SY Manager MIDI Troubleshooter

Note: The tips for handling MIDI related problems given below deal specifically with SY Manager and the SY77/SY99, but the same principles apply if you hit MIDI trouble using any of my programs and to any synth in the DX/SY series:

At some time or another, you are likely to have problems getting SY Manager to "talk" to your synth. Before you work through this troubleshooter make sure you have version 2.2.2 installed.

Here are some suggestions for resolving the most asked MIDI questions:

1. " My MIDI input or output device doesn’t show in the dialog box when I start SY Manager"

2. 1. Check that your MIDI devices are correctly installed:
   2. 1. From the Windows Start Menu choose Settings and then Control Panel.
      2. Click on the Sounds & Multimedia icon and then the Devices (Win95/98)  or the Sounds and Audio icon then the Hardware (Win2000/XP) tab.
      3. Select MIDI Devices and instruments - your MIDI device should be listed. If it is listed, click on the Properties button – you should see the message
         
         Status: Driver is enabled and active
         
         
   3. If there is a problem with your driver do this :
   4. 1. Select System on the Control Panel.
      2. Click the Device Manager tab (Hardware then Device Manager button in Win2000/XP).
      3. Look in the Sound Video and Game Controllers section to identify your MIDI hardware.
      4. If there is a problem with your MIDI hardware or the driver isn’t working properly you will see a description of the problem by clicking the device name in the list and then the Properties button.
      5. Depending on the nature of the problem Windows has identified, you may either need to reinstall your MIDI hardware or the drivers, or both.
   
   
   

2. "I can select MIDI devices when SY Manager starts but then get an error message:
   SY Manager is getting no response from your synth.."

3. Assuming your SY is turned on and your MIDI devices are working OK, there are two possible reasons why SY Manager can’t communicate with your synth:
   

   Possible Cause 1: MIDI cables incorrectly patched.

   Check that the MIDI cable connected to the MIDI Output socket on your PC is connected to the MIDI In on your SYnth and vice versa. You just wouldn’t believe how easy it is to get these mixed up!

   If you are using a Soundblaster or compatible card, then you will have a D-Socket connector lead which branches into two MIDI cables which are labelled OUT and IN. The same principle applies: connect the OUT cable to the IN socket on your synth and vica versa.

   Possible Cause 2: Device Number set to OFF

   SY Manager detects your SYnth by sending test messages on each of the 16 possible device channels (the channel number on which your SY will accept incoming sysex messages). If your SYnth’s device number is set to OFF detection will fail. The Device Number can only be switched “on” from the SYnth’s front panel.

   To check this setting :

   1. Press the Utility button on the front panel of your synth and then
   2. Select the MIDI Settings option (press F2 button and then the ENTER button).
   3. Check the Device Number is set to a number between 1-16 or is set to ALL (which means reception is enabled on any device channel).
   
   
   

3. "I've tried all the above but still can't get SYM to work with my synth"

4. Most MIDI problems fall into one of the two categories above or are caused by faulty MIDI hardware setups.

   If you are certain your hardware setup is OK and you still cannot complete SY Manager's initialisation procedure:

   • Press IGNORE in the initialisation dialog to continue without initialisation.
   • Select the MIDI Manager icon in the windows taskbar.
   • Check that the “Show Incoming MIDI messages” option is selected in the MIDI Manager Options menu
   • Play some notes on your synth. If MIDI input is working OK you should see the MIDI stream data appear in the MIDI input box.
   • Select the Midi Manager’s Channel menu and the Send Sequence option.
   • If MIDI output is working OK then you should here a short sequence of notes played on your synth.

   If either MIDI input or output messages are not showing then check your MIDI devices are correctly installed as described above.

   If both MIDI input and output are working OK but you still can’t send or receive sysex messages, then the most likely cause is a problem with the software drivers for your MIDI device.

   In particular some drivers for USB and Firewire devices can corrupt sysex data and you may receive a shorter message than DX Manager expects. If this happens check you have the latest drivers for your device.

   If you have diligently worked your way through this troubleshooter and STILL can't get DX Manager to work with your synth then contact me - you've earned the support !