There seems to be a lot of difference in the way we approach arranger use. Some of us seem to prefer one 'free panel' type setup, and call up the styles and sounds on-the-fly, some seem to prefer a separate registration for each song.

Add to that that different manufacturers make each system either easier or harder to do, depending on OS and overall 'philosophy'. So..... my question is 'which system do you tend to use, most of the time, and how does your arranger make it easier/harder to do?'

I am NOT trying to ignite another flame-war, I don't really want to hear simply 'my arranger is the best, period'..... But I WOULD like to hear from gigging musicians about how they organize their sets, why a particular system works best 'for them', and maybe get some ideas for how different 'features' make a particular style of operation easier........

Can we do this without rancor? Let's find out......

I use registrations by song titles. I have midi files and their respective OTS saved to UP, but have not used them to date.

For me, I am way too active of a player to resort to "on-the-fly" debacles.

zuki

I use registrations, Music Finder Directory, and MIDI files, all of which can be quickly accessed on the fly. While I'm performing a song from the MFD, I'm scrolling down through the Registrations or midi list to find the next two to four songs I'm going to perform. It's quick, easy and versitile, especially when you're working with both the keyboard and laptop. Keep in mind, however, you can do it all directly from the keyboard as well. The laptop just makes life a lot easier, especially when you're performing a song that you rarely do and cannot quite remember all the lyrics. Guess I must be getting old and the mind is beginning to slip a bit. Thank goodness for the laptop and all those lyrics sites.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I use registrations & My easy 20 custom tweaked styles for just about every scenario w/ OTS & a favorite sound approx 10 user bank ....that's all I need ....no need to make identical multiple song Regs using the same styles ....everything else goes via the laptop.

i'd use a free panel more, but roland "makes" me use registration. i do change that registration alot during playing tough.

95 percent registrations. Remainder midi files.

One day I would like to take the time to make registrations for my favorite voice setups and the like. Currently, for styles I have all of my potentiall useful styles organized by genre, and I select them on the fly. Voices too are selected on the fly. One annoyance is the lack of a dedicated Harmony button on the PSR-3000, and changing the Harmony type on the fly is even more difficult.

I use the PSR-3000 which is perfect for my playing style and the type of gigs I play.

I also try to keep it pretty simple...only one bank of eight registrations that have my favorite sounds...different split points and fingering modes are stored under certain ones for quick access.

All the styles I use are my own creations and have custom OTS .

The ones I use most are in Internal memory, the rest are stored on the Smart Media Card and the USB Flash drive.

I don't use MIDI files.

Ian


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Cha d’dhùin doras nach d’fhosgail doras.

I'm a 'registration' ('Performances' in Korgspeak) guy. I don't tinker too much with the built-in styles, but I do tailor the sounds extensively. I don't go much for midifiles, either. Too restrictive for me.

With the PA1x Pro I find the style, tempo and other pertinent information I need and then save it as a song in the songbook. I then write these files to a directory called "Destiny" for songs we use in our ministry. I then have a sub-directory called "Set" where I place the songs I'm probably doing that day and can get to them all on one page instead of having to scroll through them. We don't have a set number of songs for the "gig" or service and have to change on the fly, so I can still refer back to the Destiny list if my pastor, who also sings, wants to pull out a song.

Makes it pretty easy. I then put the songs on my music pad pro under Destiny and Set List too.

Oh, the touch screen life... I love It!!

My cell phone/ pocket computer - touch scren
PA1x Pro - touch screen
Music Pad Pro - touch scren
My Korg D16XD recording studio - touch screen


My goal is to convert as much of my life to touchj screens as possible.


Jeff

I'm strictly an on-the-fly guy. On the E60 I set only 2 user panels..Roland makes you put every parameter in each--one has full kb and my custom piano sound, one has split kb: organ rh, guitar lh. then I set the programmable HOLD button for everything except tone, so it holds everything as it was when I select a different sound and/or style on-the-fly. Adimatis, do you use the hold button as i do?

As I start to customize more sounds, I'll have to put them in user memory panels,. along with every other parameter I'll just copy from panels 1 or 2. But most sounds/styles are pretty good ootb, so not a lot need reworking, especially since i mostly use just bass/drum.

the E60 also has a nice feature I never encountered before: the tempo lock has an "auto" option, which means the tempo will lock when you change styles mid-tune but when you stop, then start a new tune with a new style, it
will go to the preset rhythm, unless you choose to override it. don't know if this is common to most Rolands.

what is interesting is that arranger kb's seem to fill the bill
like no other kb's can for both registration-type players
and on-the-fly types, who are almost polar opposites.

