Marco Mendez - Tips and Techniques

Color Families of Sounds

Definition:

There are 4 distinct colors of organ sounds:
Blue, Red, Yellow and White

What to do first

First, it is suggested that you download and printout the

Color Chart  for reference.

Next Step
What does this mean when setting up sounds and blended sounds for play.

Using the chart, you will see the various sounds in each color category.  You can combine sounds from the same color only.

The BLUE family includes instruments that are:
Struck - (Xylophone, Vibes)
Plucked - (Guitar, Harp)
Slapped - (Slap Bass, Guitar Body)

The RED family includes instruments Instruments that require air movement:
Reeds - (Saxophone, Clarinet)
Lip-Action - (Trumpet, Trombone)
Air Movement - (Whistle)

The YELLOW family include STRING Instruments that require bowing.

The WHITE family includes Sounds that are Electronically or Vocally generated.

Using the Color Code chart to make setups

Never combine sounds from a different color.  You can mix sounds that are different in the lower keyboard than from the upper.

One important thing to remember when creating your own Registrations is this rule. "Don't mix different families in the same area of the keyboard"  Basically, this is referred to as LAYERING - which is the setting up of different sounds - but from the same FAMILY - grouped together in the same area of the keyboard.

With some exceptions, there are generally Four Families or categories of sounds as shown above.

EXCEPTIONS: YELLOW - Depending on how the instruments are played...a Violin, for example, can be Plucked or Bowed making it a String (Yellow - Bowed) sound or a Percussive (Blue - Plucked) sound.

WHITE - "Anything Goes" with an Organ sound...the Organ is the "King of Instruments"  Also, when combining sounds, remember that each sound should be set to a different VOLUME LEVEL.

This video link 

(advance it to the 19 minute and 50 second mark) demonstrates the technique, which can make anyone sound like a professional.