Re: FC200, PC1600x (was re: PMC-10)

[improv@peak.org (Dave Trenkel)]

>> >It has 16 buttons along the bottom with a slider/fader over
>> >each of the buttons. The buttons can be configured to work various ways
>> >(toggle or momentary, etc) and the sliders can be assigned to send 
>various
>> >MIDI info as well. There is info about this device readily available 
>at the
>> >Peavey web site if someone wants to check it out. I don't know the 
>price of
>> >the PC-1600x but a friend of mine got one at a music store blowout for 
>$200.
>>
>> Really? I'd buy it at that price. Where? I've been seriously thinking 
>about
>> getting a controller like that. Once I had two expression pedals at my
>> feet, I realized I wanted more! A bank of sliders would be perfect.
>
>Right now, Manny's can special-order a new PC1600x for under $300.  Or
>they have the previous model, the PC1600, in stock for ~$280.  (You can 
>buy
>an OS upgrade for the PC1600 to bring it current with the PC1600x.)  Go to
>the Peavey web site to check out the feature list on this pup.  It's way, 
>way
>powerful.  (I'll be getting a PC1600x next month.)
>
I've had a PC 1600 for about 3 or 4 years now, it's an incredibly handy
little piece. Here's a few uses I've found for it:

A real-time system exclusive programmer for a Yamaha DX-7 synth, which
makes the DX generate some REALLY sick sounds, a million miles beyond the
tinkly fake rhodes...

A real-time programmer for the LXP 1 and 5.

A controller surface for mixing in Deck, Studio Vision, etc.

This one I just figured out. I can plug the output of the LFO or Envelope
Generators of my modular system into one of the pedal inputs, and convert
it to a MIDI controller. Great for syncing effects to the LFO.

I paid about $380 for it, and it's been very worth that. I haven't upgraded
to the 1600x software yet, but I understand it fixes one of the major
problems I've found with the unit: the original 1600 can't calculate system
exclusive checksums, which limits it's use as a sys-ex controller to gear
that doesn't require checksums. It seems like just about every new synth
uses checksums, so this is pretty bothersome.

Actually, some of the new Peavey gear is really impressive. I have their
SP/SX sampler combo, which is a great sounding, small and cheap sampler,
and the SPAF Analog Filter, which was on the market several years before
the current rage for anything analog, and sounds excellent. Also, a friend
has their (rather expensive) tube pream in his studio, and I'm quite
impressed with the sound.

________________________________________________________
Dave Trenkel : improv@peak.org  : www.peak.org/~improv/

"...there will come a day when you won't have to use
gasoline. You'd simply take a cassette and put it in
your car, let it run. You'd have to have the proper
type of music. Like you take two sticks, put 'em
together, make fire. You take some notes and rub 'em
together - dum, dum, dum, dum - fire, cosmic fire."
                                            -Sun Ra
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