TG300B mode
TG300B mode is a feature on some Yamaha XG devices that provides unofficial compatibility with Roland GS (i.e. the SC-55). It also provides some compatibility with the Roland SC-88.
Yamaha do not document what GS features are supported beyond the list of patches. In testing, it seems to support a substantial number of GS System Exclusive messages, among others:
- GS Reset (switches to TG300B mode)[1]
- Editing the reverb and chorus (type, rate, delay, feedback level, etc)[1]
- Per-part controller mappings, including LFOs[1]
- Per-part voice editing (e.g. adjusting filter cutoff)[1]
- Drum setup editing (e.g. reverb level for drums)[1]
Like the Roland SC-55, the patch set for TG300B mode includes Roland CM-64 compatibility banks. Unlike the SC-55, many XG devices also offer a specific CM-64-compatible mode (C/M mode).
Name
The name refers to the Yamaha TG300's similar "GM-B" mode, but this is a euphemism, presumably to avoid infringing on Roland's GS trademark. Yamaha's own manuals admit it "may not be able to play back TG300-specific song data with complete accuracy", but it is compatible with "MIDI data designed for other computer music tone generators".[2] Also, whereas the TG300's GM-B mode only attempted to be compatible with the Roland SC-55,[3] the TG300B mode provides compatibility with newer Sound Canvas devices, e.g. the Yamaha MU80 TG300B patch list looks more like the Roland SC-88's.[4]
After a firmware upgrade, the MU1000 and MU2000's TG300B modes officially became GS modes.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Tested by hikari_no_yume on a Yamaha CBX-K1XG.
- ↑ Yamaha MU80 Owner's Manual, page 34. Identical wording can be found in many other MU-series manuals.
- ↑ This is suggested by comparing the patches in the TG300's Sound List & MIDI Data manual to the SC-55's.
- ↑ Compare the patch list on page "7-10" onwards of the Roland SC-88 Owner's Manual to the patch list on page 32 onwards of the Yamaha MU80 Sound List & MIDI Data manual.