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.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

During dinnertime today I browsed YouTube for videos explaining the SX920 Styles; although Bonners videos showed the various styles being played I wasn't any wiser because the settings weren't shown; I'm spending time pressing buttons finding out what they do; the SX920 is amazing; press a button and I've got a backing choir or drums etc.

I'm free this afternoon after mornings chores and my former neighbour emailed to say a problem has cropped up at very short notice so she can't visit after all today; life's always full of problems but as I say I'm free to discover more on the 920 so I'd better get off my backside and switch the 920 on before another day disappears.

Kind regards, Col.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

I've had the Roland Sonic Cell, which is a box of voices, for many years, and connect a piano to it over midi to play the voices.
I did have a few favourite voices in there.
Then years later, I bought the Roland Intergra7, which was developed on from the Sonic Cell, but this time on steroids.
Most of the Sonic Cell voices made it over to the Integra7, but some of my favourites did not.
That was a little annoying. The Integra7 has a huge library of new quality voices to make up for it though.
I still use both of them.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Raymond, I've just been nosy wondering what a Roland Intergra7 is;



It's a powerful piece of kit and expensive even if bought used.



The Roland Sonic Cell isn't a toy either but another decent piece of kit. Getting into studio gear can run up a huge bill in no time at all; there's so much to choose from it's rather like being a child in a sweet shop; both need regular use considering their cost but I imagine time runs away once you switch one of these on. Thanks for sharing.

Last night I decided to sort the front corner of my front room out to accept both my keyboards;

Moving this bookcase complete with books proved a heavy job but it now fits nicely just outside the bathroom. The Cathedral Philco 84B radio was bought as a Christmas present for me by my lovely wife; it was the roughest radio on eBay at the time and its location was Oklahoma; it sure was rough but I enjoyed many happy hours restoring it to as new and upgrading using a Wattless Dropper converting it to 240VAC. With the bookcase now out of the way I could move the 1931 Ultra Tiger TRF gram right into the corner. The Ultra is another full restoration I carried out years ago.

A bit more tidying today and the corner will be ready to accept the second keyboard once the new keyboard stand arrives I bought through eBay yesterday; it's going to be a perfect set up; the gram is ideal for supporting the table lamp which will illumiate both keyboards during our Yorkshire nine month long winters. It's dark again as I type with snow forecast.

As seen the SX920 is now located and the Yamaha E383 will sit in front of the window; in rare hot sunshine I can drop the blackout roller blinds or pull the curtain on to protect the keyboards; the stool is on casters.

This will allow me to use the E383 to play the Synth 222 I like so much whilst I try to get my head around the SX920 which is proving a major challenge but last night I also made a bit of progress with the SX920 finding vioces I like.

Enough for now I've some tidying to do.

Kind regards, Col.

 

[DM60]

I know when I am recording, nothing better than a window to look out and inspire.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

I couldn't agree with you more @DM60 the front room window is 12' long giving panoramic views across and along the valley over the rooftops as seen by the much lower garage across the street. The rear studio too has a delightful view up the large rear steep garden; it's a lovely location to call home.

I've been spending time trying to copy John Lennon's piano voice on "Imagine" but so far without luck; there are so many piano voices on the SX920 to choose from it's bewhldering to me; being such a keyboard novice I don't yet know how to adjust settings; I'm learning bits more though with each practice; the keyboard is wonderful and it's my ignorance letting me down but if it was easy I'd quickly get bored.

What's happened to the rain and constant black hole; it's weird without them?

Kind regards, Col.