Paul Bertone wrote:

   Hi Brandon,

   Thanks so much for your response; I think I've got a much clearer picture
   of what to look for now. I attached a couple of Synclavier pictures I found
   on the net some time ago. One is a small but detailed picture of the
   velocity/pressure keyboard, and the other is a large photo of a 6400
   system. The latter picture looks just like the one you have on your web
   site, but there are two towers behind the keyboard. Looks pretty formidable!

Thank you for the photos!  They will be posted shortly with a credit to you.
The towers are from left to right:  9600, PostPro
Actually the name is probably the 9600TS for "Tapeless Studio"
Same thing though....

   Also, have you seen the Synclavier at this studio?
   http://www.servtech.com/~racerx/ragnaroc.htm
   The velocity/pressure keyboard that they have is wooden like the Synclavier
   II, not the usual black. Interesting.

There is a white keyboard that Michael Jackson ordered.  It was never sent so it was stripped down to
wood and is at DEMAS.  There is a Cambell's Tomato Soup - Red keyboard at Millennium Sound!

   At the risk of driving you crazy, I'm
   compelled to trouble you with just a few more questions:

   1) Was the Synclavier PSMT FM synth add-on basically the same thing as the
   previous Synclavier II FM synth engine?

Yes.  The different FM versions had no different characteristics sonically.  Just made with the currently
available parts on hand.

   2) Can I assume that any system made after the Synclavier II is equipped
   with a MIDI interface? What is MIDInet?

MIDI is an option on older machines; standard on newer systems.  MIDInet is a box that allows 16x16
connections.  You can add more boxes if you have the MIDI gear.  It is akin to an Opcode Studio 5.

   3) What is your studio (esp. Synclavier) setup like?

My Synclaviers

This will give you a run down.  It looks like the picture you sent.  Just in three packages.  Not much
else as I am a Synclavier guy ONLY - no MIDI.  There is some more stuff like an Ibanez Jem
Multicolor guitar, Fender Hot Rod DeVille Amp, Lexicon Reverb, Mackie mixer, and Polk
Monitor-10s.  That's pretty much it!  Sold everything else once I bought the "perfect" system and
"perfect" guitar.  I just bought a 4x4x16 CD-RW from Yamaha...

   4) Are there parts available, say from Demas or other dealers? For
   instance, how feasible is it to upgrade the RAM, or update the sampling
   capability from mono to stereo? What can you do if something breaks?

64 meg of RAM is $3200 last I heard.  DEMAS is the only parts distributor unless you buy used.  You
can get the machines repaired by DEMAS and Mitch Marcoulier.  Upgrades are easily done, just
expensive!
Check out:
Service and Support

   5) How about the availability of the sample library - if your machine
   didn't come with, say, the NED library MO disc, how would you get it? Try
   to score a copy from other Synclavier users?

This is the hard part.  You can buy a used 12" optical drive for $1300 and blank media for $400 per disk from
DEMAS.  But 12" used WORMs are very unreliable and VERY expensive to repair.  So you would
want to buy a 5" MO drive to transfer the library.  An MO drive is about $1600.  The media is around
$40 as opposed to $400 for WORM media.

My advice:  BUY A SYSTEM WITH THE LIBRARY!

   6) Could you offer a rough assessment of the Synclavier system advertised
   by Shelly Palmer Productions? They posted an ad on your site, and there's
   another one at their site:
   http://www.shellypalmer.com/gear.htm

Same system.

   How do you think it stacks up, say in comparison with the one recently sold
   by Greg Thule (also on your site)? Both look like terrific setups, but I'm
   thinking the $40,000 asking price for the SP system is very inflated.

Ummmmm......  No comment....  Both are at polar opposites in price.

   The
   GT one went for $7300. The SP one has a 16-track PostPro, so I would
   imagine it would be more expensive than the other; however his was like a
   6400 "upgraded to a 9600", whatever that means, while the former is a 3200.

For differences between models:
Different Models

   The only drawback I can see to the SP one is that the sampling capability
   is mono.

You can sample in stereo from the DtoD and transfer it to the Synclavier quite easily.
A true 3200 samples in stereo however; this is most confusing.

   Also, the velocity/pressure keyboard listed says "non-tripp" (on
   their site, anyway). Any clue what that could mean?

There were three models of keyboards.  Same exteriors, slightly differenty innards.  Not really that
important as they function the same.  The TRIPP keyboard is the newest and most expensive to repair.
The first generation keyboards will probably need a new keyset and controller upgrade to work like
new.

   Again, thanks very much in advance. I really appreciate your help.

    - Paul
 

No problem!

Brandon Amison
Yaking Cat Music Studios
and Synclavier Information