y: S80 - FAQ Is the S80 General MIDI compatible? For those who want GM compatibility, Yamaha offers two solutions. Yamaha has a bank of sounds that make the S80, “pseudo” GM compliant. These sounds will be available from any Yamaha dealer and can be downloadable from the Yamaha Internet site. For the “ultimate” in GM and XG compatibility, purchasing the XG Plug-in board (PLG100-XG) is the way to go! This Plug-in board offers over 400 professional quality sampled voices and 12 drum kits, as well as 32 notes of its own polyphony allowing you to use the S80’s 64 note polyphony elsewhere. It increases the multi-timbral capabilities of the S80 by an additional 16 parts. XG sounds work in Performance mode and can be layered or split with Internal sounds among the 16 MIDI channels. It also fully supports the XG MIDI specifications, so you can use it to play back GM/XG Standard MIDI files from and external sequencer, or the S80’s internal playback sequencer. What's the difference between the S80 and the competition? Some significant differences are: ‰ The S80 has 4 complete piano samples; 2 stereo samples and 2 mono samples. Competing units have 2 complete piano samples. ‰ The S80 has more sample ROM (24 Megabytes) than the competition (16 or 18 Megabytes). ‰ The S80 has Modular Synthesis Plug-in expansion to increase the capabilities of their respective instruments. Not just expansion cards with additional ROM voices that DON”T add a new technology OR add their own polyphony to the instrument like the S80 does. ‰ Filters are what identify the unique tonal qualities of a synthesizer. With the S80’s tone generator being based upon the EX synthesizers AWM2 chip, it has incredible resonant filters (64 of them!), with 12 filter types to choose from. The competition does not have resonant filters. ‰ The S80 lets you conveniently store your voices and performance setups on ultra thin and compact SmartMediaTM cards. Giving you a much larger storage capacity than a floppy disk (up to 32 megabytes), SmartMediaTM can also be used as an external memory bank for instant access to a wider selection of sounds. The card can also be used to play back MIDI file sequences. ‰ The S80 is the only unit that has an A-to-D (analog-to-digital) input for microphone or line input that can utilize the effect processing on board the keyboard. Other companies have expansion boards so what's the big deal about Modular Synthesis Plug-in cards? Some other synthesizer companies’ expansion boards simply contain more sample data or ROM for your keyboard to add to its database of samples. Through the Modular Synthesis Plug-in cards you are literally “adding” another instrument to the S80. Each board has its own POLYPHONY (the amount depends upon which Plug-in boards you add). Placing a board in each of the plug-in slots adds two more parts to sequence and/or layer with, in addition to the original 16-part multi-timbral S80. Yamaha offers alternate technologies including: FM (PLG150-DX) synthesis; Acoustic (PLG150VL) and Analog (PLG150-AN) Physical Modeling. You can work with the cutting edge synthesis technologies and go where other synthesizers can never go. Adding the PLG100-XG will add an additional 16 Parts, enabling the S80 to be 32-part multitimbral. These can be used to layer with the Internal sounds or can be used exclusively to give the S80 complete GM/XG compatibility. Each Plug-in board ADDS a whole new synthesizer technology and ADDS its own Polyphony.

