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How to record, edit, save and transfer an 8 track song?


Silent but Debie

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New PX-5S user here, and I understand the basics (ie. Zone/tones, stage settings, editing and saving changes etc...) but now trying to figure out how to record a song and the Tutorial Manual is crazy to read. Can any one explain in basic english, steps how to record a song using the up to 8 tracks each on 10 user songs on the internal storage?

 

Maybe this is easy once you've done it bunch of times, but I'm trying not to drag out my 8 track tascam out of frustration...once a song is recorded in the internal storage, how can you edit it and later transfer it to either a connected USB drive or directly to a MAC (or PC)? Much appreciated in advance. I'm an acoustic pianist w. little digital exp.  

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New PX-5S user here, and I understand the basics (ie. Zone/tones, stage settings, editing and saving changes etc...) but now trying to figure out how to record a song and the Tutorial Manual is crazy to read. Can any one explain in basic english, steps how to record a song using the up to 8 tracks each on 10 user songs on the internal storage?

 

Maybe this is easy once you've done it bunch of times, but I'm trying not to drag out my 8 track tascam out of frustration...once a song is recorded in the internal storage, how can you edit it and later transfer it to either a connected USB drive or directly to a MAC (or PC)? Much appreciated in advance. I'm an acoustic pianist w. little digital exp.  

Oh boy! Well there IS a WAY to do this on the PX-5S, but it is very convoluted and you will be better off using multitrack or DAW on your PC as it is not really designed to do this, it just so happens it can if that makes sense. 

I am pulling this procedure from one posted by Ralf, a PX-5S owner who shared this a while ago. I am not able to provide and additional information on this as I use a Tascam to multitrack. :-)

HERE IT IS:

 

- Record a Phrase, or use a converted 16 Bar Drum Track.--> put it in a Phrase e.g. 200

- Create a new song. and press the insert key (located near on Stage Setting1 button)

  and select phrase 200 with no repeatings and no transpose (this advice just as example)

- Store and name the song as "Songtest1" on position 150

- Now if you press song the display "Songtest1" and if you press "play" it will play the recorded track.

But here you will notice that it might use a different sound.

Note that the SongRecorder is independent from the StageSettings and the the Sounds which are configured with the StageSetting.

So you have to create once an 8 Track song as an template to have 8 Sounds for the recording.

This is your "StageSetting" for the TrackRecorder. If you use it, then you will get a copy of the template as a new song

To create the Template, press "Edit" (when "Song" lights) and you will go into the "Song Edit" mode.

Then press key down to go into Song Mixer and turn knob 2 in the fields MSB and ProgramChange to select the sound you have recorded.

Have a look into the last pages of the "tutorial". Here you find the corresponding MSB and ProgamChange Numbers for the sound.

At least you find the name of the sound in the 3rd line to control if you have adjusted the correct Numbers.

Tip: If you want to use Track 1 for Drums, you have to select 120 as MSB and 000 or higher for the Drumset.

How to just that I have figured out here.

Then press the "+" Key, which you find near the Tempo key, to switch the Track.

Now you will notice that MSB and ProgammChange can be adjusted to a different sound.

Unfortunately I could not find out why I can not use the Hex Layers for that. Combination MSB 97 does not work.  A bug?

 

Now we start a multitrack recording.

First we select Song (alread having one Track)

Then press Phrase twice (-> flashing "Record")

Then press Start: You will hear Track 1 playing and you can record your track.

If you press record again it will stop recording.

If you are not satisfied, press phrase again to get record flashing and start a next trial.

If you are satisfied, press write and select the number for the new phrase (201).

Before pressing Enter to save you can rename the Phrase.

Now if you press "Start" you will hear the just recorded phrase, because "Phrase" is glowing

Next step will be to put this phrase into the next track.

Turn off "Phrase", Press "Song" and "Edit"

Press Enter for "Track Edit"

Press the + Key (near the Tempo Key) to goto Zone 2

Press "insert" and turn knob 2 and +- Keys to select phrase 201

If you don't hear the correct sound, you must press "Exit" and Select "Song Mixer" and select a different sound.

If you had pressed "Start" you can hear your recorded tracks and can adjust others parameters like volume and pan hall etc.

Now press Exit , exit until you are back on top of the menu to save the song with the write button.

You will get a new version of your song, with one more track it you don't change the number of the song back.

If we can not assign a Hexlayer Sound to a Track or need a 9th track, you will be able record a phrase as a last step and play the Phrase with glowing button for this last track

Now you are able to record the full song with the audiorecorder.

The tempo is stored in the Song and must be adjusted there.

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This isn't an explanation of how to build a song, but rather some information regarding what the song sequencer is on the px-5s.

 

The song sequencer is more of a mod builder or a music tracker.  It is designed with the intention of linking together premade phrases on various tracks (up to 8).  If one is used to recording what is played directly on a track and playing it back, then a tracker or mod builder may take some rethinking and getting used to.

 

Imagine 8 separate grids divided into 999 cells each.  Each cell on each track can hold a phrase - any of the available phrases including user recorded ones - at any meter.  A Phrase, in Px-5s language, is a short recorded block of midi events (usually focusing on notes).  The phrase can be played back using any tone.  That means a phrase can be a series of chords, a bass line, a drum pattern, knob and lever changes, etc.  The same phrase can be used over and over again on different tracks set to different tones.

 

Each cell on each track can be repeated up to 99 times, can be transposed chromatically up to 2 octaves, and the track itself can have it's own tone, reverb, volume, panning, chorus, as far as the basic midi settings.  All of the tracks can be controlled in real time through the mixer (easily controlled through the PC editor) or external midi device.  None of the tracks have to have phrases with the same time signature or the same number of cells or the same repeat of cells.  It's up to you to build the blocks to make sure things sound at the right time.  The tempo will be consistent, but when an actual note sounds will be up to the user and the design of the phrases.

