Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Creighton Higgins said:
>> Vern wrote, "Clear as mud?"
> So far- yes

Hmm lets try again then.. :)

In direct answer to your question, SYSEX is not "Windows only". As an
analogy, this is akin to asking "Is English Language Human Only?". Though
humans can produce English language, other things may do so as well. A
computer can "speak" English and even a vinyl LP can "speak" English.
English is the name we give to a series of rules that dictate how various
sounds/symbols go together. Another term for this would be a "protocol".

SYSEX is also a series of rules that dictate how data should be put
together (i.e. formatted).  SYSEX really doesn't care what is "speaking"
the SYSEX code (Windows, Apple/Mac, Linux). The information that is
transmitted on a MIDI cable can either be "standard MIDI", as in "all
devices understand it", or "SYSEX MIDI" (system-exclusive) as in "only
specific devices understand/respond to it".

The device generating or listening to the MIDI signal can be a PC running
Windows or Linux (or a Mac for that matter) or a specific piece of MIDI
equipment like a keyboard, drum machine, drum module, light controller,
etc.

MIDI is similar to "sheet music" in that it has a list of what the
instrument(s) should play, but the sheet music *itself* does not make the
sounds it describes. MIDI data is *instructions* for devices. So, if you
use the DTXpress to send MIDI data to you PC, it is possible to configure
the PC to interpret those MIDI commands and to create sound in response.
Also, the DTxpress can receive MIDI instructions and make sounds in
response as well...

If you are interested in Linux and MIDI, there are some MIDI products
that are made for Linux PCs for example, Rose Garden:

http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/

or "MUSE" located here:

http://lmuse.sourceforge.net/

The nice thing is that these programs are GNU/Open Source so you do not
need to purchase them. They are FREE for all people to use and enjoy.
Hopefully, this time the answer is a little clearer than mud. ;)

Vern

--
Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE    | "If the network is down, then you're
Senior Systems Engineer    | obviously incompetent so why are we
Texas Information Services | paying you? Of course, if the network
http://www.txis.com        | is up, then we obviously don't need
Austin Office 512 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" \ufffdVLG