program changes MIDI Setup for Easy Program Changes, and Fine Tuning

[Glen Mann]

Hello all. I use my synthesizers (Casio PX-S3000 and a Yamaha MO6) primarily to play along with recorded music. I wanted a way to:

 

(1) Easily browse through the voices provided by the synths, and organize them into arbitrary named groups of "favorites". The Casio touch interface in my opinion is slick but just too slow to choose voices (and there are SOOOOO MANY), and the registrations are only somewhat helpful. Some external controllers can probably be used for this, but again, klunky. And as implied in another post, it appears that some external controllers cannot do program changes (Keystep 37, maybe?). Now a caveat: Using MIDI to pick voices on the Casio requires an external MIDI controller to play those voices, though there may be workarounds. The Yamaha, and most synths, I'm guessing, are not like this.

 

(2) Easily apply fine tuning changes, since not all music is recorded (or produced, whatever) using A=440. If you ask me, the second knob put on a synth should be fine tune (first is volume) but it's generally not there. Again, it's too slow to dive through the menus to fine tune for a song. Also, again, some external MIDI controllers could likely be setup to do this, but again, klunky. Same caveat as above.

 

I wrote a couple little software programs (embarrassing screen shots attached) to quickly and easily help do these things on multiple target synths, and also employed a couple freely available on the internet (MIDI-OX and loopMIDI). If there is any interest, I could write up how I did (1) and (2), and maybe in the process start a thread detailing how to use MIDI to control the Casio, since there seem to be a few questions regarding this. It wasn't easy for me, and maybe it could help someone. I'd also be willing to incorporate changes into my programs if anyone is willing to try them and offer ideas. They are beta quality -- ugly and unpolished! I am also starting a gig/setlist software allowing easy synth program changes in a gig setting, since the free stuff I've found is awful (when it works at all).

 

I'm not sure how generally useful a write up or software might be, so should I write it up?