Expansion Modules to replace old FB01s

[FlyBoyGrounded]

Hi, this is my first post so, hello to everyone and please be gentle with me. I'm using some very "old-school" MIDI sequencing gear and would like to know if there are any "tone generators"/"MIDI-Modules" etc currently on the market that don't have a million knobs and dials for trying to create your own sounds?

I'd like to buy a MIDI hardware box with five-pin DINs, full of preset sounds and not too expensive. Anybody got any ideas?

This is for live work. In the studio, I'm using Mac/Logic and some Pianos and synths.

[tacman7]

Search for midi on ebay, tons of them.

They can have knobs all over them, doesn't mean you have to touch them.

You can use software instead, they're some good free ones like proteus on emu.com.

Midi hasn't changed, the old stuff works with the new stuff.

Check out a roland SC sound canvas if you want to play GM files.

Search for

roland xv
triton rack
roland xr

Find and download the manuals for the hardware you find, good way to learn about them.

[FlyBoyGrounded]

Thanks for that. I was hoping that without all the knobs and dials, a preset module might be cheaper. I've found an FB01 on ebay which will do the job. I'd like to have more than one and I want to avoid software as I don't want to take a PC or Mac on stage with me.

[garww]

There is even a T model - can never remember the name - that's not a drum mod. The QY are about the next choice because they are small. The are the older roland, also.

[garageband]

There's a bunch of half-space Yamaha XG-compatible modules that are about a hundred bucks on eBay. The one I have in my live rig is the MU-80 (I think the one I had ages ago was a MU-100), but there are about a half dozen slightly different ones and they all sound really pretty good with just standard MIDI sequence data going in. They can be a little programmable, but they are mostly designed to do what you want.

[tacman7]

I still have an SW1000XG that's has some usable voices.

[garww]

As I understand it the FB is FM ?? So, you are really going back : )

[FlyBoyGrounded]

@garww: Yes, I definitely intend going back.

If I wanted to go forward, I'd probably end up using my MacBook on stage with Logic/Mainstage or, God forbid, Ableton Live ;-)

[FlyBoyGrounded]

Originally Posted by garageband

There's a bunch of half-space Yamaha XG-compatible modules that are about a hundred bucks on eBay. The one I have in my live rig is the MU-80 (I think the one I had ages ago was a MU-100), but there are about a half dozen slightly different ones and they all sound really pretty good with just standard MIDI sequence data going in. They can be a little programmable, but they are mostly designed to do what you want.

I've just been outbid in the last seconds on a Roland SC55 Mk2 on eBay. It went for £76.01 :-(

[garww]

Originally Posted by FlyBoyGrounded

I've just been outbid in the last seconds on a Roland SC55 Mk2 on eBay. It went for £76.01 :-(

Ha !! Isn't the SC sample-based ? You won't get those magnificent FM sounds : ) I've gone through periods of looking for a bargain on eBay for many years, but have yet to acquire a sound module. Good Luck, and I guess I may have another look, myself.