Hi,
I just joined the list. Is Gary Gregson still a member? If so, this is
about the PLG150AN's inability to send bulk dumps, which is discussed in
the email below which I got from the AN1x-list archive.
To me, it seems that Yamaha made a mistake leaving this functionality out
of the PLG150AN (or maybe it's the fault of the host device, I'm not sure).
I'm using a CS6x myself. Anyway, I think it is really important to have
this functionality.
It's true, some of the parameters in the AN1XEdit files PLGPreset1.anp and
PLGPreset2.anp do not match those listed in the PLG150AN manual, in
particular, the modulation matrix destinations. For instance, Preset
patch 1 (this may not display well, since I use a proportional font):
AN1XEdit PLG150AN Manual
-------------
-------------------------
Patch name: KillerLoop Killer
AC1 dest. Vcf Cuttof Sync Pitch Up
AC4 dest: Sync Pit Dp VCF Cutoff
These are just the first I noticed, I'm sure there are many more. I would
really like to get the PLG150AN Presets into AN1XEdit, and also into
XGWorks AN Expert Editor.
Is there anyone at Yamaha that I can write to about this? Maybe they
could add this functionality in a future operating system upgrade? (fat
chance, I know, ha ha).
Regards,
Richard
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gary Gregson <gary@y...>
> To: <AN1x-list@egroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2000 3:10 AM
> Subject: RE: [AN1x-list] Bulk dumps from PLG150-AN
>
>
> Hi Lars,
>
> In common with all Yamaha soundcards and PLG boards....it is
> NOT possible to dump parameters from the PLG150AN card.
> Yamaha simply do not provide bulk requests or a return path
> from the card (their reasoning is that any changes to the
> card MUST have arrived from an external source....hence that
> external source should already know what the parameters
> are). I don't go along with this reasoning....particularly
> in the case you mention where you want to get at the default
> ROM preset parameters!
>
> If you perform a bulk dump from an MU unit fitted with a PLG
> card, you will get some PLG card specific parameters.
> However these are merely the configuration parameters for
> the card in the XG device (i.e. those you can edit from the
> MU front panel). They are at best offsets....they are NOT
> the actual voice parameters stored within the card.
>
> It is for this reason that AN1xEdit does not provide the
> An1x BULK Request button when operating in PLG mode (if it
> was available, I can assure you that I wouldn't have went to
> the trouble of removing the button in PLG mode!!!!!!!!)
>
> It is also for this reason that I provide the PLG150AN
> preset banks as .ANP files within the An1xEdit installer
> package.
>
> Obviously, since there is no way to request what is in the
> PLG150AN ROM, I have created these files based on
> information supplied by Yamaha .....or to put it another way
> I ripped them out of the PLG150AN editor supplied for
> XGworks use. (Incidentally the XGworks editor is actually
> based upon my AN1xEdit source code....but YCJ saw fit to
> give it a 'different' interface and unfortunately
> compromised some of the functionality in the process...use
> it at your peril :-)
>
> Therefore I cannot be certain that what is in my supplied
> preset files is EXACTLY what is in the PLG150AN ROM. i.e. I
> could not find anyone at Yamaha to give me the ACTUAL ROM
> data!
>
> Therefore it is as close as you are going to get unless you
> care to go through each voice and do an aural parameter by
> parameter comparison! If you care to do this, please go
> ahead...but I had neither the time nor inclination to do
> such a comparison (after all AN1xEdit is primarily for
> creating your own custom voices.... not trying to replicate
> those that Yamaha have already supplied!)
>
> Regarding the earlier questions on getting AN voice data
> into your sequencer. As I explained, the best way is to
> export from An1xEdit as a MIDI file or as a Cakewalk SYX
> bank. In either case I would not recommend sending an AN
> voice bulk mid way through a sequence! The actual sysex is
> over 1K long per voice....and is therefore bound to cause a
> glitch in your sequencers playback! Furthermore the AN
> device takes a finite time to respond to patch changes...so
> don't expect to be able to switch voices quickly on the fly
> (this applies to both the AN1x keyboard and the PLG150AN
> card)
>
> My advice would be set up any AN patches at the start of the
> song (i.e. leave a couple of black bars for synth setup
> prior to the music starting to play). The same is true of
> general XG synth setup.
>
> If you really want to change AN voices mid song, then you
> should download all required patches to the synth user
> memory bank at the start of the song. Thereafter you should
> just use simple program change messages to change patch (but
> again don't expect voice change to be instantaneous....the
> machine has to reconfigure alot of internal DSP parameters
> on patch change. I have seen user who setup patch changes in
> Cubase parts and then wonder why the first few notes of the
> part don't play...the reason is the synth is still
> configuring. So send all patch changes at least half a
> second before you want a note to sound. In the Cubase
> example this would mean advancing the part start time so
> there is a gap between when the patch is sent and the first
> note of the part plays.).
>
> Normally I work by constructing a library of my favourite
> patches within An1xEdit. Thereafter I download the whole
> library to the synth at the start of the day.
>
> Also if you want to provide alot of voice tweaking during a
> song you should avoid excessive use of sysex (i.e. avoid
> recording lots of AN1xEdit knob movements into your song
> using Hubis or OMS IAC). Lots of sysex is guaranteed to
> destabilise sequencer playback.
>
> Instead setup the Matrix function of each voice to your
> preference and use standard controllers (they are much
> faster to transmit and also much easier to edit with
> standard sequencer controller edit curves and other
> sequencer features).
>
> Regards
>
> Gary