Good one, Fran...this feature should be on all brands.

Ian

I agree with Fran on the hold tone function.

I also would like to see Aftertouch used more.

Yamaha calls it Superarticulation, but it's been around for years; The harder you press the keys, the patch changes from one sound to another. For example; take a standard piano sound, layer in a Rhodes with aftertouch and as you bang the keys harder you can accent certain musical passages with a Rhodes Bell Sound.

I'd like to see this used more.

Also, give me more REAL-TIME SLIDERS!!!!!!!

------------------
Al Giordano www.arrangerworld.com

Tyros 2, Yamaha P-250, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Roland VK8-M, DW Collectors Series Drums, Roland SPD-S.



[This message has been edited by kbrkr (edited 08-29-2007).]

The "Fill to half-bar" in the G70 is an awesome feature that I've never seen in other arranger.......But I only kept the G70 for 3 days only....

I'm sure most of you that have known me for a LONG TIME here have probably already predicted what I would say my favorite feature is:

arranger chord recognition: ROOTLESS CHORD VOICINGS

Over the last 8 years, I fought long and hard here to stress the importance for this. Back in 1999, only Technics & Yamaha arrangers included this 'modified version' of the distinctive keyboard chord voicings introduced & played by jazz legends Bill Evans & Wynton Kelly, but which has now become a standard style of keyboard accompaniment in blues & pop music as well, and a chordal style played by contemporary keyboard artists now: from Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, to Elton John.

4 years ago, following my urged suggestions, Ketron 1st introduced arranger rootless chord recognition on the SD1, and only last year, Korg finally came on board as well, introducing this on their PA1X arranger. It seems now that (of the top arranger manufacturers) only Roland and GEM are left behind to (hopefully) finally come on board now.

As I've stressed repeatedly here, this feature is something that would be relatively simple to implement because all it requires is changing the values of the chord recognition table .

That said, one of the most rewarding experiences I've had participating on Synthzone is the gratification that some major arranger manufacturers (namely: Yamaha, Ketron, and now Korg) have actually listened to me and responded in kind, and I now want to express a sincere 'Thank You' to them.

- Scott

PS: If you're new to SZ and unfamiliar with rootless style keyboard chord voicings, simply perform a forum search on the word:"rootless"

Scott Yee Entertainment

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 08-29-2007).]

Scott,

I am very surprised to learn that Roland and GEM do not support rootless voicing...especially Roland who advertise their TOTL arrangers as "professional" instruments.

A big omission in my opinion.

Ian

Ketron Arranger lock, Bass lock & Drum lock

diki.....this looks very interesting almost like a CS feature......

a newer XD9 function called 2nd Lock. It does just what the other lock functions do.
Sixth is the Bassist on/off. I don't play good enough left hand bass to need this up top, but the way it works is extremely useful. With this function selected, the left hand play a manual bass line below the split and the right hand triggers the chord changes if you play more than two notes. After playing a three note chord you can then solo over it with your right hand without changing the chord until you play another three note chord. Absolutely not for beginners.

Good suggestions, keep 'em coming..

Scott, I agree that having a manufacturer respond to your requests is VERY gratifying, and just one more example of WHY it so important to keep voicing your needs and wants publicly, even repetitively (they probably didn't implement your request the FIRST time you asked, did they? ).

Despite what the naysayers say, you CAN influence a manufacturer's R&D and future OSs and products, but only if you get involved, and make a bit of noise.

Donny, that feature (LH Bass, RH three note chord recognition) has been a Roland feature for years... It works well the other way around, too - comp or play lines in the LH, and only trigger chords when you play three notes or more. I use it all the time...

But once again, I'd like to remind all here, I started this thread to get ideas about what are our favorite features on our CURRENT arranger, not past models, just so our manufacturer doesn't drop them because they are unaware we LOVE them...!

Getting them to bring back OLD features, well, you know what they'll say about you if you go down THAT path...

My favorite arranger feature? speakers!

Speakers! Yes cassp...good one.

I hope the next Tyros has them built in.

Ian

#1. SD1 w 4.0 & SD1plus have a feature called "unplugged". Call up the sounds being used within a style, select a part, press 2 master volumne control buttons and that part is isolated. I mostly use it to isolate guitar parts. When you press a fill in or break, all parts come back on ....

#2. The "to end" button is extremely helpful. SD1 has 3 endings, but the "to end" feature will end any style with a 1 measure ending.
I wish we could "to end" midi files that are too long, without having to edit in software...