K.N.A.T

Issue No. 23

Hello everyone and welcome to issue number 23 of Ketron News and Tips (KNAT).
This issue is targeted for June 1, 2003. We are back talking about registrations on Ketron products again as well as some really sensible methodology for getting maximum performance out of you Ketrons for the music you play.

If you have a question to ask or a tip to submit, please let me know at jay@ketronus.com. Also I love your comments so don't hesitate to let me have a response.

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Some very professional methods to use on Ketron
Recently I got an email from Michael Wooster through to Solton Club, that was so well written and so correct for the working professional musician that I emailed him asking permission to include it in my newsletter and to put it on my web site. Permission was duly received and there are no changes to his document except some short comments in brackets []. This is obviously a player who deals in practicality and what works. The approach is absolutely to be commended and if every musician in the world were playing Ketron products using this approach, still no two would sound alike!
He is using an older MS100 (at one point in time my favorite machine) and getting out of it many more things than most performers are getting even on newer machines.

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Hi Guys,

I haven't written in a while but thought I'd drop my info on you on how I do things with my MS-100 (which should be basically the same for the X-1 or SD-1). [essentially it is: JS]

First I save and listen to every stinkin' pattern/style I can get my hands on.....hours and hours of playing to them at speed, slower, faster, all instruments on or off etc. etc. [This is absolutely essential JS]

This is to find out whether or not they are actually usable for many songs. Since I can only fit about 22 patterns in my internal memory (instant access) I am VERY picky which patterns will work for me. I know that I can quickly load new patterns in memory from my hard drive but my goal is NO waiting between songs on stage if possible. [Again, the mark of a professional performer]

This is where the registrations work very well. For example .....I can use Rock and Roll 1(Ketron style) for about 20 to 30 songs by varying tempo and instrument set-up and hold each in a separate registration. Many of the styles on the Ketron can be used in a multitude of ways by changing drum sets, instruments....etc. etc. Out of the hundreds of styles/patterns available to me I have chosen only about 100 that will work. I then distill these down until I am using "bare bones" patterns.

I use two methods to keep track of my settings.....in my song book(s) I put a piece of removable white tape with the registration number next to the song. I also tape a play-list on white paper with song names and registration numbers next to them. All of this is noted on paper while doing the setting up the registrations in my studio and saved in case of major damage to keyboard. [There are other methods of achieving this; you just need to find what works for you.]

Immediately after finishing a song....I can choose a new registration (maybe even using the same style with a different set-up) and start new song with hardly any delay. In the event of a song that needs something that the styles or patterns do not offer....I write my own patterns and try to utilize all 4 arrangements and intro/endings to give me the most use. For example: I wrote a pattern for Susie Q using arrangement A and B. C and D will also fit the song for variety but I can also use C OR D for completely new songs. In this way I don't waste pattern space for just one song. Most songs have a recognizable "riff" that can be written on one arrangement then the rest of the arrangements in that pattern can be used for many other songs. [This method is excellent for saving space and it should be obvious that many Ketron styles in ROM are good for more than one song just by changing the tempo and using a different Arrangement.]

I just got done going over my entire show and did some minor changes but realized that it was easier NOT to learn some obscure song that I might perform once every 10 gigs then to waste pattern space. There are too many good songs that will work without the strain of loading and unloading patterns all night long. [Another good point for the performing professional.]

Another way of dealing with special songs is to leave enough empty space in the internal pattern memory to fit in one new pattern. you would delete the pattern and then load new one in from hard drive then delete that one when finished using and load new one again. I do not use that method very often as it slows my show up too much. [Another good reason for leaving a couple of vacant slots is for trying new patterns without changing your basic show.]

Registrations are the way to go using the Ketron equipment and if you don't use them you are wasting time and energy on stage. If you have any questions ......feel free to email me direct at my address below. Sorry this is so long but I want to make clear my method of utilizing pattern space.

"Rooster" (Mitchell Wooster)

Thanks again, Michael, for a good look at some very useful methods. If you want to follow up some of my own ideas on registrations go to my tips page and look at some additional things about registrations. It is my honest opinion that Ketron's registrations, when fully utilized, make these keyboards and modules the most powerful on earth.

Have fun and let me know what you come up with.

Visit me at www.ketronus.com. Or email me at jay@ketronus.com

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