A QY100 user recently reached out to ask if it’s possible to mute/unmute individual tracks in Pattern Mode without having to manually highlight the track and push the mute button on the device.
Three Solutions
It seems the mute and solo buttons are not assignable through MIDI but in reviewing the Yamaha QY100’s Data List I was able to come up with three alternative solutions to accomplish muting on the instrument. Soloing on the other hand seems much more difficult to do via MIDI, so I’ll discuss that at the end of this article.
- MIDI CC #7 – Volume
- MIDI CC #11 – Expression
- XG Exc Multi – RcvCh (Receive Channel)
1. MIDI CC #7 – Volume
This is probably the worst solution but is still worth mentioning. The MIDI Control Change #7 is the MIDI message used to control Volume. This message can be directed at a specific MIDI channel (affecting only the pattern track you want to mute/unmute).
By setting this value to 0, the Volume of that track will become 0, effectively muting the track.
By setting the value to 100, the Volume will return to it’s initial default value, effectively unmuting the track.
By setting the value to 127, the Volume will reach it’s maximum.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| -Easy to set up as MIDI CC #7 message can be sent from most MIDI controllers. | –Volume is a commonly used parameter, therefore muting the Volume could interfere with existing MIDI automation if used elsewhere. |
| -Useful for creating sudden beat drops. | -The audio will abruptly cut out when the volume is muted. This does not allow for sustained notes to ring out. |
2. MIDI CC #11 – Expression
A slightly better solution is to make use of MIDI Control Change #11 which controls the Expression of the sound. In other words, it acts as a sub-volume control which affects the intensity of the sound within the current volume range. This message can be directed at a specific MIDI channel (affecting only the pattern track you want to mute/unmute).
By setting this value to 0, the expression of that track will become 0, effectively muting the track.
By setting the value to 100, the volume will return to it’s initial default value, effectively unmuting the track.
By setting the value to 127, the volume will reach it’s maximum.
Different Falloff: When Expression is set to 0 it does not abruptly cut the sound off, like Volume does. It instead allows the last note to sustain and ring out from the mix subtly. Technically the ghost notes are still being “played” in the background but go on unheard.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| -Easy to set up as MIDI CC #11 message can be sent from most MIDI controllers. | –Expression is a moderately used parameter, therefore muting the Expression could interfere with existing MIDI automation if used elsewhere. |
| -Useful for creating subtle beat drops. | |
| -The Volume can be controlled independently of the Expression. |
3. XG Exc Multi – RcvCh (Receive Channel)
By far the best solution for muting/unmuting individual tracks while in Pattern Mode is XG Exc Multi – RcvCh (Receive Channel). What RcvCh does, is it disables/enables MIDI to be received by that channel, effectively muting/unmuting the specified channel.
Important Note:
When you are setting up a RcvCh message, each of the tracks in Pattern Mode has a specific Channel ID that must be specified to be muted/unmuted.
Track Channel ID D1 17 D2 18 PC 19 BA 20 C1 21 C2 22 C3 23 C4 24 XG Exc Multi – RcvCh (Receive Channel) takes in two values:
- The Channel ID
- The Channel Value
By setting the Channel ID to the track you want to affect, and setting the Channel Value to OFF (127), the corresponding track will be muted.
By setting the Channel ID to the track you want to affect, and also setting the Channel Value to that very same Channel ID, the corresponding track will be unmuted.
Be Careful:
When crafting your RcvCh messages, it’s important to set the Channel ID correctly. Otherwise, you may end up rewiring which channels are set to receive from where, which could lead to unexpected results.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| -Behavior is the same as pushing the mute button on the QY100. | -Not all MIDI controllers can send XG Exc Multi messages. |
| -Frees up Volume and Expression controls. | -Must be careful not to incorrectly input RcvCh message. |
The Problem with Soloing
Soloing tracks is not so easily accomplished. As far as I’m aware, there is not a singular MIDI message that can be used to solo a given track on the Yamaha QY100.
Of course, the methods mention previously could be employed to send a handful of MIDI messages to the device to solo a given instrument. There are computer programs like Sonic Pi which could be used to send out complex MIDI messages to the QY100. Some DAWs even have MIDI scripting interfaces and flow control for sophisticated MIDI rigs.
The way I see it, soloing occurs on one track at a time anyways. The correct track can be highlighted, and the solo button can be pressed on the QY100 to activate it when needed. In a performance setting, multiple mute buttons could be pressed, effectively soloing a given track through external MIDI control.
