Contents |
Description
The YRM-506 (YRM-56 in Japan) FB-01 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 sofware dedicated to the FM Sound Generator FB-01, it was released in 1986.
This software is very similar to the YRM-502 FM Voicing Program II, the explanation is simple: the FB-01 is actually a standalone SFG-05, coming with 5 banks of 48 voices in ROM for a total of 240 voices, and 2 other banks are available in RAM to create 96 user voices. Besides, its memory can be configured (4 presets in ROM and 16 user memories in RAM).
When using the YRM-506 cartrige, the voice data and function parameters from the FB-01 device are visualised on the MSX screen for a bank of 48 voices, they can be edited and new voices can be created. The FB-01 configurations can also be visualised and modified.
All data, parameters and configurations can be saved on disk, cassette tape or Data Memory cartridge UDC-01, they can be sent from the CX computer to the FB-01. As the voice format of both devices is almost the same, the edited voices and new voices can also be later used on the CX computer, only a few parameters will be ignored, it happens only when a specific parameter is not used on both devices.
Screens
After the intro screen, you will land on the Command menu of the Voice editor. Enter CON on the command line to go the Command menu of the Configuration editor. You need to enter VOI to go back to the Voice part of the software.
Going to the editor is made by F1 and the same key allows to switch then between the editor and the command line. Each editor has its own Directory (enter DI on the command line). There are different Key lists, accessible by F5, and a common Load/Save menu (enter TR on the command line).
The command line is available on all screens, except the Key lists. The main commands can't be entered on the Load/Save menu screen, while the specific Load/Save commands are only available on this special screen.
The screen of the Command menu is divided into 3 parts:
- a command line on which you can enter different commands
- the list of the main available commands
- the explanation of some abbreviations
Voice number can vary between 1 and 48.
The green point on the line under the command line indicates the split point of the music keyboard between instrument 1 used in polyphonic mode for the editing keyboard and instrument 2 used in monophonic mode for the comparison keyboard. By default, this point is set at the lowest key, so it means that all keys are used for the editing keyboard.
To change the split point, you need to press SELECT, then a key on the music keyboard. The keys at the left of the green point will be used for the comparison keyboard. The current voice data are set for this keyboard by pressing F4 in the Edit mode.
A MIDI connection with the FB-01 device is required to access to the different screens of the configuration editor.
The commands are almost identical to these available in the Command menu of the voice editor.
CON is replaced by VOI to go to the Voice editor and parameters n and m are used for configuration numbers instead of voice numbers, they can vary between 1 and 20.
Available commands
| Command | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| n | voice or configuration number n | Select voice n and go to Voice or Configuration Editor |
| CON | CONFIGURATION | Go to the Configuration Command menu |
| COP n, m | COPY voice or configuration number n, voice or configuration number m | Copy data of voice or configuration n to voice or configuration m |
| DI | DIRECTORY | Go to the Voice or Configuration Directory |
| HE | HELP | Back to Command menu |
| KI n | KILL voice or configuration number n | Initialize voice or configuration n to create a new voice or configuration from scratch (original data are saved in the save buffer) |
| PR n, m | PRINT voice or configuration number n, voice or configuration number m | Print the data for voices or configurations n to m (hardcopy of screens) |
| RE | RESTORE | Replace the data of the currently edited voice or configuration by the data saved in the save buffer |
| RE n | RESTORE voice or configuration number n | Replace the data of voice or configuration n by the data saved in the save buffer |
| SA | SAVE | Save the data of the currently edited voice or configuration in the save buffer |
| SA n | SAVE voice or configuration number n | Save the data of voice or configuration n in the save buffer |
| SEL a | SELECT printer a | Select printer type (a=1 for MSX, 2 for EPSON) |
| SW n, m | SWAP voice or configuration number n, voice or configuration number m | Swap data of voices or configurations n and m |
| TR | TRANSMISSION OF DATA | Go to the Load/Save menu |
| VOI | VOICE | Go to the Voice Command menu |
Directories (DI)
The screen of the Directory is divided between the command line and a list of all of the names and numbers of the voices or configuration, stored in the computer memory and generally coming from a bank of the FB-01 device.
This list can be different after loading of created voices or configurations from disk, cassette tape or data memory cartridge.
Voice Directory
This Directory displays the list of 48 voices.
(Note that the screenshot has been made on an emulator, without connection to a FB-01 device)
Configuration Directory
This Directory displays the list of 20 configurations: only configurations 1 to 16 can be edited and saved. Configurations 17 to 20 are presets in ROM memory of the FB-01 device, you can eventually test changes on these configurations, but you can't save the modified configurations.
