YAMAHA Keyboard - PSR 740 Playing Back Recorded Files

This article is based on a message written by Simon Williams

Playing back recorded files might give different results. Sometimes the voices are PSR 740 ones, as recorded, but at other times, the songs play back through the 740 using different voices.

Explanation

When the file is recorded on the 740 and played back from it, the 740 correctly allocates the instruments to the midi channels that you have chosen.

Unless resetting or switching off the PSR 740, playing back the midi file from the pc would still use those sounds.

Next time though, unless first playing the file on the psr740's sequencer, the voices won't be the same as recorded unless the sequencer software sends the new programme changes.

What is most likely is that the programme changes for the instruments have not been recorded in sequencer software.

Solution

There are several ways to solve this problem.

The correct way would be to ensure each channel in the sequencer software is set to send the correct bank and programme change no. for the desired instruments.

Another way is to do a sysex dump after recording the channel on the PSR 740 with the correct instruments, so that the first few bars on the sequencer software will set up the 740 as it was for the song.

Another problem occurs if attempting to change instruments when recording to an external sequencer from the PSR 740.

If the "one touch settings" feature is enabled, this selects a preset R2 voice and other settings for each panel voice. Even though only using voice R1, the PSR 740 sends out two programme changes, first for R1 and then for R2. Quite often the sequencer will interpret the second voice change for the same midi channel and end up selecting the wrong instrument.

Because of the many voices on the PSR keyboards, setting up suitable programme changes can be a nightmare. There are bank LSB and MSB values, and programme change numbers.

New sequencers sometimes support GM and XG voice sets, making this a lot easier. However the panel voices of the PSR 740 are separate to the XG set, they have another bank number.

If possible check the beginning of each channel in the sequencer software for programme or sys ex messages. This may help resolving the problem.