EXGet and EXPut are used to store and recall programs for synthesizers. These are generally voice patches, but in general they can be any sequence of MIDI system exclusive messages.

EXGet

exget filename

EXGet has several options that may be specified on the command line:

• ?: this switch prints out a list of command line options.
• -block: normally, MIDI thru will be enabled. The -block switch turns it off.
• -miditrace: turn on MIDI byte trace. Use the -trace switch instead if you prefer the trace in a more human-readable form.
• -noalloff: Normally, an all-notes-off command is sent on each channel when you exit. This switch prevents this action.
• -trace: turn on trace of MIDI output commands (printed in text form).
• -tune filename: load the indicated tuning file (irrelevant for EXGet).
• -inport hexstring: listen to the ports named in hexstring, where hexstring is a string of hexadecimal digits indicating the input ports. For example, the string ``169ac'' says to listen to ports 1, 6, 9, 10, and 12. (Currently only valid for Amiga version.)
• -outport N send to output port N, where N is a decimal or hexadecimal number (this is not ambiguous because the largest port number is 15 decimal). Note that only one port number is allowed. (Currently only valid for Amiga version.)
• -help: print the instructions.
• -binary: save data in binary rather than hexadecimal format. This results in a factor of three compression, but don't try to read the output as text! Note: in implementations (including CMT for DOS) that do not support MIDI Thru (-block), you can use -b as a shorthand for -binary.
• -size number: allocate at least number bytes for the system exclusive message(s). The actual space allocated will be a power of 2. If number bytes cannot be allocated, the program prints an error message and exits.

Do you want instructions? [y]

This program will let you save MIDI system exclusive messages to a file. When you get the prompt: "Ready for your data...", send one or more sysex messages from your synthesizer. See the CMU Midi Toolkit Manual or your synthesizer operator's manual for instructions on this. Use the exput program to send sysex messages recorded by exget.

Next, you are prompted as follows:

Ready for your data. Type space when you are done...

After one or more messages have been sent, type the space bar and the messages will be saved in the file you specified. The file format is simply bytes in hexadecimal separated by spaces. As the data is output, EXGet will check to make sure the data has not been garbled. A warning will be printed if any errors are detected. EXGet will also try to print a description of the exclusive messages it received. You can send the data back to your synthesizer using the EXPut program described below.

NOTE: If you find that you are sending two messages instead of one when you use EXGet, here is what is probably happening (we will use the DX7 as an example, but this may apply to others as well): When you push the ``yes'' button to send data, the DX7 sends a MIDI message that means ``push the `yes' button'', analogous to sending a MIDI note-on message whey you press a key. Next, the DX7 sends voice data as requested. Meanwhile, the first MIDI message has gone into the computer's MIDI IN port and has been forwarded to the MIDI OUT port. If the MIDI OUT is connected to the DX7 MIDI IN, then the DX7 gets a second request (via MIDI) to send data! You can avoid this by disconnecting the DX7 MIDI IN cable or by using the ``-block'' switch when you run EXGet. At present, only the Amiga version of CMT implements MIDI THRU whereby MIDI IN can be forwarded to MIDI OUT, but this is likely to change in future releases.

EXPut

exput filename

EXPut has several options that may be specified on the command line:

• ?: this switch prints out a list of command line options.
• -block: normally, MIDI thru will be enabled. The block switch turns it off.
• -miditrace: turn on MIDI byte trace. Use the trace switch instead if you prefer the trace in a more human-readable form.
• -noalloff: Normally, an all-notes-off command is sent on each channel when you exit. This switch prevents this action.
• -trace: turn on trace of MIDI output commands (printed in text form).
• -tune filename: load the indicated tuning file (irrelevant for EXPut).
• -inport hexstring: listen to the ports named in hexstring, where hexstring is a string of hexadecimal digits indicating the input ports. For example, the string ``169ac'' says to listen to ports 1, 6, 9, 10, and 12. (Currently only valid for Amiga version.)
• -outport N send to output port N, where N is a decimal or hexadecimal number (this is not ambiguous because the largest port number is 15 decimal). Note that only one port number is allowed. (Currently only valid for Amiga version.)
• -help: print the instructions.
• -size number: allocate at least number bytes for the system exclusive message(s). The actual space allocated will be a power of 2. If number bytes cannot be allocated, the program prints an error message and exits.

After starting, EXPut will ask:

Do you want instructions? [y]

This program sends system exclusive messages previously saved by the exget program. You must set up your synthesizer to receive the system exclusive messages. See the CMU Midi Toolkit Manual for more details.

EXPut can read binary or default ASCII files. The files are distinguished automatically by looking at the first byte (if the file is binary, the first byte will have its high order bit set). Assuming the file you specified contains valid data, you will next see the prompt:

Ready with your data. Type space when you are ready...

After the data in the file is sent, you are prompted by:

Type Q to quit, RETURN to send another file: