pjd

Thanks for posting the info about the FC7 sitting/standing set-up. I read it when I came in after yesterday's gig. Due to space constraints, I've gone from sitting to standing (no room for a bench or stool). I found myself playing at a rather awkward posture because I need to drastically decrease volume from time to time. (Music with dynamics -- who would have thought!) :-) So, I grabbed a screwdriver and immediately began to experiment at home. The standing set-up is definitely more comfortable. I'm going to swap the adjusted pedal with the one that I keep at the gig. Tried the spring return, too. Looks good for organists who like to pump in time with the groove. Never new it could do that! It won't help on the church gig, but, man, that would be fun with an organ trio. All the best -- pj Sandsoftwaresound.net

Hi David -- This hits another one of my favorite peaves ... Patch programming and other set-up is amazingly time-consuming. Yet, so many people don't ever bother to back up their work. Then we see messages like "How do I get my data back?", after disaster strikes. Some of these folks may be the same people who complain how club owners, brides, etc. don't value their time. They don't value their own time enough to stay backed up! Another example: Users who don't keep a back-up copy of a vendor's expansion pack, then want to transfer it back from the keyboard. Usually this is a one way trip to the keyboard in order to hold down piracy. I'm looking at some PSR/Genos owners, here. All the best -- pj http://sandsoftwaresound.net/update-about-the-updates/

I've updated to V2.0. I practiced and tested enough to make sure I can gig tomorrow. This is a major, major update. Be sure to back up before installing. You will need to restore all of your data and libraries. All the best -- pj http://sandsoftwaresound.net/update-about-the-updates/

I think it's a combination of the Dunning-Kruger effect (overstating one's competence) and an almost criminal inability to listen to one's own playing critically. I witnessed this recently when someone played over the vocal (!) -- bad enough -- but wasn't even remotely in the pocket. When in doubt, lay out. When I feel like my playing is off the rails and/or not serving the tune, I reflexively pull back on the expression pedal. -- pj P.S. This is one of my pet peeves.

Thanks for the excellent summary, Fleer! I'm looking forward to the MiniFilter and MiniBooster. -- pj

Wow! I was a little sceptical when I read the initial one sentence announcement blurb. This is a major update. Lots of good stuff. My big want was playing audio files, etc. from Live Set. Can't wait to see the details. I am ecstatic that Yamaha views the Montage and MODX as platforms to be updates and extended. This move will definitely improve their competitive situation! All the best -- pj P.S. sandsoftwaresound.net will be back in action soon. I've been living in a hotel for two months while moving to the left coast. :-)

https://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php If the link doesn't work, there's always the Google... :-) All the best -- pj

Hi -- I suggest asking the same question on the PSR Tutoral Forum. You'll find many current and former Tyros 5 players there. All the best -- pj P.S. I'll be interested in the answer. I just joined a church group who are looking to me for B. I ain't complainin' :-)

Search on "Yamaha 24x7". It's their on-line parts outlet. The should also have a toll-free number for parts. If you use the Yamaha 24x7 on-line system, it's most useful (and less frustrating) to know the Yamaha part number. If I recall, the mm6/mm8 service manual can be found on-line, maybe elektrotanya. I recommend searching for and reading the service manual in order to find the correct replacement part number. Hope this helps -- pj

You'll find the MIDI message info starting on page 15 of the Yamaha Data List PDF for the Reface series. Yamaha usually publishes a separate document -- the data list -- which has detailed voice and MIDI info. You should be able to find the Data List PDF in the downloads section of the Yamaha Reface YC product page. Hope this helps -- pj

Nice playin', Jake! Shows that the YC is not a toy in the right hands. Best -- pj

I had the best luck over here: http://www.synthzone.com/midi/yamaha/tg500/ The ole TG500 never had too much after market support from either Yamaha or third parties. There were a few waveform and patch data cards which are now rare as hen's teeth. All the best -- pj P.S. Still got my TG500

Thanks, folks! We're selling the house and switching coasts, so the number of new posts will slow down for a while. Thanks for reading -- pj Music technology blog: sandsoftwaresound.net

I gig with this board weekly and I'm 98% happy. Why 98% ? Just because. :-) I've made Performances and Live Sets, used SampleRobot to create new waveforms, etc., so I've gotten into the guts. Like MotiDave, I'm fortunate to come in from MOXF and other Yamaha synths. If you'd like to read my blog posts about working with MODX, browse: sandsoftwaresound.net and search on "MODX". All the best -- pj

Hi -- Part numbers are listed in the Yamaha service manual for each instrument. In the USA, service manuals may be purchased from Yamaha 24x7, their on-line portal for parts. The main issue is gathering together service manuals for all of the relevant keyboards! The service manuals are not especially cheap even though Yamaha distribute them as PDF files. If someone undertakes this task, please note that the 88 key "piano action" models have a separate manual from the 61/76 models with the FSX key bed. Do you want to compare part numbers for the individual keys or the entire keyboard assembly? There are separate numbers for all. Hope this helps -- pj (a service manual diver) Music technology blog: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/

