Moving performance data from Technics floppy disc to Roland Atelier

[Neumie]

It seems a long time ago I recall someone figured out how to take a Technics performance disc and move the data over from a GA/FA Technics to his Atelier. I can't find that post now and nothing appears on google. I own a Technics FA1 and an Atelier 900c. I have a floppy disc with a sequenced Technics performance on it and I want to get it over to the Atelier. (The drum sequence on the performance disc is remarkable and I wouldn't be able to get it anywhere else, nor program it myself. I very much want to play along to those drums again on the Atelier.)

The Atelier has a floppy disc drive, but apparently a Technics formatted disc won't load. I tried.

Does anyone have an idea how to get the data over? Something possibly involving MIDI out, or something, regardless how complicated. I've never used MIDI before on my organs, so I might need some detailed instructions, assuming it can be done.

[RogerM]

Doesn't sound very likely to me, but if someone can perform this miracle for Neumie perhaps they can perform one for me too - make Yamaha EL software (on floppy disk) compatible with AR series organs 😃

[Neumie]

If it makes the project any easier, I should say that all I want is the drum sequence off of what is a multi-instrument performance. I mention that because I am imagining that the only way to do this is MIDI out the sequence and somehow capture the sequence as a MIDI signal and then pull the drums off of that.

But I have no idea how to do this. (Or, of course, whether or not there's a different way to get my outcome.)

[myorgan]

Neumie,

Long time no see. It makes me think there are 2 possibilities:

1. Play the sequences on a Technics instrument, and record to a sequencer via the MIDI connection, or
2. Load the Technics sequence, then save the sequence as a MIDI file rather than a Technics file.

Which model Technics is the disc formatted for?

Michael

P.S. I have a Technics SX-PR600, and 3 Technics SX-PR604 keyboards. I use the 604's for performances.

[Neumie]

[*]Play the sequences on a Technics instrument, and record to a sequencer via the MIDI connection, or[*]Load the Technics sequence, then save the sequence as a MIDI file rather than a Technics file.[/LIST]Which model Technics is the disc formatted for?

Hello Michael,

Thanks for missing me!

Hey, this looks like workable advice you wrote up for me! I wish I could get on this right now, but unfortunately I've got the Roland here in my house and the Technics in a vacation place I won't be at for a few weeks yet. Rats!

I don't have an external hardware sequencer. Maybe I can google up something that would allow me to play it from the Technics into my laptop. I'm guessing that's what you meant anyway.

But with regards to your second suggestion, I didn't know there were MIDI files and Technics files. I'm sure the manual would cover that. But how would I get the new MIDI file off the Technics and over to the Roland? As far as I know, the Technics only reads Technics-formatted floppy discs and, of course, doesn't have a USB port like the Roland does.

How do you imagine getting a MIDI file from one instrument over to the other? Figure out a way to save it to the laptop via MIDI? Do MIDI files export from a Technics to a laptop?

Rats again ... the manual for the Technics is with the organ at the other place, so I can't do any research on your suggestions until I actually get there.

-Neumie

[andyg]

If the Technics song is in SMF format, you should be able to load the song from floppy into a DAW or basic MIDI sequencer on a computer. You could then simply delete everything except the drum track, and save that SMF song to a floppy formatted on the Roland.

But I suspect that the song is in a native Technics format. In that case you'd have to hook the Technics up to the DAW on your PC via MIDI. (A USB to MIDI interface will be needed and you need to have one that actually works, not like most of the cheap Chinese ones that have flooded the market. Roland UM-One Mk2 is the one to get). You'll have to hit record on the DAW and then Play on the Technics to record the song to the DAW.

Once in the DAW, you'll have to do some editing. You must ensure that the drum track is on channel 10 and that it selects a proper drum kit patch. If you don't want the rest of the sounds to play, you'll have to make sure they are deleted. Then you'd have to drag that drum track to the start of the song - remember you started to record before you started song playback on the Technics. Next you'd save the song as a MIDI file, copy it to floppy and try it on the Roland. There may well be some more editing to do in terms of drum volumes etc.

This does assume that the Technics outputs song data over MIDI when it's replayed. That's not a given.

[Neumie]

This does assume that the Technics outputs song data over MIDI when it's replayed. That's not a given.

Thank you, Andy. I get the idea you've done this once or twice before. I'm going to cross my fingers that, when I get to the Technics in a few weeks, that I'll find that it does in fact transfer out song data over MIDI. As you say, that will determine whether or not I can do this.

By the way, the project here is to play "Light My Fire" by the Doors on the Atelier. The drum sequence on this performance disk is remarkably similar to the original recording. Someone really took time to program these drums to sound like the original record. What makes it special too is that it's arranged to play the tune, allows for the lengthy famous keyboard solo, *omits* the guitar solo, and then wraps up.

I would have just assumed plenty other keyboard guys have done this and that I would find a MIDI file online somewhere, but there's nothing to be found anywhere. Plenty of files of just the tune without solos, or the tune with the guitar solo added ... but nothing for someone who just wants to play the song and keyboard solo.

[KC9UDX]

There may be settings (sometimes only accessible by SysEx) that control whether MIDI is output or not. The manual may say.

[Innocentti]

Maybe some clues here - at least to get midi ouput

[Neumie]

There may be settings (sometimes only accessible by SysEx) that control whether MIDI is output or not. The manual may say.

Thank you, KC9UDX. I check the manual as soon as I'm reunited with the instrument in a few weeks.

Maybe some clues here - at least to get midi ouput

Hey! Very cool link, Innocentti. Thank you.

The article is called, "Convert your technics organ songs into general MIDI files", for anyone that's browsing.