Friends,

How many of you are well versed with the Style Conversion disk/software for the Technics KN5000/6000?
* What is (IYHO) the quality of styles played-back on the KN unit from other manufacturers? Do some convertions of particular models come out better than others etc ...
* Is this software upgradeable from Technics, - in other words, when new keyboards e.g SD1 are out, does technics provide an upgraded version to prevent the KN6 series from going obsolute?
* Is this software loaded and permanently stored in RAM (until the board is turned off) or must it be used for each style loaded in?
* How many CUSTOM styles can one store on board (I thought it was 20, is this 20 per banks A, B and C or ...)
* When recording a PATTERN, what is the LONGEST bar length assignable ('cause if you convert some KORG styles of length 8bars and your max=4...)?
*Appart from the new sounds and 20 styles of the KN6500 are there any other major differences (eg, size of memory etc)? Do the other sounds all sound the same? If I get the upgrade board that TECHNICS says will upgrade the KN6 to KN65, will all sounds be IDENTICALL then?
* What are the improvements of GM2 over GM? (I see that only KORG-PA80 and TECH KN6series seem to be GM2 compatible .. rumour has it that so will the new GEM keyboards coming soon ..)

Thanks for your suggestions ... these responses will help me and others too!

AJ

Answers to your questions:

How many of you are well versed with the Style Conversion disk/software for the Technics KN5000/6000?

Are you refering to the style converter diskette that comes with the keyboard (KN5000/6000/6500) or the 3rd party PC deskstop version computer software (Styleworks) from EMC? I own both, and both work well, but I prefer using the EMC software as it supports conversion from many more makes/models of arranger keyboards. Unfortunately, EMC still does not support conversions to/from the KN6000/6500 (yet?).

* What is (IYHO) the quality of styles played-back on the KN unit from other manufacturers?

AJ, I've had very good success at producing professional sounding conversions from other major brands (Yamaha, Solton, Roland) to Technics KN5000 format, though some minor tweaking of sounds & volume levels are usually necessary to optimize the style to to achieve the highest professional sound. I'm very satisfied with conversions and even incorporate many for my most demanding show performances. Just remember, the more time you spend on optimizing (tweaking/customizing) them, the BETTER (more pro) they will sound. It is important to realize that the conversions ONLY convert the style pattern (and associated assigned sounds) to Technics format .CMP Composer files, and do not include converting 'panel memory' sound/EQ efx setups. You will need to assign these yourself (if desired).

Do some convertions of particular models come out better than others etc ...

Converting styles to my KN5000, I have achieved very good success with Yamaha PSR9000/740, GEM, Solton X1, Roland G800 as well as older model Technics keyboards.

* Is this software upgradeable from Technics, - in other words, when new keyboards e.g SD1 are out, does technics provide an upgraded version to prevent the KN6 series from going obsolute?

I kind of doubt it because I'm sure Technics would rather have you purchase their latest current model Technics model rather than continue to support their limited arranger brands/models conversion software support. The conversion diskette which came with my KN5000 supports conversion from a VERY limited brand & model of arrangers and Technics never updated it to include converting from more current model arrangers. I kind of doubt that the KN6000/6500 converter disk would either.

* Is this software loaded and permanently stored in RAM (until the board is turned off) or must it be used for each style loaded in?

On the KN5000, the style converter program resides on a diskette which is inserted into the keyboard when prompted, after a 3rd party style diskette is inserted. Once the conversion is made, it can be stored in the KN5000's Custom style area (20 styles), on a floppy diskette, or in the keyboard's (optional) hard drive.


* How many CUSTOM styles can one store on board (I thought it was 20, is this 20 per banks A, B and C or ...)

Yes, the Custom style section holds 20 styles. The banks (A,B,C) are only used for Composer Memory stored Styles which are saved either on a diskette or on the keyboard's optional hard drive.


* When recording a PATTERN, what is the LONGEST bar length assignable ('cause if you convert some KORG styles of length 8bars and your max=4...)?

The maximum pattern bar length on the KN5000 is 8 bars. I believe the KN6000/6500 is the same.


