1) You use XG Works to create different sounds. What wud you mix to create a different sound (for example)? Wud this work on a PSR550 (1 insert effect only)? How many insert effect does the PSR740/PSR2K have. How many effects can you use with XG works?
2) How does the style creator work?
Starkeeper

Can you find/create/buy additional backing tracks?
Starkeeper

If you import a MIDI file, will it display the chords?
Does XG Works support Windows 2000, XP?
Starkeeper

XGworks is a sequencer, roughly comparable to Cakewalk, but with an XG editor, a dedicated drum window, an Auto arranger and a style creator. To create different sounds you use the XG editor to send sysex to the keyboard. You are not aware of the sysex unless you need to send special sysex that the XG editor doesn't recognise - i.e. keyboard specific. (I would add that I think this is the best XG editor around). It would work just fine on a PSR550, particularly as I have just done the instrument definitions for that keyboard. With the 550 and 740 you can use all the effects. With the 2000 you can use almost all but there is a limitation due to internal tables which cannot be changed. The 740 and 2000 have five DSPs, four are insert and one is Variation/insert.
You can use all of them in spite of what the manual says.

The style creator works by opening a style block after you have inserted the chords in the right place. You then select a style from the internal styles. You can also load external styles into the style file as long as they are in the right format.

XGworks stores the chord symbols in XF format which is Yamaha sysex so standard midi files won't display.

XGworks supports 2000 and XP in its current version but if you have anearlier version you have to download a patch.

Bryan

WOW! Pilot, you did the instrument definitions for the PSR-550...???? Email me if you get a chance..

Thanks,
Squeak

Pilot,
1) You have done the instrument definitions for PSR550!!!!!!
Please email me as well. Double Wow!
2) Are the internal and external styles for the style creator regular Yamaha .sty files? What do you mean, "in the right format"?
3) Can you load/play standard MIDI files and display/print lead sheets?
Thank you for replying.
Squeak_D,
Do you have XG Works?
Starkeeper

Starkeeper,
Yes I have XG works. I like using it, but often I'd get frustrated because of the problems I ran into because I lacked the proper instrument definitions. Yamaha (those weenies) released the 550 (essentially the same thing as the 540), and still has not released any instrument definitions for the keyboard..

Squeak

What I need to know is, does the 550 use 0-127 or 1-128 for program changes. The manual says 1-128 but that makes it different from all other PSRs. Would one of you care to send some program changes to the 550 and see which voices are selected. I've set them to 0-127 so I would have to change the lot if otherwise.

Bryan

The internal style files are .stx and are totally different from .sty files. However, XGworks will use .sty files quite happily. Just one thing - if you use styles converted from other manufacturers, you have to make sure that the proper Yamaha sysex is in place. Best way to do this is to use CasmEdit on a genuine style file to see what the sysex is. You can find a link on Jorgen's web site.

Bryan

Squeak_D,
Can you test this for Pilot? My computer and Yamaha keyboard are 200 km away from each other.
Starkeeper