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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:
" My MIDI input or output device doesn’t show in the dialog box when I start SY Manager"
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- Check that your MIDI devices are correctly installed:
- From the Windows Start Menu choose Settings and then Control Panel.
- Click on the Sounds & Multimedia icon and then the Devices (Win95/98)
or the Sounds and Audio icon then the Hardware (Win2000/XP)
tab.
- 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
- If there is a problem with your driver do this :
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- Select System on the Control Panel.
- Click the Device Manager tab (Hardware then Device Manager
button in Win2000/XP).
- Look in the Sound Video and Game Controllers section to identify your MIDI hardware.
- 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.
- Depending on the nature of the problem Windows has identified, you may either need to reinstall your MIDI hardware or the drivers, or both.
"I can select MIDI devices when SY Manager starts but then get an error message:
SY Manager is getting no response from your synth.."
-
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 :
- Press the Utility button on the front panel of your synth and then
- Select the MIDI Settings option (press F2 button and then the ENTER button).
- 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).
"I've tried all the above but still can't get SYM to work with my synth"
-
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
!
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