No. The Super Knob value is stored within each Performance.

SSS is only one method to seamlessly transition between instruments. Don’t feel you must use it in every case, remember the Super Knob can be used to transition instruments within a single Performance.

The value that the Super Knob is stored at is found from the HOME screen:
Touch “Motion Control” > “SuperKnob” > the “Super Knob” value is shown in the upper right of the screen.

The position of the Super Knob staying the same would not make a difference necessarily in effecting transitions, because what it is tasked to control varies spectacularly from one Performance to the next.

Example, the “CFX + FM EP” Performance, initially recalls the CFX Acoustic Grand Piano sound because the Super Knob is stored at a value of “0”. If you create a User version with the Super Knob value at “127”, the Performance would initially recall the FM-X classic DX7-type electric piano. In this Performance it is responsible for morphing between acoustic and electric pianos... but in another Performance, it’s role might be entirely different.

Example, the “PopHorns Dyn Shake” Performance, initially the Horn section is made up of saxophones and brass horns, Super Knob is at “0”, it is controlling the output level of the high trumpets, which only come in when the Super Knob is moved toward maximum (use an FC7 Pedal to control the Super Knob - fade in the high trumpets for that screaming dynamic sound).

Example, the “Turn it On” Performance, the Super Knob is tasked with adjusting 12 different parameters across five Parts. It is tuning Operators, adjusting Feedback levels, manipulating the Filter Cutoff and Resonance, adjusting Operator Levels, Coarse tuning one Part.

So the position of the Super Knob is a programming decision made on a per Performance basis.

That said, you can have the normal MIDI physical controllers carry over from one program to the next, these include Foot Volume/Expression, MW, Assign Switches, etc. you do so by setting th “Controller Reset” parameter to HOLD
Press [UTILITY]
Touch “Settings” > “MIDI I/O” > “Controller - Hold/Reset”

Yes, it is exactly because the Super Knob controls so many parameters and has such an influence on the sound that I think it would be really useful to be able to choose whether transitioning to a new Performance causes the Super Knob to jump to a new value or allows it to remain at the current setting.

Sidney, some examples were given of rationale why Superknob would want to "reset" for a specific set of Performances (Pop Horns, etc). The missing context here is really what two Performances specifically you want to transition. Because as many ways as Superknob itself works for different Performances - there are an equal number of ways that two different Performances may or may not be related to each other. I have the feeling you have two Performances that are very related in how Superknob works (not desperate). And this request is in the context of a specific goal - not ones outlined by other examples.

The end of this road may be to stop using SSS and Performance switching to achieve your goal - but it would be helpful to shed some light on what exactly you're trying to do in more specific terms by citing preset Performances or giving detail on your user Performances that could use a "don't reset Superknob" setting.

A simple example would be a Performance in which the Super Knob is used to control the volume of one or more parts. (Smoothly bringing in some Strings on a Piano and Strings performance for example). Now we want to add a choir voice part. (assume for a moment that the assign switches are already being used for another purpose). If we use a Scene to accomplish this we run into the 'Mute' issue when we transition back to the original setting. Using a SSS Performance which retains the Piano and String parts while adding the Choir would seem to be the way to accomplish this - but I don't want the volume of my String part to jump when transitioning. In addition, I'd rather not have to 'fish' for the position of the Super Knob with my FC7 pedal to regain Super Knob control.

There are many ways to accomplish this - but I will stick with something close to what you've outlined - using superknob to blend strings+piano, switching Performances to bring in choir, then switching back to strings+piano (no choir) with the ability to hold choir over (SSS) during the switch instead of an abrupt mute event.

I have to make a few assumptions here - you may be able to modify the assumptions to work for your actual use - or you may tell me that there is no pattern of use that can match what I outline here.

The basic goal, as I understand it is:
1) Goal 1: Start with Piano sound and enable blending in strings gradually using superknob (single-performance morphing)
2) Goal 2: Add Choir to Piano+Strings sound (can abruptly start - no need to fade in)
3) Goal 3: While holding last Choir "pad" - tell keyboard to stop triggering choir for next note-on events. Similar to how SSS works or XA control

And the limits are: A.SW1 and A.SW2 are both assigned to different functions so XA control cannot be used.

Since you didn't say - I am going to assume that -every time- the choir is added, the strings are at full volume with the piano. "Full volume" meaning superknob is at a known position where the strings are sounding.

Also, since you didn't say - I am going to assume that -every time- the choir is removed, the strings are still at full volume with the piano (and so after the choir part ends and there is no choir, you will eventually - later - turn down the strings to go back to piano solo).

