Rick Stirling

Sounds like you're having fun Randy! Every time i sit down to my X500 it seems I find something new to explore. Awesome keyboard! ;-)

Page EN61 of the User Manual states both SMF formats 0 and 1 are playable.

So glad you got it sorted out Chris.  The X500 is an awesome machine, but it does have its quirks here and there. ;-)

cheers,

Rick

Pretty sure all you need starts on page EN54 of the Web_MZX500_300-E-2A_EN  Tutorial Manual

I found the Roland sounds on balance very thin and 'tinny'.

Jazzman,

Save your system as a ZAL files, then load Ralph's EDM.ZAL then save the individual registrations that he has programmed with the MIC adjustments. Load you ZAL back into the keyboad, then load the registrations. Should work. ;-)

Deleted, redundant information. ;-)

7 minutes ago, BradMZ said:

A ZAL file does not affect factory data. If you have a brand new, untouched, MZX, that file will only add new data to user memory.  The caution we put out is for users who may have already saved some of their own tones, registrations, rhythms, pad sets, samples, phrases, or recorded midi recordings.  If you have any of that work and want to back it up, you can also save all of it as a ZAL file using the media>save>all data function.  This is a practice I reccomend all owners do occasionally just for backup purposes.  If anything should happen, like loading Ralph's ZAL file, you'll have your own ZAL file to restore your own work.

Thanks Brad. That's what I meant to say. My "everything" meant all user data. ;-)

Reply from Ralph ...

"Hi Rick, just a short answer (I'm on holiday with my kids). Use the download data and then pic(k) the Dream Rhodes. There I made some very nice mic setting with lots of fx and compressor. I did use it in my videos, you'll find it on youtube. In this video I just took a very cheap Behringer  ($)20  clone of the sm-58. Yours"

So it seems he is not using any outboard pre-amp, but does have some mic settings he uses in the Dream Rhodes program in his EDM.ZAL file. Please note: a .ZAL file will write over everything on your X500, so be sure to save your complete setup before loading EDM.ZAL

16 minutes ago, Songwriter2015 said:

JAZZMAN - I ( HOPE!! ) I may have an immediately workable solution to your problem :-)

 

BEHRINGER manufacture a truly BRILLIANT little mixer called the "XENYX 502" which, in the U.K., costs around £30!!

It has a single XLR mic input featuring an ( also brilliant!! ) XENYX PRE AMP, which produces a gain-range of +10db to + 60db !!!! Surely enough to overcome your problem, as you describe it?

 

It also features: Line Input / Aux Input / Stereo Aux Returns / Main Outs / Control Room Outs / Headphone Out - ALL on TRS 1/4" jacks, and easily configurable to suit the way you work buddy ;-)

You also get the  2 Band version of Behringer's astonishing "Neo Classic British" eq, which I can catagorically promise you mate, is the most pro-sounding eq you'll find, anywhere, for anything like the price!!

 

So you'll get an awful lot of "bonuses" for your £30 apart from overcoming your mic/X500 problem...... I hope!! :-)

 

Anyway, I KNOW it means buying yet another bit of kit, but I'm absolutely certain that, if you've already coughed-up for the brillliant ( I LOVE that word! :-) ) X500 then you're not going to flinch if a further £30 solves your problem?

 

Hope you crack it, Jazzman, whatever solution you choose!

 

Take care all

Chris

 

 

Nice! Only $40 over here in USA (at Sweetwater) https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/502

8 minutes ago, Lobbard said:

 

   Nice one, Rick,  that info would be most welcome, thank-you.

   I don't do gigs, but am confused about that red lead plugged into Ralph's MZ-X500 MIC IN socket. (Ralph's mic lead is black).

That's the first thing I noticed too! ;-)

I've just sent a message to Ralph asking for details on his mic setup with the X500. Will report back when he replies.

I am about 99.99% sure this is Ralph Maten's EDM resources for the X500. As noted above, the ZAL file will overwrite everything on your machine with its contents. If you're not into Electronic Dance Music I'd just format the USB drive and use it for your own 'stuff' ;-)

1 hour ago, Jazzman said:

Interesting comparison between similar cost arrangers.  I like them all.  Clearly the MZ-X500 holds its own.

Yes it does!

