XGWorks dead ?

[Janus]

read my message i posted
the file must be copyed in the windows dir in the dir fonts
for windows 10 copy the file in the windows dir /sub dir boot/ sub dir font

gr.jan

[Janus]

XGW version 3.07 shows well the note track.
The font issue has XGW version 4.00. This can be solved by installing a font, as recommended by @pieterpan.

@Joe H - I did not process the Multipad so I mostly use the factory presets. I tried your suggestion and see that StyleMagic can be very useful in that. The GoTo feature in the MixMaster is a great idea and gives this software extra power.
Once again, we need to thank all the good people on our free software. Especially I mean Michael P. Bedesem and Jørgen Sørensen who regularly update their programs and make it easy for us to work with our Yamaha keyboards.

did you not read my message ? no thanks needed
Gr.Jan

[ckobu]

Wrongly stated

XGW version 3.07 shows well the note track.
The font issue has XGW version 4.00. This can be solved by installing a font, as recommended by @pieterpan.

This can be solved by installing a font, as recommended by @Janus - Gr. Jan. 

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[beykock]

Hi,

With pain in my heart I have accepted Yamaha will not upgrade XGW ever.

However, we are lucky to have a number of pc programmers within our forum group.

Up to now only SFF1 stys can be imported and the " sty extension " always has to be *.sty.
Other extension formats do not work ( up to now ), as far as I know.

Thanks to Joergen's programme we can change SFF2 voices into SFF1 voices but sometimes these voices have a weird sound in the XGW styles section and need to be replaced by older voices.

It would be great if one of these great members could create a new XGW patch that allows to play and edit all MODERN SFF2 Styles. 😁

As far as I know all XGW voice lists of all new Yamaha kbs are available ( up to Tyros5 ).
Sorry, I am not aware if the Genos XGW voice list has been made yet. Maybe someone can tell if it is available yet.

Maybe my request is a dream that never will come true ...but
miracles do still exist, they say. 😸

Or ... is there another way ( trick ) to make this dream come true ?

All kind of suggestions, solutions and/or
ideas are most welcome !

Thank you,
Bernadette, The Grateful

[Janus]

 A pach for sff2 styles won't work in xgw
Xgworks can't handle the audio data in it
A yamaha style is not more than a midi-file with the extenci sty
Load a sty or midi file in a tekst editer
The file starts always with the string MTHD means it is a midi file

Gr.Jan

[ckobu]

When we transfer Style (SFF2) from MixMaster via GoTO to XGWorks it will all work smoothly. Likewise, StyleMagic can process Style with SFF2.

[pieterpan]

Joe - Glad to be at help.

[beykock]

Hi Ckobu,

Very useful information.
Thank you very much. WOW ! 👌

I would be grateful to receive, if possible, a converted SFF2 style.
After receipt, I would love to test it in XGW.

Would you be so kind to upload ( here ) such an XGW style ( MixMaster / GoTo XGW ), plse ?

That would be wonderful !🐵

Best regards, Babette

[Joe H]

Babette,

When the style file is passed back to Mixmaster from XGWorks... MixMaster will restore the file to its original format. StyleMagic will convert SFF1 to SFF2 and SFF2 to SFF1... it's also a very good Style editor... well worth the money.

Here is where you can get the Style Old Format Converter  http://www.jososoft.dk/yamaha/software/software.htm

I recommend downloading the zip file, because some virus software will see Jorgen's executable files as a virus.

Joe H

[beykock]

Thank you very much, Joe H for your support !👍

Very much appreciated !
Best wishes, Babette

[ckobu]

Style Old Format Converter does a good job but after converting to SFF1, Style does not have all the features it has in SFF2.

Babette, GoTo is the option found in the MixMaster, watch the video for 15 seconds.

https://youtu.be/GBqWNQEIPIY?t=12

GoTo use it as a bridge to switch to another Style Editor and so do not divide Styla's structure (CASM, OTS, MDB).

[C-clef]

Yes, I received a copy of XGworks version 2 when I bought an SW1000XG sound card, way back (in the nineties?), but then paid for the upgrade to version 3.
No, not free. It's a great sequencer and I still use it all the time.
But then, as written above, when they acquired Steinberg, no further upgrades became available in the West.

Actually, Yamaha did go on developing XGworks but only made it available in Japan, AFAIK.
There was an XGworks version 4, in Japanese.

