What's up there Rich.

I'm no expert but maybe I can help you out.

A keyboard that can transmit on several channels at the same time is key. It's even better if you can turn these channels on and off with just a tap of one button. Some keyboards have "zones". Usually 4 if they have more than 1 at all. Each zone can generally be set to transmit on different/multiple channels. A synth that is multi-timbral is also helpful so that it can receive and play back on multiple midi channels at the same time, or you daisy chain multiple synths, each set to receive a different channel. Actually depneding on the equipment you have, the configurations may be endless.

Basically there are "sending units" and "receiveing units". "sending units are generally keyboards and controllers with knobs and what not. "receiving units" are generally sound modules. Most synths are sefl contained sending/receiving units. It may be helpful in designing you set up if you think that way.

For a fast, simple set up I can get by with just my Motif ES 7. It has four zones to transmit on ("sending") and can receive on 16 channels. So in performance mode (uses 4 zones) I can switch sounds fast and control the volumes of the four sounds right on the board. In "Sequencer Mode", I can receive on 16 channels each channel assigned to playback a different sound(patch), but in this mode the keyboard will only transmit on one channel at a time, but it has 16 "Part" buttons so I can switch from one sound to any of the the other 15 sounds with the tap of just one button with no sound cut out.

I also use a Roland A-70 which is a pretty powerfull "sending" unit as it has up to 8 zones and had 4 separate MIDI Outs.

And believe it or not and Roland XP-60/80 is also a pretty powerful "sending" unit when it's in "performance layer" mode as it can transmit on a number of channels with the tap of a button.

OR you can go analog all the way by running your sythns into a small analog mixer that you place next to your main board or on it, but this is a little more tricky to control.

MIDI is probably more powerful way to go.

Best wishes
Bob
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