I can only make a distant Moog connection with this question. The quest for modular synthesizers eventually leads one to the “synthesizers.com” web site. Has anybody worked with the QKB15S 5-Octave Studio Keyboard? I like the organ-sized five octave range, rather than the shorter synthesizer keyboards that are popular. What is the quality of this keyboard, and how would you describe the feel. It would make a fine match with the Voyager rack version.
Don’t know that much about it. This is only 49 keys but an outstanding keyboard with a little bit of extra magic to it. Watch the video:
I guess the most important thing to consider with a grain of salt is every keyboard aimed at modular users consists of a pre-designed polyphonic MIDI keyboard mechanism made almost always by Fatar in Italy (like thee Voyager afaik) or a Chinese company(s) (like the Phatty afaik), a mono MIDI to CV converter circuit, a case the company designs + any added features like the ring controller on the French Connection unit (which doesn’t output MIDI). In other words no small company is actually building their own keys or using keys that are analog (with resistors in each key). So why am I telling you this? Well the point is except for the case and quality of the midi converter (and the extras that might be there) you are actually getting the same keys mechanism that’s likely available on a bunch of other commercial gear. A lot of people think they are getting more of an altogether unique just for modular synths unit like you would have bought in the 60s or 70s when they are getting a paired MIDI keyboard, perhaps disguised or lacking a connector, with a MIDI to CV converter unit similar to many sold separately units
So I’m not saying you shouldn’t get what’s been mentioned here, but one can also go with another regular MIDI keyboard that you like - which probably has velocity, aftertouch, mod & pitch wheels etc that might add further expression and add an external or even have a tech retrofit a MIDI to CV interface into it’s case if you have Control Voltage needs for a larger modular rig. Then again you might want to check the VX-351 and send MIDI to the Voyager RME
As for the Voyager Rack, you might want to just use regular MIDI to control it since the unit already has MIDI onboard… I don’t see any advantage of CV control since today, it’s just generated by MIDI anyway. Get a MIDI controller you like. But if you do love the look of the .com controller casing, or something like the French Connection and it’s rather expensive ring controller then that’s something to consider. I don’t have the rack so you might want to check out my advice, but I’m pretty sure the VX-351 expander takes the CV the MIDI is generating onboard the rme and makes it available for something else like a larger modular you might want to start to build. So I’m saying MIDI keys → Voyager RME → future modular synth will likely perform as well as an aimed at modulars controller keyboard. As for the split keyboard you’ll need an external midi to cv unit, so from that angle the .com isn’t a bad deal given the cv converter inside is a step up from entry level… though the keyboard itself lacks mod & pitch wheels
Thanks for all the information. I became interested in this particular keyboard because it’s associated with a modular system that interests me. But one other feature places this keyboard apart from all the others I’ve come across - its flat top. Yes, believe it or not, I’m looking for a midi keyboard controller that has no controls on the surface just behind the keyboard so that another instrument can be placed directly on top of it. I don’t like the keyboard racks that are popular today, because the distance between keyboards is far too great. I’m trying to simulate the closeness of the keyboards on a two or three manual organ. This is not just fickleness. The close proximity of the manuals allows for playing techniques that are otherwise impossible.
Amen. That is one of the reasons I love my Ultimate Supports A frame stands. I can place the manuals very close to each other. And since the Omni and Solina String Ensemble have no controls on top, they can be very close. And are now over the manuals of my Hammond. (I’m also including a dot com keyboard in the order for my 44 portable system.)
Yes, those ARPs would make for very good stacking. I’m amazed that stacking has fallen away and has been replaced by these extreme rigs. I see the top keyboard sometimes turned nearly to a right angle with the ground, and the lower keyboards sometimes 6-10 inches from each other. This may look impressive, but it can’t be conducive to good musicianship.
As my base keyboard, I have a Hammond XK-3C organ, which has an excellent wooden flat top behind the keyboard. My Voyager Old School sits perfectly atop the organ, so that I can press keys from both instruments at the same time with one hand. This allows for musical bridges, with one keyboard entering on top of the other, and the other then resting. You could never do this with the typical rig.
By the way, has anybody actually used the above mentioned five-octave keyboard from synthesizers.com?
