Future Retro Revolution Owner Manual - Manual (Page 36)

SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE
The Revolution does support MIDI system exclusive messages (sysex), for saving and
loading your patterns and songs to other MIDI sequencers or computer programs.
To do a sysex dump, you will need to connect the MIDI OUT of the Revolution to the MIDI IN of
the computer or another Revolution you are transferring to, and the MIDI OUT of that device
connected to the MIDI IN of the Revolution.
Note: Only one MIDI cable is needed to load or save information, as the Revolution does not require
a hand shake with the other device. By using two MIDI cables as mentioned, loading or saving
operations can be done from either machine.
Make sure the Revolution’s playback is stopped, enter the Song mode, and press the Glide/Sysex key.
The Sysex key indicator turn on to show you are in the Sysex mode. The display will show either
“save” or “load”. Using the Up/Down keys, you can specify whether the Revolution will save or load
sysex data. Once you have made your selection, press the Glide/Sysex key again. The display will
show either “bank” or “song”. Use the Up/Down keys to select whether the type of transfer will be
banks of patterns, or entire songs. Press the Sysex key again an the display will show which pattern
bank or song will be transferred. Use the Up/Down keys to select 1-16 or “all”. When 1-16 is selected
that bank of patterns or song will be transferred. If “all” is selected, you can transfer all the patterns
or songs in one process.
You are now ready to load or save sysex data with the other machine. If you are saving the sysex data
from the Revolution to another device, you will first need to set that other device to a ready-to-
receive mode. Once this has been done, press the Play key on the Revolution to start the sysex dump.
The Play key indicator will turn on and the display will show the packet number being saved during
the sysex transfer. When the transfer is complete the Play key indicator will turn off. Consecutive
saves may be made without entering and exiting the Sysex mode by simply selecting the song or
patterns and pressing the Play key. The receiving device must always be setup and armed before the
transfer is started.
If you are loading sysex data into the Revolution, press the Play key to initiate the ready-to-receive
mode. The Revolution will then be armed and waiting for the sysex information to be sent. You may
now start sending sysex information from the other device. The Play key indicator will turn off when
the transfer is complete. If a checksum error is encountered during the transfer, the Glide/Sysex key
indicator will blink. If an error does occur, repeat the transfer again or exit the Sysex mode to clear
the error.
When pattern banks or songs are loaded using sysex, they are normally placed in the location they
were saved from. You may change a pattern bank or song’s location by editing the sixth byte of the
general header, remembering that 0=1, 4=5, 15=16 etc. The pattern bank or song can then be loaded
to the new location in the Revolution.
To exit the Sysex mode, press the Glide Sysex key until its indicator turns off, returning you to
the Song mode. Always exit the Sysex mode before trying to edit or play patterns and songs.
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