Rick Stirling

Adi,

One of the features I REALLY like in Sonar (Artist) is the Patch Browser. If you know any part of a patch's name you can quickly locate the patch and assign it to a track ... In the image below  ...

1. I typed in 'pick'

2. the patch browser then shows me all the X500  patches with 'pick' in the name

3. I double left click on Picked Bass 2 to assign it to the selected channel 16

6 hours ago, adimatis said:

Is there a way to set up a Sonar project with 16 tracks, have the X500 connected through MIDI, assign the right tones from within Sonar and then record using the arranger facilities? Basically, a way to record through MIDI out the accompaniment tracks and once recorded IN SONAR, to be edited and then played back properly by X500 as sound generator...

 

I hope it makes sense what I ask...  

 

If this would be possible, this workflow would be best for me. THIS I couldn't really achieve before.

 

Then of course, each track would be rendered into an audio file and mixing phase can be done.

 

THanks! 

Yes to all except you would need to record each audio track separately in Sonar via the audio out from the X500. There is no multitrack audio recording in the X500 

Looks like they borrowed a lot of features from the PA900 & PA4X ... Nice!

They were VERY good at keeping this under wraps. Looks like Kraft Music has stock today. 

Correction: They are taking Pre-Orders. ;-)

26 minutes ago, adimatis said:

If we are at it, can you tell me please, when you work in Sonar with X500 as a sound generator, how easy is it to actually work with it as 16 tracks module? For instance, with Korg Pa50 it was a constant headache as I used to move constantly between style and song mode... And was rather difficult I found to obtain good results... A tedious process.

 

What is your workflow if you wanted to record something MIDI, into the Sonar, using rhythms accompaniment of Casio?

 

Thanks!

Pretty straightforward actually.  Record  using MIDI record on the MX-500 then just load the resulting MIDI file into Sonar using my INS file to define the keyboard of course. ;-)

Adi,

I've converted BCS, PRS and STY in the past to both KORG and X500. If you edit the file suffix (bcs, prs, sty etc) to .mid and then can play the file in a midi player then it should convert. I sometimes will take those files into a midi editor like Sonar and tweak them before converting them with the X500.  The following arrangement of channel assignments works best for me ...

Channel 9 = Percussion

Channel 10 = Drums

Channel 11 = Bass

Channel 12 - 16 = Accompaniment 1 thru 5

Adi,

Yes, there are zip files at the bottom of each page by keyboard model.

For starters you might try this page ... Free Yamaha Styles

Any of the Yamaha styles with a PSR file suffix should import just fine.  You can audition any of the style files by playing them in a midi player. If they sound OK when played as a midi they should convert easily.

I've even converted Tyros styles. ;-)

Randy,

I'm watching this thread with great interest! 

cheers,

Rick

Great, glad that's sorted. You'll find the X500 has a zillion degrees of freedom when it comes to the depth of controls & adjustments.  Loads of fun!!! ;-)

Steve,

Perhaps you were looking at the Arpeggio controls?

Rick

Hah hah hah ! Picking myself up off the floor! So glad you got your stuff mated! Enjoy!

"Hello playmates!"

Lol ... Haven't heard Arthur in ages!  

Guten Morgen!

"I have watched Ralph Maten so many times I am starting to learn German!"

That is hilarious! I had the same feeling watching Ralph! 

Steve,

Just in case ...

https://www.amazon.com/UpBright®-Adapter-MZ-X500-Arranger-Keyboard/dp/B01HPX1LSE

cheers,

Rick

1. The break button can be programmed with a complete pattern tone/rhythm/drums that comports with the Style. 

2. Key bed is bit more organ like --- 'Hammondish'

3. Touch screens are comparable, both are resistive. The Korg is a 4-wire and like the X500 I find using the back of my fingernail most efficient.

4. I'd say the build qualities are comparable with a very slight edge to the PA600

5. Here I give the edge to the X500. Not a factor for me as I use studio monitors with plenty of bass near field.

p.s. I'm still lusting after the PA4X, wish I had purchased it vs the Korg Kronos 2 ;-)

Yes, I've been a member over there for several years. Not very active there now though. Still answer private mails from time to time. ;-)

(I still own a PA600 and Kronos 2) 

The only "issues" I see with the X500 are that it is not available in 76 keys 'yet' and the keybed might not stand up to heavy use (gigging). Neither of these are issues for me. 

On the software side of things, I would really like it if factory tones were re-writable. It's the one feature I miss from my Korg PA. ;-)

I'm pretty sure you can buy the Artist version outright for $99, or pay $10 per month to own it in 12 months. 

AlenK:  I guess Sonar has set my expectations up a few notches when it comes to midi support in DAWs ;-)

Uninstalled Studio One ... definitely not MIDI friendly. (IMHO) ;-)

Adimatis: OK ... I got Studio One talking to the X500. ;-)

Adimatis:  I use Sonar now. It has decent MIDI editing capabilities and of course you can use the X500 instrument names in the editor with the INS file I created. Also with the INS file all instruments on the X500 can be accessed directly not just General Midi tones. My remark about Studio One midi was primarily due to several remarks I read by users online that instrument definition files could not be used.  I've just downloaded Studio One 3.3 and find the interface not very intuitive. I loaded a MIDI file and the program doesn't automatically route MIDI to a MIDI port. Still haven't found how to tell the program which MIDI port to use let alone how to define instrument definitions.  Looks like a lot of diving in the manual will be required. ;-)

I've always had the feeling that Studio One strengths were not in the MIDI domain.  ;-)

If you search the internet there was a utility that could take a Sonar INS file and create the equivalent for Studio One, but I think that it was only for an earlier version of Studio One. Good luck.

You can start a search here ... http://answers.presonus.com/12251/studio-one-3-external-midi-hardware-devices-patch-names

https://www.ebay.com/i/370544901102?chn=ps&dispItem=1

I created an instrument definition file for Sonar. You can find it in the files section here.