Yamaha Vl70m User Manual

							37The VL-XG PLAY Mode
The VL-XG PLAY Main Control Mode
This mode is initially engaged when the VL-XG sound module mode is
selected. If the sub-control mode is active (see page 40), the main control
mode can be selected by simultaneously pressing the PART [-] and [+] buttons.
The VL-XG PLAY main control mode display looks like this:
PART MIDI BANK/PGMVOL EXP PAN REV CHO VAR KEY
• Note Shift
• Variation Send
• Chorus Send
• Reverb Send
• Pan
• Receive Channel
• Bank Number
• Program Number
• Volume
• Expression
• Part Number
The various parameters in this mode are selected via the SELECT []
buttons. The name of the currently selected parameter appears in the upper right
corner of the display (when the bank and program number parameters are
showing a solid triangular pointer indicates which of the two parameters is
selected). A small triangular pointer appears above the icon corresponding to the
selected parameter in the bottom line of the display. Once the desired parameter
has been selected, it’s value can be set as required via the VALUE [-] and [+]
buttons. 
						

							38
Rcv CH (Receive Channel)
Settings: 01 … 16, OFF
Sets the MIDI receive channel on which the VL70-
m will receive data from your keyboard or other
controller. The receive channel must be set to the
same channel that the controlling device is trans-
mitting on (“01” through “16”). When “OFF” is
selected, the VL70-m will not receive any data
from external MIDI devices.
(Bank Number)
Settings: 112 … 119, Pr1, Pr2, Cst, Int
Selects the VL70-m voice bank: 112 through 119,
PRESET 1 (Pr1), PRESET 2 (Pr2), CUSTOM
(Cst), or INTERNAL (Int). See “Voice Organiza-
tion” on page 26.
(Program Number)
Settings: 001 … 128
Selects the voice to played on the VL70-m. Banks
112 through 119 allow selection of voice numbers
from “022” to “128”, although some voice num-
bers are skipped since the VL70-m does not have a
full basic XG voice set. The PRESET 1 and
PRESET 2 banks each have voice numbers from
“001” to “128”, while the CUSTOM bank has
voice numbers from “001” to “006”, and the
INTERNAL bank has voice numbers from “001”
to “064”
Volume
Settings: 000 … 127
Sets the volume of the current voice. The higher
the value the louder the volume.
Expresn (Expression)
Settings: 000 … 127
Sets the expression level of the current voice. The
higher the value the higher the expression level.
Pa n
Settings: Rnd, L63 … C … R63
Sets the pan position of the current voice — i.e.
the position of the voice between left and right in
the stereo sound field. A setting of “L63: sets the
pan position full left, “C” sets the pan at center,
and “R63” sets the pan full right. In between
settings produce corresponding intermediate pan
positions. The “Rnd” setting produces a randomly-
generated pan position.
The VL-XG PLAY Mode 
						

							39
RevSend (Reverb Send)
Settings: 000 … 127
Adjusts the level of the signal sent to the VL70-m
reverb effect stage. The higher the value, the
higher the level of the reverb send signal.
ChoSend (Chorus Send)
Settings: 000 … 127
Adjusts the level of the signal sent to the VL70-m
chorus effect stage. The higher the value, the
higher the level of the chorus send signal.
VarSend (Variation Send)
Settings: 000 … 127 (on, off when “INS”)
When the variation stage is connected as a system
effect (page 87), this parameter adjusts the level of
the signal sent to the VL70-m variation effect
stage. The higher the value, the higher the level of
the variation send signal. When the variation stage
is connected as an “insertion” effect (page 86), this
parameter turns variation send “on” or “off”.
The VL-XG PLAY Mode
NoteSft (Note Shift)
Settings: -24 … 0 … +24
Transposes the pitch of the current voice down or
up in semitone steps over a ±2 octave range. “+00”
corresponds to standard pitch. Each increment
corresponds to a semitone. A setting of “-12”, for
example, transposes the pitch down one octave. 
						

							40
The VL-XG PLAY Sub-control Mode
The sub control mode can be selected from the main control mode by
simultaneously pressing the PART [-] and [+] buttons. The VL-XG PLAY
sub-control mode display looks like this:
PART MIDI BANK/PGMVOL EXP PAN REV CHO VAR KEY
• Transpose
• Variation Return
• Chorus Return
• Reverb Return
• Device Number
• Master Volume
The VL-XG PLAY Mode
The various parameters in this mode are selected via the SELECT []
buttons. The name of the currently selected parameter appears in the upper right
corner of the display. A small triangular pointer appears above the icon corre-
sponding to the selected parameter in the bottom line of the display. Once the
desired parameter has been selected, it’s value can be set as required via the
VALUE [-] and [+] buttons.• When you enter the VL-XG sub control mode from the
main control mode, “ALL” is automatically selected for the
“part” by simultaneously pressing the PART [-] and [+]
buttons (“ALL”). 
						