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The S80 is a 16-MIDI channel system, how do PART and MIDI channel assignments work? This becomes very important in understanding how the expansion boards work with the S80 System. The S80 is a 16 MIDI channel system when used in PERFORMANCE mode. When you add PLG150 Series boards to slot 1 and 2, they become editable Parts just like the others. Your Performance will now have access to two additional parts. Each PART can be used to select and program a Voice. The PLG slots are called PartP1 and PartP2. You can select a voice, set its volume, pan position, send it to reverb and chorus, transpose it, note and velocity limit it, etc., set the layer switch and/or assign it a MIDI channel. There are still just 16 MIDI channels in the system. Therefore, the PLG Voice will share a MIDI channel with an S80 AWM2 Voice. The PLG slots default to MIDI channels 16 [PLG1] and 15 [PLG2]. However, you can reassign any Part to any MIDI channel or deactivate it (Receive channel = off). You can layer sounds with the PLG voices or you can set note limits, and transpose ranges so that the two voices never conflict with each other. Any MIDI Jedi can work wonders with this arrangement. But even better - this allows you combine a PLG150 Plug-in Voice from each board with 2 AWM2 Voices in a Performance. You can create your own Performance Layers – you activate PARTS by setting the LAYER SWITCH = ON for each Part, up to a maximum of four Parts. (When a Part has its Layer Switch set to ON it ignores the Receive Channel setting and receives on the Performance’s Layer Channel.) The PLG100-XG board is a bit different. When you add this multi-timbral board it will add parts 17-32 and therefore is only accessible via a Performance. When this board is used to playback an XG or GM sequence – the XG Voices will be the only 16 parts sounding (internal S80 sounds will be turned off). However, you can choose to access internal S80 sounds along with, or in place of, the GM/XG voices. You select this in UTLITY via the INTERNAL PART parameter (only visible when a PLG100-XG board is installed). When selecting to utilize both sets of sounds, the 32 Parts share MIDI channels. That is the default condition. For example, Part 1 and Part 17 both share MIDI channel 1, Part 2 and Part 18 both share MIDI channel 2, and so on. Get this: Part 16, Part 32 and PartP1 all share MIDI channel 16. However, any Part can be reassigned to any MIDI channel (or turned OFF) and can be zoned (note limited) and range shifted, as necessary. The thing to recognize is a PART has a MIDI channel and several Parts can share the same MIDI channel. And there are only 16 MIDI channels in the system. For more information see Power User Tutorial on the PLG100XG. Can you put new samples in the S80? New sampled sounds can only be added via a Plug-in board that is based on AWM2 technology. For the serious piano player, the PLG150-PF is loaded with piano and keyboard voices – it is an additional 16Mb of samples dedicated to acoustic and electric piano sounds. Each PF board has its own 64-note polyphony. Two piano boards can be used together, effectively doubling piano polyphony to 128 notes. Leaving the 64 notes of the S80 for your sequencing. The PLG100-XG (also based on sampled technology) gives you 480 sampled voices and 12 drum kits, as well its own 32 notes of polyphony and 3 effect processors. Are the piano sounds on the PLG150-PF board better than the ones in the Internal memory? This is subjective. The piano that sounds right to you is the one that you will want to play. One of the design concepts behind the S80 was to give the player more quality piano sounds, this way the player can choose the appropriate piano sound for the musical environment. You may prefer one of the internal sounds – it’s a free country. The objective fact here is that the more room the piano samples have, the finer and more refined we can be with the voicing. The PLG150-PF is a meticulously programmed project and contains 16MB of piano and electric piano data. The full resources of the chips on the PF board are working to make this a special set of Voices. This means the waves have more room - the entire wave ROM of the S80 is 24MB. Here you have an additional 16MB just dedicated to pianos. As you play through the PLG150-PF sounds you start to appreciate the details: – The multi-strike piano waveforms and the soundboard simulation that occurs when the sustain pedal is down

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Pianos approaching the level of the Yamaha P series Professional pianos ‘Stretch’ tuned pianos to make the sound sing and work better live. The implementation of sustenuto (cc66) and soft pedal (cc67) controls The glorious ‘plunk’ of the Yamaha CP80 Electric Grand that was the sound of a generation The meticulous programming of the various Electric Piano voices; each classic piece from the reedy Wurli to the FenderRhodes to DX7 tines, is represented and mimicked with incredible accuracy. The detail in the different Rhodes sounds from different decades, artists and musical styles. You could hunt down some vintage axes and spend time and money refurbishing them and not get as good as they get here. Artful use of a effects on the Rhodes to give it that finished studio quality. Smooth but with plenty of bark when it is hit.

The architecture of the PLG150-PF board is similar to the architecture of the S80. In other words, it is not only based on the same AWM2 technology but it shares the same 4-element, 64-note poly structure. It’s like a little S80 on a card – except this little S80 has been dedicated to doing Piano related sounds. If you like the sounds in the S80 you are going to love the detail here. When you audition the board make sure the provided Voice data has been loaded in. Each PLG150 series Board comes with Voice data in the form of a .mid file. The editing on the PLG150-PF has been done with great care. That is what you are buying as much as the additional sampled data – the voicing. The effects that you hear on the PLG150-PF board are generated on the board itself. The PLG150-PF comes with a PF EASY EDITOR for tweaking Voices on the board. Does the S80 have a sequencer? The S80 has no “on-board” sequence recording but it does have a “playback-sequencer” that is capable of playing back any song saved as a Standard MIDI file Type 0. The sequencer requires a SmartMedia Card in the slot. It plays song files directly from the card. The Yamaha sequencing software XGworks 3.0 Lite (Windows) comes included with the S80, so that an external sequencing resource is packaged with the keyboard. Included with your S80 is a computer program called Card Filer – for both Windows and Mac. This program will allow you to move files from your computer directly to a SmartMedia card in the S80 slot. This software can also convert Type 1 files to Type 0 files – in case you get a file that is Type 1. By storing your MIDI files onto a SmartMediaTM card, you can build up a chain of up to 100 songs, any of which can be accessed from the S80 front panel. In addition, songs can include keyboard setups and performances, and can even be programmed for chained playback. This is extremely useful for performing with sequences in a “live” setting. Leave the computer home and use just the SmartMedia card (and your S80) on stage. I understand the S80 comes with a Yamaha software sequencer for Windows called XGworks 3.0 Lite, but I want to use it with Cubase, Cakewalk or Logic. Can I do that and why would I want the XGworks package that comes with it if I plan on using the S80 with another sequencer? The S80 will work with any computer-based MIDI software sequencers. Software such as Cubase, Logic, or Cakewalk, will certainly operate with this unit. The advantage of checking out Yamaha’s XGworks 3.0 Lite, is that this software enables you to launch a Voice Editor for the S80, allowing you to edit the AWM2 Voices of the S80 from the computer (Voices, not Performances). XGworks 3.0 Lite also includes editors for all of the supported Plug-in boards of the Modular Synthesis Plug-in System. The software enables you to custom-edit sounds (PLG150 series) and bulk data to the Plug-in boards. Basically, the XGworks is there to act as a front end for the Voice editors. Technologies like acoustic and analog physical modeling and frequency modulation (FM) can be explored in depth. XGworks is your gateway to explore sound design with some cutting edge technology. And it includes an instrument definition/mixer map for the PLG100-XG, of course, called XG Editor. Even though your S80 is not a GM/XG compatible synth out of the box this software was included because it can be used to launch the Voice editors in Windows.

