Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    I haven't seen that unit in my travels in the US.  Sounds interesting. 
    Kind of reminds me of Korg's SQ8 (which didn't sell all that well, from
    what I can see).  The internal sounds is an interesting twist to it,
    too.
    
    	Dan

I haven't heard of the device you mention, but if you think it's neat, you
ought to know about the "Breakway MIDI Vocalizer." I heard recently that it's
now going to be marketed by Tascam.

This little box has a mike, and translates pitches it picks up into their MIDI
note counterparts. It has an internal sequencer (I think it was five tracks)
and some internal voices as well. I think the list was something like $350.
I haven't heard a lot about it apart from seeing it announced and such, which
surprises me- maybe it's not as good as the description makes it sound.

Anyway, didn't mean to distract- carry on.

Cheers,
	Bob

       
       
       
       
       The Vocalizer has been discussed on the Usenet - in generally
       unfavorable tones.  Seems that the voice input must be right on
       pitch with no vibrato in order to track properly.  I don't recall
       the other gripes...maybe someone with better access to the Usenet
       can pull some of those comments in for us?
       
       
       
       
       

About that new Yamaha box, does it have some kind of input?  You imply that it
is usable by itself.

Haven't seen anything about the Vocalizer on the Usenet in quite a while--which
means that I can't get the messages because they expire after a while.

However, I have tried one.  It *might* be usable by a skilled (classical or
scat, maybe) vocalist.  I couldn't hold it on pitch, and the strain of putting
out a pure tone at an amplitude sufficient to trigger the Vocalizer hurt my
throat in less than ten minutes of fooling around at a store.  I strongly
suggest a try-before-you-buy approach to this one.  I'd love to see the results
from someone who was good with one--the transparent interface should make for
great improvisations.

	Eir�kur

If TASCAM's vocoder(!?) fill the bill, I want it. As I have to perform all part 
of the band except VOCAL part. Todd Rundgren is great, 'cause he can sing.

Any way here is a spec of the gear:

YAMAHA Music Sequencer  QY10

- 8 tracks(sequence*4, chord*2, bass*1, rhythm*1)
- pattern: preset 76, user 24
- chord preset 20
- 6000 note, 8(!) song can be recorded
- Real time/Step input
- AWM sound module
- max simul sound 28
- multi-timbre 8 with DVA
- preset sound 30 + 26(rhythm)
- display: 16*1 LCD
- MIDI IN/OUT
- battery or AC adaptor
- 187(W)*104(D)*25(H), 0.3kg just video cassette size. Put it in your pocket

preset sounds are:

        Rck Piano,      Dist Guit,      Xylohpne
        E.Piano,        Mute Guit,      Syn Bra Pd
        Tine Pno,       Elec Folk,      Syn Str Pd
        Clavinet,       Jazz Bass,      Sym Comp
        Rck Organ,      Pick Bass,      Bowed Bel
        Organ,          Slap Bass,      Perc Comp
        Hi Str Ens,     Syn Bass,       Trumpet
        Lo Str End,     Moogy,          Breathy
        Brass Ens,      Marimba,        Syn Lead1
        Elec Guit,      Vibes,          Syn Lead2
                                        Drum Set

One of these days, I'll fool around the shop and try this item.
(I can't afford the money, 'cause I've just purchased VFX-SD last week!!!)
From the photo of Keyboard magazine, there's no keyboard on it. How to input?
You can input drum sound by black and white button, yeah, those buttons serve 
as keyboard! Interesting, isn't it!

sugimoto

    Greeting,
    
    Just spoke to my local music gear merchant about the QY10, he's fresh
    back from the show and he had goodthings to say about it....
    
    He expects it to sell in the $275-$300 range....
    
    One question....does it have a disk for storage? Tape?
    
    Gary (whose looking for an inexpensive sequencer with disk storage)
    
    

>>    One question....does it have a disk for storage? Tape?

No, it doesn't. It's too small to have such peripherals.

How about Kawai's Q-80? It's reasonably cheap, about $500, maybe, from Japanese 
price. It has 3.5' disk drive, and I heard it's pretty nice.

sugimoto

How much functionality are you willing to give up? The little Brother doodad
(MDI 30, is it?) gets very good reviews for an extremely *unambitious*
sequencer- sounds like no more than a MIDI equivalant of a tape recorder,
really- for real cheap, in the $100 street price range.

