How to access more sounds with MIDI ON?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Keno53
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Keno53

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Here's the problem: My keyboard (Kurzweil PC 88) has a ton of sounds in various banks, but only those same ol' 128 standard (and slightly boring) instruments in the MIDI bank. I like to download drumbeats and use them in my music, but in order to hear them, I have to set my board to MIDI ON. It seems I'm then left with 2 options:

1. MIDI OFF / no drum sounds / plenty of cool instruments
2. MIDI ON / yes drum sounds / only 128 standard instruments

QUESTION: On playback, is it possible to access all the other (MIDI OFF) instruments in the board while still hearing the (MIDI ON) drums on ch. 10?

With music, as with women, I always seem to want what's just out of reach. Any suggestions? (with the music part)
 
You should be able to trigger any of the sounds via midi. I've never used that keyboard so I cant tell you how though. Dig up the manual or find one online if you can.
 
Tex: I tend to agree, in theory, every sound should be available. I do have the manual and under the section on "General MIDI" I will quote:

"The GM bank is automatically selected for all channels when "General MIDI" in the global menu is turned on..."

I interpret this to mean the other banks are not available, which would suck. I'll keep pushing buttons and hope nothing explodes...
 
I'm a little confused here still. Are you using a sequencer? If so cant it access all the sounds?

The problem may be limited Multitimbral capability. That determines the amount of seperate sounds that your board can play at one time. Check the back of the manual and see what the specs say under MULTI TIMBRAL. If it is only 1 or 2 that may be the problem.

Your only solution would be to record the individual sounds as seperate audio tracks and keep overdubbing. This is the best method for recording anyway.
 
Yes I have a sequencer; with it, I can do patch changes within the 128 standard MIDI sounds. The board is capable of a lot more, but it's that old midi on/off dilemma. It comes down to drum sounds: in order to hear them fully, the board has to be set to MIDI on, then we're back to the situation I described.
I'll check the Multi settings, but I have a feeling it has to be set one way or the other (midi on or off) ; the 2 modes don't seem to operate simultaneously. Wonder if this is a universal situation or if I'm just missing something.
 
You should be able to assign instruments for GM purposes.

Are there any options to switch from "Programs" or "Patches" to "Mix mode"?

If your box is anything like what I'm used to, you should be able to create your own GM mixes. (Where you assign patches that please you to the 16 MIDI channels).

Carl
 
Yes, the board can do customized mixes of up to 4 instruments, but that puts me back in the GM bank. I'm still trying to get outside that limited area. It'd frustratring, because the other sounds are so much better.
 
Is there any way that you can send a bank select. Does the keyboard have a drum kit that isn't GM, if so... turn MIDI off and just use the non GM Drums in the other bank.. if you can that is.

Porter
 
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