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How do I get information on XG and XGworks? You can get into this very easily if you are online. Visit the site at www.yamaha-xg.com and visit the Creators’ Square for tips on how to get started via a great graphic-filled guide. You will be up and running in no time. The full version XGworks v3.0 lets you start by recording a melody. You record a melody via microphone on to an audio track. You can sing, hum or scat the melody. The VOICE TO SCORE R feature will immediately create the notation. You can then correct or fine- tune your results because it also creates a MIDI file directly from your vocal input – pitch to MIDI. You can select an instrument sound to playback the new melody. You can further correct your idea. The software can then analyze your melody and suggest a few possible chord progressions with the AUTO ARRANGER feature. You select from hundreds of style combinations and musical sections (like fills and grooves). Again you can tweak the software’s input and cut and paste the data. Once you have a general outline of the song structure you can have the software EXPAND BACKING – which will create MIDI events on the various tracks. It will create your backing tracks linearly on up to 8 tracks so that you can go in and replace or fix up any of the data – even print out a score. Its like the brains from the QY products combined with a powerful sequencer program. You can go from a scatted melody to full arrangement in a few minutes once you get into this software. The more you know what you want, the better the software assists you. The full version of XGworks v3 is an integrated Audio/MIDI package that can support 12 tracks of audio and 100 MIDI tracks. It has built in maps for all XG products. The PLG150 Professional Series boards have extension banks that can be accessed from the XG program change protocol. The program is the best value in fully integrated Audio/MIDI Sequencing, period. I am having a difficult time finding the drums sounds in the S80. Where are they? You can locate the drum sounds two ways. ‰ While holding down [PRE1], press [PRE2], and then push switches “1-8” to audition the 8 Preset drum voices. While holding down [INT], press [EXT] and then push switches [1], [2] to select the two Internal drum voices and [3], [4] for the two User kits on the optional SmartMedia card. ‰ While in Voice Mode, turn the [PAGE] knob to enter the Voice Search mode. Turn [KN 1] (under “Ctgry” on the display) until you see the category prefix “Dr” Drums, and then push the [ENTER] switch. You can then audition the drum voices using the [DEC/NO], [INC/YES] switches or DATA knob. I heard that SmartMedia cards were hard to get, where can I find them? The S80 uses 3.3volt, SmartMediaTM cards – the industry standard for digital cameras. There are several resources for 3.3volt SmartMediaTM cards including: any business that sells accessories for digital cameras, mail-order resources and companies that specialize in computer-type memory. Check the Internet. The 3.3volt SmartMediaTM cards (in sizes of 4, 8, 16 & 32 megabytes) are easy to find and are relatively inexpensive when you consider how much data they hold. Typical price: Spring ’00 = between $64-$80 for 32MB! SmartMedia cards replace the disk drive in the S80 – they hold a whole lot more data and are 4 times faster than a floppy. What size should you get? If you buy a large enough one, you will never need to buy another. The typical song file is between 50K and 100K; even long songs rarely exceed 150K of memory. Your mileage may vary. With that as a rule of thumb, even if your songs tend to be 100k in length you get 40 songs on a 4MB card. “ALL” files are 449K and the ‘extbank’ file that the S80 automatically writes is only 176K. Therefore a 4MB card can hold 8 ALL files and the ‘extbank’ file. Depending on how you work make a guess. 16 MB should do the trick for most people. Be sure to use the Card guard on the back of the unit to prevent the card from being ‘lost’. They are small enough to carry in your wallet. How can I get data on to the SmartMedia Cards? There are several ways to get data to your SmartMediaTM card. Data, such as Voice Data can simply be saved from the S80 directly to the SmartMediaTM card while inserted in the slot. A program called Card Filer comes included with the S80 (WIN and MAC). This program enables you to move voice data and MIDI song files back and forth from your computer to the SmartMediaTM card and vice-versa, while the SmartMediaTM card is in the S80. You would

