been using my moxf6 on the gigs for a month. i have set folders made up of 30 songs. i only need 15 to play a set, so i have extra songs to choose from just in case i need to go another direction with the set. but there are times when i wished i could search through my songs while the current song is playing, just to speed up pause between songs. or even get another folder ready to be loaded. guess i'm spoiled with my ensoniq asr-10. it let me load up a set of songs and if someone asked for a request, i could get that song ready to load while the current song is playing. then when the song ends, i push the "enter" button and go right into the requested song. no pause.
could Yamaha enable a way that i could scroll through my songs while a song is currently playing? could this be handled through a firmware update? or is it not possible?
bottom line.... it would be nice to choose the next song while the current song is playing.
I dont think it can load more than one song at a time. maybe someone will chime in with a different answer.
Actually the Moxf can hold up to 60 songs in its memory. But if you use 4-6 tracks in a 4 minute song, you'll be lucky to get 30 songs in its memory.
I've used other sequencers that allow me to search for songs while the current song is playing. i cant load the song till the playing song is stopped, but i can have it ready to load. saves time and dead space between songs.
my Akai mpc1000 and my ensoniq ASR-10 let me search while the current song is playing. heck, even my back traxx app on my ipad lets me search for the next song. i just think this feature was over looked on the moxf. with a little tweak of the firmware, it can be remedied.
all i have to do when the current song ends is click the enter/yes button and push the start/play button.
i'm sure they haven't thought about that feature because you dont need it if your recording in a studio or are playing at home. but on stage, it would come in handy.
Hi Jay,
Unfortunately, there is no perfect solution with the MOXF for cueing the next Song while a Song is playing back.
The MOXF is what is referred to as a Music Production Synthesizer, and it has a focus on song creation/composition and recording both as a standalone device and as a central piece in a computer-based Audio/MIDI recording situation. You may find that the trade-off for all that focus on both audio and MIDI interface capability will be many of the functions focused on playback of data as MIDI. As you know, of course, MOXF does the 'song playback' thing on stage, but features that extend to cueing the next song for play while playing another, simply are no longer available.
That said, there are other possible solutions... some are offered in the Owner's Manual (page 52)...
An alternate method of Song preparation include mixing down your MOXF Songs and bring them to the gig as audio files. It is an entirely different workflow, to be sure. But you have a stereo A/D Input that allows you to bring in all types of audio playback devices that themselves would give instant control over cueing up playlists on-the-fly. You have a separate Volume to control the A/D In.
Your MOXF is also an iOS compatible device which means you can use some modern day devices as a viable onstage solution: an iPad/iPod/iPhone can be used as an audio playback device. These devices can connect to the MOXF via the USB "To Host" port with the appropriate Lightning to USB Adapter, and can run audio playback apps; the audio will have its own front panel slider. The added benefit is you have access to your synth.
There are many apps that allow you to record your instrument direct via the USB connection, and you can playback through your MOXF.
It is a different workflow from using MIDI. At first you feel that you'll miss having the ability to change your mind about the mix, audio does require that you are willing to commit to the mix. You will not know until you try it.
Hope that helps.
That's what i was afraid of. i knew the moxf was used mainly for production and recording. I am considering making some audio files for a small amount of my BTs. i can have that working in conjunction with the moxf6 on stage. only thing is, i use a digitech midi harmonizer in my songs. i use it like a vocoder. i sequence the notes i want it to harmonize. it does it's thing and all i have to do is sing the song. the harmony stops and starts on its own just like any other instrument i sequence. it is incorporated in about 75% of my tunes. plus, i am always transposing songs on the fly, depending on my voice for the night. to record the music would set the pitch to a fixed key. i would have to record each song 2-3 different keys. we're talking i have 820 songs.
on a big POSITIVE....I love how the moxf allows me to transpose the song on the fly and it doesnt effect the drum notes. GREAT!!! It was a pain to transpose on my ASR-10. I had to transpose each track separately. took a couple minutes to do it. i had about 100 songs that were saved in different keys just for the nights i was struggling with my voice. it's no problem with the MOXF.
After a few more gigs, if and when i get done tweaking each songs mix, and i am happy with the arrangements, I'm going to make some audio files (250) of my songs so i can use it to play a song while i'm loading up another song folder to the moxf6. that seems to be the only way around it to keep things rolling when i get requests on stage.
thanks Bad
If you are using MIDI for harmonizing, then the audio solution is not going to work for you. I can only offer that audiences, I have found, will wait for the performer. There is no real expectation of when the next song begins. They just want you to be relaxed and start when your ready to go. The only people I find worried about “dead space” is tv and radio producers...
Seems like there might be an app that would allow you to organize and playback .mid files (that would be an elegant solution)....
worth a search if you have a iPhone or iPad.