Yamaha Vl70m User Manual

17Setting Up
Breath Controller
If you will be using the VL70-m with a keyboard, a breath controller is an
essential expressive tool — both for realistic expression with wind-instru-
ment voices and unprecedented expressive control with string voices. Plug an
optional Yamaha BC3, BC2 or BC1 Breath Controller into the front-panel
breath controller jack. If the controlling MIDI keyboard has a breath controller
jack, it might be more convenient to plug the breath contoller in there rather
than directly into...

18Setting Up
WX-series Wind MIDI Controller
The VL70-m is an ideal tone generator for use with a Yamaha WX-series
Wind MIDI Controller such as the WX11 or WX7. In either case the con-
troller can be plugged directly into the WX IN connector on the VL70-m front
panel, without the need for a WT11 or BT7 wind controller interface.
The Breath Mode parameter (page 96) must be set to “BC/WX”
in order for the VL70-m to recognize breath data from the
controller.
If you intend to drive additional MIDI devices via...

19Setting Up
G50 Guitar MIDI Converter
The Yamaha G50 is a high-performance Guitar MIDI Converter designed to
work in conjunction with the Yamaha G1D Divided Pickup Unit installed on
an electric or steel-string acoustic guitar. The G50 offers unprecedented MIDI
guitar synthesizer performance with exceptionally fast response and a range of
advanced features that bring the true creative potential of MIDI control to guitar
players for the first time. Naturally, the VL70-m is an ideal tone generator for
use...

20Setting Up
Connecting to a Personal Computer
Although the VL70-m can be connected to a personal computer via the
MIDI IN/OUT connectors and a MIDI interface, the TO HOST connector
and selector switch allow direct connection to Apple Macintosh, IBM PC/AT, or
NEC PC-9801/9821 series personal computers for sequencing and other music
applications without the need for a separate MIDI interface.

 IMPORTANT!
• If the VL70-m is to be connected to a computer via the TO HOST connector 
and a MIDI
controller via...

21Setting Up
Connecting to an NEC PC-9801/9821 Series Computer
The NEC PC-9801/9821 computers are widely used in Japan. Connect the TO
HOST connector of the VL70-m to the RS-232C port on your NEC computer,
using a standard 8-pin MINI DIN → 25-pin D-SUB cross cable. Set the TO
HOST selector to the “PC-1” position.
Refer to your software owner’s manual for information on any settings you
might have to make on the computer side.

 NOTES
• If your system doesn’t work properly with the connections and...

22Setting Up
Audio Connections

 Headphones
For private listening and practice headphones are ideal. You don’t have to
hook up and complete sound system, and you won’t disturb the neighbors no
matter how loud or late you play. Any standard pair of stereo headphones with a
stereo mini phone plug and an impedance of between about 8 and 150 ohms can
be used.

 Stereo Sound System
The VL70-m voices and effects are designed to sound their best in stereo, so
you should always use a stereo sound system to...

23
Power-on Procedure
Always follow proper procedure when powering-up a sound system to
minimize the possibility of damage to the equipment (and your ears!).
1. Make sure your sound system’s main level/volume control(s) and the
VL70-m volume control are turned all the way down prior to turning
power on.
2. Turn on the VL70-m.
3. Turn on your MIDI controller (and computer/sequencer, if used).
4. Turn on the sound system.
5. Raise the sound system volume to a reasonable level.
6. Gradually raise the VL70-m...

24
Play the Demo
Once you’ve set up your VL70-m system, you might like to play the pre-
programmed demo sequence to hear how some of the voices sound. This
process will also help to familiarize you with some of the VL70-m’s selection
and editing procedures.

 NOTES
• When the demo is played all system setup parameters and current voice are initialized. If
your VL70-m memory contains data you want to keep, be sure to use the bulk dump
function (page 100) to save the data to an external MIDI data recorder...

25Setting Up
The Supplied Demo Disk
The VL70-m is supplied with a demonstration data disk which contains
several songs which demonstrate some of the VL70-m’s advanced musical
capabilities. The songs on this disk can be reproduced using any sequencer or
computer-based sequence software which can handle SMF (Standard MIDI File
— format 0) song files.
All of the demo songs use the VL70-m for the main melody line, while a
second XG tone generator (Yamaha MU50 or MU80 for example) supplies the
backing.

...

26
Voice Organization and Sound Module
Modes
Voice Organization
The VL70-m voices are organized into four main banks. Additional banks
are used when the VL70-m is set to operate in the VL-XG sound module
mode (page 29). The four main banks are as follows:
The PRESET 1 bank contains 128 preset voices which have beencreated primarily to be played via a keyboard.
The PRESET 2 bank contains 128 preset voices which have been
created to provide maximum expressive capability when played
with a breath controller...