My new keytar - need a little help! (amp, effects)

Mr.Bricks · 10-03-2008, 08:26 AM

Hey! First of all I have to admit that although I´ve been involved with music for years I´m a noob when it comes to the technical stuff.

Bought a casio az-1. I know I have to plug it into a sound module of some sort and from the sound module I can plug it into an amp. I happen to have a Marshall jfx-1 so I tried getting the keytar to work with it but didn´t get it to work properly. Is the jfx suitable for this? What did I do wrong?

If I need to get myself better/different equipment could you guys recommend anything?

Help much appreciated!

Thanks

mr dave · 10-03-2008, 09:27 AM

from what i'm gathering online the casio az-1 is basically a giant MIDI controller. so it's a little more complicated than just line in / line out action. you're right that you need a MIDI compatible synth module of sorts to get some sound going. configuring the MIDI channels can be a pain though. a friend of mine had more than a few headaches getting all his devices to cooperate.

you also need special cables to carry the MIDI signal between the keytar and the synth. a regular 1/4 inch patch cable would be fine to go from the synth to the amp.

one other thing to mention though, keyboards generate a large range of frequencies that some amps/speaker cabinets just aren't made to handle. if your particular marshall is normally made for guitars you might want to look into trading it for a proper keyboard amp or just be careful when you're hitting the really low notes.

Mr.Bricks · 10-03-2008, 01:16 PM

I plugged the keytar into the jfx-1 with a MIDI cable. Then I connected the jfx-1 to a normal guitar amp. Will this work? I mean should I get another synth module, or is the Marshall jfx-1 (which is a digital effects unit) fit for the job? Do you know any good sound modules?

sry for all these questions but it would be cool to get it to work

mr dave · 10-03-2008, 10:52 PM

from what i gathered from the manual for the jfx-1 i don't think it's going to work. a digital effect unit is not the same as a synth module. you need something that generates a sound wave all you unit seems capable of doing is adding an effect to an existing wave. the MIDI support shown in the manual is just for simple triggers to switch between presets.

a synthesizer or module will allow to create a customized sound wave where your controller will determine the pitch of the wave. my friend who played synths in our 'band' used one of these (ms2000r)

Vintage Synth Explorer - Korg MS2000

he had the smaller rack mount version. he would use it to create a sound then push it through to a full sized keyboard via MIDI. unfortunately i don't remember the specifics of how things got hooked up. i do remember that there was an issue with assigning 'channels' so that everything was on the same one.

Mr.Bricks · 10-04-2008, 05:20 AM

Thanks a lot.

mr dave · 10-04-2008, 09:34 AM

no worries. sorry i didn't have an easy fix. wouldn't hurt to check your local music shop, they might have a quick and easy workaround for your situation.

Mr.Bricks · 10-05-2008, 08:32 AM

No problem at all. Thanks for your help.

Anyone else have any sound mdoules to recommend?

guitarshrink · 11-25-2008, 01:15 PM

Hey Mr.Bricks,
I don't know a lot about keytars, but I have two Casio AZ-1s (one in need of a part) and have the owner's manual for it too. If that would be of any help to you, please let me know <logang@ewashtenaw.org>. Also (Heaven forbid) if your instrument is not working & not fixable, let me know and maybe I could get the part I need from it for a fair price.

dragnrider9 · 11-30-2008, 02:33 PM

hey is it possible to hook your keytar into a multi effects unit then to your amp try that like a little guitar multi effects pedal or something

10-03-2008, 08:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mr.Bricks Groupie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4	My new keytar - need a little help! Hey! First of all I have to admit that although I´ve been involved with music for years I´m a noob when it comes to the technical stuff. Bought a casio az-1. I know I have to plug it into a sound module of some sort and from the sound module I can plug it into an amp. I happen to have a Marshall jfx-1 so I tried getting the keytar to work with it but didn´t get it to work properly. Is the jfx suitable for this? What did I do wrong? If I need to get myself better/different equipment could you guys recommend anything? Help much appreciated! Thanks

10-03-2008, 01:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr.Bricks Groupie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4	I plugged the keytar into the jfx-1 with a MIDI cable. Then I connected the jfx-1 to a normal guitar amp. Will this work? I mean should I get another synth module, or is the Marshall jfx-1 (which is a digital effects unit) fit for the job? Do you know any good sound modules? sry for all these questions but it would be cool to get it to work Last edited by Mr.Bricks; 10-03-2008 at 05:40 PM.

11-30-2008, 02:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
dragnrider9 Groupie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1	multi effects hey is it possible to hook your keytar into a multi effects unit then to your amp try that like a little guitar multi effects pedal or something

10-04-2008, 05:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mr.Bricks Groupie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4	Thanks a lot.

10-05-2008, 08:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mr.Bricks Groupie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4	No problem at all. Thanks for your help. Anyone else have any sound mdoules to recommend?

11-25-2008, 01:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
guitarshrink Groupie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1	Hey Mr.Bricks, I don't know a lot about keytars, but I have two Casio AZ-1s (one in need of a part) and have the owner's manual for it too. If that would be of any help to you, please let me know <logang@ewashtenaw.org>. Also (Heaven forbid) if your instrument is not working & not fixable, let me know and maybe I could get the part I need from it for a fair price.