File Types | Loading Data  | Saving Data | Acceptable Disk Formats

The SY85 can support two Standard MIDI File Types, "Format 0" and "Format 1".

Format 0:
All sequencer data is recorded as a single Track, which may include data for more than one MIDI channel.

Format 1:
An unlimited number of tracks may be used, each of which may contain data for more than one channel.

NOTE:  Data saved by the SY85 using the Standard MIDI File Format will be saved to Format 0.

To load sequencer data saved in a Standard MIDI File Format, select load operation type Other Load from the 'Disk' menu. The file to be loaded must meet the following conditions:

• The File must be loaded from a disk formatted by the SY85, or from a 3.5 inch 2DD floppy disk in MS-DOS or PC-DOS format (see Acceptable disk formats below).
• The File must have been saved as Standard MIDI File Format 0 or Format 1.
  NOTE:  Files saved using Standard MIDI File Format 2 cannot be loaded.
• The MIDI Clock must be used as the Basic Clock.
• The file must have a resolution of 1/96, 192, 288, 384, or 480, of a quarter note.
• The must have an extension of .X01 through .X99.

When a Format 0 File is loaded, the data for each MIDI channel is loaded to the corresponding track (i.e. Channel 1 to Track 1).

NOTE:  Only data for channels 1 through 8 is loaded. Any data for channels 9 through 16 will be ignored.

When a Format 1 File is loaded, Tracks are loaded in sequence. It will therefore be necessary to reset the channel assignments for each Track when loading is complete.

All data loaded to a single Track in this way will be transmitted by the SY85 on a single channel. For this reason, even if one Track of a   Format 1 file contains data for two or more MIDI channels, all this data will be played back by the SY85 using a single channel. Since this may mean sequencer parts may not play back as desired, it is recommended that Format 0 be used for the transfer of data whenever possible.

No exclusive data is loaded from Standard MIDI Files of either format type.

Data may be saved in Standard MIDI File Format to any of the disk types described in Acceptable Disk Formats (see below). To save sequencer data in Standard MIDI File Format, select save operation type Other Save from the 'Disk' menu. The data for each Track is saved to the corresponding MIDI channel (i.e Track 1 to Channel 1). No exclusive data is saved when this format is used.

Files saved using the Standard MIDI File Format are given a file extension .X01 through .X99, which allows the SY85 to recognize the file's format.

NOTE:  Other programs, however, may not be able to recognize the file as a Standard MIDI File unless the .MID extension is used.

TIP:  When transferring data saved by the SY85 to another device where it will be used by a program unable to recognize the .X01 - .X99 extension, first rename the file to a .MID file using a personal computer or other means.

Standard MIDI Files may be saved or loaded from disks formatted by the SY85.

Disks formatted by a personal computer may also be used, as long as they are 2DD disk in MS-DOS or PC-DOS format.

Disks formatted by an Apple Macintosh may be used, as long as they are formatted using a SuperDrive or other disk drive device capable of formatting a disk in MS-DOS format.

TIP:  To use Standard MIDI Files saved by the SY85 on an Apple Macintosh, use ResEdit or a similar utility to change the file type attribute to that of a MIDI file.