Hi, I’d like to store something as a Performance but not use a layer or split.

Example:  I turn on my MX88 and do a Quick Reset. I now have Concert Grand on Part 1 and Amb Pizza on Part 2. Let’s say I want to store that as a Performance, no layer, no split, just as is so that I can switch from part to part quickly during a song. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks for any help.

kevin - 14 July 2024 07:07 AM

Hi, I’d like to store something as a Performance but not use a layer or split. (...) Is there a way to do this?

Yes. When editing your Performance, just make sure that the KeyboardMode parameter is set to “Single” instead of “Layer” or “Split” (refer to the Reference Manual, p.43-46) before you store it.

- H -

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for my delayed response. I just found time to try your suggestion today. Sadly, it didn’t work.

There is a panel button for “Layer” and one for “Split” but none for “Single”. So, I assumed that if neither “Layer” or “Split” were chosen and lit, I was in “Single” mode. I selected Rock Piano on Part 1 and Rocky organ on Part 2. I then clicked STORE, then chose Performance #124 as the location where I wanted to store the Performance. Lastly I confirmed my changes with YES. All seemed to be going in the right direction but when I called up Performance #124 my setting was not there.

I then found on Page 43 of the manual, a way to change into “Single” mode via Edit/Common/ General. When I called that up, the MX was already set to “Single” mode. Once again, I tried setting my new Performance as outlined above but to no avail.

In the past I have been able to create and save Split and Layer Performances without a problem. It’s the setup I explained in my original post that I can’t seem to figure out. 

Hmmmmmmm?

kevin - 23 July 2024 03:43 PM

There is a panel button for “Layer” and one for “Split” but none for “Single”. So, I assumed that if neither “Layer” or “Split” were chosen and lit, I was in “Single” mode.

The above is a correct assumption.

kevin - 23 July 2024 03:43 PM

All seemed to be going in the right direction but when I called up Performance #124 my setting was not there.

Did the correct voices appear on Parts 1 and 2?

- H -

Yes, while I was setting it up both voices were in the display window as Part 1 and Part 2. It was after doing the Performance save process and recalling Performance #124 they were gone.

Basically, what I’d like to accomplish is to program a Part 1 and Part 2 that I can call up as a Performance. This way I can have the convivence of using a Performance # to call up that setting, then scroll up and down using the up/down arrows between the two voices.

kevin - 24 July 2024 12:24 PM

Basically, what I’d like to accomplish is to program a Part 1 and Part 2 that I can call up as a Performance. This way I can have the convivence of using a Performance # to call up that setting, then scroll up and down using the up/down arrows between the two voices.

You explained this just fine in your first post.

kevin - 24 July 2024 12:24 PM

Yes, while I was setting it up both voices were in the display window as Part 1 and Part 2. It was after doing the Performance save process and recalling Performance #124 they were gone.

Please clarify: Were your Part 1 and Part 2 Voices gone, as in «replaced with different Voices» when calling up and actually playing the Performance, or were they gone, as in «no longer showing» in the MX88 display?


Note: The Quick Reset function ([SHIFT]+[SELECT]) wipes the edit buffer of the instrument, and thus cancels any unstored parameter edits you made up to that point. Therefore, do not use this function while editing Voices or Performances, unless you actually want to start over. Any time you wish to go back to the Top display (the screen that shows both Part 1 and 2 voices), instead move up one menu level at a time by pushing the [EXIT] button several times.

- H -

Thanks so much for trying to figure this out with me!

For clarity sake, I just went back and started from scratch. Here’s what I did Step by step, in order, and the result I got.

1) For a fresh start, I renamed Performance #124 as “BlankPerf” and saved it.
2) I then did a Quick Reset (Shift/Select)
3) I went back into Performance mode and checked to make sure the rename saved. It did.
4) I did another Quick Reset to get back to my starting point.
5) I selected Rock Piano for Part 1 and Crunchy (organ) for Part 2. (display showed Part 1 & 2)
6) I pressed Store, then selected Performance #124 as my destination
7) I then pressed Enter, then Yes
8) After the process was complete, I went back to Performance #124 and found the following:
a.  The Performance was still named “BlankPerf”
b.  Only the Rock Piano played on the keyboard
c.  I tried the up/down arrows that usually take you from Part 1 to Part 2. Still, only the Rock Piano played.

I’m beginning to believe that what I want to accomplish may not be possible.

WAIT .... I GOT IT!!!!!!

I did a little more digging online and found this on Yamaha’s site. My problem was not in creating and saving my Performance, it was in how I was trying to recall and use it. What I saved was there all along! I just didn’t know how to find the Voices once I was in the Performance of choice. According to the “Note” at the end of the Yamaha info below, I now know that I have to use the Part Select buttons to find what I’ve programed. DUH!!

Thank you soooo much for trying to help with this! 