Bob

    
    Greetings again,
    
    I've looked at the brother 30 and 40 modela and they seem to fit my
    needs preety well. As I remenber, they are identical except for more
    memory in the 40. They are both available under 250 real take home
    price.
    
    In the current keyboard, Brother is advertising a new model 100 or
    possibly 1000. Looks similar in the specs...but is sporting a fancy
    2 line LCD display. List price is 399...Expect take home price to be
    in the 299 region. Based on bugetary limitations, I'l like to stay
    below the 300 mark.
    
    The Yamaha caught my interest due to it's size and the on-board sounds.
    It's relativle inexpensive price was also a plus.
    
    I think i'll wait untill the dust from the show clears abit. My local
    music store will be holding it's yearly house cleaning, post show
    sale in the next month. typically they blow out anything that may
    compete with the new products. A caref shopper can normally pick up
    a bargain here.
    
    Anyway,....thanks for the info....if you can suggest any other
    alternatives please feel free.
    
    Gary ( I want it all..but my kids like to eat....)

	Mr Sugimoto,

		Have you had the opportunity to play with one? Does
	it have stereo outputs? Does it use headphones? They are
	arriving in the stores here in April. It seems perfect for a
	guitarist to use as a practice partner.

	ccb

I went to several shops in Yokohama, but I couldn't find QY10 at all, they've 
been ALL SOLD OUT!! Only I could see was a displayed photograph of it, good 
grief...


>Does it have stereo outputs? 
        Well, I'm not sure.

>Does it use headphones?        
        Maybe.

>It seems perfect for a	guitarist to use as a practice partner.
        Yes, it sure is!

/sugimoto

Hi !

I tried it briefly at the Musikmesse Frankfurt. It has stereo out and
headphones (maybe the same socket). 

Kawai also introduced another version of the Session Trainer which might be
intersting for the purpose of practing.

If you have an ATARI and SGUs you should also consider Band-In-A-Box or some of
the other packages that have been introduced recently for this purpose.

	Richard

Well, this months's EM (Electronic Musician, incase you live in a cave...) has
a nice rundown of hardware sequencers, which includes the QY10. Also has a nice
fullpage ad with a *life-size* photo...it *does* make the point!

Y'know, if I get my hands on one of these, Route 3 isn't ever going to be safe
again (i.e., it'll be worse than it already is...). Worse than a cellular
telephone and in-dash TV put together!

Bob

	Looks like the alphabet soup got ya, Bob. The sequencer in the
	rundown in EM was the QX5-FD.

Re .14:

My oops went in a different direction- the QY10 coverage was in the NAMM report.
BTW, the Kawai equivalent is discussed right next to it. Sure would be nice to
AB-compare them "live."

Cheers,
	Bob

Well, I just played with the little doodad, and let's just say the time went by
sort of quickly. It's mesmerizing to hear so much coming out of such a little
package!

The sounds are high-quality, IMHO. There are still some little gremlins running
around in the firmware, I think- pressing the wrong (right?) buttons causes
some sort of odd displays, and in one case, sounds. However, I think it's a
good set of capabilities- it can act as a backup SGU as well as a drum machine,
never mind the "band-in-a-box" capabilities. The range of patterns provided is
pretty good, although they're all fairly "cliche" examples. However, you can
mix and match various patterns pretty easily, and also intermix them with your
own pattens, making it not too hard to get "original" backing tracks.

You enter your own chord changes, which are used to "fill" the patterns. You
can assign voices to either custom or internal patterns as you wish. Voices can
be panned, and have their volume and pitchbend range set, but that's about it.
The voices are velocity-sensitive, though the little pushbutton keys aren't
(whaddya expect?). Both headphone and "line" outputs are provided (both 1/8"
mini plugs).

The box does both send and respond to MIDI clock- there's not much in the docs,
but I doubt it will chaselock.

The dump formats are both proprietary: QY10, supported *only* by the QY10 (for
exchanging data with another QY10), and "nsq," a proprietary Yamaha format
apparently supported by some other gear- I don't recall which. I imagine either
or both could be used pretty easily with a universal patch librarian.

