YAMAHA | X G R E A D I N G P A G E

Step 3 Bulk2Event -- a powerful ally for original data production

Settings that you edited on an XG tone generator such as the MU series can be bulk dumped for recording on a sequencer, and the SMF containing this bulk data can then be processed by the Bulk2Event utility program to create the appropriate setup data for the XG format. This is rather complicated to describe, but is very easy to use, so try it out by all means.

1. Convert tone generator settings to setup data!
The results of editing on a tone generator such as the MU series --- such as effect data, the balance between the parts, voice data, etc. --- can all be transmitted as a bulk dump via MIDI. However this data is merely a long string of system exclusive data, and furthermore contains data which is merely the unmodified default setting (figure 7).

Figure 7

The Bulk2Event utility removes the default data (other than default data which is actually necessary, such as program changes), converts the data into program changes when appropriate, and arranges everything in the correct order.
Within the setup measure created by Bulk2Event, events are spaced at a minimum of 2/480 ticks. This may seem a little eccentric, but the reason is to ensure that the correct event order will be maintained even on sequencers with a basic time base of 384 ticks, such as Cubase. In actuality, spacing of 1/480 ticks will not be a problem, so if you want the setup measure to be as short as possible, you may pack the data closer. However if there is a fairly large gap, such as between the XG System On message and the following event, you should understand that Bulk2Event considered this gap necessary, and that such gaps should not be modified.

2. Using Bulk2Event

Using Bulk2Event is extremely simple.

(1) Make various settings on your tone generator.

(2) Using your tone generator's Bulk Dump function (located in UTIL mode), execute a bulk dump for either MULTI or ALL, and record it in realtime into your sequencer.

(3) Write the resulting data as an SMF file.

(4) Drag and drop the SMF on Bulk2Event.

(5) Use the resulting SMF file as the setup measure, and merge the musical data into the file following the setup measure.

Figure 8 shows this process.

Figure 8

Instead of dragging and dropping, you can first start up Bulk2Event itself, and open the SMF from within the program. In this case, choose the desired file from the File menu item "Do Converting..." Here you can make various settings in the file menu item "Preferences" (figure 9).

Figure 9

Although the Input "XG Bulk Data" lets you choose the input source, the current version does not support direct input from MIDI. Thus, here it is possible to select only "from SMF."
The Output "XG Level" lets you select Level 2 or Level 3, which include the XG extensions. However if you are producing an SMF for the normal XG format, you should choose "Standard." If you choose Standard, functions such as Insertion Effects will not be reflected in the setup data even if you make these settings on the tone generator. For details on what is covered by the "standard" XG format, refer to materials such as the "XG Format Specification" and "Guidelines for XG Data Production."

3. Correcting the Bulk2Event file

The setup created by the current version of Bulk2Event contains some aspects which might be thought of as somewhat inconvenient for actual data production. One such aspect is that all parameters which can be edited for a drum part using NRPN and data entry, all parameters which can be edited by NRPN will be written for all parts of that drum set, including the defaults. Thus, this data will occupy a substantial volume, and will lengthen the setup measures. Although this will take more time on your part, please delete unneeded NRPN and data entry messages, and leave only the necessary data with the spacing tightened up appropriately.
The other inconvenient point is that (again!) all of the system exclusive drum part parameter changes for drum setups 1 and 2 will be written, including the defaults. Here too, please delete unneeded data and tighten up the space appropriately. Leaving in the default data will not cause a serious problems, but in order to shorten the time from "start" until the song begins, it is best to remove such data. Obviously, this will lighten the data load which the tone generator has to process, which is all the more reason to shorten the setup measures.
This ends our page for now. Please take advantage of the three tools we have introduced, and produce some great XG SMF files. Please also send us your opinions and suggestions regarding these tools.

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	Step 3 Bulk2Event -- a powerful ally for original data production
	Settings that you edited on an XG tone generator such as the MU series can be bulk dumped for recording on a sequencer, and the SMF containing this bulk data can then be processed by the Bulk2Event utility program to create the appropriate setup data for the XG format. This is rather complicated to describe, but is very easy to use, so try it out by all means. 1. Convert tone generator settings to setup data! The results of editing on a tone generator such as the MU series --- such as effect data, the balance between the parts, voice data, etc. --- can all be transmitted as a bulk dump via MIDI. However this data is merely a long string of system exclusive data, and furthermore contains data which is merely the unmodified default setting (figure 7).