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need to connect your computer to the S80 via S80’s Serial Port or in-and-out to an external MIDI interface. Alternatively, you may use any type of SmartMediaTM card adapter (such as a Flash Path floppy disk adapter or PCMCIA card adapter) that allows you to move data from your computer to the SmartMediaTM card. After the data is transferred from the computer to the card, the SmartMediaTM card can be inserted into the S80. These types of adapters are only necessary when you cannot MIDI your computer directly to the S80. What are the different S80 file types? (.s2a) ALL– saves all INT and EXT Voices and Performances (and the Master Keyboard setups), and all INT and EXT Drum Voices. In addition, it saves the S80 PLG1 and PLG2 Voices. PLG Voices will require that the PLG board they are associated with be physically in the S80. The PLG Voices will not work if they do not find the correct board. If at some later time you move or swap the boards, simply call up the .s2a file but instead of loading it all directly, select ‘voice’ as the TYPE and you will be able to extract the Voice data you want and point it at the appropriate slot. The ALL data file is the most flexible when it comes to reload options. You can choose to load all or any individual Voice or Performance. You can re-direct INT sounds to the EXT bank and vice versa, EXT sounds can be loaded to the INT bank. And, as mentioned, you can store and retrieve PLG Bank Voices with the ALL file, as well. PLG Voices can be redirected to their appropriate slots. You can make an auto load ALL file by, literally, naming it: “autoload.s2a” This file will automatically load your INT, EXT, PLG1 and PLG2 Voices as well as your song chain and Performances/Master Keyboard setups when you power up. Only one file by this name can be stored in the root directory of the SmartMedia card. (.s2b) Plugin– saves custom Board Voice data that can be edited via the provided PLG Voice Editors. (‘ALL’ data files do not save custom Board Voices – these are saved in a separate type of file, which is a plug-in bulk file - the ‘b’ in .s2b). Certain of the PLG150 Professional series boards have user RAM locations. The RAM locations are volatile and this bulk file type is used to back up the RAM voice data. ((These Board Voices work in a similar manner to wave data in the EX, in that you save the wave data separate from the Voice data)). You can create an auto load file by naming it: “autold1.s2b” for slot 1, or “autold2.s2b” for slot 2. When you power up, the S80 will automatically load your custom board elements. Saving data in this format is only necessary when you have made custom elements via the PLG Voice Editor software. (.s2c) Chain– this file type refers to your song Chain. Note that it does not contain the song data itself, just the list of files, their tempos, the Performance that they use and set list commands. The song data (.mid) files can be placed in the root directory of the card. The Chain (.s2c) file does not include the .mid file, just the instructions on how and when it is to playback. (.s2e) External – it is best not to mess with this file. It is automatically created by the S80 and represents any data that you store to the [EXT] bank. Here is why it exists: The kind of memory that is the INT bank (battery backed RAM) is very expensive. The EXT bank kind of memory (volatile) is a lot less expensive. Taking advantage of the SmartMedia Card’s ability to automatically load the EXT bank on power up gives you an additional 128 Voice and 64 Performance locations. It is like a ‘virtual’ bank. When the card is in the slot you can write to it and be assured that your latest edits will return when you power up next time. This is a file type that the S80 makes by itself. If you start moving and copying .s2e files – be very careful. You run the risk of losing some of your own custom sounds. Remember the S80 will create an EXT bank automatically and it is possible to have it write over some of your precious work. As soon as a card is inserted in the S80 slot it will automatically save and/or load a file named “extbank.s2e”. Only one such file can exist on the SmartMedia card. Here’s how you can get into potential trouble:

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If you copy an extbank.s2e card to your SmartMedia card, it will replace the one that already exists on the card. You can forget to backup your current S80 EXT bank and when you insert another SmartMedia card the new card’s data will load into the EXT bank. Your current work will be gone, overwritten. If no extbank.s2e exists on a card, the S80 will just write the current S80 EXT bank to the card when you insert it.

