Volca FM - How to upload DX7 patches using Dexed
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- čas přidán 1. 03. 2017
- Instructions on how to upload patches / SYSEX (.syx) files to your Volca FM. Factory Yamaha DX7 patches and any other DX7 compatible SYSEX patches can be uploaded to the Volca FM via this method.
Gear used: Volca FM, MIDI cable, Ableton Live, Dexed VST (Free)
Get dexed here:
asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
Questions? Leave a comment below.
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Twitter: @ranzstweet
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Blog: ranzee.com - Věda a technologie
thanks, very helpful video. SO MANY DX7 patches out there for the volca FM... i am in heaven over here.
Hi DoctorBlankenstein, there are - it is super cool!
Suuuper helpful video, thanks. I sold my Volca FM a while back but I recently got a DX7S for an absolute steal and needed reminding of how to transfer patches. Now all I need to do is replace that pesky internal battery so that it actually remembers them when I switch it off lol
Awesome and useful tutorial, and also i like even the Dexed as standalone software alternative to DX7 !
Greetings,
Elias.
Hi Enorasis Project :) Thanks so much!
Thanks for posting! I hadn't done this in a while...
Hey Jamit! Nice to see you here!
@@ranzee You too brother! It was a very nice surprise!
Ohh, this looks very cool!
Thanks Mate for the Info....
Cool. Thanks for that.
Works perfectly! Sending just one patch to the FM gave me a really quiet patch, but when I selected "Send bank" they all came out fine. So, I just need to dick around in Dexed and create my own banks and I'm set. Cheers for the tutorial!
yes i had this same issue, but send bank works fine
Of you send a whole bank how do you then overwrite the individual stock patches on the fm?
@@davidpickett3546 Shit, I honestly can't remember now. Since the time I left that comment, I've gone fully modular, and haven't touched any of my volcas any more than finding a place to fit them on the shelf. Just explore the youtube videos, that's all I did. The answer is in there somewhere, but I have a whole lot more to get my head around these days, so I won't be revisiting those Volca clips, sorry.
I was wondering if the volca fm could be sent a single voice dump and you've confirmed that it can :) thanks for the helpful video, this will help me with a programming project
Glad I could help!
Thanks mate
So it will just save over the top of the currently selected patch? I'm going to just load all the analog type sounds and cheat.....because screw bell sounds.
Yes current loaded patch will be replaced with the one you send from Dexed.
I just tried it for the first time, replaced the entire bank of factory presets with one of the "All the web" banks, then func+save, turned the unit off and on again, and the newly uploaded bank was still there. It works perfectly.
wow ! cool merci :)
Thank you so much for the video! I recently got a volca fm and was wondering how you used your midi keyboard with it? How did you set that up?
Hi Lance, great to hear from you. The VolcaFM connects to your Midi controller via the DIN cable connection. You can set the MIDI channel on your VolcaFM using a power on button sequence (as written in the manual): hold down MEMORY whilst powering on and use step keys 1 to 16 to set your Midi channel. Press rec to save changes.
can i use this patches without pc, only on volca fm standalone?
DO you have top have a midi keyboard that has a midi cable on it ? because i am using the nektar impact gx49 so how would that work with the volca fm hook up?
Hi Maserati Sparks, you need to get MIDI DIN to the Volca FM - whether that be from a MIDI controller directly or via a PC/Mac with a MIDI interface. So the Nektar Impact GX49 has USB only - and you would need to either connect via a USB->MIDI host or a PC/Mac and then out to the Volca FM via MIDI DIN. Do you have an Audio Interface with MIDI DIN out?
ranzee it doesn’t have midi on it, it’s the Apollo mk2, what about buying a midi cable that goes from the volca and then Into the computer ? Like a midi to usb
@@MaseratiSparks Yes, that will work - you will need to set it up in a DAW to route the MIDI from the Apollo to the MIDI out on the usb-to-midi device.
