[QUOTE]Originally posted by technicsplayer:
We'll still need the floppy for loading commercial material meanwhile, as long as there are parts of the world not on the net.


Alec, you make a good point, but it would still make sense for the manufacters to start releasing their styles in CD format now. I believe most Windows & Mac application programs are only available in CD format now because it can hold so much more data, and also, CD production costs are so much cheaper. Because of this, the CDRw format has quickly become the defacto standard.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by technicsplayer:
I can't remember the chords on the 5000 now, the 6/65 goes up to added 9ths in fingered mode, and on to 6/9, 7/9, 7/11 and 13ths in full keyboard mode, is that the same as the 5000?


Yes, the chord recognition on the 5000 is identical to the 6000/6500. My issue is about ‘chord voicing’ recognition. The KN6500/6000/5000 in ‘full keyboard mode’ recognizes chord voicings made famous by legendary jazz pianist, Bill Evans. These consist of chords, which omit the root note.. This allows the piano player to (instead) play chord extensions/alterations giving the chord a more complex flavor. The chord’s bass note (in classic) jazz is left to the bass player (acoustic) to play. The beauty of rootless chord recognition in arranger keyboard playing is it allows you to play & sound as you would if you were playing as the keyboard player in a live jazz combo situation:

Here is an example (in the key of C) of a II-V7 – I chord progression which the Technics arranger keyboard recognize in ‘full keyboard mode’:

Chord: Notes played (left to right) as a chord:
Dm9: (F-C-E)
G13: (F-B-E)
C69: (E-A-D)

Here is an example of a two hand voicing popular voicing used by pro keyboard players when playing (comping) jazz blues changes:
Chord: Two hand voicing
F13: (Eb-A-D) (G-C-F)

My wish is that the above type chord voicings could be recognized (by the KN7000) in split mode as well. In the case of the two handed F13 chord, I would like the notes (Eb-A-D) played left of split point to be recognized as F13. My Yamaha PSR2000 recognizes these chord voicings only in split mode. The Technics KN6500/6000/5000,on the other hand, currently recognizes these in full keyboard mode only. My hope is that the new Technics 7000 will add rootless jazz chord recognition in split mode as well. These chord voicings are essential for the pro keyboard players with a background in jazz piano. I am particularly IMPRESSED that Technics was the FIRST arranger keyboard manufacterer to take the LEAD in implementing jazz chord voicing recognition as well as excellent chord recognition, especially in ‘full keyboard’ mode. It’s unfortunate that Korg, Roland, and GEM still do not support this advanced jazz chord recognition. I think this is one of reasons Technics arrangers seem to appeal to the jazz influenced keyboard player.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by technicsplayer:
Also you have confused me about fills. The KN5000 has 8 fills per style, 2 fills per variation. Only 2 fills can be copied to the composer. The 6500 has 8 fills per style, with 8 fills available in the composer and 8 fills in the custom.


Maybe I’m unclear about the way the fills can be utilized on the KN6500 keyboard. I thought the ‘fill to variation’ function only worked with the ‘internal styles’, not the custom composer styles. When I trigger a fill on the KN5000 (using a custom composer style), it only plays the fill itself and does not fill to another variation. I must manually select another variation button or panel memory button right after I hit the fill button. On my Yamaha PSR2000, even when playing a custom (composer type) style, I only need to press the variation button or panel button and the associated fill will automatically play preceding the variation. On the KN6500,. It’s great that you can have 8 fills and 4 independently programmable fills for each variation though. Please explain how the ‘fill to variation’ button works on the KN6500 when using custom ‘Composer Memory’ Styles.

- Scott