vArranger Forums

Thanks Bernie,
When Dan finishes the ability to save instruments with song then life will be easier playing live. Having songs saved and opened the same as selecting styles certainly also saved a  lot of time live. Some of the changes Dan added lately is great. For some they were 3 midi inputs, auto fill feature.

Happy playing
Lionel

Hi everybody,
Here is some quick shots of our setup. The speaker on left near guitar is my cheap quick foldback. 
We have Casio keyboard for chords rhythm going into vArranger and Midi guitar going into GI-20 then into vArranger also you will notice on top left keyboard the nanoKontrol which was worth its weight in gold when quickly making adjustments.
Everything then goes into Samson mixer to speakers on stands.

Not to mention the VoiceLive 2 for Vocals.

Regards
Lionel

Hi Bernie,
Carillon Studios has the e-mail download option which is very important today for distant customers.

I am from Down Under and postal from UK is slow and costly.

The main thing is nothing unfavorable is said about either.

Thanks for your input.

Lionel

Hi,
I know I have touched on this subject before, but I have not got far.

I have searched high and low and have found very little on styles for Ketron, all I have found is carillon studios who sell styles.

Has anybody any knowledge on quality of style from this mob.

Or does anybody know of others.

Thanks
Lionel

Hi Bernie,

Sorry I didn't reply sooner.

Yes you can save instrument in style changes but to date not input selected instrument. (That is note playing instrument). I am requesting if Dan could also save instrument input selection as well in save song dialog. Also various things like reverb selected, changes in master, tempo, chorus,etc.

Lionel

Bernie,
The Privia has a great feel and has 88 keys. The abililty to play sounds via SD2 and its own sound bank. Also room to add another spilt so for example left section for chords, variation triggers,etc. while next section for say low oct instrument and a third section for oct up second instrument for immediate jump to.

I mean the Privia is great just lacking some midi controls. I tend to lean towards the Korg nanoKontrol thats if Dan can add the third input. And while he reads this another split point if not too much hasle.

Thanks
Lionel

Ok ,
Got a quote for Axiom 61 $450 AUD

Dan, you being the programmer, would 3 inputs create more chance of bugs and other problems?

Still undecided, and how long would it take to implement a 3rd input. I can get nanoKrontrol for around $130 AUD.

What are your pros and cons on the choices?

Thanks
Lionel

Hi Guys,
Nice to see fellow help.

Choices, choices,  well nanopad a cheaper option if a 3rd input is feasible for vArranger.

Also looking into Axiom 61 - Advanced 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller. Being in Australia they tend to double charge any US products. But that would be nice for extra control.

Maybe, maybe the nanopad. Depends on Dan with 3rd input.

Thanks
Lionel

Hi Guys,
It's nice to know Dan is one step ahead of us

Lionel

Hi Again (Already  )

Just tested my above post and found out yes it works for songs but to date you cannot save Instruments of choice on inputs and Intro Number and Variation Number. A job for Dan, but hey, he probably already has that underway. Also on the topic the volume settings for Instrument inputs.

Thanks in advance for Dan.

Lionel

Hi Guys,
I shooting here 1st then testing, but I thought on Bernie's idea, find style you like for song, copy that style and rename to song you will be playing. Create a folder for say Song Set 1 and move to there and put into Stylerom1 folder in  vArranger folder. Open that from vArranger make changes and save repeat process for other songs.

Not sure about program limit, etc for this concept.

I have full version, will try it out and post back here soon.

Lionel

Hi Bernie,
As for controlling midi, Yes, the keyboard is the weak link. But it is full size with weighed keys and allows for use of lowest keys to select variation and Endings on the fly. My eldest boy plays piano and this keyboard helps simulate piano feel.

Also with damper pedal allows for triggering of fills.

The keyboard is a Casio Privia PX-410R. Not to metion the guitar which responds beautifully for midi - Godin LGX-SA.


Can you suggest a controller only keyboard and I will look it up.

Regards
Lionel

Hi Bernie,

How do we hook up, well here is my setup.

My wife (Privia keyboard) midi usb cable into laptop into right side vArranger (Input 1)

Myself (Midi guitar) to Roland GI-20 which then is another USB input into laptop to vArranger(Input 2). From vArranger it is out to SD2 module then to mixer desk - speakers.

Certain controls like variation changes, endings, fill are set to keyboard. Settings like Intro and selecting styles etc are set to Laptop.

My midi guitar allows me to set volume independent for myself, but the keyboard having no midi volume wheel, well we have to change cumbersomely via drag right side volume up or down via mouse, which is reluctant to move at times.

Sounds come out wonderful though.

Lionel

Hi Bernie,
Using an external unit then takes away one input for vArranger. That then creates another problem.

Does your keyboards have the required control so you can map to volume.

With vArranger already on PC (Laptop) it makes sense to keep the main control there as like a mixer which it already does. I certainly hope Dan has a way for this. If not I will have to find a better solution, but then again having the option required makes vArranger very versitile software.

Regards
Lionel

Hi Bernie,
Thanks for your reply.

I will try out blueberry style tomorrow.

Do you use any converted styles for live playing.

