Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Just a quick primer:

MIDI is transmitted as data from a MIDI transmitter to a MIDI receiver.
The MIDI transmitter (keyboard, drum pad etc) only sends information
about the type of trigger you have created. The MIDI receiver (sound
module) is what actually makes a sound. A typical message from a MIDI
keyboard to a MIDI sound module might look like this:

-Start playing note #C4 with a velocity (loudness) of 127 (triple forte).
-Stop playing note #C4

These "Note On" and "Note Off" messages make up the bulk of the basic
communication from a MIDI transmitter to a MIDI receiver. Since we only
have one MIDI cable between the transmitter and what may very well be
more than one receiver, we need some way to differentiate the notes so
that the appropriate instrument sounds the correct notes (i.e. Cello
notes do not get played by the French horns). In order to do this, you
use MIDI channels.

For example, you could set the MIDI tone module that had a French Horn
sound to channel 1 and the MIDI sound module with the Cello to MIDI
channel 2. This way, each module would only respond to note data on the
channel to which it was listening.

In the above example, we have a MIDI module listening on MIDI channel 1
and any note on or off data it receives will be played as a French Horn.
As you can imagine, a MIDI module that simply played the sound of a
French Horn, and nothing else, would be a rather expensive (and wasteful)
use of space and equipment. So, manufacturers created MIDI modules that
have the ability to play different sounds when responding to MIDI note
data. These different  sounds are called "patches".

So, when configuring a MIDI module, I would set it to receive on a
specific channel, and then I would assign a "voice" (or patch) to that
channel. Unless it is told otherwise (by a patch change command) all note
data received will be voiced with the sound assigned. This makes for a
very flexible environment since if you needed a harpsichord during the
chorus of a song, and a piano during the verses, you would simply send a
patch change to the module and it would change its voices. With a
DTXpress module, these patches are call "Kits", so if you send patch
change data to the module, it will change drum kits.

Also, the DTXpress module can receive MIDI data on more than one channel.
The default configuration is to have it receive on Channel 10 for all
drum sounds and channel 1 for piano. If you had a keyboard that would
allow you to change MIDI transmit channels, you would find that changing
the MIDI transmit channel of your keyboard to MIDI channel 10 would
result in your being able to make all sorts of Drum sounds by pressing
the keyboard keys.

This of course is a VERY basic description of all the things that you can
do with MIDI and there are a LOT of other things MIDI can do (i.e.
aftertouch, SYSEX data, etc.) that you may see mentioned. If you're
curious, just ask as this group is very good at providing useful
responses. Hope this helps :)

Vern

--
Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is down, then you're
Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously incompetent so why are we
Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of course, if the network
vern@... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously don't need
Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG



sjr41 said:
> thanks again, vern.
>
> i definitely plan to *eventually* try to plug the keyboard into my
> computer & see what it can do there, but i'm not sure what software i
> would need, etc. (& i would love your input on all of that -- like i
> say, i know about drums, but all this technology frightens & confuses
> me).  plus i am not really in a position to be spending much cash on
> this little MIDI project, so...
>
> for the moment, what i'd really like is -- if possible -- just to
> plug this (admittedly very basic & pathetic) keyboard into the back
> of the DTXpress module, plug my headphones in the front (or connect
> it to my mixer, etc), and just play the thing when i want a change of
> pace from the drums, have an idea for a song, etc.
>
> i can do that now & get that lovely piano sound & the other ones that
> are associated with those certain preset songs, but what i'd like is
> to be able to access the "GM keyboard" sounds listed on p. 72 of the
> manual -- all those guitars & basses & horns, etc. -- i mean, they're
> in there somewhere, right?  how can i trigger them with this
> keyboard?  is that possible?  i figure the piano sound has to come
> from *somewhere* in there, and that if i can trigger that i *must* be
> able to trigger the others...
>
> if so, i would love it if you or anyone else in the group could give
> me a little step-by-step instruction on how to.  if not, then we can
> talk about plugging in to my PC, etc.
>
> maybe the problem is that i just don't know enought about how this
> stuff works -- when you said "This is normal since certain songs
> assign a different patch to respond to MIID channel 1,"  i have to
> say that i am not clear on the definition of a "patch," just like i
> had no clue about the whole "channel" thing until you explained it,
> so it would be great if you could fill me in on that as well.
>
> also, if anyone knows any good websites that have this type of "MIDI-
> for-drummers" how-to info on them, please pass them on.
>
> thanks -- this group rocks!
> scott
>
>
>
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Vernon Graner" <vern@t...> wrote:
>> sjr41 said:
>> > I did a google search to see what I could find out, but i
>> > couldnt find a single reference to that model
>>
>> Hmmm weird, I did a search and found the online site that
> sells/supports
>> the keyboard here:
>>
>> http://studiologic.net/fatar-menu.htm
>>
>> and they have a link to PDF versions of the FATAR manuals here:
>>
>> http://www.musicindustries.com/manuals/#studiologicfatarmanuals
>>
>> However, it appears that you are correct on the limits of the FB49
> since
>> the "manual" (I hardly consider one sheet of paper that says "this
> is the
>> power jack" to be a manual!) does not show any way to change the
> MIDI
>> transmit channel. Yet they have the juevos to call this thing "The
> finest
>> master keyboard controller in the world". Yeaaaah. Right. :P
>>
>> Anyway, it looks like it does give you some basic MIDI capability,
> and
>> the price was perfect! :)
>>
>> > all i was hoping for is to use it as a basic synth (with piano,
>> > organ, & other MIDI sounds) as a songwriting/recording tool.
>> --snip--
>> >(i have the free version of ProTools & an analog 4-
>> > track cassette recorder).
>>
>> Well, you can use it as a *very* basic MIDI source, and then use
> some
>> MIDI tools to associate an instrument with the MIDI notes. For
> example,
>> you could have ProTools accept the MIDI input on Channel 1 and then
> have
>> it retransmit it to channel 10. There are many featuers you can take
>> advantage of by using software to overcome the limits of this
> keybaord.
>>
>> > i discovered
>> > that selecting CERTAIN songs actually changed the sounds produced
> by
>> > the keyboard (even if the song wasn't playing).
>>
>> This is normal since certain songs assign a different patch to
> respond to
>> MIID channel 1. This is what you *should* be able to do from your
>> keyboard.
>>
>> > also, i couldnt figure out how to
>> > alter or adjust the properties of the new sounds, which would have
>> > been useful & fun if possible.
>>
>> In actuality, you might be better server finding a *real* MIDI
> controller
>> keybaord since some of the basic models are very inexpensive now. I
> use
>> this one:
>>
>> http://www.m-audio.net/support/manuals/pdf/Key49_Manual.pdf
>>
>> It can be had for about US $100.00 and sometimes cheaper used on
> Ebay. It
>> has velocity sensitivity and just about every MIDI command can be
> sent
>> from it. It also comes bundled with some decent software and has a
> USB
>> connection allowing it to double as a USB MIDI interface for other
> gear
>> if you don't have a MIDI interface for your PC/MAC already.
>>
>> > sorry for the long post -- i hope this makes it easier for you (&
>> > anyone else in the group) to help me make noise!
>>
>> No problem, we're all here because we all have a common interest in
> Music
>> and we hope to make everyone feel welcome. :)
>>
>> Vern
>>
>> --
>> Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is down, then you're
>> Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously incompetent so why are we
>> Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of course, if the network
>> vern@t... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously don't need
>> Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG
>
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