F.48 - How to determine when the Tyros folder sizes are near the limit

Use the program HDCheck (http://psrtutorial.com/MB/bedesem.html ). It will report all the file sizes and give you the option of splitting any folder into two.

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F.49 - How to control Vocal Harmony

When you turn on Tyros, the Vocal Harmony light is always lit. To make it default to "off", many users create a registration called Setup and start it every time they turn on the instrument. There a number of other settings that often are put in this registration to ensure a known state after startup.

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F.50 - How to access 32 channels of midi on Tyros.

The instrument makes use of two midi ports called Midi A and Midi B. Both can support 16 channels. Midi A will transmit via USB 0-1 and the Midi A midi port. Midi B only transmits from the Midi B midi port and not USB -

At the computer, data from the instrument is accessible via Yamaha 0-1 In USB driver and the Midi A and Midi B ports(assuming you have a midi interface that installed that supports these).

You can receive data from the computer on Yamaha 0-1 USB out (midi A), Yamaha 0-2 USB out (midi B) or the Midi A and Midi B midi data ports.

I.e. you can send and receive 32 channels at once only via the midi data ports. If you use USB, you can transmit 16 channels and receive 32.  This is not really a problem since most recording applications are done in layers and you can redirect the 16 USB channels to Midi B tracks at the sequencer.

If you go to Function/Midi/Edit/Transmit or Receive, you will see that you can select the 16 midi A channels or the 16 Midi B channels. This is where you assign the data that is sent or received from the computer. You will note that under Receive, Midi A can be directed to any of the 16 song channels or any of the 16 keyboard channels; Midi B can only be used with Keyboard channels. Thus you really do not have a 32 channel recording/playback device; to do this you need two instruments.

On the computer side, e.g. Sonar, select the in/out assignments in Tools/Midi.

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F.53 - How to set up the limits of pitch bend

The setting for the pitch bend range is on the Mixing Console/Panel page/Tune tab

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F.54 - How to delete WAV songs on the Tyros Hard Disk Recorder

Load any other song and then delete the one you want. You cannot delete the loaded song.

Alternatively, turn on the instrument, go to the HD recorder and push Delete first. (Eileen on Yamaha PKOwner forum)

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F.55 - Tips and tricks for better performances.

1. Playing any three adjacent notes simultaneously in the style control end of the keyboard stops all style sections except rhythm - an interesting effect at the right moment in some songs.
2. Hitting the button of the main section which is playing at any time brings in the fill.
3. The real usefulness of these above two is that when used together you get a great style break and fill in on the drums with no other instruments which work on many songs as a bridge. i.e hit the three notes together, then immediately hit the main section button to activate the drum fill. On many styles this is very effective.
4. Synch stop can be left on but only activated when you want it by setting a time window which then lets you play normally, but actuate it with a staccato chord. Unlike the three button stop above which keeps the beat going, synch stop stops not just the style but the beat, so it's great for the free tempo lead or vocal sections in a song. Hitting a chord brings the style right back on the first beat of the bar.
5. If you really want to get clever combine the synch stop with 1 and 2. Now you can have a free tempo section, then a great drum riff bringing you right back into the full accompaniment.
6. Yamaha provides us with a lot of chord fingering options for different skill levels but you have to use fingered on bass for control of the bass line which is essential for breaking up repetition, and playing chromatic bass lines. Also it provides subtle harmony variations, - some things just don't sound right with the chord root as the bass. One warning though, the keyboard does not recognize every chord correctly without the bass root, for example using a G bass with and F chord - but since these are usually passing notes, and the bass dominates the harmony the listener hears- the chord approximation is usually unnoticed. Fingered on bass also allows another unusual option where hitting two notes one octave apart changes to a 'chordless' pattern. This is something which only sounds right in limited situations, but is another trick up your sleeve to break up patterns.
7. Many instruments need an element of note bending and sliding for that authentic sound, - guitar, sax, trombone, harmonica, for examples. Set up an expression pedal on pitch bend for live playing of these sounds. The pedal should be set to 2 note range, + polarity and so that full down is full pitch. Then you just back off the pedal a little just as you hit the note and press it down to bend it to full pitch. You can also get a tremolo effect on long notes by moving the pedal up and down, and on sax or harmonica sound it can be effective on long notes to bend the note a little down and back up as it is being held. Use these effects sparingly or it gets to sound a bit cheesy. I know this sounds difficult, but it really isn't for seasoned keyboard players, just a few minutes practice can make it second nature. (Posted by Mike[mikf] on the PSRTutotial forum0 .

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F.56 - REVISED! Why instruments do not display some files

The length of the filename must be under 42 characters for it to be displayed.

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F.57 - Why do voices and styles sometimes change as a midi plays?

The PSR/Tyros consist of several midi engines that can play singly or simultaneously: a 16 channel midi song, an 8 channel style, a 4 channel multipad, and a 4 channel keyboard (3 R, 1 L). Each engine has its own setup, for example as defined by midi, styles, multi and voice files respectively.

But there are cases where one engine can be programmed by another. The style file can have an OTS section that, when executed, sets up the keyboard voices. For a midi song file, if it was created by a Quick Record, then it includes a command that indicates the model number and the style (preset only) that is loaded. When this midi is loaded into the same model of instrument, the command changes the style selected. Many midis you play may have the command, but if it was created on a different model, it will not execute. (FYI: The program MidiPlayer always decodes and displays this command in the Instrument-Style box in the upper right hand corner). Midis that are made using MultiRecord most often do not have this command, nor will midis created using a sequencer.

The loaded midi always has the commands that define the voices used in the midi song player. You can see these and how they change by looking at the Control Panel/song page while the midi is playing. In addition, the midi can also have a special command that sets up the keyboard. This is very similar to an OTS setting, but it is imbedded in the midi and is executed when the midi gets to its location. This command is added by the author opening Song Creator/ Channel page/Setup Item and with the keyboard voices checked, clicking Execute. The intention of this command is to allow playing along with the midi and have the right/left voices change automatically at the correct times.

