YRM-305

Description

The YRM-305 (YRM-35 in Japan) DX21 Voicing Program is one of the programs developed by Yamaha that allows to use his MSX1/MSX2 CX computers to program voices for another Yamaha device. Here's the software dedicated to the DX21 Digital Programmable Algorithm Synthesizer, it was released in 1985 and has mouse support.

The DX21 has a monotimbral, 8-note polyphonic sound with possibility of dual timbral performance. Voices can be programmed by the user and loaded into a 32-voice RAM internal memory. The DX21 can be viewed as an intermediate machine between the simple DX9 and the more complex DX7 and DX7II. Only cassettes can be used with this device for user voices, It was provided with 128 preset voices in ROM. An additionnal RAM of 32 performance memories allows to combine voices and some function parameters.

When using the YRM-305 cartrige, the voice data and function parameters are visualised on the MSX screen, they can be edited and new voices can be created.

All data and parameters can be saved on disk, cassette tape or Data Memory cartridg UDC-01, they can be sent from the CX computer to the DX21.

Screens

The YRM-305 software displays 5 main screens: the Directory screen, the Load/Save menu, the Print menu and 2 different screens for the Edit mode. Switching between Directory and Edit mode can be made with F1. You can also click with the mouse on the F1 line in the Directory. Access to the Print and Load/Save menus is similar with F5 and F6.

Directory

YRM-305 Directory

After booting, the software will read the content of the DX21 RAM memory to display the Directory with the names of the 32 voices that are available for editing.

(Note that the screenshot has been made on an emulator, without connection to a DX21 synthesizer)

The bottom part of the screen indicates important keys that can be used in the Directory.

The red cursor on the above part always indicates the last voice number that was selected for editing with the cursors or the mouse, a black cursor will indicate the last voice number selected with the Play function, accessible for a specific voice by the cursors and the RETURN key.

The black line in the middle of the screen will reveal its utility when using the Copy or Swap feature for simultaneously 8 voices (F8).

Edit mode 1

YRM-305 Edit mode 1

Each screen of the Edit mode is divided in 8 blocks, allowing to make a fine editing of the currently displayed voice.

General settings are in the first block (up-left), settings for the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) or the Pitch Envelope Generator (PEG) are in the 2nd block (up-right), specific settings for each operator of the DX21 synthesizer are in the 4 central blocks with number 1 to 4, settings for special effects are in the 2 last blocks. Use the mouse or SHIFT + a cursor to go from one block to another one.

The cursors are useful for selecting a parameter, but you will for sure prefer the mouse. To modify a parameter, mainly use the (INS +) HOME or DEL keys. Each of the 4 operators can be switched ON/OFF by pressing one of the keys 1 to 4 corresponding to this operator or by clicking on the corresponding big numbers at the top right of each block.

General settings

LFO settings

Specific settings for each operator (part 1)

These settings are related to the Envelope Generator of each operator.

There are 3 other settings that are also available in Edit mode 2.

By pressing BS key, it is possible to copy the EG data of the current operator to another one. If you press the SELECT key when the cursor is in one operator block, you will see the envelopes displayed graphically for this block. You can also click on an empty zone in this block. To make the change for all 4 operator blocks, press SHIFT + SELECT.

In graphic mode, pressing D key allows to enlarge the display of the envelopes, pressing it again will return the display in its normal state. The time scale can be halved with the T key and doubled with the Y key, The key-off point can be changed by pressing K, then using (INS +) HOME or DEl, and confirming the change by RETURN (or cancelling by SPACE).

Editing rates or level is still possible, but you need to use the cursors or click on the letters and numbers at the left of the graphic to display a different parameter on the graphics.

Effects settings (part 1)

Edit mode 2

YRM-305 Edit mode 2

To access to the second part of the settings, press the SELECT key one time when the cursor is in the LFO block, two times if the cursor is in one of the operator blocks, one time when the cursor is in one of the effects blocks. You can also use the mouse in the same way (one or two clicks on an empty zone).

Only the display of the concerned block will change. The Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) settings will be replaced by the Pitch Envelope Generator (PEG) settings, the operator parameters will now be related to especially Keyboard Scaling and new effects settings will be displayed

To make the change in all 4 operators blocks, you need to use twice SHIFT + SELECT.

PEG settings

Rates and levels for the Pitch Envelope Generator can vary from 0 to 99.

From this block, press the SELECT key to see the envelopes displayed graphically. Pressing the L key allows to enlarge the display, pressing it again will return the display in its normal state. You can also use the T, Y and K keys: see Specific settings for each operator (part 1).

Editing rates or levels is still possible, but you need to use the cursors or click on the letters and numbers at the left of the graphic to display a different parameter on the graphics.

Specific settings for each operator (part 2)

This screen shows also graphically the Level Scaling. By pressing BS key, it is possible to copy the EG data of the current operator to another one.

Effects settings (part 2)

To access to the Foot Control settings, you need to make another pressing on SELECT key or another click on an empty zone when the cursor is in the last block.

Print menu (F5)

YRM-305 Print menu

On this screen, you can enter the voice number, the name of the programmer and the date.

By using SELECT key, you can choose the printer type and the printing quality.

To start the printing, you need to press the DEL key.

Load/Save menu (F6)

YRM-305 Load/Save menu

This screen allows to load/save data from/to cassette, UDC-01 Data Memory Cartridge or disk or to receive/send these data via MIDI from/to the DX21 device. The name of the file can be entered on the second line of this screen. Here are the different possibilities:

Useful keys

See also

• http://www.cx5m.net/