@@ranzee I bought the cable connection but cant seem to figure it out, will it work easier if i would have the controller with the midi connection? because my program is not reading it in Reasons
@@MaseratiSparks I'm not familiar with Reason. But a quick look at their docs - you would need to have your Nektar setup as a control surface (under preferences) and in the MIDI track you would need to have your new USB->MIDI device setup as an External Instrument. Then you need to make sure you have the correct MIDI port set. I think that should then work for you.
Ableton cant locate dexed, can i use the stand alone version for transfering the patches?
where i found yamaha dx7 patches?
Kuh-LIE-oh-pee.
THanks.
This works nicely. However, I was looking for a way to automatically transfer a patch from the computer to the Volca FM using a MIDI command, e.g. when a new song starts or another part in the song starts. Unfortunately the Volca FM does not support program change. Any ideas?
Have you tried the unofficial firmware 1.08? ... video is in my channel: czcams.com/video/LpsWfjiwGUg/video.html
Hi, great video ! I have an odd question, what exactly is and where did you find that green grid on your desk ? I want the same on mine !!!
hehe - sure - it is a craft mat, you get them from art supply, stationary or craft shops. They are self-healing if you cut things on them with a craft knife.
haha ok thanks :) !
Hey thanks for the video. If you were to overwrite the Brass1 patch, is there any way to get that back? Or are you stuck with the new patch you saved over?
Hi there, you would just re-upload it from the DX7 original patch banks. If your local copy has been amended - just grab it off the internet again.
@@ranzee Perfect, thanks!
Mine will transfer fine to the Volca FM, but I'm finding that many of the operators are sent as "OFF" when they are "ON" in dexed. When flipped on in the volca, the patches are identical. Some odd glitch, perhaps with dexed.
Hi jabberwalky! Yes, people have reported this around the forums also. The most noticeable issue is the LFO key sync switch on/off toggle. Some patches you have to toggle it and save before you transfer.
@@ranzee Ah. Might that explain why I'm seeing some patches that appear either silent, very very quiet or missing something in the sound?
Where do you download the dexed software?
what's the brand of the cable you used to connect the FM? the last two I've bought don't work :/ I've done it before with my buddies old cable years ago but he lost it and we don't remember who made it. Much appreciated :) slash fingers crossed you see this haha
Hosa brand MIDI and audio cables.
merci
de rien
Excelente explicación, una consulta: tengo un Volca Fm y deseo enviar todos sus sonidos originales a un archivo syx al dexed, tenés idea como lo puedo realizar.
You don't have MIDI out on a Volca FM. You could mod it (quite a few have done web tutorials on this). You can do a dump from one Volca FM to another via the SYNC - see user manual.
@@ranzee ok thanks
i had it working once but i can't seem to make it send patches anymore.. any help?
How do you export patches from Volca FM to the computer using sysex (syx) files?
You can't. As per owner's manual:
Exporting: You can connect the volca fm’s SYNC OUT jack to the SYNC IN jack of another volca fm unit, and export (transmit) FM sound programs and sequences to the other volca fm unit. In EDIT mode, press the SAVE/EXPORT button so that the button blinks, and then use the PROGRAM knob to select the item to be exported. After selecting the item to be exported, press the SAVE/EXPORT button again to export it. The SAVE/EXPORT button lights up while the export operation is being performed. The SAVE/EXPORT button blinks again when the operation is finished. Items to be exported Crnt PGM (currently selected program), ALL PGM (all 32 programs), Crnt SEQ (current sequence), ALL SEQ (all 16 sequences), CLOnE (all previously listed items)
Don't quote me on this, but I believe you can save them as an audio file instead of a sysex file. Record the garbled noise that plays when exporting a patch to another volca through the sync-out jack. Then play it back through the sync-in when loading a patch. I don't own a Volca FM yet, but Cuckoo mentioned something along those lines in his hour and a half FM breakdown, around 1:07:30.
