Connecting QY100 to Computer Via USB to Serial Adapter?
|
Hi Jim although coupling vintage with vintage is fascinating indeed, I recommend using a cheapish MIDI-to-USB adapter: I also tried for both 100 and 700, and something like this would solve the problem. Keep the switch on 100's back set to MIDI. I'm conveniently using this and a Windows 7 laptop with the 100 Data Filer. Best |
|
Hi again Jim
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I see two independent issues here, and I'va found a way to sort both out. First, connectivity. the QYs (the 70 on the right side, the 100 at back right) have a switch to choose among _four_ (!) different connection possibilities. Three out of four simply deal with the kind of serial cable that can be connected on the "to host" mini DIN. In all three cases we're dealing with basic RS-232 cables. Both 70 and 100 manuals have cable schematics. Nowadays, having a computer (PC or MAC doesn't matter) with an RS-232 connection is rather unlikely, whereas USB is ubiquitous. So, instead of buying an USB<-->RS232 converter, then plug tne appropriate cable (BTW for Apple is it the glorious LaserPrinter serial cable!), it is better to buy an USB<-->MIDI converter and go via the MIDI connectors. I tried first with a cheap USB<-->MIDI, see my previous email. I use the QY100 mostly away from the studio, but when I need to hook it up I either plug the two MIDI ports in the MIDI to USB or straight into an Edirol UM880 that I recently added as the "MIDI-USB" hub. Note that there is no difference at all among the four possible hardware connections. Second issue is what software and format to use. Dealing with the software, I use the Data Filer software under Windows 7. I save "dumps" both for the whole memory and also for single styles. Mind that dumps can only be restored on the QY itself (or moved from one QY100 to another). Actually, I use dumps just for backup. More than often, instead, I download a finished song as a SMF (Standard Midi File), to open it in a DAW, or load MIDI files from PC to the QY to slice them into patterns and phrases. This way, I can use the MIDI<-->USB connection both to drive external gear, as well as to interface with a DAW, and also to backup/restore/upload/download MIDI data. Just a last note: remember to configure the QY to use an external clock, or the Data Filer won't work. More on this later, since now I'm away from the studio and my notes. Best On 02/03/20 01:49, jbjorklun via Groups.Io wrote:
Thanks for the advice Prea - it is appreciated. After looking into this |
|
FYI: I use a QY70 with my Mac. It connects fine via OSX core MIDI Audio Setup app. I then use the freeware app SysEx Lib to save/send QY70 bulk dumps between Mac and QY. But this is all Ive attempted. On Monday, 2 March 2020, 01:49:11 CET, jbjorklun via Groups.Io <jbjorklun@...> wrote: Thanks for the advice Prea - it is appreciated. After looking into this some more, it sounds like there are 3 general ways to approach connecting the QY100 to a computer: 1) Serial - adding a physical serial port ... via a serial model add-on card (or pci adapter) + then a serial cable + a serial midi i/o 2) USB -? using any compatible USB midi device 3) USB serial - adding a USB device that adds a serial port that's connected with a cable to a serial midi interface (thereby converting the serial device to USB basically) It sounds like you're ~ following option #2, and I'm going to try option #3 (which seemingly should also work)... I guess the biggest question now is what software to use for receiving and storing the Data Filer data? The user guide doesn't mention anything about this, but I assume there must be something on the computer side to accept the data stream... So if anyone has any suggestions / recommendations for this (especially on the Mac side), that would be much appreciated. Thanks again, Jim On Sunday, March 1, 2020, 7:03:51 AM CST, prea <prea@...> wrote: Hi Jim although coupling vintage with vintage is fascinating indeed, I recommend using a cheapish MIDI-to-USB adapter: I also tried for both 100 and 700, and something like this would solve the problem.Keep the switch on 100's back set to MIDI.I'm conveniently using this and a Windows 7 laptop with the 100 Data Filer. Best |
