Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

emf said:
> The sysex is the software in the module that stores, organizes, and
> interprets the signals that you enter when you hit the pads [snip]

hmmm not exactly... The software in the module would be referred to as
"firmware" as it is stored in a solid-state memory chip (usually an
EPROM).

SYSEX stands for SYSTEM-EXCLUSIVE and it refers to MIDI codes that are
outside of (seen as an extension to) the agreed upon MIDI spec. SYSEX
codes are defined by each manufacturer for use with their specific
product(s).

M.I.D.I. (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a *standard* and so
the data that can be sent and received by a device must strictly conform
to that standard. Only instruments that do conform to the standard may
display a MIDI logo. Compliance with the spec. will insure the device
will interact with other MIDI devices.

Though the MIDI spec defines a huge amount of data (have a look here
http://www.borg.com/~jglatt/tech/midispec.htm ), there will always be a
case when it would benefit a device to be able to send data that is
specific to itself. So, when you use a SYSEX editor to alter settings on
your DTXpress, you're using codes that are sent on the MIDI interface,
but only "make sense" to a specific device.

For example, the SYSEX dump utility we use to offload all the settings
from the DTXpress would not work with a Roland module (and vice versa),
through both the Roland and the Yamaha are MIDI standard devices, their
SYSEX codes and data would not be compatible with each other.

Clear as mud? :)

Vern

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