Tips and Tricks

The sy.factory tips and tricks dialog is shown below:

This dialog has the following controls:

Close Closes the Tips and Tricks Dialog
Next Tip Selects the next tip in sequence
Show Tips at Startup If checked then when sy.factory starts up, the Tips and Tricks Dialog is automatically opened

List of Tips and Tricks

Just in case you want the tips and tricks shown by the dialog as one single list, here they are.

Double Clicking a voice

If you double click a voice in a file or the library, it will be sent to the synth's edit buffer. If you triple click instead, the MIDI Router dialog will be opened after the voice is sent to the synth's edit buffer.

Library Support

sy.factory provides a Library facility that allows you to store all your data in one place, and use filtering and sorting facilities to locate the data that you want.

(NOTE: Library features are available only to registered users).

MIDI Support

sy.factory supports the transfer of Voices, Multis and other data types between sy.factory and the SY via MIDI.

(NOTE: The MIDI export features are available only to registered users).

Context Sensitive Help

If you press the Help Key ( F1 on a PC) then you can get context sensitive help, including within Dialogs.

Keyboard Shortcuts

sy.factory supports numerous keyboard shortcuts as an alternative to using the mouse.

Take a look in the online help or the sy.factory manual for details of the supported keyboard shortcuts

Object Colouring

If a Voice is coloured blue, then it is being referenced by a Multi.

If you right click over a blue Voice you'll find a "List References" context menu item, which will show you the Multis that reference this Voice.

An Object in the sequencer data is coloured green if it has data stored it.

An Object in the sequencer data is coloured red if it has no data in it.

Table Sorting

You can sort Voice and Multi Tables by name by clicking in the Table Name Column header, and they can be sorted by category by clicking in the Table Category column header.

New Voice

You can create a new voice using the New popup menu item in the tree view and the table view.

You can only DRAG COPY Certain Objects

If you are trying to perform a drag operation of a Voice onto a Multi Part and are wondering why sy.factory is not allowing you to perform the drag, you must be holding down the CTRL key during the drag. Holding down the CTRL key turns the operation from a Drag Move operation to a Drag Copy operation.

Sometimes during a drag operation, the only sensible operation that can be undertaken is a copy operation.

Copying/Moving Objects to a Different File

When you copy an Object to a different file then any Objects it references can also be copied at the same time.

For example of you move a Multi to a new File, then the referenced Multis are also copied:

This feature can be off if required within the Preferences Dialog.

MIDI Router

Press the F12 key and you get a "MIDI Router" popping up which, whilst active, will route MIDI data form the Keyboard MIDI Port through to the Motif Output MIDI Port. This allows you to have the USB connection selected on the Motif, whilst allow you to play data coming from a standard MIDI interface.

Master Patch List

The Master Patch List dialog under the Tools menu allows you to define a list of files that are exported, along with preset voice definitions, as a master patch list for use in supported sequencers to select patches. Currently only Cubase VST/SX/SE/SL patch lists are supported.

Setting a Pattern Chain Repeat

When you select the End Pattern Chain Menu option and hold down the ALT key at the same time, a dialog appears that allows you to select the number of repeats.

Workspaces

sy.factory allows you to save a Window arrangement as a Workspace which you can then recall at a later date.

Moving Voices within a File

When you move a Voice within a file then any Multis that reference the Voice being moved can be updated to ensure they all still reference the correct Voices after the move.

I think you'll agree this is a cool feature!

This feature can be off if required within the Preferences Dialog.

The SY Synthesizer Window

sy.factory has a special window called the SY Synthesizer Window. This is a special window that represents the SY synthesizer itself.

By setting up the MIDI preferences settings you can:

Copying Voice and Multi Effects Units

Within sy.factory you can copy Voice Effects Units (Reverb and Chorus) to Multi Effects units and vice versa.

Exporting Cubase/Protools Patch Lists

You can export Patch lists from SYSEX files for use within either Cubase VST, Protools or Sonar.

You can also export file information to HTML, XML or SpreadSheetML formats.

The relevant options can be found on the File Menu under the Export option

The Number After An Operator

In the Tree View you may notice that an operator has a number included after it in brackets. This number is the "checksum" value associated with the operator, and is included as a signature and as a simple way of distinguishing between operators.

Exporting Files to MIDI

You can export a file directly to MIDI once it is opened. If you do this, then the data being exported is also copied to the SY Synthesizer Window.

Importing Files from MIDI

You can import directly from MIDI into a file. If you do this, then the data being imported is also copied to the SY Synthesizer Window.