vArranger Forums

I bought this cheap powered multiport usb 3.0 hub for my setup :
 
https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-7-Port-SuperSpeed-Windows-Laptop/dp/B018V7VMNC

With power supply from the adapter i finally can successfully make my setup works (Surface Pro 3, Roland Integra 7, Yamaha PSR SX900, vArranger USB Key).

When i use my Asus gaming laptop, i do not need to use the power adapter, but when using Surface Pro 3, i have to use the power adapter that came with the hub.

Thank you for your info bluebeat!

Thank you so much for your reply bluebeat

I will buy the generic one, hope it will work

Thank you for your reply bluebeat

Did you buy Surface Dock, or cheaper powered usb hub like this will also work :
https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Information-SuperSpeed-USB-TS-HUB3K/dp/B005D69QD8

Thank you

Hi Dan,

I am using my microsoft surface pro 3 that only has 1 usb 3.0 port, with aditional 4 port usb 3.0 hub (un-powered one).

My setup is : - surface pro 3.0 tablet, yamaha psr sx900, roland integra 7, va2 usb key, usb dongle for my mouse and keyboard. But unfortunately, for some reason, this setup does not work properly.

Do you think if i buy a good multi port usb 3.0 hub, a powered one,  i will be able to use my setup?

Thank you for your help Dan.

thanks for your reply Dan,

ic, maybe somehow my sonar shifted all the midi notes by 3 ticks. After i shifted all the midi notes in my midi files by by 3 ticks, everything works fine now...

Thank you Dan

Thank you for your very quick response Dan,

Do you know why after i opened the midi files in VA2, all the markers shifted by 3 ticks forward?

From sonar, i have already set and made sure that the markers are all started from XX:01:000           ..........    but after i opened the midi files in VA2, and then i opened the files again in sonar to check the markers again, all the markers are shifted, became   XX:01:003

Do you know what causes this Dan?

Thank you so much for your help Dan

Hi Dan,

I just bought Yamaha PSR SX900, and recorded few songs using SX900 preset styles. All the songs recorded in SX900 are in midi file format.

I then edit the midi files in SONAR (add markers, recorded melodies, etc), using SX900 as the sound module, everything worked perfectly in SONAR.

When i tried to play the midi files in VA2 (using SX900 as the sound module), whenever i click on a marker, the very first part of the section with that marker (may be around 200 milisecond) always muted.

Do you know what causes the problem?

Thank You for your help.

After i purchased Dan's Yamaha SoundBank, i had difficulty to make it work, because my windows 10 kept rejecting my installing the vA2 softsynth, i emailed Dan.

And......he helped me fix this remotely, by using TeamViewer, he remotely fixed this problem.

Thanks Dan, i now can enjoy using vArranger2 with your great Yamaha SoundBank that really makes this "DUO" sounds even better than the real Tyros 4 for 95% of Yamaha Tyros4/5 styles!

I've been using my vA2 with my roland integra 7, never satisfied with the result. Then 2 weeks ago i purchased Dan's Yamaha SoundBank. Wow!

Most of Tyros4 and Tyros5 styles now sound great and proper. I compared the styles i played using Dan's SoundBank with Tyros4 demo on youtube (the ones with great audio quality), my vA2 and Dan's Yamaha SoundBank "DUO" sounds even a bit better than the Tyros4 on youtube!

Seriously, i recommend vA2 users/owners to buy this SoundBank. I wish i had enough budget to buy Dan's other SoundBanks, but for now, since i am saving my money to buy Yamaha MODX, i will have to be satisfied with Dan's Yamaha SoundBank only, without the other 3 Dan's SoundBanks.

 

thank you for your answer Dan.

yup, that what makes me a bit confused reading MODX manual. Because the architecture is totally different from my MOXF.

thanks again for your answer

Hi    paoloca59,

I tried to open your midi file in my vArranger, it didn't show any lyric. I think there is something wrong with your midi file, because my midi files with lyrics always showing lyrics in my vArranger.

If i sequenced midi file using arpeggiated sound....say arpeggiated guitar in Cubase using modx....when i open the midi file in vArranger...will the guitar sound inside vArranger remain arpeggiated without doing any editing?

Thank you in advance Dan

thanks a lot!

I really did not know that the solution was so simple.

Again, thank you for your help v.muller.

Hi Dan,

When i play midi file in vArranger, whenever the midi files have lyrics, the lyrics will always be displayed, and there is no way to close it.

Could you tell me if there is a way to set the vArranger2 not to display lyrics even though the midi file has lyric?

thank you

thank you Dan

Hi Dan,

I know Yamaha MODX will cause lagging in somestyles, but i am planning to use MODX ony with vArranger's Midi Player this way :

1. I will sequence a song in Cubase using Yamaha MODX keyboard and save it as a midi file, so that i can make sure there is no program change in each track to avoid lagging (this is the weakness of even Montage)

2. I will then insert Markers in the midi file (Intro, Verses, Choruses, etc) in Cubase, and save the midi file.

3. I will then open the midi file in vArranger and will use MODX as the sound module and keyboard controller with vArranger.

