One thing that is very common with arranger type keyboard is that the screen is a key factor . Most LCD display's are the same size . You press a button and something happens in the screen . You use corresponding Function buttons ( on side of screen) to select the desired styles/sounds . Having a keypad along with the screen is convenient IMO . PSR2000 vs PSR740 is a good example . I love the fact that the 2000 can sequence better than the 740. However , I really liked being able to select a sound or style via the keypad .
So the Screen is very important in the view of the Italians + Japanese companys . Is there anything better we could suggest with utilizing the LCD display ?
#1 . Tilt screen ?
#2. How about color of Screen ? Is blue better than green ? or orange ?
Suppose the keyboard could respond to voice commands ? Like " rumba next " or "piano sound " and the keyboard changes ?
dano

[This message has been edited by DanO1 (edited 01-24-2002).]

Voice command? - No! If the song lyric went, "I guess that's why they call it the blues," all the sudden you would be put into a blues style and you'd lose that Elton John feel. the other ideas Dano are definitely worth exploring.

Larry

Great ...I love humor !!!! Seriosly though ?

Think about it ? dano

Using an active matrix screen rather than passive matrix for wider viewability. Viewing angle should not be critical at all.

Cliff could you email that idea to me personally ? How would that work ? I do not know the difference . dano

DanO,

I would prefer an active matrix TFT screen vs passive or dual scan. TFT is very clear and detailed and viewable from far side angles. I also would like to have the screen tilt up from flat to a high position for those of us who are way to short to view it sitting down flat. Standing is easily viewable, but I do not stand most of the time playing, as do alot of the professional folks here.

The MZ2000 had the screen tilted up a bit and the whole keyboard was wedged so that was not a problem. I found a solution with the PSR2000 by just raising the back legs of my Ultra stand all the way up and it pushes the keyboard and monitor in the correct angle for me to view.

I did get very comfortable with the side buttons (again MZ was the same) and sorting through the menus for me that way or with the dial is not a problem. I find when I use my Casio wk-1800 that the number pad is alot faster than the PSR monitor. I think a blue screen is easy on the old eyes.

Voice command? Sure! If it worked correctly. I haven't used one that does yet! I do think that commands to change to another function or style or sound could be easily done by using number commands. Sorta like a number kepad! That would not interfer with singing and talking. Voice command usually requires the operators voice trained into the system so no one else can command it. Unless you sing numbers, this should not be a problem.

Just my thoughts,

-Linda

Hi Dan

Linda has said all that matters. You do not need to know how it works. If you find yourself having to position your head so you can read a screen, it is probably passive matrix or dual scan. If you can read it from a wide range of angles, it is probably active matrix. Obviously, musicians would prefer the latter. This is just a quality versus cost issue.

Clif

Another idea.

Musical instruments should be "Stevie Wonder" compatible. How about a touch screen in which you select items by touch but activate them separately--e.g., by pushing an "enter" button or "double-clicking". There would be a keyboard mode in which the names of selected buttons were "announced" through headphones. A blind person or person with a keyboard in which the LCD backlight had failed or a person trying to operate the keyboard in sunlight could then take advantage of a keyboard dependent on touch-screen navigation.

I'm waiting for the "Craneal Implant 1000" A simple midi cord plugged into the temple that feeds a battery pack to a wireless connection to the mainframe at home. With the CI1000 you can have ANY arrangers on line at the same time and access chord changes by thought.... leaving your hands free to operate the TV remote or Knives & forks ... whatever.
It can't be far away, can it?

Believe it or not, when I was looking for a midi foot controller (I never bought one in the end) at the synthzone site dedicated to different websites for midi controllers, I ran accross one site that made midi controllers controllable by brainwaves. I never checked out the site, thinking that if it were that great of an invention, I would know about it. But Uncle Dave is right, thought controlled midi controllers aren't far off.
As far as voice control, humor aside, I don't think it's practical, because a musician doesn't want to announce what style or sound he wants - even if you turned off your microphone, it wouldn't be quite professional.
An optional computer touch screen that plugs in front of the music stand, now that would be really cool. The keyboard could have a fake book database on the hard drive, and you could see the lyrics in large print.

Larry

Keep ideas coming .......
This is interesting .
UD ....al gore rythmns .......get it !

The PSR8000 had a nice, tilted display. Also Technics has long had an adjustable tilt. I remember problems with the early ones getting to where they wouldn't "stay tilted", but it was a good idea, and I think the later ones were better constructed.
DonM

DanO - I got it! I got it !