MX Series: Setting Up the 16 Parts in a Performance.
Although only two Parts (Voices) can be accessed at a time on the MX via a Layer or Split, 16 different Voices can be assigned to the 16 available Parts on each Performance for quick toggling/recalling of Voices without changing Performances. It is important to note that in Part Select mode Split and Layer are disabled, so only one Voice can be accessed at a time.

1) From your selected Performance, press the [PART SELECT] button.

2) Use the Cursor [?/?] or Part [1-16] buttons to select which track’s Voice will be edited.

3) Use the Cursor [?] button to navigate to the Category Select page (the Voice Category on the left of the display will flash), and use the [DATA WHEEL] to select the Voice Category.

4) Press the Cursor [?] button to navigate to the Voice Select page (the Voice Number to the right of the Category on the display will flash), and use the [DATA WHEEL] to select the desired Voice.

5) Repeat steps 2-4 untill all 16 Parts have the desired Voices assigned.

6) Press the [STORE] button to initiate the Store operation, and use the [DATA WHEEL] to select the Performance destination.

7) Press the [ENTER] button followed by the [YES] button to save the Performance.

NOTE: To change Parts within a Performance in real-time, press the [PART SELECT] button and use the [?/?] or Part [1-16] buttons to navigate.

Good to hear that you figured it out. Thumbs up!

- H -

Since I am having problems understnading the manual I was wondering if someone could verify something for me.

In the MX Users manual on Page 20, under “Playing performances” it says
“Performances 2 -128 are provided for enjoying a powerful and thick sound which consists of multilple various voices.”

This leads one to believe that more than two layered voices can be played at once. as A matter of fact it leads me to believe that it would be possible to layer 16 voice at once.

ON the contrary, I am getting from this thread that the only reason one can assign the 16 channels in a performance is to quickly switch from one voice to another.

I am I finally getting the right idea?

Any responses will be appreciated.

John In Brooklyn

Hi John,

johnrwill - 17 August 2024 03:20 PM

This leads one to believe that more than two layered voices can be played at once. as A matter of fact it leads me to believe that it would be possible to layer 16 voice at once.

That would have been cool, but the interpretation is unfortunately incorrect.

It is possible to play 16 parts at once, but only via MIDI (more on this below). From the MX’s own keyboard, as far as I can tell, you’re only allowed to play Part 1 and 2 simultaneously, or any single Part (1-16) on its own.

Parts 1 and 2 are the “Normally used Parts” in the figure on p.20 of the Owner’s Manual. In the same figure, also note that Parts 3-16 are grayed-out, meaning that you can’t play these from the keyboard at the same time as Part 1 and 2.

Multitimbral synthesizers can usually layer multiple timbres, simply by setting different tone generator Parts to receive note data on the same MIDI channel (meaning that multiple parts are now played simultaneously by the same source/note data). Splits are then created by also limiting the key range of each Part. On the MX, however, each part’s receive channel unfortunately appears to be fixed, so these tricks do not seem to be an option.

johnrwill - 17 August 2024 03:20 PM

ON the contrary, I am getting from this thread that the only reason one can assign the 16 channels in a performance is to quickly switch from one voice to another.

That’s probably just a result of us keyboardists creatively exploiting an existing mechanism for our own purpose, even if it was designed to do something else. Switching voices by switching Parts is a valid habit, but certainly not the only reason to use Performances.

Please note that the term “Performance” is used differently on other Yamaha synthesizers, where it typically refers to programs that combine up to 4 parts in splits/layers.

A Performance on the MX recalls the voice assignments and other settings (volume, pan, effects, etc.) for all 16 parts at the touch of a button. Given the keyboard and channel limitations discussed earlier, there are only three practical ways to feed note data to this many Parts simultaneously:

- Play back MIDI data from an external MIDI device (MIDI IN connector)
- Play back MIDI data from a computer (USB TO HOST connector)
- Play an SMF file from a USB flash drive (USB TO DEVICE connector)

The MX’s Performances are therefore the most useful when the synthesizer is employed as a multitimbral MIDI tone generator, and controlled by an external computer or sequencer (as opposed to only playing the keyboard manually). Combinations are of course possible; Let’s say you want to play one or two Parts yourself, while the other Parts are played by e.g. an SMF file for backing tracks. This is described on p.23 in the Owner’s Manual.

If you think of your MX synthesizer as an ensemble, and each Part as an instrument within that ensemble, a Performance on the MX is then perhaps best thought of as an “ensemble setup” for a particular song. In other words; A Performance contains everything that is needed to make a song sound the way it was intended, except for the actual note sheets.

An experienced user may embed voice assignments and Part parameters as messages/events in the actual MIDI data instead, in order to automate everything as the data is played back. For a beginner when it comes to MIDI, on the other hand, storing the ensemble setup as a Performance is perhaps the easier way to sort things out.

- H -