Hi - this question is for Tyros 2 and/or S900 users.

If I have an external device that can send the proper MIDI commands to select Voices on a Yamaha arranger (I'm using Tyros2 and/or S900) - I have heard that it won't work right ... because when you select a Voice from the keyboard's button panel, alot more is "done for you" than just selecting the voice.

I have heard (but can't yet test) that if I send the proper MIDI program change and bank # etc. for say "Blues Guitar" voice, I'll get the raw voice, but not the preset effects (DSP) etc. for the voice - so it won't sound the same as if I had selected the same sound from the keyboard's control panel.

Is there a way around this? I was thinking of adding a hardware MIDI box (with alot of buttons/sliders) so that I could program some buttons to instantly call up frequently used sounds. Before I buy this device, I wanted to know if this would work, or would not, with these Yamaha arrangers.

Is there a more advanced MIDI command "string" that I could have the device send to the Yamaha to make it call up the Voice and all its associated settings, DSP, etc. so it sounds just as if I had selected the same voice from the keyboard buttons?

Another reason I might want to do this is to have a small external MIDI keyboard (maybe 2-3 octaves) attached to the Yamaha arranger, and use it for "solo voices". I did this with my Technics KN-7000 and it was nice; I sort of had a 2-manual "organ"!
And all I had to do was program the mini MIDI keyboard to send program and bank changes, all worked fine on the Technics.

Thanks,
Jim