On the Yamaha Expansion packs .. and what to watch out <RESOLVED>

[Live Musician Newbie]

EDIT UPDATE as on on September 4 2020 .. Please read the entire thread to get updated information. Yamaha has done us a favor .. Read the entire thread

Namaste

Got PSR S975 liking for what it has to offer,
Now after the missing Time signature part .. I have hit another bigger roadblock.

The main motivation for buying this, was this "free" Expansion pack from the distributor.

I pride myself as a cautious  buyer and so while opting for the expansion packs, I had repeatedly asked them if I would be able to edit the pack else I would have walked away. They assured that the files they give are editable.

Problem ... they gave me the ppi file.
Now, the free expansion pack they gave,  all but the kits, are worthless (Tones are poorer than the Korg)
I want the kits though, edit them and take what I want to save a lot of space PLUS add new voices.

BOMBSHELL :
These packs are only editable via a Yamaha proprietary software which, rather than making it easier, have complicated things a lot. Owned a Korg before, and At least I was able to see the wav files from in the keyboard.
But the ppi files are akin to binaries. (Non editable) which means, I either take it or leave it ... like the 17k casio keyboards ... felt cheated from the distributor who promised the 'editable' kits but now say its not possible. Stopped answering the phone. God forbid if I ever require a service.

The BIGGER LIMITATION :
PSR 975 accepts only a SINGLE EXPANSION PACK at a time which means
Either : ... I have "THIS ABOVE non editable" pack and use it life long ...
OR : Forget the pack altogether and create a new pack altogether with cleaner voices and usable materials which would require a tremendous work from my end, not worth my effort.

Question :
Is my above understanding of Expansion packs correct ?
Are there work arounds ? ... either to dismantle the pack .. Or ... load more voices into the keyboard ?

[Simone1972]

Maybe I don't fully understand your complaint, but I owned an S975 and I guarantee 100% that you can load multiple packs on the keyboard as well as select within each pack only the voices you like most.
I think there are good quality sounds from yamaha (e.g. Eurodance, church&christmas) as well as from other parties.

Take time to explore more....

Regards

[ckobu]

@Live Musician Newbie
You can combine several individual packages and store them on the keyboard at the same time. Well told you, this requires a free Yamaha Expansion manager app.
This is a video that will explain the basics to you, and I will make a few more soon. They will describe the further process of combining and creating your own Package.

https://youtu.be/abOb0fUIC2Y

[overover]

... The main motivation for buying this, was this "free" Expansion pack from the distributor.

I pride myself as a cautious  buyer and so while opting for the expansion packs, I had repeatedly asked them if I would be able to edit the pack else I would have walked away. They assured that the files they give are editable.

Problem ... they gave me the ppi file.
Now, the free expansion pack they gave,  all but the kits, are worthless (Tones are poorer than the Korg)
I want the kits though, edit them and take what I want to save a lot of space PLUS add new voices.

BOMBSHELL :
These packs are only editable via a Yamaha proprietary software which, rather than making it easier, have complicated things a lot. ...

Hi Live Musician Newbie,

a .ppi file is a "Pack Install" file (created using the YEM program). In theory, you can have up to 128 Packs in the YEM. From all the Packs in the YEM, you can select whole Packs or parts of Packs, and then create a .ppi file (with which you can install all the contents you selected before on the instrument).

A .ppi file can NOT be re-imported into the YEM. So, you MUST have the original Pack(s) (in .ppf format) from which your .ppi that you received from "the distributor" originally was created.

If you have not already done so, you should ask the "distributor" to send you the Pack(s) contained in this .ppi in .ppf format. Every seller of YEM-compatible Yamaha keyboards should know that Packs CANNOT be added  to an installed .ppi file. The buyer must be provided with the Pack(s) in .ppf format so that he can combine them with additional Packs.


P.S.
You can use the "Voice Edit" feature (directly on the keyboard) for Expansion Voices too. But these so called "User Voices" that are created when saving a Voice in "Voice Edit" can only be used in Keyboard Parts (Right 1 - 3, Left) but NOT in Styles, Multi Pads or MIDI files.


Best regards,
Chris

[EileenL]

All Yamaha Packs are now free from Yamaha Music Soft site.
These can be loaded into the Yamaha Expansion Manager or YEM for short. You can then choose what you want to load into the keyboard.

[alanclare]

Eileen

How has that come about?

Alan

[Live Musician Newbie]

All Yamaha Packs are now free from Yamaha Music Soft site.
These can be loaded into the Yamaha Expansion Manager or YEM for short. You can then choose what you want to load into the keyboard.

Namaste Sir,

You have no idea how much I should thank you for this information.

I have added all the Indian Instruments for free.
I hope I will get the required "Edit'able" files into my YEM and can add more files.

Now the musician in me is starting to get greedy
I am on the lookout for strings like instruments ... E.g. of those solo violin found in the Vienna Strings software.

I was browsing thru some packs but all of them shows 56$ etc ... Kindly let me know if there are options.


DEAREST YAMAHA
For making these expansion packs free, I promise to be an advocate for PSR S 975 ... as long as I use it. I shall showcase the capabilities in my performance.

Loving my PSR S975 ... I did a very costly mistake of getting a Flagship arranger from another "Big Brand" ... supposed to offer more features .. but was never happy with it. Sold it ... saved monies and bought s975 .. was ridiculed for buying a toy

Once again Thank you for making these packs free. Deeply indebted to you.