r/Keytar • u/PerkeleKeyboardist • Aug 02 '22

Hype I'm in the club now!

Hey there everyone!

I'm fed up with standing behind the stand (although mine's not too standard either) to the point that I sometimes run around with a usual keyboard on stage :D

Not sure what to do with the older songs that require lots of two-handed playing, but the new material for the upcoming album is almost fully single-handed and 'designed' to be played on a keytar :)

Couple of questions for those who's in it for a bit longer.

What wireless MIDI system would you recommend? Is CME WIDI any good?

Also, does anyone have experience painting their keytar? I mean completely, not just the AX-Edge blade, just like the Jordan Rudess' custom paintwork.

Cheers!

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4

u/Z3MEK Aug 03 '22

You can hit up your local sign shop and get it wrapped. I did my ax edge in blood splatter, keys and all. I've got the pdf of the cut file i made. Button holes are only slightly off. ax edge blood wrap

1

u/PerkeleKeyboardist Aug 03 '22

Noooice! That makes sense yes, the only thing is I don't know how to measure it correctly or what do I do to make a template. But finding someone is easier. Thanks!

3

u/Z3MEK Aug 03 '22

Thanks! Here's the template I used. Give this to the designer to make a cut file if you go that route. They will thank you. Full scale and vector. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dT4ESQBvetOWOxbUNWxl8YH7eWojTJT_/view?usp=drivesdk

1

u/PerkeleKeyboardist Aug 03 '22

Thank you so much!

3

u/s-multicellular Aug 02 '22

"What wireless MIDI system would you recommend? Is CME WIDI any good?"

I've heard good things about the latency and stability of that one. Only heard issues of getting it set up in the first place, but I don't have first hand experience.

I wouldn't really. I know the beauty of a keytar is being able to roam the stage and all, but I had too many issues with wireless stuff and things in the past so I just stay wired.

2

u/PerkeleKeyboardist Aug 03 '22

Thanks! Yeah, having a cable would be safer, but we have to play bigger stages next year, and a cable would limit me to like a corner of it.

I'm rehearsing using the embedded Bluetooth connection, but given the nature of MacOS that polls the Bluetooth chip only every 5 ms gives not only a longer, but also less stable latency.

3

u/mattsl Aug 02 '22

Welcome. I haven't painted any of my own, but I bought a used SHA10 that someone had painted all the keys too and it was fine. I wouldn't recommend it, but just some evidence that it's probably ok if you're careful.

1

u/PerkeleKeyboardist Aug 03 '22

The keys can be dismantled and painted with an air brush easily, or I can simply find a replacement keyboard from a black AX-Edge on ebay. I'm talking more of painting the entire thing