Multipad - which notes are really allowed to be used in midi multipads

[Mark]

Hi Guys, recently I've come to one obscure topic with the multipads - something that I can't completely understand.
So I read the documentation about the multipad creation (For example, in Genos's reference manual https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/7/1131007/genos_en_rm_h0.pdf, page 61, paragraph 7 states which notes are allowed to be used for midi multi pad when it follows the chords:

>>
Recommended notes for the Chord Match phrase
If you intend to create a Chord Match phrase, use the notes of C, D, E, G, A and B, or in other words, play the
phrase in the key of C major. This ensures that the phrase will stay harmonically constant and match whichever
chord you play in the left hand section of the keyboard.

So, we have C,D,E,G,A and B, noted. Now I'm opening one of the "stock" multipads, for example, from Tyros 5 which is called DanceMix1 (I've downloaded it from this site, but also putting a direct link to it here for convenience, can't just attach it because the site engine doesn't allow to attach *.pad files here: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsuJH-EMNtilhLRYfCPraLWGSThNew?e=qDXJFq) - it goes just the way it is, I haven't modified it or something:

The fourth pad includes also F# and Bb notes (I've opened the pad in the mixmaster to see that).
So my question is how its possible that the "factory" pads basically contradict the documentation? More precisely, are there actually more complicated rules for transposition that Yamaha didn't specify (I mean, clearly, there is no CASM section in multipads at least I don't see it), so there should be something else, something that I'm missing...

Thanks a lot in advance


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[vlbrgt]

Hello,

Pad 3 and 4 from this MultiPad are NOT setup as chord following.

Regards
Etienne

[vlbrgt]

More specifically even : it are Drum kit voices -> may not follow chords.

Regards
Etienne

[Mark]

Hi Etienne, thanks a lot for answering me, and yes, you're right, it was a wrong example from my side, sorry.

I've now checked on my Genos another multipad that illustrates much better what I'm trying to ask.
So here is a stock genos multipad (https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsuJH-EMNtilhLRgavjRQkHmvLozAg?e=JidGU6)

I found that a situation I don't understand happens with multipads using mega voices. For example, in the attachment is a second pad from this file (I've checked that it follows the chords and looped in the multipad creator on Genos):

So what I see here are two (probably different) things:

1. Using C#2 note at 001:3:0008 - this is a regular guitar sound (I've played note by note in a step editor to see that), not a "noise" or "special kind of guitar effect" like mega voices allow. This is a rare case I must admit I should check more pads for finding stuff like this, but still. Anyway, I've marked it with a red arrow. And in my understanding, this contradicts the documentation that doesn't list this note as "valid" to be programmed into the pad.

2. Using megavoice noises, there are many notes like this in this pad, and they belong to the 6th octave. I've marked a couple of those with a blue arrow, however, what I don't understand here is something different. If this pad follows the chords, how it's possible that these notes are not changed when the harmony changes? I know about SFF2 additions and an ability to split the keyboard into 3 zones and assign a special NTR/NTT for these higher notes (I believe it should be Root Fixed / Bypass in this case) - but all this is relevant for the style's CASM section, and multipads do not allow anything like this, at least I thought so, but apparently I was wrong... I understand that these are not midi events/controls, at least MixMaster doesn't show anything like this on the second channel/among global events... So basically I feel like I'm missing something here, something that I haven't found in the documentation/on the internet.

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[vlbrgt]

Mark,

Indeed the documentation on Style CASM, OTS, MDB and Midi Step Record and MultiPad transition protocols are non-existent from Yamaha.
Everything we can find on this is thanks to the hard work and persistence of some forum members, who have been wellwilling to share this with all other members.

Multipads do NOT include any data in the bits and bytes that makes it possible to define how they are transited with chords.
The only event is a text event CMxxxx where x = 0 -> No chord follow.
Other numbers from 1 to 7 are apparently defining how the notes are chnaged while playing chords, but there is no documentation about this.

In music you shouldn't take the use of notes too strickly. There can always be a special note that does not strictly belong in the key.
According to you, a midi file in key C should only contain notes C, D, E, F, G, A and B, but that is certainly not true.
Why shouldn't there be C# or Ab or ... in a piece of music in key C? Everything depends on the music being played.

Also note that in the example of the MultiPad you are using there are chords involved and not single notes.

Regards
Etienne

[EileenL]

You have to write Multi pads in the key of C Major and there are no sharps or flats in that key. The keyboard then will play it correctly in any key you chose for your song.

