In order to make use of our 'All Custom Styles' and those available on TechnicsKN7000.com you need to know how to transfer them into your keyboard! This article shows you how to do just that.
NB - Check out the additional KN7000 software downloads in the Members Area (your Profile) to help you with this article. To get to your Profile, log in and then click on your username.
How to Transfer Styles to Technics KN7000
KN7000 is Technics' ultimate arranger workstation keyboard with outstanding sounds, effects, and accompaniment. Visit Technicskn7000.com for manuals, downloads, styles and the best available information about this iconic musical instrument. Join us today and experience all that the amazing KN7000 keyboard has to offer! Record and play digital audio using your PC! Record your KN7000 performance as WAV (16-bit, 44.1-kHz stereo) or compress the file as Windows Media Format, or MP3, depending on how you want to use it. For example, you could send compressed files as e-mail attachments or burn CD-R discs from high quality WAV files.
There are five or six methods of transferring styles to the KN7000 and the methods are similar for other types of Technics files. Some of these methods require fairly advanced computer skills and involve renaming the files to suit the way that the keyboard is programmed.
We're not going to cover the more technical methods of transferring the Technics files in this article but we'll cover that in more detail if there is a demand for it, let us know.
This article covers a few easy ways to transfer Technics Styles to the KN7000. Similar methods can be employed with other keyboards in the range.
KN7000: AST Files
As an example, we'll use a file available from our Member Only Pages (your Profile on this website).
Download the file called '11KN7K01.AST' to your PC, make a note of where you save it. Our suggestion is to make a folder called 'My All Custom Styles' in your Documents folder.
The AST suffix in the filename lets the KN7000 know that this is a file that contains 'All Custom Styles'. These types of files load directly into your Custom rhythm group and they contain up to 20 styles.
Floppy Disk
Method 1: Floppy Disk
This is by far the most straightforward way to understand but the actual transfer process takes a few minutes.
Have a floppy disk prepared and formatted or use one you already have. If you are formatting a new disk you should always do that in the KN7000.
The file name starts with the number '11'. We have named it this way because many commercial Technics-compatible floppy disks have ten Technics 'songs' on them. So this file is numbered '11' for convenience. Of course, if you add the file to a commercial disk you will have to remove the copy protection first (slide the plastic tab in the corner of the disk).
You can change the number 11 to any number from 01 to 20 if you want the file to be in a different 'slot' on the KN7000 load screen by renaming the file. For example, 01KN7K01.AST would place the file in the first 'slot'.
- Using Windows Explorer (File Explorer in Windows 8), copy the 11KN7K01.AST file to your floppy disk
- Put the floppy disk in your KN7000
- Press and hold the 'Disk' button. You should now see the loading screen
- Select 11KN7K01 it will be in the 11th position, unless you renumbered it
- Press LOAD
After a minute or so the disk activity will stop and the 20 styles are now available in your Custom rhythm group.
KN-SDExplorer
Method 2: SD Card using KN-SDExplorer
You can download the KN-SDExplorer software from the official site at http://software.technicskn7000.com/ and we can give you any support you need on that site whether you use the highly functional demo version or the full version.
This application is a must-have for KN7000 owners, it makes the organisation of files on your SD cards very easy. A time limited demo is available on the above page and the price to register the programme is very reasonable.
Using this programme you can follow this procedure:
- Put your SC card in your card reader and run the KN-SDExplorer programme
- Copy the 11KN7K01.AST file in Windows Explorer (right-click and copy)
- Go to the KN-SDExplorer window and navigate to a folder on your SD Card
- Right-click and paste the file
- Take your SD card to the KN7000
- Press and hold the yellow SD button
- Select the 11KN7K01 file
- Press LOAD
The 20 styles are now available in your Custom rhythm group (in seconds).
TechManager7000
Method 3: SD Card using TechManager7000
Installation of the TechManager7000 programme in detail is beyond the scope of this article. Please let us know if you want us to cover installation in greater depth in a new article.
Installation in earlier versions of Windows is straightforward. In Windows 8 you must run the installer in Compatibility Mode for Windows 98. You must also run the programme itself in Compatibility Mode for Windows 98. You will still encounter some occasional crashes but the program is well worth persisting with, it is excellent!
