Reface YC and the Clavinova 700 Series Session


BENEFITS OF PAIRING reface WITH CLAVINOVA Control “real, physical drawbars” while playing a Clavinova Use sound system of Clavinova Access to an extra solo keyboard Clavinova can control reface ROTARY SPEED, COUPLING TO CVP and VOLUME reface can control ACMP section of Clavinova reface can control voices of Clavinova POSITIONING ON TOP OF A CVP […]

By Blake Angelos

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BENEFITS OF PAIRING reface WITH CLAVINOVA

  • Control “real, physical drawbars” while playing a Clavinova
  • Use sound system of Clavinova
  • Access to an extra solo keyboard
  • Clavinova can control reface ROTARY SPEED, COUPLING TO CVP and VOLUME
  • reface can control ACMP section of Clavinova
  • reface can control voices of Clavinova

POSITIONING ON TOP OF A CVP

Reface YC fits perfectly on CVP 709, nestled between the raised music rack and the keyboard lid. This is a perfect location for LIVE manipulation of physical drawbars and the playing of the keyboard, without need for a separate stand or rack for the reface.

AUDIO CONNECTIONS from reface to Clavinova AUDIO
Two 1/4” stereo AUDIO OUTS L&R of reface to 1/8” mini-stereo AUX IN of CVP

The sound through the CVP is wonderful. The reface comes to life with such a system.

Recommend that the internal speakers of the reface are MUTED, so all sound is coming out of Clavinova. (This is automatically done with the Special Registration Memories provided).

MIDI CONNECTIONS between reface to Clavinova
CVP MIDI OUT to reface MIDI IN

This direction of MIDI control provides several advantages, including:

  • Pedal of the CVP can conveniently operate rotary speaker FAST/SLOW of reface
  • Another pedal of CVP can “hold” any note on reface
  • Another pedal can “couple” the reface down to the CVP keyboard for layering of sounds
  • Optional FC-7 pedal can control the volume of the reface like an organ expression pedal.

reface MIDI OUT back to CVP MIDI IN

This direction of MIDI control provides several advantages, including:

  • reface can play the sounds of a CVP Clavinova
  • reface can control the style or ACMP section of the CVP Clavinova

SPECIAL REGISTRATIONS ON CVP for easy setup and control 
Registrations in the CVP have been programmed to easily setup the reface for connection to a Clavinova and to switch between playing modes. These registrations contain special MIDI files which contain reface MIDI setup data. Anything in the first measure of a MIDI file is “buffered” and sent out the MIDI ports without having to actually press PLAY.

As a result, one press of a Registration button can instantly send several important sysex codes to the reface, along with other setup data used by the Clavinova including keyboard layouts and pedal assignments. As a result, you can easily switch between the reface controlling its own sounds versus the reface controlling the sounds of the CVP, all with the touch of a button.

***Important*** The MAIN voice section of the Clavinova is the conduit to control the reface. The MAIN voice section was chosen because it is located at the top of the CVP screen, making it easy to remember what sounds are are being played by the reface and what sounds are being played on the Clavinova.

pic3forclavreface600pic4forclav600

Registration Memory #1: “CVP pedals control the reface”

  • Clavinova pedals control COUPLING, ROTARY SPEED, and HOLD
  • Optional FC7 Expression pedal controls VOLUME of reface
  • RIGHT HAND – play melody on reface, using reface organ sounds
  • LEFT HAND – play chords on CVP with a style

1. Assigns OMNI off
2. Assigns TRANSMIT = channel 1
3. Assigns RECEIVE = channel 1
4. SPEAKER OUTPUT = off on reface (sound only comes out of the Clavinova)
5. AUTO POWEROFF = off
6. MIDI control = ON
7. Reface Volume = 127
8. Reverb depth default for reface voices
9. Pedal assignments on Clavinova:

  • LEFT pedal controls MAIN ON/OFF on the CVP keyboard to “couple” sounds of reface to CVP keyboard
  • CENTER pedal controls rotary speed fast / slow on reface
  • RIGHT pedal controls sustain of sounds in Clavinova and “hold” on reface.
  • VOLUME pedal FC-7 controls reface organ sounds volume only

pic5forclav

*** In the CVP screen, you see a voice called “Right Hand Reface Drawbars.” This is a “dummy” voice in the CVP that has no sound – these drawbars are all at 0 volume, so that you control the drawbar sounds from the reface itself.

