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ChromaTalk Archives: April 2009

chroma discography addition

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

Hi Chris and the rest!

I just bought a full length album by English Evenings on Ebay UK and, like on all good 80's records, the instruments used are listed on the sleeve. Like on the 7" once mentioned by me, Graham Lee plays the Chroma.

  • Artist: English Evenings
  • Title: After Dark
  • Format: vinyl album
  • Cat No: 240 615-1
  • Label: Wea Musik Gmbh, Germany

All guest musicians are credited with instruments on individual tracks but Lee appears on all tracks and is credited with Chroma, bass, piano, Simmons drums, drumulator programming and vocals so I think we can guess the Chroma is involved quite a lot. I hear bells and pads all over it that screams chroma to me. :)

Everything is produced by Phil Harding BTW, for those interested. I will add this to discogs one day, but it's not there yet so don't rush over to check. I already have.

Herbie Hancock Youtube video - Chroma sound

Rob Belcher [16330123]

Hey Guys,

I was wondering.. that awesome analog "clavi" type sound that herbie is playing on the Chroma, is it a preset? Or perhaps on one of the banks available for download on the site?

Youtube video is here:

The Chroma sound im talking about kicks in around 2:43..

Awesome sound! Even better playing chops :)) Id love to play with that sound on my Chroma, its very expressive!

Anyone know?

Jeff Bova [21030407++]

That patch was Herbie's. To have 8 voices he had each of the two layers of the sound in the chroma and expander. Live I play the part when herbie is soloing but played as a layer on my single chroma. Here is a you tube video I have been meaning to share, It's us playing live in tokyo at Parco Theatre Shibuya. You get to see more use of the Chromas than in other videos I have seen on line. All the sounds we are playing with the remote keyboards are Chroma patches, the sounds the other guys are triggering with dx7's are the fairlights.

Here is the opening piece of the same concert-Earth Beat

Note the polaris in the bassists(Wayne Braithewaite) rig as well Please pardon the blue 80's jumpsuit.

Here is Sound system:

The opening patch and the harp like sounds where herbie is padding on the fairlight were Chroma

Enjoy!

Michael Zacherl [21030253]

wow - a time travel! Thanks for sharing! How was touring all that mostly sensitive gear, esp. the Chromas?

Peter Forrest [21010096]

What a great thing to have a super site about an excellent instrument and have excellent players participate in it!

Chroma on eBay

Chris Ryan [21030691]

Item #250399348969. One bid so far for US$1555.00, ends April 7. This is Chroma 21030257. From the description: "I've owned it for the last 12 years, 10 of which has sat in its Anvil flight case. In its current state it is not producing sounds. When turned on you hear the thumper stay on for about a minute, then the light panel changes patterns. Your guess is as good as mine. I really don't know much about its history other than it was purchased originally at Steve's Quality Instruments in Danvers MA. As with anyone who know's this design, the power supply is original and most likely part of the problem. ... A major disappointment was the flight case foam chemically reacted with the wood finish, the results are in the pictures. With that said, the foam in the case needs replacement. The action is smooth and overall the synth is clean, with minor scratches. It has been in a home studio environment since I've had the pleasure of owning it. This auction includes: Anvil flight case and both user's and service manual. This Chroma is sold as is. ... $175 for Shipping 48 US, Local pickup is also available."

Chris Ryan [21030691]

Sold for US$1,555.

Interface Manual (1986)

Chris Ryan [21030691]

I've updated the Interface Manual from the 1982 to the 1986 edition. This includes numerous changes and additions, particularly with respect to the Polaris (for instance, Polaris Structure and Polaris Objects and Streams). I may also at some point make the earlier edition available again, as it contains some information not in the later one.

Thanks to Dave Blees [21030552] and David Clarke [21030085++] for getting this information to me.

Re: Dual Footswitch on eBay

Go to first message in thread, March 2009

Chris Ryan [21030691]

No takers once again; re-listed as Item #290308323920 with a price of £225.00 (first listing was £150, second £129—maybe the seller thinks a higher price will attract more interest?). No bids yet; ends May 6.