I haven't yet seen the Kawai GB-2 session trainer; I'd be *very* interested in a
comparison. One thing the latter has which the QY10 (unfortunately) doesn't is
a line *in* which you can use to plug in a signal to be passed thru into the
headphone output, making it convenient to play along with the box's output.

It's nice. Mommy, can I have one?

Cheers,
	Bob

            <<< DNEAST::SYS$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;2 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
================================================================================
Note 2648.0                   Yamaha QY10 pros/cons                   No replies
TROA09::CONNOLLY                                      9 lines  24-MAY-1991 17:30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Any comments, praise, insults that anyone has to offer about that new
    little beastie from Yamaha, the QY10? It looks like the answer to
    every low-budget MIDI user's desires: sequencer, drum machine, SGU
    (sound generation unit, right?).
    
    	Well, is it?
    
    				Cal C.
    

            <<< DNEAST::SYS$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;2 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
================================================================================
Note 2674.0           Yamaha  QY10 Sequencer/Tone Generator           No replies
ISLNDS::MASHIA "Let us fly on wings of song"         61 lines   2-JUL-1991 10:42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Just saw and heard the most amazin' (to me) little 'toy' yesterday.
    
    Yamaha QY10 Sequencer/Tone Generator
    ====================================
    Sequencer						Tone Generator
    ---------						--------------
    8 songs					30 pitched voices plus 26
    4 sequencer tracks, 4 backing tracks	   drum/percussion voices
    32 note polyphony				28 note/8 voice polyphony
    Real/Step time recording                    Dynamic Voice Allocation
    6k notes (approx) capacity                  
    1/96 resolution
    30 voice
    
    Connectors					General
    ----------                                  -------
    Stereo mini-jack out			Wall bug or batteries
    Stereo mii-jack headphone out          ---> 7-3/8" x 1" x 4-1/8" !!!!!!
    MIDI in/out					10� oz. without batteries
    
    Song Mode Functions
    -------------------
    Song Record Functions
    
    Song Record: Sequence track step record
    		 Sequence track overdub record
                 Sequence track replace record
                 Auto chord record
                 All backing tracks step record
                 Individual backing track step record
                 
    Song Edit:   Change/Delete/Insert
    
    Song Job:    Mix tracks
                 Quantize/create/copy/insert/delete/erase measure
                 Transpose
                 Combine tracks
                 Clear tracks
    
    Voice Mode:  Voice Assign/Volume/Pitch bend range/Out select (pan)
    
    Utility mode:  MIDI sync, MIDI control, MIDI device number
    		   MIDI QY bulk ut, MIDI N-SEQ bulk out (?)
                   Metronome
                   Store Voice
    
    
    Pattern Mode
    ------------             
    Pattern Record: Part step record, Part overdub record
    Pattern Edit:   Change, delete, insert
    Pattern Job:    Quantize part, copy part, transpose,get part, put part
                    Pattern name, clear part
    
    Had a pushbutton 'keyboard' for data entry built in. Standard bread &
    butter voices, and they sounded good to me.  And it's about the size of
    a VHS tape.  Great portable musical scratchpad.  I was very impressed.
    
    $325-$350 list (can't remember which).
     
    	Rodney

Re .18:

Y'know, I played with one of these a while back, and I was just looking over
the EM (Electronic Musician) review of them recently. I was pretty sure that
the resolution was only 24 PPQN, not 96, and I thought the list price was $399
(which would make street price around $325 or so). Anyone up on the latest
info on either figure? With 96 PPQN and *list* of $325, they start to become
more interesting...

Bob

    Latest Keyboard (with INXS on cover) also has a review of this device.
    
    karl

    MIDI clocks are 24 ppq, I'd be surprised if the QX-10 didn't have
    higher resolution.
    
    len.
    

I'm an happy owner of a QY10 since a couple of weeks and I played a lot with it.

I've felt in love with it since I saw a review on a magazine, thinking how
useful it could be for a train commuter like me ... and it is.

It's really great, easy to carry and use.