(Use the ‘ALL’ file type to backup your INT, EXT Voices/Performances, and PLG Voices. Use the ‘ALL-VOICE’ file type to back up just the INT and EXT Voices – this is a highly efficient way of backing up your EXT bank Voices. It is highly recommended that you do not attempt to manipulate the .s2e file type. How the EXT bank works: You computer savvy people know how this works – the [EXT] bank is a RAM bank, a volatile RAM bank – meaning it loses its memory at power down. You can write to the [EXT] bank as long as you have a SmartMedia card in the slot. If you remove the SmartMedia card, yes, the sounds are still in the EXT bank and are playable. But the Voices are in RAM (they are backed up on the card). If you remove the card the Voices are in limbo now. (Limbo means they are in danger – not permanently backed up). If you power down - the EXT bank is emptied. The SmartMedia card is like a floppy disk, but a floppy disk that can automatically load itself into RAM when inserted. You are working on a word processor and you put a floppy disk in the drive (ok, so it doesn’t auto load) but… you manually load your document in – it loads into RAM, volatile RAM. Your word processor program may be set to auto save every 10 minutes. Your document will still be there and readable if you remove the floppy disk, right? – of course. But your document is not backed up since you last removed the disk. The document is in limbo. If you were to power down now the document would disappear – RAM would be emptied. Always backup your EXT voices with an ALL (.s2a) or ALL_Voice (.s2v) type file. Forget you even know about .s2e files (“…these are not the ‘Droids you are looking for…”). (.s2v) Voice – this is a Voice file. From this file type you can load all Voices or an individual Voice. Voice files save/load the INT and EXT banks. (This is also a file type that can be opened by the S80 Voice Editor program). You can load any Voice to any location with this file type. Spend a few minutes moving the cursor around in the load screen – check out all your options. You will see that you can direct any Voice on the card to any location in the S80 INT / EXT or point all [EXT] Voices on the card to all INT locations in the S80, etc. This file format is the recommended way to save and load sounds to and from your EXT bank. This file type does not save Performances. Tip: Create a (.s2a) ALL file that you constantly work on. Name it something like WIP.s2a (work in progress). When you update something and you like it, simply resave the file. This way it is a record of your latest work. Once you have sorted out your favorite PLG boards and your favorite Voices and Performances create auto load files and keep them in the root directory of the SmartMedia card. Then simply RENAME your work in progress file: Autoload.s2a – This will load your INT, EXT, PLG1 and PLG2 Voices, your INT and EXT Performances/Master Keyboard setups and song Chain. When you have really dug in and have made your own PLG150 series sounds with the editors you can bulk that data back to the board automatically by naming the .s2b bulk files: Autold1.s2b – this file will load any custom RAM Voice data for the PLG board in slot 1 Autold2.s2b – this file will load any custom RAM Voice data for the PLG board in slot 2 If at anytime you send the wrong Voice data to a PLG board you will receive a TYPE MISMATCH error message when you attempt to call up the sound. This error means the Voice data in that PLG bank did not find the correct board in the slot. Point the data at the other slot. The cool thing is as you become a power user the S80 will assist you and load your

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Voices, your Performances and your custom data automatically on power up. You can carry your SmartMedia card to your friend’s house and power his S80 up with your card in the slot and it becomes your S80…momentarily, of course. Do not change the extensions of any of the file types. How does the PLG board expand the polyphony? Each PLG board is a separate synthesizer. It does not increase or decrease the 64-note polyphony of the Internal AWM2 sounds in the S80, it simply adds its own polyphony. Think of each board as a separate entity – a separate synth with separate polyphony. PLG150-AN – 5 notes PLG150-DX – 16 notes PLG150-PF – 64 notes PLG150-VL – monophonic PLG100-XG – 32 notes PLG100-VH – does not apply (effect processor) Two PLG150 boards of the same type can be piggybacked to double the polyphony of that particular technology. Two PLG150-AN boards will give you 10 notes of analog physical modeling, two DX boards will give you 32 notes of FM synthesis and two PF boards will give a 128-note piano. (Yikes, that’s 40 more than the real thing). Two VL boards will let you play 2 horns simultaneously or play a single sound with 2 notes of polyphony. You cannot piggyback the PLG100 series boards. For further information on each PLG board see the Yamaha Power User PLG150 Series Tutorials. Each board has a different set of rules. Are there any restrictions concerning what slots the boards go in? The PLG150 series (Professional Series) are single part boards and can be put in any slot of the S80. The PLG100 series have the following restrictions: – PLG100-VH – must be inserted in slot 1 because slot 1 is connected to the A/D (analog to digital) input. And since the VH board is an effect processor board for microphone input its S80 routing is found via slot 1. (The VH board cannot be used with the S30 because it has no A/D input) PLG100-XG – must be inserted in slot 2. It is used in Performance mode only because it – is a multi-timbral synth board. (Here is your moment of Zen: Although the S30 has only one slot, it is a slot 2). Are the PLG100-XG sounds as powerful as the S80 sounds? No, of course not. GM/XG by definition has voices that are purposefully thinner (less elements layered). To conform to the actual GM spec, you can only have mostly single element Voices – there are only a few 2-element sounds in the official GM set. This is because GM is designed specifically for the kind of heavy ensemble playing that is common in sequenced music. You can program your own GM-conforming sound set picking your favorite sounds or you can mix and match sounds from the Internal S80 set. Use the pseudo-GM set provided by Yamaha Corp America as your guide. There are 2 Performance templates included in that Voice set: – “FOR GM” - setup to respond to GM program changes with a drum kit on MIDI Ch 10; and – “FOR STYLES” – designed to work with XGworks CHORD & STYLE feature – drums on MIDI Channels 9-10. A piano (001) was placed on all normal parts and voice values are all set to default. This way when a GM/XG file starts the Voices will react properly. To create the Preformances we initialized an EXT Performance and turned Bank Select OFF for each PART and stored our 128 GM-conforming sound list to the EXT Voice locations. We were very creative with some of the Voices (had to be) and we paid absolutely no attention to the rules about layering. We then put a drum kit on channel 10 and turned program change off on PART 10 and PARTS 9 & 10 for the For Styles (which uses a Percussion and a Drum track). Not perfect but not too bad either.

