Yamaha PSS-A50 - Revision history

Hikari no yume: /* MIDI format */ add small explanation of implications

2024-11-27T16:42:20Z

MIDI format: add small explanation of implications

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:42, 27 November 2024
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	* It has the typical Yamaha XGlite Control Change support: Portamento, Attack, Release, Brightness, Harmonic Content, Reverb Send, Chorus Send<ref name=midi-implementation-chart>Yamaha PSS-A50 MIDI Reference, page 4.</ref>		* It has the typical Yamaha XGlite Control Change support: Portamento, Attack, Release, Brightness, Harmonic Content, Reverb Send, Chorus Send<ref name=midi-implementation-chart>Yamaha PSS-A50 MIDI Reference, page 4.</ref>
	* It responds to GM Reset etc<ref name=midi-data-format />		* It responds to GM Reset etc<ref name=midi-data-format />

			Therefore, it works well for controlling a GM instrument (especially one made by Yamaha or with an XG mode), and it can be written for like a GM instrument so long as you are careful to only use the 42 supported instrument presets.

	== Quirks ==		== Quirks ==

Hikari no yume: /* Quirks */ fix filename

2024-11-14T19:06:26Z

Quirks: fix filename

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:06, 14 November 2024
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	== Quirks ==		== Quirks ==

	[[File:PSS-A50 Master Volume ~~limiter example~~.png\|thumb\|right\|400px\|Example of how maxing out the "Master Volume" (above) can lead to the signal getting clipped, whereas a lower setting (below) can avoid this.]]		[[File:PSS-A50 Master Volume clipping.png\|thumb\|right\|400px\|Example of how maxing out the "Master Volume" (above) can lead to the signal getting clipped, whereas a lower setting (below) can avoid this.]]
	* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one (the "Master Volume"). This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.		* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one (the "Master Volume"). This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.
	* Setting the "Master Volume" to the maximum setting is not always optimal. If it's set too high, particularly loud sections of a song seem to hit some kind of clipping, creating unpleasant noise and reducing the dynamic range. You want to set it as high as is reasonable, to improve the amount of headroom above the noise floor you have, but not too high. It may be wise to multitrack multitimbral compositions rather than trying to record all tracks at once.		* Setting the "Master Volume" to the maximum setting is not always optimal. If it's set too high, particularly loud sections of a song seem to hit some kind of clipping, creating unpleasant noise and reducing the dynamic range. You want to set it as high as is reasonable, to improve the amount of headroom above the noise floor you have, but not too high. It may be wise to multitrack multitimbral compositions rather than trying to record all tracks at once.

Hikari no yume: /* Quirks */ Add multitracking suggestion

2024-11-14T19:01:59Z

Quirks: Add multitracking suggestion

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 14 November 2024
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	[[File:PSS-A50 Master Volume limiter example.png\|thumb\|right\|400px\|Example of how maxing out the "Master Volume" (above) can lead to the signal getting clipped, whereas a lower setting (below) can avoid this.]]		[[File:PSS-A50 Master Volume limiter example.png\|thumb\|right\|400px\|Example of how maxing out the "Master Volume" (above) can lead to the signal getting clipped, whereas a lower setting (below) can avoid this.]]
	* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one (the "Master Volume"). This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.		* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one (the "Master Volume"). This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.
	* Setting the "Master Volume" to the maximum setting is not always optimal. If it's set too high, particularly loud sections of a song seem to hit some kind of clipping, creating unpleasant noise and reducing the dynamic range. You want to set it as high as is reasonable, to improve the amount of headroom above the noise floor you have, but not too high.		* Setting the "Master Volume" to the maximum setting is not always optimal. If it's set too high, particularly loud sections of a song seem to hit some kind of clipping, creating unpleasant noise and reducing the dynamic range. You want to set it as high as is reasonable, to improve the amount of headroom above the noise floor you have, but not too high. It may be wise to multitrack multitimbral compositions rather than trying to record all tracks at once.
	* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This is fine for something expecting (unbalanced) stereo, but it can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.		* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This is fine for something expecting (unbalanced) stereo, but it can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.

