[net.music.synth] Pratt, Read, & co. Keyboards

kevin@cornell.UUCP (Kevin Karplus) (03/07/85)

A couple of years ago, I managed to buy two Pratt, Read keyboards
directly from the manufacturer.  They do not like dealing with single
unit orders, and have some of the worst staff I've ever had to do
business with.  I did manage to get 2 61-note membrane keyboards (no
velocity sensing, but a reasonable "organ" feel).

They tried to sell me a more conventional J-switch keyboard at twice
the price, but I convinced them to let me have the cheaper membrane
keyboard.  There was no documentation with the keyboard, but the matrix
encoding was easy to figure out.  You have to build all the electronics
(including matrix diodes) yourself.  

I don't know their current prices, nor whether they will deal with
individuals.  It might help if you tell them you are developing a new
product, and need to prototype it.

Write to:
	Pratt, Read, & Co.
	Ivoryton, Connecticut 06442

Some old phone numbers (maybe still useful)
	(203)767-8282	Ivoryton, Conn.
	(803)639-2461	South Carolina

At the Souh Carolina number, I managed to talk to some people who knew
what the keyboard was, how it was wired, etc.  I talked with no one who
knew anything at the Ivoryton number, but I had to place the order
through them (after finding out the part numbers from the South
Carolina people).

If anyone knows of keyboard manufacturers besides Pratt & Read who'll
sell in single units, I'd be interested in hearing how to get info
about their products.

----------

On another topic entirely, the Digitar algorithms developed by Alex
Strong and myself are going to be used in a commercial instrument
costing less than $250.  I can't say when, or who, or what, but the
license agreements have been signed, and royalties paid.  Given usual
product development cycles, I don't expect anything on the market for
at least another year.

Meanwhile, the algorithms are simple enough to implement on a
Macintosh.  Some preliminary studies (not resulting in any working
code, but doing some cycle counting) indicate that the Mac is capable
of 2 or 3 good string sounds with separate pitch and decay rate for
each string.  This uses an improved version of the Digitar algorithm
that has not been published.  I've been planning to write the code, but
never seem to have the time.  If someone out there who has done some
significant Mac hacking (preferably using sumacc) wants to collaborate
on developing the guitar sounds for the Mac, let me know.  [Note: if
this will be a commercial development, a license would have to be
negotiated with Stanford.  We can do the research for free, but we
can't sell anything.]

Kevin Karplus