PC to MIDI to load sounds to a Korg synth

[breeze]

Forgive me for posting this here. I think it could go under repair and maintenance, but some of my questions are PC related, so here goes.

My Korg DW-6000 had an intermittent problem --- making a slowly descending pitch at startup, then not responding to playing the keys. When I restarted the board, it would reset, and work fine. Eventually, it would not reset at all.

I installed a new 2032 battery. I tested the polarity and voltage at the PC board, with a VOM. It seems to be a good installation. When I switch the TAPE-ENABLE switch to “ON”, to load the sounds from tape, the LEDs go out. If I remember correctly, it is supposed to display the word “TAPE”. When I switch it back, they stay out. When I turn the power off, and back on again, the LEDs light up, so at least, it resets itself. However, I can’t load the sounds. Maybe the battery installation is not good?

The user’s manual indicates that the sounds can be loaded from a PC via MIDI, but it’s very vague. I understand I will need a PC-MIDI interface cable. After the hook-up, they don’t describe any procedures. Once I hook it up, will the PC recognize this hookup, open a window automatically, and provide options? I doubt it. Will I have to use MS-DOS? Or, get an editing program, like Sound Quest? And, where will the sounds come from, to load them into the Korg? Would I have to make .wav files from my tape?

Suggestions are highly appreciated.

[breeze]

I found some info on this. If you have a hardware based MIDI keyboard, you can save your programs to PC via MIDI, using Sys Ex (system exclusive) commands. You can edit them there, or leave them alone. Then, you can send them back, even while you’re playing. You need an editor/librarian type of program, such as Sound Quest.

Cakewalk Sonar has a built in editor/librarian. You just go to View > Sysx, and a window opens up with buttons for send, receive, save, edit, etc. You need to have both IN and OUT MIDI cables connected.

I have MIDI cables, but at the present time, no converter “to PC”. That will just be a matter of buying one. However, I don’t have a good working DW-6000 to get the sound patches from.

[mysticalfairy]

You'll also need to research how to set up your particular keyboard for receiving/sending a sysex dump.

[Steve A.]

Originally Posted by breeze

I found some info on this. If you have a hardware based MIDI keyboard, you can save your programs to PC via MIDI, using Sys Ex (system exclusive) commands. You can edit them there, or leave them alone. Then, you can send them back, even while you’re playing. You need an editor/librarian type of program, such as Sound Quest.

Cakewalk Sonar has a built in editor/librarian. You just go to View > Sysx, and a window opens up with buttons for send, receive, save, edit, etc. You need to have both IN and OUT MIDI cables connected.

I have MIDI cables, but at the present time, no converter “to PC”. That will just be a matter of buying one. However, I don’t have a good working DW-6000 to get the sound patches from.

Sorry to be late to the party. You may be able to find patches for your synth on the internet. The older sound cards often had a MIDI interface, but there was usually a cable that connected the joystick port to the MIDI jacks.

I believe that most of the current MIDI adaptors run through a USB port; they are also often found on the digital audio interface that would be used for recording audio on your computer. In fact for the motorized control surfaces at least some of them use one of the MIDI channels to send and receive the signals representing slider movement (that is how my Roland control surface works).

Good luck!

Steve Ahola