Sometimes this command is included by mistake. Often PSR midi authors use Mixing Console and Song Creator to change the voices in a midi. If the midi is not fully rewound when the Execute is depressed, then one of these commands is inserted at that position (and the voice the author was trying to change is not). It is quite possible that one or more such events might be in a midi by error.

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F.58 - Why my instrument always shows a chord with a /C in the bass

Normal cause of /C regardless of the chord keyed is that the MIDI template is incorrect and has been set to MIDI Pedals.

Go to Function / MIDI and set to All Parts.

<(Steve on yamaha PKOwners forum)

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F.59 - NEW! How to select the accompaniment variation from a midi playing in the instrument

Add an ACMP Section command to the midi in MixMaster/List view/Insert PSR Control Commands.

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F.60 - How to display measures in Big numbers.

On the T2 or 3000, when a midi song is playing if Play and Forward are pressed together, the measures appear on the screen in big numbers. (from Michael Shaw)

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F.61 - How to send multiple midi commands to a remote instrument .

You can use multi pads to send a series of midi commands (e.g. Bank Select and Program Change commands in this example) to a remote device connected via midi.

Make a user multi in Digital Recording/ Multipad Creator / New Bank. In Edit (set Filter to All On) use Step record to add some events and then edit them to be Ctrl 0=0, Ctrl 32= 8 or 113 and prog =1 or 33 to select the voice you need. You might need to have one note event (I did not check this but it is possible). If so set its velocity =0 so it will not sound.

The Multipad midi assignment is made in Function/ Midi/Edit/ Transmit.

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F.62 - REVISED!  How to add fader changes to a recorded midi

To record the fader changes, you have to use Song Creator. The changes are not entered in real time, but the volume will change as the file is played.

Load your song then depress Digital Recording/SongCreator/1-16 page.

Depress Filter and select ALL On. Exit to 1-16 page. 

Select a channel (1-16) and then, at the measure location you want to make a change, insert a ctrl event, value = 7 in the next column to the right, followed by the volume amount 0-127 in the next column -

When done adding volume events, Save your midi.

Alternatively, you can use a PC midi editor such as MixMaster/MixerView.

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F.63 - How to reverse the left and right hands on the PSR.

1. Enable Right 1 and Left
2. Connect Midi Out to Midi In
3. In Function/Split Point set Acmp=C1 and Left =C3
4. In Function/Midi/Edit/ Receive set Ch1 part = Off and Ch3 Part = Right 1; others can stay as Song
5. In Function/Midi/Edit/ Chord Detect set Ch1 part =On
6. In Function/Midi/Edit/ System set Local =Off for all Right/Left voices
7. Turn Acmp (accompaniment) On using the button on the keyboard

This will direct the Right 1 (Ch 1, right hand) data to the accompaniment section and trigger the current style while the Left data (channel 3, left hand) is used to drive the Right 1. You can change the Right 1 voice and style as you normally would.

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F.66 - REVISED! What does P.A.T do

If you load and play a song that has XF chords (e.g. the ones in the Preset Area, quick records made on the instrument, XF files downloaded from Yamaha, or standard midi files that have XF Chords added by the program PSRUTI), and P.A.T. is enabled you can play along with the song using the right hand and it will select only the notes that sound well with the song.

E.g. you cannot play a wrong note.

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F.69 - How to change R1 from a midi playing on a remote instrument

Use the midi channels to send the voice changes for the T2 R1-2-3/L1 keyboard voices. To do so, you will need to change the Function/Midi/AllParts/Edit/Receive for the 4 tracks used in the source from Song ch X to Right 1 etc.

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F.69 - NEW! How to save a midi setup

This is not saved automatically with other setup data (e.g. split point).

Go to Function/Midi and Tab to the User area. If there are already are 10 items, delete one you do not use and then depress and save.

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F.70 - How to stop sending track data over midi

In function/Midi/Edit/Transmit, scroll down to the channels you want to inhibit (e.g. channel 9 & 10 for rhythm if you have a live drummer). Set to Off.

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F.71 - How to set Vocal Harmony On Off in a midi

To have VH, the XG System must be On. The sysex for this is F0 43 10 4C 00 00 7E 00 F7. It can appear anywhere before the VH command. No channel is required. As this command takes some time to execute in some PSRs, it is best if it is placed in the beginning of the midi. If the midi was made on the PSR, the command is probably already there.

Then use the sysex F0 43 10 4C 04 00 0C 40 F7 to turn the VH on, or F0 43 10 4C 04 00 0C 7F F7 to turn it off. No channel is needed.

To add a sysex using Casm Edit:

1. Open the midi and click a line near where you want the sysex.
2. Click Insert and select Event Type F0 System Exclusive Event. Place the sysex command after the F0  (e.g. 43 10 4C 04 00 0C 40 F7 ) in Hex Data then click OK.
3. You can adjust the position in time by double clicking the MBT setting of the line and changing the time in ticks

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F.73 - How to create custom drums on the Tyros

There are two ways:

1. Create a Custom Voice from sample data that has waveforms for each drum instrument on a single note
2. Use the Tyros PC Voice Editor software that came with your instrument to edit one of the preset drum voices or a custom drum voice.

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F.74 - How many files can you have on a USB flash drive

In the root drive, the limit is 70, even if it is a hard drive with 160 Gig.  But you can have 200 sub-folders in each of those 70. It is a limitation imposed by the keyboard operating system.

(Bill G on PsrTutorial forum)

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F.75 - How to control brightness on instrument

You can do this in the Mixing Console/Song Pages.

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F.77 - How to turn off the midi of the master keyboard in a two keyboard stack

You can disable the midi out with one button depress by setting up a registration with the keyboard as normal (call it ON).

Then make a registration with all Channel On-Offs set to Off, and R1-3 & L1 turned Off using the Voice buttons(call it OFF).

When you want to disable the T2's midi output, depress the OFF, and use ON to turn it on.

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F.78 - How to use SongCreator to edit consecutive events

Multiselect can be used to edit groups of consecutive events, as stated in the owner's manual. The problem is the manual does not explain how to do it!

This is the method I use...

