Playing .smf playlists, XV sounds, sending program changes.

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illintechnology
Posts: 1
Joined: 09:37, 8 November 2011

Playing .smf playlists, XV sounds, sending program changes.

Post by illintechnology »

Currently my band uses a Yamaha RS7000 that plays MIDI backing tracks through its internal sounds as well as triggering some sounds in our Roland XV-5050. Our keyboard player is also playing the XV-5050 by having performances set up so some MIDI channels are triggering some parts and the keyboard triggering some others (including patches/rhythm sets on two installed SRX cards). The RS7000 is also sending MIDI program changes on MIDI channels 14, 15, 16 to external FX units.

We're trying to reduce the size/weight/complexity of our gear for overseas travel and the Roland Sonic Cell stands out as a way to replace both the RS7000 and the XV5050.

Ideally we'll be able to plug a MIDI keyboard controller into the MIDI in of the SC, plug a USB stick with .smf files of our songs (ideally create multiple organized playlists too), plug our external FX units into the MIDI out of the SC and the audio out into DI boxes/PA and have a much lighter load/faster set-up time.

So, it comes down to a couple questions:

Do many people use the SC to play backing MIDI files while simultaneously play live keyboard parts via the MIDI input? Seems like everything I've read about the SC people either use it for one or the other in live situations.

How do the sounds of the SC compare to XV sounds? We've had the XV5050 for years and like the sounds, ideally they'd be exactly the same, but, well, we know not to expect that.

Is there an easy way to transfer the performance data (parts, rhythm sets, fx, keyboard zone setups, etc) from our XV5050 to the SC for each song? There are 64 performance slots on the XV5050, its the same on the SC correct?

Is it possible to have the .smf files tell the SC which performance data to pull up? Can that data be encoded in the .smf file itself or can they be mated with the PC editor? Ideally when the .smf for a song was pulled up it would make all the necessary changes immediately. If that is not possible, is it easy/quick to manually change to a different performance preset after each song? Currently between each song some twiddling/button clicking has to happen on both the Yamaha RS700 and the Roland XV5050, fewer twiddles and clicks would be nice.

Can the SC transmit MIDI program changes stored in the .smf files to external MIDI devices?

Also, it would be nice in our practice studio to have an easy way for us to integrate the SC into our MOTO DigitalPerformer setup. Is there a published/thorough MIDNAM for the SC?

Thanks in advance!
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