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1. nobax
   Member

   Hello All

   I asked Roland if I would be able to control a Fantom XR from my Yamaha US1 so that the pistons would allow me to play mutiple sounds of the Roland as sets of registrations. I would only want to use such a device as the Roland in 'live' playing as I am not interested in programming and sequencing.... Anyway, this is the reply that I received to my question....
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   The Fantom XR has a very complex MIDI implementation and responds to MBS/LSB messages. The question is.... Can the Organ send MSB/LSB program change messages from the pistons? If so, then Fantom will be perfect for the job.

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   Unfortunately it means nothing to me, can anyone who understands MIDI and knows a little of the US1 help?

   Hoping everyone is well

   Geoff

   Posted 5 months ago #

2. NicEL8000
   Member

   Hi Geoff,

   MSB/LSB is basically a process of "midi mapping" which lets you access any of the 64user/card performances or the single patch mode and lets you tie it up to your organ piston buttons. Roland organs have this feature, and I think Orla may too. However, I not too sure about the US1. There are a few of us on the forum that have Yamaha HX or EL90, and neither of those models have MSB/LSB, so I'm guessing you will be in the same boat as us. (unless someone can say otherwise) So, if that's the case, you have the option of using CF/SD cards to store only 16 registrations (accessible from your US1 piston buttons OR you can get the Events Processor box from midi solutions that can be programmed to give you access to ALL perfomance/patches on the Fantom. This is not always the best option if you intend to use your US1 along with the Fantom, but it depends how you want to use the whole set up.

   If it's any use, have a quick look on the Fantom/TOIAB technical tips thread on this forum. It may help you decide which way you want to go.....I'm currently using CF/SD cards with my EL90, simply because I don't want to substitute any of the buttons on the EL dashboard to be used to access the Fantom - and this is how it is done with the midi processor box (eg. the sax button on the US1 could ne used to call up a user/card performance on the Fantom, a guitar button to call up another, a flute to call another etc.) Hopefully someone with US1 knowledge would be kind enough to let you know the midi spec of the US1 and confirm whether it does or doesn't do MSB/LSB. Hope this helps, and hope I haven't confused things more!

   Regards

   Nicola

   P.S. the facility of having 16 sounds coming through to upper/lower/base pedals at one time, AND the ability to set "splits" anywhere you want makes this a perfect instrument for playing live... in fact, in my opinion, I think it is an "Arrangers" dream with the endless possibilities....

   Posted 5 months ago #

3. tony400
   Member

   
   

   Posted 5 months ago #

4. tony400
   Member

   Geoff ive just taken a quick look at the midi implementation chart for the US1 and its the same as the HX1 model . program changes send out on the same channel so you wont have no problems calling up the 1st 16 performances on the fantom . you will need the midi events processor to control the expression of the fantom though . with the HX1 i had all 64 peformances with the aid of the MEP by mapping these to program changes the same with the EL90 i use now .. depending on how many sysex messages (buttons that send out midi information) you will be able to get more performances by programming those with the events processor . but to answer your question yes you will get the 1st 16 performances of the fantom xr with the us1 if you want more and the expression then you would need the M.E.P . (midi events precessor ) hope this helps geoff.. apologies if all this midi stuff is a bit mind boggling but there is as nic says plenty of help here .. cheers Tony

   Posted 5 months ago #

5. nobax
   Member

   Thanks Nic and Tony for very substantial posts on this subject. I have just stopped scratching my head - not because the 'penny has dropped' simply because it is getting sore!

   Is a MEP a separate 'in-line' piece of hardware? Am I right in thinking that that I can choose several combinations of voices and save them to a memory card so that they are actioned by the pistons of the US1?

   Tony, you seem to be saying that, with the appropriate set-up, the US1's individual 'stops' e.g. trumpet, strings, clarinet etc can relate to those sounds on the Roland Fantom XR. If so, that would be wonderful as all I want to do is play the US1 with the advantage of greater range and quality of sounds from the Roland box.

