When I select a sound with different parts(ex. 1-4) and go direct into pattern-mode, the superknob will work and I can record using the knob on track 1. But when I choose a new sound on track 5 with different parts, the superknob will not work on that track. Why? Is the pattern-mode limited to only one sound with superknob?

No. There is only one set of programmed functions for the Super Knob per Performance. It can address all 16 Parts, or any combination of Performance Parts. As of version 3.0 which Parts it is affecting currently is programmable on a per Scene basis

As is always true, when playing the MONTAGE, the upper level of the Performance contains the programming for the 8 Common Assign Knobs which are linked, by default, to the Super Knob movement using the 16 “Control Assign” Source/Destinations. If you have merged Performances to make your current setup, you must review what you have the Super Knob Setup to do. Only the original Performance, the one you started with, has anything programmed on the upper Common level of the architecture. Parts that you add, or merge to the original Performance have nothing programmed on the upper Common level of their new HOME. You need to review your upper Common “Control” > “Control Assign” area for available assignments.

When you record Super Knob movement for Parts 1-4 linked via KBD CTRL, the data for Super Knob movement is recorded to its own “hidden” track. All subsequent recording should be done with Record Type = “OVERDUB”, not REPLACE so as not to erase the Super Knob movement. Because the Super Knob is Global it’s Data is not included on a numbered track... this way it can be omnipresent (always there affecting all Parts) even if you mute all Numbered Tracks.

How the upper COMMON level works...
What do you have the Super Knob set to do in your new Performance?

When you build a Performance by using the Performance Merge feature, all of its *Part* Assignments are automatically brought along, however, none of the upper *Common* (Super Knob) programming is activated. This is always true. The reason is easy to understand... there are 16 Control Sets per Performance, when you “Merge” a Performance, you must check to see if a Control Set is even available for you to add more programming. Also because the “merged” Performance is no longer occupying the same Part numbers 1, 2, 3, or 4 etc., when moved to its new HOME; you must go through each Common assignment, activating those that make sense in this new Performance. When you Merge a new Part to Part 5, in its previous Home it was Part 1, now it is Part 5... you can see why the parameters must be activated each-by-each. The Reverb and Variation Effects are now likely different — so some of the previous programming may make no sense in its new Home.

Stated another way: it would be totally LUCK, if the programming on the upper Common level works when you Merge Performances and activate both of their original Super Knob movement assignments. It couldn’t happen. You need to create a custom Super Knob Setup for your particular combination of instrument sounds.

Say you use the Super Knob to morph an acoustic piano to an electric piano... that movement is recorded and will playback each time you play the Pattern. Each subsequent track you should use Overdub Record. Whatever the Super Knob movement is, it will always, when played back, morph the acoustic piano to electric piano. If you add another Part with a different Super Knob movement, it will also effect the acoustic piano/electric piano balance and the original movement may impact your newly merged Parts depending on your programming. So when you Program the Super Knob in your Performance you cannot count on it automatically happening. You must activate the assignment — you do so by assigning Part 5... you “+” a Destination, you tell the Performance that you want to recall “PART 5 ASSIGN 1” —it will show you what was linked with ASSIGN 1 — you can then determine if this assignment is right for this Performance.

You are informing this Performance that what was PART 1, ASSIGN 1, is now PART 5, ASSIGN 1. Basically, you are activating the Super Knob assignment in this new HOME. where what was once Part 1 is now in Part 5. When you do so, the Control Set is activated.

What you can do
Super Knob movement is written to an unseen track... if, after recording data originally, you set Record Type = Replace and you select no individual Parts and have no KBD CTRL Parts selected, you will erase the Super Knob movement. This is why once recorded you should set Record Type = Overdub if you wish to keep your original Super Knob movement.

It is possible to Overdub just Super Knob movement (meaning you can redo your Super Knob movement, Recording it independent of the Note data — remember you have one set of Common parameters that determine what the Super Knob is going to change. Parts can be set to follow the Super Knob or you can unlink Parts from the Super Knob, on a per Scene basis. This means in one Scene the Super Knob could morph piano to e.piano, and in another Scene it might be used to detail a lead sound with all kind of effects, coarse tuning, filter sweeps, etc. and in another it could be changing all Parts.

There is no one way to approach this, but you might use Part Assign Knobs when Recording, and leave the Super Knob links for the Part, or Parts, you are going to be playing/controlling “live”. Part Assign Knobs get recorded to the Part’s own Track, versus the Super Knob movement which is documented for global playback from that “hidden” (unseen) track.