My questions are :
1. Will the sounds selection i use and save in Cubase while creating the midi file will remain the same when i open the midi file in vArranger? Or when i open the midi file for the first time in vArranger i have to edit the sounds for each track again?
2. I have been doing this thing using Roland Integra 7, and so far, when opening the midi file in vArranger, all the sounds i select in Cubase for every track will remain the same in vArranger, so i don't need to edit my midi files. But i am really impressed with the sound quality of MODX and want to try to use it in the same way as i do it with my Integra 7.

Do you know whether the MODX will work as flawlesly as my integra 7 in vArranger or i need to do sound selection editing again in vArranger? Since you have Yamaha MODX, i think you might know the answer.

Thank you Dan

Hi Dan,

is there away to assign the midi marker buttons that appear when we play midi file to midi pedal? So that we can trigger the change of song parts from midi pedal?


thank you

I tried that method. It does not work.

Thank  you Dan.

Now when i open the midi file the "song..." works so i can edit and save edited midi files.

But i found 2 unusual things compare to my previous vArranger version :
1. When midi file is being played, the Instrument Tracks do not show the activity (the "LED light" of the instrument tracks not working).
2. The STYLE slider (slider number 4 from the right) can not be slide to 0, because the minimum value of the slider that is diplayed on the monitor only up to 52. Other sliders can be set to 0. If is drag the STYLE slider all the way down with my mouse, the slider will be gone from the screen.

Could you help me with this please? Thank you

But strangely whenever i open a midi file, the save "song..." feature can not be selected. So i can never save my edited midi file.

Could you help me with this please? Thank you

oh, i thought it was beta version...sorry

cause the one that you sent me was always deleted by my windows 10. How can i solve the problem?

thank you

Hi Dan,

I've tried to edit midi files several times in vArranger, but i don't know how to save them....so....every time i load a midi file, i have to change the intruments of active tracks.

Could you tell me how to save an edited midi file?

Thank you

Please Send me version 1.19 Dan, thank you.

BTW, the beta version i tried before, can't show the intrument names on the tracks. I use Roland Integra 7, and i always change the instruments of all tracks using my Roland Integra INS file, but the instrument names on the tracks are not the real names of the instruments being used.

thank you

Hi Dan,

Sorry, to which email did you send the link of the new version? Cause i can't find your email in my email. What email did you use Dan?

Thank you

I used to use vArranger with yamaha moxf6.......the same problem happens....i asked yamaha forum, the answer is ...no solution....because yamaha load new fx when changing programs....so i ended up selling my yamaha moxf6

I am now using vArranger with Roland Integra 7, and no problem and no lagging whatsoever.....

Hallo Dan,

Could you please send me the newest version?

Thank you

[OK]

Hallo Dan,

Could you please send me the latest update?

Thank you

I've been using vArranger with Yamaha MOXF6, but i've sold my yamaha moxf6.

I just bought Novation Launchkey 61 to be used with vArranger, and i am thinking of buying Roland Integra 7.

Can someone help me, how to connect all those 3? (keyboard controller, Integra 7, and laptop)

thank you

I'm thinking of buying Ketron SD1000 to be used with my Varranger. Has the bug been fixed?

thanks

Thanks a lot Dan,

I've received the link in my registered email.

Hi Dan,

Have you sent me the link to download the new version?

I purchased varranger on 10 July 2014.

Thank you

Hi Dan,

Can you please send me the new version?

Thank you Dan

Hi Dan......Sorry, the other topic i started (Using Motif XS Midi Out with Yamaha MOXF) may be a bit confusing.

What i mean is, when i choose the midi out, there is a drop down list of modes (GM, GM2, GS, XG, Yamaha Motif XS, Ketron SD2, Ketron SD4, Ketron SD1000). If i select the Yamaha Motif XS from the Drop Down List, and use my Yamaha MOXF as sound module, then i will be able to easily select the first 8 banks (128 x 8 = 1024 instruments) of my Yamaha MOXF. Because Motif XS and Yamaha MOXF have identical instruments for their first 8 banks, and they are not GM instruments. So, they sound better than the GM ones.

This is the "story"....

whenever i choose a style (orginal/non-edited one), the style will automatically use GM instruments for all tracks. Then, usually i will edit/change the instruments to non GM instruments. Because the non GM instruments sound better. I usually use the instruments from the first 8 Preset Banks of my Yamaha MOXF. Then i save the song.

