To my ears the Motif XS preset PRE1:007 Tacky is pretty close to this sound!

great thread!!!!

stephenchoi - 18 August 2010 05:25 PM

Alejandro:  I also use the MKS20 with my Motif XS for the Elton sound.  So you mix it about 70%/30% MKS20 to Motif...would you be willing to share with us the EQ and Chorus settings for the MKS20 patch you use (I assume you also use Piano 1 patch on the MKS20).  These settings make a huge difference in the MKS20’s sound.  Many thanks!

Yes, of course!

Roland MKS-20

Preset: Piano 1
Highs EQ +3dB
Mid Freq. 2000 Hz
Middle Level +0.5dB
Bass EQ +4.5dB
No Chorus effect
No Tremolo effect

Motif ES

Preset: FullConcert. I usually leave this voice as is, but as you may know, when Elton John plays in the higher notes range, they sound crystal clear and MKS-20 is not as its best in this area. So, in many times, depending on the song I play, I tweak the FullConcert piano voice to set higher notes more audible and more “stacky” and sometimes too I set up the Highs EQ of MKS-20 to +4dB.

After the main set up of voices is made, everything is mixed with a Yamaha mixer.

No more external effects added, maybe just a bit of reverb from the mixer, but nothing more.
But I also know that Elton John uses a Lexicon 480L in his concerts… But 4.000$ 2nd hand is too much for just a “secondary” parameter of the global voice…

JohnMelas - 18 August 2010 05:30 PM

To my ears the Motif XS preset PRE1:007 Tacky is pretty close to this sound!

That’s what I used to think until I heard a MKS-20… I’ve used so many times in my Motif ES to emulate this sound… But when you hear a MKS-20, you realize that “Tacky” preset has nothing to do and is far from that particular Elton John sound.

Hope that helps.

Alejandro, thank you very much! 

I’m not at my studio, but I think there is one more parameter: Mid EQ Range or Q.  Something like that.  Do you have a setting for that too?  Thank you again!

I’ll chek it out tomorrow in the studio but I would say (99%)I don’t set that parameter.

alejandro - 18 August 2010 02:44 PM

Just listen to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNqF64zveAo

A Roland MKS-20 mixed with Motif ES piano voice. Doesn’t it sound so Elton?

Alejandro:  just curious, is that you and your setup featured in this video?

No, it isn’t me. :-)

But I know the author, and I’ve learned a lot from him about Elton John sound set up.

I’ll try to upload a demo song of my mix this weekend (if I have free time...)

Hey could any of you guys tell me where i could buy a Roland MKS20 rack?

Only solution is ebay I think…

Hey if I bought the Roland rs20 rack could anyone tell me the steps to set it up to my motif xs and mix it together to get the elton John sound? Thanks

Sorry I meant the roland mks20

Quick question for you guys… I’m interested in catching the Elton ‘live’ sound as well… would most any Roland digital have the general sound or does it have to be specific models?

Hi Guys,

i´m also a big big fan of this sound an of Elton.

I´ve tried the following settings whit following stuff:

Motif XS8 with MKSensation MKS20 Software.

So i Set:

Part 1: MKS20 Piano 1 (without Chorus/Tremolo)

Part2: Full Concert Grand

and now:

Part3: MKS20 Piano 2 (with Chorus)

I play it with 100% each Sound because the Full Concert is not so loud as the MKS20 Sounds.

In my opinion you need the Part3 to get the unique Chorus.

Greets

SRM

I did lots of research about his piano sound and found out that he uses Roland MKS-20 sound module at his concerts. I still can’t believe that the module was made in 1986 and still many popular musicians use the module because of the unique piano sound it generates. I recorded “Funeral for a Friend” just to test the system and you can clearly tell that he uses MKS-20 just by listening to it but i think he mixes with different sound module also. This is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bf6ocvmnXo

Posted in the other thread about this - you can get the MKS-20 sound for
the Motif XF (and XS) here:

http://shop.motifator.com/index.php/voice-libraries/motif-xf/mksensation.html

Then add the Steinway sound with this sound library for the XF -

http://shop.motifator.com/index.php/voice-libraries/motif-xf/pianos/sonic-reality-classic-rock-piano-2.html

You’ll need a flashboard, at least 1GB, installed to load these two libraries and then use the sounds in them to create the Elton John
sound.