Yamaha MU100 SysEx Inquiry

[Tom]

After a very long hiatus, I'm finally beginning work on a new, original game soundtrack.  Eric was kind enough to lend me his Yamaha MU100 last winter, which I'm hoping to utilize in at least a couple of songs of this soundtrack.  (I really love some of the MU sounds!)  But I know really very little about Yamaha SysEx and I don't know of any resources where I could find a string that can...silence channels 2-10 on the MU100.

What I'd like to do is to be able to use the MT-32 and MU100 on the same MIDI port.  Channels 2-10 would be directed to the MT-32, while channels 1, 11-16 would be directed to the MU100.  Therefore, in order for the MT-32 to use channels 2-10 on the same MIDI port, the MU100's channels 2-10 need to be disabled to allow the sound to generate only from the MT-32.  Make sense?   

Anyone know of a nice little string of SysEx that could do this?

[Cloudschatze]

F0 43 10 4C 08 01 04 7F F7
F0 43 10 4C 08 02 04 7F F7
F0 43 10 4C 08 03 04 7F F7
F0 43 10 4C 08 04 04 7F F7
F0 43 10 4C 08 05 04 7F F7
F0 43 10 4C 08 06 04 7F F7
F0 43 10 4C 08 07 04 7F F7
F0 43 10 4C 08 08 04 7F F7

[Tom]

Are you for real?  WOW!!  Thank you so much!  I'll give it a try.

[Cloudschatze]

Oops. Forgot one.

F0 43 10 4C 08 09 04 7F F7

[Alistair]

As well as seconding Eric being awesome, I'd like to add my own "WOW" at the prospect of Tom working on another game soundtrack.

I've been so busy with work this past year, I've recorded less than a CD's worth of Sierra music, and haven't even heard Tom's QFG2VGA enhanced score (not to mention, haven't played the game!).

Regards,
- Alistair

[Tom]

Yeah...Eric IS amazing; the SysEx works beautifully, as I expected it would.  Is there like, anything that Eric doesn't know?

The past eight-to-twelve months have been very trying for me, too.  So much has been going on that I've had little time for anything other than work.  Both Dianne and I have had a number of health issues to contend with, but I think we're over the hump...for now.  We've had a couple of deaths at work, plus a lot of other problems that have caused major staffing issues ... and had me working longer hours.  Just a LOT of stuff has kept me away, not-the-least of most has been my periodic disinterest in Sierra games.  (About every three years I go through that.) 

Anyway, I was contacted a bit ago about a new project that really intrigued me -- plus I've really missed composing.  So, I signed on.  (Sorry, can't discuss the project at this point.)

Hey, Alistair...which audio mixer do you have?  I'm thinking of updating my Geneva mixer with a Behringer XENYX 1002FX Stereo Mixer.  It's under $100 and sounds like it's close to, if not studio quality.

[Tom]

I decided to go for it:  Behringer XENYX 1002FX Stereo Mixer  I normally rely on Turtle Beach's software EQ, but it'll be interesting to see how well the 1002FX does.  It's the mixing capabilities I'm most in need of.

[Alistair]

Yeah...Eric IS amazing; the SysEx works beautifully, as I expected it would.  Is there like, anything that Eric doesn't know?

He's replacing a MT-32 ROM board for me. To me, that's like insane, trying to figure that out.

The past eight-to-twelve months have been very trying for me, too.  So much has been going on that I've had little time for anything other than work.  Both Dianne and I have had a number of health issues to contend with, but I think we're over the hump...for now.  We've had a couple of deaths at work, plus a lot of other problems that have caused major staffing issues ... and had me working longer hours.  Just a LOT of stuff has kept me away, not-the-least of most has been my periodic disinterest in Sierra games.  (About every three years I go through that.) 

Other than the deaths at work, that's all true for me and Shannon, too, health problems, work, disinterest in Sierra/Sierra games/Sierra music, work giving you more hours, etc. I also feel like i'm getting over the hump.

Anyway, I was contacted a bit ago about a new project that really intrigued me -- plus I've really missed composing.  So, I signed on.  (Sorry, can't discuss the project at this point.)