The sampled sounds are good except for the normal and distorded Electric guitar
that sonds more like a noise than an instrument.
Very good the two drum sets too, expecially for cymbals and with the exception
for the toms that sound too much 'electronic' to a 'pure' acoustic drummer like
me.

Anyway I've just a couple of concern about it, I couldn't get to change
neither the measure setup nor the speed within a song (both two parameters
seems to be 'song globals' :-( )

Has anybody of you played with it and succeded in defining measure and tempo
on a measure basis ?

This is almost my first approach to the MIDI world thus I can miss something:
for instance the QY10 is able to program and send program change messages but
it's not able to execute them (is it ?)...
Is the above parameters setup (tempo and measure) usually done by means of
program changes ?

Thanks for any hint,
cheers, Mauro.

    Re: .22
    
    Mauro,
    
    Tempo/time signature type control of sequencers is typically sequencer
    independent, every sequencer has its own way of dealing with it.  I
    suggest looking further into the manual to see if they discuss odd time
    signatures.  There is definitely no specification in the MIDI standard
    of how to do this.
    
    						Brian				

    FWIW, I found that the MC50 can get flakey when you give it odd time
    signatures.  I've been doing 32/4, 164 and 8/4.  What screws up is that
    if you start recording a new track and start at the very beginning the
    note durations overflow and bogus events are added to the first
    measure.  I get around it by first recording the new track with
    nothing for a few measures.  Then, record on the track again for real.
    Standard measures (like 3/4 and 4/4) don't seem to have the problem, or
    at least I haven't noticed it.
    
    Steve  

    Mauro,
    I also have a QY10. I use it as a notebook for developing tunes. 
    Unfortunately, the tempo and time signatures *are* globals per song.
    
    I get around it by roughing out the song on the QY10, and then dumping
    to my PC sequencer (Cakewalk), where I can tweak tempo, time sigs, and
    anything else, to my heart's desire. 
    
    I agree with you about the sounds, BTW. I think the basses are
    especially nice, but the distorted guitar sounds like noise...
    
    but that's what *real* distorted guitars sound like to me anyway :-)
    
    Rodney_ducking_barbs_from_the_GUITAR_conference

Hi QY10-folks !

There's hope. I'm pretty shure that the recent Yamaha magazine (German !)
covered changung the measure within a song.

I'm willing to get it in here, but you may have to remind me if you don't see
it within a few days (those damn brain cells...).

	Richard

>    Unfortunately, the tempo and time signatures *are* globals per song.
I suspected it ... :-(
    
>    I get around it by roughing out the song on the QY10, and then dumping
>    to my PC sequencer (Cakewalk), where I can tweak tempo, time sigs, and
>    anything else, to my heart's desire. 
Using track 1..4, one can ignore the time signature and measure bounds,
but problem are with pattern programming ... infact the mix of 3/4 and 4/4
pattern introduces holes or note overlapping ...
2 3/4 measures can be shrinked to 1 4/4 by using tertine (SP?) but the result
of course is played 1.5 faster ... 

Of course I didn't bought it as a live performance instrument but, as well as
Rodney, as a notebook to compose/elaborate everywhere and everything can be
re-processed later at home on a pc.

Anyway it would be nice to hear *all* the results directly from the QY10 since
it has the capability of doing that for fixed tempo and signature songs.
    
Mauro.

Hi !

Even though I did not forget about looking up the info, I must admit I was
wrong. The Q&A section covers this question, but for the SY77....

However, now that we're at it, I will share the other info with you.

From "Milestones", Yamaha Deutschland 

Q: I try to program a pattern, but when I play it, I only hear the first beat?

A: Before you start to edit a new pattern you have to select a measure greater
than 1. Unfortunately the default of 1 is not chosen too well.

Q: I have programmed a pattern with certain sounds in Pattern-Mode. However, if
I create a song in Song-Mode the QY10 changes the sounds. What am I doing
wrong?

A: Before you create the song you have to define your sounds with Voice Select.
They are then becoming part of the song and are kept.

Q: Is it possible to create breaks for the Background in Song-Moed ?

A: Yes. You have to create empty patterns and use it within your song.

O.k., that was it. I hope it is accepted as a compensation....