To realize this, I can use 3 Performances (and use the "SSS everywhere" approach - not my preferred approach, but sticking to your outline).

Performance 1:
Piano + Strings (no Choir). Default for this performance is for piano to sound without strings (default superknob position has strings at zero volume). turning superknob to a different position will blend in the strings.

Performance 2:
Piano + Strings AND Choir. Default for this performance is for superknob position to start with Strings sounding at full volume. Choir is also at its normal volume.

Performance 3:
Piano + Strings, (no Choir). This performance is like Performance 1 - except that the default superknob position places the strings at full volume.

You would use these three Performances as such:
=======================================

First - Performance 1 starting with solo piano. Turn the superknob to blend in strings and play finally with strings at full volume.

Second - Switch to Performance 2. This will start layering the Choir at its full volume. Alternatively - you could start with Choir at a lower volume and use sliders to blend in the Choir if you wanted.

Third - You want to hold a chord in the Choir and switch to Performance 3 telling the keyboard that the next time you press a key - there will be no choir on that key. SSS is utilized for this. Since Performance 3 has strings at full volume (like Performance 2) - there is no jump in volume.

Second Approach
==============

Personally, if you really wanted to do things this way, I think that it's one too many Performances. There's no reason to have both Performance 1 and Performance 2 just to switch in Choir. I would instead have only two Performances (labeling as "b" to differentiate from the above 3 Performances).

Performance 1b:
Piano + Strings + Choir. Same as Performance 1 above except that Choir starts off as Muted. Since there is no need to worry about an abrupt start (the issue is an abrupt cutoff - not cut-on) using an UN-MUTE to start Choir is fine.

Performance 2b:
Piano + Strings (no choir): Matches Performance 3 above. Strings are at full volume so there is no jump in the transition.

You would use these 2 Performances ("b" ) as such:
=======================================

First - Performance 1 starting with solo piano. Turn the superknob to blend in strings and play with strings at full volume.
Second - Still Performance 1, unmute the Choir PART (can use a Scene button or touchscreen). Choir begins to sound with piano+strings
Third - Switch to Performance 2 - can be holding Choir pad and there will be no abrupt cutoff. Strings are set to match how Performance 1 will be left off - so strings start at full volume here. When you let go of the choir and play new notes - only piano+strings will sound. You can use superknob to turn down strings (blend them out) to get back to solo piano.

That said, there are different approaches as well.

A) Split the keyboard so choir is in a range by itself. This way, you can use one performance where superknob blends strings in with piano and strings+piano have their own range of notes on the piano keyboard. Then choir has its own range of notes that allows for starting/stopping choir at will without cutoff by using different notes. You would not need to switch Performances - but, if you did, SSS will function.

B) Similar idea as alternative A, except can make half of the keyboard piano+strings and then repeat piano+strings+choir on the second half of the keyboard. This would take 5 PARTs which would make SSS not apply (SSS would be disabled for more than 4 PARTs) - but you would not need to switch Performances.

C) You could setup element delay on the Choir part such that it is at the maximum value. This only works if you are going to hold down a key for no longer than 8 seconds in your Performance while the choir is not sounding. You can set a controller like modwheel, footswitch, or anything else to set element delay back to zero when turned/pushed. This would be a "Mod/Control" setting that targets only the Choir's elements. Then set the controller to the "delay=0" setting to bring in choir. Any notes you are holding when you set the delay back to the maximum value will continue to sound. This is another way to get an "SSS" like transition assuming you do not hold notes for more than 8 seconds. This does not always work due to the limit.

As an aside - it would be "nice" if we could set the element delay to a larger value to allow for a 3rd XA-control-ish option. A value of infinite would allow for us to have something equivalent to XA-Control. Or perhaps a log scale such that there are many small values - then larger delay values can be achieved at the high end of the range.

D) There's a convoluted way to get this to work with envelope follower + two drum keys or envelope follower + FM-X. I won't go through that one.

Wow ...or we could just have the option of saving a Performance with or without the Super Knob position. Seriously, I did not intend to always add or remove the choir with the strings at max volume, this seems like an arbitrary limitation. Perhaps Bad Mister's comment about Controller Hold/Reset is the way to go - (seems like a ploy to get me to buy a second FC7 pedal :), but if I remap all my Super Knob controls to Foot Controller 1, it sounds like it will carry over across Performance changes - although I'll be missing the position feedback from the Super Knob display. Interesting that Hold seemed like a useful feature for the other controllers but not the Super Knob.