1. I Select the list of consecutive events I want to edit, using multiselect.
2. The last event selected (top or bottom of the group) will have a particular item highlighted.
3. If this is not the variable I want to edit, I use the left / right buttons until the relevant variable is highlighted.
4. I then change the variable by the required amount.
5. Then, if the top member of the list is highlighted, I press the up button. If the lowest member is highlighted I press the down arrow.
6. The change is then applied to each event in the selected group. 

(There may well be other ways of achieving the same effect but this is the way I have found works for me!)

To make all values the same, the only way I have found is to first increase / decrease them to 127 / 0,

So if for example you want to make the velocity of a group of events the same...

1. ...select the group, highlight the lowest velocity in the group and increase this to 127. (or take the highest and reduce it to 0).
2. press the up or down button as described above.
3. All events in the group will now have the same velocity (0 or 127).
4. Reselecting the group and changing the velocity by the required amount will achieve your goal.

(drh on YamahPkowners forum)

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F.79 - How to delete part of a midi on the instrument

1. Load the song and play a little of it to be sure it is the one you want to modify.
2. Press the "Digital Recording" button and then "Song Creator" button [A]
3. Under the "rec mode" tab, you will see "rec start".   Set this to "Punch in at......"where you want to end the song. Set "rec end" to "replace all"
4. Press the "fast forward  >>" button until you get to the bar where you want the song to finish
5. Press "REC" only and all 16 channels should already be set to REC - If not set to REC.
6. Press "Play" and then "Stop" IMMEDIATELY afterwards.
7. Save the song to make the changes permanent.

This way you never have to leave the Song Creator window until you are finished with the changes.

(Bill on PSRTutorial)

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F.80 - How to make the PSR remember Left = ON

Make up Reg Bank/s with your favorite voices, Put a style you would not normally use, into the User. If fussy, rename it ZZZZZ or something stupid.

With Left Voice on, and Hold, Link the Bank/s to this style, then delete the style. Use the Bank/s with any style, OTS Off!!

Left will always be on, switch Variations, even style, all OK.

(Walter On svpworld forum)

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F.81 - How to play a CD/Ipod through the PSR

The devices use various audio formats. Later instruments can play these if they are converted to wave or MP3 format..

For all instruments you can connect the headphone output of a CD player or Ipod into the LineIn/mic input.

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F.82 - REVISED! How to edit chords in a Quick Record midi or create a Step Record file on the PC.

The MixMaster/Step Record View can do this.See:  http://psrtutorial.com/MB/bedesem.html

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F.83 - Where are keyboard settings saved ?

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F.85 - How do PSRs identify storage areas

Letter designation in files:

Preset: None
USER: C
Hard Drive Partitions: E to H
USB Stick: I
Floppy: D

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F.86 - In the Text Display, some lyrics do not show up

Lyrics can be in either midi lyric or midi text format. When in Text Display, select between Lyrics and Text at bottom left of the display to see if they show up.

(Bill G on PSRTutorial)

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F.87 - How to set a specific voice as the default after power on

Many users create a startup registration that they run immediate after power on to set the instrument into known state.

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F.88 - How to stop AC hum when using an external amplifier.

Use a grounded to two prong adopter to reverse the polarity.

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F.89 - How to select Tyros 3 compressor settings.

The T3 gives you a choice of compressor types, e.g. Basic, TRS, Live , etc. Each of these choices sets some parameters internally. The controls allow you to modify the Threshold, Ratio and Gain over a +- range from the undisclosed settings that are built in.

1. You must be sure to turn the CMP switch "on" using button G.
2. Set you Master Volume to a comfortable listening level, select any style you like, and then start it playing.
3. After that, you must then go in to the controls on the bottom of the screen.
4. Start with the "Threshold Offset" control and try -10 first. You should then begin to see the top meter called "Gain Reduction" beginning to show a little green bar appearing at the right of the meter screen. If you do not see the little green bar appearing, there is no compressor effect and you should then try Threshold Offset -20.
5. If the green meter bar is appearing on the left, then adjust  Ratio Offset to +3 or +4 , whatever it takes for the  softest sounds of the style to become more pronounced, louder and easier to hear. Once you achieve than, go to step 6.
6. Use the Gain Offset control and turn it up or down to assure the overall volume of the keyboard is maintained at that comfortable listening level you selected in step 2. The keyboard should not sound a lot louder. Of course, if you dial up the Gain Offset, this functions as another volume control, making the whole thing sound louder.

(from Steve Deming, Yamaha, and submitted by Tom G to PSRTutorial Forum)

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F.90 - How to Set Tyros 3's EQ and Compressor

Note: Complex settings may not be needed and you should try the built in settings first:

For example, if using the Tyros 3 speakers, select type TRS-MS02 and increase the Total Gain Adjust + 6 clicks. For CMP, set type to TRS- MS02 and Threshold = -1, Offset =-1 and Gain +4.

1. Pre-adjustments.....
   1. Unplug fc-7 (if used)
   2. Disable mfc-10 if vol ped is used for any volumes (if you have a mfc-10)
   3. Set master keyboard vol knob to 12 O"clock
2. Turn ty3 on
   1. Leave in this start up mode (should have a Concert Grand on full board)
   2. (I think Yamaha has adjusted to the best piano sound it can muster then adjusted all the other voices to these settings, so when the grand is at it's best, all other voice's fall in place.  
3. Press mixing console button pan to EQ
   1. Select flat then "F" button to edit
   2. Set the eq's 1-5 one at a time by using your ear for the best sound from the low to the high end of a piano by running the controls up and down until you get the best sound you can find.
   3. I beat 2 notes together (as a piano tuner does when voiceing a acoustic)  ie: C-E - D-F  E-G  with a occasional  C to C at the bottom and a twinkle at the top (using the octave button), but rely mostly on the center of the board, this is most important. (Use a good strike and let'em ring out while adjusting)
   4. You might start at sets (5  3 - 5 - 6  3) - or just use flat (remember each sound system is going to affect what you hear)
   5. Once you get it to what sounds best your ready for the next step (remember this is not the finished product, so it's not perfect yet, just get as close as you can.
4. Q's and Freq Setting
   1. Now you can sweeten up your settings and bring the sound to life with these settings. The way this seems to work is (adding one click up individually doing one at a time to Eq's 1 thru 6 allows settings to Q and freq. to be made.). So take eq #1 one click up then adjust Q and Freq to the most alive and realistic sound in this particular range. When satisfied take the next EQ up one click and adjust it likewise continue thru all 5.
   2. Here's what mine are as of this date
      1. 1.7/400
      2. 0.4/560khz
      3. 1.9/10khz
      4. 0.7/2.0khz
      5. 2.3/16khz
5.  Adjusting the Vol. and saving
   1. Now adjust the total gain adj. (lower right of screen) to a tad louder than what you need in your  music room (or going to need for performing).  It should be close without adjustment.
   2. To save: Press Store 1 or 2  name  and save-- save
6. The new compressor How To's
   1. Pan to cmp
   2. Press button "G" (LIGHT IT UP)
   3. Pan up or down to Live (or your choice)
   4. Set the Threshold offset to -12
   5. Ratio - -2
   6. Gain offset - +2/+4  Watch for the red a bit is okay but keep it low  (This is another Vol set here). The top gain monitor should show about 1 half inch of green on the right end of the scale  (green)
   7. Save to user 1 Name and save

