Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Yep, frankly if the formats are relatively similar, once I go to 
the effort of being "multi-format" compatible supporting 2 vs. 4-5 
isn't much more work... accept for testing them.

    But I will need the format specs.  I'd love to have the formats 
for:
    - DTXpress (original)
    - DTX2.0
    - DTXtreme
    - DTXtreme2

    For those coders-types who are interested:  I'm likely going to 
create Java interfaces for Device, Kits, Drums, Triggers, Songs, 
etc.  Each of these will describe their parameters to the core 
program and internally "know" their correct MIDI codes to transmit 
param changes.  When the program connects to a device it will load 
the correct class tree for that device and query the interface to 
display the parameter pages.  When you make a parameter change it 
will ask the class behind the interface to generate the correct 
param change bytes, which the core program will just throw blind out 
to the MIDI port.  Since it makes no real sense to copy data between 
device types, they can be pretty independant entities.  I will 
likely create a persistor class that read/writes the parameter 
infomation to disk, just by querying a generic interface from which 
all the others inherit.  Hmmm, maybe I'll have two:  binary and XML 
format.

    As far as UI, I plan on keeping it dirt simple.  I've always 
liked the tools that had FEWER bells and whistles; just the stuff 
that I really need and a really quick way to do it.

    My only real concern at this point is that the javax.sound.midi 
interface support for SysEx seems like it is pretty new... i.e. it 
may be buggy or lack necessary features.


