V console

[Bobjmanchester]

Hi Pam.
Well thanks very much for that very comprehensive and positive reply.
I'm very glad to hear you are enjoying the V Console.
I agree it would be very interesting to hear from some other users.
Looks like I'll be robbing the piggy bank again!

Bob.

[jwyvern]

Hi Pam,
You clearly endorse the benefits of V-Console for your extra manual and pedal setups.
I have for some time been intrigued with the idea of being able to use extra voice parts for live playing, but since I don't use the full organ setup, just straight keyboard for a range of ensembles, my needs are (l think) more modest. So I set about seeing what was practical using the midi channels on the keyboard (now Genos).
Although strictly speaking it is not direct experience with VC, here is a Iink to a post giving my experience of using extra voices, so far.

http://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php/topic,46654.msg366985.html#msg366985

John

[MIKEP]

Hi John
I am quite fascinated by your experimentation using the song channels to provide additional voices. I have a Genos with a Hammond pedal board operated through midi and utilising a song channel. Can you give us interested readers a simple step by step guide on how to achieve the extra voices please?
Thank you.
Mike

[keyplayer]

Hi John, that all sounds quite complicated to me, not being too much of a technical person especially when it comes to MIDI. I'm sure it must be OK when you understand it! Is there a problem with polyphony do you think if the sounds are getting lost? The thing about the V-console is that you can see it all on the tablet screen so voices can easily be turned on/off onto any area of the keyboard(s) whilst you're playing and you can still have the keyboard screen open to whichever page you want. The V-console voices can be used either in addition with any registration bank on the keyboard (which I think helps with being able to be more flexible and varied with more voices when I want to just 'sit and play') or linked to a specific bank on the keyboard for more creativity, and also means that the left sound doesn't have to be tied up with the style.
Can you explain in simpler terms how yours works, it sounds interesting to be sure but I'm a bit confused.
Pam

[jwyvern]

Hi Pam and Mike,
The principle is quite simple:
whenever you play say the 4 panel voices each part sends midi data (representing the notes you played, the voices chosen and general settings) to the midi out port via channels 1 to 4. Two extra channels called Upper and Lower are also available so there are 6 in total (that I use at present) .
Note: You can see these channels listed if you look at the default (All Parts) midi template and go to Transmit or Touch Transmit on Genos.
Normally the data generated is unused as it's not needed for normal playing, but if it is fed back to the KB  by having a midi cable connected from midi out to midi in (port 1) it will play extra voices via the midi song 1 to 6 channels. You can connect a cable any time and will hear default pianos playing along with the panel  voices.
That's the simple bit. The time consuming bits are:

1. Making it all work together reliably and in a user friendly way. End up storing voice setups in song channels and saving as "Songs".
2. Building setups using extra voices which really make a difference and are not just a more complicated rehash of what can be achieved through "normal" registrations. Having said that, richer and more dynamic sounds are definitely possible and a motivation for more adventurous playing.

Pam, I have not noticed serious Polyphony issues on Genos even with some exaggerated chording (I believe there is more Polyphony than on Tyros).
I started this because I wanted to experiment with using more voices for live playing (with a single KB, no pedals, no large expenditure before trying it) rather than combining that  with an alternative way of storing and calling up voices etc during playing. My method is not as flexible for flicking through voices  as v-console would provide, but for sit and play I am used to flicking through registrations instead to make changes and that continues to be possible since the extra voices are called up and loaded by them as "Songs". (Without that I think the idea would have been too cumbersome for routine use) .

I need a bit more time to spell out the detail for 1, but if there is still interest for a do it yourself procedure, will come back later. 

John

[MIKEP]

Thank you John for your reply. I will explore what you have said and any further "how to" would be welcome.
Mike

[keyplayer]

Hi John, thanks for that explanation, I had a bit of a 'light bulb' moment after I read it through a couple of times, I think can see what you are doing. And I've remembered that the V-Console 'speaks' to the keyboard through 8 MIDI channels 
for the 8 different voices available at any one time so both concepts are similar (at least that's how it appears to me). An issue I've always had with the Tyros is the left voice being 'tied' to the style in certain settings so using voices through the MIDI channels gets round that by replacing the left voice with a 'midi' one, two or more.  I admire your thinking and efforts in making it work for you and although I don't need to put it all into practice I will be interested to hear how it all goes.
Pam

[jwyvern]

Thanks Pam and
Hi All,
I decided to start a new thread for the procedural detail that Mike is asking for. It is here:

http://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php/topic,46810.msg367714.html#msg367714   

Regards John

[Bobjmanchester]

Well I've finally done and ordered V Console 
Really looking forward to getting started.
Hoping to make a start tomorrow or Wednesday.
If anyone has any further tips I would love to hear from you.
Starting with just my Tyros 5 76 hopefully will add a second keyboard soon followed, possibly, by a pedal board (I've been a long time Wersi organ enthusiast).
Wish me luck, I will let you know how I get on.

Regards Bob.

