XW-Addict

SSSWAG!!!!

At first I've found GM PCM tones peculiar, the more working with them it starting to get a feel for the design that went into it. At first I've found them quiet simple and dull. Then I've realized listening right through them and not actually hear the noises and sound. The only thing noticeable was the Tone name. The waves consisting the GM standard set of tones differed broadly on different devices but there always one sound that hold my attention. That is Rain Drop tone. The Rain Drop is one of the oddest GM tone in the set, An combined Aah, Bell and Portamento Sine sound all together. This sound always sound right no matter how you play it either as one note , two or as chord. I've tried to built a sound similar to it with sampling, It just doesn't sound close to its sonic behavior. Its when I realized there was always more to the Rain Drop tone which really pegged my interest lately. Maybe it can help to examine some of these GM tones to create one own sounds no matter how you stretch short, morph or skew them just sound as good as the GM ones.

I have two type of experimentation with rock and metal on the PX5S and XW-G1 This one uses the Drums from the G1 and an edit of the Rock Organ stage (Edited did not notice wrong stage ) Specific its Hex U050 in this particular stage. https://soundcloud.com/clay-louis-petty/death-metal-with-px5s-slow-speeding This one is the stage Organ and Rock which an edit from Piano and Rock this one rocks more XD It two stages 0 and 1 which I switch manually. Stage difference is the drums. It needs a bit more programming. https://soundcloud.com/clay-louis-petty/organ-and-rock-stage-from-the-px5s

Yah I've noticed an increase of video's of the Casio SA 46 and 76 when that happened I don't know but it wasn't there before since the last time I saw one about the SA 76. Plus I've seen them appearing in some music magazine also stacked upon modular synths how they used it with this is a mystery.

I think its doable also using and programming a few performances and a solosynth for that thumping bass sound. For starters. I would try to isolate the first sounds using and layering with Saw Leads and Mellow Saw with Slow Sqrleads. Set this up in Performance mode and use these Zone Param to adjust the effect of the pad for each zone. Oct.Shift Transpose Finetune Specially use finetune to have the fine finesse between two zones detuning or getting them in tune has considerable effect with +15 and +25 etc. Assign knobs in Controller for Channel pressure , Chorus , Attack , Cutoff or Low Gain. For the thumping bass maybe using Solo-synth tone TransientAmbient or something alike and edit it as much to come close to that sound. I would use combination of tones like SequenceSaw , SeqPulse , Va syn-Sqbs2 if those are available in the P1.

I've studied the manual a bit page D-32 / D-33 and fiddled some more with the G1 sampler and G1 editor. If it where possible for real time split edit or points or even use an assigned arpeggio function with a sample would be a nifty addition if only partially. The phrase can be used to automate some fx , filter watchamacallit on the sample by recording this fiddling with the knobs assigning CC such as rate, cutoff, release and such on them. However RT split and point edit can't be realize directly, I was wondering if the G1 could be access for it through software SDK if and only if editing tone etc modules is part of the SDK that is which is under inspection. Then again I realize that editing and playing at once could be limited to non possible. Conclusion the sampler has versatile options its a small miss though missing a generational leap when its about manipulating the sample point lengths real time as a freedom of expression. But similar as the editing drum PCM editing samples still undiscovered territory on the XW-G1. If there would be a workstation in the build with sampling hope the specs of the G1 extends in RT split , point editing

This is a nice work around to build an Set List on the XW with performance setting. Organize which Performance you want in a certain order in User Bank. Create them so as they all have the same tempo and or Step sequence. User banks are from 0-0 to 0-9 and 1-0 to 1-9 and so on so any bank can be chosen in the order wanted. Store the performance patches in a User Bank of preference make sure it follows the order of you're song like Intro , Verse , Chorus , Bridge etc. beginning for example first performance patch with bank 1-0 then 1-1 and so on how you want to play them. Then to enter this pseudo set list mode press the Preset/User button to go to User bank. This is shown when the top of the screen Shows : U:0-1 if bank 0 is where the pieces contain, If they are on another bank press then the Num button to select which bank is preferred. Now its possible to go through every performance one by one pressing the number buttons 1 , 2 ,3 etc. If an created musical piece is two banks big certainly you can switch real time between them off course its possible to knit a big piece-de-resistance using all the banks . And this conclude how to build a personalized set list mode on the XW synthesizers. Enjoy.

Yeah its also better to follow Mike Martin video's learning by example more better reading a half baked manual (no pun intended).

I've got taken a small interest in these keyboards as analog playing a small role again and very into the engineering design part of these synth.

One have to train like Ruddes to reach that level of key press consistency ........... I'll use laser focus until that day comes reaching it I'll train like mastering this keyboard wizzardy

To create you're own phrases and convert them to midi file which you can use in the PD1 editor to convert them, You can use any DAW with a step sequencer or piano-roll in them and save them as a midi file. Nowadays every software has such feature / tool in it I occasionely use Korg m01 software on my Nintendo DS-XL which support the piano roll and also converts to a midi file. That way I can create phrases on the run. Tablet or phone are also good devices which have lots of supported music creation tools. This is just one example how to find you're tools in creating phrases making you're own workflow and make it to an production process.

One good practice is to discover to do what it is needed from this keyboard you've practically mastered a mayor step diving into step sequencing and the use of sliders and the select button its a matter of time to wrap around using the functions in needed synthesis or performance. It took me quiet a while learning nifty tricks from a synthesizer ( I love that word). I still am learning stuff Using the keyshift and Step sequencing into a well structured performance playing in one key scale would be kinda boring. Say if you've discovered something I'm all ears.

Don't forget guys "EDIT" button is you're friend inside the menu is also the option to Note Shift a pattern in a part that way you could leave the perfect play and pitch of you're work unharmed and just shift it down or up a notch

Was still doubting this after a while reading the comments it seems really true Richard Formidoni wow congrats great addition.

Yup like Korakios said depending if shift-key button is on while recording a sequence be sure to have it in the right key like C or any key its suppose to be. Most of my sequence I'll center on C while the shift-key is on that way I'm sure not to mess a whole hour work up.

Heheh I want to meet that person from Casio wanting to put his marks on design and the choice for it.

Gear excitement one of the joy-est feeling to have .

This is good informative and deep programming stuff I where in the transition bending my head to clean out one of the weird patches with a cool effect this gave me food for thought.

Just to add as additional information if there is a specific bend wanted in Step sequence using Ctrl 1-4 steps can be programmed using bend assigning them to which part of the sequence is also a trick plus any CC can be applied through them. Some of the dance / house like step sequence have them implemented which can be used as templates.

Sure this one I've Re-sampled to create a song from it starts at 4:16 that bit is a whole song while listening to it I could imagine a beat , bass and melody to add to this short sample. Roland for instance calls it variPhare but its just a way of side band filtwering keeping specific frequency from a sample and loop that frequency band without loop artifacts which is much cleaner as whether its played lower or higher on the keyboard you keep the same frequency band and not a per sample frequency which is not so fancy. I think also its possible finding a specific band and make a tone from it on the XW , Rethinking it might as well be done externally through software, But changing loop points via Sysex commands would be a mayor useful addition. I'm no pony fan so will mix up names but like good samples. https://soundcloud.com/clay-louis-petty/pinkiepie-if_i_knew

OMG I like that ..... I like that allot... If only Sir Wallet would let me would not matter if it could it doesn't ship to my location anyway

If only it was on the engineers wish list side band filtering keeping tonality in a full spectrum and skew it however you wanted on the G1. Loop points can only do so much and so little you keep telling yourself aaaaah if only that would be sweet.

Voted use desktop VST's .