Joel,

Thanks for the details on the MOTU. For the most part, my Micro
Express USB has worked flawlessly as a MIDI interface. However, not
having the ability to move patch data from my comptuer, through the
MOTU and into my synths is frustrating for sure. Another work around
that I thought of when you mentioned using your Keystation is that
I've moved sysex data from my comptuer into a sequencer track of my
Roland XP-80 and then transfered the data into the various synths.
This method is certainly not idea, but it does work. I was planning
on looking to add another larger MOTU interface so I do not daisy
chain as many untis together. I've seen the MOTU MIDI devices (USB)
for quite a bit less on sites like Ebay. I think as more musicians
move to virtual instruments, the need for MIDI has dwindled. Either
way, I may hold off purchasing another MOTU unit until I can find a
fix for the current MOTU patch management problem.

Getting back to the Z1, for sound/patch creation management I looked
today at both the Korg Z1 Editor 2004 from IAX Software as well as
MIDI Quest XL from Sound Quest. Both products look good, but I'm
leaning towards MIDI Quest XL as it provides a Universal
Editor/Libraian rather than the single instrument E/L. For many of
the Sound Quest instruments, they contian extra patches, but this is
not the case for the Z1. Tweaking the controllers on the Z1 itself
has worked well, but I do like seeing the various parameters grouped
togeter on a computer screen. I have an editor program for my
Wavestation SR which helps.

Thanks.


