Hi all,
I’m trying to create a part for “Just the Way It Is” where in ARP1 the bass has no ARP (i.e. it only responds to my playing) and then in ARP2 the bass responds to chords and uses an ARP. (I’d use this for the cool piano solo part)

The only way I got close was to put the same bass part for parts 2 and 4, then making 2 ARP controlled and 4 not ARP controlled.

This almost worked, but when I go to use the bass in ARP mode, it wants to follow the octave in which I’m playing so it sounds goofy when I hit higher notes.

Here’s what I’d like to do:
1) Use only one instance of the bass
2) for ARP1 no arp play, just follow the notes
3) for ARP2 use an arp but have the base read my playing (in any octave) and only play in its assigned octaves

Maybe that’s asking too much (but it kind of is the way this thing should work… or is that just the way it is..... (sorry, couldn’t resist)

Hopefully you figured this out by now?  A Performance has five sets of Arps, in each set you define or not an arp for each of the four parts.  Switching to a different arp set when playing a different section of a song or even for a one measure turnaround is possible.  I use a midi foot pedal for that so the fingers don’t have to reach up and find an arp button.

Could you share how you use a MIDI foot pedal switch arps (s90es)? I’ve been using my pointy nose lately - works great, but looks pretty silly. I have a Softstep. Thanks!

I’m using a Roland FC300 foot pedal ..  a bit of an overkill .. but it is a solid well made device.  I have a blog post that explains some ..  http://www.boogiebeau.com/boogiebeau/?p=212

Basically
1. I keep the FC300 in what they call Patch mode (100 patches). The FC300 has 5 lower buttons on it so you can control patches 1-5, 6-10 etc. in sets.

2. I’ve programmed the first five Patches on the FC300 to send SYSEX commands via a MIDI cable to the S90XS.  You’ll find the commands in the data manual, though they are not easy to understand.  I also duplicated all the commands in buttons 6 - 10 with and exception that I send a command to also turn on my effects harmony when I press/hold Button 1.  On the S90XS Utility Menu / MIDI .. MIDI in/out must be set to MIDI not USB.

3. So Button 1 on the FC300 sends two SYSEX commands when I press down and hold with my foot.  Turn ARPs on, and switch to ARP 3.  When I release the button (lift up foot) The FC300 sends another SYSEX command to switch back to ARP 1 again.

I found it is best to use measure mode verses realtime mode for your Arps.  If there is a drum pause in the song then I usually set Arp 3 in the Performance with a lower volume on the drum and mute other Arp parts if used.  Pausing realtime .. means you have to press and lift foot exactly in time and that can result in a Fail throwing the beat off like 1 in 4 tries.  Sometimes I just have the Arp 3 set in the Performance to a drum fill, other times maybe a louder volume with a different bass beat Arp to use during a songs chorus, just depends on the song.  The FC300 has two pedals on it, I rarely use them, the left one controls volume and right one modulation. 

Patch 01 here are command in hex on the FC300
on: 
Arp Switch hold ON
SYSX: F0 43 10 7F 0D 30 30 03 01 F7
select arp 3
SYSX: F0 43 10 7F 0D 30 30 00 02 F7

off:
select arp 1
SYSX: F0 43 10 7F 0D 30 30 00 00 F7

My FC300 button five when pressed turns Arp play off.  So I used that at end of song.  I have buttons 2 3 and 4 also doing some things but I rarely use them.