Hi all, did anyone try 'Miditech PianoBox Pro' with a midi accordion? I'm looking for a simple setup not too expensive and has good sound quality ... just starting with 'midi' so mainly be used for home practising and small gigs. Thanks 
SteveBox
Well-known member
Hi TKZan. Are you looking for a selection of good accordion sounds from the module? I am not familiar with this particular module, but in my experience, inexpensive GM modules like this are unlikely to have good accordion sounds. Even more expensive modules, unless they are specifically designed for accordionists, may not have a good selection of accordion sounds. On the other hand, if you have an acoustic accordion with MIDI, then maybe you don't need the module for accordion sounds.
If you want to try out one of these, my advice is to buy it from a dealer that will allow you to return it if you don't like it.
If you want to try out one of these, my advice is to buy it from a dealer that will allow you to return it if you don't like it.
Ventura
Been here for ages!
the
i have noticed them too on Amazon for @ $160 here in the USA
first of all, pretty much all GM modules have had good
quality across the board instrument sounds and drum kits
for many decades now, and this module has resurrected
some of the EMU sound catalog along with an extended bank
of Piano and other better than GM sounds.
this module also has both MIDI in/out as well as USB
so you can use it directly with a MIDI Accordion or a computer
setup.. and it has some dedicated control stuff to access the sounds,
which helps because MIDI accordions are often limited in
what they give you to "Call up" sounds and patches from the accordion
controls. It really has a lot going for it..
even venerable workhorse used Roland Sound Canvas and Korg 0/X-5m
GM modules are still getting $150 at the Music-go-round type places
so it looks to me like a very decent modern basic and well priced
way for you to get started
there are a lot of limitations to using just one sound source/module
for Treble, Bass and Chords.. getting balances right.. getting
velocity and bellows control tweaked.. so don't expect it
to be amazing in every idea you try. In my opinion, at that
price even just parked on a computer to playback MIDI files
to practice with gets you your moneys worth, and being able
to use it with the accordion MIDI directly into an Amp or PA system
makes it a very handy tool
so your MIDI acc will have channel 1 for right hand, 2 for chords 3 for bass
(sometimes 2 for bass 3 for chords) then channel 4 for solo or second
treble voice for layering or alternating between 2 sounds, and you
can hopefully use channel 4 to access the extended sound bank..
channel 10 is usually reserved to access the drum kits and channel 13
is sometimes used for presets, but the owners manuals of your MIDI
as well as the Module will be your friend so print them out and
have them handy
good luck
hey TK
i have noticed them too on Amazon for @ $160 here in the USA
first of all, pretty much all GM modules have had good
quality across the board instrument sounds and drum kits
for many decades now, and this module has resurrected
some of the EMU sound catalog along with an extended bank
of Piano and other better than GM sounds.
this module also has both MIDI in/out as well as USB
so you can use it directly with a MIDI Accordion or a computer
setup.. and it has some dedicated control stuff to access the sounds,
which helps because MIDI accordions are often limited in
what they give you to "Call up" sounds and patches from the accordion
controls. It really has a lot going for it..
even venerable workhorse used Roland Sound Canvas and Korg 0/X-5m
GM modules are still getting $150 at the Music-go-round type places
so it looks to me like a very decent modern basic and well priced
way for you to get started
there are a lot of limitations to using just one sound source/module
for Treble, Bass and Chords.. getting balances right.. getting
velocity and bellows control tweaked.. so don't expect it
to be amazing in every idea you try. In my opinion, at that
price even just parked on a computer to playback MIDI files
to practice with gets you your moneys worth, and being able
to use it with the accordion MIDI directly into an Amp or PA system
makes it a very handy tool
so your MIDI acc will have channel 1 for right hand, 2 for chords 3 for bass
(sometimes 2 for bass 3 for chords) then channel 4 for solo or second
treble voice for layering or alternating between 2 sounds, and you
can hopefully use channel 4 to access the extended sound bank..
channel 10 is usually reserved to access the drum kits and channel 13
is sometimes used for presets, but the owners manuals of your MIDI
as well as the Module will be your friend so print them out and
have them handy
good luck
Thanks, SteveBox for the replay ... no I do not need accordion sounds, my accordion itself has a nice set of them .. it was more about that exact device and experiences with it.
Cheers
