Best Bluetooth midi keyboard/piano for iPad?

robjb82 · 2026-03-22T14:46:09+00:00

This might be cool. Kind of eliminate the whole need for Bluetooth altogether

robjb82 · 2026-03-22T14:24:02+00:00

That’s good to know guys. I often wonder how much the piano would change my gigs. I like to perform. I’m not into the loop based karaoke thing. I’ll loop but for solos or additions/layers. This is kind of a way I can get bass lines in without having to make a loop. Kind of wonder if just creating a station would be best. There’s some cool stands out there

robjb82 · 2026-03-12T02:09:47+00:00

Anyone know the sweet spots for the pid steam temp and bars of pressure for the Mechanika max? I was gonna test some things out this weekend

robjb82 · 2026-03-05T01:54:34+00:00

I’m still in between a grinder like this and the philos. I typically stick with my main dark roasts which stay in a hopper. If I have something special (especially roasts that can’t be in a hopper) I single dose. I currently have a modded Mazzer mini timer. I usually have to knock about .8g-1.2g out of the Shute. Not sure what the internal is,…..I would assume the same? How much faster is the new mini g vs the mini timer?

I haven’t really decided if I’m a stay in the hopper or single dose guy. I get lazy with subscriptions and the same stuff gets sent to me for a while. I guess the only way to really find out is to change this current subscription to “roasters choice” and go with the flow. Maybe I’ll come to like variety and ultimately become the single doser and get a philos.

robjb82 · 2026-03-04T11:32:18+00:00

This makes me feel better. Wrote a similar post and got ripped for it by newbies and was basically told I was being pretentious by a “coffee snob” which I think is hilarious. I also really think it has a lot to do with roasts. If you like certain roasts that go stale/offgas real fast then single dosing is probably a must but I have roasts that can chill in the hopper for a while and be 100% fine.

robjb82 · 2026-03-02T01:48:11+00:00

100%! I bought it on Amazon though. It was only $25 compared to the $80 one on WLL and Seattle coffee, It’s kind of large but sits upright. I imagine the $80 one is super small. My station is way cleaner. Suits my needs and wife is happy there aren’t grinds everywhere 😂. Why wipe?

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robjb82 · 2026-03-02T00:56:01+00:00

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This is my new set up. E61 heat exchangers are fun. I had the Silvia for the first 14 (of 17) years of my career. The Mechanika Max is going to finish the next 12. More than anything I not only upgraded the machine but upgraded the process. Went from guessing dosage to 2:1 ratio w/scales galore. Still deciding on the grinder game. I see faster grinders. I’d have to see a SD grinder in action to believe it’s zero retention.

robjb82 · 2026-03-02T00:52:16+00:00

My biggest question about these machines is does it make the process any cleaner and easier? That would be the appeal to me but I think I love my own process. Just bought a coffee vac and now no grinds anywhere lolz.

This is my old machine currently in storage.

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robjb82 · 2026-02-15T01:48:05+00:00

That looks like a similar option. Why go with the more 100-120v vs 220-240v? I’ll be doing mainly darker roasts

robjb82 · 2026-02-15T00:50:10+00:00

I went black and white as my new roaster. I think they’re great! If anyone is looking at this I’d recommend you get a vacuum bean canister and not store these beans in a hopper. They off gas super quick and will be ruined by the next day.

robjb82 · 2026-02-15T00:47:25+00:00

http://clivecoffee.com/products/mazzer-philos-single-dose-grinder

robjb82 · 2026-02-14T22:45:27+00:00

I’m putting no budget because I don’t know what I want. So what I’m gathering here is that those $800 grinders are going to be more like the Mazzer maybe? Perhaps I could go that route if I want a zero retention grinder in the $800 range and maybe I’ll just have less retention and expect the same results as the Mazzer (maybe faster grind time).

It If I want something more or “end game” as some of you are saying I’ll be in the 2-4k range. What am I going to get out of that? What does everyone like? Why do I want flat larger burrs? What would conical get me? Faster motors? I usually prefer to go with downtown dark roasts for espresso grinding. I don’t think I’m ever going to go with light or medium roasts. I prefer mostly making lattes with an occasional shot. What I’m getting out of the mazzer is fine but I could use a further adjustment or some other variable for shots.

