Hmmmm.. You may have just answered the question.. Turning the accomp volume down all the way would also do the trick on my PSR-550.. Have you used the drum machine in record mode? Were you able to record songs and have the RX5 sync up properly?

WOW! just had a thought! Would this actually work.. Say you wanted to record a song and use the drum machine for the drum track.. I doubt the PSR's are set up to allow you to replace track 9 or 10 with a drum machine in record mode, but is it possible to record a simple 1 measure of say the high hat from the keyboard... Then completely drop the volume to that track... Now when you record other tracks pressing the start button should trigger the drum machine, and with the track volume completely down you won't hear the keyboards drums Am I making sense on this one?

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 08-29-2002).]

Squeak,
Isn't there a metronome function on your psr 550?? If there is, I bet you can trigger the tempo/start button from there...

Note:
Just ordered the machine drum

Freddy,
Yeah there's a metronome which can be turned on and off... I'm still curious to know if the way I suggested in record mode would actually work.. Wow you are so lucky to be getting that drum machine... If you don't mind I'd love a user review on it if you get a chance....

I came upon this similar situation 6 or 7 years ago. I wanted to utilize the Roland R8's sounds through my T3. Unfortunately it meant "mapping" one unit to the other, which was a real pain in the **s. Completely buggered up my T3's internals. Got it fixed and never tried it again.

Squeak,
will do.

---
Leon,
I own an R 8 (including 12 rom cards)since it came out (1985). There's no problem connecting hardware/hardware, but the R 8 is very tricky hooked with more as one device and even more with a PC.
The R 8 was one of the reasons I bought a midipatchbay to have better control.
(which I still consider the best buy I did ever anyway.)
And the R8 can send sysx (amazing for a 1985 machine) on any channel
But to do this you have to select the channel and press a button. It won't send automatic.
One of the main problems are the not so clear manuals , which I would say need a lot of knowledge of midi first before you understand what they are talkin' about.

Fortunately the two button factory reset usually works flawlessly..

Squeak,
Did you get the email that was fowarded to me and you from Steve at Yamaha Tech.Support today? I sent him an email this morning asking them to please help you. His email stated that he didn't see your name or email in any Yamaha file regarding your asking for help. He asks that you contact him and he will do his best to assist you. Please let me know if you got his email. I gave him your email address from these posted messages. I hope it it correct.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

George,
Yeah I got the email Thanks so much too.. I wrote back to him, because I wasn't exacty sure what he wanted me to do.. I wasn't sure if he wanted me to try and repost my question on the solutions network page or ask him directly. I've posted several questions on the solutions network and haven't gotten a reply back to any of them.. Odd they're not getting my emails.. After I send them the screen says my request was sent, but then I don't get a confirmation email from them... He hasn't gotten back to me yet so hopefully he does today...

Squeak,

I can't remember trying this exact thing with the RX5 but it sounds like you can get your drum track recorded using the method described. I know I'm able to record patterns on the RX5 from the keyboard, by hitting the keys. Should work.

Midnite

Squeak,

Question 1.. does the 550 support midi sync ? Does the drum machine support midi and midi sync ( and will it act as a slave device ? )?
If the answers to these are yes.. problem solved. I have used several schemes to sync my Jammer pro drums to my arrangers and or internal soundfonts / samples. They all work flawlessly.

There are several different schemes i can think of for you ( especially since you have XG works ) . Typing them here won't necessarily be fruitful because I don;t know what else you have there. If you have a program like Yahoo messenger that allows voice conference, perhaps we can hook up and I can talk you through it. Email me if you'd like and we can set it up