Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Hey Y'all, 

I use my VFX as  a controller and recently started trying to automate 
my live rig by having the VFX send out patch changes to everything. 
Like everything that has a computer in it, ofcourse it wasn't easy 
and still warps my mind. I bought a JL Cooper MSB plus and that has 
helped get around some routing issues. My question is this: I need to 
send bank changes as well as patch changes. I know the VFX doesn't do 
this in an obvious way. Has anyone ever tried recording a bank change 
and a program change in the sequencer and have the VFX blindly send 
it out? I tried getting the sequencer to record what I thought was a 
short Sys-ex dump from my Yamaha keyboard, but for some reason it 
doesn't take in the track. Perhaps it is not really a Sys-ex, perhaps 
it is some sort of Controller stream and the VFX ignores it. Any 
ideas, tips tricks?

How about this, Does anyone have a rig that they use live that they 
have figured out how to automate the patch and bank changes using 
something more modern than a VFX, like one of these little sequencers 
from Boss or Toneworks or something. I am just looking to simplify 
and be able to pull up all the settings for a song AND I don't want 
to have to bring a Laptop - which I know is the right thing to do. 
Most of the MIDI foot pedals I looked at can't handle setting up a 16 
channel GM synth.

Dan