But the thing is, when i run the style, while the style is running, whenever i select a track to adjust its volume on the fly, the selected track which i already edited/assigned  to a non GM instrument, suddenly change  into the original GM instrument,  the GM instrument that was originally assigned to that track before i edited the style.

That is the story.

Could you tell me why is it?

Thank you Dan

Hi Lee,

Sorry, may be my post is a bit confusing.

What i mean is, when i choose the midi out, there is a drop down list of modules (GM, GM2, GS, XG, Yamaha Motif XS, Ketron SD2, Ketron SD4, Ketron SD1000). If i select the Yamaha Motif XS from the Drop Down List, and use my Yamaha MOXF as sound module, then i will be able to easily select the first 8 banks (128 x 8 = 1024 instruments) of my Yamaha MOXF. Because Motif XS and Yamaha MOXF have identical instruments for their first 8 banks, and they are not GM instruments. So, they sound better than the GM ones.

This is the "story"....

whenever i choose a style (orginal/non-edited one), the style will use GM instruments for all tracks. Then, usually i will edit/change the instruments to non GM instruments. Because the non GM instruments sound better. I usually use the instruments from the first 8 Preset Banks of my Yamaha MOXF. Then i save the song.

But the thing is, when i run the style, while the style is running, whenever i select a track to adjust its volume on the fly, the selected track which i already edited/assigned  to a non GM instrument, suddenly change  into a GM instrument,  the GM instrument that was originally assigned to that track before i edited the style.

That is the story.

Hi Dan,

I've been using vArranger with my MOXF,  since the first 8 Preset Banks (1024 sounds) of MOXF and Motif XS are identical, i use Motif XS as Midi Out (instead of XG). The result is really good, cause i can easily know what sounds i use for each track.

But the problem is, whenever i select/highlight a track (to adjust the volume), the selected track's instrument always changes to GM instrument randomly (ex. : Bass Track which is supposed to play Bass sound, when highlighted/selected changes to Piano sound).

If i use XG as Midi OUT, this problem never occurs. But using Motif XS, again, really helps me to know the which instrument is in which track.

Can you help me with this please?  Thank you

Thank you all for your answers     

Hi Dan,

I'm thinking of buying BEHRINGER FCB1010 Midi Foot Controller. Will it be able to control vArranger?

Thank you

Thank you for your very quick reply Dan and Agaton,

I didn't know that vArranger has this "Song Styles" feature. That is really great!

Thank you for your very quick reply Dan and Agaton,

I didn't know that vArranger has this "Song Styles" feature. That is really great!

Thank you Dan and Agaton for your kind help,

Actually, what i want is very simple, i only need to trigger different parts of a midi file that i assigned to each variation in vArranger.

For instance, i want to create a "style" (what i want to create is not really a style actually) for "Autumn Leaves" song.

I would make 64 bars (8 tracks) midi song consisting of Verse 1 (16 bars) - Chorus 1  (16 bars) - Verse 2  (16 bars) - Chorus 2 (16 bars) . Then i assign Verse 1 to Variation 1,  Verse 2 to Variation 2,  Chorus 1 to Variation 3,  and Chorus 2  to Variation 4.

So, when i play the "Autumn Leaves" song to back up my singer, we will have the flexibility of how we want to do it. We can go from Verse 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2.....etc..   and next time we can go from Chrous 1 - Verse 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 1 - Chrous 2....etc....   and i don't want to do this with any arranger keyboard, but i want to do this with vArranger and my synths. Since no arranger keyboard can sound as good as a good synth.

I don't think in this case i need CASM editor right?  Coz all i need is to trigger different parts of a midi file using Variation 1, 2, 3, 4, Ending 1, 2, 3.....so I will not need to play the chord progression of the song at all

Do you have any ideas, what is the easiest way to do this?


Thanks a lot.

Thank you all for your kind help,

Actually, what i want is very simple, i only need to trigger different parts of a midi file that i assigned to each variation in vArranger.

For instance, i want to create a "style" (what i want to create is not really a style actually) for "Autumn Leaves" song.

I would make 64 bars (8 tracks) midi song consisting of Verse 1 (16 bars) - Chorus 1  (16 bars) - Verse 2  (16 bars) - Chorus 2 (16 bars) . Then i assign Verse 1 to Variation 1,  Verse 2 to Variation 2,  Chorus 1 to Variation 3,  and Chorus 2  to Variation 4.

So, when i play the "Autumn Leaves" song to back up my singer, we will have the flexibility of how we want to do it. We can go from Verse 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2.....etc..   and next time we can go from Chrous 1 - Verse 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 1 - Chrous 2....etc....   and i don't want to do this with any arranger keyboard, but i want to do this with vArranger and my synths. Since no arranger keyboard can sound as good as a good synth.

I don't think in this case i need CASM editor right?  Coz all i need is to trigger different parts of a midi file using Variation 1, 2, 3, 4, Ending 1, 2, 3.....so I will not need to play the chord progression of the song at all

Do you have any ideas, what is the easiest way to do this?