							41
DevNo. (Device Number)
Settings: 001 … 016, all
The Device Number parameter must be set prop-
erly when you want to transmit or receive MIDI
system exclusive data to or from another VL70-m
or other MIDI device (system exclusive data
includes voice parameters, system setup param-
eters, etc). The VL70-m Device number must be
set to the same number as the Device Number of
the external device. Select a device number from
“001” to “016”, or “all” . When “all” is selected,
MIDI system exclusive data can be received on all
device numbers, but transmission occurs via device
number 001.
M.Volum (Master Volume)
Settings: 000 … 127
Sets the VL70-m master volume level. The higher
the value the louder the volume.
RevRtn (Reverb Return)
Settings: 000 … 127
Adjusts the level of the signal returned from the
VL70-m reverb effect stage. The higher the value,
the higher the level of the reverb signal.
ChoRtn (Chorus Return)
Settings: 000 … 127
Adjusts the level of the signal returned from the
VL70-m chorus effect stage. The higher the value,
the higher the level of the chorus signal.
VarRtn (Variation Return)
Settings: 000 … 127
Adjusts the level of the signal returned from the
VL70-m variation effect stage. The higher the
value, the higher the level of the variation signal.
This parameter is not available (“***” will appear
in place of the VarRtn value) when the variation
stage is connected as an “insertion” effect (page
86).
Trans (Transpose)
Settings: -24 … 0 … +24
Transposes the pitch of the entire VL70-m system
(a single setting applies to all voices) down or up
in semitone steps over a ±2 octave range. “+00”
corresponds to standard pitch. Each increment
corresponds to a semitone. A setting of “-12”, for
example, transposes the pitch down one octave.
The VL-XG PLAY Mode 
						

							42
Controllers & Control Editing
If you’ve read the “Virtual Acoustic Synthesis” section (if you haven’t, please
do so — page 6) you should understand the concept of “controllers” as applied
to the VL70-m. The “controller parameters” correspond to simulated character-
istics of the instrument model — e.g. breath pressure, embouchure or tonguing.
Any of these can be controlled by you via “physical controllers” — e.g. a breath
controller or modulation wheel — assigned to the required controller parameter.
The effectiveness of the VL70-m as a musical instrument depends to a great
deal on how well you learn to use these controllers. Since the VL70-m sound is
produced by a computer-based physical model rather than a oscillator-based
tone generator, there are no hard-and-fast rules as to how any controller will
actually affect the sound. There are guidelines, based on the rule of the corre-
sponding controller parameter within the physical model, but proficiency with
the VL70-m depends more on experience and practice — just as it does in any
acoustic instrument.
Physical Controllers
• Breath Controller
• Foot Controller
• Etc.Physical controllers such as
the Breath or Foot Controller
can be assigned to controller
parameters such as Pressure
or Embouchure.
VL Controller Parameters
• Pressure
• Embouchure
• Etc.
Controllers & Control Editing 
						

							43
A natural candidate for controlling pressure, tonguing, throat
formant, growl, and other parameters.
The pitch bend wheel on your keyboard or other MIDI device
can be assigned to a range of parameters, but it’s “standard”
function is pitch control. A controller parameter such as Embou-
chure can also be assigned to the pitch bend wheel for more
realistic pitch variations.
Since the modulation wheel on your keyboard or other MIDI
device can be assigned to any controller parameter, it can be an
important tool for musical expression. Use it in conjunction with
a breath controller or a foot controller for broad expressive
variation.
Like the modulation wheel, a foot controller connected to your
keyboard or other MIDI device can be assigned to any VL70-m
controller parameter.
Keyboard aftertouch allows you to control any controller
parameter by the pressure you apply to a key after it is initially
pressed. This is perhaps the most “intimate” type of keyboard
expression control.
Although normally assigned to pressure (particularly in plucked
string voices), keyboard velocity can also be assigned to any
other controller parameter.
The MIDI protocol provides 119 control change numbers, some
of which are pre-assigned to specific controllers — as noted
above, “01” is “Modulation Wheel”, for example. 95 of these
are available for assignments to the VL70-m controller param-
eters, so any available MIDI control devices can be used to full
advantage. A complete list of the available MIDI control change
numbers is given below.
Controllers & Control Editing
 Physical Controllers
First, here’s a list of some of the physical controllers you might want to use
with the VL70-m:
Breath Controller
(MIDI control
change no. 02)
Pitch Bend Wheel
Modulation
Wheel
(MIDI control
change no. 01)
Foot Controller
(MIDI control
change no. 04)
Aftertouch
Velocity
Others
Control No. Controller
off(00) off (used by Bank Select MSB)
01 Modulation Wheel
02 Breath Controller
03Unassigned
04 Foot Controller
05 Portamento Time
06 Data Entry MSB
07 Volume Control
08~09Unassigned
10 Panpot
11 Expression
12~31Unassigned  MIDI Control Change Number Assignments 
						