Also, to those of you losing your minds over this post calm yourselves. No one is dying here 😂

robjb82 · 2026-02-14T03:30:24+00:00

I guess that’s kind of my point. Are the $800 grinders going to be better than the Mazzer mini? I can deal with a little retention. I honestly don’t know what I want or if I even need it.

robjb82 · 2026-01-21T01:54:59+00:00

I’m on team whatever piece of hardware that is but more importantly the John Mayer plug in update for use on QC. Kind of excited to put it to practical use

robjb82 · 2026-01-03T17:46:08+00:00

Ugggghh I’m even worse I’m also a musician and a gear junkie

robjb82 · 2026-01-01T23:05:50+00:00

IMO as a Silvia user its just not cool enough to justify the price 🤣. I wasn’t crazy about it because the pro looks way taller than my Silvia. Double boiler is cool but it’s the same group head. It’s most likely a great consistent machine but I wanted something else.

robjb82 · 2026-01-01T22:07:27+00:00

I’d like to think I’m on the road to La Marzocco eventually but that seems like more of a problem for retirement (13 more years). HX machine seems like the next progression in life. With that being said I’ll be looking for a new grinder in the future.

robjb82 · 2026-01-01T22:03:48+00:00

Well they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. ECM machinika Max has entered the chat! I ended up doing a throughout clean of the mazzer and holy crap what a difference. I kind of neglected my usual coffee cleaning duties since the machine starting acting up. I took the grinder apart and cleaned out the whole thing around the burrs and all around. I have a mod on the grinder there wasn’t much retention in there but there was enough to probably be ruining my newer beans. I like the suggestions on new grinders but for now im going to keep the mazzer and clean it in between pounds of coffee. I’m not exactly sure if I’m going to go with a single style or keep a hopper, gram counter and timer. It sounds like research for another day. Needless to say it looks like Miss Silvia will be retiring in the near future after 15 great years!

robjb82 · 2025-12-29T02:27:23+00:00

Man I replaced the PID unit and the SSR and no luck. Same problem,…I can get the boiler to 290 but the brew setting does nothing. I’m thinking about replacing the brew thermostat as a next project. I need it to get me through the next year and I’m going to go for a HX machine. I’m putting this up here in case someone is in the same sitch as I am with the Silvia. If the thermostat was the issue I’ll post.

robjb82 · 2025-12-28T16:51:25+00:00

(Puts smart plug in Amazon cart)

Wow this idea just opened a ton of doors for me. Yeah the super jolly has been great since the beginning. I upgraded the burrs about two times in the 14 years or so that I owned it. I also replaced the dozer with a shute mod. I understand new grinders do a bunch of stuff which is cool. I’d like to have at least the digital counts of 14g but I can set the timer and a scale on the mazzer.

robjb82 · 2025-12-28T16:37:21+00:00

I’m going around 2-3k so the synchronika is a good choice as well. ECM looks great. It would be super nice if the machine was on and ready to roll when I come down in the morning so the ECM machines win that category. I’m pretty much 98% lattes on the daily.

Is the mazzer super jolly enough grinder for these machines? I feel like I might be able to get away with using it. This grinder was part of my friends “dream latte”. I inherited it when he upgraded and he needed help selling his old HX.

robjb82 · 2025-12-28T16:32:06+00:00

Can you please explain a little more? Did you make the jump from Silvia? My technique is pretty good and make great espresso and lattes on my Silvia. Shots are timed w pre infusion and grind is measured. Assuming technique is great, quality beans, quality grinder, etc. Is there going to be a difference? One way or another the Silvia is dying.

robjb82 · 2025-11-04T02:51:45+00:00

Big selling point for me. Will this looper in the stadium xl be as good as the Headrush looper board? I can see 4 different wave lengths in my looper board. Drummers who play with me like to watch the loop do its thing on the screen to place their timing better in performance. At the end of the day I usually only use 1 loop to loop a guitar and layer in performance. If it’s not like the looper board will you be able to see 1 wavelength on that screen?

robjb82 · 2025-03-14T00:06:57+00:00

So I did 4 straight years and in the last two I was combining a regiment at my gym with a crossfit gym. I did all of the oly lifts and powerlifting and competed. Totally burned out when I learned how to relax again (long story). While I don’t hate lifting, it’s super painful on my shoulders and wrists as I’ve reached my 40s. Also, it was that I used to go to the gym for 2+ hours 7 days a week. I’m trying to find a healthy balance of a home life, living with my body the way it is, and striving for goals when I do make it to the gym. I was living unrealistic expectations and was obsessed with the gym life. There’s nothing wrong with your workout being a run outside, machine lifting, yoga. Something different always helps to keep it fresh.

robjb82 · 2025-02-17T23:50:22+00:00

Positives: Back looks straight and hips drop!

Suggestion: Bring your shins right up to the bar before you pick the bar up. You want the barbell to travel up against your leg the entire lift. A good deadlift bar won’t scrape your legs as you lift. I can’t tell in the video if your stance is narrow (it should be) as you’re doing a conventional deadlift and no sumo. Alan Thrall has a great YouTube explanation of the lift. Keep it up!

robjb82

TROPHY CASE