I love the Ketron’s Latin styles but even the SD5 is out of my price range- besides I would like something lighter for air travel. So I thought maybe the midijay would be good solution. Anybody here uses one? I’m interested in your general thoughts of this module as I know nothing at all about it. Also I have a few specific questions that maybe some of you could answer.

1. Does it have the same great sounding Latin styles found on the SD5?
2. Is it easy to use and connect to a keyboard?
3. Could I use a Yamaha psr e413 as a controller?
4. Do you load midi files via thumb drive or the old floppy discs?

montunoman,

Answers to your questions:-

1. Does it have the same great sounding Latin styles found on the SD5?
>>> No. The Midijay Plus does.

2. Is it easy to use and connect to a keyboard?
>>> Yes. Via Midi.

3. Could I use a Yamaha psr e413 as a controller?
>>> Yes. If it has the 5pin Midi Out jack.

4. Do you load midi files via thumb drive or the old floppy discs?
>>> Both by USB connected to a PC and Floppy (not thumb drive unless both are connected to a PC).

You will find the Midijay Plus very 'fitting' for your purpose.

Thanks,

AJ

You cannot use the Yamaha PSRE413 as a controller because it does not have midi jacks. It only has a USB midi jack which only works with a computer.


------------------
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Yes, that's what I thought.

Could someone kindly lead me to the list of styles on the Midijay plus?

Midjay Plus isn't that much less than an SD-5 anyway, I thought?

My biggest gripe with these kinds of things is the whole ergonomics of it. They're really designed with MIDI accordionists, guitarists etc. in mind, but you use a module with a keyboard, and you have to get it in so close you can work the buttons while you play, you end up obscuring all the controls and display of whatever you are controlling it with!

OK if you are just using a dumb one MIDI channel out controller, but if you are using something else that makes some sound of its' own too, things can get pretty complicated...

I think there is about a $700.00 differance between the two. I know that's spare change for some folks around here but for me that is substantial.

Also the weight is a facotr. I figure could leave a keyboard in Mexico and travel back and fourth to the US with the module.

As for the ergonomics, I agree. I'm wondering where do you put the thing?

Also I'm concerned how complicated it it to set up and such. I've never a used midi module.

[This message has been edited by montunoman (edited 04-09-2010).]

[This message has been edited by montunoman (edited 04-09-2010).]

The thing that I miss about the Midjay when I performed with it was the fact that it can play all play modes simultaneously STYLES>SMF>SFX>WAV>MP3> with separate VOL slider controls for each, and it can sync to lyrics as well, plus cross fade between them....no arranger on the market can do that.

I currently use the Midjay Plus, I’m very happy with it; it is very versatile and has great ‘live’ sounding drums and bass. I use it with a couple of different controllers including midi accordion and yes, I still occasionally use a Yamaha KX5 on gigs.
I used the Midjay before I bought the Plus and I found that the Plus styles are limited to 136 or so internal styles and the couple of different styles from the SD5. I miss the capability that I had with the Midjay to use the styles of several of the earlier Ketron products, especially the SD1 styles. But, AJ did say – about a year ago - that the SD1 etc, styles were being converted for use with the Plus and SD5. Is that still in the works AJ?
Ciao,
Jerry

Just not sure really what's the POINT in running all those different things at the same time, Donny...

I admit that mixing style mode and SMF's can be cool, but Yamaha and I think Korg can already do that. But run a style while you are playing an MP3? Or two Mp3's at the same time? Just don't see the need...

Diki when your mixing it up all night long overlapping, segue tracks, for continuous transitional music playing it really comes in handy.....please tell me how a yamaha or korg arranger can do this simultaneously/

Don't need simultaneous... I can cue another registration with a linked style or SMF and go to it INSTANTLY (no load time whatsoever) with my G70. One song stops, the next starts immediately...

Why do you need anything more than that?

In style mode, you can go from one registration (UPG) to another without pause, without notes cutting off, without the slightest interruption to the beat whatsoever. And this is all on something with NO simultaneous anything!

I'm sorry, but unless you are a DJ, I just don't see it... and if you ARE a DJ, there is MUCH better DJ software for laptops than the simple stuff that the Audya does.

