The transposer button is not just for people who can only play in C, F or G. Certain keyboard styles and riffs such as Jazz close harmony, or blues / rock lend themselves to certain key configurations. Some of the solos and techniques you use may get pretty complicated, and so if a singer wants to do the number in a different key, the transpose button is a god send.

Ron

Rhumba - Another approach is to use a master keyboard and modules that way you can "save" different keys (transpositions) into various programs. you also get the added benefit of whatever length of keyboard you prefer and whether it's weighted or not. It is also much easier and quicker to layer, mute and zone sounds from all your instruments.

It works great for me as I gig with an MS40 (will be the XD3 when I have mastered it), an EMU B3 Tonewheel organ module and a Roland JV1080. When you set up each program you can set a values for transposition (I set up several programs with different transposition values - make sure all the zones have the same value though). I can also change my registrations and sounds from the master keyboard as well and use just one sustain pedal/pitchbend/mod wheel.

It's not for everyone as I need seperate amplification but this modular approach allows me to take only what is required for whichever gig I am doing but gives (me) most flexibility.

The only thing it can't do is to play in the "cracks" which is where most of my guest singers aim for

Keith

Unlike most people I don't much like playing in C, F or G so I transpose at sight or from memory up a semitone into Db, Gb or Ab and hit the transpose button to go down a semitone. I'm in good company here. My music copy of "Indiana" is in G but on my Louis Armstrong LP they jack it up to Ab (which makes sense considering the instruments).