How to Become a PSR Performer

[Joe W]

If you'd like to share your music with your fellow PSR enthusiasts, you may want to consider becoming a "PSR Performer" on the PSR Tutorial.  We have quite a few performers now and more are being added all the time.  You can check out the PSR Performers by visiting the "Performers" section of the main PSR Tutorial site.

The requirements to get started are fairly simple:

1) Be able to play well enough to put together your first volume of 10 midi songs.  These are midi files that you have created (either by direct recording, or multi-track recording, or step-recording) on your PSR or Tyros keyboard.  If you are playing an original composition, be sure to indicate that.

2) Draft a short musical biography telling site visitors a little something about your background.  You can get ideas from looking at the biographies that are already posted in the Performers section.  No need to worry about formatting the biographical sketch, a simple text file will do.  I'll do the final editing when putting together your "page".

3) Find a digitized photo of yourself.  Again, you can see examples on the site.  I will crop it, if necessary, and put it in the standard frame we use for all the performer pictures.

4) Email your photo, bio and your first volume to PsrStyles.  Include a list of the actual song titles for each of your midi files, particularly if you are using abbreviated file names, and, if possible, the style you used in creating the midi.

I will put together your "PSR Performer" page for inclusion in the Performers section.  After your page is created, you can add additional volumes, or MP3 files, to your page at any time by emailing the material to me, although there is no requirement to post additional volumes. 

PSR Performers provide not only musical entertainment, but they help other players by showing what can be done with these arranger keyboards.  Thus, the "Performers" section is a key ingredient in the overall process of learning how to get the most out of your Yamaha.  There is an e-mail address provided for each performer and you are free to send a note to the performer to compliment him or her on the performance or ask about any of the songs or techniques used.

[Joe W]

After many, many years, I am changing one of the basic requirements for becoming a PSR Performer.  All of the current PSR Performers have submitted at least one midi volume of 10 songs.  That has been the minimum requirement to get started with your own PSR Performer page.  There were a number of advantages of this requirement. A midi file is very small (and a zip file of 10 midi files was, therefore, also very small) so it would be easy for many visitors to download a midi volume.  The midi file could be played on a similar instrument and it would be just as if the original performer were there at your keyboard and you could hear the original performance.  It could also be played on other PSR keyboards and sound very much like the original performance.  Finally, the requirement to do 10 songs limited the applicants to those who actually had the ability and patience to record 10 songs.

Today, a number of things are very different for Yamaha keyboard owners.  The latest keyboards include extraordinary voices in their OTS and in the accompaniment voices that are not available on earlier keyboards.  In addition, owners can purchase and add additional voices to their keyboards that other owners, even of the same model keyboard, will not have.  Therefore, a midi file recorded on, for example, a Tyros4 will not sound the same if played on other keyboards.  At the same time, the newer keyboards have made it much easier to record audio files and, thus, make MP3 files.  An MP3 file can be played on most computers and sound reasonably close to the original recording. 

MP3 files, of course, are an order of magnitude larger than midi files.  But, again, technology has helped with this problem as well.  In the first place, the PSR Tutorial contract with our service provider now allows me much more online storage space than we had initially, so I can host MP3 files.  Secondly, broadband internet connections have become far more common and most users can now easily download larger files and even listen to them online.  Finally, I have found and implemented some web code that allows me to provide a "jukebox" on performer pages that plays MP3 files online.  I have also found separate code that allows me to list individual MP3 songs that can be played online and/or downloaded.

So, to start a PSR Performer page, the performer can still submit a 10 midi songs to create a midi volume, but they may alternatively submit a minimum of 5 MP3 files to launch a Jukebox.

The earlier requirements of a short "musical" biography and a digital photo are still in place.  I can crop/edit the photo to fit into the standard frame used on the PSR Performer pages.  I also provide any needed final editing to the bio.  With these components in place, I can create a PSR Performer page to hold the performer's songs.  The latest 10 mp3 files are kept in the Jukebox.  All the songs submitted will be kept in an alphabetical index and can also be auditioned and/or downloaded from that index listing.  New songs can be added any time, but are not required.  Performers may continue to post links to songs in the forum, but new songs are added to the performer's page only when emailed to me.  This way the performer controls what songs appear permanently on their Performer page.  It may take a few days to create a new performer page, but once created, it is relatively simple to add a new song and these are added usually the same day they are received.

