Chris47

Thanks David. Being lazy here I guess but how does set list mode work?

So I'm quite interested in the MODX in my never-ending search for the perfect gig keyboard. I'm sure it sounds great, there's a shed load of user performances (which is the mode I'd stay in live). Effects seem to be retained from programs in 4 element performances, which is critical for me. I just have one question; how do you change sounds? I've never had a keyboard that doesn't have a numeric keypad. If I've programmed song XYZ in performances 245 - 250, intending to step through them with a foot pedal, how do I get to performance 245 in the first place? Is there a keypad in the touch screen? How do you guys use the MODX live? I'd be looking at the 73 (6?) note version. Also hoping that Kurzweil bring out a PC4 76. Thanks for any guidance you can give me.

Hi all. It's interesting to read all the different likes/dislikes surrounding the announcement of a new keyboard. Kurzweil are a small player in a big market, and we can assume they're interested in increasing their market share. To that end, they would have done much research and development, and conducted extensive user surveys to try and establish what features would be popular in a new release. They've come up with the PC4, and it looks to be based extensively on the SP6 (which I own). Dave W assures us that this has been a big success, and coming personally from 40 years of gigging with 61-note synths (still largely using my beloved Korg N364), I really like it. With my background the action seems fine to me. I have all the PC3 legacy sounds loaded and that's plenty of sounds. The best I can come up with by way of a criticism is that I can't understand why user multis don't start from #1, instead of #1248 or whatever it is. I'm also a little disappointed that some 4-zone user multis are losing effects. For me personally there's not enough in the PC4 to tempt me to upgrade. I'd like the aftertouch, but I only really use it on organ sounds, I can bring that in with the sustain pedal (confuses the hell out of me but I'll get used to it). I don't need 16-zone multis as I only ever play live and never record. And if I'm losing effects on 4-zone multis Also not interested in sequencer, arpeggiators etc. But if they bring out a 76 key version I'm all over it like a rash. I mean who ever uses the top and bottom 5 notes or so on an 88? 76 will go across the back seat of my car and be lighter. Just my two penn'orth.

So have spent a week with my new SP6, and pretty happy with it, particularly the PC3 sound set I've loaded. Can anyone tell me how to change leslie speed on the PC3 organ sounds? How can I assign leslie speed to the variation button, or a pedal? Thanks in anticipation.

Well I loaded PC3OB212.PC3. Don't know if that includes Sample headers, whatever they are (or anything else - multis etc.?), but I tried out all 1024 sounds, albeit very quickly. I was actually very impressed. Nothing untowards jumped out at me. How would you load just the programs? Presumably if you chose 'Some' you'd have to specify all 1024 individually?

For those of you looking to get the PC3 sound set in your SP6, I went to: http://kurzweil.com/product/pc3/downloads/ Then I clicked on: PC3 v2.21 Update - 5.5 MB Click Open, then save PC3OB212.PC3 on your computer, copy to a memory stick/thumb drive, then follow the instructions in the Musician's Guide, Global Mode, File Page, Load a File from a USB Device (page 6-8). It's not intuitive but it's really easy. As discussed earlier in this thread it's odd that Kurzweil don't promote this.

So my SP6 arrived today. Spent an hour with it tonight. Quick summary of initial impressions. Weight is absolutely great. Keyboard touch seems more than OK to me. Joined in a laid-back gig last night on a Roland RD800 which was probably nicer, but I think this will be fine. I'm coming from 40 years' gigging with 61 note synth action keyboards so I expect my fingers will get tired! Piano sounds are stunning. EPs pretty good. All the other sounds are top quality but I knew with only 256 programs there'd be stuff I couldn't find. So I loaded up the 1024 PC3 sound set (so easy to do), and there's just plenty in there for me, strings, organs, brass etc., even the one synth sound I need ... I've read the manuals and as per recent discussions I'm sure you can only have 4 programs in a multi. If you can get more than one sound in a program that's too complicated for me and I won't need it. I like the immediacy of the knobs to put a bit of reverb etc. on. I know this is less sophisticated than a lot of modern keys but plenty for me. I'm not interested in real-time twiddling. 1024 multis means I can use this in all three bands I'm currently working with. So feeling very positive right now. I deserve 88 notes that I can lift at my age. But just as a rider this is the 7th board I've bought in the last 20 years and I'm still gigging with the first - my beloved Korg N364!

Interesting thoughts about smooth sound transition - I doubt I'll ever be changing from one big multi to another, so I'm not too worried. Didn't notice any issues switching programs. However did anyone have any obs on my two questions on loading PC3 programs: 1/ Will these programs have the correct effects assigned to them? 2/ Will these programs appear under the various sound categories (piano, organ etc.)? I'd be particularly keen to know that item 1 was OK. Thanks, Chris

OK, so rather tardily returning to my previous posts, could I ask a couple of questions about loading PC3 sounds into the user program memories: 1/ Will these programs have the correct effects assigned to them? 2/ Will these programs appear under the various sound categories (piano, organ etc.)? Just trekked down to Bonners Eastbourne to try out an SP6. Action a bit heavy for me, but I've been gigging with a 61 key synth for 20 years. Think I could get used to it. Lovely pianos, couple of nice EPs, not convinced by some of the other sounds (who needs 16 clavs or choirs, could use some more bog-standard organs, strings and brass), so need the PC3 sounds available as a fall back. Also noticed that there's a noticeable glitch on changing multis, presumably due to the effects chains. That could be a bit of a pain. Still on the fence as to whether to pull the trigger.

Just out of interest voxpops where in the UK did you manage to source an SP6?

So to return to my previous question, for those who have loaded the PC3 sounds, how exactly do you do it? I've downloaded 2 .PC3 files, a normal one and a KORE one. Can you load all the sounds into the 1024 SP6 user programs in one shot? Or do you have to select them individually? Looking at the PC3 documentation it would seem there are slightly too many to fit in the 1024 slots ...

So I'm really quite excited by the SP6. Never been near a Kurzweil before (that's a lie - had a PC3LE6 briefly but it conked out and I sent it back). It ticks all my boxes, except that with only 256 preset programs, and looking at the patch list, I can't help thinking there's bound to be a sound or two missing (eg there don't look to be too many basic brass patches). So there's all this talk about loading PC3 sounds, or Forte SE sounds. How does this work? Are they samples or just programs? And presumably this is already going on with the Forte series. So I've looked at the Kurzweil website but can't see how to audition/download PC3 sounds. If I knew I could access this vast array of sounds I'd definitely pull the trigger on one of these (if they ever arrive in England). Thanks for any help you can give me. Chris