From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Thu Mar 11 16:43:07 1993
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Date: 11 Mar 1993 15:40:45 -0600 (CST)
From: GRAHAME@sask.usask.ca
Subject: More on the retro
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
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>Original-From: aluxpo!wbf (William Fox)
>
>	The Clarity Retro has eight outputs; four do 0 to 10 volts and four
>do 0 to 7 volts "for optimal tracking/octave" according to Greg at Clarity.
>It costs $595.00 and is only available directly from the factory.  Clarity
>claims to be the most sophisticated device of its type in terms of how robust
>it is with controller numbers.  It has 32 programs and a table to map them to
>specific program change commands.  Each program holds 16 patches, although
>I'm not sure exactly what this means.  Clarity's policy is a two week full
>refund for any reason.  (The sky had a cloud in it today - send it back!)
>I can't find their phone or address right now but I know I saw an ad they
>placed in KEYBOARD magazine's want ads in the back of the magazine.  A bit
>pricey.

>Bill Fox

Clarity has a history of producing interesting boxes for the music industry --
"Old hands" will remember the Clarity XLV for use with Lexicon reverbs in
the early 80's (Lexicon 224s, as I recall). Their most "consumerish" product
is the Lexicon MRC, a midi slider box that works wonderfully for programming
the Lexicon LXP-1/5 series. It also includes setups allowing editing of 
some other instruments (DX7, and others). A useful little device which cost
quite a chunk for what it does ($395, methinks). 

The Clarity Retro IS, in my opinion, the best midi-->cv box on the market.
As far as I'm aware, its only competition is the homebrew-quality stuff
from Paia. The clarity, in contrast, is sleekly designed, with a matrix
of nice tactile membrane switches on the front panel. My only complaint is
that the LED displays should be replaced with a nice, large LCD panel. 

As for the price, I think it's reasonable, given the pro quality of the
machine. All in all, I'd rather spend my money buying a high quality 
product from a small manufacturer than supporting the mega-buck "General
MIDI Hell" brought to us by modern-day Roland & Yamaha. Yeech.

Regards,

James Grahame

From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Thu Mar 11 15:41:46 1993
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From: wbf@aluxpo.att.com
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Original-From: aluxpo!wbf (William Fox)
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To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: MIDI to CV/Gate
Status: OR

	The Clarity Retro has eight outputs; four do 0 to 10 volts and four
do 0 to 7 volts "for optimal tracking/octave" according to Greg at Clarity.
It costs $595.00 and is only available directly from the factory.  Clarity
claims to be the most sophisticated device of its type in terms of how robust
it is with controller numbers.  It has 32 programs and a table to map them to
specific program change commands.  Each program holds 16 patches, although
I'm not sure exactly what this means.  Clarity's policy is a two week full
refund for any reason.  (The sky had a cloud in it today - send it back!)
I can't find their phone or address right now but I know I saw an ad they
placed in KEYBOARD magazine's want ads in the back of the magazine.  A bit
pricey.

Bill Fox