It's possible to change Dexed's sensitivity to your midi keyboard's pitch wheel by using 'Parm' button and adjusting the 'Pitch Bend Range' potentiometer from 0 to 12. This gives a total of 2 octaves over the pitch wheel's total range.
My question: Is it possible to increase this range in Volca FM ? It seems you can increase the pitch range associated with the Volca FM's EGs but not the pitch bend wheel. Is there something I'm missing ? Cheers.
I'm not sure - but there is some unofficial firmware being made - have you checked out that yet? There's a video on my channel, and link to download on my website :)
@@ranzee Hi ranzee. Yes I've recently installed the 1.09 firmware, thanks to your video.
I'm an electronics/firmware engineer and currently working on a Portamento adapter cable for the Volca FM.
Seems that the Volca FM won't respond to Pitch Bend Range RPN either.
@@jackevans2386 you may want to get in contact with Pajen - the unofficial firmware dev - there might be some stuff he could share with you. Best place to find him is on Reddit .. over at reddit.com/r/volcas or GearSlutz ... but a quick comment from me - the MIDI implementation isn't really well documented nor is it well implemented ;)
@@ranzee Cheers for the info. All the best.
Nice job!and one question...if volca fm can export my own patch to dexed or another device?thank u:)
Hi! The Volca cannot export patches as it doesn't have MIDI out - except from one Volca FM to another via the sync cable. Thanks for watching :)
hey ranzee. does the other end of the Midi cable supposed to be USB so I connect it directly on my laptop?
you would need a MIDI interface.
is there no ability to control volca-fm by dexed through piano roll in daw in realtime? Only import sysex?
Hi, I'm not sure - I did this video 4 years ago!
You need ableton open as well?
Will an audio interface with midi DIN ports work? Don’t have one yet but I was looking into getting an audio interface anyhow and the one I’ve been considering comes with midi ports. TIA
Yes, let me know which one you are thinking of getting.
@@ranzee arturia minifuse 2
Or Tascam US 2x2
How many dx7 patches can the volca fm hold inside the unit?
Great vid. Thanks!
hi, it can hold 32 patches. thanks :)
hi i have a problem. I connect my volca via midi with my midi interface (midiplus midi 2x2) and then i try to send pach but after i send it nothing happens. like my program doesnt change. no name changes or no sound changes. like nothing happens. i have a signal because when i click send then that light on interface lights up signaling the signal. i can also play on my volca conected that way on midi controler. Do you have idea what happened? i tried in ableton live 9 and also without any daw. Plz help guys!!!!
sounds like a MIDI issue - you may need to check how the MIDI is setup in DEXED itself - the video shows this. Alternatively, you may want to try out the new unofficial Volca FM firmware - which also improves this functionality. Details on my channel.
I had this same issue with the midiplus midi 2x2. I ended up getting a different MIDI interface (the FORE brand MIDI to USB single cable) which did work.
when I set param to the midi port I had an "error opening midi port". So I have to disable the midi port in ableton first. Then vst can sent the patch to volca. However, once you disabled the port, how can you play the volca at the same time via ableton? (maybe i have missed something)
Truman Kong not sure what might be causing this, but it works fine for me. What are you using for the midi interface?
same problem here.... im using a tascam us144, maybe somo problem with the midi preferences?
I have solved with this : I use Ableton and in prefrerences the midi out port conected with volca must by turn off in ableton preferences
that's it! thank you!
Can someone suggest inexpensive midi-to-USB cables that will get this job done using a PC. TIA
Hi MrFlatlandcycle :) Roland and MAudio do these cables, or you could find a cheaper one on eBay. Thanks for watching!
I have a question or two: Is the DX7 patch added? or Does it replace the first patch on Volca FM? If I store as many patches as I can, Do I run out of space to create my own presets?
The patches on the FM are limited to 32 if I remember correctly. When you load them from Dexed it loads it into current memory. If you want to dump 32 patches onto your FM - you'll need to use the bulk dump.
@@ranzee Many Thanks!
