Save and / or Transfer Data From a
Boss Dr-202 to a PC
Do you have a Boss Dr-202? Did you ever want to save all your work to your PC? Then transfer it to another Boss Dr-202? Or Just Back to the one you have at another date maybe? Now you can!
Any MIDI interface will do. i have a USB-MIDI interface but a direct connection to any sound card using the DB-15 (joystick) connection or direct connection will work just fine. MIDI OX is a FREE Program and is great for all kinds of awesome MIDI stuff. For our purposes we will use it to back up and save SysEx data. |
Before we start: Installation of Software
If any information is needed about this project PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME! This is just intended as a tutorial for those who understand the basics / Intermediate concepts of MIDI and SysEx. I'm not responsible for use / misuse of this tactic, and this definitely wasn't anything approved from Roland! The only information i can give you is on this page and that i did this and it worked great for me! Otherwise you can download the manual for the DR-202 from Roland's site
So.....
After you install and setup MIDI OX to your MIDI'S output we can start!
Step 1: Open Sysex "Scratchpad"
you open MIDI OX go to view then SysEx..
A window will come up.
This window is basically for all MIDI SysEx commands sent and received in MIDI OX.
Step 2: Setup MIDI-OX for manual Sysex dump.
In MIDI-OX
Go to: "SysEx..."
Then to: "receive manual dump..."
NOW IS WHEN WE DUMP OUR DATA FROM THE DR-202!
Don't know how to dump data? no problem!
Step 3: how to "dump" Sysex data
Just press the "MIDI" button on the dr-202 then scroll all the way to the right (using arrow keys) until you see "MIDI BULK DUMP" easy huh? Now pick the option you want.
"All" sends all data...
"SongPattern" Sends Just song pattern Data
"Kit" Sends all drum kit settings
"UtilityMIDI" Sends Utility and MIDI Settings
(Pretty Self Explanatory HUH???)
Once you press enter on your selection all MIDI data is being sent. You should see a message that says "MIDI BULK DUMP" then the name of the option you picked
Extra Help / Info:
If you connect the DR-202 to another DR-202 (MIDI OUT to MIDI IN) you can transfer from machine to machine. you do this is the same manner. just bulk dump to the other system. make sure the device id's are the same. when the data is done sending you should see a "Finish" message. (although sometimes I'm not paying attention and miss this elusive message) This means all data from your DR-202 has been transferred to the other.
NOTE: If you pick "All" Data to be sent from one machine to another, all of the existing data on that machine will be overwritten!!! as goes for the song pattern, kit, and utility midi data.
Now its time to get the data to the PC!!!
NOTE: Whatever system exclusive ID you choose for the DR-202 when dumping data MUST be the same when receiving data or else the data will never be recognized!!!
(Device ID Default is 17)
Step 4: Receive Sysex data and save to file on PC.
So now that the system is already in standby (SysEx Receive "Waiting for completion" Mode), all you have to do is step 3 after you hook up the MIDI out of the DR-202 to the MIDI in on the PC! when you press enter and the MIDI data is being sent, it should be shown on the screen as the "Bytes received" number rises.
When the DR-202 stops sending and the "bytes received" stop rising, you have all the data. Now Save the data that was dumped by going to "Display Window" Then to "Save as.." now save it where you want to! make sure you make a note whether its a "All", "SongPattern", "Kit", or "UtilityMIDI" Dump. (you don't have to but its good to know i always forget this stuff!)
NOW YOU HAVE YOUR DATA BACKED UP ONTO YOUR PC!!! that is... what ever you chose to back up! so now say you want to transfer it back to the same DR-202 at a later date. or to another one? or in another country? or give you data to a friend?
Etc Etc Etc.... OK, well here's what you do.
Step 5: Load sysex data file
NOTE: this is a destructive write and will overwrite all data on the dr-202.
If you made new stuff you want to save. make a new dump and back it up!
Follow step one again and open the SysEx window in MIDI OX (assuming that its already closed) then go to "command window" then to "Load File..."
Once the file is loaded we have to change some configuration to make sure that the DR-202 can receive the data correctly!
Step 6: configure MIDI-OX for sending data
now that the file is loaded go to "Sysex" then to "Configure..."
We need to configure the settings at which the data is transferred, otherwise the program sends data to fast for the DR-202 to handle and you will end up getting this nasty error message!
And that's just what we will change. the "number" of MIDI messages sent to the DR-202 or better yet, the speed at which they are being sent. By default its being sent to fast for the DR-202.
Step 7: Change Delay time in MIDI-OX
When the configuration window pops up,
there is a check mark that says "delay after F7: [60] Milliseconds"
This isn't like the F7 key on your keyboard, F7 is a stop command in each SysEx command set, so if we set this number higher, in turn, it will slow down the transfer so that the DR-202 can buffer all the data in a efficient manner. I found about 130-140 milliseconds was the sweet spot, now the data from the PC is not being sent to fast to cause problems...
NOTE: If you set the millisecond delay to HIGH the DR-202 will think its finished receiving the data before its gotten there. Try experimenting a little, you may need to give a little more delay between command sets (IE 150,160,170). Don't forget to back up what you have been working on!
Step 8: Data transfer confirmation
You will see a window appear with a blue bar that says "File Progress" as the data is being sent.
Your DR-202 should say "MIDI BULK LOAD Please wait..." and will eventually stop when the file is finished sending from the system. After that you're done! Now you can use all data that was transferred to your DR-202!
NOTE: i cant stress this enough, keep in mind, any data sent to the DR-202 will OVERWRITE any data that was there before the transfer. so make sure to back up! (steps 1-4!) i hope this helps and i don't take responsibility for lost music or song data! good luck. (worked great for me!)
Extra Info / Other Helpful Hints:
If you end up having crazy problems sending data, or the dr-202 (or PC) shuts off during transfer (Big NO NO!) and creates new problems, you can always factory reset the unit. THIS WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ON THE DR-202, THE KITS, THE SONGS, THE USER PATTERNS, EVERYTHING! THIS IS A LAST RESORT! It worked miracles for a DR-202 i had that was randomly playing drums and basses and doing other nutty stuff. Here's what you do...
While you power on the dr-202, Hold the MUTE and the ROLL Buttons Simultaneously. it will give you the same options as the midi bulk dump for what to reset. "All" is preferable if the thing it toally screwed. This will take it to factory defaults. Otherwise you can reset the specific areas of the dr-202 by picking the other options.
Here's Some useful links:
oh yeah and RTFM! It Helps!