen a drummer use a brush on a ride? (Makes you wonder why every brush kit includes brushed cymbals, doesn't it?) And I think quarter notes would work better...

I don't know about being keen on drummers (usually too sweaty for my tastes!), but I know a bad groove when I hear one... To me, anyway, that track with the sax sounds like the 16th hi-hats were added on as an afterthought, or ought to be so low in the mix that you just barely hear it.

And I'm still waiting to hear whether you PLAYED anything on that track...?

OK, saw your post on roland-arranger... So this is just a commercial SMF that you Makeup Tooled, right. No playing by you at all...?

I opened the file in Cubase... That drum track is a dog (despite how well the G70 managed to get it to sound other than the hi-hats)...! There isn't a single bit of dynamics in the entire track. EVERY single note in the entire thing is a 64 velocity! And HARD quantized to 16ths.

The G70 can sound SO much better when it is fed a track that actually has some dynamics. Not much point in a V-Kit if there is no V-...

Fran Im glad you cam to your senses and returned the Controller and decided to use to G70 at all gigs!!!!

You Da Man!!!

------------------
________________________

Donny

“ Choose a job you Love, and you will Never have to Work a day in your life! ”

Diki, What's with this inquisitive game?
Besides my posting at Roland-Arranger.com, explaining the SMF...I sent the SMF to you two days ago....You already have the answers..

Other than the post at roland-arranger.com, there was no information included in the email you sent me about where it came from, how it was made, whether you had made it or someone else...

I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't something YOU had created before I started dogging it! (I'm trying to be a kinder, gentler Diki, these days!).

The Piano track is actually quite good, but the drums... Why would anyone make a drum track that had ZERO dynamics?

Thanks for that real good tip Wis. I had this problem sometimes and now I know what to do. Double notes do not sound as they should, so you have to take them out of the track. I think this will help Fran Carango
and other G70 players.

The sequence does not have 'double' notes, but something I noticed in the track was that the 16th note Hi-Hats were a few ticks longer than a 16th note on a lot of the hits, so you got an overlap between note-off and note-on at the same pitch... Roland (amongst many other synths) do not like to see this. The solution is to shorten all of them a few ticks.

But there is still the problem of an unending line of 16th notes at 64 velocity. Try applying a 16th note groove template that has a nice feel to it and apply the dynamics of it too, and it can be made better... (in fact, apply it to the whole drum track!).

You are right Diki but I spoke in general.
My answer could be a solution in some situations.