Precautions ● Do not expose the plug-in board to direct sunlight, excessive humidity, high temperatures, excessive dust or strong vibrations. ● Before handling the plug-in board, be sure to touch a metal surface to discharge any static electricity which may be in your body. ● When holding the plug-in board, do not touch the inside area of the circuit board or apply excessive pressure to the board, and be sure to protect the board from contact with water or other liquids.
Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Yamaha XG Plug-in board PLG100-DX. The PLG100-DX is a plug-in board that offers a six-operator FM generator equivalent to the one that made the DX7 series so famous. The PLG100-DX is compatible with the XG plug-in system, and you can install it into the MU128 or any other tone generator or sequencer that supports XG plug-ins.
About the PLG100-DX Features of the PLG100-DX • Features the same FM tone generator that has won acclaim in the DX series synthesizers. The PLG100-DX employs an FM tone generator system, with six operators and 32 algorithms, that has been a favorite of musicians in DX series synthesizers like the DX7 and the DX7II. • Maximum 16 voice simultaneous polyphony Ensures maximum 16 voice simultaneous polyphony equal to the DX7 and DX7II.
About the PLG100-DX Included Items The items below are packaged together with your new PLG100-DX. Before using your board, be sure to check that everything has been included. In the rare event that some item is missing, please contact the store where you bought your PLG100-DX as soon as possible.
About the PLG100-DX DX Simulator The DX Simulator is special software for editing the custom voices of the PLG100DX. When you start up the program, an image of the DX7 front panel is displayed on your computer screen. Using your mouse to operate the buttons and sliders, you can edit voices just like using a real DX7. You can also display an edit list where you can edit voices while checking all the parameters in a table on the screen.
About the PLG100-DX About the CD-ROM In addition to the two plug-in software programs, DX Simulator and DX Easy Editor, the CD-ROM that was packaged with your board also contains several demonstration songs that showcase the special features of the PLG100-DX, and also performance data (voice settings) for use in the platform where you have installed your PLG100-DX. The demonstration songs can be enjoyed by playing them with sequence software like XGworks V2.0 or XGworks(lite), or with a QY700.
About the PLG100-DX “House” (HOUSE.MID) by Katsumi Nagae (Idecs Inc.) The typical house music sound is simulated in this song, which experiments with reproducing sampling phrases using the DX Voice system. In addition, the second half of the song features the metalic sound that is a strong point of the DX. “Jungle” (DXJungle.MID) by Katsumi Nagae (Idecs Inc.) This song adds a touch of Chinese feeling to the Jungle. The Oriental image is underscored by the “CHINA_S&” and “IMAGE9” plug-in SE voices.
About the PLG100-DX Open the DX Easy Editor Window • For details about using the DX Easy Editor, see the help file that comes with the DX Easy Editor. • If the DX Easy Editor does not appear on the Plug-In menu of XGworks(lite), the program may not be properly installed in the XGworks(lite) folder. You can install it by running the plug-in installation program. ■ Starting the DX Simulator ............................................................... 1. Start XGworks(lite). 2.
FM Tone Generation Before actually editing the PLG100-DX voices, let’s get an idea of how the FM tone generator is put together. Operators In the PLG100-DX, there are six special devices called “operators” that generate sine waves. These six operators are combined in various ways to make up the different voices produced by the PLG100-DX. The operators have the following two functions: (1) They can freely change the frequency (pitch) of the generated sine wave.
FM Tone Generation Combinations of Two Operators Although the six operators can be combined in myriad ways, here the fundamental combinations that involve two operators will be explained. Two operators can be combined in the following two ways (the two operators will be called A and B respectively): (1) Horizontal Combination When the two operators are combined horizontally, the sound generated by each is mixed with the sound from the other.
FM Tone Generation Carrier and Modulator To distinguish the two operators when they are combined vertically, they are called the “Carrier” and the “Modulator.” • Carrier ................. The operator in the lowest position, that produces the actual sound. (Called A in the previous section.) • Modulator ............ An operator positioned above another operator, which changes (modulates) the sound of the next operator down. (Called B in the previous section.
FM Tone Generation Harmonics Most sounds are made up of multiple tones that are different than the pitch (frequency). Within these multiple tones, the one that determines the pitch of the entire sound is called the fundamental tone (fundamental frequency). All the tones besides the fundamental tone are called partials or overtones. When all the harmonics that are related to a particular fundamental tone are arranged in order, it is called a harmonic series.