It replaces the first patch or bank. You can get all the factory sounds back again though, just with a factory reset of Volca FM. They're obviously stored on board.
@@jackevans2386 Thanķs!
Hello, I need help with my volca fm. I try to use some Dexed patches but I can't sending them to my volca. I use a keystep as a midi interface (keystep midi out, midi Chanel 1), but when I click on "send program to dx7"... Nothing! I tried with Dexed as standalone / ableton vst... Please, can you help me? 🙏😭
The Volca FM will only accept DX7 specific patches. You cant just send any Dexed patch.
Hey Ranzee where did you find the original DX7 patches in sysex format?
Hi Alpha! I forget now - but if you do a Google search - there are patches everywhere. Here's one I found just now: homepages.abdn.ac.uk/mth192/pages/dx7/dx7patch.zip
ranzee av Thanks and yes you are right the patches are everywhere, cheers.
if... one already has dexed vst playable and sounding nice..with Velocity working, via the computer way....why would the fm volca be needed ??? any ideas ??
Hi kish bhar. Maybe they don't want to lug a big computer to their performance? PC's crash during gigs too. The VolcaFM offers quite a stable and portable solution in a very small form factor - great bit of kit :) My opinion - it's the best Volca.
You can use a Korg Volca fm as a new version of one of the Yamaha TX816-modules.
You can use a Korg Volca FM as a new version of a Yamaha TF1-module. The Yamaha TX816 is a Rack of 8 TF1-modules. It this way 8 Korg Volca FM's build-up a modern version of a Yamaha TX816 but now with a lot of new possibilities. And this can be very cool for people who likes to work with hardware synthesizers, step sequencers and without computers... as in 'Synthesizers Old School'-times. With the Dexed you can build up (programming) or editing the fm-sounds with the computer and you storage this FM-sound on Korg Volca FM synths.
lfo s h wav results in static on volca fm :(
How do I plug the midi input from the Volca fm in to my computer?
With a MIDI interface.
What kind?
Will this work in wanting to make my own patches in dexed like an init patch and then sending it over?
Hi Jacob Eby! The Volca FM is only compatible with DX7 patches from Dexed. You can try it - but you'd need to make sure that you aren't doing anything that the DX7 can't do. Alternatively, you could find in the 000's of patches online something already that is close to an INIT patch for the DX7.
ranzee av thank you for your quick response! Do you know if there is any way to initialize a patch, or make an init patch yourself? I'm big into making my sounds entirely from scratch.
all dexed patch are supposed to be DX7 compatible , so you can totally create a sound and send it to the volca. I did it and it works ,except that almost all operators are off when you send the program, so you just need to activate them. You can't initialise a patch on the volca i think put you can send a init patch from dexed.
estibahipelcanel just got the volca fm and it's beautiful! You definitely can make your own init patch on the volca itself. I've done that so I can edit a sound from scratch now!
for me, when I click for it to send, the volca doesn't flinch - but the midi is synced (responding to tempo)
Hi magicbirthday! Thanks for watching :) Did you click the PARM button and ensure that the right MIDI device is selected in the DX7 Out box? Also double-check you haven't changed the MIDI channel on your Volca-FM.
Thank you for the response. I am trying to do this through DEXED via FL Studio. In my FL, i just select USB midi. Do you happen to mean the PARAM setting on the volca itself? Also, is there any mode I have to deal with on the volca in general?
On the Dexed window under the logo there's a button labelled "PARM" - click on that and you'll see an option DX7 Out - set that to your MIDI device which the Volca FM is connected to ... As for the Volca FM itself - nothing needs to be touched (unless you've changed the default settings).
Enjoy! :)
That did it! Thank you so much!
can they all be loaded at same time or have to do individually?
I haven't tried - it doesn't take long to do them one by one.
@@ranzee having looked through them all now and having a listen is no need to upload all anyway only one's that i like lol
In Cart window, if you right click on a patch, you get two options - "Send Program "Blah" to DX7" or "Send current sysex cartridge to DX7." Use the former to send individually, or the latter to send the entire bank of 32.
