I have a Gem RP-X Piano Module.... Why is it when I had a Roland Fantom X8 the module sounded beautiful.... But now using it with a Tyros 4 it sounds like a toy. Everything is the same except using the t4 vs the fantom... Is it because of the amp inside the t4 vs the fantom amp... I am just using it as a controller. Does anyone know if it would sound better if I bought a keyboard controller like a M-Audio or Akai or some other midi controller... Any thoughts? thanks Ron

All to do with the fully weighted piano action action of the X4 I'm afraid. (And this is an area that Roland ARE good at, together with the Fatar Grand Touch controllers)

No synth action keybed (including the excellent PA3, or G70 ones) can ever hope to do proper justice to a piano sound. Close? Yes....but they lack the "bounce", key travel, key length (PARTICULARLY on the Yamaha series - even the Motif's)

If you took your module to someone who had a fully weighted Yamaha keybed, I daresay it would sound nearly just as beautiful as it did on the Fantom X8...again it is ALL in the keybed...

Miden.... how do you think a midi controller keyboard would work? thanks Ron

As long as it is a fully weighted controller..you will get a similar (although not QUITE the same) result as your X8...

But apart from the Fatar branded (or alternatively branded with their company Studiologic) fully weighted keybeds, most (controller) keybeds are sub-par in my view.

The best I have played on (when compared to a real acoustic) is the VMK series from Fatar with the Grand Touch action. These have been superseded now with later models with apparently an even BETTER feel...but I personally have the VMK 176+ which is the 76 note version, still with the Grand Touch and fully weighted, but it is about the length of a PA3xPro 76 and actually weighs LESS!!!...means I can fit it in the car!!!!

M-Audio and the Yamaha XK series controller actions are okay at best, and the Akai 88 controller is absolutely awful!!!

Again, I am talking weighted actions...Be aware that standard controller keybeds - 61, 76 or 88 notes - will give about the same feel for piano work as the PSR series!!!

Mind you the trade-off is that the weighted beds are really not suitable for organ patches or synth patches....this is why I compromise at gigs with the PA3 (or the G70 would be just as good) you get a premium semi-weighted keybed action, which when you get used to it is quite nice for piano parts, but you get the action speed to get the organ and synth parts happening as well....

Dennis

Thanks Dennis for the info and for sharing your experience... I will check them out.. You make some good points... Ron

Maybe the Tyros 4 is sending to your sound module some midi data like brightness, chorus etc....

There might be an option on the tyros 4 to set what it is sent to your sound module

Have you also made sure that the track sending the MIDI data on the Tyros is set to its hardest 'touch' or velocity curve?

Usually, most arrangers, default 'touch' is set to the middle of the touch range...

Good points from Diki and Dan to check there...My memory of the Gem module is that those settings (mentioned by Dan) on midi rx are by default set to off, but still worth checking..Diki, even on medium the Gem module had a very nice response to touch as I recall..It has been a while since I used one, and then only for about two months for a studio ad jingle job..

But both are excellent suggestions and I hope Ron can get a chance to check them.

Diki and Dan
I did look at the midi and I didn't see anything that was related to those changes like velocity or effects.... They are broken down by right 1 -2 -3 left 1 and multi pads stlye and so on... They don't seem to be that detailed... Unless i am looking at the wrong thing which could always be a strong possibility.... maybe it's in there somewhere... I will check again..thanks Ron

If you change sound or Right 1 volume on the Tyros, then your sound module will change sound and volume?