What is your FAVORITE feature?

I was on another forum, and the question was asked 'why do all the manufacturers keep dropping some of our favorite features?'. I thought about this for a bit, then I said 'Maybe because we spend all our time talking about things we DON'T like, and so little about what we DO...'

How do they know not to drop it when we don't tell them we like it?! So... Why not take a little time to describe what your favorite OS features on your arranger are, and hopefully, they might STILL be on the NEXT arranger your manufacturer makes...

An obscure feature to me is very important..

Patch remain..a feature that allows you to change a sound and have the previous sound hold till you play the new sound..A lot of boards[without mentioning brands] cut the patch off[very annoying]..

The other obscure feature is the proper allocation of voices[polyphony]..

I found Roland to be my choice for these features..

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 08-28-2007).]

Favorite feature: Super Articulated voices...it would be nice to see even more of them implemented in the future.

A Yamaha exclusive.

SA Harmonica and SA Violin/fiddle would be very cool.

Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 08-28-2007).]

Keys of course: 61, 76, 88 .... who cares!

Fran, completely agree with you about new Tones not cutting off old ones. Even some Roland WSs don't allow this, and it ruins their effectiveness as live keyboards...

Combine it with the use of the Sostenuto pedal, and you can do some quite complex things even with just one hand...

One of my favorites... Multi-button pedalboard inputs. I can't imagine using an arranger without one...

Scott.... let it go, man, let it go....

Real time control knobs like the PSR-E403...would be nice to see these on the higher end arrangers...especially with the SA voices...cool!

Also to be able to assign filter and/or tone sweeps to the mod wheel(like the PSR-740), and/or to a foot pedal (volume type) as well.

Ian

the balance knob on my new roland e 80 that will balance the keyboard right hand voices with the accompaniement voices. This is the first keyboard I ever had it on and I think it is invaluable. That is just one of many things that come to mind.
Bebop

The way I can edit and create styles on the
G70 to my own taste is very important for
me.

A usefull feature I loved on the Pa80, was the ability to trigger a fill-in by the velocity on the lower part of the keybord in arranger mode.

Good one, Fran...this feature should be on all brands.

Ian

I agree with Fran on the hold tone function.

I also would like to see Aftertouch used more.

Yamaha calls it Superarticulation, but it's been around for years; The harder you press the keys, the patch changes from one sound to another. For example; take a standard piano sound, layer in a Rhodes with aftertouch and as you bang the keys harder you can accent certain musical passages with a Rhodes Bell Sound.

I'd like to see this used more.

Also, give me more REAL-TIME SLIDERS!!!!!!!

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Al Giordano www.arrangerworld.com

Tyros 2, Yamaha P-250, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Roland VK8-M, DW Collectors Series Drums, Roland SPD-S.



[This message has been edited by kbrkr (edited 08-29-2007).]

The "Fill to half-bar" in the G70 is an awesome feature that I've never seen in other arranger.......But I only kept the G70 for 3 days only....

I'm sure most of you that have known me for a LONG TIME here have probably already predicted what I would say my favorite feature is:

arranger chord recognition: ROOTLESS CHORD VOICINGS

Over the last 8 years, I fought long and hard here to stress the importance for this. Back in 1999, only Technics & Yamaha arrangers included this 'modified version' of the distinctive keyboard chord voicings introduced & played by jazz legends Bill Evans & Wynton Kelly, but which has now become a standard style of keyboard accompaniment in blues & pop music as well, and a chordal style played by contemporary keyboard artists now: from Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, to Elton John.

4 years ago, following my urged suggestions, Ketron 1st introduced arranger rootless chord recognition on the SD1, and only last year, Korg finally came on board as well, introducing this on their PA1X arranger. It seems now that (of the top arranger manufacturers) only Roland and GEM are left behind to (hopefully) finally come on board now.

As I've stressed repeatedly here, this feature is something that would be relatively simple to implement because all it requires is changing the values of the chord recognition table .

That said, one of the most rewarding experiences I've had participating on Synthzone is the gratification that some major arranger manufacturers (namely: Yamaha, Ketron, and now Korg) have actually listened to me and responded in kind, and I now want to express a sincere 'Thank You' to them.

- Scott

PS: If you're new to SZ and unfamiliar with rootless style keyboard chord voicings, simply perform a forum search on the word:"rootless"

Scott Yee Entertainment

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 08-29-2007).]

Scott,

I am very surprised to learn that Roland and GEM do not support rootless voicing...especially Roland who advertise their TOTL arrangers as "professional" instruments.

A big omission in my opinion.

Ian

Ketron Arranger lock, Bass lock & Drum lock

diki.....this looks very interesting almost like a CS feature......

a newer XD9 function called 2nd Lock. It does just what the other lock functions do.
Sixth is the Bassist on/off. I don't play good enough left hand bass to need this up top, but the way it works is extremely useful. With this function selected, the left hand play a manual bass line below the split and the right hand triggers the chord changes if you play more than two notes. After playing a three note chord you can then solo over it with your right hand without changing the chord until you play another three note chord. Absolutely not for beginners.