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Miami Mo

Mo, the Auto feature goes WAY back on Roland's.... I can't imagine why any other arranger would do it differently. You also have the Preset button, which, if you prefer to have the new Style's tempo over-ride the old one WITHOUT STOPPING, it can do that. Plus Lock Mode holds the tempo even when you DO stop.

So all three choices are covered.....

Just to hijack my own thread, just a little (I'm allowed to do that, aren't I? ), it would be interesting to hear from players that have moved from one manufacturer to another, and ask how long it takes to get used to another arranger 'philosophy', after you spend so long getting used to the way one maker forces you to......

I think a LOT of negative posts at SZ come from players that are wedded to one way of working, and usually haven't spent the time yet (or never do!) to figure out if what they want can be achieved another way.

We often forget how long it takes us to learn all the tricks and tips we become used to, and expect to learn a new maker's OS MUCH faster than we learned the original one.....

yes, but on my Korg and Technics only 2 choices:
Preset and Lock....no auto...

I'll hijack your hijack and suggest it may be better
to start your hijack as a new thread, if for no other reason that it will bring others into it that are not on this thread.

Donny: I find it very interesting that you have 20 styles that covers things. I have tried that approach but found that I wanted to tweak things for each song so I have gone with registrations for each song with notes in my book on what registration or part or voice or break or sync-stop, etc. to use where. Can you fill us in on how you have structured your styles to meet your needs?

I have 192 user Performances[locations] on board.."Free " panel on the Roland
is not a usable way to perform....
it is designed to be a neutral[initialize] feature..

I set up my "A" bank of 64, with specific performances that would feature different
velocity switched tones, splits[3 way], layered[up to 6 layers],
different controllers, EQ, etc..
Also including my button assigns for turning off arranger mode and switching to manual bass.
..I also used generic type styles, as swing, tango, bosso, polka, etc.

My second bank of 64, would consist of performances that would relate
to specific sequences that I use..This consist of tones , splits and how they react
to velocity, after-touch and pedal controllers

I link a sequence with the performances that have the set up to match the tempo,
rhythm of the sequence,,This allows me to either play the sequence or,
the arranger for the tune.

My third bank of 64 performances is dedicated to my edited sounds, including layered,
velocity switched tones..The way I use my custom tones...
I lock out the style/song, keyboard mode...
and then I can select the custom tones without changing the styles, or key mode..

As you can see this 3 way set up of performances gives me variety of use..


The second part[hijacked]....I have used all the other brands...
I don't have a problem learning the operating systems..I just feel that what I use
is better suited for me..
Why would I want to use other boards that don't work as I would want them too...
this includes other Roland boards I have used..

the way i do things is to enter the free panel and choose a style and a sound that i want for a particular song. this is the way i was used to, and now i find my self in the need to change it.
because roland did not put a easy access on/off buttons for the style's tracks, obviously, i need to have a "pre" setup for that particular song. this i consider to be a minus. also, the lack of at least four pads.
definitelly, making registrations for songs would help, but i did the way differently, and now i have to adapt myself to rolands way. kvs, i would also use the hold button, but if i am forced to make registration, i prefer to setup a whole registration for a song, dont care much about locking settings from a registration to other.
as i had a korg pa50 before, i can tell you, i felt a pleasure changing to roland's OS. even though there are features i miss from korg, i like roland's better and i could learn it (did not finish yet! ) easier.
this is one of the reasons i was draw back from korg - the OS, even if very good and packed with good feature, it was very dificult to navigate and unpleasent for me.
i am a person that likes to try new things and sometimes i get bored with something i've used for a long time. but in some cases, like using a keyboard, is not something you can change every month or so.

Diki,

For gigging I use Registrations named as song titles. This allows the correct transpostiion for my very restricted vocal range as I only play in the more popular keys (by ear) - This also links different vocal harmony and mic settings as well as getting the tempo spot on as well.

I just used to use a dozen of so standard panel styles but then switched to using Registrations. I did this on Ketron first then changed to T1 and then to T2

The change from Ketron was a nightmare and took forever and even the change from T1 to T2 was a piece of work but this makes it so much easier when gigging to think of all the other things that are going on while you are playing or talking to the audience that makes it worthwhile.

Regards - Keith