Community Layouts for Yamaha Gear

As the history books (and Wikipedia) tell it, Yamaha was there was MIDI was created:

In June 1981, Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi proposed the idea of standardization to Oberheim Electronics founder Tom Oberheim, who then talked it over with Sequential Circuits president Dave Smith. In October 1981, Kakehashi, Oberheim and Smith discussed the idea with representatives from Yamaha, Korg and Kawai

Now Yamaha makes hundreds of products, most of which are MIDI-controllable. When the MIDI Designer Community focuses on Yamaha products, the focus has been on controlling synthesizers. There are five Platinum layouts, all of which represent a heroic amount of work, a great eye for aesthetics, and a visionary approach to control. Most notable are the platinum layouts by Rainer-award winner Ibo Kai, who has more Platinum layouts than any other single author (three of which are for Yamaha gear).

There are layouts for existing gear (e.g., the Reface line) and for vintage gear, like the TG77/SY77. Beyond that, we’ve got several standalone apps for Yamaha MIDI targets. Two of these, layouts by Craig Knudsen, control pianos and more expensive Yamaha MIDI targets, adding variety and range to the MIDI targets by Yamaha that MIDI Designer Pro 2 controls.

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Platinum

LAYOUT: Editor for Yamaha Reface DX by helfried

Yamaha
The Yamaha reface DX was released at Summer NAMM in 2015 as part of the Reface Mobile Mini Keyboards line. The reface DX is a modern version of the DX100, which many experts agree is one of the most underrated synths of the 1980s. The reface DX focuses on portability: 37 mini keys, a built-in speaker, optional battery power and a low price point are some of the big differences from the original. And for such a tiny keyboard... this EXTENSIVE, Platinum layout.

We take our hats off to the author, Helfried, for this extensive, bidirectional MIDI controller for the Yamaha reface DX. And like most good things these days, this layout underwent a LOT of iteration. Amazing... lots of detail and precision in this one... check it out!
Update 2017-03-16, Reface DX v1.1f
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Platinum

LAYOUT: Voice Editor for Yamaha DX21 by ibo-kai

2341 downloads
Yamaha
The Yamaha DX21 was one of a new, three-strong range of 4-operator FM synths to appear in 1986. The layout author says, "The Yamaha DX21 was the first synth I ever laid my hands on, when I was a young boy (it wasn't my own one, unfortunately). Just recently I found a used unit in really mint condition in my neighborhood and I decided to buy it, mostly for nostalgia. Of course I didn't bother to program sounds on the synth itself, but instead made this layout for far quicker and easier editing."
Version 1.0 | Version 1.5
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Platinum

LAYOUT: Yamaha SY77/TG77 Voice Editor by ibo-kai

2713 downloads
Yamaha
Yamaha released the SY77 keyboard -- and the TG77 rack-mount -- in 1989. They coined the term "Realtime Convolution and Modulation Synthesis" to describe the sound engine. It's an FM-synthesis and sample-based hybrid that creates amazingly rich, layered and multitimbral sounds.

This Platinum layout is well-thought-out, well-designed, well-executed and brilliant on every level. Master Layout Author Ibo Kai, winner of the Rainer Award for layout-design excellence, goes deep with this layout. He not only shows a particular vision of the TG77 through the layout, but he also provides a particular workflow. And that's EXACTLY what great editor design is about.

We're so fortunate to have Ibo Kai and his many contributions. Some of this others include brilliant editors for the Kawai K1, Yamaha Reface DX, and the Korg 707. Big ups, Ibo Kai!
SY77-TG77 Editor v1.45  | TG77 Editor v1.42 (admin's mod) | TG77 Editor v1.3 | TG77 Editor v1.2 (old)
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Platinum

LAYOUT: Full Editor for Yamaha Reface DX by ibo-kai

1091 downloads
Yamaha
Master Layout Designer Ibo Kai brings us his Complete Editor, a Platinum Layout, for the Yamaha reface DX.

