Volca FM - How to upload DX7 patches using Dexed 

Hi DoctorBlankenstein, there are - it is super cool!

Hi Enorasis Project :) Thanks so much!

Hey Jamit! Nice to see you here!

@@ranzee You too brother! It was a very nice surprise!

Glad I could help!

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.

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.

Have you tried the unofficial firmware 1.08? ... video is in my channel: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LpsWfjiwGUg.html

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.

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 :) !

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!

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?

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 :)

Hi, I'm not sure - I did this video 4 years ago!

Hi MrFlatlandcycle :) Roland and MAudio do these cables, or you could find a cheaper one on eBay. Thanks for watching!

you would need a MIDI interface.

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.

Hosa brand MIDI and audio cables.

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.

hi, it can hold 32 patches. thanks :)

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

Yes, let me know which one you are thinking of getting.

@@ranzee arturia minifuse 2 Or Tascam US 2x2

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.

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.

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!

The Volca FM will only accept DX7 specific patches. You cant just send any Dexed patch.

With a MIDI interface.

What kind?

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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 👌👌👌

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!!!

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!!

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.

Hi Vadym, you should check out the new unofficial firmware - it has some features that improve the patch transfers: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--_D6g-19LkQ.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

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

Hi Bmusik, there's so many free available just with a quick Google Search - that's how I got mine :)

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

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?

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?

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 ?

de rien

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

Hello. Have you solved the problem ?

@@pipipopocacaable Same question here

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).

There are stand alone versions you no longer need a DAW to transfer files.

@@kd4pba nice!! Love technology upgrades!!

Crikey!

lol thank you, that was really shitting me.