PSR-SX600 Multitrack Recording - Effects and other parameters don't play back

[Harmono]

Hello everyone!

I recently got my PSR-SX600, and have been playing every day with great joy. I was ready to record my first song, but there is a persistent problem with playback of recorded channels. So here's what I've done:

I saved an edited Voice to each of the eight registration memory buttons. They're all saved with the same tempo of a Style, which I use as a metronome. I'm able to record the voices to different channels (as RIGHT1), and the playback sounds fine at first. BUT then after a few channels have been recorded, things start to change: effects such as delay don't play back and volume of recorded Voices change.

I've read the Owner's Manual and the Reference Manual several times. I've tried many, many things. It's been a week now, and obviously I'm quite frustrated.

What's going on here?   

[pjd]

Hi --

Welcome to the Forum!

Assuming that you're recording keyboard/style notes, that kind of stuff is recorded into a MIDI SONG file (even if it's internal and it doesn't yet have a name). Thus, you'll need to write (save) all of the SONG related settings into the MIDI SONG.

Please see the PSR-SX600 Reference Manual, page 61 (creating/editing songs). Registrations are a separate kind of storage. The set-up info needs to go into the MIDI SONG in the so-called Top Position, i.e., the beginning of the MIDI SONG data.

Hope this tip helps! Hey, take a break and enjoy life -- pj 

[DerekA]

It is likely that you are hitting the limit of the number of effect blocks that are available.

SX600 has 5 dsp blocks. When you select a voice, one of the dsp blocks is assigned to it. If you record a midi track with the voice, the dsp settings are saved into the track.

Let's say yo do this 5 times. When you play back, each track gets assigned it's own dsp and all is well. But if you do it 6 times, there are not enough. So only 5 tracks can have DSP, one will be playing without DSP. And while the midi is playing, if you select another panel voice then it gets a DSP which is removed from one of the midi tracks.

DSP can quite significantly alter the shape and volume of a sound. So it's not surprising that losing the DSP ism very noticeable,

There is absolutely nothing you can do to change this, you just need to be creative in your selections and choose which voices will still sound good without DSP.

[Harmono]

Thank you for the replies. It was all about the DSPs.

But I can't even have five. I just recorded a fourth channel with DSP, and everything went wrong again. This is absolutely infuriating. I really wish they would be upfront about this important thing, because I really can't do anything with this worthless piece of garbage they call an instrument.

Can you tell me if the 700 and 900 are any better? Or do I just need to get a Genos?

[mikf]

I think that's the point, it is a musical instrument. It does have some of the functionality of a recording studio, and this limited recording studio functionality is a nice add on for a musical instrument, and enough for most people. But it cannot substitute for a full recording set up with synths, workstations and all the other peripherals that true recording professionals have to invest in.
I'm sorry your expectations are not being met, but seems to me that what you are trying to do is well outside the norm for what most people expect from an arranger.
Mike

[KurtAgain]

Harmono, I also suspect that your problems are due to the number of DSPs available. Then SX700 and SX900 won't bring you much improvement. A Genos maybe, maybe not.

I don't know your level of knowledge about DSPs. If you haven't looked into it more intensively yet, you need to learn what a system effect is and what an insert effect is and what important differences there are. Then you will also realize that not every MIDI channel necessarily needs its own DSP. Often the DSPs are only used for reverb effects. This can also be solved with the reverb system effect that is available to all MIDI tracks.

It would also make sense to download the SX600 reference manual from Yamaha's website. On page 94 you will find a block diagram. To solve the DSP problems, you should ideally fully understand this diagram.

Without a deeper knowledge of DSPs, you might also be disappointed with other instruments. But if you already have this knowledge, of course I couldn't tell you anything new.

[Amwilburn]

Instead of doing it track by track, which eats up the 5 assignable individual rather quickly, (and while the Genos has 28, the PSRs's all only have about 8, still not enough)

1) save your performance as a registration, and record it in 1 live take while switching registrations for each instrument change.
2) as previously suggested, do *not* use strong dsp's on your voices where you can avoid them (for example, electric guitars usually use a heavy distortion or multi fx with distortion) and just record as many tracks without dsps as possible
3) if neither 1 or 2 is an option, look for any DSP's you've assigned that are Reverb or chorus category, and *remove* them from the individual DSP assignment, and map to global DSP (since Reveb and Chorus are global).
4) Buy a Genos or Genos 2

Mark

[hans1966]

Thank you for the replies. It was all about the DSPs.

But I can't even have five. I just recorded a fourth channel with DSP, and everything went wrong again. This is absolutely infuriating. I really wish they would be upfront about this important thing, because I really can't do anything with this worthless piece of garbage they call an instrument.

Can you tell me if the 700 and 900 are any better? Or do I just need to get a Genos?

I have the SX600 and I think it is a great instrument.

Right now I'm working on a musical project, and I'm enjoying it.

I recognize that you have to delve a little deeper into the instrument to be able to use all the tools it brings with it.

I always remember that phrase my father (R.I.P.) used to tell me: "Son, there is no bad instrument, if you are a good musician you can create music even from a piece of wood."

You have to have desire, a little patience, and a lot of imagination to achieve the goal.

greetings

Hans

[pjd]

It would also make sense to download the SX600 reference manual from Yamaha's website. On page 94 you will find a block diagram. To solve the DSP problems, you should ideally fully understand this diagram.

I suggest reading pages 72-73 in the Reference Manual, too. These pages explain how DSP units are assigned. The explanation will help you to understand the effect diagram (as suggested by Kurt).

More generally, if someone is comparing different models of PSR, the number of available DSP units is important to the overall impression of the styles and keyboard parts. Genos is absolute luxury as a unit is available for every part. Expensive, of course...

All the best -- pj

[meyrick]

If updates were possible, and it appears they may be, would we as users be willing to pay for updates if they were offered?

[Amwilburn]

The sx600 hardware is maxed; there's no huge built in harddrive with which to do a massive update....? (It only has 20mb).

The only kind of updates they could really do are bug fixes, and the last one they rolled out (was it 1.05? 1.06?) ended up "bricking" the keyboard; at which point they rolled it back to 1.03 and have kept it there since.

Mark

[hans1966]

Hi Mark, it's a shame that the SX600 doesn't have event editing in the Song Creator, as it is a very useful tool for adding control changes during a song.

The truth is I am happy with my SX600, it is a great instrument, it simply requires more imagination and creativity from the musician, since you have to work with the few resources of the instrument.

greetings

Hans

[BogdanH]

...it's a shame that the SX600 doesn't have event editing in the Song Creator, as it is a very useful tool for adding control changes during a song.
...

uh.. when I was comparing keyboards, I never realized that SX600 doesn't have StepEdit option -I would for sure miss that at style creation!
But then, it's to be expected that compromises have been made.

..it simply requires more imagination and creativity from the musician, since you have to work with the few resources of the instrument.

-This!
Many times it's the limitations that forces us to learn tricks at solving some problem. It's a good keyboard regardless.

Bogdan

[hans1966]

Totally agree with BogdanH.

It's time to do the homework HaHaHa!

I love my little Toy.

After dealing with the limited resources of the Korg EK-50 for two months, the SX600 is a breath of fresh air for me.

Every time I discover interesting things on this instrument.

greetings

Hans