Transpose function is evil

[Pale]

So, I had a gig last night. One of the places we didn't play since last year, and one of the places I always anjoy playing because of the very good audience. People there are always dancing, atmosphere is always great. The downside is that the place is an adapted ... I dunno, warehouse, so the stage and audience area is basically a hallway, 5x25m, with conrete walls and low ceilings. So, quiet bands get loud in that space, and my band which is usually on the loud side got insanely loud to the point you couldn't hear what you are playing unless it was really, really cranked up (which in return increased the overall loudness). I don't know was it the tone guy, or the over enthusiastic guitar players - it was just way too loud. My ears were still buzzing this morning, but that's not the point of the story.

 

 

Towards the end of the show I suddenly noticed that *someone* in the band was out of tune. Since we are a nine piece band, and the gig was really, really loud I couldn't tell who it was. I just knew that my playing isn't in tune with the guitar (who was next to me blowing my ears with his amp). So I yelled across the stage, first one guitar, then the other, then to the bass : "are you in tune, please check". They were in tune, and there was no way I could be out of tune, right? It must be my ears are playing tricks on me since it's all oh so loud.

Comes my solo and to my horror I realize I've been wrong. It is I who am out of tune, and it's not the transpose button (since it not glowing, right, so it must be off). So there I am, fighting my way through the solo, completely out of tune, trying to figure out in which key the stupid keyboard tranposed me, and I can't do it since I really can't hear anything from all the noise. Most embarassing moment since ...I don't know. Ever. I finished the rest of the gig on hammond, and it wasn't too bad since we only had 3 songs left, and of those 2 were based on a hammond anyway. I probably did 2 songs off key before reaching the climax in that solo and realizing I am out of tune.

 

Later I realized what happened. Apparently , the keyboard transposed itself and the LED indicator showing that you are in transpose mode didn't indicate it. The transpose button I panically tried to press didn't do anything, and on/off method didn't help either. THe keyboard just decided to punish me with an arbitrary transpose. THe best thing is - it works like a charm now, no sign of the problem.

 

Transpose function is evil.

 

 

 

p.s. Sorry for the rant.

[HAMEGZ]

I have a V- COmbo that, upon its own choosing, will transpose itself 1/2 step down. No power down or flicking the mod wheel or accessing the transpose menu will rectify the issue. The only way to return to A440 is to reload the sys-ex back up ...

 

I feel your pain..

[Fusker]

That's a classic.

 

The other night, I had my octave key mess with me for a few bars at a rehearsal before I figured out what was going on...not AS traumatic, but fairly randomly annoying.

[Meisenhower]

It is interesting that this thread appeared today, as I was going to start one of a similar ilk.

 

First, I never ever use the transpose function (no need to) and don't even know how to change the global tuning on my CP33 (well, didn't before today).

 

Last night, I was playing the last set with the CP33/NE2 combo, when during Monk's Mood, I kept looking at the bassist (who I was absolutely certain went out of tune) and knew something was amiss. After that tune was finished, I changed presets (which had me control the Nord with the CP33) and used both the NE2 and CP33 sounds. Lo and behold, the keyboards were NOT in tune. The CP was a good 1/4 step higher.

 

I looked at the transpose button, it was off. I powered down and unplugged both midi and power but the CP was still detuned. I hadn't gone into FUNCTION setting or MASTER edit, so there was NO explanation as to how or why this happened.

 

Anyway, I finished the night on the Nord and figured I'd check the CP manual today at home.

 

After reading the manual, I discovered aside from accessing the FUNCTION menu and once you've gone to the appropriate F1-8 x 8 zillion functions, you can change the global tuning. Hardly something you would do "accidently" while actually playing.

 

I THEN ALSO discovered (and I had to read this twice), that if you press a certain number of keys (not panel buttons, but piano keys) simultaneously (three at the bottom of the keyboard and one between C3 & B3 (I think), you will change the tuning (from A440 to A442) and by hitting a the upper key multiple times, you can keep changing the tuning.

 

Well, I MUST have done exactly that (the only explanation), as when I hit the proper combination to put it back (also in the manual) and VOILA, it was fine.

 

What the hell was Yamaha thinking by even putting something like this as a feature. Granted the odds of hitting the exact combo are pretty remote, AND since there was already ONE method to change the tuning, why have something that looks like a "back door" (which is common in software) and could be done unknowingly by the user?

 

If you want to change the global tuning of the instrument, the menu driven layers should be sufficient.

 

I guess I have to start traveling with my owners manual in tow!!

 

I think its an idiotic feature!! Good thing it happened at the end of the night instead of the beginning!

 

 

[kanker.]

I THEN ALSO discovered (and I had to read this twice), that if you press a certain number of keys (not panel buttons, but piano keys) simultaneously (three at the bottom of the keyboard and one between C3 & B3 (I think), you will change the tuning (from A440 to A442) and by hitting a the upper key multiple times, you can keep changing the tuning.

 

Well, I MUST have done exactly that (the only explanation), as when I hit the proper combination to put it back (also in the manual) and VOILA, it was fine.

