We all know Technics have ceased producing musical instruments. No more KN8000 in the future. So sad, but isn¡¯t KN7000 equips with upgradeable OS which resides in the flash memory? Does anybody know where those Techinics programmers are? Do they have the right to upgrade and sell the OS without infringe the copyright issue? Since the sounds are so good that I don¡¯t even bother to upgrade but on the other hand I¡¯m really interested in paying the software for an upgrade as there are still plenty of rooms to improve beside the hardware. I don¡¯t know whether I¡¯m asking a stupid question here. If it¡¯s possible, what are the features you would like to upgrade?
For me, here is the list:
1. Pressing one of the 4 VARIATION buttons should trigger a FILL IN pattern (Yes like T2).
2. When MSA mode is on (Sound & Rhythm option being selected), the moment a FILL-IN button is triggered, it should bring up next registration instantaneously before the end of FILL-IN but currently it changes at the end of FILL-IN making this option totally useless (I used Rhythm only though).
3. Enhance Composer editing capability. Such as note edit as currently it¡¯s not possible to program guitar strumming without using the Sequencer features (Although it does have a tool to copy from Sequencer to Composer but not from Composer to Sequencer).
4. Able to play monophonic and polyphonic sound without a need to switch the button (Also T2 feature).
5. Enable guitar strumming LIVE. Actually this can be achieved with the formation of chord in our left and right hand if ever they have included some kind of delay in each note of a chord
6. Able to select an edited sound from the sound memory to mix with one of the 4 preset tones in the Sound Edit menu. Great for guitar effects
7. Should allow Performance Pad to play more than one track. Currently only one at a time.
8. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­

Well guys, can you continue from here.

Regards
Hammond

Hello Hammond
As far as I am aware, most of them moved over to Korg, in fact in the UK most of the demonstrators also moved over to Korg.
Hope this helps.

Bill

Hi Hammond

I like your idea. It would be great if there was an upgrade possible to load, that left the hardware as is, but improved some functionality, like Tyros behaviour of automatic fill-ins when switching between variations. And some more...

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Some left for Roland to develop their new lines, also.

Bernie9. Is that why the G70 did not come up to expectations...Ha!!!

Hi hammondkua

Speaking with my experience in the USA with some issues that needed the programers. The Technics Programers are no longer.

I know you said Upgrade (which is impossible), but I do have a comment on your issue #2 MSA. I mean think about it, if you press a fill-in with the MSA on, even if the next registration changed at that moment, it won't be played because the fill-in is playing. The next registration starts on queue right after the fill-in is done playing, thus the "sense" it changes at the end (but it's really at the begining of the next measure after the fill-in). Both the fill-in and the next registration can not be played at the same time, so the next registration waits it's turn. What would you like the upgrade do?

Anthony

[This message has been edited by AnthonyCian (edited 05-29-2006).]

Hi Anthony
Yes I do agree. The next variation of rhythm does not play but what about the next sound? The change is needed mainly because our right hand always needs to start playing a melody line before the end of fill-in unless you continue with the same sound otherwise you would have to mix both the old and the new in a very bad transition. I¡¯m sure many of the songs behave in this way. Anyway it¡¯s still possible to overcome with the aid of a foot switch by storing our favorite sounds in the panel memory first and later on get triggered.

Thanks for your comments

Regards
Hammond

Ok, I see what you are saying and agree with you. I use the MSA a lot and at times wished the same thing that the sound part would change at the same time the fill-in was pressed so it can use the new sound that's coming in.

But I do have a work around...

It's very limited and primitive but it works for me. Two things for this to work, a 80 Tempo or less, and no melody on the first beat. That's because we will need both hands for the change.

Turn ON MSA and copy the 4 variations on the Panel Memory 1-4. You can change R1/R2 to different sounds which makes it nice. Now the trick, turn OFF MSA, we won't use it. That's right, TURN OFF MSA!

Make sure Variation 1 is set to play together with panel memory 1 (matches). Play the song, at the point of the fill-in use the left hand using two fingers, one (the little pinky) to press variation 2 and the other (the thumb) to press the fill-in. This is done at the same time. Also during this time, using the right hand press panel memory 2. That means you are pressing 3 buttons at the same time. I do this when it reaches the 4th beat. Done correctly, Variation 2 and it's sounds will play during the fill-in.

