CTX81Z (Editor for Yamaha TX81Z)

[dnaldoog]

Anyone got a TX81Z?

I finally finished a panel for the Yamaha TX81Z. Originally it was going to be a simple json file save adaption of Atom's Demo but it developed and grew from there.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/ctx81z/

[Godlike-Productions]

Oooooo pretty. I wonder if this can be adapted for the Kurzweil Forte/K2700/PC4. They have a replica of Yamaha's FM stuff inside. They can even load original DX files.

Projects have a habit of growing.

[damiensellier]

@dnaldoog is unstoppable :)

[dnaldoog]

Oooooo pretty. I wonder if this can be adapted for the Kurzweil Forte/K2700/PC4. They have a replica of Yamaha's FM stuff inside. They can even load original DX files.

Projects have a habit of growing.

Thanks @Godlike-Productions - that’s interesting! Right now I am trying to see how to adapt the panel to the Yamaha V50 (which I have) and also the Yamaha DX 21 (which I don’t have). I think there are a few four op fm synths that have very similar MIDI implementation, so maybe that is one of them?

[mtarenskeen]

I think there are a few four op fm synths that have very similar MIDI implementation

Correct. Similar and compatible MIDI SysEx (but not identical): Yamaha DX100, DX27, DX27S, DX21, TX81Z, DX11 (=V2 in Japan), WT11, TQ5, YS100, YS200, B200, DS55, V50. All these synths were supported in YSEDITOR my good old vintage Atari ST editor software from the 80's/90's that I still use from time to time using STeem or Hatari emulator. STill available on my website http://yseditor.martintarenskeen.nl

Nice to have more modern software to edit these good old Yamaha synths though :-)

[subv0x]

@dnaldoog have you thought of doing this with the multitimbral mode?

[dnaldoog]

@dnaldoog have you thought of doing this with the multitimbral mode?

hi @subv0x - yes the latest version has that!

[subv0x]

looks great !

[mtarenskeen]

You might also want to try my new Ctrlr editor for Yamaha 4-op synths. Mine doesn't support performances and as has a totally different visual approach. But it does support also V50 features like 100-patch bulkdumps, extra V50 voice parameters ( +/- level scaling, low range fixed frequency mode, and DSP effect parameters. You can find it at https://www.martintarenskeen.nl/ctrlr

[dnaldoog]

That link doesn’t work Martin.

it’s a shame there is no longer a central place where we can upload panels to like the original Ctrlr.org website. Otherwise we never know of panels like yours having been completed.

[damiensellier]

URL was corrupted : https://www.martintarenskeen.nl/ctrlr/

[mtarenskeen]

The link works fine for me? https://www.martintarenskeen.nl/ctrlr or https://martintarenskeen.nl/ctrlr Can you try again? Op donderdag 21 december 2023 om 18:33:11 -08:00:00 schreef Damien S. ***@***.***>:

…

URL was corrupted : <https://www.martintarenskeen.nl/ctrlr/> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#469 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA2YYOA5WTPIREYPTQHR6ALYKTWOPAVCNFSM5XA6J77KU5DIOJSWCZC7NNSXTOKENFZWG5LTONUW63SDN5WW2ZLOOQ5TOOJSGM4DCNI>. You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[mtarenskeen]

Sometimes it works if you enter the address manually in your browser, instead of clicking on the link here. But for me both work fine?

[cv909]

Im struggling to get the MIDI send rate going,
what to do when the lowest and max value give the same results - and the 81Z throws overload alerts?

[dnaldoog]

Did you manage to try through loopMIDI and Bome Send SX?

[cv909]

not yet,
I tried shorter MIDI cables and it works perfect now.

[dnaldoog]

That’s great - possibly one of your cables was bad?

[cv909]

TX must be very picky - out of curiosity Ive put that "bad" cable in between the AlphaJuno 2 and the AlphaBase controller (software) and it works perfect in there, but refuses to transmit data into the 81z - I gotta keep them signed.

and yes, I have to accept I'll never fully understand what's on my hardware's mind (:
cant complain though - being a slave to the midlate 80s synthesizers I;m blessed I can edit them on the fly with the PC, in the 80s I'd probably be forced to use sh101, 303 and the Prophet 5 all of the time.