Thanks a lot.

Hi Liylo,

I'm having difficulties creating my own styles using Cakewalk. The style created by cakewalk can't be read by vArranger.

Do you know any software i can use to convert midi file created in Cakewalk to vArranger style?

Thank you

Hi Dan,

I have created an .sty file (yamaha style format) using cakewalk. But vArranger can't read the file. I am sure vArranger .prs style for yamaha using different format than .sty yamaha original style. So, i'm having a really hard time to make my own style using yamaha style format to be able to be played with vArranger.

Could you please tell me, to create my own style (using yamaha style format) in cakewalk :
1. how many tracks i have to create? (some of prs style in vArranger contain 14 tracks)
2. what channels i must assign to each instruments in vArranger?
3. how can i import yamaha psr style to varranger?

Thank you

That's great Dan. Thanks for your quick reply.

Hi Dan,

I want to create my own style (yamaha style format) for a jazz standard song called "So What", which only has 2 chords for the whole song. To make the style sounds good, i want to create 16 bar "Variation A", 16 bar "Variation B", 16 bar "Variation C", and 16 bar "Variation D". Will vArranger2 be able to play the whole 16 bars for every variation? Or it will only play the first 2 or 4 bars of each variation?

Thank you

Hi Dan,


Could you send me the new version please?

Thank you

Thank you for the info and quick response Dan,

If integra 7 easily runs out of polyphony then i don't think it is a good option for me.

Actually, what makes me not happy with MOXF is the Drum sounds, and the Bass sounds. They are not bad, but just not 'strong' enough.

I have few more questions Dan :
1. Since you have a motif, in your experience, which one sounds better with vArranger : Motif or Integra?
2. If i only want drum sound and bass sound, can you give me suggestion any good soundfont?
3. Studio Drummer by NI sounds really good to me (better than Addictive Drum and EZDrummer), but many people in some forums complaining about it's CPU consumption, to heavy for laptop i think. What do you think about this?
4. I also really like Trillian Bass VST by Spectrasonic. But again, i am afraid if i run these 2 VSTs (Studio Drummer and Trillian), then i would need laptop with RAM bigger than 16 GB. is this true?
5. Have you ever tried using Cantabile (as Agaton suggested) with something like Studio Drummer?

Thank you

Ok Dan, thank you. I have few questions :

1. if i use Roland Integra 7, do you think it will be able to play Yamaha Styles, and Roland Styles smoothly?
2. is GM2 chord transition better than XG? Because integra 7 has GM2 mode, it doesn't have GS mode
3. for live gig, do you think it is better if i use hardware modules (like integra 7, moxf) of software?
4. which one is more reliable?

thank you Dan

Hi Dan, thank you for the very quick response

I've tried to use Splashtop, no problem with CPU at all. But there is a slight delay between the Tab and my PC, though it doesn't really affect vArranger performance at all, but still to me it feels a bit awkward. I think the best option will be using a touchscreen laptop.

Another thing, i'm having a problem editing the styles. This is what happened :
1. I muted ACCOMP 3 track, cause that track with MOXF sounds a bit weird
2. I then saved the Song with all options ticked
3. Whenever i move/play other styles, the ACCOMP 3 track will always be muted
4. This thing also happens to other tracks, PERC track, etc.

Can you help me with this, please

Just thinking, do you think i can use my current laptop (not touchscreen), with my galaxy tab using Airdisplay to control vArranger running in my laptop?
Coz if this is possilble, i don't have to spend too much money on buying a new touchscreen laptop.

Thank you

That's really great Dan!

I thought we could only control up to 12 functions. I didn't know that we could control just about anything, just tried today after you answered my question to control many...many....things with my computer keyboard.

Thank you for your help Dan!

Thank you for the information and very quick reply Dan.

I have some more questions :
1. If i use Korg nano Kontrol, how many "thing" or "function" I can control?
2. if i use Computer keyboard, i can control up to 12 function right?
3. Can I kontrol the Right Hand Volume using PC?
4. Can i control Right Hand Volume using Korg Nano Kontrol?
5. If i use Korg Nano Kontrol and Midi Pedal, how many function can i control?

Thank you Dan

Hi Dan,

I'm thinking of buying a touchscreen laptop, my questions are :
1. Can vArranger2 run in Windows 8?
2. With touchscreen laptop, is it easy to slide volume controls?
3. What is the minimum recommended screen size? (to be able to 'press' the rhythm, intro buttons, etc)

thank you Dan.

Thank you for your pointer and quick response Dan.

I'm now trying to find out the answer in motifator forum. I hope someone there would be able to solve the "mistery".