So, if you "perform" on your keyboard and would like your own page where your songs can be easily shared with others, you may consider becoming a PSR Performer.  The forum can still be used to exchange comments on songs.  Simply post a message in the forum with a link to your PSR Performer page.

There are quite a few performers already and they are listed alphabetically.  With the list growing, however, it may be that I should consider dividing that section by current keyboard, i.e. Tyros4 performers, PSR-S910 performers, PSR-3000 performers, etc.  Any ideas or suggestions on organization would be welcomed.

[Elainehf]

Joe,
I have many midi and WAV songs recorded on my Tyros 4 but notice when I upload to the computer they sound different, not the same instruments, etc.  The CDs we burn sound fine.  Any thoughts?

Elaine

[Joe W]

Sorry for the delay in responding, Elaine, but I just say your message.

A midi is just a text file.  A midi program reads that file and follows the instrucitons -- play this note for this amount of time using this instrument.  If you create a midi on your Tyros4 and someone plays the midi on a Tyros4, it will sound just like you created it.  However, if it is played on a computer, the computer player has no access to the voices in your T4 and uses default voices in the computer hardware -- it won't sound at all like your Tyros4.  There are also some special effects the Yamaha may be able to reproduce, but would not come through on other midi players.

The WAV file you create on the T4, should sound similar when played in your computer.  It is capturing the signals being sent to the speakers in the T4 and reproduces those signals for the computer's speakers.   If you create an MP3, it is a compressed version of the WAV file.  It samples the sound waves and copies some of them into the compressed MP3.  If it sampled the wav audio signal, it would be just as big as the wav file.  But it might sample every second or every third or every 10th, etc.  The higher the bit rate in the MP3, the better the sample, but the larger the file.  The lower the bit rate, the smaller the file size at the cost of less fidelity. 

I'm not a very technical guy, but the above is my simple explanation of why what you hear on your tyros is not the same as what you hear on your computer.  Hopefully, it helps.

[Jørgen]

Hi

Sorry for the delay in responding, Elaine, but I just say your message.

A midi is just a text file. 
(snip)

I have to correct you, Joe...

MIDI is not a text file as it can not be read in a text editor... The MIDI format is a binary format, not a text format.

However, you are right in the rest of your message: MIDI sends instructions to a sound device (eg. a keybord, a computer) BEFORE the sound is produced.

Wav (and mp3) are samplings of the output when the sound device HAS produced the sound.

Best wishes
Jørgen

[Joe W]

Thanks for the correction, Jordon.  I have, of  course, played midi files, but never had the desire to look into the innards of how they actually work.  Fortunately, we have many members who regularly enjoy working with midi files.

[billmc]

Joe, as Performers, do we each have the tools to upgrade or modify the content on our Performers' page? Or is that something only you can do via information we supply to you?

Thanks.

Bill

[Joe W]

Joe, as Performers, do we each have the tools to upgrade or modify the content on our Performers' page? Or is that something only you can do via information we supply to you?

Thanks.

Bill

No, Bill, I am the only one who can modify any of the web pages on the site.  However, performers can update their bio or their picture at any time by simply sending me an email with the new content.  They can add songs to their page at any time by sending me the MP3 or a link to the MP3.  If a link is posted in the forum, you could alternatively just send me a link to your posting.

