Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    I've played with the SY*77* (unit with FM stuff - 55 is PCM only). 

    If you believe the _Keyboard_ review (this month), you'll probably like
    it.  My ears weren't impressed in the least with the 77.  Given that
    the 55 is PCM only, and given that the 77 has some really lousy
    samples, I'd be wary of paying $850 for it.  On the other hand, it
    *does* have digital filters, so I suppose that has to count for
    something. 

    Is this going to be your primary SGU, or just an addon (if the latter,
    adding to what)? 

+b

	For the price, I'd get a Roland U-220.  Check it out if you can.

	Dan

    .1
    This will be my primary SGU. I don't play keys so I'm doing all my
    initial entry thru Voyetra. I am now using a Yamaha PSR47 (consumer
    level keyboard) and want some much better sounds that provided by that
    unit. I am clearly operating at the novice level so I appreciate any
    input you can provide.
    
    Actually I'm not sure I'll use all the features of the TG55. But it
    certainly seems to open up a lot of possibilities.
    
    Gil
    

What is this units number-of-voices-playable (notice no p* word :-) using
normal/standard voices?  Something I read on usenet lead me to believe 16.

If only 16, look at U-220 (I have one on a 3 month loan from a friend) or
a proteus.  Both offer approximately double that (U-220 -- 30, Proteus -- 32).
Both also sound very good.  U-220 also can take new PCM data cards.  Someone
on usenet said he didn;t believe TG55 had any out yet (or couldn't take them).

Chad

    .4
    You are quite correct, the TG55 has 16 voices in the multi-timbre mode.
    Again, you are right regarding the data cards. However I expect that
    this is because the unit is relatively new. The ability to use two
    filters per element - four elements per voice - permits quite a bit
    of creativity in building new sounds. From the info I have this feature
    is missing from the U220, correct? Are they features you think are
    valuable?
    
    Again I'm new to this racket and appreciate your opinion(s).
    
    Gil
    

I must admit I'm new at the U220 -- I haven't done much except assign some
"tones" to "timbres" in a "patch".  From how I see it, the U220 is
30 voice using single tone patches, 6 part multitimbral plus a rhythm part
(which can have any tone's applied to it).

I don't know about assigning multiple "tones" to a "timbre" but a simple way
to layer is to layer "timbres" on the same midi channel.

LIke I said -- I haven't used it much (it is on loan to me for a few months)
and I just got it.

My point was that you have almost twice as many voices able to sound at once.


On the TG55, with a four part voice, you can only sound 4 notes at once.
With a two part, 8 -- more or less double that for U220 and Proteus.

But as always, your needs are different than mine and your ear too -- if
you like it and its features, then go for it.

Chad

Anyone seen any sound cards for the TG55 yet ? These are supposed to contain
the basic "elements" from which sounds/voices can be created.

The TG55 comes with something like 64 preset elements out of which 60 are
used to create the preset voices.

Zayed (recent TG55 owner) 

    Hi there !
    
    I'm an owner of a TG55 too. I got an offer I couldn't resist, even
    though I must admit that U-220 has it's advantages too, ie. the 32
    voice polyphony and the 2 independant (?) effects units which also
    contains chorus (which I really miss on the TG55). However, some sounds
    of the TG55 are really good and the filters could be used for a lot of
    intersting sounds (once I understnd how to use filters....).
    
    Re.: .7 
    
    I'm also intersted in that cards so if you get any information, please
    share them . Besides that, any sounds to share ?????
    
    	best regards
    
    		Richard
    
    

    
    
    Yes...
    
    I have one on loan as the extra beef in my gigging set up. I have
    started to fill up the Internal memory with extra patches, 5 so far and
    am always willing to trade.. What format could we use ?  I haven't
    decided whether to buy yet but will probably do so if the price is
    right.
    
    				Paul.
    

Hi Paul !

I could use V50 disks, almost any ATARI format or SY77 (from a friend of mine).

I was at the dealer last week, but they had just one card. Some good sounds,
but nothing spectacular. The big disadvantage, they are only available as
cards, hence EXPENSIVE (at least compared to disks). I'm wondering if SY77
disks could be used and dumped into the TG55. Of course only those that don't
use AFM sounds. Any SY77 owners out there ?

	best regards

		Richard

    
    
    I checked this and NO Sy77 cards cannot be used with a Tg55 which is a
    let down. I am waiting to audition the cards and will buy one just to
    take up the space in the slot !. As to disks I only have access to a
    drive on my Atari or W30. So if you could find someone with an Atari we
    could use Steph's Bump or Cubase or A sysex dump to an MC500
    equivelant.
    
    					Paul.
    

    Hi Paul !
    
    That's good to hear. I have access to an ATARI with Cubase V1. So we
    should be able to exchange. If I remember right, we could even send
    over the net, assuming you have access to an IBM compatible PC on the 
    net, which has an 3� inch disk drive. I'll let you know as soon as I
    have more than the 5 I have now......
    
    Concerning the cards.
    
    I just read in the Yamaha publication "Milestones" (I don't know if
    that's available elsewhere, however) that at least the wave cards are
    compatible between the two, I was under the impression that this would
    then also be true for the voice cards. My hope was now to be able to do
    a MIDI dump from the SY77 to the TG55. I will find out next week. A
    friend of mine is coming with his SY even though he has no cards yet.
    I have also a MCD64 RAM card, which I will try to use to exchange.
    
