Hi H and Chris,

Thank you both for your in-depth answers. Thanks to an older post by Chris that I printed out last year, I had installed the USB driver and got the keyboard communicating with Sonar following his instructions. I have also  installed the IDF's for the Genos. I did have a few problems though as I also use a Yamaha MFC10 pedal board on MIDI B Channel 16, but got it working pretty good.

I was just wondering if there was a way to record 16 tracks from the Genos, but I think Chris is right,  it might be easier to do a Quick Record on the Genos and then bring it over to the PC for tweaking. I will definitely try H's method too and decide which I like better.

The only glitch I am having now is if I have Sonar running on the PC and I select the All Parts template to make Sonar work properly it messes up my MFC10 button assignments for one of the buttons not all. When I originally set my MFC10 up I had to create a USER Template to make it work. As a work around when I have Sonar running and want to play the Genos and have the MFC10 work properly I just have to switch back and forth between All Parts and my User Template. Not sure if this is normal or can be remedied.

Thanks again for all your help, I learned a lot from you both,

Rick D.

Quote from: okeedokee on Yesterday at 04:41:45 PMHow do I make a post???  -   okeedokee    Thanks a ton.

Hi Ton,

What kind of "post" do you mean here?

In the "Songs Played by Forum Members" board you can create a new topic (just like in any other board in the forum) by clicking on the "NEW TOPIC" button in the top right corner:
>>> https://forum.psrtutorial.com/index.php/board,120.0.html


Best regards,
Chris

Quote from: Rick D. on November 05, 2024, 10:41:08 AMHi Guys,

Been a few years since I had my computer connected to a keyboard and never to my Genos. I was wondering if there is a quick way to record a performance live on the Genos and have Sonar record it on the correct individual tracks, or do I have to do it track by track? ...

Hi Rick,

In my opinion, the best method is to first make a MIDI recording directly on the Genos (the easiest way is with MIDI Quick Recording). You then copy this MIDI file onto a USB stick, connect it to the computer and import the MIDI file into the DAW program you are using, e.g. Cakewalk/Sonar/Cubase etc.

If you only get one track in the DAW, you then have to "split it into MIDI channels". (This function is called differently depending on the DAW.)

The advantage of the method just described is that you automatically have all the MIDI initialization data you need (e.g. Control Change, Program Change, System Exclusive Messages) in the DAW. The song will therefore sound exactly the same in the DAW via the Genos connected via USB-MIDI as it does when played directly on the Genos.

On the Genos, I recommend using one of the preset MIDI templates "All Parts" or "KBD & Style". The difference is that with "All Parts" each activated Right Part (R1, R2, R3) is sent separately on its own channel, with "KBD & Style" the "UPPER" keyboard area (= R1+R2+R3 Parts) is always sent on channel 1 and the "LOWER" keyboard area (= Left Part) on channel 2.

In the DAW, you set the "Digital Workstation 1" or "Digital Keyboard 1" port of the USB-MIDI driver as the MIDI output port for all 16 MIDI channels. This will address the 16 SONG parts of the Genos, just like when playing a MIDI file internally directly on the Genos.

For the sake of completeness: If "Digital Workstation 2" or "Digital Keyboard 2" is used, the DAW will address the Genos KEYBOARD parts directly. This is normally NOT desired. In addition, the sound produced will usually be different when the MIDI is later played as usual via the SONG parts of the Genos.

Regarding the Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver:
It is important that the keyboard, in your case the Genos1, is connected to the computer via a USB cable BEFORE starting the driver installation, otherwise the installation cannot be completed. Please note that the current USB-MIDI Driver (V3.1.4) is available as a 32-bit and 64-bit version. For current Windows (10/11) systems, please use the 64-bit version.
>> https://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/keyboards/arranger_workstations/genos/downloads.html

For the sake of completeness: Some models, such as the Genos2, require the "Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver" (which has Audio and MIDI functionality). This driver must be installed BEFORE the keyboard is connected to the computer via a USB cable.


Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris

How do I make a post???  -   okeedokee    Thanks a ton.


Edit: Email address removed by overover. Registered (and logged in) forum members can see your email address anyway by clicking on your username (on the left side of one of your posts).

Hi,

I'm not too familiar with arrangers like the Genos, but as far as I know, there is no way to send multiple channels of audio from the Genos to your computer. Therefore, in order to record each keyboard part simultaneously to individual tracks in Sonar, you have to record them as MIDI tracks.

