2nd Keyboard MIDI'd to Fantom G6

13 Dec 2010, 09:18

OK, I have been banging my head against the wall with this one for a while. I have a G6. I'd like to MIDI my PCR-800 to it and be able to trigger G6 sounds from either keyboard (basically using the G6 as a keyboard AND a sound module at the same time).

Here's an example of what I'd like to do in LIVE mode:

Have a piano sound spread across the G6's keyboard, while triggering a G6 bass sound from the bottom octave of my PCR-800 and triggering G6 strings on the top 4 octaves of the PCR-800. Like this:

PCR-800:
[OCT1] [OCT2] [OCT3] [OCT4] [OCT5]
G6BASS G6STRINGS------------------------------------------

G6:
[OCT1] [OCT2] [OCT3] [OCT4] [OCT5]
G6PIANO----------------------------------------------------------------

The problem:

There doesn't appear to be a way to make the G6 recognize ONE sound as being triggered externally in LIVE mode. There also doesn't appear to be a way to trigger a sound from an external keyboard as a split -- if I put bass in octave 1 and strings in 2-5 on the G6, the PCR-800 will still trigger bass and strings across the entire 5 octaves.

All of my Korg gear can do this, but I could never get my X6 or G6 to behave this way. Am I just missing something???? Any and all thoughts are welcome.

Thanks,
Bill

Roland Fantom G6 (2), G7, VK-8M
Korg M50, CX3

Re: 2nd Keyboard MIDI'd to Fantom G6

13 Dec 2010, 10:12

Hi,
I was also quite frustrated by the fact that splits cannot be relaized with external controllers. So far I heard of no other solution, so what I do is copy the patch used in the split and edit it so that it will respond only in the desired key range. A bad workaround Í think, but it only takes a couple of seconds, and there's plenty of storage space in the G, so it does the job. In your example you would program a bass patch which only produces sound in octave 1, a string sound responding in octave 2 to 5 and set the same MIDI channel in Live Mode for the two parts using those (user) patches.

Re: 2nd Keyboard MIDI'd to Fantom G6

13 Dec 2010, 10:28

I do use a similar approach with my X and a PCR-500 and a A-Pro 800...

The trick is to allow the parts that would be controlled by the PCR-800 to have a keyboard range set for the min and max as the far left note (C1 example), well out of the range that would be used on the PCR.
The second is to use each of the parts to be controlled externally on a different MIDI channel. the PCR is super on this, as you can configure the lower and the upper parts as you like, in any combination possible, in real time (upper only, lower only, split, layer), on any MIDI channel.

And using the extensive G split features, you can use several sounds from the G's keyboard and 2 extra (or more if you are layering) from the PCR.

Really powerful

Make Music and be Happy !!
PauloF

Re: 2nd Keyboard MIDI'd to Fantom G6

13 Dec 2010, 10:34

That's actually a very clever idea! If I remember correctly, however, the PCR-800 would also trigger the piano patch...it just triggers everything in the G6 regardless of MIDI channel settings in either keyboard.

Roland Fantom G6 (2), G7, VK-8M
Korg M50, CX3

Re: 2nd Keyboard MIDI'd to Fantom G6

13 Dec 2010, 10:37

Just saw your response Paulo -- maybe I'm not doing something right as the MIDI channels seem to be ignored. I'll see if I can get this to work tonight.

Thank you both for your input!

Roland Fantom G6 (2), G7, VK-8M
Korg M50, CX3

Re: 2nd Keyboard MIDI'd to Fantom G6

13 Dec 2010, 10:38

Not exactly, the PCR can be configured to allow each part to trigger one channel only. Check the OMNI Parameter (it should be off).

Make Music and be Happy !!
PauloF

Re: 2nd Keyboard MIDI'd to Fantom G6

13 Dec 2010, 10:47

OMNI off...that's probably something I've overlooked in the PCR. Thanks for the help -- great ideas!

Bill

Roland Fantom G6 (2), G7, VK-8M
Korg M50, CX3