(Pose on Yamaha PKOwners Forum)  - - -

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F.91 - Reverb in Tyros 3

Some notes:

The voice itself has a lower reverb setting than almost any OTS, i.e 26 whereas most OTS have it at 30-32, sometimes 36 -40.

The Reverb type is not determined by OTS, only the level is set.

The Function/Utility/ Reset/ Factory system reset does not change the default reverb.

The default reverb type seems to be selected by the style.

Powering up does get you back to an initial condition. This could be a problem. If you have been playing a rock style and the decide to do a dreamy ballad that calls for lots of ambient reverb without changing the style, the reverb type selected might not be the right one. It appears that unless you check the Mixing Console/ Panel /Effects/ you will not know what you may be using.

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F.92 - Observations regarding using a HUB with the Tyros 3

If a hub is connected to the front USB post, the back port becomes inoperable.

Plugging in devices such as a USB light or fan (that do not have data) will operate OK but prevent the other port from recognizing memory devices. Switching the unit off and then on will return it to normal.

(Pam and Neville on Yamaha PKOwners forum)

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F.93 -   How to make a Playlist function in the PSR

Go to your Midi songs. Create a folder (lower 7 on T3) and give it a name "Playlist"

Select first song....edit name by putting an A in front of it.  Copy and paste to folder. Next song.....give it a B ....copy and paste. So on until enough songs in playlist.

When ready to play songs go to Function.....song settings....G to All and H to All.

Go to first song in folder, highlight and play......it will play through the list until stopped.

You can just put them in a folder without any order or select random play if you wish.

(from Neville on Yamaha PKOwners forum)

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F.95 -   REVISED One way to display Text/Chords without using a midi file

The T3 is able to display text, with chords and lyrics, and they do not have to be associated with a midi file. This allows creating a "PSR fake book".

To test it (and being too lazy to type in lyrics and chords), I took a midi file that I got off the net that had lyrics, and opened it in PSRUTI, clicked Compute Chords, selected the channel with the highest number and OK. This added XF chords to the midi that already has lyric events.

I saved this file and opened it in MidiPlayer, clicked View Chords and then the Lyrics button. This made a display of both. I did a SaveAsText file from this View. This gave me a text file that looks like the display in MidiPlayer.

I then went to the T3, depressed the Lyrics/ Text button under the song controls, and loaded the file using the Text File screen button. 

To change Font, depress the third button from the left. To scroll the page, use the > at the top right corner.

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F.96 -   How to play a CD file on the TYROS

To play a CD file, first convert it to .wav format. Then put it on a media stick, and in the HD section, press Select.

On the screen, press Change Menu and Wave Import, then go to the USB and select your file.

You could also transfer the file to the hard disk using Storage Mode and import it from there.

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F.97 -   How to recall an audio and text file together

A Registration will store/recall your Text file and an Audio file if they are saved on the HD.

Be sure to depress the Memory button and make sure HDR and Text are checked.

The files names that are saved are those in the Text File and Audio File locations.

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F.99 -   Linking to a text file

Create your txt file - save to USB stick - insert into T3.

Press Lyrics/Text button then tab to USB, where any txt files will be shown.

Press copy - select txt file - then tab to HD and save into a folder.  If you intend to use a lot of txt files (e.g. words or words and chord symbols to songs) then create a folder on your HD called 'Words'   with sub folders perhaps alphabetically.

Select your registration bank (from the HD) and  press the 1st registration button.  Then press Lyrics/Text button and tab to the saved txt file on your HD. 

Save the 1st registration button. If you have used more than one registration button for your tune, clear the txt file before saving any subsequent buttons.  This allows you to 'turn' pages without the first page being brought up again, when you press the other registration button.

(from John on YamahaPKOwners forum)

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F.101 - Backup problems can be due to HD timestamp

Up to Tyros 2 at least the keyboard doesn't manage file dates.

This can have unexpected results if you use any normal program to back up your style, reg or other files in HD transfer mode from the keyboard, because most of these programs assume that the version of a file is indicated by it's date/time stamp.

Example:  you set a Reg File on your PC, transfer it to your keyboard, find there is something additional needing change, save the changed Reg File on your keyboard, copy the Reg File back to your PC - Any normal backup program now sees two file versions: the one initially created on the PC dated with the PC date/time stamp, and the one corrected by the keyboard which, for some reason on my Tyros 2, shows 01/01/2005 01:00.

Your backup program when it does a synchronization between the two drives will think that the newer version created on the keyboard is older than the one on your PC drive, so replace it - That is not what you want!

(from John on Yamaha PKOwners forum)

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F.102 - REVISED! How voice effects are set

The Panel voice is defined by a voice file that is a midi file that has commands that specifies the basic sample plus DSP, EQ etc. Voice files are 'run' by selecting the voice using the R1 buttons. You can view this voice file by selecting a voice and then saving it to USB and examining it in a midi editor such as MixMaster.