The program is no longer supported. It can be downloaded at the bottom of the page here
The programmers (Key Soft Service) have generously released the serial number generator to the public so that the program can be unlocked here
These programs will only run on Windows 8 when the installer and the program are set to run in Windows XP Compatibility Mode (or earlier).
Using TechManager7000 you can follow this procedure:
- Put your SC card in your card reader and run the TechManager7000 programme
- Select 'Copy Technics to SD Card'
- On the left hand side of the window, navigate to the 11KN7K01.AST file on your PC
- On the right hand side of the window, click on a blank slot to copy the file to your SD card
- Take your SD card to the KN7000
- Press and hold the yellow SD button
- Select the 11KN7K01 file
- Press LOAD
The 20 styles are now available in your Custom rhythm group (in seconds).
Song Manager
Method 4: Song Manager, using a Technics SD Card Backup File
In our Members area you will also find a file called KN7000COUK.sdb
Download this file and save it to your PC. Make a note of where you saved it. We recommend you to make a folder called 'My SD Card Backups' in your Documents folder.
SDB files are Technics SD Card Backups. Usually these are created by the Technics Song Manager software but they can also be created by KN-SDExplorer and Techmanager7000. Each of these programs works slightly differently with Backup files so be sure to read the instructions for each program.
These files contain a complete backup of the KN7000 files on your SD card except for SD Audio files which can only be managed using the SD Jukebox software and the special Panasonic card reader.
This particular file has been created with the Song Manager software. It only contains the TK7Kcom1.AST file in a directory called CUSTOM STYLES.
You could use any of the three pieces of software to place the file on the SD Card but we're going to use Song Manager here:
- Put the SD card in your PC or card reader and run the Song Manager software
- On the SD Manage menu you will see SD Backup, SD Restore and SD Merge
- If this is an empty card you can choose SD Restore
- If this card already has files on it you can choose SD Merge
- Select the KN7000COUK.sdb file that you downloaded earlier. The required files will be placed on your SD card in seconds
- Take your SD card to the KN7000
- Press and hold the yellow SD button
- Select the TK7Kcom1 file
- Press LOAD
The 20 styles are now available in your Custom rhythm group (in seconds).
Music Style Arranger
As you play each Style (or 'Rhythm' in Technics parlance) you can turn on the Music Style Arranger to access appropriate voicing for each variation.
Alternatively, you can use the Music Style Arranger to recall the voices for each rhythm variation and save them in Panel Memories. Then you can use the Panel Memories to switch between voices.
About the Author
Mike (Admin)
I started playing Technics instruments in my early teens and I've owned several models of their organs and keyboards. As a former professional organist and keyboard player I have played most of the models that I haven't owned, so I'm pretty familiar with most Technics organs and keyboards.
Comments
- Keyboard61 keys (with initial touch)
- Sound Generator
Dynamic PCM - Maximum Polyphony128 notes
- Number of Sounds1,187 sounds plus 2 organ drawbars, 3 organ tabse, 3 accordion registers, and 41 drum kits
- SoundsPiano, Guitar, Strings & Vocal, Brass, Mallet & Orch Perc, World, Organ & Accordion, Sax & Woodwind, Pad, Synth, Bass, Drum Kits, Digital Drawbar, Organ Tabs, Accordion Register, Memory
- Sound ExplorerYes
- EffectsPART: sound DSP, digital effect, sustainGLOBAL: reverb, chorus, multi, mic
- Conductorright 1, right 2, left
- Transpose2 octave : C (-1 octave) ˜ C ˜ C (+1 octave)
