How many of you guys (and ladies) use the arranger's Mulit-pads? As I have mentioned several times before, the multipad feature on both the Yamaha & Technics keyboards are really a terrific feature which gives us the ability to provide even more 'live feel' to our arranger keyboard performance. The problem is that it's often difficult (if not impossible) to play them concurrently while playing the keyboard with BOTH hands at the same time. I only wish the multipads could be triggered via multiple foot controler pedals which would free BOTH hands to actually playing the keyboard. I brought this up with Steve Deming (Yamaha) and he concurred that adding foot controler access would improve the mulitpad feature and promised to forward my request to Japan or whoever at Yamaha is responsible for product development.

In the meantime, I hope the other arranger keyboard manufacters are listening too, and will seriously consider adding the muti-pad feature as well as having the multipads trigger-able via remote foot controler pedals as well.

Dan O'Neil & AJ (Ketron). I think the above feature would really enhance the SD1/XD9. Could you guys possibly suggest this to Sandro (real nicely)

Thanks,

Scott

I find them useful "theoretically", but in practice, for some reason I almost never use them. On the PSR-2000 I particularly like the Piano Man, Salsa Show, and the various guitar strummings. I find it impressive the the Multi-Pads can be recorded to the sequencer.

Scott
I used them on my 9000 while recording and like them but on my PA I thought they kind of sucked and didn't use them.
Terry

The pads on the PA80 are more useful to me as controllers. i use them to shut of certain voices or trigger certain switches. They don't play phrases like they do in the Yamaha and others.

Hi MarcK: I myself find the Multipads VERY useful in live performance adding real life like excitementto a song when used in just the 'right' places. What I like is that you can trigger more than one multipad sequence to play at once, which allows you to build both the energy/complexity of the background accompanment thru a song. The other terrific thing about the multi pads is the ability to add spontaneous drum hits (kick, high hat, ride cymbal, etc) at key places to emulate what a real live drummer does when playing. I'm confident that being able to trigger the Multipads via remote foot controler pedals (instead of just with your fingers) would make what is currently more theoretical & impratical, into something much easier achieve while playing the keyboard with both hands, and as a result would end up being something you'd actually find very useful, in both practice and performance.

Scottyee, I love the multy pads on my Yamaha, and use them all the time,..
Your Idea is a great one, Since I run into the situation myself, being occupied with both hands, need that extra peddle to trigger the multy pads..


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Salamat

JerjyBeck

The multi-pads are very much a part of my presentation on a lot of songs. Very seldom though, do I ever use them at 100% volume when going through an amp. They are but a spice in the recipe.
Eddie

Yamaha's 9k multi pads are boring and very repetitive loops. The Multipad feature is usefull in theory, BUT......you have to record your OWN 16 bar loops to make it realistic for sure.

i use to share all the time about the multipads and how cool they are.

NOT the DEFAULT ones... THEY SUCK! I got alot from web and psr styles forum last year... VERY COOL! SAX solos, guitar riffs, all types of multibar loops! Pages of Blues, Rock, ect... very cool!

I don't like the 1 bar stuff ... because you have to touch it all the time ... like others wrote ... but ... it add's alot of spice to the psr9000 ... without it ... the styles are nice like others say ... but with the spiced up Multipads ... the psr9000 shines! Really Rocks!
I haven't recorded my own ... but with chord sensitive solos and riffs ect.. it's amazing!

I personally love the multi pads.. You can do so many different things with them in a performace.. Plus I too like being able to have all 4 playing at once.. My only gripe is the PSR-550 doesn't allow you to loop your user pads....

I use the multi-pads allot, when ever I have a free finger to trigger
them at the right time.
To be able to trigger them with a foot pedal would be ideal.
Denny

I forgot to add ...that the multipad drum stuff really changes the styles alot ... put in wild stuff while the regular drums from the sytle keep going! 16 measure stuff repeating cool drum patterns ... stereo drums ... Wild!!!!! That's why when some say how the styles are boring on the regular styles! I smile! Because with the 4 PADS ... you can really build on the standard style! And you have a Solid Foundation to return to ... when necessary!

What if you could load a multipad with a footswitch via registration memory (which you can already do)and then have it sync-start the next time you change chords?

Midnite

Yep, the key to successful integration of the mutli-pads is both WHEN and HOW you utilize them. I agree with what Eddie (betweengigs) stated earlier in this thread that the multi-pads are intended to be used only as 'a spice in the recipe', not the main ingredient. I've found a number of even the stock PSR2000 multipad sounds/patterns to be quite good. It's important to consider that the success of using the multipads has a lot to do with your mastery of not only keyboard playing but when & how you integrate the other arranger specific functions as well. - Scott

Midnite: I'm confused on what you're saying here. Are you saying a Multipad sound/seq can currently be triggered via foot pedal triggering a Reg Memory button? I can't speak about the the other PSR keyboards, but I don't think it's possible on the PSR2000. Besides, I need to independently trigger a mulitpad button by a dedicated set of foot pedals, not have it linked with Reg Memory, which I already use for other arranger song setup parameters.

Forget the footswitch-activation idea (though it would be nice of course) -- all you need to do is grow a third arm (on the left for the PSR 2000). This arm could also serve other useful purposes, such as:
1) Changing volume with main volume knob
2) Scratching any itches that may arise during performance
3) Waving to the audience
4) Shooing away over-curious kids who wander too close to the keyboard
5) Eating, if the need and possiblity arise
6) Playing!

Here's one way I use them:
First I found the 16-bt Rock & Roll style from the old Yamaha PSR510.
I put it in User Style Memory. Then I made some OTS settings. I saved it to a Registration Memory with all style parts off except drums. I saved the Guitar Cut 2 Multipad setting to that Reg. Memory also.
When I start the style the drums alone start. You will immediately recognize the Bo Diddly beat. Then press Multipad#1, the guitar riff is perfect. Then, one by one, bring in the other drum part, the bass, the guitar, etc., from the style by "unmuting" the parts.
It's great fun, and besides Bo Diddly you can do "Who Do You Love", "Not Fade Away", "Hand Jive", and for Halloween, "Haunted House" (if you play the right hand riff for it live).
If anyone wants the style, let me know.
DonM

Sure Don, Count me IN !
Looking forward to trying out your style at the upcoming Halloween parties. Thanks - Scott

It's on the way.
By the way, I posted a midi song on Yahoo Song Group.
Don

I like the pads a lot. For a simple backing you can put 2 tracks in a pad quickly for 16 measures. Or put in a break chord progression to control the accompaniment automatically. I trigger pads with a footswitch.

Alec:

I assume you're able to do this on the KN7000, right?

Please refresh my memory (as it's been a while now since I've played a Technics arranger) on the way this works.

Can you assign each of the 4 pedals of a Technic's multi foot controler (SZ-FC2) or (Technote FC2) to trigger a specific manual sequencer pad? I realize that the KN arrangers not only have 6 different pads, but have multiple banks of pads as well. Can you assign the foot pedal to trigger a specific pad in ANY of the banks?

Also, can you save each different 4 pedal foot configuration into Panel Memory, with Panel Memory 1-1 having a foot pedal assignment, and Panel Memory 1-2 having an entirely different assignment, etc?

Thanks for refreshing my memory on the way Technics works.

Scott