Problems with sysex midi dumps (Jomox Xbase 888 Logic Pro 8)

Question

Hello, I am trying to record sysex midi dumps FROM (Jomox Xbase888) TO Logic Pro 8 but I can't get the two devices to communicate. Can somebody help out? Many thanks. Seb

Answer 1

Well, I was told that I would get the same (ext. 888 sequencer feel) when reading the sysex data.
Sysex is not a way to transfer files between different devices, it is a way to back up a particular devices' data. Logic does not *see into* or understand any data in a sysex dump, it simply records it, or plays it back. You cannot transfer sequences into another sequencer or DAW using sysex. You have to do it via MIDI, or any MIDI file/export/import that the device in question has.
Inputting the midi notes into Logic doesn't get me the same result or vibe compared to when the two devices are synced.
Probably because you are trying to dump the whole sequence at once, and you are running out of MIDI bandwidth (or you are quantising in Logic on the way in). Play in a part at a time for better timing.
When in sync mode, the 888 devices will start ON TIME on 1 (cycle range) but I try to start anywhere else in the track, it won't sync anymore, the 888 patterns will start on a random order.
MIDI clock does not carry position info at all, it simply caries timing. If your device supports Song Position Pointers, that will work, or better still, use MIDI Time Code instead of MIDI clock.
Logic supports all these things, but whether your other device does I don't know - check it's manual.
The 888 won't sync with Logic unless I set Logic's "Delay transmission" parameter to -36ms -- is this normal?
Dunno, it depends on your device, or whether you have any latency inducing plugins running that's delaying Logic's audio stream...