R
egistration Memory #2: “reface controls the CVP ACMP”

  • LEFT HAND – play chords on reface, using reface organ sounds (with reface controlling the STYLE section (ACMP) of Clavinova)
  • RIGHT HAND – plays melody on CVP
  • Clavinova pedals control COUPLING, ROTARY SPEED, and HOLD
  • Optional FC7 Expression pedal controls VOLUME of reface

1. Assigns OMNI off
2. Assigns TRANSMIT = channel 4 (to control ACMP on CVP)
3. Assigns RECEIVE = channel 1
4. SPEAKER OUTPUT = off on reface (sound only comes out of the Clavinova)
5. AUTO POWEROFF = off
6. MIDI control = ON
7. Reface Volume = 127
8. Pedal assignments on Clavinova:

  • LEFT pedal controls MAIN ON/OFF on the CVP keyboard to “couple” sounds of reface to CVP keyboard
  • CENTER pedal controls rotary speed fast / slow on reface
  • RIGHT pedal controls sustain of sounds in Clavinova and “hold” on reface.
  • VOLUME pedal FC-7 controls reface organ sounds volume only

pic6forclav
*** In the CVP screen, you see a voice called “Left Hand Reface Drawbars.” This is a “dummy” voice in the CVP that has no sound – these drawbars are all at 0 volume, so that you control the drawbar sounds from the reface itself.

Registration Memory #3: “reface controls the CVP sounds”

  • RIGHT HAND – play melody on reface, using Clavinova sounds
  • LEFT HAND – play chords on CVP with a style
  • Clavinova pedals control GLIDE down, PITCH up, and SUSTAIN
  • Optional FC7 Expression pedal control VOLUME of Clavinova sounds

1. Assigns OMNI off
2. Assigns TRANSMIT = channel 1
3. Assigns RECEIVE = channel 4* (essentially a NULL to not receive data on channel 1 from registrations)
4. SPEAKER OUTPUT = off on reface (sound only comes out of the Clavinova)
5. AUTO POWEROFF = off
6. MIDI control = ON
7. Reface Volume = 0 (sent to reface for muting purposes)
8. Reverb depth default for CVP voices
9. Pedal assignments on Clavinova:

  • LEFT pedal controls GLIDE down on Clavinova sounds
  • CENTER pedal controls PITCH up on Clavinova sounds
  • RIGHT pedal controls sustain on Clavinova and “hold” on reface.
  • VOLUME pedal FC-7 controls Clavinova sounds volume only

***Bonus – Reface reverb slider controls the reverb of CVP sounds in real time from the reface

*** This registration calls up the “Breathy Tenor Sax” as a default. This can be changed and reserved in a new Registration Memory. Also, while playing the reface, you can also simply touch the screen of the CVP to select other voices in the touch screen.

MIDI Setup in Clavinova
All values from default ALL PARTS except: 

  • Receive Port1Ch1 MAIN (not SONG)
  • Chord Detect Port 1 channel 4

BACK UP FILE (BUP)
Only one step for setup is required:
1. Load BUP (Back Up file here)

  • Loads special MIDI files to USER to control the reface
  • Loads special MIDI setups needed for connection to reface in this arrangement
  • Loads Freeze setup default (STYLE selected)
  • Adjusts special Voice Setting regarding “pedal assignments”
  • Loads Registrations 1,2,4

***REGISTRATION BONUS – Select a different STYLE. then turn on Registration FREEZE, and you can use all of the special Registrations Memories with OTHER styles.

Want to see some of this demonstrated? Check out Craig’s video: 

Want to join in the discussion about reface with Clavinova? Check out the Forum here.

About our Guest Author:

When Craig Knudsen was 5 years old, his parents bought him a Hammond B-3 at his teacher’s encouragement. While friends were learning scales on an acoustic piano playing Bach and Beethoven, Craig preferred blues scales on a jazz organ playing the songs of Jimmy Smith.

Today, Craig has over 30 years’ experience in the high-tech music industry, with a concentration on an in-depth knowledge of software engineering for music instruments. He created Follow Lights and CueTIME for Yamaha Clavinovas and SmartKEY for Disklavier. Craig has enjoyed a long career as an artist for YAMAHA, introducing untold musical instruments at trade shows and YAMAHA dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Craig enjoys lowering the barriers for non-musicians to interact with musical instruments and used this knowledge to create two shows for Disneyland’s during their $15 million renovation of Tomorrowland featuring YAMAHA instruments. Currently, Craig works as the “Technology Guy” with ThePianoGuys and lives in Palm Desert, CA.

Craig early in his musical journey:

craigthen

Craig now:

craignow300

Sneak Preview – Craig creates “Lenny Dee sound” with combo of reface YC and Clavinova:


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