Will these two work together

[Fellwalker]

Hi,

I dont know much about workstaion keyboards as I use a Yamaha arranger most of the time, but looking to try something new, so my question is

If I use http://www.1manband.nl/omb.htm as a style player on my PC could I hook it via midi to this workstation

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/synthesi...tation?gclid=CLX76oXcpdECFQSfGwod7jQKSg#specs

would I get somewhere near the same results as an arranger, this for home use only no giging or live playing

Brian

 

[happyrat1]

I have no idea how well this software would work but there is a Linux version available as well as a 60 day trial.

I'll download it and give it whirl whenever I get a chance to do so and get back to you on this.

A couple of things I wonder about are how nicely it would play with cakewalk in Linux and secondly what sort of INS file or equivalents are available to tell it the available voices on a particular keyboard make and model?

Gary

 

[Fellwalker]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for coming back to me on this one, I am going to download the trial version myself and trry it on my Tros 5
and see how that performs, it the worksation bit I am not sure about as I have only ever had arrangers

Thanks and look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Brian

 

[SeaGtGruff]

Based on this page, I should think the program would work with the Roland keyboard with no trouble.

However, if you want to use Yamaha style files with the Roland keyboard, you will undoubtedly need to edit the Bank Select and Program Change events in the style files to choose the appropriate voices on the Roland. There are utilities available for revoicing MIDI song files and Yamaha style files, and I think one or more of them might let you build a database for "automatically" replacing a given voice with another voice.

 

[happyrat1]

According to the page you linked Mike the software only supports GM, GS or XG voice sets.

That means you're outta luck if you have a workstation that doesn't support anything other than GM.

In other words, your workstation may have over 2000 built in instruments, but this software can only access 128 of them.

I'll try installing it in a day or two to confirm, but that does not bode well for it's usability or value.

Personally I'd find it hard to swallow the $50 USD price tag if it doesn't at least allow you to import cakewalk INS files.

Gary

 

[Fellwalker]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the info and picking up on the voice limitations which is a bummer really.

brian

 

[happyrat1]

All is not lost however. There's also a plugin version that will work with Cakewalk or Cubase. In theory you should be able to record the song as a MIDI sequence and assign any voices you'd like afterward in post processing and editing.

I unfortunately can't test the plugin version with my Linux machine though.

Gary

 

[SeaGtGruff]

First of all, it does indeed use Cakewalk INS files: http://www.1manband.nl/features.htm

I don't see where it says that only GM, GS, or XG voices are supported. The page I linked to does mention GM, GS, and XG in connection with digital pianos, but doesn't say that the software is limited to those voices. Frankly, I don't see why the program should care at all what Bank Select and Program Change values are contained in a given style file-- that sort of thing should matter only to the virtual instrument or hardware instrument that the data is being sent to.

If you have any questions about the program, you could contact the author (Joe Maas) directly and ask him. He also has a number of other useful-looking programs: http://www.psrtutorial.com/util/maas.html

EDIT: PS -- I forgot to mention that other changes might be needed if outputting the MIDI data to a Roland (or other) keyboard-- things like SysEx messages, and possibly RPN and NRPN values, as well as other CC events that the specific keyboard may or may not support.

 

[happyrat1]

Thanks for doing my research for me Mike.

That website is pretty poorly laid out and I only gave it a cursory glance until I have more time to install and test the software.

Also I read the Linux Notes which include a few serious omissions from the Windows versions.

So in theory the software will function just peachy for Brian and a Roland FA-08 workstation.

All's well that ends well.

I still definitely want to give it a test drive myself.

Gary

 

[SeaGtGruff]

Yes, so do I, along with some of Joe's other programs!

To be honest, I've never made much use of the auto-accompaniment features of my keyboards-- neither on my old Casio nor on my Yamahas. Part of the reason is because I play so poorly that I can't control an auto accompaniment with my left hand while concentrating on playing the correct notes with my right hand!

Of course, I can always record an accompaniment and other tracks first, then play along to the recording. But the other reason I haven't used auto accompaniments is because I've always felt more inclined to create my own rhythms and accompaniments, rather than using preprogrammed ones.

Still, one of my New Year's resolutions is to make better use of my keyboards' features, which includes auto accompaniments. Hopefully, by this time next year I'll be able to control an auto accompaniment with my left hand while playing a melody with my right hand-- that is, without bungling it up too badly!

 

[happyrat1]

I played around with the software on a linux laptop with a MIDI controller attached tonight.

I am seriously underwhelmed.

I can accomplish far more using a basic drum machine and DAW software than I ever could with this amateurish software. The MIDI routing capabilities are simplistic and limited to driving a single device.

For less than $50 USD you can buy a legitimate copy of Cakewalk Music Creator 6 or 7 which is incredibly polished and sophisticated by comparison.

IMHO, not worth the money.

Gary

 

[SeaGtGruff]

I still haven't tried it myself-- so much to do, so little time-- but eventually I'll give the free trial a whirl.

I imagine that you're correct about a full-fledged DAW having a lot more to offer as far as output options. But the primary advantage that programs like One Man Band offer is that they're specifically designed to work with style files. They understand the additional types of file chunks that style files have in addition to the usual "MThd" and "MTrk" chunks; and they let you control the chords used for the style playback and switch between the various sections and variations of a style file.

 

[Fellwalker]

Thank you guys for you input, I have read all the post you have made and I am going to tyr it with my Tros and see how it performs
I have downloaded the demo version but not tried it as yet

Thanks , Brian

 

[Fellwalker]

Hi Guys,

Please dont waste anymore of yor valuable time on this for me as after looking and trying that software I would be better of just using the DAW I already have , thanks for your input it was very heelpful

Brian