Why don't synth manufacturers implement split/layer features?

Interestingly enough, there was a 2 similar question regarding the Yamaha S90 and Roland XP-50 this week asking if there was an easy way to split the kb for multiple sounds.

Why don't synth manufacturers implement this feature as a button on modern day synths? Surely it can't be that hard to add and it would come in SO handy. But no, you have to go in fully program a performance. Really limits you for live use, unless you want to set up every possibly split/layer combo you'll ever need and save them in the USER banks.

I mean, how great would it be to be able to press a split button, select a key and another sound and you're away.

Also, what happened to the layer feature? - where you could select 2 sounds and PRESTO, they're layered.

I mean, my old Yamaha PSR600 has these features - yet all these new beaut synths don't.....what's going on?

They do - take a look at Virus TI multi mode, Radias, Motif ES, Fusion as a few examples that I use.

Poke are performance/multi or whatever each manufacturer calls them on each synth.

I was referring to a dedicated button on modern romplers.

Does the Motif have this feature???? My S90 doesn't.

The Motif family has a mode called Performance which is a 4 part multitimbral setup intended for live playing. You can save up to 128 performance setups each of which can access any of the internal sounds.

Mikes meaning a way to do it on the fly.

Yup, exactly.

I'm well aware of the Performance mode - but i'm talking about a dedicated split/layer button as I said in my original post.

Most digital pianos/arranger keyboards have this feature, but not synths.

Why?

Simple synths can set them up easier than more feature-laden ones. On most synths today you have to decide in advance which part's reverb, chorus, and other effects settings get used for the performance. Or if you want new ones. Do you want the hold pedal to work for both parts or just one? And what about MIDI channel assignments... are you setting this up as a slave or are you driving other modules?

I agree that ideally it would be nice to have some sort of "quick and dirty" split and layer option, but until we get to the point of where there would be separate effects blocks for each part (maybe sometime in the future) i don't know how it could be done.

I remember posting about this recently. How many splits do you realistically need on the fly during a live performance? I think you could work up some good templates that have your priority sounds programmed ahead of time. If you need spontaneity, use the template as a jumping off point and simply change one of the sounds during the gig. Another option would be using 2 keyboards, so you can always have 2 or more sounds available at any time.

I've faced the same conundrum you mention, but have developed solid workarounds for the lack of a one-button solution. If I'm doing a gig in which I need lots of variety and don't have time for pre-programming, I'll just carry 3 keyboards rather than 2. But this is the exception rather than the norm. With 1-2 keyboards and just a little bit of prep work, most any situation should be under control.

Yup, exactly. I'm well aware of the Performance mode - but i'm talking about a dedicated split/layer button as I said in my original post. Most digital pianos/arranger keyboards have this feature, but not synths. Why?

A few synths do this as well, but as soon as the technology allows one to split/layer more than two sounds, a dedicated split/layer button on top of a dedicated performance mode (which, as it is with Korgs, Rolands, and Kurzweils) can often layer/split up to 16 sounds... and can sometimes access them all with a single button press. Which is redundant.

So one has to do a bit of work ahead of time, but they're rewarded with way more flexibility.

Arrangers have that facility because your typical arranger user is lazy and doesn't create his own music or sounds.

Would the judge please instruct the jury to ignore this statement as hearsay

Amen.

There's a limit to how much complexity you want to deal with in a live situation anyway. I set up a performance template for a 2 voice layer and a 2 voice split, and I am most of the way there. And there's nothing like having an extra keyboard to make your sounds go to 11.

Jerry

While I feel the Fantom X actually does a pretty efficient job at layering/splitting ... the only situation I could imagine myself needing to split/layer on the fly is if I'm jamming ...

If I'm doing a show ... everything's already been meticulously programmed to allow me as much precision and flexibility as possible during my performance.

Even then, I'll always try to spend 15-30 minutes before a jam session to have a fresh group of "performances/combis" ... Plus, there's all the old ones you've made ...

Don't the Roland RD 300/700 (SX) "stage pianos" do this with a dedicated button, as well as other "stage pianos" like the Yamaha P-series?

Seems like the manufacturers do make this easy on boards that they think people will need it on the fly. Boards like the S90(ES) have the ability to do it, but with the more full featured controller features, they assume people will have stuff set up already. Not just to split its own internal sounds, but also against sounds in other boards and modules.

The RS-series (RS-5, RS-9, perhaps RS-50 and -70 also) had dedicated split/layer functions. Methinks the Juno-D has it also (being some sort of RS-50 clone).

Those synths don't have the possibility to make more than 2 zones, which is a drawback as well.

But I think a combination of the Fantom-like set-up of a performance with the easy split/layer functionality could be possible, technically. Or do I overlook a difficulty here?

BTW, actually, for my own purposes, I agree with Eric's post about fairly quick preparation of performances/combi's in combination with the use of multiple keyboards.

Two keyboards do offer more flexibility than one (for switching

I can see the convenience of this when you are just messing about, but if you are playing live, you probably want to have a rough idea what you are doing and at least some pre-setup and practice even if just improv, and so programming a performance patch makes sense.

I know it can take quite a bit of time setting up and tweaking performance patches on the Motif ES and Virus TI and others, but I simply couldnt ever see myself wanting to fiddle around with this kind of thing on the fly.

For home keyboards and some painos that have this - it kind of makes sense because the layer/perfromance modes are so simple in their capabilities and sometimes cant be stored anyway, or you have a dpiano, and you choices on a split layer or going to pretty limted with a total of a dozen or so other patches to choose from - split low for base and/or maybe layer in some strings and that your lot.

Would the judge please instruct the jury to ignore this statement as hearsay

Sorry. I forgot to write "This is Audacity Works' extremely biased, and admittedly quite ignorant opinion."

I have a Pavlov's Dog reaction to patchoulie oil. If someone's wearing it, even after a shower, I smell B.O.

Just like whenever I see or hear about an arranger keyboard, I instantly envision some old dude in a velvet jacket with a bad combover playing a smoky Vegas nightclub to blue-haired old ladies trading cat food coupons.

Is that wrong?

There was a split/layer button on my old N1 as far as I remember.

Interesting. I have a similar associative reaction to patchouli. For me, it brings to mind legos. My huge childhood lego set had a bottle of the stuff dumped into it. Despise washing them several times, the scent remained permenantly.

To the topic - split features are always way too hard to use, imo.