Casio CT-S300: Old sounds, new features, fresh beats Gearfacts 2024-10-18 | I would say this is the highest-capability keyboard that still uses Casio's "old" sounds. The pianos are kind of weak, the strings are shrill and the synths are stinky-cheesy, but it all gets delivered with some great effects, enjoyable sequencing and very decent playability. Definitely a fun keyboard for the non-audiophile.
Casio Keyboard repair: CTK-800. Worth fixing! Gearfacts 2024-10-11 | I despise unnecessary landfill! Keyboards are great to fix because they tend to have problems that aren't too difficult for untrained tech wannabees like me!
Inside the M-VAVE Black Box (minor repair) Gearfacts 2024-10-11 | The control panel on this guitar multi effect unit was sitting at a weirdly uneven angle, so I go in and discover that it’s remarkably easy to service this machine. 
Yamaha Tenori-on grid sequencer synth revisited Gearfacts 2024-10-11 | Hi Gearfacts friends, this video won't amaze you but it gives you some good detail about the mysterious Tenori-on from Yamaha. I've enhanced the sound as much as possible from the original video, and also added some new soundbites. Enjoy :)
Roland EP-760. Semi-weighted but fully enjoyable! Gearfacts 2024-10-04 | I expected nothing from this piano. But after cleaning it up and resurrecting a couple of keys I was surprised not only by the quality of the voices, but more by the gleeful semi-weighted playing action. It's an ugly old masterpiece!
Casio PX-110 digital piano review and demo Gearfacts 2024-10-04 | I enjoyed my few days with the Casio PX110. The speaker system surprised me and the sounds are perfectly acceptable.Down sides are the dowdy wood-grain/gray appearance with speaker cloth that stains easily, and the doubtful feeling of the pedals.
50 music gear demos in 5 minutes Gearfacts 2024-10-01 | Welcome!This is Gearfacts - the channel with minimum talk, maximum sound, and nearly 2000 music gear reviews to watch.All gear reviewed is eventually made globally available on the Gearfacts Facebook page, so join up! www.facebook.com/groups/1562639137169933
I wanna be a big synth! The Lowrey LS-30 mini keyboard Gearfacts 2024-09-27 | Can anyone name the Kawai version of this keyboard (by model number)?This is such a curious little instrument. It looks like it's made for kids but it has some features that could be put to serious use but musicians who have genuine aspirations. It also has it share or garbage. What's going on here???
Charity Auction: Home-made Synth / Korg/Behringer TD-1/Retrokits/other junk hybrid Gearfacts 2024-09-19 | This synth is being sold on Ebay as a charity auction:Hi Friends, I procrastinated over the project for a long time. I just didn't want to gather up all my half-alive bits and combine them into a mess of damaged goods, wooden boards and overly complicated wires. But it ended up extremely rewarding! This frankensynth consists of:Sound generator: Korg Kaossilator Pro with no touch screenController: Behringer TD-1 analog synth which I thought would be able to mix its sound with the Kaossilator, but then didn't make any sound at all when I tested it. Midi out still ok, thankfully.Connections: Retrokits KK-002 programmable cable (I said DK-002 in the video, that was a mistake), and a couple of RCA cables for audio connections.Speakers: Generic 90's computer 'wedge' speakers that come in lots of different brand names but are all the same and all sound surprisingly good.Chassis: Two old planks from my shed. And spray-paint, also from shed :)
Yamaha PSR-E423: Default piano warped into synth in 60sec Gearfacts 2024-09-14 | This is all done by leaving the PSR-E423 on the default piano voice (001) and adjusting other settings: Attack/Decay, Chorus/Reverb, DSP effect, Arpeggiator, and Cutoff/Resonance. This is one versatile keyboard!
Digitech RP-20 Valve Multi-effects: Can the vintage giant still play? Gearfacts 2024-09-06 | The answer is yes and no. Some sounds really shine and some seem weak by today's standards. The vacuum tube helps a bit, but the digital processing in much smaller, simpler units these days is arguably delivers equal or better tone.The vintage ethos, though ...I mean come on! It's like watching Star Wars for the first time!
Yamaha P35 digital piano: Quick sound check review Gearfacts 2024-09-06 | If you're looking for a super-simple electronic piano, the P35 is Yamaha's entry level model.Its default piano sound is well above average quality, and the Rhodes EP and Vibraphone are also highlights. It also has a metronome but no actual drum beats. Midi connectivity opens up a world of sound via connection to other electronic instruments, though.So it's super-basic, pleasant to play and should take the average user quite far into their playing days :) Gearfacts
The Roland XP-80 in 2024 - Can the 1994 champion dance with new gear? Gearfacts 2024-08-30 | In this video I transmit some testing midi signals into this classic Roland XP50, and also physically connect some newer modules to see how it interprets their data. Can it keep up and understand the modern requirements of midi?The outcome is that it can't really keep up, no. But in doing its best, it can accidentally re-write modern files on the fly, giving you weird little tunes and glitches that are really fun to discover!