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The myth of a so-called ‘professional’ GM sound set will, nevertheless, live on… Professional General MIDI is like Military Intelligence and Jumbo Shrimp…or an almost perfect loop… What is that? So why would you get a PLG100-XG board? – because it gives you complete compatibility with GM and XG sound files. You will be able to download XG files from the Internet and hear them back exactly as the programmer intended them. With all the effect processing and routing that the original programmer worked out. (The pseudo-GM set does not respond to any effect selections, etc). The PLG100-XG is principally for playback of SMFs (Standard MIDI Files) in the GM and XG format. There are thousands of song files made in this format. A conservative estimate is that over 30,000,000 XG products are out there (scary thought, huh), even more if you count all GM products – Most of them in computer systems around the globe. If you ever thought about authoring music for web pages you might want to explore the immense possibilities XG opens up. Log on to www.xgcentral.com or visit www.yamaha-xg.com and see and hear what others around the world are doing with it. If you have a PLG100-XG board installed – Go log on to xgcentral. Download the XG files and transfer them to your SmartMedia card via the Card Filer software. You will find many XG files on the ‘Net. I’m using the PLG100-XG board and want to know what happens if there is no GM or XG reset at the top of the SMF? Maybe, chaos happens. Without the reset command it is not really a GM or XG file. There will be no instructions as to who the data is intended for and you will inherit whatever setup currently exists. Any good (professional GM :-) file will have the RESET command as the very first event. One of the rules of GM and XG is that you follow that rule: Thou shall start all GM files with a GM Reset command followed by 50ms of no data. Thou shall follow the GM Reset with an XG ON message and then leave 50ms blank. After this short time you can input your Program change and other setup information. The reason for resets is that it zeros out all controllers and effects. Without resets the potential for danger is great. If the previous song faded out, for example, that could be a bad thing because you would inherit levels all set to 0. Resets and the SETUP BAR are very important concepts when using GM/XG. Instruments setups are not stored in RAM (the PLG100-XG setups are not memorized by the S80 Performance) but the setup data is stored in the Setup Bar of the song (via Control Change and System Exclusive messages). This data is created and inserted automatically by software like XGworks Lite v3.0. How do I stop the arpeggiator without having to go into EDIT mode every time? You can assign one of the controllers to stop the arpeggiator. Here are some examples: Voice Mode: You can assign the FS (Foot Switch) globally to controller number 90. This is done in [UTLITY] on the CTRL Other page. When the FS is set to 90 you can toggle the arpeggiator switch off and on by stepping off/on the pedal. It works like this: You step on it and hold it to activate arpeggiator, release it - you stop the arpeggiator. [You must re-trigger the chord to re-start the arpeggiator]. Controller assignment here is global. Performance Mode: The first INT Performance (A01)001: AGE2000NEW is a good example of a controller being assigned to stop the arpeggiator. It has a drum kit playing an arpeggiated drum groove in the base range – below B1. Turn KN2 counterclockwise (left of 12 o’clock) to stop the arpeggiator. When you turn it back to 12 you can retrigger a note to begin the arpeggiator again. Here’s how that was assigned: In [PERFORM] edit on the CTL Assign1 page KN2 is set to control number 90. This is a switch controller that will stop arpeggiator. If you reassign FC (Foot Controller) to control number 90 you can stop and start the arpeggiator with an optional FC7 pedal plugged in the Foot Control jack. Each Performance can be individually programmed. Alternatively, you have a slider for each Voice in a Performance. On the factory sounds the slider is set to control change 007 (Volume). You can simply pull down the slider for the arpeggiated Voice. Try it. Use slider 2 to kill the drum arpeggio. How many Master Keyboard setups do I get and how does it work? There are 128 Internal Master Keyboard setups possible (64 EXT*, if you have the optional SmartMedia card). The Master Keyboard function works from Performance mode, only.

