Yamaha MU128 Portable Generator User Manual


 
MU128
19
The MU128 — What It Is and What It Can Do
English
The MU128 — What It Is and What It Can Do
What It Is...
The MU128 is a full-featured and easy-to-use tone generator, that provides an
unprecedented wealth of Voices and expressive sonic control. It features full
General MIDI Level 1 compatibility. It also provides XG compatibility, with an
huge total of 1149 Voices and 37 drum kits.
The MU128 has 128-note polyphony and is 64-Part multi-timbral. In other
words, the MU128 has 64 different Parts, each with its own Voice, so that up to
64 different Voices can be sounded simultaneously.
Additional A/D Parts let you connect up to two external signals — such as a
microphone, electric guitar or CD player — and mix them with the MU128’s
Voices.
Although Voices cannot be directly edited, the various Part controls and Edit
mode give you tools for transforming or customizing the sound of the Voices.
What’s more, the MU128 has a built-in multi-effect processor, with seven inde-
pendent digital effect “units” for enhancing the sound.
The MU128 also features a special Performance mode, in which four Parts
are played simultaneously over a single MIDI channel. Connected to a MIDI
keyboard, this effectively gives you four tone generators in one. The MU128
gives you 100 factory-programmed Preset Performances plus 100 Internal Per-
formance locations for storing your own original Performances.
About General MIDI
General MIDI is a new addition to the worldwide MIDI standard. MIDI, as
you know, stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, and makes it
possible for various electronic musical instruments and other devices to “com-
municate” with each other. For example, by connecting a sequencer to the
MU128’s MIDI IN terminal, you could play back a song on the sequencer
using the Voices of the MU128.
So, where does General MIDI fit in all of this? One of the most important
features of General MIDI is in the standardization of Voices. This means that a
song recorded in the General MIDI format can be played back on any General
MIDI compatible tone generator and sound just as the composer intended. For
example, if there is an alto sax solo in the song, it will be played by an alto sax
Voice on the General MIDI tone generator (and not by a tuba or harpsichord!).
Since the MU128 is fully compatible with General MIDI, you can take advan-
tage of the vast wealth of musical material recorded in that format.