FM Tone Generation Algorithms While there may be only two ways to combine two operators, when you start talking about six operators, the number of possible combinations becomes much larger. These combinations of six operators are called “algorithms,” and in both the DX7 series and the PLG100DX, 32 of these combinations have been selected that can be used for creating voices. In an FM tone generator, which operators work as carriers and which work as modulators are changed dynamically by the algorithms.
FM Tone Generation Algorithm 4 3 6 2 5 1 4 Feedback Essentials for Determining Voices Voices are determined by the following main elements: (1) The output level from each operator (OUTPUT LEVEL). (2) The frequency of the tone put out by each operator (OUTPUT FREQUENCY). (3) The feedback level (FEEDBACK LEVEL). (4) The Envelope Generator (EG). Each of these will be explained in order.
FM Tone Generation On the other hand, because the carrier actually makes the sound, changing the output level causes a change in the strength (volume) of the sound. If there is only one carrier, this will simply cause the overall volume to change. However, if there are multiple carriers in the algorithm, the timbre may also be changed as the balance in volume between the different carriers is changed. To summarize these points: • The voice changes according to the output level of the modulators.
FM Tone Generation (3) FEEDBACK LEVEL By raising the feedback level, the modulation deepens, and the timbre of the sound becomes brighter. (4) Envelope Generator (EG) The EG creates the changes over time in the output level from the instant a key on the keyboard is pressed to the time that the sound disappears.
Memory Buffer Configuration The memory buffer of the PLG100-DX is configured as shown in the diagram below. Recall Preset Memory (912 Voices) Voice Edit Buffer Compare Edit Recall Store Custom Voices (64 Voices) Edit Recall Buffer • The only voices that can be edited using an editing program like the DX Simulator are the custom voices. When using the custom bank • The following parameters are not valid when using the custom bank because they are saved as voice parameters.
DX Voice Selection The PLG100-DX voices can be selected just like the voices for the XG tone generator itself. However, to use the PLG100-DX voices, XG mode or performance mode (PERFORM) must be selected in the Sound Module Mode of the XG tone generator. Also the part/performance layer assigned to the PLG100-DX must be specified in the sub-mode (PLUGIN) of the utility mode of the XG tone generator. • The displays used below for explaining tone generator operations are from the MU100.
DX Voice Selection 5. Use the [VALUE / ] buttons to select the voice you wish to use. Program number display location • When a program number that does not exist for the PLG100-DX is selected when the chosen bank is from 000 to 099, the icon for the voice selected in the XG tone generator itself will be displayed in the icon area. ■ Specifying Parts/Performance Layers .................................................................... 1.
Editing DX Part Parameters Editing with the parameters below is valid for voices in all banks. However, they cannot be set separately for each voice. This means that whatever editing changes you have made will be transferred as is to the new voice whenever you switch voices (editing done for the previous voice will be also valid for the next voice chosen).
Editing DX Part Parameters ■ PLG100-DX Part Parameters ................................................................................... Carrier1 (Carrier Operator 1 Level) to Carrier6 (Carrier Operator 6 Level) Settings: -64 to +63 Explanation: • Sets the output level for operators that are working as carriers. • Carriers are operators that work to output the actual sound. Changing the carrier output level changes the loudness of the sound that is produced.
Editing DX Part Parameters FeedBack Settings: -7 to +7 Explanation: • Sets the level of feedback. • Feedback is a function where a portion of the output of an operator is returned back to the operator again, where it is used to modulate the operator itself. Feedback can be used to change the brightness (amount of overtones) of the sound. • Because this setting acts as an offset added to the output level set for the voice in the PLG100-DX, it indirectly changes the timbre of the voice.
Editing DX Part Parameters PitBndStep (Pitch Bend Step) Setting Values : 0 to 12 Explanation: • Determines the way in which the pitch is changed by the pitch bend wheel. • The 0 value sets a continuous change (the normal setting). Setting 1 to 12 changes the sound according to the scale. For example, if 1 is set, the change is by semitones, if 2 is set, it is by whole tones. AC4 CC No.
Editing DX Part Parameters RcvDxSysEx (Receive DX System Exclusive) Setting: OFF, ON Explanation: Specifies whether DX system exclusive messages will be received or not.
PLG100-DX System Parameters The parameters that apply to the entire system of the PLG100-DX are added to the utilities of the main XG tone generator. 1. Press the [UTIL] button. The menu screen for the Utility Mode will be displayed. 2. Pressing the [SELECT ] button and move the cursor to “PLUGIN,” then press the [ENTER] button. The plug-in board select screen will be displayed. 3.