Hi there,
I just purchased an MX88, and while it is an enjoyable keyboard, somehow it is not sending Program Changes to my laptop.

I have set it all up in accordance with the instructions in the manual, but no luck. What gives?
Thanks.

I was hoping that an MX owner might reply, and (based on your KC post) I was unsure if you were going to keep the MX88. However…

The first thing to check is whether Program Change is turned “on” in Utility mode MIDI settings. See pages 64-65 of the MX Reference Manual (http://download.yamaha.com/file/57924).

If that doesn’t help…
What mode is the MX88 in when PC messages aren’t seen?
What program are you using to monitor PC messages?

I did return it, but that was because of the faulty B3 key. I’m waiting for a replacement, hopefully Monday.

I contacted Yamaha support, they responded promptly, but no success. The MIDI monitor on my laptop does display the incoming Program Changes, but for some reason there is a Bank Select 63 msg that puts the PC out of range, apparently.

Yamaha suggested I assign GM voices to the Performances, but that didn’t help either.

I’m baffled. Gonna keep on trying to figure it out when I get the replacement, because I really want the MX88 to work for me.

If we can’t solve this, I may have to return it and get something else.

To illustrate, this is a readout of my host software’s (Gig Performer) MIDI monitor:

As you can see, the MX88 insists on sending MSB and LSB messages 63 and 80. I have asked Yamaha Support how this can be changed, but he hasn’t answered that (yet).

zephonic - 08 September 2017 07:36 PM

[...] As you can see, the MX88 insists on sending MSB and LSB messages 63 and 80. I have asked Yamaha Support how this can be changed, but he hasn’t answered that (yet).

By default, Bank Select messages normally accompany the PC message with the Motif line. MSB/LSB 63/80 is correct for MX Performances. See the Bank Select table on page 57 of the MX Data List (http://download.yamaha.com/file/57920).

Turning off transmission of Bank Select is easily done. See the same pages in the MX Reference Manual I mentioned in my previous post. Note that turning Bank Select off will also prevent reception of those messages by the MX.

You haven’t said what you’re doing with the MIDI data. One difficulty that can occur is due to a difference between how the synth “counts” versus what some software does. Is “0” or “1” the first number? See this thread for resolution of a member’s problem in that respect:
http://www.motifator.com/index.php/forum/viewthread/476772/

5pinDIN - 08 September 2017 08:38 PM

By default, Bank Select messages normally accompany the PC message with the Motif line. MSB/LSB 63/80 is correct for MX Performances. See the Bank Select table on page 57 of the MX Data List (http://download.yamaha.com/file/57920).

Turning off transmission of Bank Select is easily done. See the same pages in the MX Reference Manual I mentioned in my previous post. Note that turning Bank Select off will also prevent reception of those messages by the MX.

Thanks for your reply. I’ll try that when the replacement arrives. However, I don’t necessarily want to turn MSB/LSB off, I just want to be able to set them to different values at will? The Jupiter 50 actually requires this; every registration can send out PC’s, but you have to define the MSB/LSB as well.

5pinDIN - 08 September 2017 08:38 PM

You haven’t said what you’re doing with the MIDI data. One difficulty that can occur is due to a difference between how the synth “counts” versus what some software does. Is “0” or “1” the first number? See this thread for resolution of a member’s problem in that respect:
http://www.motifator.com/index.php/forum/viewthread/476772/

Nothing fancy, I use PC’s to switch between patches (or rather “rackspaces” as they are called in Gig Performer).

I opened a thread about this on the GigPerformer forum as well: https://www.gigperformer.com/forums/topic/yamaha-mx88-pc-transmissions-ineffective#post-17358

zephonic - 09 September 2017 01:01 PM

Thanks for your reply.[...]

You’re welcome.

With the MX, the choice is to either send the default Bank Select MSB/LSB, or to turn it off. (The Motif XF and MOXF have Master Mode, and Zones in Masters can be programmed for specific MSB/LSB.)