I'm excited about this

Hey, Alistair...which audio mixer do you have?  I'm thinking of updating my Geneva mixer with a Behringer XENYX 1002FX Stereo Mixer.  It's under $100 and sounds like it's close to, if not studio quality.

I had the 1002FX, I think. I left it in Australia.

I liked it very much, EXCEPT- it doesn't have an on/off switch, so it comes on when you plug it into the wall. THat really sucks, and if you have it on before your synths, it'll cause your sound card to clip temporarily.

I could deal with it at home, but when I moved, I ditched it altogether.

I was using the SCD-70 as a mixer, but I went the better route and got a RadioShack brand mixer, the latest model, since I work there. It's actually equivalent to the 1000FX in pretty much every way except for EQ, which I don't use on a mixer anyway, and the outputs are superior.

And it has an on/off switch, and a lamp slot!!

It's unfortunately not on our website but I can take photos if you'd like.

If you need the mixing functionalities, the 1002FX is probably a good choice. Just be aware of the on/off deal. ANd when I used an AC adapter with it, it got very hot. Correct specs and working too. So just be a little careful.

Regards,
- Alistair

[Locutus]

Hey Cloudschatze,

Thanks for posting that sysex file, I always wondered if that could be done with the MU-100. I have the same setup as Tom (MT-32 attached to MU-100 MIDI thru), except I also got an FB-01 attached to the MT-32. Is there any way, I can turn off individual channels on the MT-32 by any chance?

Thanks!

locutus

[Cloudschatze]

Is there any way, I can turn off individual channels on the MT-32 by any chance?

Absolutely. You're basically going to be dealing with derivations of F0 41 10 16 12 10 00 0D...checksum F7. There are several examples on the forum.

Are you wanting to turn off select parts, or all parts? If the latter, you might want to look into something like the MPU-105.

[Locutus]

Actually I am planning to use this as a mute function for gaming. I have several MIDI units hooked up to two PCs:

MU-100->MT-32->FB-01 (all connected via MIDI thru)
PC1 is connected to MU-100 MIDI-in A
PC2 is connected to MU-100 MIDI-in B

I hoped that it would be possible to silence individual devices by disabling the channels altogether for that device. It's good to know that there is such an option for the MT-32. The FB-01 I can silence by just turning it off, as it is the last one in the chain.

However, I recently noticed that the settings made by your SYSEX commands for the MU-100 (to disable channels) won't survive a GM or XG reset. This could be a problem during gaming. I don't suppose there is another way of silencing the MU-100 that is not influenced by a reset command?

An MPU-105 might come in handy, but I guess these are a bit rare, aren't they? Or is there other affordable MIDI gear that would allow me to physically select a module?

[Cloudschatze]

However, I recently noticed that the settings made by your SYSEX commands for the MU-100 (to disable channels) won't survive a GM or XG reset. This could be a problem during gaming. I don't suppose there is another way of silencing the MU-100 that is not influenced by a reset command?

Not unless you want to disable the reception of GM/XG System On messages. Of course, you could always just turn the volume down all the way... Problem solved!

An MPU-105 might come in handy, but I guess these are a bit rare, aren't they? Or is there other affordable MIDI gear that would allow me to physically select a module?

A MIDI Thru box will also work for your scenario, allowing you to break your current MIDI chain and simply power-off any modules you're not using. There are several on eBay at present, including the currently-produced and MIDI-powered Quadra Thru from MIDI Solutions.

[Locutus]

Thanks for all the tips! Maybe I will buy that MIDI thru port multiplier.

[Locutus]

@Cloudschatze: I noticed that messages from the PC connected to the MU-100R's MIDI IN-B port will not be routed to the MIDI Thru port. Is there a way to route data from both ports (IN-A and IN-B) out to the MIDI THRU port?

Thanks

[Cloudschatze]

@Cloudschatze: I noticed that messages from the PC connected to the MU-100R's MIDI IN-B port will not be routed to the MIDI Thru port. Is there a way to route data from both ports (IN-A and IN-B) out to the MIDI THRU port?

Thanks

I'm afraid not. Per both the manual and electrical schematics, only the data from MIDI IN-A is re-transmitted out the MIDI THRU port.

[Locutus]

I see. Thanks anyway