- Number of RhythmsPreset: 220 patterns x 4 variations (8 parts with 2 DSP effects), intro/ending minor sequenceCustom Style: 20 patterns with registration
- Rhythm Group8 & 16 Beat, Rock & Pop, Ballad, Jazz & Swing, Soul & R&B, Modern Dance, Country & Western, Organist, March & Waltz, 60's & 70's Ballroom, Latin & World, Entertainer, Movie & Show
- Controlsmain volume, APC/sequencer volume, line in volume, SD volume, mic volume, balance, mute, conductor, start/stop, intro & ending 1, intro & ending 2, fill in 1, fill in 2, count intro, synchro & break, tempo/program, tap tempo, fade in/out,
Techni-Chord YesChord Finder YesOne-Touch Play Yes- Sound ArrangerYes
Music Style Arranger Yes- MIDIpart setting, control messages, real time messages, common setting, input/output setting, MIDI presets, mode setting, program change MIDI out, panel memory output, computer connection
- Customizehome page setting, favorite setting, display time out, wallpaper setting, custom panel made, MID setting load option, language setting, disk preference, data protection, video out setting
- Sound Editeasy edit, tone, pitch, filter, amplitude, LFO, effect, controllermemory: 40, 1 user drum kit
- Sequencer Storage Capacityapprox. 40,000 notes, 10 songs max, 16 track recording
- Sequencer Resolution1/96 per beat
- Sequencer Recording Modeseasy record, real time record, step record
- Sequencer Functionsrecord & edit, copy & paste, range edit, naming, panel write
- Composer Storage Capacityapprox. 13,000 notes
- Composer Parts8 parts (bass, accomp 1-5, drums 1, 2)
- Composer Recording Modeseasy composer, real time record, step record
- Composer Functionspattern copy, custom style copy, sequencer to composer copy, load single composer, DSP set, chord modify set
- Composer Memory3 banks x 20 patterns (variations 1-4, intro 1, 2, fill in 1, 2, ending 1, 2)
- Program MenusSound Setting: part setting, mixer, master tuning, key scaling, techni-chord, sound load option, APC reverb setting, monitor setting, separate settingSound Edit: easy edit, tone, pitch, filter, amplitude, LFO, effect, controller memor
- Demo12 songs with slide show
- HelpYes
- Panel Memory13 banks (10 banks + 3 work banks) x 8, set, next bank, bank view, custom panel
Performance Pads 6 pads x 26 banks with solo (preset bank x 20, pads user bank x 3: storage capacity = approx. 1,800 notes, compile bank x 2, control preset bank x 1)Functions: stop, auto setting- CompatibilityNX, GM2, GM, SMF w/ Lyrics
- Music Stylist1,080 music styles
Selection: musical category, musical era, alphabetical list, custom stylist - Direct PlaySMF (0/1), PianoDisc®, DOCTM
- DisplayWide Color Graphic LCD (640 x 240 dots), page, contrast, exit, display hold
- Terminalsphones, main out (R/MONO, L), line out (R/MONO, L), aux in (R/MONO, L), sub out 1, sub out 2, mic input, foot switch 1, foot switch 2, foot controller, exp pedal, MIDI (IN/BASS pedal, OUT, THRU), video out, USB
- Output66W (18W x 2 for mid/high, 30W x 1 for bass)
- Speakers12cm (4 23/32') x 26.5cm (2 9/16') x 2 for mid/high14cm (5 1/2') x 1 for bass
- Included Accessoriesmusic stand, AC cord, style convert disk, initial data disk, application and USB driver CD-ROM for PC, SD Memory Card
- Microphone InputYes
- Key ScalingNo
- Disk Drivebuilt-in 3.5' floppy disk drive for 2HD (1.44MB)/2DD (720kB) disks
- One Touch PlayYes
- Music Style ArrangerYes
- Auto Play ChordYes
- Sound Memory*ALT*40 sound memories, 1 user drum kit
- SD Memory CardYes
- Controllerpitch bend, modulation
- USB PortYes
- Dynamic PCM Sound SourceYes
- Explosive Sound SystemYes
- Organist, Entertainer, and Movie & Show RhythmsYes
- NX Sound with ExpandabilityYes
- Brass SimulatorYes
- Vocal HarmonizerYes
- 16-Track SequencerYes
- Eight-Track ComposerYes
- Customizable Color LCDYes
- Separate DSP Effects and MixingYes
- MIDI JacksYes
- Dimensions (H x W x D)6 11/16' x 44 7/8' x 16 1/8'
- Weight38.80 lbs