What kind of midi cable will work? Midi to usb?
Volca FM requires a MIDI DIN cable. You will need a MIDI to USB adapter or a MIDI interface for your Computer.
@@ranzee awesome so I chose correctly! I have the Iconnectivity mio on the way! Thank you!!!
Just did this. Despite most of the patches had to be tweaked, turning off sync osc button in order to just play on Volca FM, the overall volume of ANY imported patch was like 30% of the native volca's patches. I tried very different ones, and they all are very quiet. What it can be? By the way, on the most patches velocity slider has no effect whatsoever.
Hi Vadym, you should check out the new unofficial firmware - it has some features that improve the patch transfers: czcams.com/video/-_D6g-19LkQ/video.html
ranzee thank you! Tried to find these unofficial FW updates, but all links weren’t active. Thank you again
There should be downloadable firmware files over on my website: ranzee.com
A bit late to the party, but I noticed when I did this that some operators would get switched off in the transfer for some reason. It's an easy fix though, just go into the menus and switch them back on
HI I was absolutely excited about this video and found the solution to uploading the factory ROM DX 7 patches that i downloaded from the net, however my excitemnt was short lived..I followed exactlt what you did but the patch wont load in the FM2
1 I opened Dexed in Ablelton lite
2 I chose the DIGITAKT as my midi interface on Dexed midi ch 1
I3 connected the MIDI OUT of DIGITAKT to cable to MIDI IN of Volca FM2 (midi ch 1 )
4 I chose a patch right click '' send program Caliop to DX7
5 patch does not load in the volca FM2
what am I doing incorrect, please help...thanks
Hi. I'm not familiar with the Digitakt. Perhaps the MIDI ports and thru are not connecting to Dexed? Check the docs and see if it is possible to RX/TX via the Digitakt external MIDI connections.
@@ranzee thanks again. I did use the ext midi connector. Sadly for some reason it does not yield results. What a shame when dexed madebit so simple. In fact Korg should have just come out with an editor for the FM2. Even uploading the OS through an audio jack is so archaic. 🤪
However your video was 👌👌👌
"Error opening midi ports", any idea? But the ports are ok because i can send midi to my Volca Fm. Thanks for your supporting!!
Hi Guillermo, you might have something else running that is using the MIDI ports - otherwise you'll need to provide more info about the computer operating system, what DAW you use, what is your MIDI device etc. Thanks.
I have the same problem, I use a Scarlett 2i4, windows 10, 64 bits system, DAW:ableton 9.71
Hi Phil, is this error from inside Dexed or your DAW?
Hi @ranzee finally i've got it work by using the Dexed standalone program (detect properly my M-Audio) instead of the ableton live vst plugin. Thanks!!
Can you post the DX patches
Hi Bmusik, there's so many free available just with a quick Google Search - that's how I got mine :)
Nice 👍🏼
I have DX7 and how I will use this instrument with it
Hi Mohammad Salah! Thanks for watching :) Enjoy your DX7!
ranzee av wellcome
But I ask how I will send the patches to dx7
You use Dexed :) Did you watch the video? It works also for the DX7.
ranzee av now I see the video in your list
Thanks for you
And be continued
ranzee possible from
dexed to a Yamaha Dx7 ?
It doesn't work with usb to midi in my case but it does with an audio interface
Which USB to midi were you using? I just tried with a Roland UM-ONE MKII and had mixed results from some of the basic dexed presets. Some appear to have worked ok, but 11 of them are either utterly silent or so quiet that even on max volume you have to strain to hear them.
@@AllaMortify Just a cheap one i dont think it's a brand :) it's probably that why it doens't work. I just had it laying around and tried it but had no result doing that
Can you download created patches back from volca to store them?
Volca FM only has MIDI IN unfortunately.