   Thanks again fols

   Geoff

   Posted 5 months ago #

6. NicEL8000
   Member

   Hi Geoff,

   You can store 64 "performances" in the USER section of the Fantom itself, and also 64 performances to a card - thus giving you access to 128 at one time. However, our Yamaha organs are set up so that when you press piston button1 it will choose Performance 1 on the Fantom, press piston 2 on the organ and it will select performance 2 on the Fantom etc (this will work for user or card) As we have only 16 piston buttons on the organ, it will only let us choose the first 16 performances of either user or card (giving us the equivalent of 32 sound set ups).

   The MEP is an additional black box (events processor) that can be purchased from a company in Canada called Midi Solutions (possibly it can be obtained in this country -Tony will know more about this than me). It can be programmed by computer to sort out the midi system exclusive messages which then allows you to get access to all 64 sounds from the Fantom. Any buttons on the US1 you maybe don't use could send a message via the MEP to call up the perfomance on the Fantom. If you press a trumpet on the US1, it won't pick a trumpet on the Fantom, rather it will pick the appropriate user performance patch that you have programmed it to choose.

   Also, as Tony mentioned you may not be able to control the expression on the Fantom from the US1 meaning you would need the MEP to control the expression too. I'm getting round this by plugging the audio outputs of the Fantom to RHYTHM IN on the EL90, the HS8 also had EXP IN (although only mono input). Check the AUX inputs on the US1 to see if it ONLY has AUX IN.... If it has EXP IN or RYTHM IN, you may find the Fantom would work with expression with the US1.

   Hope this helps. Tony will be able to add anything I've missed...
   Cheers, Nic

   Posted 5 months ago #

7. tony400
   Member

   Hi again .. i think nicola`s covered most of it geoff..
   The MEP is a powerful tool used for mapping events from the organ to the fantom.. The best way to start if you ever get one of these is to find out exactly whats coming out from the organ .. (midi messages) for e.g when i press trumpet on the organ it sends a sysex message something like
   F0 00 00 50 29 00 F7 ..you can do this by linking the organ to your p.c and using something called midi monitor. you can then tell that midi message using the software what you want the fantom to do. you could map it so it calls up peformance 17 or any other performance or you can do various other things like everytime you press that trumpet button make it play the crash symbal.a sysex message is sent out from my footswitch so i have that programmed to play the crash.sybal on mine. you could even have a virtual 3rd manual by programming that button to change from channel 1 to channel 4 on the fantom which is the solo manual . to be honest theres probably nothing the MEP cant do . (im still working on getting peformance 64 to boil my kettle by the way nicola.) just need to midify the kettle.. :-)

   heres a link geoff to the mep10. you can even download the software and have a look at some of the things you could do with it ..

   http://www.midisolutions.com/prodevp.htm
   any more questions geoff feel free .il do my best to help. cheers .Tony

   Posted 5 months ago #

8. NicEL8000
   Member

   Tony, I thought you would have programmed it to do the hoovering and ironing by now, ha ha!

   Geoff, I forgot to ask - are you thinking on using it for Theatre sounds, or Orchestral sounds?

   If it's Theatre, check out this link of Tony's youtube channel and you can see it getting played live http://www.youtube.com/user/antonio23jan

   If you want to see a quick demo of Orchestral, email me on fanxrtechATgooglemail.com (replacing the AT with @) and I'll send you a short clip I did to test it out a couple of days ago - nothing in a fit state to put on to youtube, but it shows the flexibility you can have with the split functions.

   Cheers, Nic

   Posted 5 months ago #

9. tony400
   Member

   nicola already done those (iron & hoover) but didnt want to mention it as i was worried about the the demand for the RTF file .. (settings for the mep) anyway you`ll see i asked you nicley too for this fantom clip by emailing to the above add. if youd be so kind enough nic to send it on ;-) .. cheers Tony

   Posted 5 months ago #

10. NicEL8000
    Member

    Tony, I have an overflowing ironing basket... and it's only a tiny clip and not really ready to "inflict" on the outside world, ha ha! I only suggested showing Geoff so he could see how the splits are set up, but I'll send it to you anyway - blink and you'll miss it though (Googlemail only sends files up to a certain limit, hence the shortness of the clip - I actually just tried it as a quick test to send it to Mike but his email rejected it, ha ha!). You'll recognise some of the sounds from what I sent on the card (the morricone, I think) catch you later.....

    Cheers, Nic

    Posted 5 months ago #

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