M U S I C P R O D U C T I O N G U I D E official News Guide from Yamaha & easY souNds for Yamaha music ProductioN iNstrumeNts 06|2016 Contents Interview José & Takeshi 3 Yamaha Synth Newsletter 6 MONTAGE Quick Guide Part 3 File and Library Management 7 MONTAGE FM-X Guide Part 4 FM-X SoundDesign - First Steps 14 M O N T A G E Yamaha DTX760K 19 F M - X G u i d E Sounds & Goodies 22 PArT 4 Imprint 39 MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016 iNTErviEw J O s È & T A k E s h i Often referred to as a jazz singer for the A Native of Hiroshima, Japan, pianist / keyboardist Takeshi Ohbayashi studied at hip-hop generation, Minneapolis native Berklee College of Music and started his Jose James has always drawn from professional career as member of Terri Lyne disparate musical influences. After studying Carrington band. After graduating from Berklee Global Jazz Institute, he moved to at New York’s New School for Jazz and NYC and quickly became one of the most Contemporary Music, he released his debut in demand musician in New York in both album, “The Dreamer” on the Brownswood acoustic jazz and R&B hip-hop jazz field. recordings label and followed up with He is performing at many famed festivals and venues all around the world with Jose a string of albums. His third, “For All We James, Takuya Kuroda, New Century Jazz Know” winning both the Edison Award and Quintet which is co-lead by Takeshi and L'Académie du Jazz Grand Prix. Ulysses Owens Jr. Yamaha.com 3 MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016 We caught up with the pair in Osaka, where they took time to talk with us about the reface series. “It’s the perfect travel companIon.” So what do you think of the reface series so far? Jose: I love it! I have the CP and take it when I travel — it’s the perfect travel companion. You know, when you’re on a train or a flight, it fits right into your carry-on, and it has the full range of sounds, and that playability, that touch and feel. I don’t want to sit and open up my laptop when I have an idea, I just want to play it on an instrument. It’s really nice to have one of these with you just for writing, because when you get an idea you can just plug in and have your whole world set up. It makes me feel like I’m still connected to the music. One other thing — the CS definitely helped me to learn the basics of the synthesizer… you know, LFO, that kind of thing… I highly recommend it to people who want to get familiar with how a synth really works. “I lIke the way It lets me be fast. I can emaIl my Ideas!” Did the reface have any influence on the production of your new album? Jose: Absolutely. I think you’re influenced by whatever you’re writing with. The synth is very specific — it’s melodic but it also has attitude — which is why I prefer it. So for example when I'm collaborating with another artist, I can play and record right on the synth, which lets them hear not only the phrasing but the spirit of what I was trying to do. I like the way we can be fast now. You can say, “Oh Takeshi: I agree with Jose. It’s definitely great to travel hey, here’s an idea... ” and just email it. The artist can with, but what surprised me was the superb touch! I used open it and send it back, almost like a session. For me, to spend more time on the piano, so I’m picky about touch, there’s more information writing with a synth. and this is definitely the best small keyboard out there—I I mostly use the piano to write music, but with the CS it’s… really appreciate your hard work! “Wow!” You start exploring. It’s a beautiful instrument, The app is really cool because when we’re playing live and having it in the sound of the stage has been amazing Jose sometimes switches up the song and I don’t have too. We’re still finding the sound for the new album; we’re time to tweak all the knobs… with the app I can just swap trying things out onstage, and the reface series has been and get into the sound. super-cool, especially the organ. Yamaha.com 4 MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016 Takeshi: Sound- and pitch-wise, there are things that contemporary world. The reface series is a beautiful way only a synthesizer can do, so that has been really helpful for a player to transition and have fun. Like Takeshi says, to me in writing new songs, and for exploring. I’m also it’s a nice bridge because the feel and the touch are still really excited to go online and download sounds that other there, but you realize, “Oh wow, all of a sudden I can people have made — everyone is going to feel something just put my voice in this world,” and it sounds beautiful, different just from the one same sound. I think that’s a you know? It’s a new turning point, because I love singing standards — the history and tradition — but people also really cool idea that you guys came up with! want to know your story, and Yamaha can help you tell it! “Jazz musIc Is at a turnIng poInt. lInks: the reface serIes Is a beautIful way for a player to transItIon Josè James Official: http://www.josejamesmusic.com and have fun.” Takeshi Obayashi Official: http://www.takeshimusic.com What significance does the reface series have for you as a jazz artist? Jose: It’s sort of a larger conversation, but I think jazz music is at a turning point, because we live in a world that is based on technology. Jazz has traditionally been based on acoustic instruments, but has been incorporating more technology into recording techniques, or into instruments that are sort of electronic, but still analog, like an electric