An OTS setup saves similar information but it may not be the same. The OTS is a snapshot of the keyboard (R1 R2 L settings etc) at the time that the OTS was stored. Any changes made to DSP etc that were done after the voice file was run will be included. This information is saved in a section of a style, and it in turn is 'run' when the OTS button is depressed or Auto Link is On and a style variation is selected.

When AutoLink is enabled and style is selected manually, the current variation button (Main B etc) determines which OTS is selected. When AutoLink is on and a style is selected via music finder, the variation selected by the Section setting of the entry determines the OTS.

I do not know exactly when the arranger records the keyboard setting when in record, i.e. when a button is pushed or when recording starts, but either way, it is the current settings, determined by the last panel or OTS selected. Normally, the DSP used in recording is included in the midi.

An exception to this is where you make a MultiRecord where you exceed the number of available DSPs on your instrument.

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F.103 - Sources of distortion

Distortion while playing is usually initiated by:

Loading midi files that were designed for sound cards.

Using a registration that was developed on another keyboard and translated.

Playing a midi file that has unusual keyboard settings in the file.

Playing the instrument after playing a file from a sequencer that might leave it in an unanticipated state.

The modulation wheel is not at the minimum level.

All causes, except the modulation wheel, may be corrected by a system setup reset (Hold down the rightmost white key while turning on the power... hold until the message appears).

If a system reset does not work, then check the modulation wheel, remove all midi inputs and outputs, remove all pedals, and repeat the reset.

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F.104 - Sources of 'slurring' when a changing chords

Yamaha arrangers have very quick-acting chord recognition.  Think of it like a hair-trigger.  Yammies begin resolving the chord as soon as you press a key, and will actually sound the chord within 10 milliseconds (0.010 seconds). 

Now here is the problem with that:  In any chord fingering mode EXCEPT Fingered, pressing only one or two keys in the chord recognition area will cause a chord to be recognized and sounded.  But if you intended to play a 3-note chord and don't get all three notes down within .01 seconds of each other, you will actually hear TWO chords.  The first one is a false chord based on the first note (or two notes).  The second one is your intended chord based on all 3 notes, including the key you pressed a fraction of a second later.  Yamaha has a great trick; they use the XG portamento control to "bend" the tones in the first chord until they match the intended chord.  This happens quickly, and makes things very forgiving if you are a little late on the beat when a style is running.  But the pitch bend is quite noticeable, especially when you are playing a left-hand voice rich in harmonics.

What I am describing is easily proved because when it occurs, it will impart false notes (or even false chords) into the score viewer.  Try a quick record at a tempo > 200 bpm.  Use AI Fingered, and quickly alternate back and forth between C major (G2+C3+E3) and E-flat 6th (Eb2+Bb2+C3).  Then slow the tempo to about 50 for playback.  Watch the chord display on the main screen fumble around as it interprets the keys you pressed.  Then look at the score or track data and you will find dissonant notes of a very short duration corresponding to the unintended chords.

There are some things you can do to minimize this problem:

• Play in Fingered mode, or Fingered On Bass.  These modes require at least 3 notes to signal a chord.
• Make sure you lift between chord changes.  If you press new note(s) before you release all of the old ones, you may signal an unintended chord.
• Press the keys firmly and quickly.  (This is more difficult on the PSRs because there is no tactile cue when the key makes contact, i.e., spongy, soft bottom.)
• Get the bass note / root down first.  If it reads the third before the bass, it will resound the bass note with a noticeable pitch bend.
• Reduce the brightness and resonance of the left-hand (chord) part to make the harmonics associated with the false tones less noticeable.
• Leave the mod wheel all the way off (same reason as above).
• Choose a "dark" voice for the left part (same reason as above).  Unfortunately many "good" voices are not usable.
• Increase the attack time or delay of the left-hand voice.  The false notes will die away before they ever reach an audible volume.  You sacrifice some expressiveness and "punch" from your LH.
• If you are making a professional recording, step record your chords in advance.

(from Ted S.)

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F.105 - How to eliminate a growling sound when the Left voice is not set to On

Check what the Fingering is set at. (Direct Access followed by the ACMP button)

If it's set to a Full keyboard mode by mistake the R1 & 2 right hand voices will continue to sound down into the left side and become a growl. As you've found out this can be prevented by putting the Left voice on, but the better solution is usually to select Fingered or AIFingered mode.

(from John on Yamaha PKOwners forum)

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F.107 - The difference between OTS and Registrations

A registration is a snapshot of most of the instrument (but not midi setup and some system setup items), whereas OTS concerns itself with voices.

You can see the specifics in the Parameter Chart in the Data manual. Some examples of what is in a Reg but not in OTS:

• Channel On-Off
• Text file in score display
• Style settings(e.g. style touch on)
• Split point
• Chord fingering
• Initial touch On-Off
• Panel Sustain
• Mic setup
• VH setup
• Style/Song Volumes
• Non R/L Pan, Brightness, Harmonic, EQ settings
• Transpose
• Tempo
• Non R/L DSP-Effect settings
• Tuning
• Foot Padal

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F.108 - What does Freeze do?

Freeze lets you select groups of parameters that, if they are stored in a registration (as determined by the check boxes that appear when you depress the Memory button), then they will NOT be changed when a registration is loaded.

The Freeze settings are accessible via the Function button. 

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F.109 - How to find the items downloaded from the IDE

Depress Function/Utility/Reset Tab /MusicFinder Files/ and tab to the hard drive and look in the folder Downloads/001.

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F.110 - How to provide a metronome output for a live drummer

In the Tyros, the metronome can be assigned to a sub out on Mixing Console/Line out page.

This is an audio output and you might have to buffer it for use with headphones.

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F.111 - How to update the operating system from the PSR

You can now update your keyboard by using the internet button on your Keyboard.

When connected, Press Help/Legal then press Check for updates and then follow the instructions.

(from Eileen on PkOwners)

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F.112 - How to record a PAT performance

To record while playing a midi in P.A.T. mode, use multi track recording.

1. Load the midi and use the light flashing in Channel On-Off to find an empty track.
2. Depress Rec and while holding it, select the channel on the screen. It should say Rec. While holding there should be a popup menu of what to record. Select Right 1 etc.
3. Press Play and record your part. When done, depress Stop. To save, depress Rec and Stop and it should prompt you to save, or select Digital Recording/Song Creator and depress Save.