	Richard

>Q: I have programmed a pattern with certain sounds in Pattern-Mode. However, if
>I create a song in Song-Mode the QY10 changes the sounds. What am I doing
>wrong?
>
>A: Before you create the song you have to define your sounds with Voice Select.
>They are then becoming part of the song and are kept.
Huh, I'd rather select the voice (menu-voice) and then assign it to the
track (menu-utils-store) - this should work for both song and pattern mode

>Q: Is it possible to create breaks for the Background in Song-Moed ?
>A: Yes. You have to create empty patterns and use it within your song.
If break means to silence the BK tracks, yes - you need an empty pattern (or
the last selected pattern will keep on playing).
If break means something like Tam-ta-tum-ta-ra-ta-ra-ta-ra-ra-tu-tum-crash,
you can write in a song track as well as in a pattern ... the only difference
is chord arrangement in pattern mode.
(BTW, you can also put/get pattern to/from song tracks)

Mauro.

    
    Stephen St. Croix' column includes the QY-10 (as well as the
    Steinberger guitar and the Zoom 9002) among the "things he really
    likes) category.
    
    He also included the .357 magnum and some Lamborghini in this category,
    but this is COMMUSIC, not DRUG_LORD_TOYS.
    
    

    Whoa, just a minute there...
    
    No flames, but some difference valuing please. Among my 'favorite things'
    are my MIDI toys, and my firearms. 
    
    Because I do music, it does not automatically follow that I support any of
    the views expressed by R.E.M. (although I like their music).
    
    Because I shoot competitively, it does not automatically follow that I
    use or deal in drugs (I don't).
    
    Again, no flames, just thought I'd mention it...
    
    dp

    
    The new issue (just arrived today) of Keyboard has QY-10 tips from our
    buddy Craig Anderton.
    
    re: -1 - OK, how many lamborghini owners did I offend?  *8') 
    

    Back on the topic ;^)
    
    Does Yamaha have any plans to make an enhanced QY10 with disk storage?
    I'm still debating the Brother MDF-40 to back up my ESQ-1 stuff.

I noticed an ugly behavior of my QY10 playing the Piano (the first instrument):

Playing the third octave between F3 and G3 the voice changes and while C3-F3
have a nice Piano sound, G3-C4 play like a pocket calculator (i.e.: a badly
sinthesized sound) 

I'm not 100% sure about the octave and the notes (I've not it handy now
(actually I have it but batteries are low :-) ) thus I can't double check
but the problem should be there around ...

Could one of you QY10 owners try to play all the notes, for all the octaves
with the piano voice and hear if you have the same problem here or there ?

I suspect the problem is in the sound sample, but I don't know if it's a
problem with the master or a with the piece I bought.

Cheers,
Mauro.

    
    Well, maybe it's just a matter of perception.  I just ran through the
    entire range on mine and the sample change (if that's what's going on)
    is perceptible in approximately the areas you specified, but it doesn't
    sound too bad, all things considered.  But if you're a real piano
    player you won't be satisfied...
    

    I am the happy owner of a QY10 and I have been able to do evrything I
    wanted up to now with one exception.
    
    I need to understand what "pc" PROGRAM CHANGE does.
    
    I understand how to enter the data, but I do not understand what it
    does. What does the PC*** number refer to.
    
    Could a more experienced user explain this to me.
    
    Thanks and regards.
    
    Jean-Paul
    

    Jean-Paul, a program change tells the unit to change the sound it is
    using, say from a piano to a string ensemble.  
    
    The MIDI spec defines a range of 128 program numbers (0-127
    technically, some manufacturers call these 1-128).
    
    						Brian

    >  Jean-Paul, a program change tells the unit to change the sound it is
    >  using, say from a piano to a string ensemble.
    
    Almost. The program change command tells the synth to use the sound
    stored in memory location "n", where "n" is one of the 128 program 
    numbers.
    
    It doesn't care what sound is in the slot.
    
    Edd

    
    I found a new feature of the QY-10 last night that's not mentioned
    anywhere in the documentation!
    