|
I forgot to add that I use a TiTo USB-MIDI interface. That was a 15� amazon purchase. Works grand. I chose that though bcoz of MscOS constraints. On Monday, 2 March 2020, 14:48:18 CET, squishy <squishmusik@...> wrote: FYI: I use a QY70 with my Mac. It connects fine via OSX core MIDI Audio Setup app. I then use the freeware app SysEx Lib to save/send QY70 bulk dumps between Mac and QY. But this is all Ive attempted. On Monday, 2 March 2020, 01:49:11 CET, jbjorklun via Groups.Io <jbjorklun@...> wrote: Thanks for the advice Prea - it is appreciated. After looking into this some more, it sounds like there are 3 general ways to approach connecting the QY100 to a computer: 1) Serial - adding a physical serial port ... via a serial model add-on card (or pci adapter) + then a serial cable + a serial midi i/o 2) USB -? using any compatible USB midi device 3) USB serial - adding a USB device that adds a serial port that's connected with a cable to a serial midi interface (thereby converting the serial device to USB basically) It sounds like you're ~ following option #2, and I'm going to try option #3 (which seemingly should also work)... I guess the biggest question now is what software to use for receiving and storing the Data Filer data? The user guide doesn't mention anything about this, but I assume there must be something on the computer side to accept the data stream... So if anyone has any suggestions / recommendations for this (especially on the Mac side), that would be much appreciated. Thanks again, Jim On Sunday, March 1, 2020, 7:03:51 AM CST, prea <prea@...> wrote: Hi Jim although coupling vintage with vintage is fascinating indeed, I recommend using a cheapish MIDI-to-USB adapter: I also tried for both 100 and 700, and something like this would solve the problem.Keep the switch on 100's back set to MIDI.I'm conveniently using this and a Windows 7 laptop with the 100 Data Filer. Best |
|
Cheap USB-to-MIDI are excellent!
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
The only problem is that many of them have small buffers and cannot sustain high transfer rates, that is, cannot do SYSEX dumps. Unfortunately, as far as I know it doesn't exist a list of "working" converters, I've seen also converters sold on eBay for 5�... IMHO, any USB-MIDI cable in the price range you cited (>15�) can do the job. On 02/03/20 14:51, squishy via Groups.Io wrote:
I forgot to add that I use a TiTo USB-MIDI interface. That was a 15� |
|
You are right and I added that factor into my research before buying one. One Amazon review by a musician stated that it worked ok for SysEx and I took a punt on his word being correct and so far it hasnt been an issue for me. A full QY is a small xxxkb file IIRC. I made an error with the name. It was TIE not TiTo. Anyway here is the link since I can confirm this works with a Mac and QY70. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01487ZA3C On Monday, 2 March 2020, 14:56:48 CET, prea <prea@...> wrote: Cheap USB-to-MIDI are excellent! The only problem is that many of them have small buffers and cannot sustain high transfer rates, that is, cannot do SYSEX dumps. Unfortunately, as far as I know it doesn't exist a list of "working" converters, I've seen also converters sold on eBay for 5�... IMHO, any USB-MIDI cable in the price range you cited (>15�) can do the job. On 02/03/20 14:51, squishy via Groups.Io wrote: > I forgot to add that I use a TiTo USB-MIDI interface. That was a 15� > amazon purchase. Works grand. I chose that though bcoz of MscOS > constraints. > On Monday, 2 March 2020, 14:48:18 CET, squishy <squishmusik@...