Yamaha released the Reface Mobile Mini Keyboards at Summer NAMM of 2015, including the exciting reface DX. DX is synonymous with FM synthesis since the 1980s. The reface DX itself is a modern version of the DX100, which is one of the most underrated synths of the 1980s. Like the DX100, the reface DX focuses on portability. Some things are the same as the DX100, and some, like the built-in speaker.

This editor is the basis for the related performance editor, and includes five pages, including: "Quick Access" Parameters, Operator Controls, Common Parameters, and 2 FX Units, Master Settings, and Util. Like all of Ibo Kai's layouts, it's beautiful, functional, and takes the reface DX to a whole new level.
The Layout
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Platinum

LAYOUT: Yamaha TQ5 by qdrtshlz

3151 downloads
Yamaha
The Yamaha TQ5 is probably one of the most underrated and cheap synthesizers today. Manufactured in 1988, where it was clearly targeted to the consumer market with barely any parameters to edit a…
Version 1.0 | Version v0.91 | Version v0.9
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Platinum

LAYOUT: Yamaha DX21 Editor by ibo-kai

751 downloads
Yamaha
I finally enabled my editor layout to understand sysex from the synth. So now I can drag an existing patch into the layout and adjust it if needed.

In this case the input rule was really …
Yamaha DX21 v3.15 (bug fix) | Yamaha DX21 v3.1 | Yamaha DX21 v2.0
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Gold

LAYOUT: YAMAHA CS6X/R by ezb

Yamaha
The Yamaha CS6x (and the rack-mount version, the CS6R) was released in 1999. It's a wickedly powerful (64-channel polyphony!) 61-key keyboard with awesome sounds. It's been called the "best synth for EDM" and boasts all kinds of cool features (filters, plug-in system boards adding new types of synthesis, and more). And it's a sampler! But where this device falls down is in the UI: to say the least, it's "not very user friendly." And this is where EZB enters the picture with this insanely extensive, platinum-medaled layout for MDP2. This layout is HUGE, which shows his dedication and craftsmanship: it spans eight banks (four on each side) and uses almost the full six pages in each bank. It represents thousands of hours of work, so if you dig it, please give EZB some feedback on the Q&A site. Enjoy!
CS6 Editor by EZB Version 7.1
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Gold

LAYOUT: Yamaha TX81Z by michael-raleigh

1154 downloads
Yamaha
I noticed that there were a lot of DX layouts out there, but not one for the quite popular (and cheap) TX81Z. So I modified Ibo Kai's DX27 (I think) layout since the sysex for each parameter is very s…
Yamaha TX81Z V1.1
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Gold

LAYOUT: Yamaha reface CS editor update by ibo-kai

655 downloads
Yamaha
I updated my reface CS editor (mainly system setting editor) with a Streambyter input rule, so now I can grab the current settings from reface to see, what they are and change them if required. I had …
reface CS editor
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Gold

MDXG: XG Sound Set Controller by MIDI Designer Team (jkhiser)

217 downloads
Yamaha
This is the layout previously available as the stand-alone MDXG - Yamaha XG compatible Sound Set Controller.by Craig KnudsenMIDI Designer XG (MDXG) is an app to easily access the often hidden YAMAHA X…
MDXG-1.01.mididesigner
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Gold

LAYOUT: editor for Yamaha TG500 by asylum

1048 downloads
Yamaha
The Yamaha TG77 is a 64-voice polyphonic, FM synthesis-based keyboard released in 1992. As Vintage Synth Explorer puts it, "Despite the lack of controls, the TG500 has edit capabilities as extensive as the SY-85, and is easiest to program using an external or software based editor."... And that's EXACTLY where Hans Scholten's extensive layout for the Yamaha TG500 comes in. Almost all of the parameters can be controlled with the layout. A document is provided that describes the design aspects, limitations and work-arounds of the layout, so be sure to check it out. This layout is HUGE!
Zip with PDF and Layout | Download the Layout
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Gold

MDClav: Clavinova Controller by MIDI Designer Team (jkhiser)

144 downloads
Yamaha
This is the layout previously available as the stand-alone MDClav - Clavinova Controllerby Craig Knudsen[MDClav communicates with Yamaha keyboards via open MIDI standard. Clavinova and CLP are tr…
MD CLAV 1.00.mididesigner
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Gold

LAYOUT: Yamaha DX21 Analog Editor by ibo-kai

1040 downloads
Yamaha
Ever wished you could program your DX synthesizer as easy as an analog one?

