Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Vernon Graner" <vern@t...> wrote:
> Ronald:
> 
> I had a couple of questions b4 I take a stab at answering this:
> 
> 1. Are the MID file in General MIDI format?

They sure are.  They use the correct instruments when playing on the
OPL3 in my computer's sound card, and when playing on my Alesis
QuadraSynth 6.1 with General MIDI mode turned on.

> 2. Are you recording program change data along with the note data?

Well, apparently I'm *not* recording them, and that's precisely what
my question is.  *Why* am I not recording them?  If you could help me
figure out where the setting is to make sure they get recorded, you'll
have solved my problem.  I *do* have the DTX2 set to receive program
changes in both screens of the utility mode that cover it...  (i.e.
the screen that says "UT MIDI RECEIVE 10PC=on 10=on" and the screen
that says "UT MIDI RECEIVE PC=on SySEx=on" are both set to receive
program changes...)

And yet they aren't being recorded along with the song data.

Are there any other settings that need to be changed that I'm not
aware of?

> It sounds like after you power-cycle the DTXpress mod, it defaults to GM
> on Chan 1, Patch 1 (piano). 

The particular MIDI sequence I'm sending it doesn't actually use
channel 1, but it's defaulting to piano on channels 2 through 7, which
*are* used, and are supposed to be 34, 31, 31, 17, 19 and 64.  So
you're basically right.

Your suggestion for adding a measure to the sequence that'll send the
events is a little off base, though.  I'm not sure if you mean that I
should create this measure on the computer before I send the MIDI file
to the DTX2 or add it inside the DTX2 once it's already been
transferred...  If you mean the first, it would be pointless because
the MIDI file already contains program changes, and those program
changes *are* being sent.  I know this because the sounds I hear
through my headphones while they're plugged into the module's
headphone jack and the recording is taking place correspond to the
correct instruments.  (i.e. I don't hear all pianos during the
recording.)  If you mean the second option, it's also a bit pointless,
as adding this measure would be more work than going through and
setting the beginning program for each channel of the song manually,
which is what I'm doing right now.

What I'm looking for is a way to get the module to record the program
changes which it very obviously is receiving correctly into the song
area along with the actual notes it receives.

Thanks again for the help you've provided, though, you *do* seem to be
the person so far who's come closest to understanding what I'm asking.

Ron Harvest