    
    
    When I got home last night there was a bubble-pack envelope from Yamaha
    waiting for me.  Inside was a brand new X-large white T-shirt with the
    words "Compact Music Processor" written in script over the outline of
    a painter's palette that has dabs of bright color on it.  In smaller
    letters underneath it says "Yamaha QY-10 Sequencer".  Guess it pays to
    send in those warranty registration cards.  Can't wait to see what
    Roland sends in return for the SE-50 card...
    

    > Can't wait to see what Roland sends...
    
    A T-shirt that's hard to read?
    
    Edd

    And Alesis sends you a t-shirt that disintegrates the first time you
    wash it?
    
    len.
    

re          <<< Note 2558.42 by DRUMS::FEHSKENS "len, EMA, LKG1-2/W10" >>>
>                                -< Cheap Shot >-

>    And Alesis sends you a t-shirt that disintegrates the first time you
>    wash it?
    
>    len.


	I didn't know that musicicians washed their t-shirts  (-:

	Reg
    

Real electronic musicians don't wash their T-shirts, they just rinse their
chips...

    Edd, delete this, it's off topic.
    
    When I was in graduate school, my statistics professor gave all us
    students shirts which had a normal curve on the chest. Actually, he
    told us, it isn't a normal curve, but the similar distribution more
    suitable for small sample sizes. Accounting for the name under which
    the distribution's inventor published, the result was 
    
                             a Student's t shirt
    
    hahahahaha I thought I would just pass that one along. Glad to make
    your day.

    
    ...and Oberheim sends you a T shirt that's separate sleeves, front, back,
    collar, edging, lettering, etc. and you connect them up any way you
    want.  You like the sleeves coming out of the collar and the lettering
    on the inside, no problem!
    
    	-Bill

    B�sendorfer sends you a t-shirt that extends an extra two feet below
    your belt. The extension is colored black so you don't get confused.
    
    obscure reference, but hey, what the heck?
    dp

    Hmmm ...  What do they send you if you buy maybe a little tiny 12-key
    toy piano with a Bosendorfer sticker on it?
    
    Steve

    
    
    Roland make great Tee-shirts. You just can't figure out how to get them
    on and the instrctions read !
    
    Take tee shirt. Install talent. If talent no warm see section
    installing cold talent. if logo on back then raise tee shirt rotate
    talent through 180 deglees lower tee shirt ensuring alms not
    outinstalled. if no work contact nearest roland service department.
    
    					Pleekay.

    
    
    	funny ! This note is entitled QY10, but all I could read about were
    T shirt styles. :^)
    
    	I am particularly interested to know if, to date, anything
    better than the QY10 has been announced. 
    
    Cheers,
    Michel.
    

    Boy, I dunno.  For a while there I thought I might add it to my lust
    list, but now I don't think so.  The problem is that I spend more of my
    time now working out parts and programming.  I really don't spend that
    much time trying to work on "hot licks".  If I get a neat idea, I just
    hum it into a tape recorder or work it out on paper.  That's plenty
    fast for me.  I wait until I can get to my synth before I do the heavy 
    stuff.  I'm not sure what I'd really use the thing for.  BTW, prices seem 
    to be dropping on it a bit.  You can get one for, what, $325 to $350 or so?
    
    Steve

    
    It's still real useful if your stuck on a train/plane/whatever and you
    want to get some sequencing work done.
    
    Things they could do to improve it:
    
    1) more/better sounds
    2) more memory
    3) better keyboard
    
    Just as long as they don't make it any larger.  Some places sell it
    with the Roland PC-100 keyboard for $350.  I got mine from Thoroughbred
    Music in Florida for $275.
    
    As it is, it's a real useful little box.  I'd have to carry an SGU,
    along with a notebook computer, to have a better tool with today's
    offerings.
    

            <<< DNEAST::SYS$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;2 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
================================================================================
Note 2808.0                   Exchanging QY10 dumps                   No replies
GVA05::BERGMANS                                      16 lines   7-JAN-1992 11:24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I am still new in using my qy10 and would be interested in hearing what
    more competent users have produced.
    
    Is anyone interested in sharing qy10 files?
    
    If so, how could we do this?
    
    Is there any software available on PC or ATARI that can capture the
    qy10 dumps so that we could put it onto the network?
    
    Regards
    
    Jean-Paul