To prepare the Motif ES/PLG150-DX to accept the data dump, first press the Utility button to enter Utility mode. Press “F5/OTHER” and see if the data wheel needs to set the “MIDI IN/OUT:” to MIDI (not USB). Then go to “SF1/CH” channel button to “1” (not off). The DX7 only transmits on MIDI channel 1 and the SysEx dump will be ignored if it is set to “off”. Initiating the SysEx dump on the DX7 is a piece of cake. Press the FUNCTION mode button on the DX7 and hit the button labeled “8” the twice. Use the “-1 arrow (no/off)/+1 arrow (yes/on)” buttons to get “System Info Available” showing. Then hit “8” again to show “FUNCTION CONTROL”/“MIDI TRANSMIT ?”. Once the Motif is set up and ready to accept the dump, simply hit the “+1 arrow” button. The rest is up to the Motif. It is possible to dump a total of 64 voices (32 at a time) into the PLG150-DX card’s user memory bank. However, it is necessary to overwrite the voices in the internal memory of the DX7 and substitute them with 32 more to do so. It is therefore necessary to have your DX patch back up available to recover the first group of 32.ĭX7 patches must be saved in bank 35/000 on the PLG150-DX. A01 through B16 hold the first 32 patches C01 through D16 hold patches 32-64. The other banks hold pre-programmed voices – or, more accurately, preprogrammed patch data. The DX7 utilizes additive synthesis to program a patch and the PLG150-DX stores the DX7 patch data. Obviously, there is no audio (.wav) data stored in the DX7. In common vernacular, for example, a “voice” can relate to an audio (.wav) file, polyphony or even the number of multitimbral “patches” that can be stacked simultaneously. Yamaha uses the term also as nomenclature for what can more clearly described as a “patch”. Another example is the differences between the Master groups and, while useful, the redundancy of Performance groups on the Motif. These two high-level Motif-series functions significantly overlap. Anyone else that has found the learning curve sometimes counter-intuitive on the Motif-series boards should not be surprised that it may take several attempts to successfully complete the SysEx dump process from a DX7 into a PLG150-series circuit board. The Motif stock sounds are easy to use as long as those preprogrammed internal sounds are used as is. While there are many resources on learning the basic functions of the Motif, I have created my own documentation for specific tasks because I found some processes counter-intuitive. This is in no small part due to the Yamaha nomenclature, the structure of its internal User RAM, and the organization of the information-loaded LCD on the ES8. I have enjoyed exploring and deciphering Yamaha documentation over the years. I naively thought that since the DX7 was arguably one of the most successful run of synthesizers (at around 160,000 units sold between 19), the documentation of doing a data dump to the Motif series of workstations would be clearly detailed and plentiful. I was wrong on both counts therefore, I’m documenting my experience for myself as much as anyone else still utilizing this technology. We play a number of 80’-era songs. I am compelled to share some thoughts on this process with my fellow keyboardists. After having utilized my Yamaha Motif ES8 since 2006, I acquired the Yamaha PLG150-DX expansion board from a fellow E-bay member for the additional polyphony a couple years ago. I planned to initiate a System Exclusive dump of 64 patches from my trusty Yamaha DX7 from the mid-1980s and finally completed the protocol. I have several vintage synths. As their original owner, they have been long-retired from the road, so I wanted to explore how I can add some of my classic FM synthesis patches to the sound of The Class Action Band.
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