Hikari no yume: /* Quirks */ Add illustration of clipping problem

2024-11-14T19:00:50Z

Quirks: Add illustration of clipping problem

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:00, 14 November 2024
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	== Quirks ==		== Quirks ==

			[[File:PSS-A50 Master Volume limiter example.png\|thumb\|right\|400px\|Example of how maxing out the "Master Volume" (above) can lead to the signal getting clipped, whereas a lower setting (below) can avoid this.]]
	* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one (the "Master Volume"). This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.		* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one (the "Master Volume"). This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.
	* Setting the "Master Volume" to the maximum setting is not always optimal. If it's set too high, particularly loud sections of a song seem to hit some kind of ~~''digital'' limiter~~, creating unpleasant noise and reducing the dynamic range. You want to set it as high as is reasonable, to improve the amount of headroom above the noise floor you have, but not too high.		* Setting the "Master Volume" to the maximum setting is not always optimal. If it's set too high, particularly loud sections of a song seem to hit some kind of clipping, creating unpleasant noise and reducing the dynamic range. You want to set it as high as is reasonable, to improve the amount of headroom above the noise floor you have, but not too high.
	* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This is fine for something expecting (unbalanced) stereo, but it can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.		* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This is fine for something expecting (unbalanced) stereo, but it can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.

Hikari no yume: /* Quirks */ digital limiter

2024-11-14T18:53:26Z

Quirks: digital limiter

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 14 November 2024
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	== Quirks ==		== Quirks ==

	* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one. This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.		* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one (the "Master Volume"). This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.
			* Setting the "Master Volume" to the maximum setting is not always optimal. If it's set too high, particularly loud sections of a song seem to hit some kind of ''digital'' limiter, creating unpleasant noise and reducing the dynamic range. You want to set it as high as is reasonable, to improve the amount of headroom above the noise floor you have, but not too high.
	* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This is fine for something expecting (unbalanced) stereo, but it can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.		* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This is fine for something expecting (unbalanced) stereo, but it can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.

Hikari no yume: /* Quirks */ clarify it works ok for stereo

2024-11-14T12:32:02Z

Quirks: clarify it works ok for stereo

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:32, 14 November 2024
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	* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one. This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.		* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one. This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.
	* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.		* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This is fine for something expecting (unbalanced) stereo, but it can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.

	== Trivia ==		== Trivia ==

Hikari no yume: /* Quirks */ remove internally inconsistent “rings” numbering, too weird

2024-11-14T12:31:06Z

Quirks: remove internally inconsistent “rings” numbering, too weird

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:31, 14 November 2024
Line 46:		Line 46:

	* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one. This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.		* There is no analog volume control, only a digital one. This means the audio output can be quite noisy at a low volume, because the noise floor is constant at all volume settings. If your headphones don't have their own volume control, you may want to use an in-line volume controller cable.
	* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo~~, three rings~~) 3.5mm jack. This can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono~~, two rings~~) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.		* The audio output is 2× ''unbalanced'' mono on a TRS (stereo) 3.5mm jack. This can interact badly with audio equipment expecting balanced audio: if you use a TRS cable to connect it to a mono input on your audio interface, you'll get silence. You need something with a TS (mono) connector, either a splitter-/Y-cable or a simple mono cable.

	== Trivia ==		== Trivia ==

Hikari no yume: /* MIDI format */

2024-11-13T23:25:29Z

MIDI format

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 13 November 2024
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	In all other respects however it seems to be compatible with GM1 and XGlite, for example:		In all other respects however it seems to be compatible with GM1 and XGlite, for example:
	** Normal instrument presets use GM1-compatible numbering (with Bank Select MSB = 0)		* Normal instrument presets use GM1-compatible numbering (with Bank Select MSB = 0)
	** Drum instrument presets use XG/XGlite-compatible numbering (Bank Select MSB = 127)		* Drum instrument presets use XG/XGlite-compatible numbering (Bank Select MSB = 127)
	** It has the typical Yamaha XGlite Control Change support: Portamento, Attack, Release, Brightness, Harmonic Content, Reverb Send, Chorus Send<ref name=midi-implementation-chart>Yamaha PSS-A50 MIDI Reference, page 4.</ref>		* It has the typical Yamaha XGlite Control Change support: Portamento, Attack, Release, Brightness, Harmonic Content, Reverb Send, Chorus Send<ref name=midi-implementation-chart>Yamaha PSS-A50 MIDI Reference, page 4.</ref>
	** It responds to GM Reset etc<ref name=midi-data-format />		* It responds to GM Reset etc<ref name=midi-data-format />