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F.113 - How to format PSR/Tyros text files.

Use Text Formatter available at: http://www.jososoft.dk/yamaha/software/textformat/index.htm

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F.114 - REVISED! Converting files for use in later instruments

It is recommended that you pass the file through the File Converter, if available for your instrument. It will address issues of voices being renamed etc.

Regardless, you should check your files before. For instance, while the converter does many things, it does not convert the effects of the OTS voices to those of the later instruments.

To do that, select and OTS, then reselect the voice using the normal method and save the OTS by Holding Rec and depressing the OTS button.

The T3 also has new (and better) effects (e.g. the Ballad reverb) that the converter many not select. Use the Mixing Console to select the new effects.

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F.115. REVISED! How to import MP3 to the Tyros 3

MP3 files first must be converted to WAV files. Programs such as Switch Sound File Converter will do this. Select the WAV format 44.1 KB, 16 bit stereo.

Copy a converted file to the USB memory stick and insert it into the keyboard. Press Select in the Audio Recorder section, then press Import, Tab to the USB, select the song and depress OK. If you do not see Import at the bottom of the screen, press Change Menu.

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F.116 - How to set the octave of right/left voices to -2 or +2.

Depress Mixing Console until it displays the Panel Page, and tab to Tune. Select the Octave button then use the button below the voice to change the value. 

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F.117 - How to view the score of Intros and Endings.

Change the track to one of the 9 through 16 channels while you looking at the display in Score view.

You have the press the number (*) button and then over on the right side you will see for left and right the channels you can select.

All style notes will be on channels 9 through 16 "ONLY" -

(From Bill Grosse)

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F.118 - How to avoid getting Memory Full in recording

After multiple takes, the PSR reports memory full.

Neville on yamahapkowner.com responded "After a take that you are not happy with, are you pressing Record and Stop together   This brings up a window asking if you want to save it.    You then say NO which empties the midi recording area and you can start again."

It appears that without doing a Rec +Stop, the memory area is not cleared.

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F.119 - How to use the Hard Disk in recording

Here are some instructions that were given to me by Eileen Lowrey.

1. First record your song to MIDI. Then you can check all the balances via the mixing console and save them.
2. Now you can play it into the Hard Disc Recorder. What I do is Select New Audio & name the song. Now push the settings button. Page One Record Mode and put it to " NORMAL RECORD ".
3. Scroll to next page where you will see the balance control. You can now push play on the MIDI recorder and as the song plays watch the balance, Keep it below the RED. If it is too loud you can either drop the song volume which is usually 100. If is still peeking you can adjust the volume on the Hard Disk.
4. When you are happy with it you can now record. Bring your recording back to the beginning. Now on the Hard Disk Recorder Press "PLAY/Pause", Count One,Two,Three, then push "Play/Pause" on the MIDI Recorder. The song is now recording.
5. When finished push "STOP". You can now play and listen to your recording, if you are happy with it press save.

(from Matrix on PSRTutorial)

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F.120 - Definition of commonly used terms.

Midi = a song. It has up to 16 different instruments. If made using a style on the Tyros, 8 of these instruments are created by the style.

Style = a special type of midi file that responds to chords played with the left hand. Called accompaniment, it is like having a band to play along with.

Registration = snapshot of the instrument settings when you create the registration. Eight registrations are grouped into a bank and the bank may be saved.

Voice = special type of midi file that edits the voices stored in the Tyros RAM.

Pad = special type of midi file that plays a a patter when initiated. The pattern may play once or repeat. These are grouped in banks of four.

OTS = the right hand voice setting that are saved as part of a style. If OTS link button is On, then when the style section (Main A, Ending C, etc) is changed, the voices are automatically changed by the ITS.

Musicfinder = a listing of up to 2500 song names and recommended styles, tempo, starting section. The tyros comes with encrypted names but you can get a corrected file off the web site.

Midi Setup and Effect files = specialized files that can store custom user settings for these facilities.

OS = the operating system of the instrument. These are occasionally updated by Yamaha.

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F.121 - Microphone settings and why your voice is breaking up or full of static

Make sure you adjust the input level of the mic on the back of the tyros 3.  Then, adjust the mic level on the left hand top of the keyboard. (H) 

In Mic Settings have Keyboard set to Lower, Mode on Auto, Balance at around Ten O'clock, volume at 127.

Also, check in mixing console Effects. Set Mic to reverb Hall 2 at about 40. Have the trim at the back just under half way. I use a Shure SM58 and it works well with these settings. (E)

From Hammer (H) and Eileen (E) on PsrTutorial

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F.122 - Using the Chord Note Only Harmony setting

When you use the Chord Only setting is only generates a right hand chord when you play one of the notes in that chord.

For instance if you are playing a C chord in your left hand, then the right hand chords will only play on C E and G. All other notes will not produce a chord.

This can be quite effective in certain songs and gives you breaks such as players who finger the right hand chords achieve.

(From  Eileen on Yamaha PKOwners forum)

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F.124 - How to determine version number of the operating system

Press the Function/Utility, then tab to Owner. Hold down on the "I" button next to Owner Name and the operating system version number will appear on the screen.

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F.125    Is there a quick way of copying from User to the Hard Drive

Make a folder on your Hard drive. Go to your user section where your files are.  Press COPY and then ALL and then OK.

Now tab to your hard drive find the folder you made. Open it and then press Paste.

(From Eileen on PKOwners forum)

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F.126 - What is Diatonic Math in transpose?

There are two different kinds of transposition, depending on whether one is measuring intervals according to the chromatic scale or some other scale. 

In chromatic transposition one shifts every pitch in a collection of notes by a fixed number of semitones. For instance, if one transposes the pitches C4-E4-G4 upwards by four semitones, one obtains the pitches E4-G4-B4. 