Go to next message in thread, June 2009

chroma on german ebay

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

[Item #290307792093]

current bid, 1260 euros, incl. Wieschiolek [EES] midi

Chris Ryan [21030691]

Could someone who speaks the language ask for the serial number?

It looks from the picture as though the unit comes with a German programming manual; years ago someone mentioned its existence to me. (If anyone has a copy and is ambitious enough to transcribe or ocr the text, I'll provide a language switch for the Programming Manual pages.) It appears that the other unfamiliar manual in the picture is the EES (Wieschiolek) guide. It would be nice to be able to have a look at this and see if it differs from the instructions.

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

Could someone who speaks the language ask for the serial number?

Unless I'll find an answer here I'll ask.

It looks from the picture as though the unit comes with a German programming manual; years ago someone mentioned its existence to me. (If anyone has a copy and is ambitious enough to transcribe or ocr the text, I'll provide a language switch for the Programming Manual pages.)

I have the german programming manual. I think it was there you heard it. It's too thick too transcribe with my amount of spare time though.

It appears that the other unfamiliar manual in the picture is the EES (Wieschiolek) guide. It would be nice to be able to have a look at this and see if it differs from the instructions on the site.

Oh yes! :D

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

the german Chroma hausse!

[Item #290307792093, sold for €3.727,00]

That's four times what I payed for an identical machine just a few years ago. :-o

And yes, I've mailed the seller regarding the serial. Will let you know if I hear from him/her.

David Gowin [21030611]

Re: the german Chroma hausse!

Yikes! That's just over $6,000.00 Cdn (almost 5,000 US)! I paid 1100 US for mine!

Chris Ryan [21030691]

Re: the german Chroma hausse!

That's actually more than I paid for mine, brand new, in 1983. This is a record, since I've been paying attention. From about the late 1980s until the mid 1990s, you could hardly give a Chroma away. We saw one sell on eBay in October 2005 for US$3450 (see Really big Chroma Inflation) and another in July of last year for US$3799 (see Chroma For Sale on eBay). At this rate, we'll all be able to retire in a few years!

Tom Hughes [21030251+]

Re: the german Chroma hausse!

But then there's that one that ended a few days ago for $1555 - [Item #250399348969; see Chroma on eBay].

Arun Majumdar [21030348+]

Re: the german Chroma hausse!

Hi,

... but that was for a *broken* Chroma!

You will see these go up in price in the next couple of years. It happens like a "spike" - I have a CS80 and they started to spike a couple of years ago and, now, you can't get one for under 10K anymore - very tough. The Chroma, if it is exposed on YouTube, will appreciate in value - folks pay attention to good demos! I'm on a horrendous work project but as soon as that's done, I will be spending some good and personal time with my Chromas (two of them - I go to pick up another one I bought next week).

Cheers!

Chris Smalt [21010280+]

Re: the german Chroma hausse!

At this rate, we'll all be able to retire in a few years!

Crisis? What crisis?

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

Re: the german Chroma hausse!

That's actually more than I paid for mine, brand new, in 1983. This is a record, since I've been paying attention. From about the late 1980s until the mid 1990s, you could hardly give a Chroma away. We saw one sell on eBay in October 2005 for US$3450 (see Really big Chroma Inflation) and another in July of last year for US$3799 (see Chroma For Sale on eBay). At this rate, we'll all be able to retire in a few years!

I bet you keep track! :)

With the euro being expensive to most of us europeans not using the euro (we're still around) it's even more inflated. A few years ago the euro cost 9 swedish kronors. Now it has passed 11. Scary price but a sign that people are starting to appreciate the Chroma. I bet you and the list + the splendid updates to the software and hardware that are now available has contributed a lot.

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

Re: the german Chroma hausse!

But then there's that one that ended a few days ago for $1555

But that one is dead on the other hand... Fixable probably, but still dead and hence uninteresting to 75% of the bargain seekers out there.