	== Quirks ==		== Quirks ==

Hikari no yume: /* MIDI format */

2024-11-13T23:24:59Z

MIDI format

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:24, 13 November 2024
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	== MIDI format ==		== MIDI format ==

	The PSS-A50 does ''not'' claim to have [[General MIDI]] support, presumably because it does not all 128 GM1 instruments, and it only has mono audio output.		The PSS-A50 does ''not'' claim to have [[General MIDI]] support, presumably because it does not have all 128 GM1 instruments, and it only has mono audio output.

	In all other respects however it seems to be compatible with GM1 and XGlite, for example:		In all other respects however it seems to be compatible with GM1 and XGlite, for example:

Hikari no yume: Reorganise feature list a bit and put MIDI format in its own section

2024-11-13T23:23:52Z

Reorganise feature list a bit and put MIDI format in its own section

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:23, 13 November 2024
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	* USB MIDI functionality		* USB MIDI functionality
	** MIDI out: can be used as a MIDI controller, sends all performance data including arpeggios and motion effects		** MIDI out: can be used as a MIDI controller, sends all performance data including arpeggios and motion effects
	** MIDI in: can be used as a tone generator (~~32-poly~~ 16-part multitimbral)		** MIDI in: can be used as a tone generator (16-part multitimbral<ref name=midi-data-format />)
	* Single speaker and mono 3.5mm headphone output		* Single speaker and mono 3.5mm headphone output
	* ~~40 normal~~ instrument presets ~~and 2 drumkit presets (Standard and Dance). These seem to come~~ from the Yamaha PSR series.		* Diverse selection of 42 instrument presets seemingly from the Yamaha PSR series, including two drumkits (Standard and Dance)
	* 16-part multitimbral,~~<ref name=midi-data-format /> 32-poly tone generator~~
	* Does ''not'' claim [[General MIDI]] support; this is probably because it does not have the full 128 GM1 instruments and ~~only has mono audio output. However, it seems to be partially GM1/XGlite-compatible, e.g.:~~
	** Normal instrument presets use GM1-compatible numbering (with Bank Select MSB = 0)
	** Drum instrument presets use XG/XGlite-compatible numbering (Bank Select MSB = 127)
	** Typical Yamaha XGlite Control Change support: Portamento, Attack, Release, Brightness, Harmonic Content, Reverb Send, Chorus Send<ref name=midi-implementation-chart>Yamaha PSS-A50 MIDI Reference, page 4.</ref>
	** Responds to GM Reset etc<ref name=midi-data-format />
	* Various convenient performance features:		* Various convenient performance features:
	** Arpeggios (not an arpeggiator exactly, more similar to a "styles" system with reharmonization of pre-recorded phrases stored in ROM)		** Arpeggios (not an arpeggiator exactly, more similar to a "styles" system with reharmonization of pre-recorded phrases stored in ROM)
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	** Sustain and portamento buttons (no pedal input)		** Sustain and portamento buttons (no pedal input)
	** Metronome		** Metronome

			== MIDI format ==

			The PSS-A50 does ''not'' claim to have [[General MIDI]] support, presumably because it does not all 128 GM1 instruments, and it only has mono audio output.

			In all other respects however it seems to be compatible with GM1 and XGlite, for example:
			** Normal instrument presets use GM1-compatible numbering (with Bank Select MSB = 0)
			** Drum instrument presets use XG/XGlite-compatible numbering (Bank Select MSB = 127)
			** It has the typical Yamaha XGlite Control Change support: Portamento, Attack, Release, Brightness, Harmonic Content, Reverb Send, Chorus Send<ref name=midi-implementation-chart>Yamaha PSS-A50 MIDI Reference, page 4.</ref>
			** It responds to GM Reset etc<ref name=midi-data-format />

	== Quirks ==		== Quirks ==