Have you got vArranger yet or still deciding.
Can I be of assistance on any concerns?

Regards
Lionel

Hi Dan,

Another important point for me is the ability to control volumes. As with my midi guitar I can control my volumes thru vArranger no problem, but with the keyboard the lack of a midi volume wheel or similar makes it very difficult to alter the volume, particularly if the keyboard is used for support harmony/melody.

Maybe some keyboards have a midi assignable volume control but with mine (Casio Privia) there is no midi assignable volume wheel. I can't be the only one who has this problem, unless I have overlooked something.

I am asking if the volumes can be assigned to keys on PC keyboard where one key is volume up and another volume down. At the moment you can only assign to a wheel.

Also using the mouse to drag the sliders can be frustrating as the seem to be reluctant to move at times.

But hey that triggered a thought - if we select the track/ input instrument to change volume we could use the mouse wheel to control volume. Can that be a solution?

Is there another solution for this nagging problem.

Regards
Lionel

Hi Bernie,
Thanks for your input.

Yes, it is the lack of free styles available. I don't know if the so called style converters actually work so we can convert the many of Yamaha styles out there.

If anybody has tried this please reply so we all can benefit from this.

On the other hand the purchased ones, are they of high quality and worth the costs.

Regards
Lionel

Hi Bernie,
Yes vArranger and SD2 are a perfect couple and they work well together.

I have been using BIAB for quite some time and  I stumbled on vArranger. I hounded Dan with a lot of private e-mails to see if vArranger would suit me needs and justify the cost. I actually fell in love with vArranger when I saw the potenial and with discussions with Dan the changes he made and forthcoming changes. I made the purchase.

I use it live, playing mainly old time songs for retirement villages (free of charge). I have it setup where I play midi Guitar and my wife plays keyboard. Her job is the chord changes, harmony, fill ins, style changes, etc. My job is I play the melody via midi guitar and vArranger really makes it come alive.

With additional changes Dan is working on, it is making playing more enjoyable.

Other notes of interest is that with BIAB the sounds where never quite right even using with SD2, but vArranger really changed that. I don't use BIAB as much as I use vArranger. BIAB has it uses particularly the Realtracks but limited in variety. vArranger has more uses for my playing needs.

Regards
Lionel

Hello All,
Does anybody know or may have purchased any styles for vArranger (or keyboard equivalent) which is exceptional.

I am looking for additional styles to expand my existing styles and sometimes you can't seem to find the one you need for a particular song.

Any suggestions or directions is most appreciated.

This will also make the vArranger a very valuable investment and asset for live playing.

Thanks
Lionel

Hi Bernie,
Yes Dan is correct, works for me, as I play up 1 Octave on Left (Midi Giutar) and my wife plays down 1 Octave on right (Keyboard).

I have saved that on startup config and never have to touch every time I start vArranger.

Regards
Lionel

Will do this week-end. When I sort out my songs

Lionel

Hi Dan,
Thanks for reply.

Great to hear about new changes being implemented.

Not sure if I have made myself understood. That is the Intros & Endings are built into each style so saving general settings for Pan Volume etc is not changing Intro and Ending volume in relation to A-B-C variation of the style itself.

The Intro starts loud and the Variation is quiter meaning the start of sound is loud then the rest goes quiter.

Regards
Lionel

Hi Dan, and All,

Played for the Oldies on the week-end and they loved the sound. Playing mainly old time music.

On some styles particularly Big Band brassy stuff the Intro's are a bit dynamic (Loud) nearly created disaster scene (lol)
Can they be turned down a bit to match the main style.

Otherwise vArranger2 is doing a great job.

Regards
Lionel

Hi All,
I would like to hear what anybodies thoughts are on vArranger

Well, I would like to add my thoughts.
When I first stumbled across VArranger I thought Ah something to help me set my Ketron SD2 without having to fiddle and figure out via SysEx files. So I searched the forums for info on this product, but not much was found except asking price was a bit high compared to other products. So I contacted Dan the developer and pounded him with questions and said I needed a demo to test if it would do the job required. Dan then sent me a demo and I responded with my needs and with brilliant support Dan added features that was required. I play a Midi guitar and my wife plays keyboard and because the SD2 outputs High Quality sounds for midi we use vArranger to get the best out of it and Yes it does extract the best out of it. At first I used Band In A Box for my backing and my wife was made redundant as it had better styles than on board styles on the keyboard also sound wise BIAB was better than onboard keyboard sounds unless you pay big dollars for better ones - I mean big dollars for a family budget.

Now I discovered vArranger and with Dual input one for my Midi Guitar and one for keyboard for my wife and with Inbuilt styles  with superior sound quality my wife is re-instated 

I have used it live outdoors as well indoors and it does a very good job. Now I have bought vArranger because it brings a new life to our playing and sound, the cost is justified because SD2 is made alive with vibrant sounds because the vArranger has been coded to take advantage of the sounds that the end user cannot reach or use without extensive knowledge of SD2 sysex code.

Anyway I can rant and rave but that does not help you, but what I can say is Yes vArranger does a marvelous job for me and with a few more additional features it will of great value to owners of SD2 module.

Lionel