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JV/XP System Exclusive Messages

You can change just about anything on your JV/XP with system exclusive (sysex) messages.   These are special MIDI messages that contain settings or instructions.   For example, you could send an instruction to change to General MIDI (GM) mode.   You can also send settings to be stored as a user patch.   You can even send your patches direct to the temporary area - ready for immediate use!

Often you will need to send several messages, and even long messages need to be broken into smaller blocks.   Like most synths, there needs to be a short gap between sending multiple sysex messages, so the best way of doing this is with a small midi file that sends the sysex messages with suitable gaps.

Here are several MIDI sysex sequences I use.   All sequences and sysex files can be downloaded here.

GM Mode ON - F0 7E 7F 09 01 F7
Turns General MIDI mode on.   Note that GM mode intentionally ignores several types of MIDI message.

GM Mode OFF - F0 7E 7F 09 02 F7
Turns General MIDI mode on, allowing the JV to respond to all MIDI messages.   If GM mode was was on, the JV returns to performance mode.  

Performance Mode - F0 41 10 6A 12 00 00 00 00 00 00 F7
The MIDI sequence includes a GM OFF message in case the synth is initially in GM mode.

Patch Mode - F0 41 10 6A 12 00 00 00 00 01 7F F7
The MIDI sequence includes a GM OFF message in case the synth is initially in GM mode.

Note that there is no Rhythm mode, because it is a special type of performance that responds only to MIDI channel 10, using rhythm sets.   But see below for a performance that works the same as Rhythm Mode:

Here are some common ways to select a patch, performance or rhythm set:

If it already exists (as a preset or in the user area)
The easiest way to select an existing patch is with the standard MIDI bank and program messages.   These can be selected in performance and patch modes.   Bank numbers are ignored in GM mode.

If it does not already exist
In this case the settings must be sent to the synth.   If you send settings to the temporary area, they are there ready to use instantly.   Alternatively, you can send settings to the user area (replacing whatever was there), then select with bank and program messages.

To get patch settings into a midi file that you can later play back into the synth, you will need to use editor/librarian software, such as Sound Diver for JV/XP.   This software allows you to find patches close to what you like, modify them in detail, place them in any suitable area as a user patch or temporary patch, then save the settings as MIDI file.

Here are some useful performance MIDI files:

TMP Mutitimbral Performance
This is a basic GM emulation in a performance, with 1 voice reserved per channel (4 on rhythm channel 10).   This goes straight to the temporary area and is ready to use without needing to select a performance number.   Patches can be selected for each channel with the appropriate MIDI bank and program messages.

TMP Rhythm Performance
This is the equivalent of selecting Rhythm Mode.   It is a performance with only Part 10 activated on channel 10.   This goes straight to the temporary area and is ready to use without needing to select a performance number.   The rhythm set can be selected with MIDI bank and program messages on channel 10.

Performance Voice Reserve All 4 - F0 41 10 6A 12 01 00 00 30 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 0F F7
Reserves 4 voices on each of the parts in the currently selected performance (the one in the temporary area).   This ensures that at least one whole patch note will be left on each channel should new notes be required elsewhere.   I tend not to use this setting.   You can change the 16 "04" values for each of the 16 parts to anything from 0 (00 hex) to 64 (40 hex) provided the total is not more than 64.   Use my sysex checksum calculator to work out the checksum (shown as 0F above).

Select performance PR-A-30 - F0 41 10 6A 12 00 00 00 01 5D 22 F7
I prefer to set the control channel off, so all MIDI Channels can be used for patches.   That means that performances need to be changed directly, instead of by the usual bank/program messages.   You can select any performance number as follows:
- USER performances 1 to 32 - subtract 1 from the performance number
- DATA CARD performances 1 to 32 - add 31 to the performance number
- PRESET A performances 1 to 32 - add 63 to the performance number
- PRESET B performances 1 to 32 - add 95 to the performance number
then enter the hex number where 5D is shown in the message above.   Use my sysex checksum calculator to work out the new checksum (shown as 22 above).   This calculator has a built in hex converter as well!

Set Control Channel OFF - F0 41 10 6A 12 00 00 00 1C 10 54 F7
The control channel is a midi channel used to select and control performances.   When it is on, it takes precedence over a parts in the performance using the same MIDI channel.   This message turns the control channel off.

Set Control Channel 16 - F0 41 10 6A 12 00 00 00 1C 0F 55 F7
The control channel is a midi channel used to select and control performances.   You can use this message to set it to any MIDI channel.   Simply replace the 0F (hex for 15 decimal) with a number one less than the MIDI channel.   Use my sysex checksum calculator to work out the new checksum (shown as 55 above).  

Set Patch Channel 1 - F0 41 10 6A 12 00 00 00 1D 00 63 F7
In patch mode, you can set the receive channel without even touching the synth!   The file you can download as MIDI sequences for each channel.   You can use this message to set patch mode to receive on any MIDI channel.   Simply replace the 00 (3rd from the end) with a number one less than the MIDI channel.   Use my sysex checksum calculator to work out the new checksum (shown as 63 above).  

Reset All Channels This MIDI sequence is not a sytem exclusive.   It contains MIDI controller mesages on each channel to sends messages on all 16 channels to:
- release all notes
- stop all sounds
- reset controllers
- set pan to centre and set expression to maximium
Note that volume and patch selections are not affected.

Set Master Volume to Max - F0 7F 7F 04 01 00 7F F7
Just to be sure, in case something gets screwed up and this gets set to a lower level.

MIDI Macros
Normally I will send several of these in order (a MIDI macro) to achieve a task.   Many software sequencers, and MIDI jukebox players allow you to save a list of MIDI sequences to play in order.   For example, to do a full reset, I would send:

• Set patch receive channel to 1
• Set performance control channel OFF
• Set performance mode
• Set master volume to maximum
• Set TMP Multitimbral Performance
• Reset All Channels