I'm not that impressed with the Roland though.

Thanks for posting!  Here's one more video with styles (rhythms) 

Awesome!!!  Looking VERY good Chris! Enjoy!

On the MX500 you could program 8 registration buttons to give you extra variations. You could create 8 different rhythms/styles that vary only the 4 variations then switch between them by pressing a registration button. Not as convenient as the Korg CVs but doable and you could get up to 32 variations. ;-)

You could at the same time simulate the Korg STS (single touch setting, basically 4 registrations that are saved in each style)) by combining tone changes in the registrations

1 hour ago, Songwriter2015 said:

Hi RICK! 😊

I've just checked-out the "Chord Variation " table for my PA300!........

....... I am an idiot!! 🙄

 

Take care Rick

Chris

 

Pretty nifty, eh? ;-) 6 CV's per Variation is 24 variations per style.  It is a BIGGY! ;-)

The ease of creating hex layer tones sold me! ;-)

20 hours ago, BradMZ said:

As far as saving sounds for parts in the midi recorder, you'll go to the mixer and use port C to select tones then hold the registration store button while pressing the midi recorder button. You'll see a confirm message.

I missed this one too Brad! I'm sure I read the firmware release PDF, but apparently without comprehension! ;-)

In all fairness to my Korg PA600, I must say there are a few features it has that I dearly wish were on the X500.

1. It has the ability to define 6 different style patterns for each style variation button 1 thru 4 with "Chord Variations" (CV). That's 24 different patterns available for variations 1-4, plus 2 CVs per Intro 1-3 , 2 CVs per Fills 1-4, 2 CVs per Break, 2 CV's per Ending 1-3 ... that equals 24+6+8+2+6 = 46 CVs in total. CVs are triggered based on the chord type you play ... Major, M6, M7, M7(b5), sus, sus2, M7sus, m, m6, m7, m7(b5), m(M7), 7, 7(b5), 7sus4, dim, dim(M7), #5, 7(#5), M7(#5), 1+5, 1+8, b5, dim7

2. Another very useful function on the PA600 is the SEARCH function.   Used mainly to search for files on the keyboard.

3. The Score function can display a score (with chord markings) on the touch screen for any midi file channel in real time.

4. The Markers function allows you to define markers in a MIDI file so you can instantly jump to a marked section during live playback

5. Lyrics can be displayed in real time with chord markings for both MIDI and MP3 files

These are all performance features that are mighty handy for some of us. ;-)

#1 is the BIGGY! ;-)

cheers,

Rick

7 minutes ago, Jazzman said:

So It would seem that this is an alternate way, perhaps better/easier, to do what I am doing.  I start by creating and saving a  registration for the start my performance, for example 7-1.  Then I recall it and save it to the next registration, in this case 7-2, make the modifications I want and then save 7-2.  If I need further changes then I repeat for 7-3 etc until I have all the changes I need for the performance.  One advantage I can see for using filters would be if I change one of the "filtered" paramaters of the performance I would only have to change the first registration to impact all the others.  For example if I make a key change to accommodate a vocalist in the first registration, 7-1 in this example, and have a "transpose filter "set to "on" for the other sequential registrations then I won't have to go through saving each one separately.  On the other hand if I start to use the "freeze" tool then I am going to have to check each registration I use to make sure that I haven't previously set a "freeze" parameter   for it.  Anything else I'm missing?

 

BTW, I really appreciate these type of tips.  This type of real world application is what is missing from most instrument manufacturer's documentation.  Manuals are written to show off the features of their instrument but they don't relate them to how/why to best use them in the creation of a real world performance.  Application manuals or videos that explain why we would want to use the features that are available would be very helpful.  

AMEN!!!

Have you tried adjusting the Mic input gain control?

Chris,

For the record I still own a Korg Kronos 2 and a Korg PA600. Both great instruments in their respective leagues. Nevertheless, I still love my MZ-X500, and it's the one that gets played almost every day. ;-)

cheers,

Rick

P.S. You must have the patience of Job! ;-)

10 hours ago, Casiokid said:

 

Hi Rick- what 'midi file player' did you use to audition and swop midi channels (Sound Forge?) to relocate midi channel parts between CH9-16 for the MZ-X500?

I use Sonar Artist now.