Product manual

AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT FEATURES
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
There are several basic types of AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT features available on the PSS-660. An outline
of their functions is given here, along with an explanation of the MODE (3a) and ORCHESTRATION (3b)
controls. A detailed operation guide for features A) through E) follows below.
The Single Finger Chord function lets you play entire
chords with just one finger.
If you start a rhythm, the PortaSound will then also
play percussion, bass, chords and orchestra parts that
match each other perfectly, giving you truly Automatic
Single Finger Accompaniment.
For even more control over the harmonic structure
of the AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT, you can play your
own complex chords with Fingered Automatic Accom-
paniment.
This feature is recommended for experienced
keyboardists with a basic knowledge of harmony.
In addition to the above accompaniments, Duet lets
the PortaSound automatically perform a second solo
voice that harmonizes with the one you are playing in
the MELODY SECTION.
Difficult chord progressions or melody phrases can be
stored in the Song Memory banks for instant recall.
The CHORD memories make Auto Accompaniment
completely automatic.
Except for Song Memory, these features are selected
and/or started with the MODE (3a) and RHYTHM
CONTROL (20) buttons, and controlled live by the AUTO
ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION (19). This part of the
keyboard has a different sound than the MELODY
SECTION (21) to its right when AUTO ACCOMPANI-
MENT is turned on: The MELODY SECTION plays the
selected VOICE, while the instruments sounds of the
AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION (bass, chords
and orchestra) depend on the selected STYLE.
MODE
Three different AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT modes can be
chosen with these selector switches. A red indictor shows
which one is currently selected.
NORMAL: No Auto Accompaniment at all — the entire
keyboard may be used to play the selected voice (12 voice
polyphonic). All Rhythm Machine functions work in
this mode.
SINGLE FINGER: When SINGLE FINGER MODE is se-
lected, one, two or three fingers enable you to play
complete chords or accompaniments in the AUTO
ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION (19). You have the
option of performing Single Finger Chords (no rhythm
accompaniment) or Single Finger Auto Accompaniment
(with automatic bass, rhythm, chord and orchestra in-
struments), depending on whether you switch on the
rhythm or not.
18
FINGERED: This mode is similar to the preceding one, except
that you must press at least three keys in the AUTO
ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION to get any sound at
all.
ORCHESTRATION
These four switches determine the orchestration of the ac-
companiment, i.e. which instruments are used to play along
with your melody (either as Single Finger Chords or Auto
Accompaniment). Note that each style has its own basic
orchestration with different kinds of instruments.
1) RHYTHM
Turns the percussion sounds on and off. Allows you to
play Auto Accompaniment without any rhythm for music
that sounds better without drums.
2) BASS
Switches the bass sound on and off. Various kinds of bass
instruments are used for different styles - wood bass, tuba,
electric bass, slap bass, etc.
3) CHORD
Each style uses different instruments for the CHORD part
of the accompaniment — such as organ, piano, guitar, etc.
which can be turned on an off with this button.
Chords consist of up to three notes sounding at the same
time.
4) ORCHESTRA
A wide variety of instruments (up to three different ones
for each style) is used for the ORCHESTRA accompa-
niment. This button turns it on or off. The orchestra
accompaniment consists of three parts.
Points to Remember
The total number of notes you can play on the Porta-
Sound PSS-680 at the same time is 12. Since the AUTO
ACCOMPANIMENT features use up from 1 to 7
notes, (1 for bass, 3 for chords and 3 for orchestra),
depending on the ORCHESTRATION setting, they
limit the number of notes that may played in the melody
section to between 5 and 11.
Single Finger and Fingered Chords consist only of
BASS and CHORD sounds. Therefore, only the BASS
and CHORD settings are relevant for these functions.
If all ORCHESTRATION buttons are off, no sound
will be heard when playing the AUTO ACCOMPA-
NIMENT section of the keyboard, but chord assign-
ment is still operative for DUET and SONG MEM-
ORY (see below).