I agree with MotiDave. I'm playing the MODX6 and gig with it weekly. I enjoyed playing AP/EP on MODX8. Bought the MODX6 because I play mainly synth and organ. Try before buy, try before buy. Hands-on experience is more useful than "reports." We'll know better once the new CPs are in the store and we can A/B the actions and playing experience. All the best -- pj

I just finished making a few pipe organ waveforms and voices for MODX and wrote a few blog posts about the experience. Here are links: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/modx-creating-a-new-waveform/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/modx-get-started-with-sample-robot/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/sample-robot-quick-feedback/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/modx-going-to-the-library/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/modx-sampling-genos-pipe-organ/ Hope you find this info helpful -- pj

Hi -- Here's two examples that might help you out: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/easy-modx-super-knob-example/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-modx-creating-a-split/ The CONTROL ASSIGN button is your friend. You can assign a knob, including the Super Knob, to Performance and Part parameters. It operates like "learn mode" in other instruments/controllers. The first article above shows how easy it is to assign the Super Knob (or any of the other knobs). The second half of the second article demonstrates how to change the reverb type and, potentially, any of the reverb parameters. If you put 2 and 2 together, you should be golden. :-) All the best -- pj Music technology blog: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/

Good idea for Live Set extension. There are so many ways that Live Set could be extended. I'd like buttons to remember the path to an audio WAV file (on flash drive) such that the file is loaded and ready to play along with the appropriate Performance. As an aside, I've been blogging about my early experience voice editing, etc.: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-modx-all9bars/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/modx-after-the-first-gig/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/modx-theatre-orchestra/ I'm having a lot of fun with this instrument. It's a keeper! All the best -- pj

The old Yamaha expansion flash modules (boards) are 16-bit data parallel. The address bus is also parallel. The Montage and MODX tone generators communicate directly with NAND flash using the Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI). ONFI is the same interface used internally within SSD drives. The tone generator maintains a cache of currently used samples in a fast, dedicated SDRAM. The cache is needed because NAND flash random access read time is relatively slow, too slow to sustain 128 voice stereo polyphony. ONFI moves data and address bits across a bi-directional bus. Normally, the bus is 8-bits wide, but there is provision for 16-bit transfer. Looking at the Montage service manual, it looks like Yamaha are using 8-bit mode although they double up the flash devices in order to implement 16-bit transfer. WRT user expansion, I don't think Yamaha could find a reasonable way to let users expand ONFI memory in the field. Getting rid of the parallel expansion bus, connectors, boards and chassis access greatly simplifies industrial design, cuts cost, and eliminates another QA headache. Gory details: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/montage-hardware-platform/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/swp70-tone-generator/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/serial-mem-tone-gen/ U.S. Patent 8,957,295 is the patent issued for the SWP70 memory interface. U.S. Patent 9,040,800 describes a tone generator with 256 channels -- very likely the SWP70. Hey, hey, I gigged with MODX6 on Sunday and I'm quite happy with it. Very easy to schlep around. All the best -- pj

I decided to take the plunge (MODX6). All the usual comments and such are at: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-modx-snap-review/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/modx-effects-screen-capture/ All the best -- pj

Absolutely true. The Motif XF is based on the older SWP51L tone generator while the Montage uses two SWP70 TGs. The host processor moved to ARM from MIPS, etc. That's why I think it's fair to compare one system against another system. And it's why I avoid any "It's the DAC" arguments. :-) I'm looking forward to the MODX, BTW. Can't wait to try one! All the best -- pj

Even though the DACs in the Motif XF and MOXF products are capable of 192kHz, they are both clocked at 44.1kHz samples/sec/channel. The Montage DAC is clocked at 48kHz. Also, the Montage engineers paid careful attention to analog board layout and power, AKA "Pure Analog Circuit." The post-DAC circuitry is quite different WRT Motif/MOX. We won't be getting any PAC with the lower cost MODX. Comparisons of Motif XF vs. MOXF vs. Montage are reasonable. When comparisons are made across vendors, I back off. There are too many variables -- differences in tone generation, waveforms (AKA "samples"), voice programming, etc., etc. Follow the gourd! Follow the shoe! All the best -- pj Music technology blog: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/

I posted a MODX vs. Montage comparison table at: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-modx-vs-montage/ along with a few observations. I also saved the original leaked content at: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-modx-real-or-hoax/ Leaked pages always have a way of disappearing. :-) All the best -- pj

Hi -- I'd recommend getting a Yamaha PSR or MOXF with expansion memory and adding a pipe organ expansion pack. The "Church Organ" expansion pack for S-series PSRs is pretty darned good. DCP Productions offers "Majestic Pipes" for MOXF, but I don't have any direct experience with it. At the suggested budget, you're probably looking at a used 'board. I'm a church musician who gigs every week with an MOX6. The built-in pipe organ sounds are just OK -- nothing to write home about, and to my ears, not much like a real pipe organ. The S-series expansion pack is much better. Of course, there's always Genos or Tyros5, however that's way over budget! :-) All the best -- pj