							44Controllers & Control Editing
Control No. Controller
off(32) off (used by Bank Select LSB)
33~37Unassigned
38 Data Entry LSB
39~63Unassigned
64 Hold1
65 Portamento Switch
66Unassigned
67 Soft Pedal
68~70Unassigned
71 Harmonic Content
72 Release Time
73 Attack Time
74 Brightness
75~90Unassigned
91 Effect Send Level (Reverb
Effect)
92Unassigned
93 Effect Send Level 3 (Chorus
Effect)
94 Effect Send Level 4 (Variation
Effect)
95Unassigned
AT After Touch
VEL Velocity
PB Pitch Bend 
						

							45
 VL70-m Controller Parameters
Any of the physical controllers listed above can be assigned to control any of
the VL70-m’s controller parameters:
The amount of breath pressure applied to a reed or mouthpiece,
or the speed of the bow applied to a string. Pressure variations
affect both volume and timbre.
The tightness of the lips against the reed or against each other.
In a string instrument voice Embouchure corresponds to how
strongly the bow is pressed against the string. Affects both pitch
and timbre.
Simulates the  half-tonguing technique used by saxophone
players by changing the “slit” of the reed. The slit is the space
between the tip of the reed and the mouthpiece.
Unlike Pressure, this parameter simply controls the volume of
the sound without varying timbre.
Drives the entire system into chaotic oscillation, creating effects
that can only be achieved with physical modeling technology.
Adds breath noise to produce exceptionally realistic effects with
many wind instruments.
A periodic pressure modulation which produces the “growl”
effect often heard in wind instruments.
Controls the  characteristics of the simulated player’s  lungs,
trachea, and oral cavity. Can add a realistic “roughness” to the
sound. Throat formant only applies to some reed-type voices.
Similar to the dynamic filters found in many conventional
synthesizers, the cutoff frequency can be varied to produce a
wide range of timbral variations. Most voices use the low-pass
filter type, but some use the bandpass, high-pass, or band
eliminate types. Some voices use very little filter processing at
all. Changing the filter settings may not produce a particularly
noticeable effect. For detailed filter parameter programming use
the VL70-m Expert Editor software (page 25).
The Harmonic Enhancer can vary the harmonic structure of the
sound over a wide range.  Since most VL70-m voices have
sufficient natural harmonic content, the Harmonic Enhancer is
actually only used on a few voices. Therefore changing the
controller destination with many voices will produce either no
change in the sound or a simple change in amplitude. For
detailed harmonic enhancer programming use the VL70-m
Expert Editor software (page 25).
Simulates the effect of damping due to losses within the body of
a wind instrument or in a string due to air friction. Affects both
pitch and timbre.
Simulates the effect of high-frequency loss at the end of the air
column or string. In the case of a wind instrument, the Damping
and Absorption parameters control the diameter and shape of
the bell. Pressure
Embouchure
Tonguing
Amplitude
Scream
Breath Noise
Growl
Throat Formant
Filter
Harmonic
Enhancer
Damping
Absorption
Controllers & Control Editing 
						

							46Controllers & Control Editing
Accessing & Editing the Control Param-
eters
The CONTROL EDIT mode can be accessed from the VOICE PLAY mode
as follows:
1. Press [EDIT]
Press the [EDIT] button to go to the VOICE EDIT sub-mode menu.
2. Select the CONTROL Sub-mode
Use the SELECT [] buttons to select the CONTROL sub-mode, if
necessary. The icon to the left of “CONTROL” on the display will flash
when the CONTROL sub-mode is selected.
3. Press [ENTER]
Press the [ENTER] button to go to the CONTROL EDIT mode. “CONTROL
EDIT” will appear at the top of the display along with the number of the
currently selected control parameter.
4. Select a Parameter
Use the SELECT [] buttons to select the parameter you want to
edit (see “The Control Edit Parameters”, below). The name of the currently
selected parameter and its current setting appear on the second line of the
display. An arrow to the left and/or right of the parameter name/value
indicates that the SELECT [] buttons can be used to select
more parameters in the indicated direction.
5. Edit the Selected Parameter
Use the VALUE [-] and [+] buttons to set the value of the selected parameter
as required.