[keyplayer]

good luck Bob, after you have played around with it for a while you will discover many different ways you want to use it, it's especially flexible with a 2 keyboard and bass pedals set up. I found I needed to refer to the user manual quite a bit for the finer points to start with and eventually wrote a few shorter notes of my own so I didn't have to keep finding what I wanted amongst the many comprehensive instructions.
If you like it it will open up a whole new level to your playing.
Pam

[Bobjmanchester]

Thanks for your encouragement Pam.
I'm pleased to say I had it (software version) set up and working very quickly.
I fired off one question to John and then immediately realised I had not selected the correct midi setting for the lower section of the keyboard.
I'd like to call it a schoolboy error but I'm a bit old for that!
Good suggestion re the shorter notes.
I have already loaded a selection of my registrations.
I'm using just the tyros 5 at the moment but I do plan to add a second keyboard and a pedalboard.
One thing I have to quickly decide is how to actually support the screen on the keyboard.
Any suggestionsr would be welcome.
Bob

[bryan01]

Hi Bob, sorry if you've already mentioned this - have you upgraded to version 2. I've had my V-console for a while and it makes quite a difference. One of the best functions is being able to "swipe" to switch sounds on and off. So a swipe across say six of the stops would switch off the first three (if they were already on) and switch one the second three (if they were off before). It also has a better interface.
I got the upgrade as a download for £5.00 GBP from John's site. And John Beesley is a really helpful man.
The V-console is hard to explain to people but really helps to play with a bit of extra. I find it best to use a voice on right one so that I can fill the sound with harmony.

[keyplayer]

Hi Bob, glad you've got it set up and working. I tried several different ways of having the console on or by the keyboard but I finally put the tablet in an old cover I had, the sort with a flap over the front which is secured with a strip of elastic. I fixed the cover back behind the tablet so it makes a 'stand' and then secured the elastic strip to the right leg of my music rest by a bit of velcro - kind of Heath Robinson I guess but it works brilliantly for me. The console stands within easy reach just behind the buttons on the panel to the right side of the screen so I don't need to turn my head to see it and if I need to I can easily press the buttons on the console whilst I'm playing.
A friend has made himself a holder which clamps on to the side of the keyboard stand (or keyboard, can't remember which.) I think you can buy similar things if you look on google.
Hope that helps.
Pam

[Bobjmanchester]

Hi Bryan.
The software already came with the latest version onboard.
Yes, I agree, the ability to swipe across the keyboard is a great feature.
You can start off with a fairly minimal setting and then load it as you play.
Then you can move on to the next registration and do something similar or even reverse the process ie start with a fully loaded registration and reduce it as you end.
Sorry I'm starting to babble on like a typical newbie.
Let's just say I have been pleased with my personal "development" in using the various features.
I am starting to get much more comfortable with it now and it's only been a matter of days.
One thing I haven't mastered is to quickly change the registrations using the screen.
I have now set up to use the normal registration buttons.
As I get more used to it that could easily change.
Bob.

[Bobjmanchester]

Hi Pam.
I bought a small stand off Amazon and positioned it to the right of the Tyros with the screen at a slight upward angle and turned so that it's pretty much at 90 deg to my eyeline.
It's a little bit springy but now I'm happy with the location I can easily make a brace to make it more rigid.
The springiness is more noticeable at the bottom of the screen so that might be why I have not felt comfortable using it to actually change registrations.
Even so the Tyros buttons are an inch or two closer and for someone as slow as me that's a lot!
I'm so pleased with my new "toy" I will have to send a link to a couple of pictures. 
Bob.

[bpsafran]

I purchased V-console for use with my Tyros5 (single keyboard setup) and am extremely satisfied.  John Beesley has  been very helpful.  I use it to "fill out" my own registrations and user OTS for styles.   Those emphasize solo sounds and I often use V-console to add orchestral sounds (organs, strings, choir, brass) to both left and right hand.  The availability of more sounds for the left hand has to be heard to be appreciated, especially when playing without a style or with a free-play style.  The bass plays your lowest note monophonically and also adds a richness whether or not you are using a style.  Essentially, it triples the user-played voices from 4 (L, R1, R2, R3) to  4+8=12 in a way that lets the user assign the voices to right, left and bass.  John's preprogrammed registrations for V-Console are professional-grade, with some voices only coming in at the highest velocities, for emphasis.  Finally, an important tip: I assigned the assignable slider to  SONG and this then controls the overall V-Console volume.  I usually start off playing with zero volume for V-Console and add more and more volume as the arrangement proceeds.  I would like to see more registrations available from John such as world, new-age, home organ, etc.  Those could be based on his existing Tyros/Genos Magic registrations, modified for V-Console.  I strongly recommend V-Console which has tripled the sound of my Tyros5.  I believe that the newest version has a TRY feature which allows a few days of use before you have to purchase.  This copy-protected - free trial - version did not work on my Tablet, and I use an older version, but check with John about your hardware.

[bees2211]

I believe that the newest version has a TRY feature which allows a few days of use before you have to purchase. 

I love hearing how you are using the V-Console software to enjoy your music making. Unfortunately, there isn't a free trial version. I use copy-protection to avoid piracy which requires an unlock code. The program will work for a few days in case there is a delay in getting the code to a customer.