You can wait for features that do not exist or avail yourself to ones that do. I'm not dismissing your wish - it's a valid one. But if I have 3-4 ways to solve the issue that may require some adjustment to my performance - I'll use those until the unlikely event that my desired wish comes into fruition.

I'm not sure what your mod wheel is doing in all this - but you could make mod wheel control your string volume instead of superknob. Mod wheel should not be reset if you use controller hold. That's yet another way.

We can keep going with many solutions to this particular set of requirements. The flexibility of the system is fairly vast even though there are some things that could be improved/added.

Jason, thanks for your help. I'll report back after trying the Foot Controller 1 approach. The reason I thought this worth pursuing is that on Yamaha's other flagship keyboard, the Genos, this can be done with a single button press.

Wow ...or we could just have the option of saving a Performance with or without the Super Knob position.

I really don’t think so, there is a lot you don’t seem to get about the Super Knob. But no harm in asking. The Super Knob (not found on a Genos, by the way) is a macro controller. Because so many parameters can be assigned to it, and not just level, storing a Performance without the Super Knob position is impractical.

There are so many other ways to accomplish your goal, leave the Super Knob alone!

Note that the "second approach" is less restrictive because you can have the string+piano blend in any position when you add the choir. The only boundary condition on this one is where the string level is set when you want to stop the choir.

These kinds of considerations are all where the fun of programming come in. There are limits on every keyboard platform. They're different - unique to each manufacturer and product. Understanding the features, limits, and "tricks" are all part of the experience for any keyboard. There's probably a way to program one (or more) Performances to accomplish your goals. If you dictate a long list of requirements - expect a heavier lift on the programming side unless you luck out and the keyboard happens to accommodate your shopping list.

I still think your suggestion is good and has practical applications (use). I cannot (and won't) comment on how practical it is to implement.

Overall, it's good to start the upward climb and "diving in" to the programming to see what solutions you can come up with. There's no lack of help on your journey.

If the goal is to have the position of the Super Knob reflect the real-time position when you change instrument sounds, this can be easily accomplished with a shift in thinking (rather than waiting for a firmware change). By placing several instruments that you want to play into the same Performance, you can always seamlessly transition with a Performance. The Super Knob position is, by default, “live” during your stay within the current Performance.

Experimenting with programming it and learning how to setup your Super Knob in other Performances can also help. You never have to worry about having to go “grab” the Super Knob, if you store your Performances so that the Knob returns to 12 o’clock position. The general trend in the Factory sounds is to be judicious and balanced in positioning the Knob. On your personal Performances you don’t need to please anyone but yourself.

A Performance can be made up a Multi Part KBD CTRL entity of as many as eight Parts plus a number of individually accessible Parts, that when selected, will inherit the current condition of the Super Knob. Its position will be wherever it happens to be when you activate the instrument *within* this Performance (be it by XA CONTROL, Part selection, morphing, and because you can opt in or out on whether it gets memorized: the Scene recall buttons, which can, if desired memorize Super Knob position as a selectable target).

Thanks for the discussion and suggestions. I think the Montage and MODX are really great instruments. I do believe that were it possible to add the ability to load Performances without altering the value of the Super Knob this would add some useful functionality, especially in the area of seamless transitions. Others may disagree.

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't inheriting the previous Performance's last Superknob position generally be undesirable unless you were using the Superknob to control the exact same parameters in the Performance you're switching from and the Performance you're switching to? Otherwise it seems you'd be getting an almost random variation of whatever your next sound was going to be.

You're missing the paradigm where, as the wish is constructed, to use this feature or not.

Generally anything is undesirable unless you programmed it that way. I think it is valid to request the facility to program a Performance which inherits the superknob position from a previous Performance. The request is not to force every Performance this way. All presets would not be programmed this way.

It's undesirable to have every Performance have the spiralizer effect as InsB. Luckily, we're not forced to use that -- and most Performances are not programmed that way.

Almost every parameter has specific use cases and also a large percentage of the time when that use case does not apply or would be undesirable.

For that matter, for seamless transitions - it'd be "nice" if the ARPs could be programmed to magically keep running while you hold down the previous performance's piano keys. And if motion sequence could continue to run. These are relatively higher lift items because there's lots to do in order to make these continue to function. There's discussion of seamless sustain pedal (one that stays pressed and sustains the new 2nd Performance if held over a Performance switch). There are lots of areas where SSS or even non-SSS but "smoother" transitions between two performances could be improved. It's mostly pie-in-the-sky and "food" for thought for future generations. "Ideascale" type discussions.