piano or a hollow-body electric guitar. For some artists who come from jazz or conservatory backgrounds there is a transition in taking their knowledge of jazz and incorporating contemporary sounds, but I think it’s important for jazz musicians in particular to live in the Yamaha.com 5 s y N T h N E w s Receive the latest Yamaha Synths news, artist info & product updates straight in your inbox! Join our new email database here to get in the loop. MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016 M O N T A G E Q u i c k G u i d E PArT 3 - FilE ANd librAry MANAGEMENT The last two episodes dealt with EAsy FiliNG Performances, Live Sets, and Scenes. Since You should already know the most important rule about it is particularly important to save the self- file handling. It also applies to the MONTAGE and reads programmed Performances, today is all about the file handling. And I assume that as follows: this issue is of particular interest for all new "Saving & Backups - rather too often than too rare!" owners of a MONTAGE relatively shortly To avoid any misunderstanding, I would like to start by after its release. saying that it mainly comes to saving on external media Compared to the MOTIF series the user interface of the (USB flash drive, USB hard drive) in this episode. The fact MONTAGE already bears a significant change, which is that storing, for example, a Performance also leads to essential for the topic of this episode: There is no [FILE] "Utility > Contents", makes a clear distinction important. button anymore. All such actions are now taking place If you are in the section "Utility > Contents" and choose in [UTILITY]. After pressing this button, the menu item "Store / Save" from the right column of the menu, the "Contents" summarises everything that is associated with selection of the "Content Type" is made with a tap on the files. corresponding parameter or by using the dial or [INC / YES] / [ DEC / NO]. There are four options available: • Performance (typically accessed through [STORE]) • User File • Library File • .mid File Yamaha.com 7 MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016 User and Library files are now in the focus, I'll devote a In all mentioned actions you don't have to worry about separate episode for Song and MIDI files. According to User Waveforms. These are automatically managed by the title of this paragraph here are a few quick and easy the MONTAGE. recommendations before we go "scraping the barrel". usEr FilEs iN dETAil Make yourself store a User File to an external medium after each work on MONTAGE that results in changes The entire user data can be stored on a USB storage device compared to the factory set. A list of compatible USB as a User File (extension ".X7U"). A User File includes the storage devices can be found on the MONTAGE download following data: page at Yamaha.com • Performance max. 640 • Curve max. 32 After you have connected your storage device: (for Control Assign + Motion Sequence) • Press the button [UTILITY] • Arpeggio max. 256 • Open the display "Contents" > "Store / Save" • Motion Sequence max. 256 • Select the the Content Type "User File" at the top of • User Waveform max. 2,048 the display • Micro Tuning max. 8 • Tap on "Name-of-your-USB-stick"_usb1 • Live Set max. 2,048 • Tap on "[Save As New File]" A major difference to the MOTIF series is the fact that the • Enter a name and confirm with "Done" size of the files varies not only with respect to the memory Apart from sequencer data doing so stores all user- capacity. The content is adapted to the actual needs. A relevant data, having done the most important thing. User File may contain, for example, a single Performance. AFTER this action, you can safely load another User File. There are no placeholders with Init Performances created This is done basically by the same route, the command to within the file. This is also noticeable in terms of speed do is, of course, "Load". when files are saved and loaded. You can safely load a Library File at any time. The user TO kEEP AN OvErviEw memory area remains untouched. For this reason, a Library File is loaded without additional confirmation. If MONTAGE has a wonderful feature to learn about the you accidentally load a Library File that is already present current contents of the user memories. Follow the path in the instrument, the status quo is simply overwritten - [UTILITY] > "Contents" > "Data Utility" to have a folder structure displayed. Tapping a folder opens the content which is however not a problem, since the contents of view. Simultaneously, the number of used memory a Library File can not be edited anyway. If a limit is locations and the respective maximum achievable reached, because all eight Library Memories are already capacity appears in the top-right of the display. occupied or the free memory for User Waveforms is too low, you'll get an error message. In this case, you have to free memory to be able to load further files. Yamaha.com 8 MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016 In the top center of the display, the folder structure is • Select the Content Type "Library File" at the top of the shown, with a tap on ">MONTAGE" you can return to the display overview. • Tap on "Name-of-your-USB-stick"_usb1 (this step The items within the folders can be renamed or deleted is only necessary after the first connection of your immediately after selection. storage medium) • Tap on "[Save As New File]" • Enter a file name and confirm with "Done" Subsequently the stored Library