--- In korgz1@yahoogroups.com, "joel_cameron33"
<joel_cameron33@y...> wrote:
>
> Hey SF
>
> It is officially an issue with the MOTU.
> I found a message in the archives here where someone else mentioned
> that they were having all sorts of sysex troubles with their micro
> express and when they switched to another device, everything worked
> fine. I used the MIDI I/O on my keystation pro-88 and the problems
> disappeared. Still no luck with those .mid files yet. I tried
> playing them with both devices in Cubase and Sonar and various
other
> programs as well. It appears to be working but then freezes
partway
> through and crashes the Z1.
>
> --- In korgz1@yahoogroups.com, "sf_user" <SF_USER@m...> wrote:
> >
> > Gabriel,
> >
> > I am using the MOTU MIDI Express with the USB interface. I
attempted
> > again to load patches to my JD-800 this weekend and was unable
to
> > through the MOTU unit, but again had no problem loading these
> > through my MIDI cables that plug into the game port on the back
of
> > my PC. I needed to plug both the MIDI In and MIDI Out cables
into
> > the JD-800 in order to swap patches. I'll try this soon with my
Z1
> > and see how this goes.
> >
> > As for the Z1, I did spend some time digging into the parameters
> > while modifying a number of existing patches and again liked the
end
> > results. While the EP patches are what I primarily purchased the
Z1
> > for, I'm finding a number of uses for the other patches and
arps.
> >
> > Best ~ sf_user
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In korgz1@yahoogroups.com, "Gabriel G. de la Torre B."
> > <psigabriel71@y...> wrote:
> > >
> > > the motu midi interface you are using is paralell or usb ? how
it
> > > goes?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Gabriel
> > >
> > > --- In korgz1@yahoogroups.com, "sf_user" <SF_USER@m...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Joel,
> > > >
> > > > I agree with you that the Z1 is a fantastic synth and, I
too,
> > have
> > > > found programming it a bit easier than I had thought I
would. I
> > > have
> > > > a similar set up where I am running my Z1 and other syths
though
> > a
> > > > MOTU Micro Express into a PC. I'm also using a free Z1
editor
> > (I'm
> > > > not in front of it at the moment) as well as other editing
> > > programs
> > > > for my other synths. I also see that the Z1 editor is
receiving
> > a
> > > > MIDI signal and looks like it should operate correctly. When
> > using
> > > > Sonar, I can record and play back MIDI data, so I know my
> > comptuer
> > > > and synth are communicating correctly.
> > > >
> > > > The issue that you are experiencing between the PC and the
Z1 I
> > > see
> > > > as well. Some of my older synths (Kawai K5 in particular)
> > require
> > > > both the MIDI IN and OUT cables to be connected to my PC
> > through
> > > > the Micro Express so a 'handshaking' session can be
established.
> > > Th
> > > > IN/OUT type Midi connection does not need to be established
with
> > > my
> > > > newer equipment (Roland JV-90/XP-80), and I am going to
guess is
> > > the
> > > > same with the Z1.
> > > >
> > > > What I've read on the web (and I think Keyboard Magazine),
> > > however,
> > > > is that there can be a timing issue when connecting some
synths
> > to
> > > a
> > > > computer. I'm still not completely clear on this, but it
appears
> > > > that the data from the computer is moving too quickly and,
to
> > > > correct this, the user needs to include a timing delay in
the
> > MIDI
> > > > signal (from the PC to the synth). When I connect an older
> > serial
> > > > MIDI connector to my comptuer and then plug the In/Out ports
to
> > my
> > > > various machines, I do not expreince this problem.. When I
use
> > > this
> > > > older connector, I can easily upload and move patches
between my
> > > > computer and synth. I believe in the MOTU Micro Express
manual
> > > there
> > > > is a section that describes the time adjustments (time
delay)
> > when
> > > > sending patch information. The need then to 'slow up' the
MIDI
> > > data
> > > > may be the issue. While I have not yet found a solution,
I've
> > > tried
> > > > multiple times to correct this and have not had any luck. In
the
> > > > end, it is easier for me to simply connect my serial MIDI
cable
> > > > connector, transfer my patches and move on. Since you've
brought
> > > > this up, I am going to try again in the next couple of days
to
> > try
> > > > and correct this issue by adjusting the MIDI delay timing
and
> > see
> > > if
> > > > I'm able to transfer data.
> > > >
> > > > As for programing the synth, I've been very happy with the
types
> > > of
> > > > sounds/patches I am able to create. I primarily use the Z1
in
> > > > conjunction with my JD-800 and have found both to work
nicely
> > > > together. I'm not as familar with soft synths (the only one
I
> > use
> > > is
> > > > NI's B4 organ) and like the organ tones the B4 produces. The
> > rest
> > > > are a bit over my head, so I'm sticking with the hardware
synths
> > > for
> > > > now.
> > > >
> > > > If I find a work around or read about one, I'll be sure to
email
> > > you
> > > > back.
> > > >
> > > > Best,
> > > >
> > > > sf_user
> > > >
> > > > sf_user@m...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In korgz1@yahoogroups.com, "joel_cameron33"
> > > > <joel_cameron33@y...> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Well a few things I've noticed in particular.
> > > > > There is one key that sounds like loud plastic on plastic
> > every
> > > > time
> > > > > it is struck. The sound comes throug the output normally
> > though
> > > > so I
> > > > > am not too worried. Maybe the padding came loose under
the
> > key??
> > > > >
> > > > > From what I saw in the manual, you cannot control every
> > > parameter
> > > > on
> > > > > the Z1 with MIDI CC#'s. Only the ones that have
designated
> > > > controls
> > > > > already. Is this true? It would have been nice to hook
my
> > MIDI
> > > > > knob-box up to the Z1 and have it controlling all of the
> > > parameters
> > > > > that do not have controls. Did I miss something or is
this
> > true?
> > > > >
> > > > > I can't figure out what all of the rumours about this
being a
> > > hard
> > > > > synth to program were all about. I find programming this
beast
> > > > > similar to cutting through butter.
> > > > >
> > > > > I am not so hot on assigning the knobs though but I am
sure I
> > > will
> > > > get
> > > > > used to it once I really dig in to the manual and have
some
> > time
> > > > for
> > > > > it all to fully settle in.
> > > > >
> > > > > I can't believe I ever lived without this synth!
> > > > > Best purchase ever except maybe my V-synth. But at a
fraction
> > > of
> > > > the
> > > > > cost of the V-synth, I'm thinking the value for $$ is #1.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>