Thanks again

The problem is from the MOXF,

I've just tried to play GM midi file in Cubase using MOXF as a sound module. When i change the bass sound with MOXF Preset Bass sound (other than GM bass sounds), the bass plays 1 octave lower.

So, the problem is NOTHING TO DO WITH vArranger. I'm pretty sure Yamaha MOTIF will experience the same problem.

Do you have any idea what  i should do with this Dan?

Thank you for your help

I have already tried 2 different scenarios just now :

1. Scenario 1......Both GM Finger Bass sounds :
    a. Right 1 = Finger Bass (i use GM sound directly)
    b. Right 2 = Finger Bass (i use User Bank. But the sound is originally GM sound that i edited and saved it in User Bank)
    RESULT : Both Right 1 and Right 2 sound the same, there is no difference in octave

2. Scenario 2.....Using GM Finger Bass sound and MOXF Preset Bass sound (not GM) :
    a. Right 1 = Finger Bass (i use GM sound directly)
    b. Right 2 = Mid Range Finger Bass (i use User Bank. But the sound is originally MOXF Preset sound, not GM sound,  that i shifted 1 octave
        higher and saved it in User Bank)
    RESULT : Right 1 (GM sound) produces sound that is 1 octave higher than Right 2 (Mid Range Finger Bass)

This strange thing happens not only at one particular chord or style. So, whenever i change the bass sound with bass sound that is not GM original sound, this strange thing happens.

I also tried to use other sounds, like piano, violin, etc....i tried both GM and MOXF Preset sounds, they don't have any problem with octave at all. Only bass sound has problem with octave.

Sorry, i didn't quite understand what you mean with "Can you reproduce this with cubase?". Do you want me to record my playing with Cubase?

Thank you

Hi Dan,

My GM bass sounds and other banks bass sounds (not GM) if played directly on my MOXF are exactly in the same octave range.

But, if i use vArranger, strangely whenever i change the GM bass sound with MOXF preset bass sound  (not GM), the octave will always become 1 octave lower the the original style's bass sound.

I have already edited some MOXF bass sounds by shifting up the pitch 1 octave higher (not GM), and saved them in MOXF User Bank Sound (not GM), then i use those bass sounds with vArranger, same thing happens. The bass sound is still 1 octave lower than the original style's bass sound.

If i change the style's original bass sound with different GM bass sound, this problem doesn't occur. The bass sound plays perfectly. So, this problem only occurs when i use bass sounds other than GM sounds. No matter how i edited the bass sounds, the result is still the same, 1 octave lower then it should be.

Could you help me with this please?

Thank you

Hi Dan,

I'm now not using any synth module. I'm back to my MOXF, only using yamaha MOXF as my sound module.

Thank you

Hi Dan,

I tried to change the bass sound with sounds other than GM sounds, but the new sound always sounds 1 octave lower than it should be.

Then, i tried to edit a bass sound, and make it 1 octave higher. When i use this edited bass sound, it still sounds 1 octave lower than it should be.

Could you help me with this please?

Thank you

Hi Dan,

Thank you for your quick response.

The problem i'm having is like this :
1. I have 10 sounds i've set for all the styles. You are right, in this case, once i closed vArranger, all the 10 sounds will be available for all the styles
2. Then, for one particular style i have another 10 sounds i've set only for that particular style, and i've saved them with the SONG
3. After i called up this one particular style, then i moved to different styles, the MY SOUNDS list for all other styles would go blank

Could you help me with this please? Thank you Dan

Hi Dan,

is it possible to make all 10 sounds i have set up in "My Sounds" to be available for all the styles without adding 10 of them manually to every single style?

Thank you

Hi Dan,

Could you tell me how to make  the same 10 sound  list i have set up to be availabe to all styles please?

Thank u

Hi Agaton,

Thank you so much for your time and effort in helping me with the setup.

I really appreciate it!

I will try to learn what you have explained bit by bit, 'cause I've never done this thing before.

Again, thank you so much

Hi Agaton,

I've been trying to connect vArranger with Cantabile Lite and Yamaha MOXF. My questions are :
1. Can you change drum mapping with Cantabile Lite?
2. I am using behringer uca202 for my soundcard. Cantabile Lite can receive the audio input signal from MOXF, but no audio output signal. I don't know
    why. When I use this soundcard with Cubase, everything works properly
3. If you use vArranger with Cantabile and VST, and you assigned every style to different instruments in VSTs, that means every time you change style,
    you have to adjust the setting in Cantabile as well right?
4. Or everything can be done remotely from vArranger only?

Thank you for your help Agaton.

Hi Dan and Agaton,

1. Dan, it will be really great if vArranger later on can do Drum Mapping
2. Agaton, thanks for your info about Cantabile and Addictive Drum 2 having GM drum kits

Gee, there are so many things i have to learn about vArranger and VST....so many things to learn...but i'm very Excited!

