Pos3D_Java_v13.exe Java Version 1.3
Pos3D_VB_v21.exe Visual Basic Version 2.1
I developed this program after reading an article about effects from one of the Yamaha web pages. The article can be found, in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format, in this issue of XG Xtra (Vol. 1, Number 2)
Other Issues of XG Xtra can be found at the Tips to get the Most from XG page.
The article explains how to set REVERB and VAR settings, along with EXPRESSION and PAN, to make it sound as if a person (using a Footstep patch) was walking around in a room. Which got me thinking that I could use this idea to place instruments.
The gist of the concept is that you set the Reverb Pan to 32 (20H). Then you set the VAR Connection to SYS, and the VAR Pan to 96 (60H). Set the VAR to the same setting as you chose for Reverb, e.g. both to Stage1.
The program displays the pan, expression, cc91 (Rev Send) and cc94 (Var Send) settings for any location in a space. I found that using the Expression setting displayed was not useful to me in this setting, as I usually use cc7 (Volume) to set the instruments' level.
The program displays a panel (program was written in Java,) which I use as my area within the space in which to place my instruments. There is a choice for the Stage1, Room1, and Hall1 Reverb/Var settings. In the first version of the program, I had the panels towards the "back" of the space, which ended up giving me too much reverb, so I moved them towards the center, which seems to result in a more realistic sound.
While taking a Visual Basic class, I ported the program from the Java version to Visual Basic. I also added the ability to click on the selected space to mark positions by drawing circles. Right-clicking will draw circles in the background color, twice the size of the circles used for marking, to allow for easy erasing. Also added are command buttons to clear the current space or all spaces.
I am currently working on version 3, adding the ability to save (and then load) the set of position marks to enable archiving of song settings, favorite templates, etc.