Thank you Jerry for taking the time to help me out with the setup and the Midi download link. I have everything setup as described, unfortunately I am lost on the audio cable side of things as well since i haven't played a musical instrument since i was a child. I do have the foot pedal for the MS40.
.Thank you Jerry for taking the time to help me out with the setup and the Midi download link. I have everything setup as described, unfortunately I am lost on the audio cable side of things as well since i haven't played a musical instrument since i was a child. I do have the foot pedal for the MS40.
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Yes you will need something with a MINIMUM of 5 inputs (you might get away with 4 if you go MONO sound out from the arranger):
It's a lovely thing you're doing, but this might be one of the most difficult possible starting points, something that might confuse all but the most, ah, seasoned, players. I wonder if you might be happier, and a bit less frustrated, while stile honoring your dad's memory, starting with more of a student sized piano accordion and working your way up to that one?
I don't want to scare or deter anyone, but...
If you can just play the accordion, without the arranger or tone generator, maybe that's where to start? If you're going to use all the other stuff later, I suppose getting used to it being part of the accordion is good now?I don't want to scare or deter anyone, but...
The Elka WITH an arranger is even more intense than just a cordovox. Imagine a Cordovox with 5 times more sonic options, now toss in all related challenges associated with using an arranger (trust me, it took me several weeks of focused work and 10 hour days to get the X4 under my belt, and that was with a STRONG education in accordion!), before I was ready to gig with it. I spent a good month just getting to know the Elka before touching the arranger.
I actually started with the Wilgamat, the original arranger that came with the Elka, then a Solton Programmer 24 and then the Ketron X4.
Just inserting the start/intro/drum solos/variations/endings/stops perfect so that it sounds natural is an exercise in agility and mental focus... imagine trying to play, both hands 100% occupied, reading music and now manipulating 5-7 switches.
Even today with the FR-8X and BK-7m, it takes concentration and focus on my end... no, Its not easy.
My 2 cent opinion is to learn accordion first, at least to some apperciable standard, then move to the electronics and then after that, the arranger. Thats me, certainly not the way others may want to do it.
I totally agree! I wasn't clear above - what I meant was, if you plan to eventually use all the other features, just get used to working with an accordion that has all that on there, even from just a weight perspective, perhaps? Not that you had to leap into it, but if it's a good acoustic accordion, and you don't have to use all the rest to play it, just do that to start?My 2 cent opinion is to learn accordion first, at least to some apperciable standard, then move to the electronics and then after that, the arranger. Thats me, certainly not the way others may want to do it.
I want to build my musical home on a strong foundation before building the roof, as building a home on quicksand is not the best of ideas.
Hmmm.
Well done Jerry I agree with you...... I'm speaking as a player that gigged with the Elkavox 83 for about 20 plus years using a Technics smac 1200 accomps module via midi . It was a great set up and never let me down and had a great sound . . the great Technics styles and top quality extra soft ware styles that Technics produced made the instrument sound great .......and made me sound very good and my Audiences very happy.I don't want to scare or deter anyone, but...
The Elka WITH an arranger is even more intense than just a cordovox. Imagine a Cordovox with 5 times more sonic options, now toss in all related challenges associated with using an arranger (trust me, it took me several weeks of focused work and 10 hour days to get the X4 under my belt, and that was with a STRONG education in accordion!), before I was ready to gig with it. I spent a good month just getting to know the Elka before touching the arranger.
I actually started with the Wilgamat, the original arranger that came with the Elka, then a Solton Programmer 24 and then the Ketron X4.
Just inserting the start/intro/drum solos/variations/endings/stops perfect so that it sounds natural is an exercise in agility and mental focus... imagine trying to play, both hands 100% occupied, reading music and now manipulating 5-7 switches.
Even today with the FR-8X and BK-7m, it takes concentration and focus on my end... no, Its not easy.
At the risk of being redundant: store the electronics away for now safely and start with learning to play the accordion. The instrument should be a good one for that purpose. If at one point of time you decide to give it to an accordion tuner/fixer and they offer to remove all the electronics, refuse that option since you have everything needed for making the electronics live again and since that is what your father did, too.
I want to thank you again for taking the time that you have, to lay everything out in a way that makes sense to me as well as your honest opinions, which I am acknowledging whole heartedly. He did have a mixer and amp which I was able to get a hold of so it can be fully set up as intended. I agree with you fully on the fact that I need to learn through dedication and taking lessons before delving into the electronic side of things. Which I will be doing. Ventura hit the nail on the head. I am just looking for the knowledge to be able to set everything up as my father had for future use. Hopefully within a few years of hard work and dedication, I can delve into the electronic side of things. Until then I will just enjoy the process of learning how to play.Hmmm.
You know, sometimes my background blinds me to the obvious. I am mr dedicated, mr structured, mr shortest route to a goal is a straight line... and life is just NOT like that. I see where you are taking this Ventura, and I cannot say that it is wrong.
If I was in his place, the FIRST thing I would want to do is get it all together and make some noise too!!!
Let's see if later on I can make some kind of video that shows how to toss it all together. Heck, I've not played it for so long I likely forgot half the things that make this setup great!
You nailed it! Once I have the knowledge to set everything up, I will probably mess around a bit and see what it can do. That being said, I will be taking lessons and learning how to play it accoustically first. Until I learn how to play it with some sort of proficiency the electronics will be put to the side.
That would be greatly appreciated. The support on this forum has gone above and beyond my expectations. I mentioned this site to my brother since he inherited my Dad's PANcordion and we were having trouble identifying the model. But that's for another thread.Let me see if I can make it a bit easier for you… give me a couple of days to make a short video on how to connect it to a small mixer. I’ll post it here once done. It will at least give me a chance to see if mine even still works.
