Thought I would post a quick note about the new unit under test — the V3 Sound YAMMEX XXL tone module. The YAMMEX is a member of the V3 Sound XXL family of tone modules. They all share the same triangular shape and are light as a feather:

The lump-in-the-middle power supply is roughly the same weight!

You might have seen and heard Piano Man Chuck demonstrate the V3 Sound Grand Piano XXL module. [Piano Man Chuck is a V3 Sound dealer, BTW.] Well, the YAMMEX has the same sound set as the Grand Piano XXL. The main differences are:

• The MIDI bank and program change layouts are different: Grand Piano XXL for general use as an expander, YAMMEX XXL as a Genos/PSR expander.
• Grand Piano XXL is supported by the V3 Sound Control app; the YAMMEX XXL is not.
• Grand Piano XXL is supported by two different MIDI Designer templates; the YAMMEX is not.
• YAMMEX XXL voices are selected using custom Genos/PSR user voices.

YAMMEX XXL arrives from the factory with a USB flash drive containing the custom user voices (VCE files) needed to select voices through Genos/PSR. It’s all described in the YAMMEX XXL manual. [Henceforth, “Yammex” means “YAMMEX XXL”.]

I found a Yammex on ebay at a price that was impossible to refuse. It would be a shame to confine Yammex to Genos duty alone, so I studied the heck out of its MIDI implementation. I also examined the VCE files available from the V3 Sound Web site. Hmmm, looks like it’s a simple matter of uttering the appropriate Bank Select MSB, Bank Select LSB and Program Change messages. We can do that!

An inquiry to V3 Sound about compatibility was answered quickly, but implied that Yammex was only for Genos/MIDI. If you know MIDI and your controller’s capabilities, and if you don’t mind a little work, Yammex definitely can do more than Genos/PSR.

I was sorely tempted by the V3 Sound XXL series because it is based on the Dream S.A.S. SAM5716B synthesis chip. After hearing the SAM2635 and its GM/GS sound set, I wanted to hear what a high-end Dream chip could do with 3GBytes of professionally produced instrument samples. Cut to the chase, V3 Sound do not disappoint especially at the price I paid.

The box arrives. I open the shipping carton and what the? The Yammex box is in fine shape, but is covered in round “Demo” labels. I instantly smell “Sweetwater”. And there’s candy, and a Sweetwater “Thank You” card. The ebay seller is Jeff’s Music Gear. After a Google, I discover that Jeff’s Music Gear is Sweetwater’s ebay consignment shop! Nice to know that I was in good hands all along.

OK, then, plug everything up using Yamaha MODX as a controller. (See my article about Yamaha MODX Zone Master.) Ooops, no flashing MIDI light and no sound. I’m already composing a message to Jeff’s when I remember this note in the Yammex manual:

No sound? The YAMMEX XXL sound expander only creates a tone when you call up a sound from the V3 folder in your keyboard’s display. Just connecting it to your keyboard is not enough.

They aren’t kidding! I select a voice through the MODX Zone Master screen and suddenly the MIDI light starts flashing and Yammex starts talking. Delete the message to Jeff’s.

One other note from the manual is helpful during bring up:

Testing MIDI connections and settings. After connecting your MIDI cable and making sure your MIDI settings are correct, select a V3 User Voice. The MIDI LED on the YAMMEX XXL should now blink with every keystroke.

I find this behavior to be a dubious design decision. The purpose of a MIDI light is to indicate MIDI reception under any condition. While troubleshooting, I connected the Yammex THRU port to MIDI-OX on a PC and verified MIDI operation. Most of V3 customers will not be that savvy…

I’ve just begun auditioning sounds and already I’m pleased. I like and prefer the Bösendorfer Imperial 290 (Vienna) over the Steinway Model D (Hamburg). I fell in love with Bösendorfer when I first touched one in 1980. The electric pianos are good although too clean and polite. The organ samples are damned good. There are two flavors: No Leslie and Leslie sampled in. Sans-Leslie voices are meant to be dirtied up by an external pedal. I’ll try the Electro-Harmonix Lester K for spin and throw some overdrive on the EPs, too.

I like the Oberheim pads — another love. The classical strings are solid. That’s as far as I’ve gotten into the sound set. I’m looking forward to hearing the rest.

As to the supplied USB flash drive, the previous customer zorched the factory VCE files. I found an X6A file instead which I recognize as a Yamaha MOXF dump file. I guess the previous customer tried Yammex with MOXF and was disappointed. Fortunately, V3 Sound provide the Genos/PSR VCE files on their Web site. The supplied drive is only 64MB. [Not really a complaint.]

Experiments to come? Once I get my faves down to 8, 16 voices or so, I’ll configure the Arturia Keylab Essential. The extra knobs and sliders will come in handy. Also, I will whip up a simplified MIDI Designer template for the Yammex. The existing templates are comprehensive — yet overwhelming. I’m thinking about a UI similar to Korg Module. Those Korg folks are definitely on to something. Simplicity is king. MIDI Designer (with StreamByter) on iPad should give me splits and layers — maybe even a wireless Bluetooth interface to Yammex? Finally, Dream multi-FX.

Copyright © 2022 Paul J. Drongowski