Kurz PCx Setup Controller Entry Confusion

[Unsound Practices]

I'm digging deeper into programming my rig and have hit a brick wall with Setup programming on my PC1x.

 

I understand (and can use) the Controller Entry Level setting for getting the volume on a patch correct, but how to I get the Kurz to respond to MIDI volume instructions from an external controller?

 

Example: I use my ES 7 as the Master, in Master Mode. The Kurz is set to receive Setup change commands on MIDI Ch 13, and my Electro is on MIDI Ch 16. I program Masters on the ES so that I get the patch I want for the ES, the Kurz and the Electro. Great way to do things live.

 

I have the Motif programmed to send the appropriate MSB/LSB/PC data and Volume data down the appropriate MIDI channel. The Electro works fine (correct patch at correct volume), but the the Kurz is giving me some aggro. The correct Setup comes up, but the Volume is always either 127 or whatever I set the Kurz Controller Entry Level value for Volume to be on that Setup.

 

It is more convenient (and will tie up less Kurz setup locations) if I can have that Volume setting sent and recognized from the Motif.

 

Am I missing something? Thanks!

[Prague]

I may not understand, but you can set Entry Values for Volume (in each zone if you like) to NONE on the Kurz. Then it should react to all the sent Volume info.

[Unsound Practices]

Problem solved, but a question raised.

 

Kurzweil Setups are the equivalent of Motif Masters... a four zone program that lets you split, layer, and/or just call up patches on various external synths. It is very handy in a live situation because one can preprogram a Master for each song on your set list, and with the press of a single button on a single synth, all synths in the rig are good to go for that song.

 

Unlike the Motif, the Kurz can change Setups in response to incoming Program Change data on a specific MIDI channel. The Motif requires a sysex string to change Masters. For that reason (and my preference to the Motif UI over the Kurz), I use my ES7 as the "Master" keyboard, with one zone dedicated to Kurz and one zone dedciated to the Electro. In theory, I could fire the Electro from a zone on the Kurz as I have, in theory, seven zones available to me between a Motif Master and a Kurz Setup, but I digress.

 

What I was doing wrong on the volume change front in my earlier post is simple. My Kurz is configured to receive program change data on MIDI Ch 13... but it is a multi timbral device. The Kurz Setup zones use MIDI Ch 1-4. My CC7 (volume) data was indeed being transmitted and received correctly, but on Ch 13 of the Kurz.

 

So by changing the MIDI IN settings on the Kurz to REMAP and setting the REMAP CHANNEL to 13 all was well. I can now call up the patches at the volume I want on the Motif, Kurz, and Electro with a Master on the Motif.

 

But the question to all you live players out there is... is this the best way to do it?

 

Thoughts, opinions, and general comments on how to control a multi-keyboard live rig are most welcome.

 

[End Note: My home rig is incredibly complicated. Everything goes through a MOTU MTP AV programmable MIDI router driven by the Motif. Any keybed can control any synth in my whole system. Tres cool, but if I'd spent the time I did getting that sorted out on practicing instead of playing keyboard tech, I'd be a much better player than I am]

[Prague]

When you remap, check to see if CC7 is being sent on all zone channels (1-4) of the Kurz. You may not want that.

 

To deal with that, you can assign a separate pedal (plugged into the Kurz) to CC7 or CC11 (expression) and have it control ONLY the Kurzweil zones. The Motif would send the "default" volume, then the 2nd pedal can control any changes.

 

I actually use a main controller and treat each zone as a seperate synth. This does chew up 4 zones (or up to 16) on the Controller for the Kurz alone, though. But, I have 16 zones, so it works for me.

[Unsound Practices]

Thanks Prague,

 

16 zones? You are not that guy in the cape, are you?

 

Out of curiosity what is your main controller and are you using anything for MIDI distribution?

[Prague]

I use two Roland A-70s. I couldn't find any other way to do what I wanted. I do the old skool style of playing, so I linked them together. It limits my programming to the A-70's mostly. I didn't want to be programming 7 keyboards/modules for every song. I only had to add two small MIDI mergers to get access to all of the sounds.

 

With your setup I would probably do things the way you are doing them.

 

Click here to see setup