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matje
Total Posts: 45
Joined 12-12-2012 status: Regular |
I want to buy a professional MIDI file. They ask me which type of file. I can choose between GM (General Midi) or XG (0&1;) format. This XG in specific for Yamaha (?). Which file I have to choose for the S90XS. Does it support XG format? |
Bad_Mister
Total Posts: 36620
Joined 07-30-2002 status: Moderator |
Both and neither. :-) The S90 XS is neither, strictly speaking, compatible with GM nor XG, but it will respond correctly to both. Sorry, for the quizzical answer and it does require some explanation. First. XG is a Yamaha extension to the GM (General MIDI) specification. It will always be true that all XG files are GM compatible. XG simply extended the functions of GM… As I recall, it has everything that is GM plus 23 additional things that could controlled in real time by various Control Change numbers and the like. XG also greatly expanded the 128 Normal GM Program list. It did so by adding literally scores and scores of alternate Banks. Here is what I mean, on the GM Program list Program # 34 is the Fingered Bass. Simple GM sound sets will always have an electric bass played with the fingers in slot number 34. The GM Bank Numbers for Normal, nonDrum Voices, is 000-000. an XG compatible module might have a Fender Precision Fingered Bass as the Bank 000/000 bass, but have a MusicMan fingered bass, or an Alembic fingered bass, or a Rickenbacher fingered bass, etc., etc., etc., in Program 34, but accessible via different MSB/LSB Bank Select commands. Yamaha the company with all the various technologies, started to generate parallel Banks, for example, if you had a product based on FM, like a PLG150-DX, it’s hundreds and hundreds of sounds where selectable via various Bank Selects. The DX did not do acoustic piano very well so you may have only a few alternate FM pianos, but at Program numbers 5 and 6, where in GM, you’d find the Electric piano 1 (which everyone knows as a Rhodes type) and Electric Piano 2 (which is an FM type electric piano), there you will find scores and scores of alternate electric pianos. The only real drag about GM was the limit of Voice selection… With XG, an extension to the GM model, Yamaha was able to add hundreds and and hundreds of alternate sounds, that still conformed to the 16 Category sets of 8 Voices each, that is the GM list. The alternate sounds were in parallel Banks. Same Program number, parallel bank. Okay, gear that is strictly GM or XG must follow all the rules of these protocols. And trust me, there are many concerning maximum layers, choice of effects, filters, etc.etc., in order to get an official GM or XG logo on the unit you must meet all of the criteria. Yamaha pro synths do not wear the GM or XG logo, because the design concept is no limitations from the GM or XG protocol are necessary, because the pro synths can be edited and the edits stored permanently on board the instrument. So the whole concept of reprogramming the tone engine with Sysex and Control Change messages in a setup bar, is unnecessary, intrusive, and just not welcome when you can totally customize your VOICES and store them. With the S90 XS/S70 XS, the Motif-series, the MOX series, even the new MX-series, there is a Bank that will conform to the 128 Voice list of GM… Where the first 8 sounds on the list are Piano Category, and sound number 34 is a fingered bass… Etc., etc., But it is designed so you can substitute any Voice you want, from the extensive Voice Library included with the product. In fact the VOICES in the Bank 000/000 are not from some separate cheapo sound chip (many companies stick in a chip with a sound set that fits on the head of pin to get the GM sticker), the Voices in the Yamaha pseudo-GM bank in the pro synths simply are listed in a compatible order, you are not limited to just Reverb and Chorus, you can use any of your powerful Insertion Effects, you are not limited to how many velocity layers are used in the Voice, in fact you have total freedom to break all the rules. And significantly the sounds in the GM set on the S90 XS are of the same caliber as any of the sounds in the instrument! This is by design. And why not… You can STORE the edits in the product! So the S90 XS will respond when a properly prepared GM or XG file is played for it. In other words, it should rest to the GM sound set… Concert Grand on all Channels except 10 which will reset to the GM Drum Kit… From there the Program Changes in the file will select a Voice in the GM compatible list…
So if the file says PC calls for a fingered bass, the S90 XS will select a fingered bass.
Hope that gives you a better idea of what is going on. I will tell you this, if the programmer of the GM or XG file did extensive editing of the GM voices they are not listening to the filters and envelopes of your pro synth, remember, a GM soundset can be made so inexpensively because there is no expectation of STORING Voices in the unit. The type of memory that STORES Voices in internal memory is expensive. GM modules can be made inexpensive because the whole protocol supports reprogramming the basic 128 Voices at the start of each Song file (that’s what all those system exclusive and control change messages you see in the files are about). I find that if the programmer tried to use the GM module’s filter to brighten the sound, it can slice your head off when you apply that to the filters in the S-series. So be prepared to adjust the original author’s sonic decisions!!! In a keyboard of the sophistication of the S-series, you have tons of the expensive kind of memory to store your custom Voice data. You do not have to place them in any of the 16 GM categories, you are free to use them, recall them change to them, edit them and keep your edits, etc., etc., etc. and it is this way because pros prefer it. Choice, it’s a good thing! The XS will ignore the XG programming data, it will follow the Voice selection map. Same with GM programming data, it will follow the Voice selection map. So, Both and Neither… |
matje
Total Posts: 45
Joined 12-12-2012 status: Regular |
Thank you for your very clear answer! I bought the XG file and import it into the S90XS. Sounds great. When I want to make changes, for example voices, I can use Cubase AI (delivered with the S90XS)? It is not neccessary/possible to change settings in the S90XS to change/improve the playback of the sound? |
Bad_Mister
Total Posts: 36620
Joined 07-30-2002 status: Moderator |
Yes, you can use Cubase to edit the data in the file. In Cubase you can look at, edit and remove the messages that are unnecessary, or that you wish to change. Remember the file has data in it that “controls” the receiving tone device.
If you only make your changes to settings in the S90 XS, when you Start playback of the file, it will change it back. The messages in the file determine what happens. So you must edit the data in the file. Make sense? |
matje
Total Posts: 45
Joined 12-12-2012 status: Regular |
Very clear, thank you! I am really a nerd in MIDI so maybe another stupid question. With help of Cubase I removed the piano and vocal track, because those two parts I want to play/sing myself. When I import the MIDI file into the S90XS, the voice of the keyboard changes to strings. This is what I do:
Select voice full grand piano
Is it also possible to lower the volume of the played MIDI file, but not the volume of the part you play yourself. The volume of the MIDI is so heigh I can’t hear the voice I play. |