[vlbrgt]

Eileen : correct when you want to create a MultiPad and that is also mentioned in the documentattion.
But Mark is refering to a Yamaha preset Multipad that uses a C# note.
So for some reason it is possible. All depends on the algoritme that Yamaha uses to transit the notes depending on the played chords.
I that is what we don't know, and where Yamaha laks any explanation at all in the manuals or documantation.

Regards
Etienne

[Mark]

Yes, indeed, Etieene is completely right, I haven't modified this multipad - just attached it here right from my Genos for convenience.
I'm aware of the C scale of course and Yamaha's approach for Multipads.


So I understand that this is a kind of grey area and there is no knowledge about this "obscure" corner. I (being a programmer by myself) highly appreciate the effort of the people who invested so much time and knowledge trying to find which bits/bytes are responsible for which data by reverse engineering. Kudos to you guys!
This is kind of crazy that Yamaha doesn't post any official specifications about this, well, maybe in the future  

[vlbrgt]

Interesting information that explains the use of NON key-notes :
Info is in the manual of my program PadMaker-Style.

Chord Follow
This setting determines if the pattern's notes change depending upon the root key of the chord played on the PSR.
For pads made from earlier (SFF1) styles, the follow code is always 1.
For pads made from later (SFF2) styles, i.e. in the Tyros 3, PSR-S900 and later instruments, most follow codes are 2.
Some older pads patterns and rhythm patterns may use 1.

The exceptions are guitar parts.
In some guitar patterns, the notes events represent the guitar fingering and not the notes themselves.
The settings are encoded in the style's Casm and the complete definition is not available.
When these parts are played in a pad they will sound strange.
The solution is to try other chord follow settings, e.g 6-7-8 (acoustic arpeggio, electric and strum, combo)to see which sounds best. See the Appendix for additional information.
The follow chord settings in a finished pad can also be edited by the programs:
1) MixMaster: Load the pad, depress ListView and change the values in the text event starting with CM (e.g. CM1111).
2) PadMaker- Midi Load the pad, and then select a new value using the Follow Codes, Yes Codes selector.

Out of Scale Patterns
If Chord Follow is On then the notes must be in C major seventh scale and limited to (C, D, E, G, A and B).
This is because the instrument uses conversion tables to shift the pattern based upon the chord you key.
These tables assume that only these notes are there.
(Note: The easiest way of avoiding scale problems is to use Pads as a source.)
There are three reasons that the notes are not C, D, E, G, A and B:

1. The midi pattern is in the key of C but has extra notes such as F.
Try changing the offending note to one in the pattern or deleting altogether.
The Play the pattern. If sounds like something you might use as a Pad, then it is ok.

2. The midi pattern is in a different key (e.g. D= D E F# G A B).
You can usually tell because the collection of notes making a chord indicate chords in this key (D chord= DF#A sounding at the same time) or the key given in the file and displayed in PadMaker-Midi (although is not reliable).
Perhaps your best detective is to play the sequence.
Does it sound like something in C? The general fix for other keys is to transpose the pattern so most of the notes are C, D, E, G, A and B. Then delete or replace the out of scale notes. Note that the important notes are usually C E G B. (You
can use PadMaker-Midi to open some existing pads and view their contents).

3. The midi pattern is a guitar fingering track, not a note pattern. From the T2 on, some styles and pads use a new method of reproducing a guitar part.
Instead of the notes, the pattern represents the guitar strings and special processing converts these to a strum or arpeggio.
You can easily tell these tracks by playing them.
They do not sound like a musical pattern at all!
The solution is to use special chord follow codes that tells the post T2 PSRs how to play the pattern.


Guitar Pattern Encoding/Chord Follow Codes
Tyros 2 and later arrangers can employ guitar in which the notes in the pattern represent the strings of the guitar. For example:
B -> 1st string (high E)
A -> 2nd string (B)
G -> 3rd string (G)
F -> 4th string (D)
E -> 5th string (A)
D -> 6th string (low E)
C# -> a quint above/below (five notes above or below. Up = B E A D F# B and down = A D G C E A )
C -> root note
It appears that the following Chord Follow codes are used for:
Code 1 = bypass (no pattern encoding)
Code 2 = Melody
Code 6 = Guitar All Purpose, ie. A mixture of types.
Code 7 = Guitar Stroke, i.e. strum where some guitar notes are muted.
Code 8 = Guitar arpeggio and finger picking


The pdf manual for PadMaker-Style can be donloaded here :
https://psrtutorial.com/MB/EV_Files/zip/PadMaker.pdf

Regards
Etienne