Nathan Sheldon

Loading Patches Into Your XP

There are two ways to get the patches into an XP (XP-30, XP-50, XP-60 or XP-80): from floppy disk, or over MIDI from your computer.

XPs can only load the MIDI file versions of the patches from disk; they can’t read SysEx files. If you’re loading through the floppy drive, you don’t need the SysEx downloads.

1. From the XP’s floppy drive

XP-50, XP-60 and XP-80 only.

  1. Download the MIDI file version of the patch.
  2. Unzip it. macOS and Windows both open .zip files with a double-click. The readme.txt inside is optional reading.
  3. Copy the .mid file to a PC-formatted floppy (720 KB or 1.44 MB). Few computers have floppy drives now, so you’ll probably need a USB floppy drive.
  4. Put the floppy in the XP’s drive, press SEQUENCER and use the VALUE dial to find the MIDI file.
  5. Press STOP/PLAY to play the short sequence. You won’t hear anything: the file contains system exclusive data that loads the patch into the XP’s temporary patch memory.
  6. When the STOP/PLAY light goes off, press PATCH and try the new patch. Save it to a USER bank if you like it; otherwise just change patches and it’s gone from memory (but still on the floppy).

2. Over MIDI from your computer

All XPs and JVs.

Connect your computer to the synth with MIDI, then use a patch librarian, editor or sequencer to send either version. Most sequencers can import SysEx (.syx) files; if yours can’t, use the MIDI file.

  1. Download the MIDI file or SysEx file version of the patch and unzip it.
  2. Check your software’s documentation for sending SysEx to a MIDI device. With the MIDI file, simply playing it through to the XP or JV loads the patch, as long as your sequencer transmits system exclusive data.
  3. You won’t hear anything, but the patch lands in temporary memory, ready to audition and save to a USER bank.

I’ve only used Logic Pro on the Mac, so I can’t help with other sequencers’ specifics.