Playing the PSR-S910/S710's STYLE on the older type YAMAHA PSR Keyboard (PSR-3000,1500,S700,S900, etc)

Yamaha Style known in two formats namely SFF1 and SFF2. Such kind of format file can only be seen with special software. If you create a Style with the old type Yamaha PSR keyboard; eg PSR-3000, PSR-1500, etc., it is automatically saved in SFF1 format. Meanwhile, for the latest keyboard; eg Yamaha PSR-S910 / S710, it will be automatically saved in SFF2 format. If you try to play a style from PSR-S910 to the old one (for example PSR-3000), then there will be an error and the Style can not be played at all. A Style that was made in PSR-S910 keyboard does not support to previous one. This problem is related to the different of each format file, as mentioned above. But, a kind of business trick I think, the latest one always support to play all the style from the older one.

Have you plan to sell your old keyboard and buy a new keyboard? Relax, you do not need to worry!

There is a small converter software that can solve the problem, namely "Style Format 2 Converter". The Software is working to change the format from SFF2 to SFF1, so the results Style you created in the new keyboard can be played on the older keyboard. The software size is very small and free to use by anyone. Nevertheless, the program requires an additional software to be used, that is "NET Framework Version 2.0". So you have to install the NET Framework software first, and then you can install the Style Format 2 Converter software.

The procedure is very simple:

• You can find the Style Format 2 Converter directly at its website here. And you can get the NET Framework V. 2 directly from the official Microsoft's website.
• Install the both softwares. (I assumed you can run such ordinary installation)
• Open Style Format 2 Converter software.
• Click File Menu.
• Open File.
• Find the location of the style that you want to convert.
• Click the Style.
• Click Open, and then select the location where the results will be stored.
• Then click the save button.

It will show an error, if the Style file you want to convert was already writing in SFF1. This means that you've SFF1 style format instead SFF2. The converted Style usually can be played very smoothly on the older version keyboard (PSR-1500, PSR-3000, PSR-S900, PSR-S700).
If this method does not work and it still says error, actually this is because the file size was too large and need the other converter software to reduce the file size.

Patch Instrument Yamaha PSR-S900 and PSR-S700 for Cakewalk/Sonar

For a keyboard player who have a Yamaha keyboard PSR-S900/S700 well of course are familiar with voices from the keyboard instrument patch. This keyboard has advantages in that instrument patch has been labeled "Mega Voices" and also "Super Articulation Voices", which means the voices of these instruments is really almost like their originals. Using of these sounds can certainly add the harmonize and humanize impression on the song being played.

But unfortunately, the voices are not included into the category of General MIDI, so if you play the Standard MIDI Files on the keyboard, these voices will never be automatically selected to be played by the Standard MIDI Files. Moreover, for "Super Articulation Voices" is not recommended for your performance, but only for use on Song and Style on your keyboard. So what if you want to use the voices of "special" on MIDI files (Song) or also made your own style? If you are a user of Cakewalk (SONAR), then this page is the answer.

In Cakewalk, if you create a MIDI Channel, then you open the patch instrument, thus perform of the standard voices are included in the category of General MIDI. If you want the instrument patches are displayed on Cakewalk so that all the sounds found same as in keyboard Yamaha PSR-S900/S700, then you have to add the Cakewalk/SONAR Instrument Definition to your computer.

First you have to download the Cakewalk Instrument Definition Yamaha PSR-S900/S700. The file can be downloaded at here.

If you've downloaded the files, the next step you should do to stay to extract it from the zip file, and then import that file on your Cakewalk instrument patch. The steps are:

1. Click on Options, then select the Instrument.
2. Then will display Assign Instruments, select Define.
3. Then will display the Define Instruments and Names, select Import.
4. Import Instrument Definition (browse) to location where the Cakewalk Instrument Definition that you have downloaded, and select the file "yamaha_kbds_1.20", then Open. 
5. Then in Define Instruments and Names you will see several types of keyboard, select the S900 (if your users Yamaha PSR-S900) or S700 (if your users Yamaha PSR-S700), then click OK, then Close.
6. The display will return to the Assign Instruments, then block all output/Channels, and click on the column S900/S700 Uses Instrument, click OK.

If you've done all the steps as described above, so now you can display the sounds of  Yamaha PSR S900/S700 instruments in your Cakewalk (SONAR).

Making Style for Keyboard Yamaha PSR-Series with software Cakewalk/SONAR

How to create a Style for Keyboard Yamaha PSR-Series by using software Cakewalk or SONAR?