Rhodes Chroma video on YouTube

Tom Hughes [21030251+]

Greetings Chromaphiles,

I just rejoined the mailing list after a couple of year's hiatus. I had been overwhelmed by the sad state of my Chroma and the Chroma Talk updates served only as an agonizing reminder of that project I could never seem to get back to. Long story short, not only did I get the Chroma working again, I just posted what I believe is the first live demo of the Rhodes Chroma in action. More details can be found in the "more info" link on the demo page. Here's the link.

Lars Johansson [21030632]

And a good demo it is !!!

Tom Hughes [21030251+]

Oops, I meant the first live demo on YouTube...

Randel Osborne [21030467]

Tom-

I sent you a PM - I'm in Essex, and have done a bit of work on my instrument - I'm happy to help.

On the Bench: Rhodes Chroma

Tom Hughes [21030251+]

I uploaded Part 2 last night. Both clips are getting a lot of hits, due in part I think to the MatrixSynth blog post (thanks!). A lot of nice feedback too. There'll be more, I just have to weed through and edit the footage.

Chris Ryan [21030691]

I noticed Part 3 is now available.

Tom Hughes [21030251+]

Yes, it is! I'm pretty sure we'll have a Part 4 as well, it just takes a little time to sort through and edit...

Ongoing R&D on Pressure Sensor

See prior thread New Owner for #21030348, March 2009.

Arun Majumdar [21030348+]

Hi Folks,

One other option is sensing-fabrics --- these seem to be cheaper and I am talking with the folks making sensors: Textile Pressure Sensor for Keyboards: Technical Description [PDF since removed from Elcard Wireless Systems site].

I am awaiting their reply.

Ideally, I would like the "kit" to cost little more than a couple of hundred dollars but so far, my efforts to find cost-effective solutions under that price range are disappointing. However, I am npt giving up and will put something together, at least for my own keyboards and will share the results. Currently, my costs are looking like around $500-600 to do this properly (using single Force Sensitive Resistors with a circuit). Still quite expensive.

On the bright side I am awaiting my power supply kit and my cpu kit which I hope to receive soon (I know that they are all in process) for my *second* Chroma, serial #21030112.

Thanks!

Tom Hughes [21030251+]

I would think anyone who's gone to the trouble and expense of replacing their power supply and getting the CC+ would definitely want the pressure sensor. I know I do!

Thilo Rex contact (Chroma 21010197)

Luca Sasdelli [21010226]

Hello all,

towards end of 2008, I received a SPSU kit order by Thilo Rex from Berlin, followed by bank payment; I sent the kit to the address he stated within mail contact, but the packet has been rejected due to incomplete address details (well, I feel his address quite common and complete with ZIP code and so on).

Unfortunately his mailbox is full since a few months, so I don't have any way to contact him, neither to re-send the kit or to refund the payment.

Does anyone know him and/or a way to reach Thilo?

Luca Sasdelli [21010226]

Thilo Rex

Hi all,

thanks to a list member that notified me of Thilo's death, I've found this blog: Thilo Rex R.I.P.

I didn't know him, simply we had a couple of emails to define kit purchase; he was very nice and humorous: during Christmas holidays he wrote me his greetings in italian, quite funny. It is really sad for me being involved in such as a interrupted relation; in the next days I'll search as much infos as I'll can about him.

His amount to SPSU kit, if Chris does agree, would be donated to the Chroma website.

Chris Ryan [21030691]

Re: Thilo Rex

Very sad to hear. I only had one brief email from him, back in October after he'd bought 21010195.

Luca, based on one of the comments in the blog post, it sounds like he might have had a family. Would it be possible to get the money back to them?

Peter Forrest [21010096]

Re: Thilo Rex

Good (and typically unselfish) thinking, Chris!

cc+ kit - midi questions

Michael Salmon [21030155]

hi folks

i have the cc+ kit installed for the past year or so, and am having challenges understanding how to change the midi channel and also wondering why the midi "out" led never blinks?

