I think we need a little more from you, John. For example, how many panel memories do you tend to use in a single song?

First I should say that in my opinion there is no right or wrong way to do anything with the KN7000. Whatever works for someone is right for him or her. But, their selection of a method may create limitations in use of the keyboard. Having said that, this is an attempt to describe what I do.

Most songs can be broken down into four sections. Usually it starts with section A, then it repeats section A. It then moves to section B and after that, returns to section A. There can be bridges and that sort of stuff but these sections are usually easily identified. I tend to want some sort of voicing and/or rhythm change for each of those sections. Sometimes it’s a major change in rhythm and/or voicing. Sometimes it may be as simple as muting or adding one of the composer parts. The point is, I tend to need a minimum of four panel memories as I progress through a song. If there is a bridge, I tend to want a different panel memory assigned for that. If the song is played through a second time, I want four entirely new registrations and rhythms for that. So, I usually need a minimum of 8 panel memories set up for a single song. Ever wonder why there are 8 panel memories in each bank? That tends to fit the minimum needs of a song . . . Without those changes a song can quickly get boring. Larry Gosmeyer’s stuff is a prime example of how lots of voicing and rhythm changes make a song sound so much better. He is a gifted arranger.

With hundreds of songs in a library, it’s a good idea to keep things as orderly as possible for each song. So, I always start every song at panel memory bank A, memory 1. My next panel memory is put at memory A2, the next at A3 and so on. It is easy to use a foot switch to increment panel memories at the appropriate time. If more than 8 memories are needed, the next increment will move the panel memory progression to bank B memory 1. And it continues from there for 24 possible panel memories. I have never found a need to use panel memory banks other than A, B, and C. So, when a new registration is needed, a simple touch of the foot switch selects the next panel memory needed for that part of the song. Your eyes don’t even need to look at the keyboard.

After the keyboard is set up for a song, I save the entire keyboard using the default selections of the SD save menu. The song setup is saved in a SD memory location and named appropriately for that song. I am cautious to make certain that the Sequencer is empty unless I have a sequence that will be used. I want an empty sequencer file saved with the song so that if anything exists in the sequencer it is deleted in the load process. So, that save contains, as a minimum, a complete unique sound file with whatever edits are used for that song as well as 24 panel memories, Composer memories A, B, and C with all their variations, a sequencer file, and a current panel file that has the keyboard set up for the start of the song. I seldom use Performance Pads but the file is there because it is one of the defaults of the save process. Whatever is in the Effect memory is also saved.

John, this is not all that different than the process you needed to follow to set up your music finder database for the T-3.

In an earlier post I went through the process that I use to select and play the songs. I tend to use SD Favorite Songs (not the favorites button at the bottom right of the keyboard) for song selection. It’s as simple as pressing the yellow SD button, then selecting Favorite Songs from the display, and pushing the single button that is next to the song I want. I play from lead sheets. The SD memory location is noted on each lead sheet, and in those rare occasions where I want a song that I have not put into the SD Favorite Songs list, I load the song by number based on the notes I have on the music sheet. It usually takes a few more seconds to load by number than using the favorite songs menu.

I guess I should say that I consider a medley as a single song as it relates to use of the SD card. So all the songs of a medley need to share common files of the save and load process.