Electro 5D split keyboard tip for function gigs :)

[Lee Batchelor]

Just thought this might be useful to someone.

I'm a pro player (covers + touring in the past), so have often had to do Rhodes(left hand) + strings(right hand). This tip also applies for organ, piano, brass, synth etc etc. I used to use two keyboards, but recently just used the Electro 5D 61. In an ideal world I would have a selection of different keyboards, and a roadie so the following setup is a 'compromise' for convenience. It's working well for me though.

My tip is this :

Set up a program with the Rhodes (LOWER) / strings(UPPER) split how you would like it. Then just switch on and off the strings part by pressing the KB SPLIT and PART UPPER simultaneously, being careful as there is a momentary pause in the sound (so do it in a gap).

Usually this would reduce the volume of the Rhodes, when the split is deactivated. However, (and this is the important part) to minimise this reduction in volume, the PART MIX has to be mostly over to the left around 50:10.2.

The only way this gives enough volume on the UPPER part is if the UPPER sound a loud sample. I'm using a sampled strings from my old keyboard as the UPPER. So I increased the volume using Nord Sample Editor, by boosting all the samples.

This technique has worked well and at the weekend I played a Live Band Karaoke gig just using the Electro 5D and toggling between the splits where needed. The thing I have realised is that 80% of the time I just use the main keyboard, and only need the UPPER sound occasionally. This setup massively cuts down on weight/hassle/cabling.

As I say, it works for me, so perhaps might work for others.

Your thoughts anyone?

[magic_dillitzer]

Good tip, thanks!

[Lee Batchelor]

Brilliant! I've often used a second keyboard on the higher tier of a dual keyboard stand. Thing is, you often only need an octave or two of the second keyboard. The 5D easily fills the gap, so long as you get the sound balance correct. You're using a 61 key, which means it's just as easy on my 73 key, and still very light (on the order of 20 pounds).

Great tip, A-man! Thanks...

- Lee

[Outliar Tom]

Couldn't you just save the two combinations of sounds you use a lot as programmes in a setlist song and toggle between the two? So a song where part A = Rhodes and part B = Rhodes + strings.

[Lee Batchelor]

Switching from A to B is not seamless. There's always a split second gap of silence. If that doesn't matter, then your idea works great.

[anotherscott]

Nice tip, though in trying it, I didn't notice a volume change in the lower sound while swapping the upper sound back and forth, and am not sure why there should be one. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something...

[Outliar Tom]

Switching from A to B is not seamless. There's always a split second gap of silence. If that doesn't matter, then your idea works great.

Yes, but you would have to leave a gap anyway because hitting the keyboard split button is also not seamless.

[anotherscott]

Switching from A to B is not seamless. There's always a split second gap of silence. If that doesn't matter, then your idea works great.

Yes, but you would have to leave a gap anyway because hitting the keyboard split button is also not seamless.

His method is a bit more seamless, though. With his method, if you are holding a LH chord while doing the switch, yeah, you'll hear a tiny glitch. With the A-to-B method, if you hold a LH chord while doing the switch, the LH sound will cut out completely, you'd have to play the chord again to get the sound back.

[ACCORDIONWOMAN]

Nice tip, though in trying it, I didn't notice a volume change in the lower sound while swapping the upper sound back and forth, and am not sure why there should be one. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something...

** from original post**Usually this would reduce the volume of the Rhodes, when the split is deactivated. However, (and this is the important part) to minimise this reduction in volume, the PART MIX has to be mostly over to the left around 50:10.2.

The only way this gives enough volume on the UPPER part is if the UPPER sound a loud sample. I'm using a sampled strings from my old keyboard as the UPPER. So I increased the volume using Nord Sample Editor, by boosting all the samples.**


This is the trick to get the levels almost the same....

[anotherscott]

This is the trick to get the levels almost the same....

I saw that. My point was, in my brief experiment, it wasn't an issue in the first place, so why do you need this "trick"? Why should the volume of the part change depending on whether or not a split is activated?