AJ, I have read several reports from people on the Technote forum
http://www.technote.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4&CAT_ID=4&Forum_Title=Support+for+Technics+KN6000%2FKN6500

who have experienced frustrating problems with their KN6000 keyboards unexpectantly crashing without warning, every so often, even with the latest OS update installed. A friend of mine (in the UK) got so frustrated that he had to get rid of his KN6000 and trade it in for a KN6500, because his KN6000 problems never got resolved, even after sending it back to Technics repair to check it out. He is very happy with his KN6500: no more problems, and he says the sounds are much improved too. There seems to be a feeling among many KN keyboard owners that there may be some kind of unexplainable flaw (weakness) with the KN6000 model. It is generally thought that the KN6500 addressed these problems, sounds BETTER, and does not exhibit any of the problems of the KN6000. Since I am not a KN6000/6500 owner myself, and am only speaking second hand, It probably would be more valuable to hear directly from KN6000 and KN6500 owners on this board regarding this issue.
- Scott
http://scottyee.com

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your detailed analysis ... and you were right - I was refering to the convertion disk that came with the KN units. Also thank you for the 'look-out' for the KN6000. I'm definately going for the KN6500 (or higher) for even in the begining, there were major issues with the KN6000.
Just thought about something. When YAMAHA, KETRON, KORG ... release new OSs, they list what was fixed/corrected, and what was ADDED/MODIFIED. Since Technics doesn't list anything nor make adjustmentst to existing manuals, this means that ALL their new OSs can only go towards FIXING/CORRECTING what was already suppoed to be working - otherwise, how do you introduce new features into a keyboard and not let users know how to ACCESS/USE these features?
AJ

Scottyee & Others,
You know on those long, long addresses, if when you're typing one & you would stop just before you reach the end of the little box, push your enter key & continue typing on the next line. This dosen't put a space in the
address & it dosen't stretch the post out so far that it's hard to read!
I said it! So spank Me!!
Just an observation, but what do I know?
A friend,
Nobby


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[This message has been edited by Nobby (edited 10-31-2001).]

Scott,
as far as I know, after read in Alec Pagida's
book, the maximum bars for the 6000 is 16 not
8 as you mention. This goes for the pads too.
Kind regards
GJ

Hi Gunnar,
Thanks for the information (per Alec Pagida) that the KN6000/6500 maximum pattern length is 16 bars, and not 8 bars (as the KN5000 is limited to). That is indeed good news! - Scott

Friends,

Technics keyboards (Division of Matushitsa Inc. Japan) is still solely designed and built in Japan, right?
Other Japanese firms like KORG (I.S series plus PA80) are assembled/built in Italy along with some ROLANDS, right?
Anyone have inside information as to how much is actually done in Japan vrs how much is completed in Italy?
I seem to see a trend here with the final product(s) but wanted to gather some facts first...just as the CAMRY's assembled here in the US versus those built in JAPAN.
Thanks,
AJ

VARIATION PROGRAMMING:

Now I know with the KETRON products, within a Variation, Intro/Ending & Fills, you can program independent parts for Major, Minor and 7th chord recognition (in other words, the recorded loops will sound different when you play M, Min, 7th chords). I am told for Technics KN6series, M and Min parts are programmable for Intros and Endings.

What about the main Var A->D?
What about the FILLS?
What about 7th chords?

When you change chords on the KNseries, does it just transpose the pre-recorded material into the new chord (PARALEL eg CASIO)or does it follow the musical rules (CLOSE eg KETRON/SOLTON, KORG)?


STYLES:

Are the styles on the KN6series KN5 styles with 3 more parts added or entirely different/new styles?

What is Technics equivalent to LIVE DRUMS (since the KN6series was released with the LIVE DRUMS generation boards e.g GEM->RASS, KETRON->GROOVES, KORG->LIVE DRUMS, YAMAHA->LIVE DRUMS)?


MIDI:
Most (if not all) modern keyboards send their Arranger parts out via MIDI OUT in real time (YAM held back on this for a while). Is this true too with the KN6series (there was an issue with the KN5 about this)?
So if I MIDI OUT KN6 to MIDI IN YAM_9000PRO and play an 8Beat style on the KN, do I hear this on the YAM too (may need to do some revoicing etc).

(PS: A lot of these qns are from other prospective buyers who are yet to join this forum but I can't answer since I do not own a Technics yet ... until tomorrow).

Thanks,

AJ