Thank you again for both of you 

Hi Dan and Agaton,

Sorry to combine the message for both of you, just incase any of you miss my message.....

1. Dan, is it possible to do Drum Mapping in vArranger. Suppose i use "Addictive Drum" VST (the mapping is different from GM), is it possible to change 
   its mapping to conform to GM mapping?

2. Agaton, you mentioned about VST Host/Cantabile Performer. Can i change "Addictive Drum" mapping to conform with GM mapping using those
    software? i'm now using internal sound card only

Thank you

Thank you for your very quick response Dan.

I have installed the plugin, and now it gives me the AUDIO OUT option. Great!

Thanks.

Hi Dan,

Just few hours ago while i was trying to set midi port with different configuration, suddenly vArranger crashed. Then it can't be run anymore, it always gave this "Err_Init : -1"

So, i deleted the vArranger config file, and replaced it with the original one (1 kb). vArranger is now working, but it can't detect my Sound Driver. The Midi Port Select window is only giving me : MIDI IN, MIDI OUT options. There is no Sound Driver option.

Could you please help me with this? Thank you

Thanks again for your information AGATON

I realise that i will have to learn so many things related to VST

Thank you so much for your information.

So, in your opinion, NI Kontakt is the best sounding VST out there?

Dan suggested that i can try the built in VST of vArranger. My questions are :
1. in term of flexibility and stability, which one is better : using more samples hosted in vArranger Soft Synth or using VST Host hosting NI 
    Kontakt?
2. What's the second best choice for VST in your opinion? Since my laptop can only handle 8 GB of RAM (according to factory spec)?
3. My processor is Intel i3 2310M, do you think it is enough?
4. Do you know the best sounding GM ready VST?


Again, thank you for your help

Thanks a lot again AGATON,

I think i will try the free host first.   is VST Host will be able to make Midi Routings and Midi Filters on way i need as well?

My laptop RAM is only upgradable up to 8 GB. So, i don't think i can use NI Kontakt.

Actually i have MOXF, the sound is quite good, but the master effect functions is very limited. Another thing, MOXF sound is a bit "muddy" even compare to Halion Sonic SE. Halion Sonic SE sounds are cleaner and clearer, but much thinner than MOXF.

Using MOXF as my sound generator with vArranger is really easy, but again, with its limited effect's functions I can create sound staging as good as Halion Sonic SE.

Thank you

Hi Dan,

When i was trying to choose midi ports, suddenly vArranger crashed. I opened Windows' Start Task Manager, and ended vArranger program.

Then when i try to run vArranger again, nothing happened. It shows "Err_Init : -1"

Could you please help me with this?

Thank you

Thanks a lot AGATON,


In your experience, which VST (with the same quality as Halion Sonic) and which Host can be used with vArranger? Do you think Sonar is a suitable host for this kind of purpose?

Thanks again

Thank you again for your superb quick response Dan,

I've been trying to use Halion Sonic SE hosted in Cubase LE AI 7 (bonus which came with MOXF), with midiLoop, and vArranger. But the program change is only working with drum in channel 10. For other instruments i have to select one by one manually in Cubase.

This is what i am doing :
1. vArranger midi out 1 (GM mode) ----->   Loopmidi channel 0
2. Loopmidi channel 0  ------>  Cubase midi in
3. Cubase audio driver ------>  ASIO
4. Activate Halion Sonic SE vst in Cubase
5. Turn on GM Program Change of Halion Sonic SE vst in Cubase
6. Create 16 midi track in Cubase
7. Set the tracks' channels one by one, and set the midi in for every track to midiLoop channel 0

But...when i play a style from vArranger, only drum track produces the correct sound, other tracks produce either all bass sounds or all piano sounds. Could you please tell me what mistake i have made? I read a post by    xuanvuz  (http://www.varranger.com/vforum/index.php/topic,986.msg8134.html#msg8134) that his hosted vsts can received program change message from vArranger properly.

Could you please help me with this?

Thank you Dan

Thank you for your quick info Dan,

If i use halion sonic ('cause i like the sound of Halion Sonic SE) as my General Midi VST, then i play few different styles with vArranger. Do i have to adjust the instruments tracks in Halion Sonic for every single style?

Or I can just load and play any style in vArranger, and the tracks in Halion Sonic will call up every corresponding instrument required by vArranger for any style i load and play (just like when i use vArranger software synth)?

Thank you Dan

Hi Dan,

Is vArranger be able to run well on Windows 7 - 64 bit?

My Windows 7 is 32 bit, suddenly the MOXF driver is not working anymore. I want to install my computer with windows 7 - 64 bit, so i that i can install more RAM in my computer.

Thank you

What's the best setting for vArranger synth? Is it GM/GM2/or.....?

Thank you.

Actually i don't want to use Hyper Canvas, the sound is no good.