> > wrote: > > > FYI: I use a QY70 with my Mac. It connects fine via OSX core MIDI Audio > Setup app. I then use the freeware app SysEx Lib to save/send QY70 bulk > dumps between Mac and QY. But this is all Ive attempted. > > On Monday, 2 March 2020, 01:49:11 CET, jbjorklun via Groups.Io > <jbjorklun=[email protected]> wrote: > > > Thanks for the advice Prea - it is appreciated. After looking into this > some more, it sounds like there are 3 general ways to approach > connecting the QY100 to a computer: > > 1) Serial - adding a physical serial port ... via a serial model add-on > card (or pci adapter) + then a serial cable + a serial midi i/o > > 2) USB -? using any compatible USB midi device > > 3) USB serial - adding a USB device that adds a serial port that's > connected with a cable to a serial midi interface (thereby converting > the serial device to USB basically) > > It sounds like you're ~ following option #2, and I'm going to try option > #3 (which seemingly should also work)... I guess the biggest question > now is what software to use for receiving and storing the Data Filer data? > > The user guide doesn't mention anything about this, but I assume there > must be something on the computer side to accept the data stream... > > So if anyone has any suggestions / recommendations for this (especially > on the Mac side), that would be much appreciated. > > Thanks again, > Jim > > > > On Sunday, March 1, 2020, 7:03:51 AM CST, prea <prea@...> wrote: > > > Hi Jim although coupling vintage with vintage is fascinating indeed, I > recommend using a cheapish MIDI-to-USB adapter: I also tried for both > 100 and 700, and something like this > solve the > problem.Keep the switch on 100's back set to MIDI.I'm conveniently using > this and a Windows 7 laptop with the 100 Data Filer. > > Best > > |
|
" I'm not seeing in the manual where it shows an option to select 'SMF' ... but I'll assume it's there in the (UTILITY) Bulk Dump area." Im not sure there is, not afaik. I think there arent many options in the Utility bulk dump. I think you can select songs/patterns or all...IIRC but Im not 100%, more 92 :D I did try to fathom out the whole SMF thing decades ago but gave up on it. On Wednesday, 4 March 2020, 00:10:17 CET, jbjorklun via Groups.Io <jbjorklun@...> wrote: Thanks Prea for the further help with my 2 questions, and it's been fun reading the discussion that's followed as well ... And looking again at the QY100 manual (page 250), I now see this: "To ensure reliable data transfer we recommend that you use the supplied 'QY100 Data Filer' application for bulk data transmission and reception." So now I see what you're saying about the QY100 Data Filer application receiving the data - it was right there in front of me! Also, I did go ahead and order both a USB - Serial adapter and a glorious Apple Laser Printer serial cable :) I totally understand why most people are using a USB - MIDI solution, but I'm going to try this path first and see how it goes ... By the way, it's good to realize that the default QY dumps can only be used by QY100s. In my case, I'm looking to move these songs away from the QY100, so I'll definitely want to use the SMF option. Interestingly, I'm not seeing in the manual where it shows an option to select 'SMF' ... but I'll assume it's there in the (UTILITY) Bulk Dump area. Lastly, when I'm finally ready to try this, I'll be sure to configure the QY to use an external clock. That's a detail that I probably would have missed! Best regards, Jim On Monday, March 2, 2020, 8:01:53 AM CST, squishy via Groups.Io <squishmusik@...> wrote: You are right and I added that factor into my research before buying one. One Amazon review by a musician stated that it worked ok for SysEx and I took a punt on his word being correct and so far it hasnt been an issue for me. A full QY is a small xxxkb file IIRC. I made an error with the name. It was TIE not TiTo. Anyway here is the link since I can confirm this works with a Mac and QY70. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01487ZA3C On Monday, 2 March 2020, 14:56:48 CET, prea <prea@...> wrote: Cheap USB-to-MIDI are excellent! The only problem is that many of them have small buffers and cannot sustain high transfer rates, that is, cannot do SYSEX dumps. Unfortunately, as far as I know it doesn't exist a list of "working" converters, I've seen also converters sold on eBay for 5�... IMHO, any USB-MIDI cable in the price range you cited (>15�) can do the job. On 02/03/20 14:51, squishy via Groups.Io wrote: > I forgot to add that I use a TiTo USB-MIDI interface. That was a 15� > amazon purchase. Works grand. I chose that though bcoz of MscOS > constraints. > On Monday, 2 March 2020, 14:48:18 CET, squishy <squishmusik@...