 

What the hell was Yamaha thinking by even putting something like this as a feature. Granted the odds of hitting the exact combo are pretty remote, AND since there was already ONE method to change the tuning, why have something that looks like a "back door" (which is common in software) and could be done unknowingly by the user?

I have to think that somewhere up there, Monk REALLY digs that this happened....

 

On the other hand, this could be considered conclusive proof that jazz really is the devil's music

[eric]

I was on a trip and sat in with a band where the band's keyboard had been transposed for the song before my jam and I was unaware. Similar loud situation and I was totally baffled. I was playing a very common song and looking at all these players I did not know, trying to say "hey man, in what key are you playing?" and I was getting blank looks. I finally figured it out halfway through the song and got myself straight, but it was a pretty surreal event.

 

 

[ewall08530]

One of the bands that I play with was in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis back in early Feb.

 

The first night of the competition (Wed) we played BB Kings on Beale st. Although they had promised an 88key weighted piano in the backline there was none. We all used the house B3 and it was fine.

 

The next night we are scheduled to play first and I noticed they havd an 88 on top of the B3. (for some reason I cannot recall what it was...lol)

 

First 2 songs I use just the Hammond. Song 3 starts. Its a New Oleans type song that I play on piano,in the key of C. I wait 4 measures for the intro and start playing....good grief... I'm not in the same key.

I stopped playing long enough to hear that the piano is transposed a step down.

 

So once I got over the shock I played the song in Bb and I couldn't help laughing till the end.

 

I warned the next keyboard player but he just said, I don't care I'm just using the organ.

 

I got your transpose button right here! lol

[SpaceNorman]

I wish I could blame my semi-regular "oh shit, I'm transposed!" moments on mysterious equipment malfunctions - but I can't. For reasons I've yet to figure out, I somehow manage to graze key control buttons at some point in the night every couple of gigs. It drives me nutz when it happen! It happens often enough on my RD700SX - that I've taken to setting the transpose to an octave above before the start of the night so that when I do hit it - it's off by an octave and not some weird interval.

 

Screwing up by hitting the transpose is bad ... but it's minor stuff compared to bumping the arpeggiator button! Yikes!!!!!

[RABid]

My Moog Source started transposing without warning and it did not have a transpose function. Then it started playing notes on its own and kicking in the arp. It's under the bed and has not been turned on in 25 years.

 

I've never used the transpose function, but one night after the guitarist pissed me off and reversed the keyboard before turning it over to him for his nightly "Hey, I can play piano" song. Because he was playing two hand block chords he never did figure out what was happening. From that night on the singer made sure the guitarist stuck with guitar.

[VegasGT3]

I was on a trip and sat in with a band where the band's keyboard had been transposed for the song before my jam and I was unaware. Similar loud situation and I was totally baffled. I was playing a very common song and looking at all these players I did not know, trying to say "hey man, in what key are you playing?" and I was getting blank looks. I finally figured it out halfway through the song and got myself straight, but it was a pretty surreal event.

 

 

 

A similar thing happened to me in Canada . . .

[Meisenhower]

I wish I could blame my semi-regular "oh shit, I'm transposed!" moments on mysterious equipment malfunctions - but I can't. For reasons I've yet to figure out, I somehow manage to graze key control buttons at some point in the night every couple of gigs. It drives me nutz when it happen! It happens often enough on my RD700SX - that I've taken to setting the transpose to an octave above before the start of the night so that when I do hit it - it's off by an octave and not some weird interval.

 

Screwing up by hitting the transpose is bad ... but it's minor stuff compared to bumping the arpeggiator button! Yikes!!!!!

 

That's why "panel lock" should be the friend of every keyboard player who's instrument has that feature.

[Jim Alfredson]

I think I've related this story here before, but here goes:

 

Doing the London Ontario Blues Fest with Janiva last summer. The 'Hat (as we nicknamed them), otherwise known as Foghat, decides at the last minute that they want to soundcheck right when we're supposed to play. Since they are the headliner, the promoter agress. So we wind up waiting an hour while their roadies/techs set up all their shit and flail away.

 

Afterward, the audience is undeniably and understandably pissed off. We get on stage to set up and our poor drummer has half a kit because the 'Hat stole parts to make a monster kit (that he cannot touch, of course). So we have to wait another 45 minutes for the sound company to get another kit to the stage. Fucking idiots.

 

Now the audience is really pissed. I'm playing a real B3 with an S90es on top that the "keyboardist" for the 'Hat was using. We do our two instrumentals before we bring Janiva up and I play organ on both. She gets to the stage, I hit the first chord of her first song on the piano, which she sings the intro to a capella. I hit the chord and instantly realize it's not the right chord. I check myself. Yep, Gm. I quickly compare a G on the piano to a G on the organ. Out of tune. The 'Hat keyboardist transposed the S90es. FUCK!

 

All this happens in a blink of an eye and I stop Janiva about two words into her intro, knowing the rest of the band will come in about two whole steps higher than what she's singing. I explain to her quickly the problem while diving into the menus to solve it. She tells a funny joke to the audience "It's that kind of day!" and the show goes on.

