Looking at my Mastering settings for my BK9 I'm not sure where to set the compression for the Rhythms and Parts. I alsways have just left them on Standard Factory setting but wondering how most of you do yours?

Use your ears Bill with your pa...
No rules...

Bill, I always thought Roland sounds fine without compression.. Actually when you think it needs it... it is mostly because the sound system is letting you down..

When I used the G70 in the band, and using the band sound system.. I would not have the mastering tools on.. but if we were doing a tune and I felt I needed to change to another gear, I would use the EQ bump and if I really wanted to kick it up, I would turn on Compression.. I usually used custom settings. And on the G70, just a button push away..

The BK9 is shipped with Mastering tools turned on... Standard eq and standard compression.. I always thought it was a bit too much, and would turn them off.
Both my Marantz and Roland cubes did not need the mastering tools on..

Here you go Bill...enjoy

Donny and Fran thanks for the info. Bottom line I guess is to just try different settings with my gig setup.

Go get 'em Bill good luck..

Bill,
I'm sure I replied to this yesterday, but must've forgot to hit "submit" (duh)
My thoughts are these:
1) Most arranger keyboards are already full of compressed sounds and styles. Unless you're concerned with live input (like vocals, or guitar) I can't imagine really needing to add compression to a keyboard mix. They all sound like records ready for airplay to me.
2) Compressors are sometimes more trouble than they are worth. There's a fine line between sweetening a sound, and stripping it of it's dynamic integrity

There are other setting specific thoughts I have, but we'd need to discuss these as they relate to your situation.
With THAT said, why do you think you need to add compression? Is there a sound, or style that isn't sitting (setting?) well in the mix for you? Some other reason?

I rarely use it in my live rigs. The studio is another animal, but that's a story for another day.

Dave
I'm just curious why Roland sold the BK9 with the compressions settings on. And there are other choices of settings, Hard, soft, bass -mid-high boost,standard and user. I would like my keyboard to sound as "live" as possible which is why I also wondered why a "Randomizer" control has never been added to any Arrangers. As I said I had that on my old CR80 drum machine and it added a nice effect of every hit not being perfect. Fran gave me the place in the manuel to look at compression settings- forget it ! To make settings on every instrument in every style is not gonna happen.
I'm going to set up my gig system in my garage and try it with no compression to see if I get more dynamics or a less mechanical sound.

Bill - adding "extras" is not a bad thing, but my guess is that most users will play that thing as it comes, and not dig too deep into things they don't understand.

I think I've made a discovery. Figured Roland knew hao to make their keyboard sound best so I never messed with the compression settiongs. Turned off the compression for both the Rhythms and Styles and even playing in my studio thru my pair of CM30s I have more control over volumes. I feel more in control. I've tried to do that before with the velocity settings for each part, this works better.
Can't wait to shake up the neighbors with my Eon Ones in the garage.

The EA7 sounds great with no e.q. added, and no compression. I tried to make it sound better, but only went backwards. I wish all the arrangers came from the factory set as well as that one.

While Donny gave me some in depth info on a video which I did find informative I got my idea as to what to try first from three of our other Pros. Don, Dave, and Fran don,'t use any Compression . Don't know how Donny is setting up his Genos but I'm sure he knows how to get the best out of it.
Nice to have 4 Pros available for info thanks to this site.

Gee..I should have checked My BK-9 settings before I sold it to Ted....Hummm Maybe I should have played it more than 30 Min also!

Bill basically as always just use your own ears..
every Pa is different and what music you put thru it using whatever devices you have, KB, etc,...so many things need to be considered, is it studio, live, band,solo, etc?... in the sound chain.

True, but sometime you have to understand what is causing your problem, before you can fix it

I really had no major problem but while messing with the Mastering EQs ( which I have also turned off ) I got interested in the Compression settings. My PA is the best sounding I've ever had. The two EON One's provide a nice balanced sound so all the EQ I need I do at the Preformance level. Still haven't set up the gig rig to try it but as I said , in my studio thru the CM30's its more respnsive to my playing.

Harold, you definatly should have given the BK9 more than 30 minutes. Buy it back !

Or just wait for Roland's next arranger KB offering
reported rumors are flying all over.

Merry Christmas

Hi, New member here. Enjoying the conversations, especially this one. Like others I'm always looking for the best sound produced by my Yamaha PSR S975. Changed MEQ several times, but never bothered with the compression, until today after reading these comments. I changed to Flat as per Dynamix Audio example on Youtube and played around with the compression. Reverb: legend and atmospheric. Result: Excellent sound. My PA system is a a Fender Passport PD150 with alleged Bose designed speakers and it never sounded better than now. I know the way we hear sounds is an individual thing, but I thought I should share this. Glad I joined this forum.

Gerry

Welcome Gerry! Nice to have new members because some these OLD ones getting grumpy in their old age.

Welcome to the Synth Zone Gerry..
Have fun...

+1 to the welcoming choir. 👍 🎵🎵 🎹 🎵🎵

Hi Gerry and welcome to the SZ Forum! Lots of great musicians and entertainers here. You have a great keyboard! Whether you are Pro or not, you will find a wealth of information here and lots of very helpful folks! Stick around and have fun!

Hope your saying that in a month !!!

WELCOME !!!

We're glad to see you, too! Don't be shy - post your music, ask questions, offer advice - this is a magical place with LOADS of resources available to you.

Welcome!

Thank you all for welcoming me. Would have written this earlier, but got busy playing with my new found sound. It's amazing that one little post about compression has greatly enhanced my music. I have retired from live performances so I'll have time now to tackle all the other challenges with my keyboard like recording, style creation and what else I can figure out. Happy Thanksgiving.

Gerry