Yamaha EX5 Supplementary Manual page 3

Simultaneous Notes
AWM Voices
The maximum simultaneous polyphony of the EX5 and
EX5R AWM tone generator is 126 notes, and that of the
EX7 is 64 notes. This number decreases, however, as
the number of elements and layers used increases. For
example, the maximum simultaneous polyphony when a
6-element performance setup is played on the EX5 will
be 21 notes (126 ÷ 6 = 21).
FDSP Voices
As you probably already know, FDSP voices are limited
to 16-note polyphony on the EX5/5R (8-notes on the
EX7). In the Performance mode, however, you have
sufficient polyphony to use several AWM voices in
addition to one FDSP voice when creating a song.
Here's an example: Part 1 uses an FDSP voice with 2
elements. This voice will use 2x16 = 32 notes maximum
(if 16 notes are actually played at the same time - a
relatively rare occurence). In this case, you have 126 -
32 = 94 notes (or 48 on the EX7) available for additional
AWM voices in Part 2 and subsequent parts. Each
additional FDSP element will reduce the polyphony by
another 16 (or 8) notes. Again, try to limit the number of
voice elements you use in the Performance mode.
Although the EX instruments offer more than enough
simultaneous note capacity for most applications, be
aware that unnecessary elements and layers can
reduce the available number of notes significantly.
Always try to create voices and performance setups that
use the capabilities of the EX-series instruments
efficiently.
Static Control Filter
In addition to the DCF (Dynamic Control Filter)
parameters, each voice element has a range of SCF
(Static Control Filter) parameters including EQ and
filters which can be used to shape the sound of the
voice (manual page 86). The SCF parameters require a
considerable amount of processing power, however, and
can contribute to slow response. For situations in which
the fastest possible voice response is essential, it may
be better to set the SCF parameters to "Thru".
Zone Assignments & Voice Response
In the Voice Edit mode each voice element can be
assigned a note and velocity zone (manual page 82).
The note zone assignments, in particular, can affect
voice response, so a brief explanation is in order.
A graphic representation of the zone assignments for
the current voice is provided in the Voice
Edit/OSC(F2)/ZONE(F8) display.
When the full range of notes is assigned to all four
elements in a four-element voice, for example, all four
elements will sound when any single key is played so
the total polyphony is reduced to 1/4, and the
processing requirements are increased fourfold.
In the example below each element is assigned a
different range of notes and none of the zones overlap,
so only one element sounds when any single key is
played. In this case the polyphony and processing
requirements are the same as for a single-element
voice.
Element 1 Element 2
C-2
By expanding the above example it is possible to create
as many as 8 split zones on the keyboard.
It may be possible, for example, to assign more than 2
voices (which is the limit in the Performance Mode) to
the keyboard. That way you can combine 2 voices each
using up to 4 of the above zone assignments (with
limited keyboard ranges) in order to achieve the desired
results.
3
Element 4
Element 3
Element 2
Element 1
Element 3 Element 4
G8