Someone should invent an electronic squeezebox that plays like a real cajun box. It could be battery ran and use headphones to practice with. I'm sure it could be done with real bellows resistance and bass notes. Just think you could take it anywhere and practice. They did it with banjos!!!!!!!!!!!! I got to thinking about this after having to wait for commercials during my wife's tv show, just to work on a tune. Wonder if anyone ever put any thought into this as a learning tool. Bruce

The easy part is to use a module with digitally recorded accordion sounds, triggered by the buttons. The hard part is using the bellows direction to trigger which of the two notes is played, then get the bellows to cpntrol the dynamics, like a weighted key on a digital piano. Sounds like that might take quite a few trips to the drawing board. I have seen ads for reedless accordions (PAs), but have no idea what they're all about.
Steve

Take a look at Streb, who are making an electronic melodeon.

I spoke to Steve Rouse, the builder, at the start of the year about putting Cajun sounds on it but he was concerned that he wouldn't be able to reproduce the dynamics of a Cajun box.

I have offered my various boxes for sampling, Acadian, Martin, Miller and Anthony Falcon, and Steve invited me over if I wanted a look so if there's enough enthusiasm I can always get back in touch.

Just think of the advantages of this type of tool. Just like the practice banjos. You could take this thing anywhere and would not disturb anyone around you, unless your sitting in close elbow company My wife and kids could watch tv in peace. I wouldn't have to be playing outside in elements. The neighbors wouldn't be petitioning a drive to make me sell the house and move out. Practice at will anywhere, anytime, I think its an issue that should be pushed forward for the well-being of all of our marriages! I certainly think that this little instrument would gain some popularity if more people were able to experience playing it without problems of disrupting the world. I for one am for it!!!!!!!!! Just think, wouldn't it be nice if some sort of device was also built into it that would loop a rythmn track on an mp3 or even loop a cd to practice along with. Kinda like a guitar training device. Bruce

this has supposedly a good cajun sound

but you can;t get any push-pull keyboard layout!
only chromatic layouts are available

which is silly because it;s totally programmable
[just not by you.. ]


they are 3-5k, depending on options

wle.

They (my wife and daughters)never complain when I'm playing banjo or dobro.
Since I'm playing Cajun-accordeon it's completely different. They talk about a litlle wooden cabinet in the garden without heating. The distance must be astronomic, but our garden isn't that great.
In the winter it's 100 meters to far and in the summer 100 meters to close. Our garden is only 12 meters.
I have read that Yamaha (I yhink) make little studios that are very good isolated for sound.
Maybe is that a solution in the house?
The Roland technology should be great for all.
I don't know if the bellows have the same reactions as the bellows of a normal accordeon.
We should be never out of air with an electronic one.
I think I' ll keep on playing in the garden.

the roland has settings for EVERYTHING
including bellows sensitivity
it;s amazing, what it does

but it;s primarily for players of piano accordion
or CBA [chromatic button accordion]

i guess the diatonic market was too puny to
interest them

http://www.ksanti.net/free-reed/essays/roland_v_accordion.html


wle

I have found many of the electronic instruments
don't really give the true feel of playing the real thing.
I've played the electronic highland pipes and seen the
virtual pipes for the uilleann pipes. On neither of these will
you learn keeping the bag filled or working the bellows (on the
uilleann pipes.) Plus they cost a good bit.

But if you persist, check out the Streb eMelodeon on the link#2 above.
A discussion on link#3.

I'll stay with the real Cajun accordion and in the back room or garden

My 2 cents.... Ed

Yeah, It's probably cheaper (and easiest) to just soundproof one room in the house! :)

DP

Or buy one of these

http://www.whisperroom.com/

Mark

Sorry about that Chief.

(This might work too.)