305

(8 replies, posted in Product reviews)

Thought I'd kick this off with a useful bit of gear that I got today, the Casio VL-1. Despite my short time in ownership, I've used it for over 8 hours already, so am aware of what it can do.

.

Ease of Use

Very easy to use the basic functions (playing it, using the calculator) however sequencing takes a little getting used to.

Price

Well, seeing as it's a keyboard from 1980, the price varies. Mine was a present, but I have been informed that it was rather cheap from a second hand store, and a quick search has found them going for less than a tenner. Certainly worth the price for what it is.

Availability

As a "Vintage" or "Retro" item it could be thought of as desirable, but not to difficult to get your hands on, I tend to think that if I have one, it isn't that rare. 90% of the time it is true, and this is no exception. You can probably pick them up rather cheaply for not that much at charity shops/carboot sales/thrift shops/yard sales/whatever.

Durability

It's a second hand keyboard that's roughly 33, apart from some understandable wear and tear (the odd scratch) it's in pretty good nick. No buttons or anything have come off, and it can probably survive a bit of beating, due to its bulk. Not suggesting you throw it around like it's invincible, but it has that kind of feel that my old nokia does, like you can drop it a few times without it breaking.

Aesthetics/ergonomics

It looks very 80's, that could be a turn on for some, but a turn off for others. It's very bulky, but a neat kind of bulky. As for alternative colour options, that's mostly going to be due to the amount that the previous owner smoked, It comes in the colours "White" "Yellow-white" and "Browny-white." It isn't massively comfortable to use, as it doesn't have standard white keys, it has buttons where the keys are. They can be a little uncomfortable to play for a while at a time due to their pointy-nes.

Size

Despite it feeling a little bulky, it should be easy enough to take to gigs, it is quite long due to the large speaker. It's roughly the same depth as DMG, maybe a little thicker, maybe a little thinner.

Portability

It can run on the standard amount of 4xAA, or a 9volt AC adapter. As mentioned before, it's a reasonably decent size to bring with you to gigs/to the studio/on the bus.

Sustainability (Batteries, Tapes, Etc.)

If you're using batteries, you may have to keep buying them, this is where my limited time in ownership does not pay off. I would suggest buying rechargeable batteries anyway, especially if you're an LSDJ/DMG user anyway.

Sync-ability (MIDI Clock, DIN Sync, Clock Trigger)

no, but you can sequence notes.

Compliancy (USB Device, MIDI Device, OS X/Win, x86/PPC)

no, it just works

Integration (CV Control, MIDI Data)

no

Ease of Modification

Probably quite easy, typing "casio vl-1" into google brings up "casio vl-1 circuit bent" as one of the potential searches. I haven't researched bending it very heavily as it doesn't appeal to me, however there may be enough of a following for there to be places to by parts to mod it. As for making your own mods, if you know what you're doing then you probably can.

Personal Experiences

Pretty damn good so far, due to only have one channel of sound playing at the same time, it's going to help me vastly in writing ZX Spectrum music due to the limitations. It so far has helped me realize that I get bogged down trying to do both channels at the same time, and taking my time with a device like this can be very beneficial. Only having one channel may not appeal to some people, which is understandable. Oh yeah, the calculator is pretty decent as well.

sandneil wrote:

kfaraday vs skrillex

/thread

Ultrasyd and FOD, mostly because it would be mental

308

(70 replies, posted in General Discussion)

-sandneil is fucking right-

Jellica wrote:

before we got together my girlfriend saw me do a gig where i played bad game boy and amiga music and cut up cuddly animals with a bread knife and threw them at people and read letters from a porno mag.

i guess that is attractive?

certainly what I look for in potential mates, she is a lucky grill

I would, but I can't write music
or lyrics
or japanese

I would like to see someone do something like this though, it has been an idea that I've had for a while, but never acted on.

310

(20 replies, posted in Bugs and Requests)

katsumbhong wrote:
Alpine wrote:

I never said it was man, I'm just saying that there's a possibility that in a thread where a bunch of people are like "4/5 star product, really good" then someone comes along and goes "1/5, it was jank, don't buy" there could end up being a bit of a kerfuffle about who's review should be trusted or whatever.

I do think a review section was be a good idea, I'd certainly contribute.

What's the problem with two people having differing views on one product?

nothing, just people like to complain, and call other people wrong for having different opinions and shizz

311

(70 replies, posted in General Discussion)

aanaaanaaanaaana wrote:

Greetings, prospective suitors...
no need to worry about formal dates with us. The aana love blossoms when we're back-to-back, each concentrating on different works of art - not silence but the thoughtful noise of concentration, with all the small sighs and cleared throats that entails, the sound of contentment and peace, with which comes love, rather than violent infatuation. A held hand is a restricted hand; a kissed mouth cannot orate or sing. Join us and help our platonic reservoir lap at ever wider shores. smile

Shakespeare returns

312

(20 replies, posted in Bugs and Requests)

katsumbhong wrote:
Alpine wrote:

Threads for each specific items would be useful, although there could be arguments about how X is better than Y. Then again, that happens anyway.

It's not for argument over what's better than what.

It's a product review "thread" and not a comparative thread. If the user that reviews an item wants to compare it to another item in their review, they are free to do that. This is not a flame war, it's a review.

It's the personal experience a user had with item A or item B. It is opinion based. Some people have bad experiences with item A and some people have good experiences with item A.

I never said it was man, I'm just saying that there's a possibility that in a thread where a bunch of people are like "4/5 star product, really good" then someone comes along and goes "1/5, it was jank, don't buy" there could end up being a bit of a kerfuffle about who's review should be trusted or whatever.

I do think a review section was be a good idea, I'd certainly contribute.

I like the white ones, only reason I used buyee (it's shit) was to get a bundle of 12 games, one of which was a white tama cart. I was the only bidder, paid 1 yen plus 550 yen shipping. Then buyee put a massive amount of extra charges and junk on, making it a couple of thousand yen.

What I'm trying to say is that if you've got a guy on the inside, this could work well for you.

314

(20 replies, posted in Bugs and Requests)

Threads for each specific items would be useful, although there could be arguments about how X is better than Y. Then again, that happens anyway.

315

(70 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Jredd wrote:

I have a sneaking suspicion that because the male to female ratio of chip musicians is so low that females probably feel that if they put themselves out there they'd get like tons of PM's from hormonal teenage boys that bought a gameboy, got into LSDJ, and want girls to send nude pics via game boy camera tongue.

I would be offended, but you're completely right

316

(70 replies, posted in General Discussion)

there's things that ya think, but don't say

then there's calmdownkidder

317

(70 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Chiptune dating could work, it'd be cool if I found a boyfriend or girlfriend who was into chip, but I wouldn't go out with them just because of that, or use that as the main thing to look for in someone.

As for circumcision, bar one person who had to have it because of a medical problem (god bless his pecker) I've never knowingly met someone who was circumcised. I also wouldn't get my (theoretical) boy circumcised, because it's his body. By the same token, I'm bothered by babies and young children with piercings, as I don't think they had a choice in the matter.


kinda related, I used to have that red tamagochi looking thing, although mine said "Dinky Dino" at the top.

Piggy crashes on me as well, but this is why I save often.

Thinking of writing a classical-ish sounding track because ceebs to try and get drums out of that.

post-translucent salmon core

Pisstaking aside, I can listen to most things bar country and western and anything horribly indie/experimental