    We'll crack it !!
    
    	Richard

    
    
    Richard..
    
    
    Yes I have all the things that you need so we should be able to
    transfer Tg55 files over the NET.. Fun Huh?
    
    					Paul.
    

Hi Paul !

Did you define a drum map for Roland already ? That's also a time consuming act 
I would want to avoid.....

	best regards

		Richard

P.S.: What's wrong with the World Cup.......  ;-)

    
    Re -1
    
    Well Yes and No.....
    
    
    I have re-mapped the drums but to my own spec so that all my various
    drum-sound generators have the same layout... I don't think it would be
    any use to you....
    
    					Paul.
    
    			(nothing wrong with the World Cup from your side)
    
    				

One of the nice things I find about the TG55 is the ability to pan an instrument
to any positon in the stereo image. Add to this the internal TG55 Effects
(Reverb, delay, distortion ...) and it means less work for me at the mixer board.

The next obvious step was to automate the setting up of instruments and pan
position using Midi Control messages (CC10 for Pan, right ?).

The TG55 documentation lists the functions that a Midi Controller can effect.
Panning is NOT among them ! However, the Midi Implemntation Chart shows that
Control Code 10 is "recognized" on reception. Am I correct in being confused ?

Zayed

    In case noone noticed, the US price of the TG55 is now $795 list, mail
    order prices in the $600 range.  Until the end of the year, Yamaha will
    mail you a PCM card and a patch card when you register your warranty.
    
    							Brian

    
    
    Zayed..
    
    You might find that control code 10 is one of those that can be
    re-mapped to another function... It also *must* have a sysex command
    for pan control otherwise none of the computer based sequencers will be
    able to affect pan which would be an unusual ommission. Did control
    code 10 have any affect at all.
    
    Incidently I have now just about filled the I99 bank with new patches
    so we could start talking transfers here.. I also have out on loan two
    of the voice card sets.. 1, Saxes, is great and the other the "drums" is
    ok (ish) I will probably go with the drums as I am using the Tg55 for
    live work and I am working with a SAX player and could do with some
    extra percussion noises.
    
                                                    Paul.

Paul, Control 10 did nothing. And I made sure I was addressing the right channel
and so forth. I did turn to SYSEX and experimented using th CUBASE Midi Manager.
I wasn't 100% sure I was filling the correct values for LSB and MSB in the
SYSEX message. Will revisit.

Regarding patches and card: What's the cost of the card ? I could do with 
more Sax  and don't need more percussion. And regarding transfers: I'm 
modem-less (at home) but I do have access to a 3.5 disk VAX here. 

Zayed

    
    
    Err.. Don't know the cost of the Sax Card but I have it sitting in my
    Car out side the office now. If you want I could get the price and
    stick it internal mail to you ? :-). I guess I should have asked this
    before I borrowed it. The Saxes are marvelous very expressive and
    usable for solo's etc.. Good enough to upset my partner who thought it
    was cheating..
    
    As to the transfer I will stick a sysex dump of my patches in the post
    as well. This will probably be later next week.
    
    
    					Paul.

Hi Paul !

Is the card you have a wave card or a voice card ??? Good sax would be great,
since I have a breath controller for it.....playing thew notes with my Casio
MIDI Guitar ...... must be real weird.....

	thanks

		Richard

    
    
    The SAX set comes with one of each cards. A wave card with some new
    samples on it and a Ram card for extra voices...
    
    Incidentally has anybody worked out how to include a card voice from an
    interntal multi-patch. It would seem that it can't be done other than
    through sysex....
    
    						Paul.

Hi TG55 owners !

In the meantime I got a lot of new sounds and among them are the 3 wave card
sets. I will give a brief review for them:

SAX

It contains 4 new samples with 2 different sax instruments, hard and soft each.
They are A LOT better then the built in one and are quite authentic. Especially
if one fiddles around with some parameters and/or if played with a breath
controller (that's what I do). The ROM card that comes with it has about 3/4
of other sounds that are based on the builtin samples. Just normal stuff.

STRINGS

This card contains just 2 (!) samples, one string and one pizzicato. Both are 
very good. They are used on the ROM card in all sorts of combinations. There
are slow and fast strings, velocity sensitive control if needed, controller
( MW, AT etc.) based patches for switching between a single instrument and a
whole string section, piano and strings and some other special effects.
All in all really good.

ROCK & POP

This card contains 16 samples, some drum sounds (no hihat, crash or anything
and no gated snare, which I really miss) and some additional waves, a good
E-piano, a good organ, a trombone (not bad), a brass, a synth and a few others.
This gives a good extension to what is already in the TG55. Even though there's
nothing really new, it is a good complement.


All in all these cards make a lot more out of an TG55 (SY55). One problem might
be, there's just one wave card slot ! Someone heard of an multi-card adaptor
like for Roland E-series ?

Also has anybody heard the other ROM cards Fantasy and Extensions ? These are
the only ones I haven't heard yet ?

	Richard

PS: Is Paul Kent still around ? I haven't heard from him for a while...
		

    
    
    Richard
    
    Just back from my Entrepreneurial jaunts !
    
    So many opportunities so little time etc..
    
    I have on loan the 2 cards you are interested in hearing. I also now
    have a working editor, can't remenber the name.
    
    I also still have the Midi-managerfile to send you. Give me a ring or
    mail me.
    
    					Paul.