Be honest, Donny. other than DJ-ing, did you ever actually USE multiple sources at the same time? Multiple sources sequentially is one thing, but SIMULTANEOUSLY?

Not that many Charles Ives fans out there these days in the clubs!

Diki, I incorporate all kinds of music play in my shows "depending on the venue"...
and simultaneous song play is critical for what I do using many choices.....enter my laptop jumping around registrations is NOT what I am describing...my needs might be different then yours.

Donny, it seems you and I have similar playing needs.

I constantly move between songs (the main reason I got a Korg PA1x was because of it's crossfader) when we do either a "straight" version of a song, or a Dance Remix, with a constant loop being needed between songs.

Thing is, I use pad loops on the Korg, which have some great factory drum/dance loops that auto-sync with an SMF and give old (and new) songs a real kick, BUT I currently can't keep one loop going whilst triggering a new sequence (at least I can't figure out a way that you can) and so if the Audya Module can keep a loop/beat/sample/Mp3 of whatever kind I need going whilst I crossfade to another SMF/MP3/Style
AND
if it can auto sync to the tempo of both songs (or to a "master Tempo") seamlessly, then I'm interested in the new Module - for sure!!!

AFAIK, none of these arrangers have the 'Auto-sync' feature so prevalent on software DJ programs. That's why I question the need for it. Sure, if it gave you FULL DJ capability, it would handle the task for those amongst us that do both DJ-ing and playing, but it just seems a half-way measure, and you are STILL going to need a laptop to DJ properly.

It's obvious that, for all it's 'gee whiz, look at what THIS does!', even Donny himself ditched it. Perhaps this capability isn't QUITE as important as he makes out? Seems an awful lot to pay just so you can crossfade between one tune and the next. I can do that with a cheap laptop or an even cheaper pair of CD players and save a fortune!

Anyway, as I have said in the past, the day my audience wants to hear me DJ more than they want to hear me PLAY will be the day I retire from music!

Fair enough for you and your needs Diki, but I think you're misunderstanding me re looping/synching etc. More to the point, I'll guess I'll speak for myself rather than Donny at this point:

I want the flexibility to say, start a well known song (be it old or new) with a loop either sampled by myself, or an Off-the-shelf-Factory beat, so that the song I'm playing sets a certain Tempo/Vibe on the Dancefloor. (Btw, that song might well be an older slower song from another Genre that works well with an upbeat dance groove.)

THEN

I want to be able to segue into another song - in whatever way I want.

For example we're currently doing "TIK TOK" by Kesha, and whilst we're playing the song, we add in vocals and (some) samples of Madonna's Holiday, along with my live playing of whatever sound I choose. This is essentially doing a "mash up" of two songs - this generation's version of a Medley, if you will, (albeit a 2 song Medley - sometimes we can work in a 3rd song depending upon timing and chord structure) and I want to be able to crossfade to, or simply add/bring in, a style OR Sample OR MP3 OR SMF all within that "master beat" within that song-within-a-song.

That DJ Style Dance Remix and/or Mashup is simply another tool to entertain people and keep them dancing instead of merely doing the standard "Radio Edit" of a song.
It's another way of doing your own version of a song, which I'm sure you yourself would often do Diki (a big band swing arrangement of a more sombre song for example, or a Classic Foxtrot Jazz Standard done in a Rhumba style etc etc etc).

The Dance Remix/Mashup is just another way of expressing yourself musically in an updated way, and because it (usually) involves much pre-thought in how to put the songs together, using a number of different elements (Style/Loop/Played Live Samples/Piano or Organ and/or Bass parts played live over a loop even) it requires a lot more than merely "DJ-ing" would normally do.

(No offence to any DJs reading!! )

Well, it'll be a cold day in hell before you hear me do a rhumba version of an old foxtrot tune on an arranger out in public (I want to stay working, round here!), but I kind of see your point

Mind you, with SMF's and Markers, you can do some quite similar things, throw transitioning seamlessly into style mode, all holding the same tempo, and yes, if given the time to set things up in advance, I guess most audiences would be hard pressed to tell the difference...

It's cool, for sure, but it doesn't really make MY 'must have' list. Even if I'm NOT doing big band music!