Impressions of the Rodgers Inspire 233

[Casavant Fan]

I spent two very pleasant hours today having theRodgers Inspire 233 demonstrated at Triune Music near Chicago. Thisisan amazing instrument in it sound and it’s flexibility. I was most impressed with the depth and quality of sound using only the internal speaker system. Ifound the consoleconstruction andkeyboardaction to be very solid on this model.i was told that other models will be based on this sonic platform, including a three manual, but no specifics have been released as yet. I think Rodgers is on to something here.

[voet]

Thanks for sharing this. It is all the more remarkable that you had such a favorable impression from a 2 channel instrument. The recordings on YT sound good, but it sounds like they were recorded in a pretty reverberant room.

[Casavant Fan]

The Convolution Reverb System on the Inspire Series samples the space of 12 different venues. Two of these are First Park Congregational in Grand Rapids, MI, and st. Mary of the Angels inChicago, a huge church. I was skeptical until I heard it with my own ears. They do have an additional internal amp option and I was shown the option of using some basic small amps and speakers similar to what was used for the former C-330 andC-380 Roland products very effective in my view, but not essential in a home.

[voet]

Interesting, I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan and have been in First Park Congregational many times. I never would have thought they would have picked this for an acoustical setting, unless they wanted a relatively dry one. Of course if they sampled it without any people in the building it might have been better, but whenever I have been there the room is not very inspiring for music.

[Casavant Fan]

I was sent a list of all 12 venues sampled for the reverb settings but can’t find it now. In addition to the two above, they used Tittle Chapelin Evanston Il. That is all I remember.

[Casavant Fan]

John started a thread on the Allen keyboards. I did not want to mess with that one but did want to give my impression of the Inspire boards. Overall, I found the keys tohave a solid feel. Rodgers terms this “light tracker touch”. The key tops have a simulated ivory like feel. I asked the dealer if these were Fatar boards. He said he did not know. The manuals and pedals felt fine to me.