Now that there is a lot of content available in the Shop of www.rolandkeyboardclub.com I would like to talk about an interesting feature in the Arranger Keyboard line, the HOLD function.
This function allows you to “freeze” important parameters while changing User Programs, Music Assistant Registrations or One Touch Programs.

Let’s imagine, that for example you always would like to use your favourite Vocal Harmonizer Settings, no matter which Song you play, or which User Program you load.
Or you want to play the next Song with exactly the same Tempo, or you want to keep your Transpose Settings, etc.
For this and for much more the HOLD function is very helpful!

With the HOLD function you simply select the Parameter Type that you don’t want to change when selecting the next user Program. Then you can switch On and Off the HOLD function at any time during your performance, whenever you need it.

In the following chapter we will have a look at some examples for using the HOLD function.

You will find the HOLD Switch in the User Program Field on the Panel of your Keyboard.
Please press and hold the Button for a short while. Immediately the Keyboard will lead you to the screen with the HOLD function parameters.

Here you can see and easily switch On and Off the parameters available. Switching on the Style Button will hold the current Style when changing User Programs.
This will allow you to use the Sound Setting of another User Program together with Style you are already playing with.
A practical Example would be: You play one Song with one User Program or Music Assistant Registration and you remember that there is the perfect Sound for continuing the Song in another User Program. But you also know that selecting this other User Program will automatically change the Style and the Tempo etc.
So it might be better not to change User Programs, you might think.
Yes, without the HOLD function you certainly are right!
But luckily enough Roland Arranger Keyboards have the HOLD function.
Switching on this function and selecting Style on the Touch Screen will now allow you to change the User Program, enjoy the new Sounds without losing the Style and the Tempo etc.

A practical example for freezing the Tempo while changing User Programs could be:
You are playing in a traditional Ballroom situation. People are dancing to your Music.
You are playing a Slow Waltz and now you would like to play another Slow Waltz without changing the Tempo. You know, that you have the User Program for this other Slow Waltz, but you also happen to know, that the Tempo recalled by this other User Program is different from the Tempo you currently play the Song in.
Because you know that your audience are experienced Ballroom Dancers you really do not want to change Tempos in the middle of your Medley.
Easily enough you only have to switch On the Tempo Button on the Touch Screen and the HOLD function, recall the next User Program and continue playing the next Song.

Your audience will be happy!
Switching On the Transpose Button on the Touch Screen will hold the Transpose Value and Transpose Setting when changing User Programs.

The Transpose parameters are part of the User Program Memory and will change when you select the next user Program.
Let’s imagine you are playing together with a Singer or you are a Singer yourself.
The Gig you are playing becomes very long and you start feeling that your voice might not be able to reach the high notes anymore. So what you can do is Switch on the Transpose Button on the Touch Screen, switch on the HOLD Switch on the Panel of your Keyboard and select a Transpose Value of -2. Now you will be able to play your repertoire in the same Key as usual, but everything will sound 2 Semitones Lower.
Your voice will sound great. Your audience will be grateful!
Let me give you another practical example for using the Transpose Hold function:
You are playing together with a Tenor Saxophone Player, but you only have 1 set of Music Sheets. Due to the Tuning of a Tenor Saxophone there will sound a Bb when the player is playing a C. On the Keyboard there is sounding a C when the player is playing a C. (I guess, you already knew that…) As a result you will not be able to play the same Songs reading the same Sheet of Music.
Switching on the Transpose Button on the Touch Screen, the HOLD Switch on the Panel of your Keyboard and setting a Transpose Value of -2 will solve this problem.
Now whenever you play a C on the Keyboard note that you will hear is a Bb and you will be able to play out of the same Music Sheets as the Tenor Saxophone Player.
This trick naturally will work with all transposed Instruments such as Alto Saxophone (+3), Bb Clarinet (-2), Soprano Saxophone (-2), Eb Clarinet (+3), A Clarinet (-3), Baritone Saxophone (-3), Bb Trumpet (-2), C Trumpet (0) etc …
You can play with your User Programs as always.
Your Musical Partner will be very happy! You will be very grateful, that you will not have to Transpose everything by yourself in real-time!
Switching On the Tone Button will keep the current Tones and Effect Settings when changing User Programs. It makes sense to combine this with switching on KBD Mode Hold.
KBD Mode Hold will also freeze the settings of which Keyboard Part will be switched on (UP1, UP2, LW1 etc), which off course has a very big influence on the Sound you are playing.

Let’s imagine you would like to play the next Song with exactly the sounds your currently are using. You do have a User Program or a Music Assistant Registration for that next Song, but you also know that this User Program or Music Assistant Registration contains different Sounds for the Keyboard Parts.
To solve the problem you can simply switch On Tone and KBD Mode on the Touch Screen, the HOLD Switch on the Panel and change the User Programs.
You will now have the Style, Tempo Vocal Harmonizer etc Settings of this User Program with the sounds you have played before.
These functions can also help you when you have created let’s say your favourite 20 Sounds inside the User Program Area.
Using Tone & KBD Mode Hold will always allow you to play with your favourite 20 Sounds and still use all the Music Assistant Registration or User Programs that you have.
Personally I like to recommend this Tip for people who are playing Dinner Music. They can easily play Bar Piano Style, by selecting their favourite Piano, and still play all kinds of Songs by using the Music Assistant Registrations.
In the One Touch Program Section we will find another HOLD Area that is strictly relating to the One Touch Programs (OTP)
The Tempo and Intro Buttons are switched on by default. Off course it is better to have the same Tempo when changing the OTP. Technically though it is possible to have different Tempi for each OTP, even within one single Style.
Also you can create OTP with the Intro function already switched On. This would cause the start of an Intro while playing the song when you switch the OTP.
In the following chapter I would like to give you a practical example for using the Main Button:
Please Press and Hold any One Touch Program Switch in the One Touch Area on the Panel of your Keyboard.

When you play using the OTP the Main Variation of the Style is always changing accordingly to the OTP you are using.
If you prefer to individually control the Sounds recalled by the 4 OTP and the Main Variation of the Style you should switch on Main in the Arranger Setting OTP Page on the Touch Screen.

Now the usage of the OTP is becoming much more flexible and you have direct control on which Main Variation you would like to select and when you would like to use Fill Ins.

By the way, there is a possibility to decide if you would like to have an automatic Fill In when changing OTP or User Programs or if you would prefer to have individual control on the Fill Ins.

Please Press Menu on the Panel of the Keyboard.

Then press Utility and Global.

Switching Off the Fill-In on User Program Change will disable the Auto Fill In Function when changing the OTP or User Programs.

Thank you very much for making this workshop together with me.

Yours Sincerely
Ralf Schink, June 2007