My first MD layout was an voice editor for the Korg 707, a synthesizer that did exactly this: making FM synthes…
DX21 Analog Editor
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Silver

LAYOUT: Yamaha DX7/TX7 by ezb

3507 downloads
Yamaha
Layout for Yamaha's DX7/TX7 Reface. Now in version 1.3, this newly-refactored layout controls many parameters of the DX7.
Version 1.3.1 (admin mod) | Version 1.3  | Version 1.4
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Silver

LAYOUT: Performance Editor for Yamaha Reface DX by ibo-kai

1565 downloads
Yamaha
Rainer Award Winner Ibo Kai decided to make a PERFORMANCE layout for the Yamaha Reface DX, and we're ecstatic to have it! All of his layouts are beautiful and well-conceived. This is a one-page layout but it packs a lot of punch. As the author says it: "While I think [Yamaha] created a great UI for programming FM voices, which is lightyears ahead of the old DX synths, plus you can play a loop and change a couple of parameters on the fly, I found I wanted some even more direct access to live-tweaking several things in parallel."

"This layout is pretty simple, just one page shows all the available functions. It is mainly what you find in the 'FM' keypad of the synth: frequencies, levels and feedback settings separately per operator plus the algorithm select."

So this gives you a new way to work with your Reface DX. Exciting stuff, enjoy!
Download the Layout v. 1.1 | Download the Layout v. 1.0
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Silver

LAYOUT: Yamaha AN200/PLG-100AN/AN1X Editor by locosynth

1492 downloads
Yamaha
Yamaha AN200 one knob per function editor with full implementation of all SYSEX functions of the synth including modulation matrix. This completely unlocks the synth portion of the AN200 which is an incredible VA synthesizer. Should also work with PLG-100AN and AN1X, although a few functions on the AN200 are not present on the AN1X.
AN200 Editor
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Silver

LAYOUT: Reface Series System Editor by ibo-kai

900 downloads
Yamaha
Based on the feedback I got for my system editor for the Yamaha Reface CS, I decided to extend it and included the same functionality for Reface DX, Reface CP and Reface YC. All those system settings,…
Reface Series System Editor
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Silver

LAYOUT: Reface CS System Editor for iPhone by ibo-kai

871 downloads
Yamaha
I made another version of the Reface CS editor for my iPhone. The layout is slightly different due to the small screen. Also I skipped the second page, the sound controls would´t really make sense in…
Reface CS System Editor for iPhone
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Silver

LAYOUT: Remote Editor for Yamaha Reface CS by ibo-kai

1007 downloads
Yamaha
To avoid the complicated procedure for system settings in Reface CS (switch off, press + hold a certain key - remember which key to use for which function -, switch on again) I made this layout for qu…
Reface CS Remote Editor
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Silver

Layout: Yamaha RS 7000 (for performance) by zweier

467 downloads
Yamaha
My template for the Yamaha RS 7000 Groovebox. Designed with Midi Designer Pro 2.112. I use it in combination with an external sequencer (midibox).Page 1 (Mix - Filter - LFO):1. row: Pressing the butto…
Layout: Yamaha RS 7000 (for performance)
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Silver

LAYOUT for Yamaha MODX by zweier

668 downloads
Yamaha
My template for the Yamaha MODX. Designed with Midi Designer Pro 2. I use it in combination with an external sequencer (midibox).Page 1 (Mix - Filter - LFO):1. row: Pressing the button mutes the part …
Download 1
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Standalone Apps for Yamaha MIDI Targets

  • MD77: Voice Editor for Yamaha SY77/TG77 by Ibo Kai [ link ]
  • MDClav: Clavinova Controller by Craig Knudsen [ link ]
  • MDXG: XG Sound Set Controller by Craig Knudsen [ link ]