[Ernie]

As Jørgen allready wrote ... a midi file is not a textfile.
Here is a movie wich explains a bit how a midifile works,
This is a streetorgan ... it works with air ... but the  principe is nearly the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVUj_ZxilZs

Our old Streetorgans work with air ... A book with certain tracks gives instructions to the instrument.
One track "tells" when and wich note is played ... each track gives the specific instrument
his instructions ... That is also what midi does ...  But then with electronic instructions instead of air ;-)

Regards
Ernie

[textbook]

As Jørgen allready wrote ... a midi file is not a textfile.
Here is a movie wich explains a bit how a midifile works,
This is a streetorgan ... it works with air ... but the  principe is nearly the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVUj_ZxilZs

Our old Streetorgans work with air ... A book with certain tracks gives instructions to the instrument.
One track "tells" when and wich note is played ... each track gives the specific instrument
his instructions ... That is also what midi does ...  But then with electronic instructions instead of air ;-)

Regards
Ernie

Yes...A good example of the earliest forms of midi file,    okay they were electro mechanical, and no computers as we know them,  but many industries used similar forms based on the original Basile Bouchon idea and of course later used on mass across the UK and other parts of the world in Jacquard looms, one of which can still be seen working in the Carpet Museum in Kidderminster.   The thing is the basic principle is the same, whether they be computer instructions or merely a punch card system.  Computer's have just made it much more easier to implement and are far more advanced of course for a fraction of the price.

[Alan-Russell]

If a Psr performer wants to swap out an updated mp3 file, can it be done by he or she?

[Roger Brenizer]

Hi Alan,

I believe Joe Waters will do it, if the file is sent to him with such a request.  I have been thinking about updating one of my songs in this manner.

Joe will correct me if I'm wrong.

[dinapoli]

I only make videos, do I qualify?
Many of my videos are on youtube,  I just posted this yesterday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1alymnR0GXg

[Roger Brenizer]

Hi Dinapoli,

If you wish to become a PSR Performer, please follow the instructions posted at the beginning of this topic and subsequently in Reply #1 above, on December 9, 2010, by Joe Waters. 

[flailman]

Does one have to be a "PSR Performer" in order to contribute to the Christmas song portion of the forum?

[Del]

Does one have to be a "PSR Performer" in order to contribute to the Christmas song portion of the forum?

Flaiman no you do not need to be a PSR Performer to submit your performances on the Performance boards including the Christmas song board.
To become a PSR Performer is a different thing and there are guide lines for this, and your performance page would be in the PSR Tutorial part and not in the PSR Forum (these are two different places on the PSR Site)

If you'd like to share your music with your fellow PSR enthusiasts, you may want to consider becoming a "PSR Performer" on the PSR Tutorial.  We have quite a few performers now and more are being added all the time.  You can check out the PSR Performers by visiting the "Performers" section of the main PSR Tutorial site.

The requirements to get started are fairly simple:

1) Be able to play well enough to put together your first volume of 10 midi songs.  These are midi files that you have created (either by direct recording, or multi-track recording, or step-recording) on your PSR or Tyros keyboard.  If you are playing an original composition, be sure to indicate that.

2) Draft a short musical biography telling site visitors a little something about your background.  You can get ideas from looking at the biographies that are already posted in the Performers section.  No need to worry about formatting the biographical sketch, a simple text file will do.  I'll do the final editing when putting together your "page".

3) Find a digitized photo of yourself.  Again, you can see examples on the site.  I will crop it, if necessary, and put it in the standard frame we use for all the performer pictures.

4) Email your photo, bio and your first volume to PsrStyles.com.  Include a list of the actual song titles for each of your midi files, particularly if you are using abbreviated file names, and, if possible, the style you used in creating the midi.

I will put together your "PSR Performer" page for inclusion in the Performers section.  After your page is created, you can add additional volumes, or MP3 files, to your page at any time by emailing the material to me, although there is no requirement to post additional volumes. 

PSR Performers provide not only musical entertainment, but they help other players by showing what can be done with these arranger keyboards.  Thus, the "Performers" section is a key ingredient in the overall process of learning how to get the most out of your Yamaha.  There is an e-mail address provided for each performer and you are free to send a note to the performer to compliment him or her on the performance or ask about any of the songs or techniques used.

[Roger Brenizer]

Does one have to be a "PSR Performer" in order to contribute to the Christmas song portion of the forum?

Hi Flailman,

Del has answered your question above.

If you haven't already visited the PSR/Tyros Performers section, it is located on our main website, as follows:

https://psrtutorial.com/perf/index.html