 

The basic premise is this: you build the phrases that will be joined together to build your song.  For example, you could build a basic walking bass line on the root as one phrase.  With this single phrase, you could repeat that phrase maybe 4 times, transpose it up a fourth, repeat 2 times or so.  Transpose it back down to the root, transpose it up a fifth, and you have a complete bass line using only a single phrase.

 

You could also create a basic comp pharase that might go on a track assigned to piano.  You can transpose the phrase similarly to the bass line and complete a basic rhythm section over several bars using two phrases and transposition.

 

Again, song building is just that: building.  You create small pieces of the song or riffs as phrases, then place the phrases in the cells of the grid on each of the 8 tracks.  You can record phrases directly through the keyboard, or convert parts of midi files (1 midi channel at a time) to phrases using the data editor.

 

Also note, you can assign sequencer tracks to whatever midi channels you want.  If you assign a track to midi channel 1 or 2, then you can use a hex layer on that track.

 

Basically, if you've ever used a tracker, the Px-5s song sequencer should be a fairly simple transition.  If you'd like, I can go through a basic example along the lines of what Scott had posted - when I have time

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Ok, thanks for explaining it can but its complex and what the song sequencer is meant for (not to record full multitrack songs). Options:1. how to record one track songs using the usb drive? 2. If using an audio interface (tascam dp-008ex) which input-output plugs best to connect? 3.DAW recording,i have a midi to usb cable, will it automatically run w. garageband? (Or should i get another software,like spectre or ableton)

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Oh boy! Well there IS a WAY to do this on the PX-5S, but it is very convoluted and you will be better off using multitrack or DAW on your PC as it is not really designed to do this, it just so happens it can if that makes sense. 

I am pulling this procedure from one posted by Ralf, a PX-5S owner who shared this a while ago. I am not able to provide and additional information on this as I use a Tascam to multitrack. :-)

HERE IT IS:

 

- Record a Phrase, or use a converted 16 Bar Drum Track.--> put it in a Phrase e.g. 200

- Create a new song. and press the insert key (located near on Stage Setting1 button)

  and select phrase 200 with no repeatings and no transpose (this advice just as example)

- Store and name the song as "Songtest1" on position 150

- Now if you press song the display "Songtest1" and if you press "play" it will play the recorded track.

But here you will notice that it might use a different sound.

Note that the SongRecorder is independent from the StageSettings and the the Sounds which are configured with the StageSetting.

So you have to create once an 8 Track song as an template to have 8 Sounds for the recording.

This is your "StageSetting" for the TrackRecorder. If you use it, then you will get a copy of the template as a new song

To create the Template, press "Edit" (when "Song" lights) and you will go into the "Song Edit" mode.

Then press key down to go into Song Mixer and turn knob 2 in the fields MSB and ProgramChange to select the sound you have recorded.

Have a look into the last pages of the "tutorial". Here you find the corresponding MSB and ProgamChange Numbers for the sound.

At least you find the name of the sound in the 3rd line to control if you have adjusted the correct Numbers.

Tip: If you want to use Track 1 for Drums, you have to select 120 as MSB and 000 or higher for the Drumset.

How to just that I have figured out here.

Then press the "+" Key, which you find near the Tempo key, to switch the Track.

Now you will notice that MSB and ProgammChange can be adjusted to a different sound.

Unfortunately I could not find out why I can not use the Hex Layers for that. Combination MSB 97 does not work.  A bug?

 

Now we start a multitrack recording.

First we select Song (alread having one Track)

Then press Phrase twice (-> flashing "Record")

Then press Start: You will hear Track 1 playing and you can record your track.

If you press record again it will stop recording.

If you are not satisfied, press phrase again to get record flashing and start a next trial.

If you are satisfied, press write and select the number for the new phrase (201).

Before pressing Enter to save you can rename the Phrase.

Now if you press "Start" you will hear the just recorded phrase, because "Phrase" is glowing

Next step will be to put this phrase into the next track.

Turn off "Phrase", Press "Song" and "Edit"

Press Enter for "Track Edit"

Press the + Key (near the Tempo Key) to goto Zone 2

Press "insert" and turn knob 2 and +- Keys to select phrase 201

If you don't hear the correct sound, you must press "Exit" and Select "Song Mixer" and select a different sound.

If you had pressed "Start" you can hear your recorded tracks and can adjust others parameters like volume and pan hall etc.

Now press Exit , exit until you are back on top of the menu to save the song with the write button.

You will get a new version of your song, with one more track it you don't change the number of the song back.

If we can not assign a Hexlayer Sound to a Track or need a 9th track, you will be able record a phrase as a last step and play the Phrase with glowing button for this last track

Now you are able to record the full song with the audiorecorder.

The tempo is stored in the Song and must be adjusted there.

Just lost a puppy in there it wasn't familiar with the surrounding. 

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Ok, thanks for explaining it can but its complex and what the song sequencer is meant for (not to record full multitrack songs). Options:1. how to record one track songs using the usb drive? 2. If using an audio interface (tascam dp-008ex) which input-output plugs best to connect? 3.DAW recording,i have a midi to usb cable, will it automatically run w. garageband? (Or should i get another software,like spectre or ableton)

 

1- Recording to a USB drive to record your playing is on page E-23 of the BASIC MANUAL:

http://support.casio.com/pdf/008/Web_PX5S-E-1B.pdf

2- You want to use the LINE L/R OUTS to record to a DAW

3- Not sure what you are asking. A standard USB A to USB B cable (printer cable) will let the PX-5S control software instruments via MIDI. The USB cable does not transmit audio.

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