cpcohen Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I'm playing with a chant group. We used to have a harmonium player, and I'm trying to figure out a good substitute. For those benighted souls who say "What's that?": . . . a harmonium is a small, one-hand-pumped reed organ. It's common in Indian music. I tried the GM "Reed Organ" tone on the PX-350, but it's lacking in three areas: 1. It's not "reedy" enough; 2. It doesn't have the "breathing" -- caused by variations in air pressure -- of a real harmonium. 3. I can't fade it out gradually, without lifting a hand from the keyboard. It sounds a lot like a reed-based, perfectly-pedal-pumped church organ -- close, but no cigar. I am solving number 3 -- I have a "MIDI Solutions" pedal adapter on order. That will let me use a standard synth "expression pedal" on the PX-350. [i _think_ it will, anyway . . . ] I'm stuck on numbers 1 and 2. Perhaps another MIDI feed for a very slight, slowly-changing pitch-bend and velocity variation? Any ideas will be welcome. The answer may be to put my Korg X5D back into service, and tweak one of its patches. Thanks -- . Charles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Display Name Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Hi Charles. That's a tricky one. The PX-5S would allow for a lot more flexibility using multiple layers, velocity switching and release velocity. I don't think the 350 allows for that deep of programming. I'll peruse the manual a bit and see if I can offer anything.. sounds like a good challenge though. Happy New Year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmf32608 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 The PX-350 has a harmonium tone: group number 042 under the "VARIOUS" group name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpcohen Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 >>>The PX-350 has a harmonium tone: group number 042 under the "VARIOUS" group name.<<< Yes. there is a tone with that name. Two problems -- one really serious: 1. A _real_ harmonium doesn't decay. It keeps sounding continuously, at the same volume, as long as you hold down the key and pump the bellows. . . . the PX-350 tone decays, like a piano! That (IMHO) was a design error. The "Reed Organ" patch behaves properly -- hold down a key, the note stays on forever. 2. A _real_ harmonium sounds a lot richer than the tone on the PX-350. Listen here for examples: http://www.cryptocipher.in/?wpsc-product=bollywood-harmoniums And that's a sample library -- not the "real thing". [it's a pretty good sample library, though . . . ] . Charles PS -- Actually, the sample library is good, and cheap. Using it (and lugging my laptop, and using up another mixer input, and risking "high-tech shunning") might be a good way to skin this cat. I hadn't found it until I needed an example of what the "Harmonium" voice _should_ sound like. So, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpcohen Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Unfortunately, you need the _full_ Kontakt (not the "free Kontakt player") to use that library. Add $400. . . . Ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpcohen Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 I don't want to bump the thread, but I did find a solution: . . . I bought a MicroKorg XL+ (on sale, $350). There's a huge amount of customizability for _every_ patch. The "Duo Sign" (two sine-wave oscillators) patch, with the MOD wheel up just past midway, give a pretty effective reed-organ / harmonium sound. Nice and rich in harmonics, good for drones. A very different playing experience from the PX-350!<G> And the "effects" section can be used stand-alone -- so with both running, I could have things like "flanged grand piano". You can waste a lot of time (= have a lot of fun) with stuff like that. . Charles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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