Cool idea, initial bad implimentation

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 2:03 pm

I play my K61/P80 in church. I usually have a combi for each song selected from the set-list. Often I need to play background chord changes during transitions or when someone is speaking. My piano is usually too loud for that. I was thinking of an easy way to lower the piano volume and decided to program the SW1 for that. I usually run the piano through the compressor IFX so I just set the SW1 to lower the output of the IFX by 10db.

It was perfect! I have my song selected and just hit SW1 for a brief transition and turn it off for performance.

The last song was Cannons and it has a lot of special sounds on the K61. Taped flutes, string lead and a sparkle-y sounding pad.

We had a long transition leading into the song. When we finally started Cannons, I forgot to turn off SW1. I thought the piano sounded a little weak but it didn't really hit me yet. Then, I reached up to the K61 for the sparkle pad and it sounded way off. Huh? Now I'm very distracted. Back to piano and then I need the taped flutes. I hit a chord and it was horrible!! I had to just not play that part. As we get to the end of the song I realize the SW1 is still on!?!

So I went home and set it back up. Turns out SW1 also affects other sounds! Duh! The taped flute is set (by the factory) to slide down an octave w/SW1 while the sparkle pad had some layers drop an octave.

I never intended to leave SW1 on, just during transitions. Turns out I can filter SW1 from other timbers and all is fine. I love the new feature but it sure bit me the first time I used it.

Geo

jeebustrain · Post by **jeebustrain** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:55 pm

That's bitten me a few times in my combis. I've just gotten in the habit of filtering out almost everything just for the sake of being thorough.

roundand · Post by **roundand** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:56 pm

Maybe you could use the ducking feature of a compressor (an external one, not part of the effects in the Kronos) to lower the music autmatically when somebody speaks through the microphone.

billbaker · Post by **billbaker** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:43 pm

"Duck" function tends to be pretty abrupt, something smoother is needed for church.

Volume pedal maybe -- some can be set up with high/low ranges such that the low volume is not "zero" but pre-set suitable volume reduction.

Personally, I'd do a secondary default "go-to" keyboard sound for transitions already set at the "background" level (analog pad+EP ?) and use set-list for a seamless transition.

BB

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:00 pm

Call me crazy, but I think there is a pot on the Kronos that allows you to manually reduce the volume by any amount you like. It's pretty precise, too.

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:19 pm

SanderXpander wrote:Call me crazy, but I think there is a pot on the Kronos that allows you to manually reduce the volume by any amount you like. It's pretty precise, too.

OK. CrazY!

Geo

holdsg · Post by **holdsg** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 4:12 am

I was thinking volume pedal too

Or rig an A-B boost pedal like an Anti-boost pedal

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 8:31 am

geoelectro wrote:
SanderXpander wrote:Call me crazy, but I think there is a pot on the Kronos that allows you to manually reduce the volume by any amount you like. It's pretty precise, too.
OK. CrazY!

Geo

Haha, really though, is it that much easier to hit the switch than turn the knob? With the switch you have to be really sure than the "-20" or however much you put in is the right amount. What if one speaker is louder or softer?
I use a volume pedal myself but I would still opt for the pot over a fixed switch.

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 2:07 pm

SanderXpander wrote:
geoelectro wrote:
SanderXpander wrote:Call me crazy, but I think there is a pot on the Kronos that allows you to manually reduce the volume by any amount you like. It's pretty precise, too.
OK. CrazY!

Geo
Haha, really though, is it that much easier to hit the switch than turn the knob? With the switch you have to be really sure than the "-20" or however much you put in is the right amount. What if one speaker is louder or softer?
I use a volume pedal myself but I would still opt for the pot over a fixed switch.

I do have a "permanent" softer piano slot in setlist. I also use the volume pedal for the string/pad layer. This was just a curious "can this be done" experiment that I rather thought was clever. The point of the post wasn't this is the best way to do something, it was look how my experiment bit me in the a$$!

Geo

billbaker · Post by **billbaker** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 2:28 pm

Gotta twist a knob for a filter sweep? Make sure KARMA's not running!

One of the drawbacks of thoroughly implemented programing (i.e., factory sounds) is that a good programmer will implement every possible control he can in order to give you the widest range of performance options.

This means that you need to be especially careful -- try ahead of time -- when using a combi and AMS control options like sliders and knobs. Pretty much every controller gets used at some point in some program - increasing the number of voices just increases the odds that whatever you reach for will effect more than the intended destination -- case in point SW2.

AFAIK there is no reserved "user only" control that is safe to use when setting up combi level AMS.

BB