On this page, I want to share tips about how to make the Yamaha PSR-Series's Style using software Cakewalk (SONAR). You should ask, "Can Cakewalk save as Style or export to Style?". The answer is of course not. But how will I give this is really 100% Cakewalk is used to create a Style on Yamaha PSR-Series. I will explain briefly this method to you in this page.

If you are a user Arranger Workstation keyboard, of course you're already familiar with the so-called Style. This style is certainly one that makes you simple to accompany a song. But sometimes the style presets that exist on the keyboard has a lack of fit with the song being played. For example in Indonesia there is dangdut music, while the keyboard factory does not provide dangdut style. Fortunately, on some keyboards already provide facilities for its users to create their own style, like the keyboard Yamaha PSR-S900 that provides facilities a Style Creator. However, although making a Style was done directly on the keyboard, eventually the process of making styles become very complicated and time consuming is not small.

Finally, the user must thought to look for software that can make these Style, with the aim to make the style more easily, quickly and freely. Perhaps the first thing to do is look on Google with keywords "Download Free Style Creator" or "Download Free Style Maker" or also "Download Free Style Editor", and various other keywords. But very rarely they find what they really mean. And finally they had no other choice than to create a Style on the keyboard, or buy an artificial Style others who not infrequently made carelessly. For musicians who have advanced or expert level, of course this is very disturbing their musicality.

The steps that you should do in Cakewalk is as follow:

1. Open Cakewalk/SONAR application, and then make 16-channel MIDI.
2. In the first bar (at the time 1:01:000), give two markers with the name SFF1 and then Sint.
3. Then in the second bar and further, give each of the two markers at the same time with the name as in step 2:

- Main A and fn:Main A (for later played on the Main A)

- Main B and fn:Main B (for later played on the Main B)

- Main C and fn:Main C (for later played on the Main C)

- Main D and fn:Main D (for later played on the Main D)

- Fill In AA and fn:Fill In AA (for later played on the Fill In AA)

- Fill In BB and fn:Fill In BB (for later played on the Fill In BB)

- Fill In CC and fn:Fill In CC (for later played on the Fill In CC)

- Fill In DD and fn:Fill In DD (for later played on the Fill In DD)

- Intro A and fn:Intro A (for later played on the Intro A)

- Intro B and fn:Intro B (for later played on the Intro B)

- Intro C and fn:Intro C (for later played on the Intro C)

- Ending A and fn:Ending A (for later played on the Ending A)

- Ending B and fn:Ending B (for later played on the Ending B)

- Ending C and fn:Ending C (for later played on the Ending C)

If the display marker in SONAR seen overlapping and unreadable, it's normal. Bar distances between the markers can be customized to your needs.

Now you can fill each channels with the composition of music that will make your Style. Do not forget to specify the bank and instrument patch for each bank and patch patterns with instruments that suit to the song. Basic tones are used in the filling composition style that is "C" and should be major (not minor). Channel did not need to fill all, adjust your style needs. Place the drum instrument on channel 10.

When it is done, then Save As: Standard MIDI Files 0 (do not Save into Standard MIDI Files 1). Because the result is a MIDI file, then that can be recognized by the Yamaha PSR-Series as a Style, then the next step that you should do is change the file extension (from *.mid to *.sty). The steps are:

• The first thing you should do is show up the file extension in Windows Explorer. The default settings of Windows usually did not bring his file extension (skip this step if you have Windows Explorer display the file extension). Bringing up the extensions are disable or enable the option "Hide extensions for Known file types" in Windows Explorer. The trick is:

1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Select Tools, then Folder Options, and select the View tab.
3. Remove the checklist sign on the "Hide extensions for Known file types"
4. Clik OK.

• The next step is to change the file extension that will make these Style. For example the name of the file is Keroncong, then your files in Windows Explorer is displayed: "Keroncong.mid".
• Change the file by replacing "Keroncong.mid" to "Keroncong.STY" or "Keroncong.S725.prs". (Especially for PSR-S900, I recommend you to change the extension to *. S725.prs).
• If this came out the following warning: "If you change a file name extension, the file may become unusable. Are you sure you want to change it?", Select Yes.
• Copy the file "Keroncong.sty" into a flash-disk/diskette. Put the flash-disk on your keyboard, copy style, then load into your keyboard in the User Style.

Congratulations, now you can make your own artificial styles for Yamaha PSR-Series which of course appropriate to your liking.