First off, if you haven't already, install the Yamaha USB-MIDI driver on your computer. Connect the USB cable between your Genos' To Host port and an unused USB port on your computer (please make a direct connection; USB hubs will usually cause problems), and then power on your Genos. You should get a confirmation sound from the computer when the Genos is recognized.

Now start Sonar, and make sure that all the Genos' MIDI input and output ports ("Digital Workstation") are recognized and activated in Sonar's Preferences -> MIDI -> Devices menu.

You may also want to download and unzip an instrument definition file for the Genos. In Sonar's Preferences -> Instruments menu, you can import (define) this file and select it for all the listed Genos channels. This will allow Sonar to display the selected voice for each track, and is also convenient if you want to change the voice settings later.

In Sonar, starting with a blank project, you would now add 16 MIDI tracks. Make sure each track uses the Genos ("Digital Workstation 1") as its MIDI input device, and then set each track to separate (1-16) channels. Arm all the tracks for recording, click the Record button, and away you go!

There are plenty more details to get into, of course, such as how to synchronize Sonar to the Genos' tempo/MIDI clock. There's also the MIDI settings on the Genos itself (such as those related to style playback output, etc.), where I won't be of much help. I would recommend using the search function on this forum for more information on that. The Cakewalk forum and the Yamaha Musicians forum may have more info, so search there as well. Also check out Casper's video (English captions are available) to get you rolling.

- H -

Quote from: BobAjob on Yesterday at 09:03:47 AMGood afternoon Chris.

You say that you listened to the Arpeggio styles on your computer, what software do you need to do this, please? ...

Hi Bob,

I usually only use the free "vanBasco" Player to listen to styles on the computer (Windows PC). This is actually a player for MIDI files, but you can also load Styles (e.g. using "Open with ..." in the File Explorer). Unfortunately, the manufacturer's site has not been online since April 2024, but you can still find the Vanbasco Player (version 2.53) when searching on the Internet.

As MIDI tone generation on the PC (if no keyboard is connected via USB) I use the software-synth "CoolSoft VirtualMIDISynth" (https://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth) together with a free Soundfont like "Timbres of Heaven" (there is also on the site mentioned).

When playing "as MIDI file", a Style of course does not sound like the keyboard played. You cannot change chords, i.e. you can hear everything as the style was programmed (mostly in the C Major7 chord). But for a fundamental assessment of styles, this is enough for me.

Another option would be the use of the PC (Windows) Program "JJazzLab" (www.jjazzlab.org/en/). This is actually a program for creating backing tracks with the help of styles, but of course you can "only" use it to listen to styles on the PC. It should be noted that styles are referred to here as "rhythms".


Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris

All the PSR keyboards are in fact 'arranger keyboards', they don't need the 'S'! PSR190, 295, 2000, 1100, 8000, 3000 as a few examples! The S class came onto the scene with the PSR-S900, which replaced the PSR3000.

But yes, the PSR190 is very old now and very basic. It does not have a transpose feature or button. IIRC (and it was a long time ago!) it was the PSR290 or PSR295 that was the smallest model with a transpose feature, but not a dedicated button or buttons.

I would look for a better keyboard. Anything in the PSR-E 400 series - 403 through 483 - would be fine. If you want transpose buttons, you'll have to look for something like a PSR3000 or one of the S series like the S900, 910 etc.

And everybody keep in mind that we never had the abillity to add or delete songs from our performers pages, so nothing is more complicated now. Before we sent our songs to Joe Waters, now we send them to the team. Same thing, different adress👍🏼

Good afternoon Chris.

You say that you listened to the Arpeggio styles on your computer, what software do you need to do this, please?

I'm going to try Jorgens's converter tonight, thank you for the tip.

Best regards

Bob

Quote from: ClosedSessioner on Yesterday at 06:29:18 AM... However, responding to your earlier warning that I need to have the right MIDI template activated on the S950, how do I know that any of them is activated and if so which? Is it just automatically the last one highlighted when I exit the MIDI screen? ...

Hi ClosedSessioner,

Please make sure the desired template is highlighted in the MIDI display, then press the EXIT button to close the MIDI display. This will ensure that this MIDI template is automatically loaded every time you restart.


P.S.
I am aware of the problem that the common abbreviation "Sys Ex" (without a space in between) is "decorated" with asterisks here in the new forum. The Admin should definitely fix this, because it is really quite annoying.


Best regards,
Chris