Then the program was upgraded for a newer Windows version and was issued free with some of the synths ten years or so ago.
It was called SQ01. It worked with Win 2000 as I recall. (Memory is fuzzy over this!)
Later a fully featured, paid for version called SOL2 came out, for XP?

The program installed okay, in English, on XP, but all the help files are in Japanese.
(makes it difficult to explore the new features.)

However, I still find I can run XGworks version 4 on Windows 7 (x64). Dunno about Win 10.
If you were interested, you might be able to find a copy via the XGworks forum on Yahoo groups.
(I'm not sure I've still got the original instalation files.)
There were only a few upgrades from version 3.

SOL2 hasn't been touched, AFAIK, for about ten years.
SOL2 is more like modern DAW software, and for that I've migrated to the new Cakewalk by Bandlab (CbB), used to be SONAR, which is very good, but well over the top for simple sequencing work.
And it doesn't list all the Sy*** and other messages that XGworks does.

[pieterpan]

Just a remark about the installing of XGW. Installing of XGW is not needed when you have a installed version (from anywhere) you can copy the whole directory into C://program Files and make a shortcut on your desktop - it works prefect because XGW directory contains all needed files and nothing is installed in other parts of Windows. So it does fine also in Windows 10.

I have both the SQ versions (payed for) but every time i go back to the old XGW 3.0 version.

Regards <> Piet

[Janus]

Just a remark about the installing of XGW. Installing of XGW is not needed when you have a installed version (from anywhere) you can copy the whole directory into C://program Files and make a shortcut on your desktop - it works prefect because XGW directory contains all needed files and nothing is installed in other parts of Windows. So it does fine also in Windows 10.

I have both the SQ versions (payed for) but every time i go back to the old XGW 3.0 version.

Regards <> Piet

One file need to be installed by hand
The Xgworks.ttf file must be copied in the windows fonts dir

Gr.Jan

[Joe H]

Just a remark about the installing of XGW. Installing of XGW is not needed when you have a installed version (from anywhere) you can copy the whole directory into C://program Files and make a shortcut on your desktop - it works prefect because XGW directory contains all needed files and nothing is installed in other parts of Windows. So it does fine also in Windows 10.

I have both the SQ versions (payed for) but every time i go back to the old XGW 3.0 version.

Regards <> Piet

Actually the XGWorks directory can be placed anywhere on your computer... I have my copy on Drive D and it runs no problem.  Now that I have copied the fonts file to the right place everything is working good.

Joe H

[beykock]

Hi,

I have tried all progs that came out ( in Japan ) after Yamaha stopped XGW's production in 2002.

All Japanese progs that came after XGW are no longer used by me mainly due to a language problem, I think.

Only XGW is my favourite midi editor. 👍

For audio recording / editing Sonar Platinum is still my #1.
I would prefer to go for Cubase but it demands too much time and energy to change, I am afraid.

I really cannot understand why Yamaha never invited Steinberg to create a NEW midi/audio DAW suitable for Yamaha arrangers ONLY. 🐸

Yamaha's arranger keyboards are the best in the world. Yamaha are the global arranger keyboard market leaders
( for many years to come, I guess, I hope ) and own Steinberg 100%.

I am convinced a typical Yamaha midi/audio ( with chord and Yamaha style input - see XGW ) arranger keyboard DAW would be a super commercial success for Steinberg as well as for Yamaha.

A win-win situation, IMHO.

I do not know if other XGW freaks do agree and share my dream or should it be called " wishful thinking or a bridge too far " ?😯


Best wishes,

Babette

[Joe H]

The way I see... there are 3 potential options:

1. Steinberg could add support in Cubase for style creation that would include creating a CASM, support for OTS and also a Multi Pad Editor.

2. Yamaha reactivate XGWorks and add support for all the above functions.

3. Thomas, programmer for StyleMagic add support for Import MIDI loop, which would allow us to create styles much easier than from song files.

Yet no one has been willing to implement any of the above options.



Joe H

[beykock]

Thank you for your great suggestions and idea's, Joe !

#1 and/or #3 might be the best option(s), I think.

#2 will not be possible.
Yamaha have absolutely no intention to renew XGW ever, IMHO.

Best regards,  Babette

[Bill Grosse]

Hello Everybody,

Sorry that no one has continued to update XGWorks. Yamaha never owned XGWorks - they licensed it with the understanding it would not be sold under another name. The original programmer/owner did update XGWorks to version 4.0, but it as only available in Japan - again per Yamaha agreement. And, it was only available with Japan language characters.