[subv0x]

there's a lot to be said for getting an old Atari ST :-)
kept mine expressly for that.
eventually got rid of the CRT monitor when Atari > VGA adapters appeared. (must get an optical mouse for it)
different experience running it with a TFT !

had a great time editing CZ/VZ/TX with it - don't think anyone's made a VZ editor yet. at the time, the cz101 seemed ahead of its time, made me think of digital watches, and supercool, doing a random and seeing what comes out. oh why did i sell that ...

[dnaldoog]

TX must be very picky - out of curiosity Ive put that "bad" cable in between the AlphaJuno 2 and the AlphaBase controller (software) and it works perfect in there, but refuses to transmit data into the 81z - I gotta keep them signed.

and yes, I have to accept I'll never fully understand what's on my hardware's mind (: cant complain though - being a slave to the midlate 80s synthesizers I;m blessed I can edit them on the fly with the PC, in the 80s I'd probably be forced to use sh101, 303 and the Prophet 5 all of the time.

I also wrote a Juno panel. That's very interesting about the TX81-Z - it truly must be fussy - probably its age - I think it's the synth I go to most. Recently I put a Sony R7 reverb with it - sounds great!

[cv909]

been working like a charm for weeks and I suddenly get some "callback error / command line 57 - "constant copy" / method disabled" error as soon as I try to change waveform for an operator - no idea what happened ;( it's been my best "Regis styled" version of the lately bass and I'd love to edit it more/somehow :)

it only happens with all patches saved in the internal bank - the ABCD allow editing wout errors

//sorted (in a way) somehow the "constant copy" buttons were all activated (pink) - witched them off to their grey state and it works again // phew

[dnaldoog]

I think I understand where the error happened- I’ll try and reproduce the error and post a new fix. Thank you.

[cv909]

my main problem (not related to the command line 57 in any way) is the json files that are saved on the pc drive - I cannot load them into the 81z.

I can save my patches into the 81z internal bank using the "store" / "choose location" function using the ctrlr panel's interface, but I cannot load the (hard drive stored) json files into the instrument - the panel interface loads ok (the waveforms and envelopes load visually according to what I have saved) but the actual 81z still plays the previously loaded timbre - as if I was missing some "send it!" or "confirm" button to actually load the json settings into the machine.

(I think it would be easier for me to explain it in Polish ;) - Im warsaw based too - I'm definitely doin somethin wrong with the json procedure)

[dnaldoog]

I'll have to look into that tomorrow. It's been a while since I looked at the panel, but time has a nasty way of showing the error of one's ways, but I really appreciate the feedback. Too often, I guess, people just work around an error, but if they were to report it then the panel developer could look at it and probably fix it!

Dziękuję

[cv909]

all json files saved on my hdd are exactly 6KB - maybe they're incomplete in a way? I run the standalone version on 32bit Win7.

[dnaldoog]

Hi @cv909

I was able to duplicate that error on line 57 several times and then suddenly it all seems to be working!

Can you send me your exact steps to reproduce the error?

I think the code is okay, but some control is not being referenced properly when you click on the arrow. I have optimising code for that and I might have to remove that to fix it. Just thinking out aloud here.

Also when I tried loading a JSON saved file back to the panel and sending out to the TX81Z the patch was nothing like what it should be. Does that function even actually work?

I might have to re-write it or abandon it and save files as sysex instead. Will look into it. The code is complex and it has been so long since I wrote it that I am having trouble deciphering what I did! lol.

[cv909]

Ive never beeen able to save/load a json file yet.
before clinging to the tx81z Ive used juno2 and JX8P with their ctrlr panels for years and the sysex files work like a charm in every instrument I tried it with - so maybe switching to syx would solve the mystery :)
maybe json is too much windows-dependable? (wild guess)

as for the command like 57 - I'll ttry to get the exact path to the error in the evening.