Uncle Dave, I'm as amazed (as Mario is) to hear that you don't use Registsrations at all. You say that you set things up before 'each show'. I'm not sure I understand this because, I would need to re-set up the keyboard before 'each song' as each song (and song section) typically requires a unique setup.

In my case, I need to devote all my energy to the audience: both playing & vocal delivery. Having to manually press a myriad of buttons thru out a single song would really distract me from performing at my best. I don't think I could survive without at least some use of the Registration Memory feature. In addition to custom song registrations, I also have a variety of music 'genre' specific Registrations which are customized for specific song styles. This provides pre-selected instrument template setups/voices (country, jazz, pop, new age, big band, etc) which are instantly assessable. Very convenient for those off the wall song requests and thousands of tunes which I don't already have a Registsration made up for yet.

Uncle Dave, since you say you don't use the Registration feature, I'm wondering 'how how many voice setup changes you make in a given song. Do you rely on the factory preset OTS settings to make voice changes or just make individual voices changes 'as you go'? I typically use the OTS settings as a starting point and then save my fav combinations/customizations to Registration Memory because it 1) supports more setups and 2) saves more setting parameters (even though it does lack some important settings you pointed out). I hope Yamaha will follow through and provide a chip update soon to address these issues.

Anyway, it's fasinating to hear how we all utilize our arranger keyboards differently, so perhaps Uncle Dave will shed some more light on how he uses his PSR2000 when he performs. I'm also curious to hear how others out there utilize their arrangers when performing as well. - Scott

My basic set up is like yours, Scott. I have a couple of genre setups, plus approx 200+ songs ready to go at the push of a button for the usual dinner/dance situations. (I also do this with the PSR740...but it requires multiple discs.)

While most of my bookings are as a single, I also have two girl singers I work with in duos and have created individual set ups for each of us. This just assures the key sigs, tempos and styles suit each individual performer.

And for the 1-hour Senior Shows at assisted living and nursing homes, I have yet another setup with a much more limited repertoire, allowing me to access what I need almost instantly without having to punch up a bunch of pages. Should I need something I don't have on the Senior Disc, I just load my Singles Disc and usually am up and running inside of 30 secs including a little banter with the audience.

Pre-programming and saving all the registrations is a lot of work with unending tweaking, but once it is done, it sure makes it easier to concentrate on programming to each individual audience.

Seldom do I need more than 5-10 seconds from one song to the next. The great thing about the PSR2K it is adaptable to several preferences of performers. But, like you, I can't imaging Uncle Dave doing all this on the fly.

Eddie

I use single regs per set of songs and I use same name on reg as on text file. In this way all the settings I need are at called up with one entry eg "waltz1"( I type 120) calls up a list of waltzes and words of some that I may only be learning.I have about 9 "disco setups again each calls up all settings and words and/or list of related songs. Sometimes I dont even look at list or words of songs. I find this method excellent. I could however survive very well if screen was blank as I know the numbers. I use 1 -20 for slow sets, 20 -30 for 8beat at tempo 112, 30 - 40 for country, 40 -50 for Dosco (sixties and eg walk 500 miles, 70 -80 for jives -- however I only have one jive type in so remainder are left there to add as I go along(this ensures that numbering system remains the same ie waltz is 120 for past 2 years., 80 -90 for rock type, 90 -100 for blue Swede shoes types, 100 - 110 is not entered at all. 110 -119 for shuffle eg Leyroy Brown types, 120 waltz , 125- 130 slow waltz stuff. 130 ----onwards for some comedy sh----.Pierce --looking forward to bigger screens and bigger fonts. I notice that to change from single regs in x1 to block regs we have to go into utilities and select page 2 -- whereas if there were two buttons --one for single and one for block it would be easier.(MUCH easier)