File can be loaded with these steps into a Library Bank: • Press [UTILITY] • Select "Contents" > "Load" from the menu • Select the Content Type "Library File" at the top of the display Moreover sorting options facilitate the overview. • Tap on "Name-of-your-USB-stick"_usb1 • Select the previously stored Library File (extension librAry FilEs ".X7L") In addition to the Preset Banks and the User Bank up to To remove a Library File from the memory, perform the eight Library Banks are available, which can be loaded as following steps: Library Files (extension ".X7L"). • Press [UTILITY] • Select "Contents" > "Data Utility" from the menu The difference to the User Bank is merely that the • Tap on the folder "Library" Performances in a Library Bank can not be changed or edited. • Tap on the file to be deleted • Tap on "Delete" in the left menu A Library File is kind of a "frozen" copy of an entire User • Confirm the prompt on the display with "Delete / YES" File, with one exception: Only the first Live Set Bank of the respective source User File is copied. The Library File is generated by storing all the data contained in the user memory - all User Performances, User Waveforms, Samples, and User Arpeggio Patterns - in a Library File. Subsequently, the Library File can be loaded into one of the eight Library Banks. The Performances contained therein behave like Presets that were created by the user. The Library Memory Slots are occupied in the The memory - for instance for User Waveforms - is loading order and identified by the file name. immediately released. The complete contents of the user memory (incl. User sOME hiNTs FOr Waveforms and Samples) can be stored as a Library File by following these steps: ThE OrGANisATiON • Press [UTILITY] The order in which the Library Files are loaded • Select "Contents" > "Store / Save" from the menu determines their position in the available Banks 1 to 8. Yamaha.com 9 MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016 If gaps occur after deleting several Libraries, these are If it is necessary to change or supplement a Library File, this filled in the order of loading. The Bank Select commands has to be done in the underlying User File. Subsequently, for selecting the Performances ensue from their position the modified User Bank must be saved as a Library File within the eight Banks. You will find the appropriate and the changed Library must be re-loaded. commands in the Data List. So, if you change the contents Moreover, it should be noted that no User Waveforms and of the Library Banks frequently, but at the same time work with Bank Select commands to call up the Library User Arpeggio Patterns will be copied by storing a Library Performances, you must consider this behavior. After a Performance into the user memory. That might mean - reorganisation, so you should take care with the loading similar to the situation described for the Live Sets - that the order to ensure that every Library File that is addressed appropriate Library must be loaded in order for the User by Bank Select commands gets back in its original Bank. Performance to work as expected. A similar situation arises with Live Sets. It is possible hANdy librAry TiPs to use Live Sets in the User Who has persevered this far, will find that various Memory to call up Library possibilities exist to deal with the different memory areas Performances. However, in MONTAGE. The easiest way is to avoid cross-links and if a Library is deleted, that to consider each file as an isolated unit. The pleasantly is linked in this manner, the message "Not Found" low loading times allows to handle all files quickly. If you appears in the Live Set Slot organise your "daily work files" into the Library storage, in question. the user memory would always be free for experiments. After re-loading the Library On the other hand free Library Banks can also be loaded that link is not automatically quickly - in that case without touching the user memory. restored. Only after the Another way might be to set up the Library Banks as User File has been re-loaded, the Library Performance is containers for parts that use User Waveforms. So you reassigned in the Live Set Slot. In the context of Live Sets, could create one or more User Files which then take "use" however, the position of the Library Files in the Banks does of this Waveform pool. The advantage may be the very not matter, because the Libraries are identified by their fast loading times of the then sample-free User Files. names. As usual, everyone must find her or his own way in this I have made a graphically-interactively presentation of the regard. MONTAGE memory concept. See the web version here. It is very pleasant that MONTAGE automatically takes If there are compatibility issues with your browser, a video- over the managing of the User Waveforms. Each loaded version is available on YouTube. file receives a reserved memory area, which can quickly https://youtu.be/SpYP0e_WRMc be released for other files if needed. Important note: compIlIng a performance collectIon An edited Library Performance can be stored exclusively from several fIles as a new User Performance. It is not possible to perform a store operation directly into a Library. For It is not possible to load individual Performances from this reason, in addition to the Library File the same User Files. However, there is the "Library Import". Make memory content should always be stored as a User File. no mistake: This will not import anything into a Library. Yamaha.com 10