Change Instruments via midi using a Yamaha DX7

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Change Instruments via midi using a Yamaha DX7

Hi, Forgive me if i am posting this in the wrong forum, i am new to this ! I have a Yamaha DX7s synth, and have previously used it fine with other Windows based software, which i could change the instruments via the DX7 keyboard, by pressing keys from 1-127. However, when used with GB ver 5.1, the keyboard plays the notes in GB fine, but i seem unable to "change" the instrument from the DX7 keyboard. I have a MIDI to USB controller / interface, the sustain pedal works as does the pitch & modulator wheel, so the midi data is being transmitted and received, so is it a setup problem, or is it a limitation of GB ? Any help / advice would be greatfully received. Thanks very much.

Imac 27" i5, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 16, 2010 3:37 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 16, 2010 4:54 AM in response to petew22

It's a GB limitation - GB doesn't work with program changes. You have one instrument per track, if you want to play a different instrument, you have to switch to another track.

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Answer 2

petew22 Author

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Sep 16, 2010 7:28 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

Hi Christoph, thanks for the prompt reply. However, what i am trying to achieve is if i am sitting at the DX7 keyboard, and i am trying to find a suitable voice to record, i would like to be able to "try out" the various instruments within GB, without having to physically get up and move over to the mac every time i want to hear a new instrument and then select another voice or instrument from the mac, then go back to the keyboard to try. I know i can listen to the voices via the keyboard available in GB, but that is not the same, there is no velocity or it is very near impossible to play chords etc. Any suggestions ?

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Answer 3

Sep 16, 2010 8:32 AM in response to petew22

That's what I was referring to - doing that from your keyboard would imply sending a so-called program change to GB, and GB doesn't do that. So you'll have to switch instruments at the computer. Or use some kind of remote control: For example, if you have several tracks set up with different instruments, you can use Apple's remote control to flip through the sounds with the up and down arrow keys.

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Answer 4

petew22 Author

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Sep 16, 2010 8:54 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

Thanks once again, so it seems GB will not do what I need it to 😟 Seems a pretty basic request though, especially if it recognise's midi control for pitch & sustain pedal etc.

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