If I remember correctly, there are 3 bellows tweaks on the FR-18: an adjustable air valve, a software setting for sensitivity, and a software setting for compression. The compression variable lets the instrument speak naturally or, at the other extreme, makes all notes the same volume regardless of amount of bellows movement.
I agree it doesn't sound like a Cajun accordion, but it has some good externally-mic'd 3-row and other diatonic box sounds. It's also a midi controller, which in theory lets you drive any midi-capable synthesizer with their wide range of sounds. If someone sampled a Cajun box very well, the FR-18 could control a synth into which that sample was loaded. Not that I'm aware of any pro-level Cajun accordion samples.
Yeah, thanx Russ and others. The weight distribution with the double strap harness combined with that in- between weight ( between a Cajun box and a Piano Accordion/Traditional 3 Row )probably means the weight would be tolerable at gigs..especially if I lambswool sleeve the harness.
Finger spread and reach is possibly not so much the issue either as Larry was suggesting.
The BIG issue is the lateral dynamics of the bellows action push and pull..
I've looked at some video of FR-18 demos. and the bellows action can be cut down to a minimal movement but still retain a big sound, as amplification is doing all that. Trouble is there's heaps of that awful Tex Mex Conjunto and European playing in those Ytube videos..drives me crazy...I hate that stuff...for me it's what gives accordions a bad name .
The Zydeco sound per Andre Thierry is great. He seems to get on OK with his FR-18..but then again he could play anything ! Johnny Ace plays great too.
Guess we wait to see if we can get our hands on one for a try out.....