I can get a good deal on a Flash Memory card (used).  I am trying to figure out how much of a hassle it will be to utilize it.  installing is probably not a big deal but say I get a package with full sets of voices and performances.  Also say I want to save half of the user voices and performances I a presntly using.  How do I blend them together.

My first guess is download the new package and evaluate what I want to use.  Document say 150 voices and 100 performances, looking at each performance and insuring I get the voices utilized by it.

Now go into the existing performances and voices I use routinely and determine which I can overwrite. 

Now download a voice at a time into spaces I can free up from the purchased package.  Do the same for each performance....but the voices in the performances are in different places now so I have to redo each performance to address the new location of each voice.  After that I also would have to tweak all the edits on each performance because I am assuming when I assign a “new” voice (actually same voice but in different location), the performance will not keep all the edits that have been made.

Flash drive only stores waveforms if I am using proper term.  No additional storage for voices or performances. 

Does this sound correct or am I missing something?  Sounds like LOTS of work to get up and running again.

Alternatively I would have to switch to a new “backup” if I wanted to use a performance from the new package and then reload my regualar “backup” to use one of my existing performances.  Too time consuming when playing a job.

Please tell me there is an easier way or I am going to have to pass up on this? 

Thanks

Hi Mike,

Your description of the process is basically correct. Combining and rearranging two voice libraries with the instrument itself as your only tool can involve hours of tedious work. This is true whether you use a flash board or not, though: You can load voice libraries that don’t use custom samples/waveforms, but reorganizing those voices and performances is done in the same way.

Side note: Voices and waveforms are stored separately, and moving the voices does not affect the waveforms. Custom waveforms must be loaded onto the flash board before you can use the new voices that reference them, but this is a one-time thing. Once the waveforms are on the flash board, voices that use them are OK as long as you don’t delete or move the waveforms from their original numbered flash board locations.

The way to avoid the reorganization hassle is with the help of a computer. Although there is a learning curve at play with all types of software, spending some time on it will help you do the job a lot quicker. If you already have a computer and know how to handle files on it, software like Yamaha’s own MOXF Editor or John Melas’ XS/XF Tools is what to look for. The latter is not for free, but it does have some clever features not found on the MOXF Editor, such as the ability to keep track of Voice dependencies and update your Performances automatically.

With the MOXF Editor, the process then becomes something like this: Create a new library file and use the Import function to open the backup file that contains your current voices. You can now copy the desired voices into the blank library file. Then import your purchased/downloaded file and copy voices from it in the same way. Finally, you can drag-and-drop to rearrange the voices in the new file to suit your needs, before saving it and loading (or transmitting) it back into the instrument.

Having the MOXF connected to the computer is not required in order to work on the files, but the connection (use the USB-MIDI driver if you don’t have a dedicated MIDI interface) provides a couple of additional time-savers to the process: It lets you monitor all of the voices in the files without actually having to load them on the instrument first (assuming necessary samples/waveforms are already present on the flash board), and also allows for bulk transmission of data instead of shuffling a USB thumb drive around.

That’s the birds-eye view of it, but I hope it makes sense. Please ask if clarifications are needed!

- H -

well thanks for an explanation.  I have never used the Cubase software, that came with the MOXF.  I am a vintage player....as in old.  started on the accordion actually but played everything from church organ to glockenspiel at some time.  The MOXF has been a challenge to me to say the least.  I have managed to get a lot out of it but likely use less then 10% of what it can do.

I do have the Yamaha MOXF editor.  I will have to try loading files into it and see what I see. 

Are you implying it will enable me to move voices or performances around freely and keep the linkages.  even if I do not get the flash module, that would be great to try to organize some of my sounds.  Stuff is ALL OVER THE PLACE right now as it just went where there was something I did not like or no longer needed. 

I do mostly solo work and a lot of big band and standards.  So it would be great for example to put my big band sounds together, then maybe jazz quarters, etc.  I have not done it since it is kind of tricky moving them around, have to copy and paste a lot.

will see what I can get manage and be back, may be a little while.

Mike K - 07 June 2024 12:47 PM

Are you implying it will enable me to move voices or performances around freely and keep the linkages.

Yes, this is indeed true for Melas’ Total Librarian application, which is part of his tools bundle, but can also be purchased separately. I don’t think Yamaha’s editor does this (I have an older instrument for which their editor certainly won’t), but it is nevertheless a good place to start getting to grips with the files themselves.

Best of luck!

- H -

I have the total librarian and the MOXF Editor installed.  Have backup file loaded on PC but not connected to MOXF at moment.  I see how to move files around on the librarian....quite simple.  Now have to download it and see if the saved file works.

Do not see how I would use it for the flash drive yet.

Mike K - 08 June 2024 11:19 AM

Do not see how I would use it for the flash drive yet.

You can’t change the contents of the flash board from those editors, since they only deal with the normal user data contained in the files. With the Waveform Editor, however, you can manipulate the waveform part of the libraries, with dependency tracking. This would otherwise have to be done manually on the instrument. Don’t let the manual approach scare you just yet, though:

If the flash board is empty (you would normally format it after installation), you have to load your custom samples to it just once. With your USB stick inserted, load the .X6A file checking both the “with Sample” and “with Waveform” boxes the first time around (see this page for instructions and screenshots). This will copy the voices to the selected User bank destination, and the included waveform data to your flash board.

Afterwards, loading a different set of voices (such as your backup of earlier voices) might replace the voices in the User banks, but the previously loaded waveform data will remain untouched on the flash board.

If you then want to load the first set of custom sampled voices again, this time leave the sample and waveform boxes unchecked, since loading the same waveform data again would only waste space by duplicating the contents on the flash board.

Each flash board has 2048 “slots” in which to store waveforms. When loading waveforms from USB, they are stored sequentially on the board, starting at slot number 1 (these slot numbers are what the voices refer to). When loading additional samples, they are simply added sequentially from the first available blank slot in the waveform list. Thus, if you later get another set of voices that come with custom waveforms, loading the additional waveforms will simply add them to free slots on the flash board (as long as it still has sufficient free space), without touching those that are already there.

My point is this: Except for when your flash board starts running out of space, you don’t actually have to pay much attention to the waveform contents on it. As long as the waveforms have been loaded to it once (and you save an .X6A backup of it to work with in the editors), the voices that need the waveforms should find them. When space becomes a concern, unused samples can be deleted manually, although that will require some careful planning and fiddling around without the Waveform Editor.

- H -