I believe their is a way to do this thru the export command ...it exports as a audio file which u record to a device or pc
and their is a hardware Mod you can make to add midi out port ...the midi out pins are already on the board
i found out that you can export them thru the audio out (3.55m) **watch Cuckoos tutorial.
BTW, I'm not sure what kind of midi cable I should use to import programs to the Volca FM, is the cable supposed to be MIDI IN -- USB?
@@seb.j its a standard midi cable
Don't you have to use a specific cable to transferring data? I tried dexed before but it didn't work. didn't send. then I read that you need a good cable
Hi Special Snowfake :) Just a normal MIDI cable will do ya.
I can't get it to work. The only simular problem I've read online has been solved with better cables? How do I test the connection?
Win or Mac? What MIDI interface are you using?
Using dexed in fl studio on window. Just a cheap midi cable from amazon. I've had issues before trying to put a guitar into fl studio with a different usb cable so maybe it's my usb drivers or a setting
I'd say so. I'm not familiar with FL Studio either :) Have you got Ableton?
I have a load of individual patches like 'ANALOG1.SYX' 'BRASS2.SYX' and so on. Do I need a single .syx file containing all of them?
Hi Adrian :) Thanks for the question. You can load individual or multiple - it handles it both AFAIK. Same procedure as in the video. Cheers :)
Great, thanks - I'll give it a try
Some patches don't transfer over or some do but are so quiet even with the volume maxed. I saw another video that suggested turning off the LFO Key Sync in dexed, but it doesn't work. Any ideas?
Hello. Have you solved the problem ?
@@pipipopocacaable Same question here
An important step is you must have a DAW like ableton or logic to load it. Choose which sound you want to over write then right click and send and save.
There are stand alone versions you no longer need a DAW to transfer files.
@@kd4pba nice!! Love technology upgrades!!
Stand alone Dexed works great with Roland UM-One mk2,on PC and also on Mac.
Odd, that's what I'm using (Mac, um-one, and FM) and not getting a result at all.
@@Levico.Musica I figured this out on my Mac, I have to go into the cartridge and click option+the patch, and a couple options will pop up, one is "send to dx7", and that sends to the volca. Some patches don't work on the volca, but most do
@@Levico.Musica It's really simple, but have you made sure you have the right end of the um-one in the fm? I did that the other day. Also there's that little recessed switch, I can't remember what for and I don't have the manual handy right now, but you may need to make sure it's in the correct position. That's all the trouble shooting I can think of off the top of my head.
@@Levico.Musica Do you mean to say that the Volca doesn't even display the name of the patch you are trying to transfer? You did make sure it was the MIDI IN connector right? I won't claim it's working entirely for me, but I am getting the names transfered at least, just seems some of the patches are very low in volume or wrong in the settings (data has been missed I think).
i have aussie pride for ranzee
Crikey!
hello beautiful video
i have a problem but i install dexed but i can't find it on ableton 😔
You may need to check your Ableton Preferences and see if you've enabled the VST folders for System and User.
@@ranzee there is another program similar to dexed?
alguien sabe porque el dexed siempre me tira el mismo error cuando le asigno mi interfaz de audio, una focusrite scarlett 2i4, dice "error opening midi ports". intente abrir dexed sin el ableton live pero no se puede!
Flaco pasate a nafta
Seems downloading the whole 32 patches doesn't require a 'save' to be performed, just by the way. Your accent sounds more Kiwi than Australian. Love your setup there. Cheers from Christchurch NZ.
cah-lie-oh-pee
lol thank you, that was really shitting me.
"both mac and windows" .. AND LINUX.
Sadly nobody wants to explain how to work around all the software defects. All I keep seeing is "Disable LFO key sync" without any explanation of how where to do that. No doubt it involves menu diving but Jesus. Why is Korgs documentation such garbage.
Awful tutorial, dude doesn't tell you where to find the Dexed sysex files on your hard drive. Also, might be good to prepare your rig before hand before you shoot your demo.