YAMAHA | X G | R E A D I N G

Step 1 Tips for XG Checker settings

The topics reported by XG Checker cover a broad range, and depending on their type, may produce a very large number of "error" or "warning" messages. An excessive number of messages not only complicates the checking process, but may also cause you to miss important errors. In order to avoid this counterproductive situation, you can take advantage of the following hints to make your checking as efficient as possible. Some of this material will overlap with the content covered in the previous session, but it won't hurt to take another look at it.

1. Low Velocity setting
The low velocity check is a function intended mainly to detect unintentional notes brushed by a finger during realtime entry, or abnormally low velocities caused by a mistake in editing. However, there may be situations in which a note with an extremely low velocity value (such as a velocity of 1) is intentionally input into the drum part to mute a previously-sounded cymbal (i.e., to make it appear to have stopped sounding). XG Checker will issue a "Low Velocity Note" warning without distinguishing such cases.
If you wish to avoid such warnings, it is effective to uncheck channel 10 (the drum part). In the Setting window, select the lower row of the Tracks radio buttons, and uncheck channel 10 (figure 1).

Figure 1

However in this case, all checking will be skipped for channel 10, so you will need to pay attention to other possible errors. Alternatively, the Option menu lets you specify the threshold value which will be used for detecting a low velocity (figure 2).

Figure 2

By default, this is 10, and a value of approximately 10 is probably appropriate unless you have a special reason for changing it.

2. Short Duration setting
Short Duration is also a setting used mainly for detecting notes which were input unintentionally, but is also effective for detecting the notes of extremely short duration which can be generated when some sequencers (Vision, etc.) read an SMF file which contains multiple notes. However, this also may produce large numbers of warning messages, since it is not uncommon for drum parts etc. to contain many notes with durations in the range of 10/480 ticks.
In order to prevent this, click the "Other..." button in the Setting window and uncheck channel 10 in the dialog box that appears (see figure 3).

Figure 3

In this case, checking for items other than Short Duration will occur as usual for channel 10. The Option menu also lets you set the threshold value for Short Duration, so you may change this setting as needed (figure 4).

Figure 4

3. Multiple Note-on
Figure 5 is the setting window for Multi Note-on checking. If "Report in all cases" is checked (as shown here), a "multiple note" will be reported even when the note-off of the previous note is at precisely the same timing as the note-on of the next note (i.e., when the duration of the previous note is 100% of the step time). Normally, such cases are not usually a major problem, so it is best to uncheck this item. However, be aware that depending on the sequencer you use to check the data, this does have the potential for causing problems.

Figure 5

4. Other
Normally it will not be a problem to omit checking the Note Range. In fact, since you will sometimes want to play an instrumental voice outside of its usual range, all you need be concerned with is whether or not it sounds right. Similarly, since the polyphony check is not a rigorous check that includes calculations for the release of each note, there should be no real problem with unchecking the "Valid sustain/sostenuto on (polyphony check)" item which does take into account the Sustain Pedal data. This setting will be useful in determining the cause when notes are cut off audibly.
From the Setting window, the dialog box accessed by the "Other..." menu item contains "Note Off Velocity Check:" and "Disp Channel Number" (figure 6).

Figure 6

The manual tells you that channel numbers will be added to the report when this is checked, but here's an additional tip. If this is unchecked, all notes with note-off velocity other than 64 will be reported. This may result in a large number of notes being reported, so if you check this item, only the channel in which notes with note-off velocities other than 64 occurred will be displayed.

	Step 1 Tips for XG Checker settings
	The topics reported by XG Checker cover a broad range, and depending on their type, may produce a very large number of "error" or "warning" messages. An excessive number of messages not only complicates the checking process, but may also cause you to miss important errors. In order to avoid this counterproductive situation, you can take advantage of the following hints to make your checking as efficient as possible. Some of this material will overlap with the content covered in the previous session, but it won't hurt to take another look at it. 1. Low Velocity setting The low velocity check is a function intended mainly to detect unintentional notes brushed by a finger during realtime entry, or abnormally low velocities caused by a mistake in editing. However, there may be situations in which a note with an extremely low velocity value (such as a velocity of 1) is intentionally input into the drum part to mute a previously-sounded cymbal (i.e., to make it appear to have stopped sounding). XG Checker will issue a "Low Velocity Note" warning without distinguishing such cases. If you wish to avoid such warnings, it is effective to uncheck channel 10 (the drum part). In the Setting window, select the lower row of the Tracks radio buttons, and uncheck channel 10 (figure 1). Figure 1 However in this case, all checking will be skipped for channel 10, so you will need to pay attention to other possible errors. Alternatively, the Option menu lets you specify the threshold value which will be used for detecting a low velocity (figure 2). Figure 2 By default, this is 10, and a value of approximately 10 is probably appropriate unless you have a special reason for changing it. 2. Short Duration setting Short Duration is also a setting used mainly for detecting notes which were input unintentionally, but is also effective for detecting the notes of extremely short duration which can be generated when some sequencers (Vision, etc.) read an SMF file which contains multiple notes. However, this also may produce large numbers of warning messages, since it is not uncommon for drum parts etc. to contain many notes with durations in the range of 10/480 ticks. In order to prevent this, click the "Other..." button in the Setting window and uncheck channel 10 in the dialog box that appears (see figure 3). Figure 3 In this case, checking for items other than Short Duration will occur as usual for channel 10. The Option menu also lets you set the threshold value for Short Duration, so you may change this setting as needed (figure 4). Figure 4 3. Multiple Note-on Figure 5 is the setting window for Multi Note-on checking. If "Report in all cases" is checked (as shown here), a "multiple note" will be reported even when the note-off of the previous note is at precisely the same timing as the note-on of the next note (i.e., when the duration of the previous note is 100% of the step time). Normally, such cases are not usually a major problem, so it is best to uncheck this item. However, be aware that depending on the sequencer you use to check the data, this does have the potential for causing problems. Figure 5 4. Other Normally it will not be a problem to omit checking the Note Range. In fact, since you will sometimes want to play an instrumental voice outside of its usual range, all you need be concerned with is whether or not it sounds right. Similarly, since the polyphony check is not a rigorous check that includes calculations for the release of each note, there should be no real problem with unchecking the "Valid sustain/sostenuto on (polyphony check)" item which does take into account the Sustain Pedal data. This setting will be useful in determining the cause when notes are cut off audibly. From the Setting window, the dialog box accessed by the "Other..." menu item contains "Note Off Velocity Check:" and "Disp Channel Number" (figure 6). Figure 6 The manual tells you that channel numbers will be added to the report when this is checked, but here's an additional tip. If this is unchecked, all notes with note-off velocity other than 64 will be reported. This may result in a large number of notes being reported, so if you check this item, only the channel in which notes with note-off velocities other than 64 occurred will be displayed.