Dark Pad Sound

[musicalmemoriesuk]

I'm working through the pad sounds on the Tyros 4, trying to create something dark and moody to add to a piano sounds. Any ideas ?

[overover]

Hi musicalmemoriesuk,

have you also tried out voices in the Legacy folder and GM&XG folder (e.g. in the subfolders "Ensemble" or "Synth Pad")?

(To access these folders press "UP" in the Voice Selection display (if needed repeatedly until you are in the upper level of the Preset Voice folders, and then go to Page 2).


You can also make your own Pad voice based on a normal "Melody voice":

Select the desired Voice. Press "Voice Set" in the Voice Selection display and go to "Sound" tab.

Here you could set the Filter parameters "Bright" and / or "Harmo." to lower values (to make the sound darker).

You could also edit the "EG" (Envelope Generator) parameters: Increase the "Attack" parameter (= Attack time) to make the beginning of the sound softer, and / or increase the "Reles." parameter (= Release time) to add some "Sustain" to the sound (after the key is released).

Finally save your new User Voice in User drive, on internal HD or on a USB stick.

Note: Such "User Voices" can only be used in Keyboard Parts but NOT in Styles, Multi Pads or MIDI files.


Best regards,
Chris

[musicalmemoriesuk]

In the voice set if you set the volume to say 80 is this level kept in the mixer panel ?

[EileenL]

Set your preferred volumes of the mix to registration banks. That is always the best way to go.

[overover]

In the voice set if you set the volume to say 80 is this level kept in the mixer panel ?

No, these are different parameters.

In most cases, when adjusting the volume of a keyboard voice (Right 1 - 3, Left), you will use the Part Volume in the Mixing Console first. If you are already on "127" there, you can additionally use the volume parameter in Voice Set to make a certain voice louder. (Most preset voices can be turned up here if necessary.)

You can also use the "TOUCH SENSE" parameters "Depth" and / or "Offset" to adjust the actual volume of a certain voice.


P.S.
All Voice Set Parameters are also stored in Registrations (for RIGHT voices by checking the "VOICE" item, for the LEFT voice by checking the "STYLE" item in the "Memory" dialog window).


Best regards,
Chris

[musicalmemoriesuk]

So In the touch sense and offset if you increase both it makes a sound louder ?

[overover]

So In the touch sense and offset if you increase both it makes a sound louder ?

Just experiment a little with these two parameters:

For example, you can decrease the "Touch Sense DEPTH" value so that the sound reacts less strongly to the velocity (how hard or soft you hit the keys).

By increasing the "Touch Sense Offset" value then you can make the sound louder because it will be driven at a higher velocity, even if you hit the keys only slightly.

There are no fixed rules how to set these parameters. Just try different settings when adjusting a particular voice.


Please see also the attached picture. It shows a part of the page 12 in Tyros4 Reference Manual, where all Voice Set parameters are explained.

If you don't have this Manual you can download it here:

>>> https://uk.yamaha.com/en/support/manuals/index.html?l=en&c=keyboards&k=tyros4


Best regards,
Chris

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[musicalmemoriesuk]

It's a shame there isn't more in-depth tutorials on editing sounds on Yamaha Arrangers.

[DerekA]

If you read up on how analog synths work, then it will give some insight into how the voice set function works.

The big difference is that while the old synth oscillators produced simple saw, square, etc waves your arrangers oscillator plays back samples. The voice you start with defines which sample youre working with.

The basic concepts of a signal path with envelopes, filters, etc are the same though.

[musicalmemoriesuk]

I've a basic understanding of sound design, I've edited some on my Korg, have been utilising the Tyros 4 so digging deeper with that. As you mention rather than dealing with oscillators on the Tyros it's physical sounds.