My thoughts about an arranger keyboard:

1-Find the right style
2-Set up the instruments needed for the style you are using.
3-Find or create pads that will add to the style; could be drums.
4-On the Pa4x I assign three buttons:
A-Cut all the Acc. except the Bass and Drums.
B-Cut the Bass.
C-Cut the drums

Now I am set up to play the song. It would be a good idea to listen to the original song – the band changes many times during the song allowing for instrument solos, vocals, or to create a grove. On the Kn7000 you could add all the above after recording song. I have not explored the Pa4x sequencer yet.

At the organ concerts I was always amazed at the button pushing that was going on. They spent 70% of the time on the song and 30% on changing whatever was needed to take away the boredom from their performance.

When I press button C – and begin to sing – (Voice, Drums Bass) Might add a cymbal on all four beats. Or a stronger bass drum. Adding finger snaps always picks up the feeling of a song. Cowbells do the same for Latin music. During the song I bring back the full band. The end of a song should be exciting – at times I end up with Vari 4 and the pads going.

Please don’t forget the “Break” button, and the fills. If you press Break or fill buttons two times they keep repeating to create a grove. Latin music is all about groves. Disco without groves would not sound very good.

Listen to the original recording and try to create it on the keyboard.

Bottom line: you can add another piece of equipment like a drum machine, and that’s O.K. – the best is to add what is in you.

The keyboards of today know what we need; what we need is imagination. Looking outside yourself is O.K. – looking inside yourself is to be creative.

All the above is just John’s opinion, nothing more.
John C.

PS, Try editing the drums; make them sound the way you feel they should sound. (it adds a great deal)