Scott:
I play a lot of pedal steel on the 9000 and have been working to try and get the sound right also. I have a edge on you in one respect, I have a super talented psg player setting on my left for a bunch of country/western gigs we do.
I've been trying to get his sound over on the keyboard for a couple of years. No way! when the real sound is there to compare. (but) when we work together doing two steels running (playing different parts) it blends to where people don't know who's playing what. He uses two instruments on different ocassions each has a different sound The carter steel has a more treble sound, and the cadilac of all steels the sierra is mellow and a little easier on the ears. The keyboard does this one great. even fools the pro.
after much fiddling with the sound I've ended up with (pedal one on sustain # two on glide one note down, and set the wheel on 12 note bend. I use the harmony on, most of the time and select diferent harmonies for different songs and store this in the registrations, most of the songs is set on straight 3 part, hawaiian songs usually get duet. Takes a lot of twinking to get it close usually set the harmony at a much lower volume. also use the reverb to suit and a touch of dsp plus a small amount of chorus.
I find the most important part is the technic used to play, I pretty well know what the typical hits and riffs the steel player does, get a few of these under your belt (listen to old pedal steel country) and you'll be surprised what a difference it makes in the sound. One other thing, do the music in the keys that most country songs are done in. #1 most used key is E #2 is A #3 G these are the keys that sound more realistic on the keyboard.
Don't know if this will help, but lets you hear others opinions.
Here's one hit thats about the most common.
Transpose -8 hold down the pedal (set for 1 down glide), play G A C E as a cord three times let the glide pedal up after the third hit. Taa Taa pedal steel.
Sorry if this sounds very beginning for a ace key player like yourself, but thought others may be reading and wanting to give it a try...........Regards......Pose

Edited: I also use multiple keying for the left hand setup, this allows some free time for the pitch blend and fingering to augment the harmoniser. I also use the volume pedal on the mfc-10 to sustain out th PSG. also I don't think it possible to be able to bend indivigual note within the the steels chords but the left hand working the harmoniser, sort of gets the trick done.
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Cheers....Pose

[This message has been edited by loungelyzard (edited 12-06-2004).]

[This message has been edited by loungelyzard (edited 12-06-2004).]