In scalar transposition, sometimes called diatonic transposition, one shifts every pitch in a collection by a fixed number of scale steps relative to some scale. For example, if one transposes the pitches C4-E4-G4 up by two steps relative to the familiar C major scale, one obtains the pitches E4-G4-B4. If one transposes the same pitches up by two steps relative to the F major scale, one obtains instead E4-G4-B♭4

(From Jim in PKOwners forum)

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F.128 - REVISED! Can I connect using both Midi and USB I/O?

Yes, if you use MidiA in from USB and Midi B in from the midi connector.

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F.129 - NEW! What are the PSR/Tyros controller codes

Control events are found in all midi based files, and in the PSR/Tyros can be edited in any of the "Creator Program" using the Edit tab.  They are assigned to individual midi channels, and as with note events, can be executed at any time and will take effect immediately.

CC codes

73-Attack Time

32-Bank Select Lsb; Used to voice selection

0-Bank Select Msb: Used in voice selection

74-Brightness

93-Chorus Send Level; determines the amount of Chorus effect

75-Decay Time

11-Expression

71-Harmonic Content

7- Main Volume; controls the channel's output volume

1-Modulation

124-Omni Off

126-Omni On

10-Panpot; determines the position in the stereo field

65-Portamento

 5-Portamento Time

84-Portamento Control

72-Release Time

91-Reverb Send Level; determines the amount of Reverb effect

67-Soft Pedal

66-Sostenuto

64-Sustain

94-Variation Send Level; determines the amount of DSP1 effect; used most often in styles

78-Vibrato Delay

77-Vibrato Depth

76-Vibrato Rate

A caution from John Vernon regarding volume control codes in non PSR midis: Some commercial midi files and/or GM sound devices used cc11 not cc7 to control volume. If you find that cc7s are not having the desired effect or that there are undesirable volume changes without any visible cc7s, look for cc11s.

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F.131 - Advice on fingering

Here is my advice on settings. 

Single finger - a very simple method for learners. If you know how to play at least 3 finger chords ignore this.

Multi fingered - can recognize both fingered (below) and single fingered, so a good choice for medium level players who may still not be absolutely confident in the LH chording. 

Fingered - the standard method where the keyboard plays the chord you play. The more notes you play the more sophisticated the chord recognition. This method is best for pretty good players who play the LH chords quite well. It will play the chord on root no matter which order you play the voices (see below). 

AI Fingered (Artificial Intelligence Fingered) - will respond to less than 3 notes and use Artificial Intelligence to try to pick the right chord based on what has been played already i.e. it guesses the chord sequence. It doesn't always get it right, but quite a good method for the player who has not yet got full confidence in chording.

Fingered on bass - gives control not just of the chord but the inversion. Basically the above chords will always put the bass on the root (1st inversion) but this setting will reproduce the inversion you play. So generally this is a more sophisticated method for good players who are confident in their chording and want to play bass runs, chord inversions and sophisticated chords.

All of the above methods work below the split point only, so they are not affected by what you play in your RH above the split.

Full Keyboard - now the keyboard will respond to all the notes played on the keyboard to select chords for accompaniment. This is the best setting for good piano players whose chording is often controlled by both hands on the keyboard. 

AI Full keyboard - now the AI also uses RH notes and past chord sequence to estimate the chord. Quite good for medium level players playing piano across the whole keyboard.

(From Mikf on PSRTutorial)

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F.132 - How to go return to a Main variation when an Intro is playing

Just press the variation key you were in. The ending may still finish the bar it is in before the variation picks back up.

(From Bill G on PSRTutorial)

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F.133 - How to improve the results while using Performance Assistance (PAT)

The OTS should be turned off and one touch settings should not be used. Only voices that come direct from the R-L voice section. Piano works the best. Set Function/StyleSetting/Chord Fingering to Full Keyboard.

(From Greg on PSRTutorial)

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F.134 - What to do if the USB memory is not visible

If you select a file type(e.g. Styles) and then insert the USB memory, The USB tab does not automatically appear at the top of the screen. To fix, depress Exit and the style button again.

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F.136 - What to do when the name display is too short.

Press VIEW (over the top of FOLDER - and I imagine it's the same on all PSR/Tyros models) to get into the extended view mode where you can see much more of the file name and about a dozen + of them at a time.

(From John Vernon on PKOwners forum)

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F.137 - What to do if you can't see the HD in Storage mode in Vista/Win 7.

Apparently, if another device is connected and by coincidence uses the same drive letter, the latter can end up being "lost" and no longer assigned to the HD. So although the Mass Storage Device is working OK, you can't access it in Win Explorer.

My solution:Open Control Panel. Go through Administrative Tools to Computer Management. Under Storage, click on Disk Management. Locate the USB drive and assign a drive letter to it by right clicking. Choose a letter that is not in use or likely to be in use in the future (e.g. T)

(From John V on PSR Tutorial)

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F.138 - Moving a single audio recording to the USB in Tyros 4

In the Simple Record, the T4 saves the song as a .wav file. To move it to the USB, depress the Select to get to the Simple Screen, select the file, depress copy then move to the USB and Paste.

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F.139 - How to return to the main instrument screen

Depress Direct Access and Next together.

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F.140 - What is Stop Accompaniment.

When auto accompaniment is turned on and Synchro Start is off, you can play chords in the left-hand (accompaniment) section of the keyboard with the style stopped, and still hear the accompaniment chord. In this condition—called "Stop Accompaniment"—any valid chord fingerings are recognized and the chord root/type are shown in the LCD. Since the instrument properly recognizes the chord, you can also use the Chord Match function with the Multi Pads or the Harmony effect without having to play back a style.

From the Function/StyleSettings screen you can determine whether the chord played in the chord section will sound or not in the Stop Accompaniment status.

• OFF - The chord played in the chord section will not sound.
• STYLE - The chord played in the chord section will sound via the voices for the Pad part and the Bass channel of the selected style.
• FIXED - The chord played in the chord section will sound via the certain voice regardless of the selected style.

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F.141 - Why do I hear a clicking sound when I play or record a voice

You most probably have used a Mega Voice. In Mega Voices notes above C6 are not "real" notes, but more like "effect" notes: strum, fret noise, click etc.

If this is the case you have to select a not Mega Voice to avoid this problem.

