The Master mode Volume control is cc007 (Control Change #007) which affects everything on the MIDI channel. It is technically called MAIN CHANNEL VOLUME. Once a value of cc007 is sent all items on the same MIDI channel will jump to the same Volume. That is why the MASTER mode makes all volume setting the same.

Control Change 11 Expression (cc011) is relative volume, it also is a channel message but with the difference that it works within the MAIN CHANNEL VOLUME setting, so that each of the PARTS assigned to this channel will remain in proportion to the others. So if Piano, Strings and Pad are all set to different Volumes but on the same channel changing cc011 Expression will keep the proportional relationship between the PARTS so that if the Piano is louder than the Strings and the Strings louder than the Pad, they will maintain that relationship as you change the controller.

Your FC7 pedal plugged into Foot Controller 1 jack defaults to sending cc011 Expression and is the best way to control multiple Parts on the same MIDI channel. You start by saying you do not use MASTER mode's ZONE control. If that is the case then cc011 will allow you to control multiple PARTs on the same MIDI channel maintaining the proportional volumes between them.

Once you activate the ZONE switch you putting the MASTER mode in charge of setting things for each ZONE's channel. Perhaps there is a reason you decided now to use MASTER ZONE's (that is not quite clear to me at this point) but if you want the Master to set the main channel volume for multiple sounds - then but those sounds in a PERFORMANCE and address that PERFORMANCE from a single ZONE. The cc007 will set the main channel volume to a specific volume without individual changing the sounds with in that Performance - and cc011 will still allow you to adjust them up and down in proportion.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too, you have to use ZONES and set the PARTS separately and control them separately, or if you need to use ZONEs then place the multiple PARTS in a single PERFORMANCE where you can address them all together and move their volumes proportionally with cc011. You see, when you associate the MASTER with a Performance - it will address that Performance on a single MIDI channel from a single ZONE. The cc007 will set the overall level of the PERFORMANCE allow you to move your Foot Controller sending cc011 and control all Parts in proportion!

Bad Mister, I only use zone control in the Master to enable me to transpose a part more than 2 octaves in my mix (you suggested that to me in an earlier post). However, the master zone volume sets the volumes of all the parts in the mix on that channel, overriding the mix volumes. The info you supplied helps me understand the issue better, and using a performance will work for me occasionally, but the mixes that have parts I need to transpose 2+ octaves typically more than 4 parts, which eliminates using the performance. I was hoping there would be some way in master mode to not send out a volume to a zone (with zone control enabled), or that it would not alter the relative volumes in my mix.

I was hoping to avoid editing sounds in order to transpose them, but it looks like it's the only way I can work this out. I know having the mix voices available makes it easy to edit the sounds in the mix without having them take up my regular sound locations and it really shouldn't be that much trouble. Or maybe Yamaha will roll out an update that allows an increased transpose range in mix parts any day now ...... ( I can dream can't I?).

Thanks for the help!