KVR Audio

ivionday · Post by **ivionday** » Sun Sep 15, 2019 7:43 pm

Hi KVR, is there any way to play XG MIDI in software - maybe a Soundfont, or some kind of open source project? It doesn't have to be perfect.

The unlocked SYXG50 VSTi won't work for me, because it only exists for Windows 32-bit. My target platform is actually WebAssembly.

McLilith · Post by **McLilith** » Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:11 pm

Once, I sampled the SYXG50 VSTi to create an XG-compliant drum kit for my personal use in SFZ and Kontakt. I always preferred the sound of Yamaha's XG drums over the Roland GS drums, and even those weren't as bad as the typical GM drum samples from most companies. I never bothered trying to create entire collection of XG instruments though. I just wanted some XG drums.

I'm not aware of a comprehensive solution for a 64-bit, multitimbral XG instrument or sample set. I'll take a look though. If I find anything, I'll let you know.

RPH · Post by **RPH** » Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:32 pm

You mean something like this, or a sampled XG vsti?
https://qxgedit.sourceforge.io/qxgedit-index.html

I have a Yamaha MU500, imported from Japan because of the XG sounds, still need to find the time to sample it. Awesome sounds and drums. To control it I have xggold, bought a license a very long time ago to unlock the full potential of my original Yamaha DB50XG.

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:55 am

Here is a link to download a Yamaha XG soundfont:
https://logue.dev/smfplayer.js/Yamaha%2 ... er.2.0.sf2

ivionday · Post by **ivionday** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:02 am

Thanks for the links to the XG soundfont!

RPH wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:32 pm I have a Yamaha MU500

I was checking MU500 out on ebay today. How do you like it? It has USB at least!

Not too keen on sampling since I want to reproduce XG effects like resonant filter, etc.

I have a Roland FP-7F piano, and was surprised to find that it implements the XG lite spec. Plugged in a MIDI cable and played some of the crazy XG midi demos - the filter sweeps came flying out and it sounded great.

It just seems a shame that there is no future proof way to synthesize XG in software.

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:19 am

Off topic I guess, but I just remembered I have a DB-50XG attached to an AWE32 somewhere in the attic. So glad I hoarded unwanted surpassed PC tech over the years rather than vintage analog kit.

RPH · Post by **RPH** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 4:47 pm

ivionday wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:02 am I was checking MU500 out on ebay today. How do you like it? It has USB at least!

I'm not using the USB connection, just a MIDI cable.

There are a lot of cool oldschool sounds in it, and the drumkits are great. Am a true fan.

ivionday wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:02 am Not too keen on sampling since I want to reproduce XG effects like resonant filter, etc.

You can re-create the effect types etc. of course, but I doubt you'd get the same sound as Yamaha.

RPH · Post by **RPH** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 4:59 pm

WatchTheGuitar wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:19 am Off topic I guess, but I just remembered I have a DB-50XG attached to an AWE32 somewhere in the attic. So glad I hoarded unwanted surpassed PC tech over the years rather than vintage analog kit.

Nice, the DB50XG is still worth quite a lot.
I sold a NEC clone (DB60XG) for a good price a while back on Ebay.

To get the best quality sound possible from the DB50XG, and be able to keep using it, I bought two of these a couple of years back:
https://www.serdashop.com/CHiLL

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 5:54 pm

I was joking tbh, I had no idea they were still usable as I assumed they needed an ISA card.

Couldn't see anything on Ebay. What sort of price do you reckon a DB50XG would fetch?
Just the card with no box or manuals.

Dunbar · Post by **Dunbar** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 6:20 pm

WatchTheGuitar wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2019 5:54 pm What sort of price do you reckon a DB50XG would fetch?

A boxed DB50XG sold on eBay last month for £150. DB50XG clones sell for around £50 to £70.

Not so long ago, DB50XGs were being turned into standalone synths by "enthusiasts". I suspect this is what pushed their price up.

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 6:32 pm

Good to know. Cheers for that.

Kraymon · Post by **Kraymon** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 7:24 pm

If got an sw1000xg in my loft with the AN1x card on it. Think these are worth much
I used to enjoy XG. Has anyone made a decent kontakt jobby?

Kraymon · Post by **Kraymon** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 7:25 pm

If got an sw1000xg in my loft with the AN1x card on it. Think these are worth much these days?

I used to enjoy XG. Has anyone made a decent kontakt jobby?

Dunbar · Post by **Dunbar** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:00 pm

The price of the SW1000XG can vary a lot. Sometimes they sell for around £30 and other times for more than £100 on ebay.

I've seen PLG150-AN (AN1x) cards with the original box and manuals sell for over £300. Usually they fetch around £200.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:02 am

The XG hardware drumkits vary from each other, but often share
some of the basic sounds, so in my old XG rompler keyboard,
I load two kits, and use the octave controls to offset them,
so the shared sounds are no longer sharing a keypress,
then I use my IK UNO hardware synth's arpeggiator to play the many drums. A Forest Gump box-of-chocolates type of percussion,
but combined with the XG and UNO tempo controls,
and plenty of experiments, is lots of fun.
Cheers

Yamaha XG MIDI in 2019