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "G" <kickflippin@h...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jjcorley0000" <jjc@s...> wrote:
> > 
> >     My only issue with the DTXpress I is that we've only got the 
II 
> > and III formats so far... unless someone knows where we can find 
> > the "I" format.
> > 
>   What about the Xtreme formats? Should get them,if possible,as 
> well!!  I'm sure all the Xtreme users out there would like to see 
the 
> same sort of thing for it. After the Xpress one is done of course 
and 
> we see how much it helps.
> 
> George
> 
> 
> 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Monsieur_Benoit" 
> > <monsieur_benoit@y...> wrote:
> > > I'm a synth player, but I often visit a friend who has a 
DTXpress 
> > II. I know another one who has a DTXpress I (but harder to get 
the 
> > hands on).
> > > So of you need to have some tests done on one of these 
modules, 
> > I'll be also very happy to help.
> > > 
> > > Regards,
> > > 
> > > Benoit
> > >   ----- Original Message ----- 
> > >   From: jjcorley0000 
> > >   To: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com 
> > >   Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 9:30 PM
> > >   Subject: [DTXpress] Re: Sysex Bulk Dump Data
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >       I certainly am very familiar with a "gathering 
> requirements" 
> > >   phase building up a set of goals that can never be reached.  
I 
> > >   definately plan to start small and see what happens from 
there.
> > > 
> > >       Its actually for that reason (and issues I have with 
GPL) 
> > that I 
> > >   don't plan on working within Jsynthlib.  I certainly will 
offer 
> > the 
> > >   application for free, but not via the GPL.
> > > 
> > >       I do plan on supporting all the DTXpress models.  The 
> formats 
> > >   between the II and III looking pretty close and it shouldn't 
be 
> > too 
> > >   much more effort... testing will be my only issue as I will 
> only 
> > >   have the III.  I'll need someone with a II, who won't mind 
if 
> > their 
> > >   settings get FUBAR'd, to do some beta testing for me when I 
get 
> > to 
> > >   that stage.
> > > 
> > > 
> > >   --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "oldguydrummer" 
<rdamon@m...> 
> > wrote:
> > >   > These are all excellent ideas. 
> > >   > 
> > >   > From my point of view, with three modules, just being able 
to 
> > >   > upload/download the kit settings and trigger settings, one 
> > module 
> > >   at 
> > >   > a time, into the PC, and editing them, would be a 1000 
> percent 
> > >   > improvement.
> > >   > 
> > >   > I would just suggest that unless you have alot a spare 
time 
> on 
> > >   your 
> > >   > hands, which is probably not the case for most folks, is 
to 
> > keep 
> > >   if 
> > >   > basic and simple. If the project program becomes overly 
> > >   complicated, 
> > >   > trying to accommodate everybody's wishlist, then it may 
not 
> get 
> > >   > finished. (i.e. Drumb and Drumber Manual) 
> > >   > 
> > >   > At where I work, we would talk about generating a detail 
> > >   > program/shreadsheet for panelboard calculations. The 
problem 
> > was 
> > >   that 
> > >   > a gigantic wishlist was generated and the project just 
never 
> > got 
> > >   > complete. I went and generated a simple spreadsheet that 
does 
> > the 
> > >   job 
> > >   > and everybody is now using it. If we had waited for the 
> perfect 
> > >   > program, we would still be waiting and doing the 
calculations 
> > >   > manually. I have updated the spreadsheet a dozen times 
over 
> the 
> > >   > years, as time became available and it is still being used.
> > >   > 
> > >   > Since the Sysex, is slightly different for the Dtxpress 
> > I/II/III, 
> > >   it 
> > >   > maybe better to keep it simplier, so that it can be 
adapted 
> for 
> > >   use 
> > >   > with all these modules, as oppose, having just one complex 
> > program 
> > >   > for just one module. But if you end up with a dtxpress 
III, I 
> > >   fully 
> > >   > understand, spending you effect exclusively concentrating 
on 
> it.
> > >   > 
> > >   > But ultimately, you will have to decide on the difficulty 
> > factor 
> > >   and 
> > >   > your available time.
> > >   > 
> > >   > If there are any specific technical information or 
question 
> > that 
> > >   you 
> > >   > need as your are working through the programming task, I 
can 
> > pass 
> > >   > them onto Yamaha, as they seem to be responding to my 
> requests 
> > as 
> > >   a 
> > >   > moderator here, very quickly.
> > >   > 
> > >   > 
> > >   > 
> > >   > OldGuyDrummer (OGD)
> > >   > 
> > >   > 
> > >   > 
> > >   > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Monsieur_Benoit" 
> > >   > <monsieur_benoit@y...> wrote:
> > >   > > Hi all,
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > Basically, as far as I know about editor (for synths), 
you 
> > >   should 
> > >   > do with an editor/librarian :
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > As a librarian :
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > - open a sysex or request a dump (bulk dumps or partial 
> > dumps : 
> > >   > only a song, a kit....)
> > >   > > - view all the data on screen, in a big array for exemple
> > >   > > - move, switch or delete elements
> > >   > > - send the whole data, or just a part (a kit...)
> > >   > > - save the data, as sysex, and/or as proprietary if 
you're 
> > >   adding 
> > >   > stuff (comments, other informations)
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > As an editor (most of the time in librarian, you double-
> click 
> > on 
> > >   an 
> > >   > element to edit it and an editor window opens) / 
> > >   > > - change parameters (voices, effects...)
> > >   > > sometimes modules can accept realtime sysex, so when 
you're 
> > >   > tweaking the patch on your computer, you're sending 
