Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

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