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Each Performance is associated with its own Master keyboard setup. A Performance, which can house 16 AWM2 sounds and potentially 2 PLG sounds, can have 4 Voices layered for real time play – each of the Voices will have its Layer Switch ON – this is accomplished on a single MIDI channel (called the Layer Channel). Master Keyboard mode lets you transmit on up to 4 separate MIDI channels, simultaneously. Each Performance can have a unique Master Keyboard function stored with it. *The LAYER SWITCH = ON overrides the MIDI channel assignment for a Part. Up to 4 Voices in a Performance can have the switch active at one time. If you attempt to activate a fifth Part it will appear in parenthesis: (on). This means it is unavailable. All active Voices in a Performance Layer are on the Layer Channel. If you are sending data into an S80 from an external device (sequencer or other controller) the Layer Channel can be set per Performance under COMMON parameters. When the LAYER Switch is OFF for a PART it can receive on the assigned MIDI channel number. When in Master Keyboard Mode both the [MASTER KEYBOARD] and [PERFORM] LEDs will be illuminated. As you recall Master Keyboard/Performances you can send a different Bank Select and Program change message to 4 separate MIDI channels using the 4-Zone feature. You can also use the Master Keyboard mode to recall specific Splits or Layers that are complex and multi-MIDI-channeled configurations. Those that perform live will particularly appreciate this feature because they can instantly associate two complex setups on a single Performance location – one when just [PERFORM] is lit and another when both [MASTER KEYBOARD] + [PERFORM] are lit. And you have 128 of these because each Performance stores its own Master Keyboard setup (or can). If you have the optional SmartMedia card you can have access to an additional 64. A MASTER KEYBOARD setup can hold a Split or a Layer or a 4-zone setup that can be recalled from a Performance. As an example, the factory programmers included one: INT 128(H16) Master KB It is set up so that when you first call it up in normal PERFORMANCE mode you only hear a fingered bass sound across the entire keyboard. The Performance is stored with just the Finger Bass voice active. However, when you activate the [Master Keyboard] button you will find that the S80 is now set to play four separate zones. It is transmitting to MIDI channels 1-4 – Part 1-4 of its parent Performance (of course, you can select any Parts via any 4 MIDI channels). What this illustrates is that a performance can have a Master Keyboard setup that can be activated on demand. How often do you open the song on a piano sound and then need that piano/string/pad thing on the chorus? Now, extend your thinking out via MIDI to other sound modules. The Master Keyboard 4-Zone Mode will recall certain setup data for your external MIDI gear, as well. Press [EDIT]. You can view the different zones by turning KN A clockwise to see Zone1 – Zone 4 or you can press buttons [A], [B], [C], and [D] to directly access the zones 1-4. The PAGE knob will let you see the various editable parameters for each Zone. You will see that Zone 1 is set to transmit on MIDI channel 1, Zone 2 on MIDI channel 2, Zone 3 on MIDI channel 3 and Zone 4 on MIDI channel 4. All zones are set to transmit to the internal tone generator (TG=ON) and out via MIDI (MIDI=ON). They programmed 4 independent zones but you can set the Note Limits so that zones overlap in any manner you find necessary. Here are the 3 different Master Keyboard functions: SPLIT, LAYER and 4-ZONE: You select the function from [MASTER KEYBOARD]/[PERFORM] mode. Press [EDIT]. On the “GEN M.Kbd Common” page set the MODE. Touch the [PRE 1] button as a shortcut to the GEN area then use the PAGE knob to find the M.Kbd MODE screen. Select the MODE: If the Mode is in parenthesis like: (4 ZONE) - this means the MASTER KEYBOARD light is out. SPLIT: This lets you send on 2 MIDI channels with a discreet split point. The two sections are called LOWER and UPPER. When activated you can address any two slots of the current Performance. For example, (see example Performance setup below), your Performance could have the following setup:

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Part PART PART PART PART PART PART Etc…

Sound 1: Upright Bass 2: Stereo Grand Piano 3: Background Strings 4: Soprano Sax 5: Smooth Saw 6: DX 100 Bass

