A multi-pad is a single track midi file which follows the tempo of the song, can be single or continuous play and has chord recognition.
It is easier to have a tempo in mind before you start so you can load an appropriate style which can be playing while you record the Multi-pad so you can keep time with it.
Assuming you have done the above, go to Digital Recording/Multipad Creator select [NEW BANK] and select [PAD 1], Select [REPEAT ON/OFF] and [CHORD MATCH] for pad 1. (if you select Chord Match then you can only use the notes of CM7 - C,D,E,G,A & B) select the voice which you want to play and press EXIT to return to the Multipad screen.
Press [RECORD]. You will get a message which says 'Waiting'. Press [SYNCHRO START] in Style Control. Recording will now begin automatically when you play on the keyboard. You can also press [Start/STOP] which starts the recording process so you can put silence in before you play the notes.
When you've finished recording press [START/STOP]
Play it and if you are happy with it press [SAVE] and give the bank a name.
It's a good idea to put capital letters after the name of the bank signifying which type of voice is assigned to each of the 4 pads
eg ROCK GPVX this means pad 1 is a Guitar, Pad 2 is a Piano, Pad 3 is a Vibraphone and Pad 4 a Synth
There is a convention for this.
Repeat for the other 3 pads in the bank.

If you are unhappy with the pad - ie the timing isn't right then you can edit what you have recorded.
In Multipad Creator select the pad bank (it may already be loaded if you've been working on it) and select the pad you are not happy with. Tab across to [EDIT] and you will see a list/event view which will list all midi events and sysex events (depending on which menu is selected with button F)
Forget the Sysex messages and ensure the menu is [CH]
The timings can be adjusted using the first 3 columns (Measure/Beat/Tick) by highlighting the part you want to alter by scrolling with Buttons A & B and Buttons D & E and using the Data Entry Wheel or Buttons 4 & 5.
You can insert notes, delete notes, copy and paste notes if you want.
As it's a midi file you can also change voices using the MSB/LSB and Prog Ch numbers, add reverb, chorus, panning etc. Once you have edited it to your satisfaction press [SAVE]
If you are really clever you can write all the values in by hand by starting with a blank Pad and tabbing to [EDIT] where you are faced with a clean sheet list view so you can insert voices, notes, CCs etc at the required MBT. And of course you can step record by playing the notes the length of which is selected on screen in the step record window.

Simples

Any questions - just ask, you might strike lucky with me knowing the answer.
Spike

Good write-up Spike on how to create your own multi-pads.

Is there such a thing as 3rd party multi-pads, like you get with styles? For instance, I enjoy using the percussion m/ps so wondered if there are any other versions around.

Cheers

Paul

Hi Paul
I'm not sure I know what you mean regarding 3rd party MPs - if you mean collections, well our own Leo Dunne has made many and are freely available at www.psrtutorial.com and the Musicians room. I have a large collection which includes many percussion ones.
I can send them to you if you want them. I'm afraid you can't copy and paste them into styles or vice versa, you have to write them in.
Cheers
Spike

Hey Spike, I'm interested in some Multi-Pads and wondered if it's possible to have drum fills..... I know there are many 1 hit drum pads like flams and snares and such but I've not come across any drum fills like you get when you hit one of the A.B.C.D. variation buttons in a style.

There are times when it would be useful to have more drum fills when playing styles. I like to mix in the percussion Multi-Pads with the styles especially the latin and now the Oriental sets on the T3

Maybe there aren't any drum fills due to the problems of getting them to play in time with the style..... what do you think ?


Steve

Hi Steve
You can make multipads play immediately or come in at the next measure I think. They will always follow the tempo of the style and it's really just a case of hitting the pad button at the right time.
A drum fill multipad would by necessity be a 1 shot rather than a loop and have to be 1 measure. You can make your own quite easily as I've explained.
If you find a drum phrase which you think will make a good pad then look at the event list in [EDIT], write the events and values down, go to Create Multipad and write them in the event list in [EDIT]. Unfortunately you can't cut and paste them.
Spike

Hey Spike,

I'm seriously thinking about getting the EMC software but I'm trying to decide if I want the Style Factory or the Style Works.

I've sent them an email with a few questions trying to find out if the Style Factory does anything the Styleworks doesn't........ it's a bit confusing reading the features of both programs it looks as though the Style Factory comes with a library of 1000's of phrases that you can use to create unique styles in the "Style Arranger" but the Style Works program has a "Style Editor" instead of a style arranger so I'm wondering which will be easier or more usefull in the long run.

I know Style Works does much more than the SF but it's not clear if it does exactly the same as the SF... One thing that could be useful that SW does is the Import and Export to Midi allowing you to do more in depth editing of the parts without worrying about CASM ( or whatever it's called lol )

I'll let you know what I find out.

Steve

I've found that some are just 1 shot pads, like bass drum/cymbal crashes etc., whereas there are some that will play constantly in tempo with the song, (depending on the time signature). Some of the snare pads are quite useful.

It's a shame these have to be entered manually, as I think multi-pads can be used very creatively so it would be nice if we had more options to use the onboard style variations in other styles and triggered from a m/p.

I wonder if Yamaha will one day expand the multi-pad section to make it easier to create your own, without having to do a lot of data entry.

Has anyone here tried using the style intro & outro variations, but in the middle of a song? I've found it works quite well with certain styles. You have to be accurate when you hit the button, (I'd be too nervous to try it 'live'), but it does make a nice change from the regular A-D variations.

Cheers

Paul

Yes, I've played around with some of them and had fun doing it too but I wouldn't do it in a live situation.


Steve

You don't have to do the data entry bit to make a Multipad unless you are doing them by hand, it's when you want to put the pad into the style to make it part of the style say in CH9. It's easy to record the MP in real time using Multipad Creator.
Regarding using intros etc in the middle of a song - it's quite a good method of getting a longer 'fill in' as normal fill ins are limited to 1 measure whereas the intro can be up to 255 measures. Be careful using outros as they end in silence (the song will have stopped) so you have to select a variation before the end of the outro. Intros, especially if a different one is used than the start of the song, can be quite effective if used carefully (I definitely wouldn't use No.1)
Spike

Hi Spike.

Thats a good tutorial !! To be honest, multi-pads are one thing I hav'nt yet explored on the T1.

Never quite understood how they were activated, as whenever I have pressed the pads, irrespective of the currently selected style, they always seem to play the same "new age " drum riffs ??, maybe I'm missing the connection between style selection and the appropriate pads ?

Gordon