Modules
Although in the 80s it was cool for a keyboard player to be surrounded by banks of keyboards on A frames, this isn't very practical for most of us. Thank goodness for rack mount modules.
Roland U110 PCM Sample Player
This was my first midi module and I bought it when I began using a computer as a sequencer. It allowed me to sell a number of other pieces of kit and take up much less space, something that was important at the time. These days I have a partner who indulges me but I still have the U110.
In addition to the internal sounds I have ROM cards for electric guitar (SN-U110-07), Rock Drums (SN-U110-10), Latin & F.X. Percussion (SN-U110-02) and Sound Effects (SN-U110-11).
Cheetah MS6-KM Analogue Synth Module
Although the U110 is a great piece of kit, I began to miss the analogue synth sounds so I bought a Cheetah MS6 which is a 6-note multi-timbral analogue synth in 19" rack format. Sadly however, it's a little tricky to set up multi-timbral 'performances' as these can't be done across midi and have to be done via the front panel. In 1992 I bought another two MS6s in an attempt to simplify things but this didn't really work out and in 1999 I sold two of them. The third was upgraded using an EPROM from Kristofer Maad:
Kristofer has a web site at http://www.maad.net where he has a number of MS6 related goodies and he has also decoded the programs on the MS6 EPROM. Kristofer was able to supply me with a modified version of the MS6's EPROM which DOES allow multi-timbral performances to be sent across midi. Because this upgrade enhanced the functionality of my MS6 by so much I have redesignated it as an MS6-KM in Kristofer's honour and I thoroughly recommend that any other MS6 owners check out his upgrade.
Akai S2000 Sampler
I have to admit that although I've had this for a while, I haven't done anything with it yet. I spotted it on eBay, remembered the days when I would have given my right leg (I need my right arm - I'm a keyboard player) for one of these, and couldn't resist putting in a bid. I look forward to having the time to really get to grips with it.
E-MU Proformance 1+
As I said on my keyboards page I kind of fell out with the sounds on my MK-80. This has some nice piano sounds on it but ironically my favourite sounds even better with just a little of the piano sound from the MK-80 mixed in.
Roland Super JV-1080
As with the S2000 I remember this hitting the shops, but couldn't afford one, however they're now available on eBay at prices I just couldn't resist. I've upgraded it with a Techno expansion board. Once again, I'm looking forward to having the time to really do something with it.
Yamaha TX81Z
I bought this knowing full well that I probably won't do anything with it for a while. However, back in the 80s the DX7 was an object of desire that I couldn't afford and adding this to my set up means that when I do find time, I can finally have a dabble with FM synthesis.