My setup is as follows:
MO6 Midi out -> Hammond XK1 Merged Midi Out/Thru -> Motif ES Rack

What I’d like to be able to do is:
1) Play String sound locally on MO6 keyboard without having it’s key’s trigger sounds on the Motif ES-Rack
2) Have MO6 send a program change to the Motif ES Rack to select one of its Piano Sounds.
3) Play Piano sound on Motif ES Rack, using the Hammond Keyboard to play the Motif ES Rack

I believe I can accomplish this using Master Mode with zones enabled. However, the only way I know to have the MO6 transmit a program change without transmitting it’s note on/off data is to set a keyboard range of 1 note (e.g. c-2).

Is there any other way to accomplish only sending a program change to a external synth without transmitting note-on/note-offs?

Phil will probably know if the mo can do it, I’m doubtful…

If you have a computer in there, there’s options there…

If not, something like midi solutions event processor could filter notes out probably.

There does not have to be another way - since the method you describe works. You can set the High Note Limit for the ZONE to C-2 and set the Low Note Limit for the ZONE to G8… this creates a “No-Play Zone”

By setting the High Note Limit lower than the Low Note Limit (basically turning the zone ‘inside out’) the notes will not be sent from the MO to the Motif-Rack ES, but the Program Changes, and other controllers can still be sent. That is the solution. There does not need to be another.

Well…

The “No-Play Zone” you suggested will allow two notes to sound on the external module (namely C-2 and G8). Whereas simply setting both the high and low values to C-2 (or G8) will only allow one key to sound on the external module.

Returning to my original question—am I right in assuming there is no way to send a program change without allowing at least one note to be sent to the external module?
Since it’s not that often that I play a C-2 or a G8, I can certainly live with this.

In Mastermode you can send PC’s to your Hammond using another Midi Channel, f.e. channel 16. You have to set your Hammond to receive PC’s on channel 16 ofcourse.

I use this method to switch setups on my Roland RD700GX from the MO8.