Using The 4 OTS Buttons instead of Variations ABCD.

[YammyFan]

My PSR 750 must be getting old. Three of the Varaiation Buttons on the left of the keyboard  are no longer working.To-day, I discovered that if I use the OTS Buttons on the right of my Keyboard I can play happily. In the past I have rarely touched the 4 OTS on the right , becquse I thought that they were only used for locking in voices on a Style. My question is-- Do most keyboard players  use the main variations on the left of the KB when they are playing  along with a Style.?

[BogdanH]

...
My question is-- Do most keyboard players  use the main variations on the left of the KB when they are playing  along with a Style.?

No. For playing complete song I mostly use pedal for switching variations (FILL UP assigned to pedal).

Bogdan

[Bill]

Hi John

I don't think it is of any benefit to know what most people do. The variation buttons and OTS buttons serve completely different functions. They should be used together not one or the other.
Without the operation of your buttons you will miss out on the style VARIATIONS.

If you cannot get the ABCD buttons repaired, consider buying a cheap switch pedal and assign it to Variation up

Bill

[YammyFan]

Thanks, Bill . I own a pedal which I have never used, and tomorrow I will see if  it is possible to assign  my pedal on my PSR 750  to assign up. Actually, I  think that  I AM getting all the Style  Variations by going to the right hand side of my KB.

[ChrisH]

Hi John

You are correct in saying you can use your OTS buttons BUT all you are doing is changing the voice assigned to each OTS button not the variation .. if you start with say Variation A you can use the OTS button to change the voices assigned to A, B, C and D BUT the actual style will stay at variation A  If your OTS button is off (not lit) then the OTS buttons will change the voice assigned but the Variation Buttons won't do it for you until the link button is lit. When you select a style do any of the variation buttons light up? (either A usually by default or B,C and D if you press them) If all the buttons don't light up when you press each then it's highly possible that the entire switch bank has lost power from the main motherboard as it's very unlikely that all variation button would fail at the same time ..I would get a tech to check the ribbon cables going to that switch bank first (unless you are brave enough to do it yourself) It sounds very much like due to a bump/fall/drop a ribbon cable has pulled out of the switch bank . Just my 2 cents worth !!

[mikf]

In the past I have rarely touched the 4 OTS on the right , because I thought that they were only used for locking in voices on a Style. My question is-- Do most keyboard players  use the main variations on the left of the KB when they are playing  along with a Style.?

You were right! OTS does only affect the voices, so I don't know what you think you are hearing in the accompaniment, because that doesn't change by pressing OTS.
Do people use the variations - well of course they do if they want to vary the accompaniment . But of course you dont have to vary the accompaniment to play, it's just an option - but a good one. 
If one of the buttons seems to work, and the intro and ending buttons work, iI agree with Chris, that seems more like a connector has come off than button wear.
Mike

[overover]

My PSR 750 must be getting old. Three of the Varaiation Buttons on the left of the keyboard  are no longer working. To-day, I discovered that if I use the OTS Buttons on the right of my Keyboard I can play happily. In the past I have rarely touched the 4 OTS on the right , becquse I thought that they were only used for locking in voices on a Style. My question is-- Do most keyboard players  use the main variations on the left of the KB when they are playing  along with a Style.?

Hi YammyFan,

The OTS buttons do not switch the Main Variations. When the "OTS LINK" function is activated, each Main Variation button (A, B, C, D) is assigned to a specific OTS button, which is called up when a Main Variation button is pressed. But pressing an OTS button does NOT change the current Main Variation.

Main A > OTS 1
Main B > OTS 2
Main C > OTS 3
Main D > OTS 4


You could use Registrations to control the style. If the Style box is ticked when memorizing a registration (when the style is stopped), the currently selected style section/variation is automatically memorized (and later called up again when this registration is selected).

If the relevant Style Control button (e.g. Main Variation B) lights up constantly when memorizing, this main variation will later be called up directly, i.e. without a previous Fill-in. To memorize the Fill-in, press the relevant main variation button again so that it flashes.

To memorize an Intro or Ending to a Registration button, also make sure that button is flashing when memorizing the registration. Once you have memorized all the registrations you need, don't forget to save the Registration Bank as usual.


P.S.
When using Registrations make sure the OTS Link function is OFF.


Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris


Edit 2024-06-19: Previous incorrect information corrected: OTS can NOT change the Style Main Variation

[ChrisH]

Hi Chris

Is that for only some arranger keyboards. On my S650 if my OTS link is on then the variation button pressed switches in the corresponding voice (ie: press variation "B" and it will play that variation and use the voice assigned in the style to OTS2 ) On the S650 however if I select say, OTS2 and the keyboard was playing variation A it continues playing variation A BUT with the voice assigned to OTS2 not OTS1 ... so on the S650 the Variations A - D also select the OTS1 - OTS4 voices  BUT the OTS buttons do not select the variations regardless of whether the link is on or off.

Thanks for always doing a great job here!

Chris

[overover]

Hi Chris

Is that for only some arranger keyboards. On my S650 if my OTS link is on then the variation button pressed switches in the corresponding voice (ie: press variation "B" and it will play that variation and use the voice assigned in the style to OTS2 ) On the S650 however if I select say, OTS2 and the keyboard was playing variation A it continues playing variation A BUT with the voice assigned to OTS2 not OTS1 ... so on the S650 the Variations A - D also select the OTS1 - OTS4 voices  BUT the OTS buttons do not select the variations regardless of whether the link is on or off.

Thanks for always doing a great job here!

Chris

Hi Chris,

Thanks for reporting this!

I was completely wrong in my post above (obviously had a "senior moment" ). I don't normally work with OTS and the "OTS LINK" function and initially thought I could offer YammyFan a second method, besides the "registration method" I normally work with.

Of course it is as YOU describe: When OTS LINK is activated, the MAIN VARIATION buttons also control the OTS (A > OTS 1, B > OTS 2, etc.), but NOT the other way around. Pressing an OTS button (when the style is stopped) activates the Style Sync Start, but pressing the OTS buttons does NOT change the Main Variations.

I have edited my post above accordingly. Thanks again for your feedback and for your kind words about my forum work!


Best regards,
Chris

[ChrisH]

Thanks Chris

Much appreciated ..I just wondered whether my keyboard had an OTS link fault. You are a fountain of knowledge!!

Chris