Voice Editor (VOI, F1)
The screen of the Voice editor is divided between the command line (access by pressing F1) and 5 blocks allowing to make a fine editing of the currently displayed voice.
General settings are in the first block, specific settings for each operator of the digital FM voice generator are in the 4 blocks with number 1 to 4. The cursors are useful for selecting a parameter. To modify it, just type the new value and press RETURN, or use the (INS +) HOME or DEL keys.
Each of the 4 operators can be switched ON/OFF by pressing CTRL + one of the keys 1 to 4 corresponding to this operator. You can also move the cursor over the operator number and type in a different number to turn it OFF or the correct number to turn it ON. Instead of typing a number, you can also use the HOME and DEL keys.
General settings
| Parameter | Values | |
|---|---|---|
| Tr | Transpose | -128 to 127 |
| Mono | Mode | 0 (Polyphonic) or 1 (Monophonic) |
| PmdC | Pitch Modulation Device | 0 (no device), 1 (after touch), 2 (modulation wheel), 3 (breath controller) or 4 (foot controller) |
| Bend | Pitch Bender Range | 0 to 12 |
| Port | Portamento Time | 0 to 127 |
| Name | Voice name | Use BS for corrections before pressing RETURN ! |
| Al | Algorithm | 1 to 8 |
| Fb | Feedback (operator 1) | 0 to 7 |
| Ams | Amplitude Modulation Sensitivity | 0 to 3 |
| Pms | Pitch Modulation Sensitivity | 0 to 7 |
| LFO | Low Frequency Oscillator | 0 (OFF) or 1 (ON) |
| Syc | Synchronization of LFO to the playing of a note | 0 (OFF) or 1 (ON) |
| Wf | Waveform | 0 (sawtooth), 1 (square), 2 (triangle), 3 (sample & hold) |
| Spd | Speed (LFO frequency) | 0 to 255 |
| Amd | Amplitude Modulation Depth (LFO influence on volume) | 0 to 127 |
| Pmd | Pitch Modulation Depth (LFO influence on pitch) | 0 to 127 |
Specific settings for each operator
| Parameter | Values | Parameter | Values | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Envelope generator - Attack Rate | 0 to 31 | IF | Inharmonic Frequency | 0 to 3 | |
| D | Envelope generator - 1st Decay Rate | 0 to 31 | Dt | Detune | -3 to 3 | |
| S | Envelope generator - Sustain Level | 0 to 15 | Ks | Key Scaling Select | 0 to 3 | |
| D | Envelope generator - 2nd Decay Rate | 0 to 31 | Kd | Key Scaling Depth | 0 to 15 | |
| R | Envelope generator - Release Rate | 0 to 15 | Rk | Rate Key Scaling Depth | 0 to 3 | |
| O | Output Level | 0 to 127 | V0 | Velocity Sensitivity for Output Level | 0 to 7 | |
| F | Frequency | 0 to 15 | VA | Velocity Sensitivity for Attack Rate | 0 to 3 |
Configuration Editor (CON, F1)
The Configuration editor is divided between the command line (access by pressing F1), general settings and specific settings for each instrument.
Each configuration uses 8 instruments (one note per instrument, each voice can produce a maximum of 8 notes). Some parameters are common with the Voice editor; in this case, the values used in a configuration override the corresponding values for a specific voice, as defined in the Voice editor.
The cursors are useful for selecting a parameter. To modify it, just type the new value and press RETURN, or use the (INS +) HOME or DEL keys.
General settings
| Parameter | Values | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Configuration name | Use BS for corrections before pressing RETURN ! |
| MK Midi # | System MIDI channel | 1 to 16 |
| Combine | Voice combine mode | ON / OFF |
| Receive | Keycode receive mode | Odd, even of all MIDI note numbers |
| Wf | LFO Waveform | 0 (sawtooth), 1 (square), 2 (triangle), 3 (sample & hold) |
| Spd | Speed (LFO frequency) | 0 to 255 |
| Amd | Amplitude Modulation Depth (LFO influence on volume) | 0 to 127 |
| Pmd | Pitch Modulation Depth (LFO influence on pitch) | 0 to 127 |
Specific settings for each instrument
| Parameter | Values | |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | Number of notes | 0 to 8 |
| Midi # | Midi Channel | 1 to 16 |
| LimitH | Low Key Limit | C2 to G8 |
| LimitL | High Key Limit | C2 to G8 |
| Bank # | Bank number of the voice | 1 to 7 (1 and 2 = RAM banks) |
| Voice # | Voice number | 1 to 48 |
| Detune | Detune | -3 to 3 |
| Octave | Octave transposition | -2 to 2 |
| Level | Output level | 0 to 127 |
| Stereo | Stereo panning position | L(left), R(right) or LR (both channels) |
| LFO | Low Frequency Oscillator | ON / OFF |
| Port | Portamento Time | 0 to 127 |
| Bender | Pitch Bender Range | 0 to 12 |
| Mode | Mode | MONO(phonic) or POLY(phonic) |
| PMD | Pitch Modulation Device | BREATH, FOOT, OFF, TOUCH, WHEEL |
The screen of the Load/Save menu is divided between the command line and a list of all available commands.
