S q u e e z y t u n e s

Flight of the Bumblebee

Flight of the Bumblebee has become one of those party pieces beloved of show-offs virtuosi the world over. This piano duet version is quite good though.

New Practice Pianos

I've featured silent, practice piano keyboards a few times on Squeezytunes. And these have usually generated a fair amount of interest. I didn't know of any current maker of these dummy instruments until Sue left a comment on an old thread here.

There's a piano maker in Cornwall, England called Pinkham Pianos that will make you a five octave dummy keyboard. No prices are given, but their uprights and grand pianos look competitive.

Link: Pinkham Pianos Dummy Practice Keyboard
Thanks: to Sue

Tricycle Piano

It's been a while since I last posted, sorry but I had an unexpected adventure in the Philippines. Anyway, on with the show.

This continues my short series of transport related instruments - a tricycle piano which I filmed myself at Disneyland in Hong Kong.

Gibson G101 and Rhodes Piano Bass

Here is another entry for the best sounding combo organ - a Gibson G101 as used by The Doors. Also featured is the rather unusual Rhodes Piano Bass.

Five Hot New Toys

Here's a round-up of five new products that you might be interested in.

1. Rhodes Mark 7 Electric Piano

These are not sampled pianos, but the real thing - real electromechanical tines. The Rhodes website has full details including audio and video demos.

Link: Rhodes Homepage 

2. Virtual String Machine

Next we have a virtual instrument from GMedia which emulates string synths. This should be perfect for all your Pink Floyd, Ultravox and Jean Michel Jarre recreations.
It emulates 17 different string synths, the full list being:

• ARP Omni
• ARP Quartet
• Crumar Multiman
• Elka Rhapsody
• Eminent  310
• Freeman String Symphonizer
• Junost 21
• Korg PE-2000
• Logan String Melody
• Oberheim OB-8
• Oberheim Xpander
• Moog Opus 3
• Polymoog
• Roland RS202
• Solina
• Yamaha SK-15
• Yamaha SS-30

See the link for audio demos and more info.

Link: Virtual String Machine

3. Nord C1 Combo Organ

 Nord's Hammond organ simulation was great in their Electro keyboards, but now they've improved it, added an extra manual and also simulations of a Farfisa Compact Deluxe and a Vox Continental. Full details including audio samples are on the Clavia site.

Link: Clavia 

4. Waldorf Zarenbourg

If the Rhodes electric piano isn't flexible enough for you then maybe you'd be interested in the forthcoming Waldorf Zarenbourg which emulates 5 electric pianos, although the website doesn't say exactly which ones.

Here's a video to demonstrate.

Link: Waldorf Zarenbourg product page

5. SampleTron

Finally we have another virtual instrument, only this one is dedicated to 'tron instruments. It contains samples of 18 'tron keyboards. The full list is:

• Mellotron M400
• Mellotron MK5
• Mellotron MKII
• Mellotron Powerhouse
• Novatron
• Vako Orchestron
• Optigan
• Talentmaker
• Chamberlin Music Master 600
• Chamberlin Music Master 400
• Chamberlin Model 200
• Chamberlin M1
• Chamberlin M4
• Chamberlin Rhythmate
• 360 Systems "Digital Tron"
• Roland VP330 (Choir)
• Stylophone
• Birotron