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Topic: SYSex Start Message - HELP!! (Read 8799 times) |
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AstroRock
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MIDI-OX Rules!
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SYSex Start Message - HELP!!
« on: May 14th, 2009, 5:07pm » |
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Hey guys. I don't know too much about SysEx commands, but I need to create a SysEx Realtime message that can be sent to a sequencer to tell it to START. I have a M-Audio Axiom 49 MIDI controller and a Roland MC-808 Drum Machine. I am going to be using them both to play live. I will have the Axiom sending MIDI OUT into the MIDI IN of the 808. I am going to be using the keyboard to play the tone generator inside the 808, but I will also be triggering patterns on the 808, as well as muting parts, etc. I want to have to touch the 808 as little as possible.
Ok, so I have read both manuals extensively, and looked through every other piece of information on the internet that I could get my eyes on. I have found out that the 808 receives SYSex Real Time commands for START, STOP, and CONTINUE. BUT, my Axiom does not send Sysex Real Time commands. That isn't too much of a problem because I have MIDIox. So I am just going to send a CC from the Axiom into MIDIox and have MIDIox translate that CC into a SYSex command which will then be sent to the 808.
So now that you are up to speed, I have gone through rigorous work to find the MIDI Implementation guide, HERE: http://forums.rolandclan.info/pub/attach/114279-MC-808_MI.pdf, for the MC-808. And let me just say, Roland doesn't make it easy to find. So inside this guide, there is a section titled "3. Data Reception (Sequencer Section)." There is a subsection under that titled "3.3 Messages Acknowledged for Synchronization." It looks like this:
-Start
Status
FAH
So according to this, how will I make up this SYSex message? This is what I have so far:
[1]...[2]...[3]...[4]...[5]...[6]...[7]...[8]...[9]
F0....41....17....5D...12....xx....xx....xx...F7
Byet 1 - F0 - Start Exclusive
Byte 2 - 41 - Roland ID
Byte 3 - 17 - Device ID
Byte 4 - 5D - Model ID
Byte 5 - 12 - Transmit info
Byte 6 - 
Byte 7 -
Byte 8 - Checksum - Is it even needed?
Byte 9 - F7 - EOX
So my question is where do I put that FAH Start byte? Does it go as byte 6? If so, is there any corresponding information being sent as Byte 7? And is the Roland checksum necessary for this? My impression was that any Roland SYSex message needs a checksum, but there is information in the MIDI Implementation guide indication otherwise. If someone could help me out with this I would be SO GRATEFUL! I tried asking this question in the Roland forums and they weren't too knowledgable on the subject. I also have a friend who taught me pretty much everything I know about MIDI and this predicament stumped him. Any light you could shed on this would be extremely helpful!
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JerryJorgenrud
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MIDI-OX Rules!
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Re: SYSex Start Message - HELP!!
« Reply #1 on: May 15th, 2009, 7:50am » |
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You're overthinking this but it's refreshing. When you say "I need to create a SysEx Realtime message" you mean to say you need to create a System Realtime message. System, not SysEx. The System message you need to send to start the Roland is a single byte -- FA. That's it.
"That isn't too much of a problem because I have MIDIox. So I am just going to send a CC from the Axiom into MIDIox and have MIDIox translate that CC into a SYSex command which will then be sent to the 808." Once again, not SysEx, an entirely different thing, but System message. In the mapping dialog one of the choices is to map *whatever you decide* to *Start*. When whatever you've chosen as a trigger arrives, MIDI-OX sends out the single FA byte you need. You might find the "Stop" byte -- FC -- useful as well.
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AstroRock
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MIDI-OX Rules!
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Re: SYSex Start Message - HELP!!
« Reply #2 on: May 15th, 2009, 10:09am » |
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Holy crap. I really was making it way harder than I thought. And sorry for the strange wording. My impression was that I was creating a System Exclusive message that contained a System Real Time command. So in the translation map I was selecting SYSex as the output  . I was trying at first to send MMC messages from my Axiom to the 808, but the 808 didn't recognize those. Anyway, this is the first time I have personally dealt with SysEx or System Real Time.
But I see exactly what you are talking about in MIDIox. I had completely overlooked that before! And the STOP message is definitely going to be useful as well. I am not currently at home with my MIDI interface and other equipment to actually try this, but as soon as I get home from work I am going implement your suggestion. If this works, Jerry, you will be my absolute savior! Thanks a billion for your help! (I still can't believe its that easy!!!)
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AstroRock
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MIDI-OX Rules!
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Re: SYSex Start Message - HELP!!
« Reply #3 on: May 19th, 2009, 12:52pm » |
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Jerry, you are a life saver! It took like two seconds to create the mapping, and now everything works perfectly. AMAZING! In my opinion, if you are a musician doing anything electronically and involving MIDI, you are a fool to not be using MIDIox. One of the best pieces of software out there, and probably THE BEST free software at that. Thanks again for your help Jerry! You will probably be hearing from me sometime in the near future. I have a couple more kinks to work out with my paradigm.
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