Yamaha PRS SX920 arranger keyboard Novice.

[Retired]

Hi,

https://homerecording.com/bbs/threads/violin-sound.418295/page-32

I've been discussing this Arranger Keyboard on my Violin Sound Thread and I thought it better to seperate the violin and keyboard so this is a follow on from the latest post I added this being a copy;

Hi,

Having watched more YouTube videos I'm becoming even more confused trying to break through the fog. looking at a Midi Controller Keyboard has me baffled; it has keys but doesn't produce sound it only being an interface so a silly question; why does the controller keyboard have keys please?

Behringer U-PHORIA UMC404HD Audio Interface​

I already have the above interface so does this do a similar job and will it connect my SX920 to my laptop? The easy answer of course is to try it but I'm trying to keep up with so much and don't want to waste lots of time experimenting when asking a question would give answers. I was always the thick one in works managers meetings and seminars to stick his head up asking the silly questions others were too scared to ask in case it made them appear stupid; better to keep quiet and let people think you're stupid than speak up and prove you're stupid? As I get more and more into this SX920 I'm sure I'll be asking lots more questions but perhaps I'd be better starting a new thread covering my journey into the mysteries of the SX920.

Back to your very useful information regarding the SX920 having 16 track Midi controller already onboard Raymond it's possible I don't need any additions other than a USB connection from the keyboard to my laptop? I'm showing my ignorance but it's the way I learn so much.

Got to go but back later.

Kind regards, Col.

 

[DM60]

If I remember correctly, you already have an interface.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks for asking @DM60 Yes I do still have the Tascam you kindly added the picture of but I also have the Beringer interface too. I've got the gear so now it's down to me to try to get up to speed uising it all but it's slow going because I know so little as a base to start from but I will learn through practice and information/suggestions from you guys on the forum.

The weather is warmer and so far drier today so I'm working in the gardens; I can resume work on the keyboard later which I'm looking forward to.

Kind regards, Col.

 

[Papanate]

Having watched more YouTube videos I'm becoming even more confused trying to break through the fog. looking at a Midi Controller Keyboard has me baffled; it has keys but doesn't produce sound it only being an interface so a silly question; why does the controller keyboard have keys please?

It is both - a Midi Controller and a Workstation - If you use the Midi out you would have to connect to a SoftSynth/Sampler or Hardware to hear the sounds - if you used it as a Workstation you would connect the L/R audio out to you U-Phoria Inputs - and then you could either record all your parts (Drums/Keys/Bass etc…) on board or on the DAW - If you record them on Board then you’d be recording a finished two track to the DAW - The U-Phoria is just an Audio Interface and doesn’t generate any sounds or Midi signals.
BTW The SX920 is a pretty big learning curve if you haven’t used a Workstation before - but when you learn it you could record a whole bands worth of music - which includes plugging in a guitar (Which you can - the SX920 has a guitar input jack) - then potentially export it to a DAW for mastering or distribution.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

A midi keyboard does not have to generate sound.
Each time you press a key, it produces a sequence of numbers (0 to 128) to say Which Key, How hard you hit it, And when you released it, amongst other parameters.
Those numbers are squirted out of the Midi Out socket.
Keybords that do make sounds, and synth boxes that don''t have keyboards, usually have Midi In sockets.
I have a single manual organ, the Roland VCombo VR700, which makes organ and other sounds, and has Midi In and Midi Out sockets.
I can use any Midi enabled other keyboard (whether it generates sounds or not), to be a second organ manual by connecting the two keyboards together with
a Midi cable. I would connect the Midi Out of the voiceless keyboard to the Midi In of the Roland VR700.
Then I can play the organ upper manual on the VR700, and the organ lower manual on the voiceless midi keyboard.