Good suggestions, keep 'em coming..

Scott, I agree that having a manufacturer respond to your requests is VERY gratifying, and just one more example of WHY it so important to keep voicing your needs and wants publicly, even repetitively (they probably didn't implement your request the FIRST time you asked, did they? ).

Despite what the naysayers say, you CAN influence a manufacturer's R&D and future OSs and products, but only if you get involved, and make a bit of noise.

Donny, that feature (LH Bass, RH three note chord recognition) has been a Roland feature for years... It works well the other way around, too - comp or play lines in the LH, and only trigger chords when you play three notes or more. I use it all the time...

But once again, I'd like to remind all here, I started this thread to get ideas about what are our favorite features on our CURRENT arranger, not past models, just so our manufacturer doesn't drop them because they are unaware we LOVE them...!

Getting them to bring back OLD features, well, you know what they'll say about you if you go down THAT path...

My favorite arranger feature? speakers!

Speakers! Yes cassp...good one.

I hope the next Tyros has them built in.

Ian

#1. SD1 w 4.0 & SD1plus have a feature called "unplugged". Call up the sounds being used within a style, select a part, press 2 master volumne control buttons and that part is isolated. I mostly use it to isolate guitar parts. When you press a fill in or break, all parts come back on ....

#2. The "to end" button is extremely helpful. SD1 has 3 endings, but the "to end" feature will end any style with a 1 measure ending.
I wish we could "to end" midi files that are too long, without having to edit in software...

fave feature is that if i take my keyboard with me my wife will believe whatever i tell her about where I'm going.

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Miami Mo

Not anymore, after we mail her this thread (with your post highlighted).

chas

Souds that familiar to me....

[img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img]


Seriously though.

Any pro keyboard/arranger should have a button section where you can store midi settings for selection of other midi devices, like a good midicontroller keyboard.

Fred

favorite feature #2 - dedicated piano, organ and arranger buttons, ala G70.

But I wish they were customizable...

And my most favorite feature of all...

those cute little pictures under the keyboard for the drum sounds - how professional!

Best feature is:
Not loosing shed loads of money to get the latest sounds and features.

Bill

chas, how do you happen to have my wife's email? does your wife know this? I'm afraid I will have to mail her this thread with YOUR post highlighted...

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Miami Mo

Here's a few of my 'must-haves'... (from the G70)

Multi button pedalboard inputs (FC-7). I can't play without these.

Makeup Tools. Best easy editing of ANY keyboard, not just arrangers.

The sliders.

Pianostyle Mode. (no chord trigger until you play 3 notes)

The HB (Hammond) section and the GrandX (piano). Best meat and potatoes of any arranger.

The V-Kits. Best drums of any arranger (in fact, the only kits I use!).

The Song Link, Lyrics Link, and MIDI set Link to UPG.

The bender. (but I'd LOVE a Pitch-strip, too!)

USB, and the Card Slot (much more robust than sticking a USB stick in a port).

The Touch Screen.

You know... Maybe it would just be better if the manufacturers somehow ASKED us before they drop a feature. THEN they wouldn't have to wait until it's too late to find out they made a colossal blunder. Just a thought...

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 08-30-2007).]

Diki says - "USB, and the Card Slot (much more robust than sticking a USB stick in a port)."

I disagree. USB flash drives are so much easier to work with and cheaper. Look at how USB is handled on the PA800; right up front, convenient and safely out of the way.

sorry - double-posted

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 08-30-2007).]

DanO, the marker feature on G70, E80 and Tyros2..can easily prepare a marker to end a SMF..also allowing you to mark a verse, chorus etc..It is super easy on a Roland[I never tried it on a Tyros2]..

Cass, I prefer the method on the G70 over the thumb drive...The card reader stays out of the way...Also the prices have dropped a lot for Compact Flash and Smart Media..as well..I also like the direct connection USB and locate the internal or external media device..

my favourite feature is 8 sliders and 8 knobs on my motif XS !!!!

sorry Diki but you didnt specify "favourite Arranger feature" lol

Nick

For me, the patch remain feature (as mentioned by Fran) is a must on an arranger. I thought my Tyros 2 was not properly programmed as this feature is impossible on it, but this is the way Yamaha approaches keyboards (you can see my post asking help on http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/015786.html).

Other significant feature I've found on my G-70 as well, is the ability to use Make Up Tools to edit styles up to the drum instruments to be used (terrific feature).

I hope Yamaha will keep the multi pads and the use of folders to save own settings (registrations, styles, songs, etc.) on future arrangers.

My 2 cents...

[This message has been edited by Swissman (edited 09-03-2007).]

My absolute favorite, MUSTHAVE feature is:>
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the microphone stand!
Without it....I can't sing...and if I can't sing .... I don't want to work !