First topic - midi channel

I've done the following both in program, or parameter mode (just to be safe)

  1. press split key (display says SPL) and led blinks on set split buton
  2. press 46

<10 minutes later..>

I'm not sure after having written the above, and re-reading the manual... I think it says that the cc+ simply doesn't support these commands and I have to use sysex? I've never used sysEx unfortunately though and don't know how to send these commands in sysex. If there isn't a way to do it on the chroma directly like with the kenton (split 46) could someone please help me find a program that has been used with the cc+ for midi sysex? The only app that works on Windows on the Editors/librarians page is Cubase which I don't have and the windowsInterface app doesn't even work with midi apparently (all seems to be coded for serial mscomm32 interface).

2nd question - midi out led. i plug midi out from the black box to the midi in on my computer interface. when i press a key on the computer the input led on the computer blinks and the note is received, but the black box does nothing. maybe a setting is wrong?

David Clarke [21030085++]

First topic - midi channel

I've done the following both in program, or parameter mode (just to be safe)

  1. press split key (display says SPL) and led blinks on set split buton
  2. press 46

Michel - if you have the Syntech/KMX MIDI interface, then [SET SPLIT][46] will get you into programming mode.

If you have the CC+ kit, then the key sequence required is [SET SPLIT][36].

The reason the two interfaces use different commands is that the CC+ was designed to be non-conflicting with the Syntech interface.

I'm not sure after having written the above, and re-reading the manual...

The CC+ User's Manual is here.

2nd question - midi out led. i plug midi out from the black box to the midi in on my computer interface. when i press a key on the computer the input led on the computer blinks and the note is received, but the black box does nothing. maybe a setting is wrong?

For the CC+, the MIDI activity LED indication is a 'MIDI IN' indication vs. a 'MIDI OUT' indication - so the behaviour you're seeing is likely correct: see MIDI Activity Indicator.

chroma review on Ebay

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

[Item #230333991082]

This is the International Musician review from January 1983.

Catalogue on Ebay

Jesper Ödemark [21010135]

Since I don't receive any mails from the list due to some server issue I don't know if someone sent this already, but still...

[Item #230339559161]

Nice brochure and one bidder now.

Chroma for sale

John Leimseider [21030434++]

I'm ready to sell Chroma 31020296 21030296. I received it as a carcass from a repair facility in the LA area. I fixed the power supply and replaced the missing voice cards with ones I had as spares. The wood has been refinished, and everything works. It includes the dual sustain and one volume pedal. There is no road case. I'm looking for offers. It is available for pickup here in Calgary or I'll ship it as long as the purchaser understands how heavy it is... It looks beautiful and works great... Anyone interested can Email me at [address removed] or phone me at the number below. If they want to pick it up, they can also visit the Cantos Music Foundation. It's synth-geek heaven... I've been here almost 7 years... Thanks! (BTW, I'm keeping my other Chroma, with pressure, and my Expander...)

Ron Joseph [21030042+]

Just like to point out that despite the dyslexia (21030296?) John does amazing Chroma work. He brought mine back from the dead..... I'd love to see a picture.

John Leimseider [21030434++]

Kind of scary how I wrote the serial number... sorry... I'll take some pictures tomorrow. The finish is more of a walnut color, rather than the more orange cherry wood. The top is a brushed flat black. Jesse, who did Ron's Zebrawood chroma [21030042] did this one for me...

I did mean 31020296.

John Leimseider [21030434++]

I'll try only once more. Of course it's 21030296. This one was previously on the serial number list...

Tom Hughes [21030251+]

Who's Jesse? I love that Zebrawood Chroma! I've been wanting to get my Chroma and Expander [16330108] done similarly with new exotic wood.

Go to next message in thread, May 2009

Safe humidity for Chromas?

Joe Porter [21030058]

Hi,

Does anyone know about humidity? Is there an ideal humidity to keep and run your Chroma in? I have humidity reading on the thermometer.I guess this may apply for any electronic musical equipment, to avoid damage and rusting etc.

Michael Salmon [21030155]

ideal 0%

Go to next message in thread, May 2009