I have to agree with you there keeping the manuals close makes a world of difference. I just picked up a 3 manual wurli from the salvation army and it is so much more comfortable than having 2 or 3 keyboards a few inches apart. Way easier on the wrists
There’s great musical wisdom in the design of the organ. It’s founded entirely on musical needs. Unfortunately, keyboard rigs have other things in mind, such as flamboyance. I only wish the makers of synthesizers would learn from organ builders. Remember the Prophet 10? Unfortunately, the technology was not sufficiently advanced at the time to perfect that model. I only wish Dave Smith or Moog would return to the two manual design and produce a polyphonic masterpiece of musicality.
Keyboard mechanisms are expensive hardware. Dual manual systems aren’t very compact either.
If you follow Dave Smith’s design chronology, the dual manual Prophet-10 was succeeded by the single manual Prophet-T8. Something to be said about that…
Of course you can stack Dot Com keyboards and they even make a bracket to do it.
I must be weird but I actually like the Hammond diving board keys over the waterfall keys. (M100 VS B-3)
I own 2 of the dotcom keyboards. I love them - for use as a modular/CV-based controller. I would not choose it as my main MIDI controller. On the MIDI front, it functions as a basic, simple MIDI keyboard. For my MIDI needs, I would need a much more MIDI capable controller. But this keyboard is designed to excel at CV-based control.
This controller is not a simple midi-controlled keybed with a simple MIDI-CV convertor. There is a little bit more to it than that. They keyboard can operate in 4 different modes. No other midi controller will offer natively offer these 4 modes when used with a simple MIDI-CV convertor. I am not sure how easy it would be to duplicate the dual voice or split at specific octave modes. Sure, MIDI keyboards are capable of this level of programmability when using MIDI, but then you need to have a MIDI-CV convertor that can translate the MIDI Key Order and Zone Mapping. I am not too familiar with all of the different MIDI-CV units out there, so there may be something that can duplicate this functionality.
I would recommend going directly to the webpage with the description for details of it’s technical capabilities:
http://www.synthesizers.com/qkb15s.html
I am also guessing that you a bit more interested in how it performs. Well, both of mine have been very reliable and I think that the are plenty responsive. In fact, I find them more responsive than if I use another MIDI controller running through some of my other MIDI-CV convertors. YMMV.
Now comes the feel. This is where I wish that it could be improved. The keybed is not bad in it but it is definitely lighter than the Voyager. I actually prefer the Voyager and love Fatar’s key action.
All in all, for the price charged compared to what you are getting, I think that the QKB15 is a great deal. I don’t know of another CV controller that has those features for that price.
And the bottom line, even though I own many other controllers, I only use the two QKB15’s for my CV controlling needs. Mainly because of the modes that are offered.
Michael…
Doepfer has a few interesting keyboard solutions using the Fatar assembly.
Some pre-made here:
http://www.doepfer.de/D3.htm
And some DIY solutions:
http://www.doepfer.de/zubeh_e.htm
Yes, five-octave double or triple manuals are expensive and cumbersome, there’s no doubt about it. But for home studios they’re ideal. In my opinion, the synthesizer industry has had a lopsided concern with keyboards, adding velocity sensitivity and aftertouch, but then cutting corners with the actual quality of the keys. Fortunately, the Moog and DSI keyboards are very good.
Yet, I’ve played synthesizers that had keyboard actions worthy only of cheap toys that would easily break with normal use - like those old Casio’s. And to a lesser degree, this is true for many instruments. I come from the school of thought that says the most important part of a keyboard instrument is the keyboard; if the keyboard itself is poor, then who cares what sort of electronics it triggers? It’s nearly unplayable, and unworthy of serious music. Amazingly, some synthesists think this is just fickleness, as if a real synthesist shouldn’t be bothered. Well, I worked my fingers to the bone when I was younger, practicing organ keyboard and pedals as much as eight hours in a day, and I loved it. A well practiced musician should not have to lay aside his love for the keyboard in order to enter the synthesizer realm.
I think of the synthesizer as a variation on the organ, and every bit as much a musical instrument. In fact, I think it’s undeniable that the synthesizer has replaced the home organ over the past thirty years, which is why you can hardly find one nowadays, except on Ebay. Think about that: the synthesizer has almost entirely replaced the home organ. I realized this as I was trying to get back into music, and was looking in vain for an organ that I could fit in our apartment. I found that the companies I had known as a child no longer existed. I was shocked, and ended up turning instead to the synthesizer - another infatuation of my youth. So, it’s a pity that the synthesizer is often looked upon as an effects box, a noise machine. Not for me. A good synthesizer is a magnificent musical instrument, and therefore, the keyboard quality should be every bit as important as the electronics it triggers. And there should be double manual instruments to chose from, even if this doesn’t suit some musicians.