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YAMAHA XG SOFTWARE SYNTH WITH VARRANGER (S-YXG50)

Started by Dan, March 29, 2011, 02:59:43 PM

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Dan

Hi vArranger Users !

Many musicians asked me to explain how to use the XG synth software with vArranger.
This software will add a realtime software XG MIDI module to your setup.
It sounds good with Yamaha Styles or Midifiles.

Here is a tutorial of how this is working :

1) vArranger generates MIDI notes, and asks to the midi modules connected to it's midi out ports to play those notes. Usually, you connect a hardware midi module here (Ketron SD2...), but you can also connect a Software midi module, through a virtual midi cable.
You can found many models here : 
http://www.maplemidi.com/Maple_driver.html    or 
http://www.midiox.com/myoke.htm#Download   or
http://nerds.de/en/loopbe1.html  (Working on 64 bits OS, but has I noticed some problems with their feedback detection)
http://www.tobias-erichsen.de/loopMIDI.html  (Finally, The ONLY one working good on x64 computers / 64 bits)

2)  The Midi notes are received by the Virtual Midi Cable that you have installed on your computer, and it will send them back to other midi software on your computer.   To connect the apps together (vArranger and the XG synth), you need to select the same midi port on the 2 softwares.  For example : vArranger MIDI OUT 1 = Virtual Midi 1  (select the XG mode for the Yamaha softsynth !)  and in the second software  MIDI IN = Virtual Midi 1

3) A software called VST HOST will receive the vArranger's midi notes, and will send them to the VSTi plugins that it loads and own. There is tons of VST/VSTi softwares in the market. The Yamaha S-YXG50 is one of them. The VSTi will generate in realtime an audio stream (values of an audio waveform) depending on the MIDI notes received.
Info : Some companies are releasing a Standalone version of their VST plug in, so they can be used directly with no need of a VST host.

4) The VST host will receive the audio stream from the plugin, and will send it to your PC soundcard, through an audio driver. You can find a VST host and the XG synth here 
-Zip password = vArranger 
-To Install : INSTALL\Setup.exe   
-To Use, run the S-YXG50.exe

5) There are many ways for a soundcard to get the audio stream from Windows, (to then send it to your speakers or headphones). The problem is that windows drivers were not originally done for realtime music. This mean, that when you ask to windows to play a sound, the soundcard got it with some delay, called Latency. for For music applications like vArranger who needs that you hear the sound immediately when you play the instrument key, you need to go through a ASIO driver.
If you buy a dedicated professional soundcard for your computer, you will get a asio driver to install. The ASIO driver was developed by the soundcard company.
If you don't have a pro sound card, you can install a generic ASIO driver, that you can find here http://www.asio4all.com/

6) When you run the S-YXG50.exe vst host, here are some interesting options to check :
- Menu File : Autosave PlugIn Bank
- SETUP : Set the polyphony to 128 (if your computer is fast enough)
- Menu Devices, MIDI...  Select you Virtual midi cable on the Input Port 1 (The same as on the vArranger Midi Out 1)  Let the others lists as *No Midi*
- Menu Devices, Wave...     Input Port : No Wave     Output port  ASIO: ASIO4ALLv2, or your asio soundcard driver   Sample rate : 44100Hz      Buffer : 256 Samples  If your computer doesn't sound good with 256, try to increase the buffer size.  Your computer will have more time to generate the audio stream, but you will notice more latency when you play music. Just experiment it.
- Engine, RUN, it it is not done already

7) Just try some Yamaha styles on vArranger ! or some midifiles...
It is very cool to have a second option, if you need to play vArranger without connecting everything, or to have a backup solution in case of problem with your Midi module, or to play music on battery in train, or just to enjoy the XG sounds.

Let me know if you need informations, I will add them to this page

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial !

Dan

paoloca59


Pasque


Torben

Dansk til Engelsk
Now I have installed a virtual midi cable, called loop midi (http://www.tobias-erichsen.de/loopMIDI.html) It works correctly on Windows 7 It provides many new opportunities in vA2 with VST instruments, but I still prefer Ketron SD2. My greatest desire with VArranger is to edit MIDI files and save them as songs.
Regards Torben

Dan

What do you mean by to edit MIDI files and save them as songs

Torben

Excuse my poor explanation. I often use midi files, therefore I want to select the sound, volume, transpose of right-and left-hand sound and so on. Finally, I want to save the midi file into a registration.
Torben

stewbow

Dan
very I'm interested in this topic, the link to the xg synth is now dead.
Has there been any good improvements in this type of GS/XG  soft synths recently??

Stuart

Dan

I just put the link back again.

I am working on a GM softsynth with SoundFonts support... Coming soon...

stewbow

Thanks Dan

I downloaded this earlier today      http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth

I haven't had time to experiment yet!!

I had good results using the PSR520  in GM2 Mode with the Roland Styles, I'm thinking of going down the Roland route as I use Sonar X1 which has a softsynth TT1 built in, and this apparently is powered by the Roland Engine ;)

Stuart

Dan

Cool !
You setup will probably evoluate in the future, new MIDI keyboard, new synth modules, softsynths... but you will still have your vArranger :)

stewbow

Dan
Also read that the S-YXG50 doesn't work on 64 bit systems

Stuart

Dan