Receive Sysex From CZ-1 Using amidi

2012-09-20

Get Ready

1. Make sure your cables are connected in the correct order. OUT from the computer goes to IN on the CZ. OUT from the CZ goes to IN on the computer.
2. Make sure the PROTECT switch is set to OFF. This is a slide switch on the back of the CZ.
3. Make sure the CZ-1’s MIDI system is turned on. The LED above the MIDI ON/OFF button should be lit.

4. Press the MIDI button. To make things simple, we are going to use default values and MIDI channel 1 everywhere. Apply the following settings:

   POLY	Polyphonic mode
   KBCH=01	Sending on MIDI channel 1
   CH=01	Receiving on MIDI channel 1
   PRG=ENA	Program changes enabled

   When you’re done, your LCD should look like this:

   POLY KBCH=01 CH=01 PRG=ENA

5. You need to know what port you are targeting with amidi. Your CZ is connected to a physical port on your computer, but what is that port called, according to amidi? To find out, open a terminal and do this:

   amidi -l --> Dir Device Name --> IO hw:0,0 EMU10K1 MPU-401 (UART) --> IO hw:0,1 Emu10k1 Synth MIDI (16 subdevices) --> IO hw:0,2 Emu10k1 Synth MIDI (16 subdevices)

   At this point, you can test to make sure amidi is getting messages from your CZ. Start amidi in dump mode:

   amidi -d

   Now press a few keys on the CZ keyboard. You should see note on and note off events immediately. If not, amidi can’t yet talk to your CZ. Press Ctrl-C to exit dump mode.

Actual Steps

1. Make your CZ-1 ready to use sysex tone data. Press the MIDI button on the CZ, and press the DOWN button. Please set SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE TONE DATE=ENA.

   When you’re done your LCD should look like this:

   SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE TONE DATA=ENA

2. Open a terminal and change directories to somewhere you can write the sysex file:

   cd /path/to/store/sysex/files/

3. Launch amidi, have it listen to the midi port, and have it write what it hears to a file:

   amidi -p hw:0 -r my_sysex.syx

   Change "hw:0" to whatever MIDI port you are using. Change "my_sysex.syx" to whatever you want to name the sysex file.

4. On the CZ-1, Press the CARTRIDGE/MIDI button to prepare for dumping.

5. Press PAGE DOWN until you see this screen:

   MIDI SAVE OR LOAD

   We want to save MIDI data, so press the SAVE button.

6. It asks you whether you are sure or not:

   SAVE MIDI DATA (Y/N)?

   Choose yes by pressing the YES button. The CZ-1 starts dumping all data.

   SAVE MIDI DATA RUN!

7. Wait patiently until the process is complete. Don’t press any other keys until you see this:

   SAVE MIDI DATA OK!

8. When the CZ has finished, just hit Ctrl-C to exit amidi. Check to make sure the file arrived:

   ls -1 --> my_sysex.syx

   The sysex has safely arrived!