Roland E-X50 synth keyboard: Slick, beautiful, and kind of annoying Gearfacts 2024-08-23 | It looks like a beautiful cousin to some of Roland's coolest synths, and there are indeed a few highlights... It makes an impressive entrance, but ends up being luke-warm company when compared to its competitors.
Forgotten synth tech: The excellent VECTOR X/Y stick. Yamaha PSS-51 Part #2 Gearfacts 2024-08-18 | There are only a few synths that have the vector control joystick but it's an ingenious idea that should have had more lifespan. There is something about the oscillating motion of the sound. It's different to the average unthinking LFO.This video also covers midi input to the Yamaha PSS-51, high pitched tones, and a few other ideas about getting the most out of this quirky old board.
Faulty vintage organ makes freaked-out sounds Gearfacts 2024-08-18 | Just a quick video for this Sunday afternoon my good friends – an Audiosonic organ which I have a feeling is “faux“ vintage… that sounds intriguingly fun despite the obvious fault of the C key being constantly active (among other things). 
Kawai FS800 vintage synthesizer workstation Gearfacts 2024-08-16 | Ideal for:- Making un-musical bleeps and squeezes- Playing Miami Vice tunes- Hosting a 1980's educational gameshow for teens- Having a really fun retro afternoon like I did on the FS800 :)
BKE Beat Thang [revisited] ...by a robot... Gearfacts 2024-08-09 | Hi everyone, I didn't feel like appearing on camera this week, so I sent a bot in to do give his opinion :)
Erica the robot rocks the Yamaha PSR-E463 ;) Gearfacts 2024-08-09 | Didn't feel like setting up the camera again this week, friends, so say hi to Erica the robot :)
Yamaha PSS-51 Vector joystick synth. Stick it to the man! Gearfacts 2024-08-02 | I didn't say this in the video, but the sound of the vector-stick tool on this old keyboard is very dark and scary. You'll infer that yourself when you have a listen!It was intended to be little more than a kids' synth by Yamaha but like several others I could name, the PSS-51 has some enduring features that a perfectly usable today.
Black Box sampler/arranger workstation by 1010 Music Gearfacts 2024-07-26 | Once this thing gets going it's virtually impossible to mess up the groove. The whole system is designed to keep everything flowing and coherent. It's not perfect, but for the butter-fingered music maker it's a dream come true
DARIA end credits pictures - Awesome 90s Gearfacts 2024-07-22 | DARIA is one of my all-time favorite shows. I'm not saying it was technically amazing or that every little narrative was perfect. For me it was the characters. They each represented some part of life that was/is real in all our lives. Ultimately it was about individuality and the brutal fatigue of just wanting to be listened to. With a lot of laughs to keep it cool :)
ORLA KX-900 drawbar synth organ with beats and GM sounds Gearfacts 2024-07-19 | One for the organ lovers! I can really see this gutsy drawbar organ keyboard getting a lot of love in a vintage rock/blues/stoner band. Covers all the general needs of a mid-based project too.
Roland E-15 Intelligent Synthesizer keyboard: Holds up really well after 30 years Gearfacts 2024-07-12 | This particular E15 had a bit of a noise issue - to the detriment of this video I'm sorry to say - but it's clear that it has all the basic sounds a keyboardist needs today, as well as some respectable synth tones and pads. A really tastefully designed keyboard, relatively future-proof.Extra note: These were among the first devices released with Roland's GS system which expanded on the generic GM system that spanned all brands.
Super-fun GAKKEN SX150 analog circuit synth revisited Gearfacts 2024-07-09 | The best fun to price ratio ever? Quite possibly. These things are cheap and versatile. They can't create a hit on their own, but as a sound generator they make an excellent starting point.
MWave BlackBox mini-multi effects pedal. Excellent and terrible at the same time. Gearfacts 2024-07-05 | Hopes were high, High, HIGH with this one - I love the size and it also sounds very clear and professional, buuuuut:- It doesn't model distortion pedals, only amps. No fuzz, for example :(- In fact the overall range of effects is minimal by today's standards- Parts are solid but assembly is not great- Operating system is clunky- Screen is for people with absolute 20/20 vision only
Goodies Junction Opening day 2024: Cheap music gear and other stuff :) Gearfacts 2024-06-30 | The closing of The Green Shed was the end of an era in Australia’s capital, a much loved business that was fun, affordable and charitable. The new tenant is called Goodies Junction and they have a whole new approach to the business – is it better or worse? 
Yamaha DJX inside the Yamaha PSR-E463: Classic beats, contemporary sounds Gearfacts 2024-06-28 | In this wonderful experiment, I've overcome the basic problems of making a 30-year-old midi keyboard talk to a modern USB keyboard, and managed to get a good communication flow from the Yamaha DJX into the PSR-E463.Everything you hear in this video (apart from my voice) is generated by the PSR-E463, which is just following the musical instructions of the DJX and adding some beats of its own.