Almost all of my keyboards and synths have Midi In and Midi Out sockets
Some keyboards send all the midi data along a usb cable as well, and sometimes don't even have traditional Midi In and Midi Out sockets.
Remember Midi is not an audio signal, but a sequence of numbers.
The SX920 has a 16 channel midi recorder, so you can record 16 instruments side by side, but it is not recording audio. It records just the sequence of numbers.
If you then play back the midi recording on the SX920, it translates all those numbers into audio.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thank you for your replies @Papanate & Raymond; it's starting to become more clear; I've brought the laptop out of the studio so it's now plugged in charging the battery; I'll pull the Beringer out tomorrow too and start to play around; I need to sort the cables but I think I'm covered with what I have. Once things start to click I'll catch on.

I'm about to simply play the keyboard as it is for this evening; I'm tired after collecting building blocks this morning then using them in the garden this afternoon; it's hard graft with lots more to follow but once I'm set up in the front room I can play around for a couple of hours each evening. I'll post updates as to progress; there are Yamaha downloads I'll have a look at; this SX920 is all singing all dancing with an enormous number of YouTube videos explaining everything in great detail; it all takes so much time but I'm keen to learn.

If I understand you correctly Raymond; an interface then works on similar principals as a computer does with its binary code. This started so innocently at Christmas when I bought the E383 and now I'm deep into keyboards and lots of other things; I'll never be bored but I'm learning a great deal.

Thanks again.

Kind regards, Col.

 

[DM60]

Hi,

Thank you for your replies @Papanate & Raymond; it's starting to become more clear; I've brought the laptop out of the studio so it's now plugged in charging the battery; I'll pull the Beringer out tomorrow too and start to play around; I need to sort the cables but I think I'm covered with what I have. Once things start to click I'll catch on.

I'm about to simply play the keyboard as it is for this evening; I'm tired after collecting building blocks this morning then using them in the garden this afternoon; it's hard graft with lots more to follow but once I'm set up in the front room I can play around for a couple of hours each evening. I'll post updates as to progress; there are Yamaha downloads I'll have a look at; this SX920 is all singing all dancing with an enormous number of YouTube videos explaining everything in great detail; it all takes so much time but I'm keen to learn.

If I understand you correctly Raymond; an interface then works on similar principals as a computer does with its binary code. This started so innocently at Christmas when I bought the E383 and now I'm deep into keyboards and lots of other things; I'll never be bored but I'm learning a great deal.

Thanks again.

Kind regards, Col.

It starts out with a beer and a cigarette. Next thing, you are a full blown heroin addict.

 

[Papanate]

The SX920 has a 16 channel midi recorder, so you can record 16 instruments side by side, but it is not recording audio. It records just the sequence of numbers.
If you then play back the midi recording on the SX920, it translates all those numbers into audio.

I think it might record audio - at least it has an input jack for guitar.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

I think it might record audio - at least it has an input jack for guitar.

Yes, it does, but puts everything including a plugged in mic or guitar into a WAV file.
It does not record 16 audio channels.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your replies. Beer; cigarettes and heroin are kids hobbies these days @DM60 I'm a dinosaur who's never been on a plane; doesn't have a mobile phone welded to his ear and not had a single nights holiday away from home in 48 years; I was fully content just being with my wife who sadly passed away last year. I think I'm addicted to learning though because I have lots of interesting hobbies to keep me happily occupied. Today is a keyboard day because the weather here in Yorkshire is normal; DIRE.

Last night I enjoyed a session going through the voices on the keyboard until I was ready for bed; I'll carry on today; I'll also play around with my laptop regarding Yamaha apps as shown on YouTube; it's all slow going but with time and practice I'll be sure to improve.

KInd regards, Col.

 

[Papanate]

Yes, it does, but puts everything including a plugged in mic or guitar into a WAV file.
It does not record 16 audio channels.

Right - it doesn’t handle tracks of audio exactly - rather it records to maximum of 80 minutes song -
so you could easily record a bunch of parts and then sync them to the midi -almost a multitrack - but I don't
think they have many tools or adjustments - so all processing would have to take place prior to recording.