Substituting for missing OTS voices

[aprilla]

I'm on a SX720 and most voices are present in style OTS, but now and again something is missing. When selecting a substitute is there any guide to make it a bit better than trying every voice in a Category? Obviously I don't know how the missing voice actually sounds, just an idea how it should sound in the style.

Like, if the missing voice is 008-002-049 should I start looking for a substitute in my own selection of 008-xxx-xxx voices? Will checking the numbers help?
So maybe it's better to use a program like Y-StyleRevoice where the numbers can be seen, rather than selecting through the keyboard choices? Or is there something that actually maps substitutes?

I understand having a collection of own personal favourites, I'm just wondering about substituting for any missing OTS before deciding if I'd rather use my own choices. I have met some OTS that are much more interesting than my choices might be, but might miss a voice here and there.

008-002-046 = KinoLarge.

[johan]

I do not recommend to guess a matching instrument based on the numbers. The 008 (MSB) could for instance be a piano but it might as well refer to some kind of strings, as in your example. You can indeed better look up the voice in a program like Y-StyleRevoice or alternatively with the "Voice Finder" program of Jorgen Sorensen.

[mikf]

Voice and effect combinations are a trial and error thing helped by experience. And there is no magic about the OTS, just someone's suggestion, and they don't know what song you will play, so I feel they are not likely to be a good fit quite often. And does it matter anyway?
There is a fair amount of skill and experience in setting up voices, and the OTS not only already exists but was done by a pro. So another approach is to find a different OTS you like and copy it over to a different style.
But as a more general point, if you want perfection you can just listen to recordings. The reason most people buy arrangers is to learn to make music themselves. Having been on this forum for over 20 years, I  believe that there are way too many requests for what style should I use, what voice should I use, what tempo .....its music, not a software system, experiment, use trial and error, there's no right or wrong. Your playing is probably not going to be perfect either ... but you get better as you just learn to do it yourself.
Mike

[aprilla]

Voice and effect combinations are a trial and error thing helped by experience. And there is no magic about the OTS, just someone's suggestion, and they don't know what song you will play, so I feel they are not likely to be a good fit quite often. And does it matter anyway?
There is a fair amount of skill and experience in setting up voices, and the OTS not only already exists but was done by a pro. So another approach is to find a different OTS you like and copy it over to a different style.
But as a more general point, if you want perfection you can just listen to recordings. The reason most people buy arrangers is to learn to make music themselves. Having been on this forum for over 20 years, I  believe that there are way too many requests for what style should I use, what voice should I use, what tempo .....its music, not a software system, experiment, use trial and error, there's no right or wrong. Your playing is probably not going to be perfect either ... but you get better as you just learn to do it yourself.
Mike

Maybe I could have explained better. The particular style that has me asking is song specific and in the OTS are some OTS voices I have but am not familiar with yet. I like them, so wonder what else is being used in the few missing voices, and (other than listening) what might be the best approach to substitute.

[aprilla]

I do not recommend to guess a matching instrument based on the numbers. The 008 (MSB) could for instance be a piano but it might as well refer to some kind of strings, as in your example. You can indeed better look up the voice in a program like Y-StyleRevoice or alternatively with the "Voice Finder" program of Jorgen Sorensen.

The keyboard will show me the category, so I know if it's strings or piano and such, but there are so many voices it takes ages of guessing to go through them. And when it comes to the more unfamiliar, it's daunting.
I though maybe if I used the category and the number, it might get me a more manageable number of voices to check out.
I'll have a look at Jorgan's program, thank you. I should have guessed he'd have something that might help!

[DrakeM]

 Jorgan's program is a handy tool and I have used it in the past.

The issue is if the OTS in the style is looking for a Voice that is NOT on the keyboard as a preset then  Jorgan's program will not help you.

So if the style is from an addon pack and using addon voices, you just have to put something in the OTS slot. Look at what voices are use in the PHR1 and PHR2 parts of the style and use those voices to begin with and then replace them if they do not work for you.

Drake

[aprilla]

The issue is if the OTS in the style is looking for a Voice that is NOT on the keyboard as a preset then  Jorgan's program will not help you.

Thanks Drake, yeah I tried it. Nice, but not what I was thinking of.
I do have some favourites, but then a lot of songs start to sound similar. This OTS is using voices I'd not yet played with and I thought I might learn a bit if I could identify the missing ones. I guess there are no shortcuts!

[aprilla]

I made a registration for the style and opened this in Yamaha Registration Manager. Here I can see the names of OTS voices, even those I don't have, by choosing another keyboard. And a lot more information besides.

This is such a great program, nearly every question I have can be answered by opening it. I should never close it, it's brilliant.