Other advantages is that you can apply the method to change from variation 1/Panel Memory 1 to Variation 4 Panel Memory 3 and get some different "next" sound arrangements. Not limited to sequence 1-4. Plus you can use both fill-ins and choose which direction the next change will be.

Since both hands are used to simulate MSA is ON, is why I suggested the tempo of 80 or less. But if anyone is game and would like to apply this at higher tempos, then go for it.

Again this is primitive but works for me. Try it!

Anthony

[This message has been edited by AnthonyCian (edited 05-30-2006).]

Using a 4 and 2 single foot switch works for me without the use of the hands.

Fran in SC

Hi Anthony
Thanks for your 3-finger-style sharing but I can¡¯t compete with that would rather choose a foot switch though. The funny thing is Technics did not bother to improve this feature since the released of KN1000! I don¡¯t understand! It was a painful experience ever since we have to copy those preset sounds suggested by the boards into the panel memory before used. Another similar problem is the location of the panel memory. God! Why didn¡¯t they place it on the left side of the keyboard isn¡¯t our left hands are freer than our right hands? If both problems are fixed we don¡¯t even need to use a foot switch or controller. But now it seem everything is over we just have to live with it.

Regards
Hammond

Well,
to keep this discussion going. What I love on a Tyros and miss on my KN7000 is the other way of working of MSA. In the KN7000 when you play var1 you can jump to var2 using Fill In 2 and so on. So after pressing Fill In 2 the cariation changes. On a Tyros however when you play var1 and then press var 2, an automatic Fill-in is used for the transition. The wonderful working of this is: you can directly from var 1 jump to var 3 of var 4 and for each of those transitions there are unique fill-ins.

Wish that worked on the KN7000

Another thing I miss since I had my KN3000 was the dynamic accompment!!! Great fun and miss it dearly.

Kind Regards, Fred

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Quick taps of the foot controler will move from v 1 to v 4 with fill. Foot switch's are like having 4 hands.

Fran in SC

Hi Fred,
Yes! How could I forget the Dynamic Accompaniment! It would be even better if it really triggered a fill-in in stead of the subtle changed in a rhythm.

Hi Fran,
I agree. The foot switch is the substitution for the less useful MSA. I guess Technics refused to improve this mainly because people are accustomed to the use of a footswitch. But it¡¯s very cumbersome to switch back and forth for obtaining multiple functions or effects such as sustain when playing piano.

Regards
Hammond

I know other Technics employees went with Yamaha. I understand that the brass was done by a former Technics tech. There were others, but I don't recall all the details.

Best
Scott
http://ScottLMusic.com

it's perfectly possible to program a guitar strum in composer step record if that is what you wish to do, and it's also possible to edit composers in the sequencer by the simple facility of easy recording the measures and apc to smf them as described years ago in the editing sections of my 6k book.

Hi Technicsplayer
Great! Could you please explain how to program guitar strumming using the Composer feature as it is not describe in the ¡®Getting the most from your KN7000¡¯ book that I bought last year. As far as I know using the LEN in the step recode only vary the length of note but not its position. For instance I would like to place 6 notes in line with the resolution of each note steps apart by 14/96. How do I do this?
Thanks.

Regards,
Hammond

well, its perfectly obvious you can't do that in step record in the composer with a resolution of a thirty second note step available, though triplet timing might get slightly closer. Nevertheless that is not the same as not being able to do strums at all since you can produce acceptable strums by step for patterns at all reasonable tempos if that is what you wish to do.

For something like that I would reduce the tempo and input in real time. Or do the same in the sequencer in Cmajor in R1, tidy in note edit to the required steps, then copy to an unused composer accomp 5, then pattern copy just that accomp5 strum merging into the rest of the composer pattern to which you want the strum added.
Or a few more steps, first play the whole intended composer into the sequencer, apc to smf convert, add the strum to an empty track, note edit to tidy as before and copy the whole pattern back to a composer from the sequencer.

Hi technicsplayer
Yes, that is exactly what I did my guitar strumming in the Sequencer and then copy back to the Composer. I was so exited when you said it¡¯s possible to do that in the Composer because it would be much easier then. Anyway I like your idea about reducing the tempo and ¡®Strum¡¯ in real time recording mode. Need to try that later. Thanks a lot.

Regards
Hammond