COOLEST SYNTH manufacturer survey FINALISTS Gearfacts 2024-06-21 | Hi everyone, today it's the FINAL. Who is the coolest synth manufacturer? Remember, 'coolness' is not necessarily technical greatness. It's just plain cool.Vote now in the survey (published at the same time as this video) or have your say in the comments below!The original open-survey is in the group called "SYNTHESIZERS" on Facebook. You’ll have to join this excellent group to see the full list :/
Komplete Kontrol S88 piano controller (GEN 1) by Native Instruments Gearfacts 2024-06-14 | Put simply, here's what I liked:- It sounds great- It looks amazingAnd my concerns:- Takes a long time to set up- Feel very 'wedded' to Native instruments- Doesn't carry that much functionality into MIDI connections- Lots of alternative standalone gear also sounds this good, so......
Illustrating The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide Gearfacts 2024-06-13 | Here's the link to more information about the book :)google.com/search?q=the+awesome+autistic+go+to+guide&sca_esv=448308b61c161dc7&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWILD-CA9VuIsQbfkNCnusbx9_wyIIA%3A1718451592984&ei=iH1tZtPfO5Pg2roP7KKCqAY&gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TCssNE2xyC4zYPRSKMlIVUgsTy3OzwXSpSWZxSWZyQrp-Qol-QrppZkpqQCQgxDT&oq=the+awe&gs_lp=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_iTAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
Ringway RD90 II electronic drum kit (brain only) styles. Gearfacts 2024-06-07 | A cheap electronic drumkit available more from department stores rather than official music equipment stores. A reasonable first kit for home practice, and not too expensive if the student loses interest!
Korg PA50SD Demo tunes. No talk, just tunes. Gearfacts 2024-06-07 | Little has been publicized about the Korg PA50SD, really. Here are the demo tunes, in my opinion they show about 70% of its potential.
Festival of Speed 2024 Gearfacts 2024-06-03 | Ok Canberra isn't one of the world's larger cities, but this is our festival of speed for 2024. I'm not that much of a car guy but it was a good day out and I was really hoping to see that Lamborghini Countach on the strip...
Korg Volca NuBass: Glitchy start, factory reset, SUCCESS! Gearfacts 2024-05-31 | If you want to hear the NuBass at its slippery best, go straight to the 5 minute mark. But I have to admit I did have a whole lot of fun fixing the weird-sounding glitch that came with it out of the box!
Roland JD-08 mini synth: Wall of sound from a doormat Gearfacts 2024-05-24 | Yep it's the size of a small doormat but it gives you a wall of sound. It won't be to everyone's taste but I think everyone will be impressed at some level. Small, solid, and somewhat spectacular.Sorry about the low-res sections of this video, I'm not sure what the technical problem was!
Yamaha PSR-530 retrospective: Still showing power and potential! Gearfacts 2024-05-17 | The PSR-530 is an XG feast (XG being Yamaha's standard sound map originating from the mid 90's, for those too young to remember!)This particular PSR-530 has a wrecked screen but it's still possible to go through plenty of the XG sounds and discover some really sweet layers and other great results with only minor editing.Then It's over to 25-years-newer PSR-E463 to cram some complex midi data and filtering into the old 530. Can it cope?
Yamaha SEQTRAK sequencer demo and review: A true all-rounder! Gearfacts 2024-05-10 | Well if you ever wanted to see a true all-rounder, the Seqtrak from Yamaha ticks every box: Sequencing, Sampling, FM and PCM synthesis, effects, dynamic control - and it can do it all independently of a computer.The role of the computer is basically organisational. There are a few bonus effects and features, but really the Seqtrak carries all the goods anywhere you want to go.
80s BOOMBOX collection. I love retro audio ;) Gearfacts 2024-05-03 | Yes I'm a child of the 80's. Decent technology was just starting to make its way into the home, and the boombox - to me at least - is an icon of the time!
Yamaha PSR-E383 15 minutes of some new styles Gearfacts 2024-05-02 | Yamaha have really re-worked the style content for this new generation. The old ones were getting a bit too familiar but suddenly they've almost vanished, giving the PSR-E383 a really fresh feel for 2024 :)
Yamaha PSR-E383 keyboard tutorial Gearfacts 2024-04-30 | This tutorial isn't a substitute for the manual, but it sure is nice to get the basics from a person rather than a book.If you have any other helpful suggestions, add them to the comments :)
YAMAHA PSR-E383 keyboard: New for 2024 Gearfacts 2024-04-24 | Yamaha continues its reputation for improving on every model in its respective series. Building further on the impressive PSR-E373, Yamaha brings additional sounds and beats, a more efficient control panel workflow and plenty more subtle improvements to the PSR-E383.Really proud to bring you the first review of this one!
Yamaha DD-50 Drum Set: Let it annoy you :) Gearfacts 2024-04-19 | You have to love these things if you're going to spend quality time with them :/
Roland J6 Chord Synthesizer: On its own, and with MIDI Gearfacts 2024-04-19 | This little tool from Roland is a real song-builder. Its ability to set up chord progressions is an excellent speaker for composers who want to reach our for something new. In this video, though, I focus a bit closer on its more spontaneous application as a synth module.