I should add that this method allow me to change from one swet to another instantly( allow for delay as it is not yet possible to call up all these settings and word/lists instantly. I may be playing a waltz and the floor (Hopefully fills up !!) and I know that if I stop many will sit down so I simply say "lets liven it up a bit " and while I say it I hit EG 44 and I am into Amerillo. I have seen this to be effective for many years. However I have to watch it as if the dancers are on floor specifically for a waltz and if they are a little older --or not in the 60s mood I need to stay with waltz. Pierce

Eddie I may go for a few setups but I notice that vols need some adjustment and if I have different setups I would need to amend settings for each as I notice a need to balance etc. A good facility in this regard would be to have option to update other regs if the numbers are specified eg if I amend say 120 then it would be a great help to select 121 122 123 etc and update em. I could get over this now as most of mine are balanced etc. pierce

AS Jack Jones put it: I am a singer.
I accompany my singing, and I rarely FEATURE the keyboard. It's an elaborated rhythm machine and bass player with a few "goodies" to spruce things up.
If I ever do an instrumental, it's never more than 2 or 3 a night. Sometimes not even that! I found that the left hand is suffucient to privide me with enough "Backing" whether it's ME on bass or the whole arranger. The right hand is ME on piano (mostly electric). I don't want to sound like a hundred bands - I only want to sound like a singer with a small combo behind him. I often use the same piano/bass combo sound for most of a set, and just change the right hand sound to suit the song. Remember - I NEVER, EVER play just the melody line. Even when I do Moolight Serenade, as soon as the solo part is done - I do the vocal. It's one chorus of sax/clar and then ME. My right hand fills in ALL the chord changes, even if the arranger is playing. I sometimes shut the arranger chords off if they get in the way, of course.
I have sequences ready and MD's too in case the room needs a certain "pulse", but most of the night - it's the trio sound of Rhodes, bass & drums that gets me off. (in a NICE way, of course - no vulgarity intended!)
So, as for registrations:
When the unit starts to work properly, I'll write in a handfull of setups that work as "building blocks" but nothing too specific. All I really need to do, is know what drum beat I need at any given time. If the piano & bass are always ready - I just have to "cue" the drummer. Just like in real life. I really go for that "live" and not too processed sound. I don't want to ever sound like the demo in the keyboard.
Registrations are handy, but I use them sparingly, if at all. Priority after the vocal is"
Bass, Drums and piano(or any chord sound)
One of the strongest features on the 2000 is how GOOD it sounds just as a sideman. I'm not a flashy player, and I sing all the time, so my needs are not as strict as some others. My keyboard has to work simple, set up fast and stay reliable. So far all those needs are met with the 2000. I just wish it had better keys on it.

[This message has been edited by Uncle Dave (edited 02-19-2002).]

I only have one bank of registrations, and I mostly use them to change right-hand sounds.
I have around 30 "Favorites" in the Music Finder. They are more "genre" setups that songs, really. They cover most of the songs I do. It's easy enough to change the tempo if necessary before starting a song. The basic sounds I use on 90% of gigs is accoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel, piano, sax, organ, fiddle and strings. I do use the OTS on many soungs, in addition to my 8 favorite sounds set up on the registrations. (Actually as many as 16, because I have Main and Layer set to different sounds in many cases.)
Like Dave, I may use more Registration eventually, but I find that making myself learn to call up settings on the fly allows me to explore the keyboard and quickly learn to navigate it.
DoM

Dave I sing all of the night and I leave really only use drum bass and rarely much else, but I really find the regs great to balance the volumn between different drums etc ---lyrics to list songs is great.There is a big difference in vols and as I go from style to style occasionally I find regs great. I am glad that the topic is coming up a bit lately as I was lonesome for the past two yrs waiting for someone to use regs on HD. Pierce

I never use registrations on the Yamaha 2000.I never even plug it in!!!I don't even have one!!

I have PSR2000 (home use only) and after reading all about different systems of storing keyboard settings would really appreciate if someone could send me some of your registrations or Music Finder setups to get some ideas. For my previous keyboard (Roland) there was quite a lot of registrations available around the net or for exchange. Anything like this for Yamaha?