(From Jorgen on PSRTutorial) 

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F.141 - What is the size and format of a PSR's wallpaper

The picture must be 320 X 240 Bit Map (BMP).

(From Bill Grosse on PSRTutorial)

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F.142 - How many USB's devices can an instrument access

Up to two USB storage devices can be connected to the[USB TO DEVICE] terminal. (If necessary, use a USB hub. The number of USB storage devices that can be used simultaneously with musical instruments even when a USB hub is used is a maximum of two.) The instrument can recognize up to four drives in one USB storage device.

(From Tyros 4 manual)

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F.143 - NEW! How to see files after connecting USB media

After connecting the USB to the instrument, depress Exit to get back to the main screen and then select the file type (styles, midi, pad) that you are interested in.  The files should now display.

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F.144 - NEW! The keyboard goes marginally quieter when I sing louder

Check  the Mixing Console/ CMP tab and make sure the master compressor is switched off.

(Derek on  milesmusic group)

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F.145 - NEW! How to save the current system setup file

To save the current System Setup file, go to Function/Utility/System Reset Tab and click the System Setup button (F).

Tab to User and depress Save to a new Name (e.g. My Setup).

When you need it (after a system setup reset), go to Function/Utility/System Reset Tab and click the System Setup button (F) and then Tab to User and select My Setup.

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F.146 - NEW! Why adjusting tempo changes midi and style, not just the style

Work-Around:   On my T4, I found that I had the behavior of the tempo of both the style and the midi moving togehter whenever I saved a registration with the Sync Start button NOT On.  Therefore, before making a registration, insure the Synch Start is On.

Fix: I also found that I could fix and existing registration by depressing the registration, setting the Sync Start button to On, - making sure the midi and style tempos were where I wanted, and holding Memory while depressing the Reg button to write over the existing registration. (unknown)

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F.147 - NEW! How to select several events in PSR 'Creators'

For instance, select a MIDI Song and open up the Digital Recording and select  SongCreator.

Go to any channel with Data.

Press and hold Multi Select button and scroll down the data with downward arrow button.  Multiple data lines are selected.

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F.148 - NEW! One way to create a drummer's click track on Tyros

If you want to save the style and midi tracks for backing, you can make a pad with a hi hat (or other instrument) do this.

A multipad will track the tempo of the loaded style, and you can assign the pad to a sub out in the Mixing Console/Line Out page so it will only be available to the drummer. You will need a line out to headphone amp, perhaps: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HA400/.

You can create the pad by adding a click track MIXMASTER. Load the Pad Template.pad from the template folder, open NoteView and Insert/Click Track to the channel where you want the track (pad 1 = ch 1). Then and change the voice to a drum voice or other appropriate instrument.

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F.149 - NEW! Portamento Mode on TYROS

On the Tyros, Portamento has always been enabled on normal voices when set to mono, but it's only audible once the Portamento Time has been set long enough to become noticeable.

How obvious it becomes also depends on the changing note intervals used (eg. when playing a melody) so it can be quite a variable effect with normal (mono) playing and can sound a bit wayward.

The greater the interval the longer it takes for the frequency to change from the current note to that of a subsequent note.

If the voice is switched back to Poly, Portamento is off.

(John  Vernon)

Fulltime Portamento acts even when you hit the keys staccato. But the Fingered Portamento works only when you play smoothly and legato. (Pianist)

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F.150 - NEW! How to convert a midi to WAV on the keyboard

If your instrument supports audio recording, simply turn on the audio recorder and then play your midi song file. It will be recorded as a WAV file. When the midi is done playing, turn off the audio recorder.

Your owner's manual and reference manual provide instructions on how to do that.

Also, here's the link to the PSR Tutorial lesson on how to do record MIDI to WAV on the T3.  It's basically the same for the S710. http://psrtutorial.com/lessons/playing/rec/30WAVT3.html

Because there is no hard disk in the S710, the WAV file in this instrument must be recorded to a USB thumb drive.

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F.151 - NEW! How to mute some octaves on Tyros

In Voice Creator on the PC, depress the blue El1 button and then drag the filled in box on the Note Limit axis in the OSC section to the right.

You will need to do this for all the elements if there is more than one.

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F.152 - NEW! How to capture the PSRS-910/Tyros3-4 screen

Make a midi file with the sysex F0 43 73 01 51 09 00 00 00 F7 followed by either
F0 43 73 01 51 09 00 02 01 02 F7 to save the image to the Tyros's hard disk or F0 43 73 01 51 09 00 02 01 04 F7 to save it to a USB stick.

This file can be made on  MixMaster and played using MidiPlayer via the USB connection to the PC.  It does not work by loading into and playing from the board's Song Player.

The images copied from the T4 are color at 640 x 480 resolution, in bitmap (.BMP) format, and are about 900 KB each.

The image files are named CAPTnnnn.BMP where nnnn is an incrementing number. They all have the same date/time stamp. 

(PSRTutorial posts)

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F.154 - NEW! How to set the Fadeout Hold time

Go to Function / Utility / Config 1

You can set the following:

• Fade In Time
• Fade Out Time
• Fade Out Hold Time (When the fadeout has reach zero volume... this parameter determines how long Volume = Zero is held before returning to normal volume levels again)

(Joe H)

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F.155 - NEW! How to setup text files

1. Create the file on your PC using Notepad (or the Mac equivalent).
2. Transfer the file to your keyboard.
3. Load the registration you want to use.
4. Press the Lyrics/Text button. Ensure that "LYRICS" is displayed on the lower left (when you see "Lyrics" it means you are displaying a text file. I can explain only what, not why). If it says "TEXT", press the 1 button to switch.
5. Press the 5 button labelled "Text File". Navigate to the file you transferred in.
6. After you select the file, it should be displayed on your screen.
7. Press the 3 button to change fonts or text size.
8. Memorize the registration that's to hold this text file. Make sure the Text box is checked.

(Fred)

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F.156 - NEW! How to avoid "Driver in Use" when recording a WAV

The problem is fragmentation on the USB memory stick.

The solution is simple, just defragment the USB drive.  Just plug the drive into the PC and defragment it.

(Royce)

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