> > wrote: > > > FYI: I use a QY70 with my Mac. It connects fine via OSX core MIDI Audio > Setup app. I then use the freeware app SysEx Lib to save/send QY70 bulk > dumps between Mac and QY. But this is all Ive attempted. > > On Monday, 2 March 2020, 01:49:11 CET, jbjorklun via Groups.Io > <jbjorklun=[email protected]> wrote: > > > Thanks for the advice Prea - it is appreciated. After looking into this > some more, it sounds like there are 3 general ways to approach > connecting the QY100 to a computer: > > 1) Serial - adding a physical serial port ... via a serial model add-on > card (or pci adapter) + then a serial cable + a serial midi i/o > > 2) USB -? using any compatible USB midi device > > 3) USB serial - adding a USB device that adds a serial port that's > connected with a cable to a serial midi interface (thereby converting > the serial device to USB basically) > > It sounds like you're ~ following option #2, and I'm going to try option > #3 (which seemingly should also work)... I guess the biggest question > now is what software to use for receiving and storing the Data Filer data? > > The user guide doesn't mention anything about this, but I assume there > must be something on the computer side to accept the data stream... > > So if anyone has any suggestions / recommendations for this (especially > on the Mac side), that would be much appreciated. > > Thanks again, > Jim > > > > On Sunday, March 1, 2020, 7:03:51 AM CST, prea <prea@...> wrote: > > > Hi Jim although coupling vintage with vintage is fascinating indeed, I > recommend using a cheapish MIDI-to-USB adapter: I also tried for both > 100 and 700, and something like this > solve the > problem.Keep the switch on 100's back set to MIDI.I'm conveniently using > this and a Windows 7 laptop with the 100 Data Filer. > > Best > > |
|
To transfer MIDI files from and to the QY100 I use the functions provided by the Data Filer program, in particular to move pieces of material to be assembled in phrases or to export small MIDI chunks to work on a DAW (or other sequencer). Often, to "dump" a finished song I enslave the QY to the DAW (Reaper, in my case) and record all the MIDI at high bpm. Then in Reaper set all back to the right bpm and separtate tracks by MIDI channel. I borrowed this from my workflow with the QY700, although there you can save a MIDI file on an USB thumbdrive, direct MIDI playback saves time, saves leaving half of the tracks empty for the "expand backing" job... and is more fun. :) |
|
@Jim. Sorry I am using a QY70 with no SM slot. So good there is an option on the '100 and yes Prea input was useful for me too. Ive not tried to record MIDI (since I had no compooter back in 1999 when I used the QY daily) but now I have a Mac and getting Abelton Lite with my Korg ES2. Happy MIDI-ing :D On Wednesday, 4 March 2020, 23:08:13 CET, jbjorklun via Groups.Io <jbjorklun@...> wrote: Okay - now it's finally becoming as clear as I need it to be! Thanks squishy for mentioning that ... going back to the manual (page 259), it shows the full range of saving options (including SMF) are available when saving to SmartMedia card. So apparently that is how Yamaha wanted this to happen, while the Data Filer was meant for just backing up a QY itself. That said, it's interesting to hear Prea's suggestion that recording a song over MIDI into a DAW application is actually easier since you don't have to 're-expand' the SMF back to its individual tracks. At this point, it's probably best for me to try out both scenarios and see which I prefer. Thanks again, Jim On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 1:24:48 AM CST, prea <prea@...> wrote: To transfer MIDI files from and to the QY100 I use the functions provided by the Data Filer program, in particular to move pieces of material to be assembled in phrases or to export small MIDI chunks to work on a DAW (or other sequencer).Often, to "dump" a finished song I enslave the QY to the DAW (Reaper, in my case) and record all the MIDI at high bpm. Then in Reaper set all back to the right bpm and separtate tracks by MIDI channel.I borrowed this from my workflow with the QY700, although there you can save a MIDI file on an USB thumbdrive, direct MIDI playback saves time, saves leaving half of the tracks empty for the "expand backing" job... and is more fun.:) |
prea
squishy