It has been a long time since I last worked with this program and not sure the latest keyboards have compatible code now.

Looks like a lot of folks would like to see this back and updated - I was never able to make many of the original features of XGWorks accessible to the newer keyboards due to the 8 bit limitation of the XGWorks program structure. Also, Yamaha added so many new voices to their keyboards, they no longer maintained sequential MSB, LSB, PRG structure and this prevented easy voice list making for XGWorks.

Now that my grandkids are out of school for the Summer and no longer need my school tutoring for their Math and other studies, I will take a look to see if I can get back up to speed on XGWorks.

Which keyboards do you want?

BillG

[beykock]

Hi Bill G,

Thank you so much for all your XGW work, input and efforts since 2002.

Thanks to you XGW is still usable in 2019.🏆
17 years after Yamaha stopped this great programme, you made it possible for all of us to work with XGWorks.

As far as your question is concerned, I believe all XGW freaks of this forum should answer it.

For me : Tyros5 but ... I think other members prefer another keyboard choice.

Best regards, Babette

[ckobu]

Instrument definitions for Tyros5 and PSR S exist from before. I'll put them in the attachment. Files should be copied to the XGWorks installation folder.

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[Joe H]

Hi Bill G,

Here is a list of supported arranger keyboards that I have in my copy of XGWorks v3.0

Tyros... 3, 4, and 5

PSRs... S970, S770, S950, S910, 2000, 740, 640, 540, 8000, 730, 630, 530, and B50

Joe H

[beykock]

Thank you both, gentlemen, for your interesting and very useful feedback.👍

But... what about SFF2 ?

I understand ( see Janus comments ) the SFF2 format can absolutely not be saved in XGW due to its composition ( audio and midi elements ) which might be the reason why unconverted " modern " SFF2 styles are not usable in XGW at all.

That is my main concern due to the weird sound of some voices/styles in XGW after the original SFF2 styles have been converted to SFF1 in Joergen's great prog.

Replacing these converted " weird sounding " voices by " older voices " is the only option that is available now to solve this problem, am I right ?

However, once these voices have been replaced, the sound of the original style is no longer present which kills " the heart " of the original style, IMHO.

I believe there is only one solution - see Joe's H proposals #1 and/or #3 as mentioned in one of Joe's previous messages.

I am looking forward to hearing Bill G's reaction too.
How he feels about all this.

Plse comment. Thanks !🔔

Best regards, Babette

[ckobu]

Babette, you did not understand well. XGW can not properly process both formats, SFF 1 and SFF 2. If Style is opened directly to XGW (we have to select All Files - see image), after processing, CASM will be destroyed. All sounds will be properly set but Style will not play well in the keyboard because CASM is damaged.
But if we first open Style in the MixMaster and then use the GoTo option to edit it in XGW, everything will work well. Whether it's original Style in SFF1 or SFF2 format.
If you use the GoTo method, you do not have to worry and everything will work well. Similarly, StyleMagic can use both formats, SFF and SFF2, and you will not have problems with Styla processing with it.

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[beykock]

Hello Ckobu :

I am sorry, you are absolutely right. 👍

Worse, I even forgot this important information completely.😨
I am going to work with MixMaster.
I do not have Thomas' prog ( yet ).😯

Thank you very much, Babette

[beykock]

Good afternoon Ckobu,

Plse be so kind to tell me how MixMaster recognizes XGW in the GoTo section.

Thank you so much, Babette

[Joe H]

If I may... Babette I don't think you have a good understanding of SFF1 and SFF2.  But here's how you do it using MixMaster. Go to the Options Menu in MixMaster, there you will see that you can assign several programs for the Go To Menu.

You will have to navigate to the folder where the XGWorks program resides and click on the XGWorks executable file (.exe) then it will show up in the Go To Menu.  After you load a style in MixMaster, select XGWorks from the Go To Menu and the file will be passed to XGW for editing.  When you are finished with the style in XGW... save back to MixMaster (this will be the default setting).  Once back in MixMaster the CASM chunk and OTS chunk will be restored. When you save the style file from MixMaster, it will play normal.

Hope this helps

Joe H

[ckobu]

Joe H, that's exactly what you wrote.
And the picture says 1000 words ...

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[beykock]

Thank you so much for your very useful help, Joe !

It is the first time I am working with MixMaster.
Never too old to learn ... without help it is almost not possible.

Best regards,

Babette, The Grateful

[beykock]

WOW !
Great Ckubo ... Thank you very much.😁

Babette