 

Now I ALWAYS check any backline keyboard before the show starts.

[J. Dan]

I've been having problems with pit h bend on both keyboards, lately. My old triton's pitch stick has been sticking in the bent up position. Not a problem, as if I bend up, I can bend it back down. But one night it must have gotten pushed up in the case. When I sound checked, I was playing by myself, so I didn't notice. Organ solo in the first song comes in and I'm like, WTF? Thought maybe global shift was messed up or something. Spend most of the solo trying to figure out what key it was in. Actually managed to finish out he solo playing in tune in it's bent state by playing a lower key, once I figured out the interval. Realized after the song what was wrong - I always check now. My fusion bend wheel doesn't center properly, so on songs with larger bend ranges, it can sometimes be just slightly out of tune (usually flat). A little flick in the right direction and it usually corrects itself.

[Pale]

It seems most of you have a transpose story That just confirms that the transpose function indeed is evil.

 

 

[yannis D]

Screwing up by hitting the transpose is bad ... but it's minor stuff compared to bumping the arpeggiator button! Yikes!!!!!

 

And this is what happened to me! Quite big concert in London with a female singer as a guest of the artist i play with. The lady -nervous- comes up on stage and during the very end of the song -where we suppose to go soft and tender- here's my arpeggiator starting to play random notes. Thanx God i take the sound down fast and i almost escape alive, but still there are some random movements of the piano sound... Very very disturbing. What happened? Apparently my Xv2020, which was velcro-ed on my keyboard, slipped down and reached the arpeggiator key!

BTW, i don't think she ever found out what really happened! She invited me to play piano with her band in a concert in my town (and i'll velcro the arp button itself!)

[Bosendorphen]

That's why "panel lock" should be the friend of every keyboard player who's instrument has that feature.

 

I wish I'd had that feature on my Mini-Korg back in 1979! We used to play Beck/Hammer's "Blue Wind" and since the MK didn't have a pitch bend wheel I had to do my bends with the pitch slider and hopefully remember to return it to center when I was done.

 

I forgot and on our next tune, Kansas' "He Knew" I was playing the opening synth riff and ARRRRGGHHH! Must have be 75 cents flat. I was so embarrassed I stayed depressed for days (ah the emotional early 20s).

[Chris Link]

Pale, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you're routinely playing in situations that loud, you'll be deaf soon.

[Aidan]

I once used a backing track on an iPod for a song during a Holocaust memorial service.

 

Unfortunately, my touch on the controls to pause the playback once we'd finished didn't register.

 

The next thing everyone heard, during a moving silence was Simon & Garfunkel singing "Gee but it's great to be back home..."

 

CLUNK. The guest preacher, who had been about to speak, slipped me a look to suggest that this particular customer was far from satisfied.

[Outkaster]

I want to see a keyboard made without the transpose feature. It would be great.

[Joe Muscara]

I want to see a keyboard made without the transpose feature. It would be great.

http://www.steinway.com/images/piano-model/model-d-ny.png

[HAMEGZ]

I want to see a keyboard made without the transpose feature. It would be great.

http://www.steinway.com/images/piano-model/model-d-ny.png

 

OHH BUT THERE IS LOOK HERE

 

http://americanhistory.si.edu/dynamic/images/collections_large/72-11193_225px.jpg

[theGman]

I like the transpose function. There, are you listening, O Gods of Transposition? Please pass over my keyboard when you do your smitingtations.

[Jim Alfredson]

http://www.pugetsoundorgan.com/images/hammond/hammondB3.jpg

[ProfD]

Because so many folks use the transpose button, whenever I walk up to an unfamiliar KB, it is the first thing I'll check.

 

I do realize the button is a necessary evil. Especially for folks who only feel comfortable playing in certain keys and/or to whom KB is not their primary instrument.

[Eric Iverson]

I'm a guitarist, not a keyboard player, but I always said that pressing a button to transpose (as opposed to actually learning the chord in the other keys) is cheating, unless you simply have no time to learn a complex arrangement in another key onstage if the singer decide to sing it in another key... Yes, indeed, we guitarists sometimes use capos, but good guitarists don't DEPEND on them all the time! As in you're screwed if you left your capo at home.

I use computers at work all the time, and am well aware of the weird glitches that happen on a daily basis. At least there are no weird glitches with capos!

WEIRD GLITCHES - how's that for a band name??

[area51recording]

I use the transpose function rarely, and when I do it nearly always bites me on the butt....I always forget to disable it and the next tune is almost always a piano intro that I kick off in the wrong key....

[drawback]

My worst experience was something resting on an RD700 became wedged and was pressing the joystick down.

 

Dark stage, lights in the eyes, shock & awe shit.

 

 

[Outkaster]

I want to see a keyboard made without the transpose feature. It would be great.

http://www.steinway.com/images/piano-model/model-d-ny.png

 

Haha. Exactly!

[mate stubb]

Good God, is Foghat still touring?

 

I used to be on some of the same bills as them back in the early 70s. They were already burned out then.

[Baldwin Funster]

I believe the drummer is the only original member. I saw the current band on youtube. Ive heard cover bands sound closer to the albums.