Channel Note Range LAYER Switch ON; Note Limit C-2 ~ B2 LAYER Switch ON; Note Limit C3 ~ G8 LAYER Switch ON; Note Limit C3 ~ G8 Receive Channel 4; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8 Receive Channel 4; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8 Receive Channel 6; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8

Two possible setups: [PERFORM] LED is lit: Your basic Performance could be speaking to the Acoustic Bass, Stereo Grand Piano, and Background String Voices via the normal Performance Layer feature (LAYER Switch = ON). Notice that the Upright Bass is set from B2 down and the Piano / String layers are set from C3 up. The Performance (normal) is a complex split/layer (all on one channel). [Master Keyboard] LED is lit: setup could recall a SPLIT that transmits UPPER on Channel 4 (Sax and Smooth Saw) and LOWER Channel 6 (DX 100 Bass). You can address the PLG150 Series Plug-in Voices the same way, if a PLG150 board is installed – simply activate the Layer Switch parameter for PartP1 and/or PartP2. The SPLIT Master Keyboard setup lets you set your own split point, G#3, which will be stored with the MASTER KB setup and is independent of the other split point. Almost any thing is possible. LAYER: This mode lets you send on two MIDI channels: UPPER and LOWER across the entire MIDI range. When this Master Keyboard function is activated you can address any two slots of the current Performance. For example (see Performances Voices below), your basic Performance could be the Stereo Grand Piano on the Layer Channel. And when you press [MASTER KEYBOARD] you can instantly transmit on any two MIDI channels (see an example below). If your LAYER Master Keyboard setup were set to transmit on Channels 2 and 6 you would get the Background Strings layered with the Smooth Pad whenever you activated the [MASTER KEYBOARD] button. If you had preset the channels to 1 and 6 you would get the Piano and Smooth Pad. Etc. And nothing says you can’t stack as many Parts on a MIDI channel as you need. You can address the PLG150 Series Plug-in Voices the same way, if a PLG150 board is installed – simply activate the Layer Switch parameter for PartP1 and/or PartP2. Use normal caution to avoid hung notes – do not attempt to switch MIDI channels while still holding notes down – this will leave the Note-ON without a Note-OFF. (Here’s another moment of Zen: If a note is turned on for a MIDI channel and there is no note off to stop it, will it ever stop sounding…) Part PART PART PART PART PART PART Etc…

Sound 1: Stereo Grand Piano 2: Background Strings 3: Finger Bass 4: Tenor Sax 5: Tri Lead 6: Smooth Pad

Channel Note Range LAYER Switch ON; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8 Receive Channel 2; Note Limit C3 ~ G8 Receive Channel 3; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8 Receive Channel 4; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8 Receive Channel 5; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8 Receive Channel 6; Note Limit C-2 ~ G8

4-ZONE: This mode lets the user program up to 4 independent zones and adds the ability to send Bank Select and Program Change messages out via MIDI. Additionally, you to activate and deactivate controllers for a zone. 4-Zone setups can be splits, layers, or combination splits and layers. While a Performance addresses up to 4 Parts on a single channel called the Layer Channel, the MASTER KEYBOARD function will address up to 4 S80 Parts via their MIDI Receive channel. In the Performance associated with each Master Keyboard setup you can put Voices on as many PARTs as you wish and assign them to respond to a specific receive channel. This way when you activate the Master Keyboard LED, you are speaking to the sounds on those assigned MIDI channels. Of course, you can decide to transmit out via MIDI or just to the internal sounds (TG) or both, per Zone. Each zone has an assignable slider. You can go from one complex setup to another simply by activating or deactivating the Master Keyboard LED.

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When working with Performances and Master Keyboard setups, you may find it convenient to work with the programming the Performance in its normal state, first, and then go to work on the Master Keyboard setup, second. Be certain to store your work and remember that the Performance can be radically different depending on whether [MASTER KEYBOARD] is lit or not lit. The S80 will keep track of how you have things in each. How do I return the factory INT Voices to memory? Here are two quick ways: – Press [UTILITY] and then press [JOB], followed by [ENTER] and [YES] to execute a factory set reload – Press the [SEQ PLAY] button and answer YES to the SEQ DEMO prompt. This will effectively reload the factory sounds. I’m in serious trouble, what is the hard reset? Hold down [VOICE] + [PERFORM] + [STORE] and power up the unit. You will be given a selection of options. Select [CARD] to rest the unit. I’ve created my own AUTOLOAD.s2a file but I don’t want it to automatically load this time. How can I prevent it from automatically loading? Hold down the [EXIT] button while the unit powers up and goes through its diagnostics. Let go after it checks for the plug in boards. Prepared by: Phil Clendeninn Product Marketing Specialist Digital Musical Instruments Yamaha Corporation of America

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