A question for Fred Smith

[markchapman1976]

Hi Fred. I often hear you talk about using 7 or 8 registrations per song. I have a few questions to gain more insight in to your methods to help me and others no doubt if you would be kind enough to answer each with some detailed response, I would be grateful.

1.) You're playing a song, how do you remember what registration button 5 does for example?

2.) The song changes key at some point, how does the player remember what registration button does that part?

3.) How does one name each registration for a song? Does it look like this ? Reg 1.) Pan pipes, reg 2 key change, reg 3 tempo change? Just as an example.

4.) When I'm playing songs, what's the best way to remember what key they are in if I want to transpose my part to fit?

5.) I'm playing a song using piano sound and midi file saved to registration 1 only and when song finishes, every single time, the sound of my piano changes automatically to a loud electric guitar, I don't understand why this happens but I'm hoping you do.

Thanks in advance Fred, I hope this post will be fruitful for me and many others.

[Fred Smith]

Hi Fred. I often hear you talk about using 7 or 8 registrations per song. I have a few questions to gain more insight in to your methods to help me and others no doubt if you would be kind enough to answer each with some detailed response, I would be grateful.

1.) You're playing a song, how do you remember what registration button 5 does for example?

2.) The song changes key at some point, how does the player remember what registration button does that part?

3.) How does one name each registration for a song? Does it look like this ? Reg 1.) Pan pipes, reg 2 key change, reg 3 tempo change? Just as an example.

4.) When I'm playing songs, what's the best way to remember what key they are in if I want to transpose my part to fit?

5.) I'm playing a song using piano sound and midi file saved to registration 1 only and when song finishes, every single time, the sound of my piano changes automatically to a loud electric guitar, I don't understand why this happens but I'm hoping you do.

Thanks in advance Fred, I hope this post will be fruitful for me and many others.

1. I use the registration sequencer. You can see it in action in my videos. In my sheet music, I have a mark which tells me when to advance the sequence.

2. The registration sequence remembers.

3.  I don't bother naming individual registrations, because the sequence is always going to load the correct registration when I need it.

4.  I know from the sheet music what key I'm playing, and I keep the transpose icon on the screen so I know how many semitones up or down I've transposed.

5. Can't help you with this one, but post your registration so we can have a look at it.

Cheers,
Fred

[markchapman1976]

Hi Fred thanks very much for your reply. Regarding your answers, I see from your videos you have quite a lot going on, 2 screens, iPad etc, sheet music. What about the player like me who uses a Yamaha FC7 pedal for sustain, it's going to get a bit complex using two pedals no? One for sustain and one for registration sequence, I'm assuming that's what would be needed. I appreciate your setup works fine for you, but I'm looking for help for creating the registrations without the setup you use, therefore with respect, surely the answers would need to be different I guess. What do you think? Thanks. And regarding posting a registration where do I send it and how? Thanks.

[Fred Smith]

Hi Fred thanks very much for your reply. Regarding your answers, I see from your videos you have quite a lot going on, 2 screens, iPad etc, sheet music. What about the player like me who uses a Yamaha FC7 pedal for sustain, it's going to get a bit complex using two pedals no? One for sustain and one for registration sequence, I'm assuming that's what would be needed. I appreciate your setup works fine for you, but I'm looking for help for creating the registrations without the setup you use, therefore with respect, surely the answers would need to be different I guess. What do you think? Thanks. And regarding posting a registration where do I send it and how? Thanks.

You asked me what I did. I answered. I can't tell you what to do. That's up to you to decide. I can only tell you that lots of people, including me, use two pedals.

To attach a file to a post, click on Attachments and other options. Upload the file there.

Cheers,
Fred

[Toril S]

Hello Mark!
I don't read sheet music, so I just set up registrations in a way that is easy for me to remember, for instance.
Intro and verse one: Reg1.
Verse 2. Reg 2.
Chorus. Reg 3.
Verse 3. Reg four.
Ending: Reg 5.

As for sustain, you can save the panel sustain in a registration.
It won't be as expressive as using a pedal, but in many cases it will do.
Then it will be only ONE pedal to handle I have the same problem concerning pedals

[elad770]

Hello Mark!
I don't read sheet music, so I just set up registrations in a way that is easy for me to remember, for instance.
Intro and verse one: Reg1.
Verse 2. Reg 2.
Chorus. Reg 3.
Verse 3. Reg four.
Ending: Reg 5.

As for sustain, you can save the panel sustain in a registration.
It won't be as expressive as using a pedal, but in many cases it will do.
Then it will be only ONE pedal to handle I have the same problem concerning pedals

I'm with Toril on this one. I also don't read notes and simply approach a song like a good story

1 , 2 , 3 , 4 = These Reg are building up as the song progress similarliy to the 1 - 4 Style variations

5 - 6 - this registration is the transition element in my song. The fact that is in the middle serve me well. It is ususally as quiet segment of the song that is priar to another build up seires that will folow:

7 , 8, 9, 10 - Building up from reg4 and filling the style with more dimension (instruments, effects, Multi Pads)

[ton37]

In addition: if you do not use (a hard copy of) sheet music with yout notations on it, you may consider using the lyrics function as a memory aid for how you have built up a certain song register. And/or renaming the registrationsnames with a particular function: Like 'Pad2-ON' or 'Transpose+2/End2' etc.

[acparker]

I haven't found two pedals too difficult to do.  I use the left for the registration forward, and the right for the sustain or fills depending on the piece.

I'd also like to mention that while my Registration order may vary due to the type of song ... sung through, vs. Refrain and verses, etc.  Registration 10 is always the ending.  So if I need to end a piece, like right now, I know what button to hit.

Adam

[Toril S]

Good point Adam! I will remember that!