The command line of this screen is reserved for the specific Load/Save commands.
If you use the SFG-01 module, the commands that require a disk are not displayed in the list.
After loading of data, the software will display a Directory of all the voices or configurations that are currently present in the MSX memory
To quit this menu or its directory, you can press any key.
| Command | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| CL f | CLOAD [filename] | Load data from cassette tape |
| CS f | CSAVE filename | Save data on cassette tape |
| DD f | DISK DELETE filename | Kill data file on disk |
| DF | DISK FILES | LIst of files on disk |
| DL f | DISK LOAD filename | Load data from disk |
| DS f | DISK SAVE filename | Save data on disk |
| HE | HELP | Back to this menu (after DF command) |
| MR (*) | MIDI RECEIVE | Receive data from FB-01 |
| MS (**) | MIDI SEND | Send data to FB-01 |
| RL f | RAM CARTRIDGE LOAD filename | Load data from data memory cartridge (UDC-01) |
| RS f | RAM CARTRIDGE SAVE filename | Save data on data memory cartridge (UDC-01) |
| TY a | TYPE file type | Select file type - a = 1 (VOICE) or 2 (CONFIG) |
(*) followed by voice bank (1 to 7) or configuration bank (only 1)
(**) followed by RAM number (1 or 2 - always 1 for configuration)
Key lists (F5)
The Key lists screen displays a list of the most important keys to be used with this software. Distinction is made according the mode that you are using.
The command line is not available on these screens. Press on ESC to go back to previous displayed screen.
Here's a more complete list that integrates all the modes of this software:
| Key | |
|---|---|
| F1 | Go to Voice or Configuration editor or switch between blocks and the command line in the Voice and Configuration editors (not available in Load/File menu) |
| F2 | Decrease velocity |
| F3 | Increase velocity |
| F4 | Load current voice data to instrument 2 for the comparison keyboard |
| F5 | Go to the Key list corresponding to the mode you are using |
| All cursors | Select parameter in Voice and Configuration editors |
| Left cursor | Previous voice when you are on the main command line |
| Right cursor | Next voice when you are on the main command line |
| BS | Correction for Voice or Configuration Name in Voice and Configuration editors or command on command line |
| CODE/KANA/HANGUL | Switch hardcopy density |
| CTRL + 1 | Switch ON/OFF operator 1 in Voice editor |
| CTRL + 2 | Switch ON/OFF operator 2 in Voice editor |
| CTRL + 3 | Switch ON/OFF operator 3 in Voice editor |
| CTRL + 4 | Switch ON/OFF operator 4 in Voice editor |
| CTRL + P | Hardcopy of current screen |
| CTRL + R | Replace the data of the currently edited voice by the data saved in the save buffer (in Voice editor) |
| CTRL + S | Save the data of the currently edited voice in the save buffer (in Voice editor) |
| CTRL + STOP | Stop loading/saving operation, hardcopy |
| CTRL + TAB | Restore operator in its previous state (before copy operation with TAB) in Voice editor |
| CTRL + Z | Switch the key click ON/OFF |
| DEL | Increase value (+1) in Voice and Configuration editors |
| ESC | Back to previous Command menu when you are in the Load/Save menu, cancel not yet entered command |
| HOME | Decrease value (-1) in Voice and Configuration editors |
| INS + DEL | Increase value (+10) in Voice and Configuration editors |
| INS + HOME | Decrease value (-10) in Voice and Configuration editors |
| RETURN | Enter new value (or name) for parameter in Voice and Configuration editors, enter command on command line |
| SELECT followed by a key on music keyboard | Change music keyboard split point |
| SPACE | Insert space in Voice or Configuration Name in Voice and Configuration editors or in command on command line |
| TAB | Copy the data of an operator to another operator in Voice editor |
| N | Cancel not yet entered command |
| Y | Confirm command on command line |