YAMAHA A3000 F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S www.a3kcentral.com/FAQ May 2000 revision by Aleix TC [email protected] YAMAHA A3000 FAQ About this FAQ 10 • FAQ details ......................................................................................................... 10 • First steps ............................................................................................................. 10 • What has changed here compared to the last FAQ V. 2.0? ..................................... 10 • Where can I get the latest online version of this FAQ? ............................................. 11 • Where can I get the FAQ as one file for download, offline reading and printing? .............................................................................................................. 12 • Can I make this FAQ available on my web site? ......................................................... 12 • How can I make a contribution to the FAQ, either a Question or an Answer? 12 • What is the Quick Guide? .................................................................................................... 13 About samplers in general 13 • Where can I find some more info about samplers in general? ................................ 13 • What is a sampler? ................................................................................................................. 13 • What is looping? ..................................................................................................................... 13 • What are 'multisamples'? ...................................................................................................... 14 • How much RAM does a sampler need? .......................................................................... 14 • What advantages has a sampler versus a synth? .......................................................... 14 • What advantages has a synth versus a sampler? .......................................................... 15 • What is the difference between a 'soundcard as a sampler' and a common sampler ? ..................................................................................................................................... 15 • What are key-ranges/fadings? ............................................................................................. 17 • What are velocity-ranges/fadings? ..................................................................................... 18 • What are loop-crossfadings? ............................................................................................... 18 The A3000 mailing list and other Teklab services 19 • What is the A3000 maling list about?.............................................................................. 19 • How can I (un)subscribe to the A3000 Mailing list? ................................................. 19 • How can I post to the list? ................................................................................................... 19 • Problems with subscribing ................................................................................................... 20 • Empty messages? ..................................................................................................................... 20 • Is there a List Owner? ............................................................................................................ 20 • Some words about the mailing-list and off-topic threads ......................................... 21 • Off-Topic in the a3k-mailing-list: please join the music-bar .................................... 22 • The A3k-gimp Pic Archive ................................................................................................... 23 • How to chat with a3k owners? ........................................................................................... 23 • Where can I find the sample archive? .............................................................................. 23 • Which format should I use for upload? .......................................................................... 23 • How do I get the native a3k samples if I'm on a Mac? .............................................. 24 • Where can I put my uploads in? ....................................................................................... 25 • How to upload? ........................................................................................................................ 25 • How can I listen to the .MPG songs I found at ftp teklab done by A3k-users? ................................................................................................................................ 25 • Where can I find samples despite the native A3k-sample Archive? ...................... 26 A3000 sampler compatibility 27 • What other sampler formats will the A3000 be able to read? ................................ 27 • Which format can the A3k save to? ................................................................................. 27 • Does the A3k import Typhoon-waves? ........................................................................... 27 • What is the option to load .SBK files? Does the A3000 read Soundfonts? ...... 27 • Can the A3000 import .WAV files from PC diskette? .............................................. 27 • The WAV / AIFF format is capable of holding loop point data, does the A3k recognize this? .......................................................................................................................... 28 • Don´t use the extended Soundforge Wave-Header when importing .WAV into the a3k! .............................................................................................................................. 28 • Can the A3000 import .WAV files from CD-ROM? ................................................. 28 • Can the A3k read from Akai S1000 and S3000 floppy disks? ............................... 28 • Is the conversion of the programs of Akai S1000 efficient? .................................... 29 • HowTo: AKAI Drumkit Import ........................................................................................ 29 • HowTo: Importing Samples from the ESI-32 to the A3k ......................................... 29 • Can the A3k import E4 zip or syquest media? ............................................................. 30 • Is the A3k XG-compatible? .................................................................................................. 30 • Is the A3k GM-compatible? ................................................................................................ 30 • Does the Yamaha A3000 support SMDI? ..................................................................... 30 A3000 program/sample architecture, specs and midi 31 • Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 31 • Easy Edit Parameters ............................................................................................................. 32 • How is a classic multitimbral-setup created? How can I play a different samples through different midi channels? ...................................................................... 33 • Official specs and Yamaha manual ................................................................................... 34 • How tight is the timing of the A3000? ........................................................................... 35 • Tips for improving the A3k-midi-timing ......................................................................... 36 • Is it possible to convert a stereo sample to mono with the A3000? ..................... 36 • Does the A3k have a "mono" and "legato" modes? And portamento? .................. 37 • The A3000 handles samples, sample banks and programs - what are the limits of these? ........................................................................................................................................... 37 • About the one-band EQ per sample ................................................................................. 37 • What about ring-modulation with the A3000? ............................................................ 37 • How many LFOs has the A3000? Are midi-syncable? (great feature for dance music!) ......................................................................................................................................... 38 • How can I sync the sample LFO? ...................................................................................... 38 • Conversion of all A3k parameters to the international metric system ................. 38 • What MIDI controller data does the A3000 respond to? ........................................ 40 • Can the A3K transmit MIDI controller data with its knobs? ................................. 40 • I play an electronic wind controller. What about MIDI breath control? ............ 40 • What is the "Control Matrix" feature of the A3000? ................................................. 41 3 • Bug with Level Control ......................................................................................................... 41 • Are there polyphony groups for building drum-kits (HH closed/open e.g.)? ..... 41 • Is there noticeable stepping or zipper-noise when parameters (cut-off, Q, ...) are changed quickly? .............................................................................................................. 42 • Some samples create a small pop or click