Re: Handsonic

["Bill Cummings" <billcumm@sprynet.com>]

It also fits perfectly in a standard snare cradle.
I did bust one of my outputs once, when it got knocked over by my kids
ruffhousing. It was right after I got it, and the good ol boys at Guitar
Center swapped it out for another unit for me. I've been much more careful
since then, and no further problemos. I would imagine that you'd want to be
careful with it if you were doing alot of live shows with it, not exactly
built like a tank. But I do cherish it for what it is...highly portable and
a lot of fun!!

I use it on gigs occassionally, but mostly it has found a permanent home in
my studio.

----- Original Message -----
From: <paulrichard10@attbi.com>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: Handsonic


> I had (and sold) two Handsonics already. It's a great
> device. I mostly used congas, bongos and wood blocks. I
> never sctratched the surface of that animal: there are
> so many world-beat type of sounds that would make
> composition very interesting (if one had the time).
>
> Someone else noted the annoying D-beam inadvertent
> triggers. Most disconcerting when the sound is a gong!
>
> Since I didn't use it all the time, I found it hard to
> reconcile having a $1000 approx. device sitting around
> doing nothing. I since bought a bonafide pair of congas
> and a wood block. Bongos are next on my list (course one
> needs a good way to mike this stuff).
>
> I DID find that (notwithstanding the broad sound
> pallette available on the HPD-15) real congas are more
> fun to play and are, needless to say, more dynamic.
>
> Although I didn't use it all the time because of
> laziness, the HPD-15 stand is probably a must-have for
> stage use. That thing can really slide around on one's
> lap.
>
> Regards, Butch
> > Hmmm, sounds to me like they mainly expected it to be a performance
> > instrument, and the sequencer was a second thought.  I've seen people 
>do
> > cool stuff where they seemed to be controlling effects via the d-beam,
> > no?
> >
> > I too have a love/hate relationship with Roland.  They seem to favor a
> > billion presets rather than tweakability.  In a way I'm OK with that, 
>as
> > a lot are great.  I used to spend hours and hours making sounds on an
> > old analog Korg D8000, but I feel I no longer have the time to put into
> > sound design, as much as I love it.  There came a time when I just had
> > to put more energy into playing.  The short of it is I still wish I had
> > the time to do both!
> >
> > I recently picked up a VX-5050, because the sounds on the GR-30 SUCK.  
>I
> > was plain and simply tired of running them through tons of effects to
> > get anything halfway decent out of that  box.  Now it's mainly spitting
> > out midi.  Why the hell won't Roland make a guitar synth that's got
> > decent sounds?  I just got back from a gig, and my wife said, "You're
> > patches sounded great tonight.  I usually cringe a few times because I
> > hate the sounds."  I knew exactly which patches she was talking about!
> >
> > Anyway, I always wanted a  Handsonic.  I've put it in the "if I can get
> > a used one for a decent deal" category.  If anyone wants to get rid of
> > one cheap, let me know!  (what the hell am I saying?)
> >
> > Mark Sottilaro
> >
> >
> > On Sunday, May 5, 2002, at 05:35  PM, Mark Hamburg wrote:
> >
> > > The Handsonic is very high on instant gratification. I've had a 
>number
> > > of
> > > non-percussionists sit down at mine and have a lot of fun. (I'm a
> > > non-percussionist as well.)
> > >
> > > On the other hand, I have a couple of gripes that seem reflective of
> > > much of
> > > my experience with Roland gear in that the operating system always
> > > seems to
> > > keep it from living up to its promise. Here are the chief issues that
> > > come
> > > to mind:
> > >
> > > * The effects are much like the effects from the SP-808 (and other
> > > Roland
> > > units) but the provisions for realtime control of the effects are 
>much
> > > more
> > > limited. In particular, the unit has 3 knobs purportedly for realtime
> > > sound
> > > tweaking but all they really seem to do most of the time is provide a
> > > slightly faster way to edit kits. I really wish I could do things 
>like
> > > assign the knobs to the feedback level on the delay effects, for
> > > example.
> > >
> > > * The sequencer on board is very weak for loop building and actually
> > > isn't
> > > even much of a sequencer. It doesn't let you erase notes. It doesn't
> > > let you
> > > switch parts while recording. The Handsonic with some good MIDI
looping
> > > software in its OS would be really cool. Even just matching some of
> > > what can
> > > be done on things like the MC-505 would be a start. As it is, I end 
>up
> > > just
> > > doing my looping in audio which seems somewhat of a waste since MIDI
> > > data
> > > ought to be more flexible.
> > >
> > > As for the sounds, I don't know whether I prefer it or my Emu Planet
> > > Earth.
> > > The latter probably has better sounds but they are harder to get to.
> > >
> > > Summary: Fun percussion controller with decent sound sets that falls
> > > short
> > > of what it could be by not having an OS that allows much realtime
> > > effects
> > > manipulation nor easy loop creation/manipulation.
> > >
> > > Mark
> > >
> >
>