realtime 
> > >   sysex, 
> > >   > and so editing the sound directly in the buffer of the 
module.
> > >   > > but for old synths, or simpler modules, you can't edit 
in 
> > >   realtime, 
> > >   > so you have to request a dump / edit / send the data, and 
> then 
> > you 
> > >   > can hear the difference. I guess that the DTXpress systems 
> are 
> > >   > working with this second option.
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > For examples, you can see some screenshots of a synth 
> > >   > editor/librarian here : 
> > http://www.soundtower.com/synth/triton.htm
> > >   > > You can also download and try the demo version of 
> Midiquest, 
> > a 
> > >   > multi synth editor librarian  : 
> > >   > http://www.squest.com/Windows/MidiQuest-About.html
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > Finally, once again, as you're planning to developp 
under 
> > Java, 
> > >   I 
> > >   > would recommend to have a look at Jsynthlib, an Open 
Source 
> > >   Universal 
> > >   > Synthesizer Patch Editor / Librarian written in the Java 
> > >   Language. : 
> > >   > http://www.overwhelmed.org/jsynthlib/ 
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > Maybe you can add support of the DTXpress into 
Jsynthlib, 
> or 
> > at 
> > >   > least grab some code parts if you want to start from 
> scratch...
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > (another idea : I would maybe nice to have a tool for 
> > >   translating a 
> > >   > midifile into DTXpress language and then send it with 
sysex 
> as 
> > a 
> > >   > song... maybe a little bit out of the project)
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > Hope this can help
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > Regards, 
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > Benoit
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > 
> > >   > >   ----- Original Message ----- 
> > >   > >   From: jjcorley0000 
> > >   > >   To: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com 
> > >   > >   Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 8:43 AM
> > >   > >   Subject: [DTXpress] Re: Sysex Bulk Dump Data
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > 
> > >   > > 
> > >   > >       I noticed that the Sysex formats have been posted 
in 
> > the 
> > >   > files 
> > >   > >   section.  I read them over and they don't look 
terribly 
> > >   > complicated.  
> > >   > >   Using the javax.sound.midi package it should be fairly 
> > >   > >   straightforward to build an application to manage this 
> > >   > information.  
> > >   > >   Note that this will still have to wait until the 
DTXIIISP 
> > >   arrives 
> > >   > and 
> > >   > >   allocate a weekend or two to the task.
> > >   > > 
> > >   > >       What would people like to see in this application?
> > >   > > 
> > >   > >       A few ideas I had:
> > >   > >       - XML (text based) format export/import so that 
> people 
> > can 
> > >   > hand 
> > >   > >   modify files or write other utilities to muck with 
them.
> > >   > >       - A "my kits/songs/etc" so that you could create a 
> > really 
> > >   > large 
> > >   > >   (limited only by disk space) db of these items and 
then 
> > pick 
> > >   and 
> > >   > >   choose them for a certain "load".  + List of Favorite 
> loads.
> > >   > >       - The ability to multi-select items (ex: kits) and 
> > modify 
> > >   > params 
> > >   > >   for all selected items in one action (ex: volume).  
> Should 
> > be 
> > >   > able to 
> > >   > >   do this absolute (ex: set to 70) or relative (ex: +10).
> > >   > >       - Copy & Swap things from one kit to another.
> > >   > > 
> > >   > >       Hmmm, me thinks I'm talking myself into more than 
a 
> > >   weekend 
> > >   > or 
> > >   > >   two of work...
> > >   > > 
> > >   > >   --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jjcorley0000" 
> <jjc@s...> 
> > >   wrote:
> > >   > >   > 
> > >   > >   >     Can you post the information to the website or 
the 
> > files 
> > >   > area 
> > >   > >   > here?
> > >   > >   > 
> > >   > >   >     While I reluctantly admit that I have the 
> > >   skills/experience 
> > >   > to 
> > >   > >   > handle such a task (Java/C++, GUI, embedded 
software, 
> > >   mucking 
> > >   > with 
> > >   > >   > bits in files):
> > >   > >   > 
> > >   > >   >     a)  I'm waiting on the IIISP, so I don't yet 
have a 
> > >   system 
> > >   > for 
> > >   > >   > testing.
> > >   > >   > 
> > >   > >   >     b)  I'm not sure how much time I can really 
> dedicate 
> > to 
> > >   > such a 
> > >   > >   > task.
> > >   > >   > 
> > >   > >   >     That said, I'd like to see the data formats so I 
> can 
> > get 
> > >   an 
> > >   > >   idea 
> > >   > >   > of the level of effort.  If I were to put something 
> > >   together, 
> > >   > I'd 
> > >   > >   > likely do it in Java so our non-MS friends wouldn't 
be 
> > SOL.
> > >   > >   > 
> > >   > >   > 
> > >   > >   > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "oldguydrummer" 
> > >   <rdamon@m...> 
> > >   > >   wrote:
> > >   > >   > > Ok, I now have the Sysex Bulk Dump Data from 
Yamaha 
> for 
> > >   the 
> > >   > >   > > DTxpressII and DtxpressIII. Let's see if we can 
> > coordinate 
> > >   > who 
> > >   > >   > wants 
> > >   > >   > > to tackle what, in generating a program for seting 
> > >   > up/changing
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >   Community email addresses:
> > >     Post message: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
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> > >     List owner:   DTXpress-owner@yahoogroups.com
> > > 
> > >   Shortcut URL to this page:
> > >     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DTXpress
> > > 
> > >   Alternate DTXpress site:
> > >     http://www.dtxpressions.com 
> > > 
> > > 
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