Can the mpc500 record/playback sysex?

Hi everyone.

I am thinking of getting an MPC500, but first I need to find out if it will record sysex data from synths, as I want to use it to store JV1080 bulk dumps.

I have looked at the spec sheets in the online manuals, and they say the MPC500 supports sysex, but I am unclear if that means only MPC500 data dumps to external storage devices and back again, or wether it will receive sysex data from other devices.

For clarity, I will explain what I would like to be able to do:

Record bulk sysex data from a JV1080 into the MPC500, on a midi track, and store it on a memory card. I would then like to send this data back, by playing the midi track into the JV1080, thus restoring the song patches.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Nice looking forum btw

I think it can do this. The mpc-1000 and up can, I will test it and return to you.

Much appreciated - thanks.

Generally speaking, yes, but sysex is a weird thing so your sucess may vary depending on the gear. Some manufacturer's sysex records and plays back fine but with other stuff you may run into strange malfunctions. In some cases the sysex won't even record and you'll be left with an empty track no matter how many times you try.

Sysex compatibility between different manufacturers and even different generations of gear has always been a tricky issue; Your mileage may vary.

It works great with my Roland MKS-50!

elektrik_muz wrote:Generally speaking, yes, but sysex is a weird thing so your sucess may vary depending on the gear. Some manufacturer's sysex records and plays back fine but with other stuff you may run into strange malfunctions. In some cases the sysex won't even record and you'll be left with an empty track no matter how many times you try.

Sysex compatibility between different manufacturers and even different generations of gear has always been a tricky issue; Your mileage may vary.

Thanks for your reply. What you say is interesting, and would explain why I cannot record sysex from an Alesis HR16 to a Yamaha RM1X (I want to replace the RM1X with an MPC500), when the RM1X will accept sysex from a JV1080. I had assumed the HR16 to be faulty - perhaps it is not. I didn't realise there was such a difference in sysex dumps between manufacturers and different generations from the same manufacturers, and had thought them all the same. I am curious now about my HR16 - I will have to dumping it to something else at some point.

eimer wrote:It works great with my Roland MKS-50!

Thank you for trying this out. This would indicate that Roland gear might be ok. However, given elektrik_muz's post, it may be a case of just trying it to see if it works.

Update:

The MPC500 seems to record the sysex from my jv1080s ok, but locks up when I play the sequence back. Not a complete disaster or anything, as I am looking at another method of storage, but does anyone know why the MPC might lock up?

Thanks,

CDA.

No, it sounds weird. Try to see if you can replicate the scene.

its not weird for the lock/up slow down, sysex isnt designed for realtime, what you need to do is slow down the sending/receiving speed. You could try adjusting the tempo of your track and see if that helps.

Thanks for your replies.

The MPC500 locks up when I play back the sequence with the sysex every time, no matter what I do I guess it was just not to be - probably because the JV1080 is an old man, and the MPC500 is a whippersnapper lol.

Incidentally, I was messing about with sampling the main outs today, for the first time. Total fun! And veeeeery useful. I'm starting to see that this little device is opening up all kinds of new avenues for me.

cda wrote:Thanks for your replies.

The MPC500 locks up when I play back the sequence with the sysex every time, no matter what I do I guess it was just not to be - probably because the JV1080 is an old man, and the MPC500 is a whippersnapper lol.

Incidentally, I was messing about with sampling the main outs today, for the first time. Total fun! And veeeeery useful. I'm starting to see that this little device is opening up all kinds of new avenues for me.

yeah cos you probably recorded it too fast with too much bulk data, as i said already sysex is not ment for realtime usage

Weird, i have no problems at all! Have you turned the quantize off? Try to go down to 30BPM.

Hi.

Thanks for all your replies.

I tried all the above and it still doesn't work. It's not a disaster or anything, like I said, but it certainly has me foxed. Very curious.

CDA.