1. MANUAL SEQUENCE PADS: From Jacques Dulaurent:

"I'm trying to record a Bass phrase into one of the Manual Sequence Pads of the KN5000. How do I obtain a constant Bass part (one that does not change with chord progression)? In fact, how do you get any phrase to stay "fixed" in the MSP's?"

What we have found out: The KN1400 and KN1600 have options that allow settings of "ACP" or "FREE" for the pads. A "FREE" setting would have accomplished what Jacques wanted. This option was not included with the KN5000. So, it looks like Jacques will be unable to record the phrase as he would have liked. Can you tell us that this is wrong? - Bob

2. MANUAL SEQUENCE PAD REPEATING PATTERNS: From Peter Castanos:

"It appears to me that if you record your own MSP pattern you can't set it to repeat in a continuous loop through the whole performance, unlike several of the factory sounds. Is that correct?

A COMMENT FROM Barbara Whitnell:

"With regard to repeating manual pad phrases, after having checked out the possibilities, it in fact looks like there is no "loop" function for repeating the pattern, but... if the song is pre-programmed (chords step recorded), and you wish to have a manual pad pattern come through (perhaps as additional backing), it can be "looped" in a sense by step recording on the control track, the pad concerned. Say it was 8 bars long, and I wished it to commence on bar 5 (after a 4 bar intro), I would step record the manual pad at bar 5, then again at bar 13, again at bar 21, (or perhaps another pad) etc. etc. Naturally this method is no good for "real time" playing, but as a "programmed backing" would provide enhancement of your own choice through parts of or all of the song, - whilst playing 'live' your piano (etc.) melody & vamp."

3. DUST BETWEEN DISPLAY SCREEN AND PLASTIC SHIELD: From Claude Francoeur:

There is some dust between the plastic shield and the screen of my KN-5000. When the display is off you can see dust in there. Is it possible to take off this plastic protector completely to clean what is under it? I was able to lift it a little bit and "sucked" some dust out with an aspirator but not all of it. . . . . .

A COMMENT FROM PETER CASTANOS: The screen can be dismantled quite simply from behind with a screw driver, but you first have to dismantle the bar and metal plate which involves disengaging a little spring which can be quite tricky. Shine a torch in behind the screen and you'll see all the parts I'm talking about. Be warned, each time you try to remove the dust new dust will replace it just as you try to reassemble!

FROM CLAUDE FRANCOEUR: I am not going to dismantle the display unit. I was able to get dust out just by lifting the plastic cover (but I was afraid I'd break it). There is a little bit of dust left though. I guess I will have to live with it. Actually, it does not really cause any problems but I think it should not be there. If it got worse, I think I would probably try to see a specialist (technician).

4. TEMPO RETARD: From Andy Manvell:

Do you know of an easy way to cause a retard at the end of a song during a live performance on the KN5000 other than using my hand to turn down the tempo dial (not always possible or easily done)? It seems funny that Technics didn't include this as a foot pedal function (each tap decreasing the tempo by 2 beats). Almost every song I do needs to be retarded at the end (contemporary praise music at church). I can't sequence it because we need more flexibility - extra times through or whatever - all done in real time on the spot as the Spirit leads. I noticed on the KN6000 I saw in the store that they have the tap tempo function available on the foot pedal, but this is not available on the KN5000. This would probably work, but wouldn't be as easy as subtracting 2 BPM with each tap. Any suggestions?

FROM Jean-Marie Charette:

One way you could to it is put the 2 beat retard in the panel memory 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Then you could change your panel memory with your foot pedal switch. Example: tempo: 120 Panel memory 1= tempo 118 Panel memory 2= tempo 116 Panel memory 3= tempo 114 .......etc. Jean-Marie