But for me, to tweak the styles, i have to listen to a reference to know how the style should sound as close as its original sound, regardless the quality.

And after that, i would be able to tweak my MOXF or any VST.

How can I replace sound of vArranger software synth wtih my own SF2 samples?

I tried to record mp3 from styles, but failed, no file saved on the folder i chose. Could you tell me how?

Thank you Dan.

SOLVED!  Sorry, again....it was my fault   

I forgot to change the mode to GM/XG, so that vArranger did not respond when i tried to change the sound to MOXF preset sounds.

Sorry to give you so many questions Dan.

But, if you can help me with my question about VST, that will be really great!

Thanks a lot

Hi Dan,

Strange thing is happening. After I connected vArranger with Hyper Canvas, then I used the MOXF as sound generator again, I can't change the intruments of anystyle. But styles still play as they should be. So, when I change styles, my MOXF received midi messages and changed the sound of its channels according to program change message sent by vArranger.

But whenever i want to change the styles' instruments, by clicking the INS button (usually i can change instruments sound to whatever I want), nothing happen (so my MOXF didn't receive any program change message from vArranger).

Could you help me with this?

Thank you

Hi Dan,

Thank you for your info.

I'm trying to connect with Edirol Hyper Canvas (I know that this vst sound quality is not good enough), which is a multitimbral and GM2. When I play any style, it turns out that I have to choose the instrument manually.

I have band in a box software, when I connect it to Hyper Canvas, band in a box can automatically select all the instruments. Is actually vArranger able to do the same thing? Or when we us Multitimbral and GM VST plugin we still have to set up all the instrument manually for every single style?


Thank you

EFFECT PROBLEM "SOLVED"...................Sorry Dan, my mistake :

The Maximum Insert Effects that can be used simultaneously in MOXF are only 8.

So, if I want to use Insert Effects in channel 13 - 15, I have to turn off Insert Effects on other Channel first.

So, could you tell me, which midi channels are not used by most styles in vArrangers?

Thank you Dan.

Hi Dan, I've found the cause of the problem,

By default, MOXF has 2 master effects : Chorus and Reverb.
Other effects, such as Phaser, Delay, etc....that alters the original sound character of voices are grouped as Insert Effects.

The problem always occurs because whenever i launch vArranger, The INSERT EFFECT switches of Midi Channel 9 - 16 will always be turned off. And strangely I can't turned them ON. They seem to be locked by vArranger somehow.

When I try to play midifile from Cubase, all the INSERT EFFECTs of the 16 Midi Channels are set to ON.

That's the difference, why in Cubase i can use any instrument without altering the preset sound character, whereas in vArranger i can only retain preset sound character of any instruments limited to Channels 1 - 8 only.

Could you help me with this please?

Thank's a lot Dan.

Hi Dan, thanks again for your help...

I have just read what you wrote about your experience with motif. I have already initialized all the songs in Song mode to be able to play GM properly.

So, now i can play vArranger with any Song number in SONG MODE without having to load and play midi file first.

But the problem with effect still persists. So, any instrument i choose for the Right Hand Part, will be played without the effects, except some distortion guitar sounds still have distorsion effects, some don't   

Strangely but..... instrument i choose to replace the Style's instruments will still have effects.

I use Cubase that comes with MOXF, in Cubase everything works ok. Supposedly i recorded a piano track, if I change the piano sound with E. Piano Phaser, the Phaser effect is still there.


Could you tell me why is it? Thank you.


Thank you

So what is happening actually is :

I'm now using MOX .ins file I downloaded from you. Because, actually Preset bank 1 to bank 8 of MOX and MOXF are both identical. So I can now choose any MOXF sounds from Preset 1 to Preset 8 (that is more than 1000 sounds, really cool!!) to replace any instruments of the accompaniment section, as well as choosing any preset sounds (not GM sound anymore) for the Right Hand Part.

But, the thing is, whenever I choose a sound for Right Hand Part, for example, E. Piano Phaser (the original sound of the preset sound has Stereo Phaser effect),  the Phaser effect is gone. So, the sound will become a plain E. Piano.

Another example....when I choose Guitar with Delay effect (when I play this sound in VOICE mode of MOXF the guitar sound has delay effect) for Right Hand Part, the delay effect is simply gone...so the guitar sound becomes a plain guitar sound.

I have to use vArranger in Song mode right? Because only in SONG mode the MOXF has multitimbral ability. But the funny thing is, whenever I use vArranger in Song mode, all the instruments will be played by 1 sound only, and by default is piano (drum notes, bass notes, guitar notes, etc.... are all produced by piano sound)

So far...what I've been doing is :
1. I have to go to SONG MODE
2. I choose the SONG number, suppose SONG 1
3. Then in Song 1, i have to load and play a good SMF file in GM format first before I can use the Song 1 to play with vArranger, or else the whole style
    will only be played by 1 sound, in my case, it is always a piano sound

Could you please tell me, is it the right thing to use vArranger with a synth or I've been doing it the wrong way?

