well inspiring .
My takeaway from that interaction and the experience of losing all that muscle memory for a few minutes : when it comes to the instruments you count on week in and week out , how it ‘ feels ’ truly does matter . For most of you that probably won ’ t look like investing in a ‘ narrow keyboard ’. Instead , it might look like making sure your keyboard is set at a comfortable height , making sure the key weight feels good to play , and focusing on all the other little ergonomic considerations you wouldn ’ t slow down enough to consider unless prompted . This is your prompt . If it doesn ’ t ‘ feel ’ good , you ’ re probably not going to perform at your best .
ONE PEDAL TO RULE THEM ALL
One last interaction came from my second day on the NAMM floor . I discovered a single , bluetooth pedal designed to function as both sustain and expression pedal , with manual or automatic switching between them .
When I first came across this , I was immediately intrigued . I got excited about the idea of simplifying and reducing clutter onstage I typically don ’ t take an expression pedal out with me when I play because I prefer to travel light . If I could have one that required no extra space , I ’ d consider it a win .
As I spent a few minutes talking to the founder and hearing their story , I started to come up with some workflow questions . I realized this hybrid functionality would require some unlearning and adaptability to be properly taken advantage of . Things like figuring out how to ensure the battery doesn ’ t run out during a performance or making sure that your filter or volume level doesn ’ t jump when switching from sustain to expression mode and back .
The more I thought about it , the more questions I had . The company ’ s founder gladly and openly talked them through with me , acknowledging where flows would be different from ‘ what ’ s normal ’.
I realized that there are downsides to using two separate pedals , and also downsides to a new innovation like this one . I left the booth excited to see more people ‘ reinventing the keys gear wheel ’ even if it does mean that some gear might be a good fit for one person and not another .
ONWARD
Every time I have the chance to spend time with creative people , who ’ re solving problems for other creative people , I get inspired to do the same .
If you find yourself playing the same keys rig more often than not , it can be tempting to lean too far one way or the other , either into what ’ s ‘ comfortable ’ or into what ’ s ‘ new ’. As with many things in life the sweet spot is likely somewhere in the middle .
My takeaway ? Focus on how it feels . If it feels both good and exciting at the same time , there ’ s a good chance you ’ re in that sweet spot .
David Pfaltzgraff Founder and Lead Sound Designer at SundaySounds . com , a site that resources worship keys players and guitarists around the world . David currently resides in Des Moines , IA with his wife and two boys . He enjoys volunteering in his church ’ s worship ministry , old synthesizers , and a good super-hero movie .
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