Re: 88 key arranger. I sort of have one in the Casio PX560. I’ve yet to figure out how to use more than 76 of those keys when in arranger mode.
Hi guitpic1,
I use a Casio PX560 to drive a Ketron SD90 module - I like the piano sounds of the PX560, but do not like the Casio arranger styles and accompaniment sounds.
If I play in the Split mode of the SD90, where the left hand triggers chord changes, and the right hand plays solo instruments, then 76 keys are plenty, even 61 keys cover most situations.
If I play in the Pianist mode, and lower the Chord slider to subdue or eliminate guitar and other accompaniment sounds, resulting only the piano, bass, and drums, then 88 hammer action keys provide the freedom of piano type playing. The 3-piece band experience also makes the same arranger styles sound and feel very different and more lively.
I find that the proper use of the Chord slider on the SD90 helps in delivering variations in accompaniment.
Currently on Genos, to achieve similar 3-piece piano, bass, and drums setup, we have to press Menu - Split & Fingering - AI Full Keyboard to enable playing at piano mode. Then on the sliders, we have to press the "Slider Assign" button once to get to the second slider screen, then pull down the Chord1, Chord2, Pad, Phrase1, Phrase2 sliders. If we want to retain this 3-piece setup, we have to memorize this setup in a registration or user style. On the SD90, I only need to press the Pianist button and pull down the Chord slider to get the 3-piece setup in real time for all styles.
It would be nice if Yamaha can release a firmware update of Genos that includes the feature of allowing an easier 3-piece setup similar to the Chord slider on SD90.
Thanks,
Paul