Two keyboards connected by MIDI question.

[Mikecartermusic]

Hey there!

I'm new to the forum. I've just bought a two-tier keyboard stand. I want to connect my two keyboards via MIDI. My main one is a PSR-1500 and the other one is the original Yamaha DJX. I would like to be able to play chords on my PSR-1500 and for that to then playback the chords of the accompaniment style on the DJX. I have two MIDI Cables at hand. I want to be able to play the lead-melody line on the PSR 1500 but still have the option to use the lead line on the DJX as well. I'm sure this is possible? Can anyone help me and tell me what I need to do in order to achieve this?

Thanks!

Mike Carter

[brandondrury]

Let me make sure I understand this correctly.

Are you saying you want for the chords you play on the PSR-1500 to play on both the PSR-1500 and Yamaha DJX. That shoud be fairly straightforward. Send MIDI out from the PSR-1500 to the Yamaha DJX. You'll want to make sure you get the channels to match up.

From there you should be able to play lead on the DJX with no problem.

Brandon

[Mikecartermusic]

Hey Brandon!

Thanks for your reply. Well, I should have added that when I did connect the MIDI OUT of the PSR 1500 to the MIDI IN of the Yamaha DJX, all it did was play the 1500's styles back through the DJX's speakers at the same time but using the soundset of the DJX. Does this help? I will have a play around and see if I can work it out in the mean time.

Thanks!

Mike

[brandondrury]

I should have added that when I did connect the MIDI OUT of the PSR 1500 to the MIDI IN of the Yamaha DJX, all it did was play the 1500's styles back through the DJX's speakers at the same time but using the soundset of the DJX. Does this help

Maybe. You should be able to change the instrument/patch/preset being triggered into the DJX for that specific channel. This gets a hair complicated for me to explain because I don't have these two keyboards you mentioned. You should be able to set the output channel on your PSR 1500 so that you can control the exact sound it is triggering in your Yamaha by changing the instrument/patch/preset in your Yamaha.

Brandon

[Mikecartermusic]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

You should be able to set the output channel on your PSR 1500 so that you can control the exact sound it is triggering in your Yamaha by changing the instrument/patch/preset in your Yamaha.

Brandon

That's cool but I was hoping for the chord I play on the psr 1500 to control the accompaniment section and styles of the Yamaha DJX, rather than it sending all over the sounds from the 1500's styles. Any idea what channel is likely to give me this outcome? I know I could do this by just not using MIDI and playing the chord on the djx, and the melody on the other keyboard. The problem with this is when you're using fill-ins and things it's easy to get confused as to where you're playing the style from and I miss chords out so it would be nice to control it from the 1500 but maybe this just isn't possible!

Thanks!
Mike

[brandondrury]

to control the accompaniment section

What is an accompaniment section? Give me a specific example.

Brandon

[Mikecartermusic]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

What is an accompaniment section? Give me a specific example.

Brandon

Well the Yamaha DJX uses a similar concept to any home keyboard. In terms of it has "Voices" which you use to play melodies and "Styles" which are rhythmic and melodic accompaniments which play back based on the chords you play. These styles play back when you play a chord on the bottom end of the keyboard (accompaniment section) and when the accompaniment feature is turned on. I thought that playing a style back on the PSR 1500 would do the same thing on the DJX automatically when connected via MIDI, (but to play back the chosen DJX style of course) but it did not, it just made all of the sounds contained in the Yamaha's Style play through the DJX but using its own sounds. Hopefully I've put that in a clear enough way to describe whats happening.

[brandondrury]

Okay, I see. This accompaniment thing is specific to one particular keyboard. You probably could get it to go out the MIDI out, but I'm not sure how. You'll have to speak with people who have more experience with this particular keyboard.

Good luck!

Brandon