I guess its time for a "HEATKIT" type arranger keyboard? Order what ever feature modules YOU need from a catalog to fit on a Mother keyboard frame..., different screens, vocalizers, seqencers, plug in style and sound boards, speaker pods, etc, etc. making it Your personal keyboard for your own specific uses. Just Mix and Match!!

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 01-25-2002).]

We would all like to have large active matrix LCD screens, but would we like to pay for it?
It's all down to the cost of the keyboard. They don't mind putting a large screen, if you are willing to pay more for the same board.

What do you think about the Head Up Display ?
It is used in planes to get info on the peace of glass(plastiglass)
just in from of you.

How it works ...
You would have the same screen on your keyboard just like
every keyboard has right now.
In the same time the screen whould be used as a small projector which will project the
data upwards on the piece of glass which is placed VERTICALY at the same hight
as your eyes.
For example the piece of glass(plastic) would be part of the regular note stand which
usually comes with the keyboard and can be placed at the edge of the back plane.
Since it is glass or plastiglass you can still see through it and the audience probably
wouldn't notice it at all.
You would be looking at them and in the same time have the screen data in front of your eyes.
It is especially helpfull for people who use midi files with words of the song too.
Also you could have dedicated buttons, just above your keys(UP,DOWN,RIGHT,LEFT,ENTER) which can easily navigate you through the data on the screen.
With this system you wouldn't have to look down at all, keeping eye contact with nice ladies in
the audience.

In addition to airplane cockpit, the similar system is implemented on TV cameras where the speaker looks at it and read at the same time.
I saw a few conferences with the exacly same principle. You can hardly notice that the guy on the stage has a small piece of glass beside the mic where he reads the speach from.

Anyway it would be fun, don't you think ?



Cheers

Denis

The large, "tiltable", color screen on the 6500 is well-worth the price to me. I do a lot of editing and it sure makes the task easier. I wish it were even bigger!

One problem I've run into is when playing a gig outside during daylight hours. Even though I try to use some type of overhead covering to provide some shade, the red LED's on my keyboard (happens to be a SOLTON MS60) fade out to where they can barely be seen. In addition reflections on the display screen can make it very difficult to see the display. I've also had this happen on stages with bright overhead lights that happen to be at a bad angle relative to my setup. The display issue can be helped considerably by a tilting screen as they use on the Technics KN5000 and other Technics units. The red LED issue may be a bit more difficult. It may take another color or a totally different indicator approach. I don't know how many other players out there have had problems on outdoor gigs, but I have several musician friends who play keyoards and they all complain about the same thing. Most of us have made cardboard shields or some such thing for the display screen, but it does not solve the problem of the washed out LEDs.
Paul C.

I would say that Technics has the best screen . Panasonic is a hugh company . They have a larger parent company right ??? So there is an edge with the cost of buying screens .
anything else ? contrast applications ?
Tilt ? Color ? dano

[This message has been edited by DanO1 (edited 01-25-2002).]

How about a wearable screen just like a sunglasses? Kinda like the one in virtual reality gadget. Well... I wish all new keyboards now have a VGA port where you can plug-in flat LCD screen and even a touch pad controller like one in a laptop. They're getting cheaper now?

Make use that "D beam" function to navigate the screen

Uncle Dave,

Great idea! However, brain power outage could be a serious problem for me. My brain network could cause some serious havoc on something like that ha-ha.

DanO,
I would pay extra to just have a video out socket on the back of the keyboard so I could plug in a larger LCD screen. You can mount the LCD screen anyplace you want. Maybe even hook it to UD's midi CI1000? The possibilities are endless!

I would pay more for an Active Matrix screen though. BTW, that would automaticly make the screen color.

I also would like the numbers pad someplace on the board so I have the option changing my styles and voices etc on the fly in case I was in a highly lighted area where the monitor quality failed.

-Linda

[This message has been edited by LindaFus (edited 01-26-2002).]

Linda,
9000 and Pro come with video out standard. It is an option on many others, such as X1, PA80.
DonM

Dan I,d like a little robot with a big screen in Hand. She/he would be programmed to be attracted to me and would slide accross the top of the KB as my head pivoted from left to right,in pretence smiling at the audience as I read the words of "I wont forget You" off screen . This is essential as we grow old and forget the words of the songs!!!!. I heard recently that growing old is ok, but stopping growing old is serious.
Well done your topic is attractive and usefull. Pierce

Hi Linda,
This brain control might work good for some of these guys on here! But to others, some good lookin' women would walk by, and they would start consentrating on her.
That KB would get confused and it's hard to tell what would spu out of them speakers!

Nobby

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