Thank you Dan.

Sorry for not making myself clear enough...

Actually, I can get Revert and Chorus, and be able to save the effects given to the sounds I want.

But I can't get any delay effect to work. I don't know why.

Another question : Why the bass transpose doesn't work? So, anytime i change the bass sound with different sound, the bass sound was way too low

Thank you for your quick response

Hi Dan,

I've been trying to give effects on Right Hand Part, but always fail.

Could you tell me how can I give effects on Right Hand Part?

For Yamaha MOFX, the best mode is GM. Coz i've just found that MOXF doesn't have XG, only GM and Preset sounds.

Thank you.

Problem with dragging tempo SOLVED


When I chose GM mode for midi out, there is no problem with the tempo anymore.

I will try your instructions about saving the right hand voice


Thank you for your very quick response.

Hi Dan  (Effect problems),

Thank you for your quick response

Whenever I edited effects for Right Hand 1 and 2nd Hand,  then saved them to the songs (with all parameters checked), the effects knobs will always go to :
1. Right Hand 1 :
             a. Red knob    : always go to maximum (5 o'clock pm direction)
             b. Green knob : always go to minimum  (7 o'clock am direction)
2. 2nd Hand :
             a. Red knob    : always go to middle position (12 o'clock direction)
             b. Green knob : always go to minimum  (7 o'clock am direction)
3. Others Parts' effect knobs are editable (can be saved and recalled in the same state when they were saved previously), only those 2 parts are   
    having problems with editing
And this problem is occuring when I chose GM mode.

Then I tried other modes (GM2, Ketron SD2, etc), those 2 parts' effect knobs are still giving the same problem but with different knobs positions.

Thank you.

I'm using Laptop ASUS A43S.

CPU  :  i3 2310M
RAM  : 2GB
HDD  : 500 GB
OS    : Win 7 Professional - 32 bit

So, is the edited style saved in USB flashdisk, or in the Laptop?

Thank you

I have already installed vArranger, thank you Dan.

I have few questions :
1. After I edit some styles (changing the sound, tempo, etc....),  then save them. Where are the edited styles saved?
2. Is it possible to split right hand and left hand?
3. When I play fast styles, whenever my right hand plays melody on chord (4 notes at once) and does the rhythmic comping as well, then my left hand
    does the chord comping as well, then the style tempo will be dragging.....Then I tried to turn off all the accompaniment voices except Drum, and
    Bass, while my right and left hand do chord comping, the tempo stills keeps dragging. I don't think it is caused by MOXF polyphony, because when I
    play my MOXF in performance mode (not using vArranger) and use the same playing style, there is no problem with the tempo at all. Could you tell
    what causes it?

I think I will have many more questions to ask later on.........please bear with me   

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

While waiting,

I'm now downloading tons of very useful files that can be used with vArranger

Thank you Dan

Hi Dan,

Thank you for your quick response Dan.

Waiting impatiently to try the vArranger     


Cheers

About Installation using USB Flashdisk,


Does it mean that i can use vArranger on any computer as long as the usb key is attached to the computer?

In this scenario, if the USB Flashdisk is lost, what should I do?

Thank you

Hi Dan,

I just purchased your vArranger today.

I tried to get the Motif XF .ins file you mentioned in your reply, but I can't find any link or attachment file which I can click to download. How long will it take to get the vArranger software?

Thank you

Unfortunately i haven't received your private answer....thank you anyway

I have few more questions, sorry about this :
1. The demo with MOXF on youtube is really impressive, sounds very good. Is the demo produced by vArranger without 
    tuning/tweaking?
2. If I want to edit styles' individual instruments, will vArranger enable me to use MOXF preset voices other than MOXF general
    midi voices? Or vArranger will only allow me to use MOXF GM voices?  (cause i have long dreamed to have a live arranger with
    sound qualitiy close to yamaha motif's sound)
3. Do you have yamaha MOXF .INS file?

Thank you Dan.

Hi Dan,

I'm very impressed with varranger, and really would like to buy it.

But before buying it, i would like to know about few things.

I just bought a Yamaha MOXF, and I really want to buy your varranger. So, this year i don't have a spare budget to buy new laptop.

My questions are :
1. If i buy varranger and then install it in my Asus A43E (i3, 2 GB RAM, 500 HDD), then later on i want to buy a better laptop with 
    touch screen. Can i install the varranger in the new laptop?
2. Can varranger play Yamaha PSR style well if I use Yamaha MOXF as the sound generator for varranger?
3. Can i use a midi pedal to control : Fill-Ins, Mains, Endings? So that i don't need to use my hand to do so?

Thank you for your help