Midi Data Compatibility - Yamaha Portatone PSR-640 Owner's Manual

MIDI Data Compatibility

This section covers basic information on data compatibility: whether or not other MIDI devices can playback the data
recorded by PSR-740/640, and whether or not the PSR-740/640 can playback commercially available song data or song
data created for other instruments or on a computer.
Depending on the MIDI device or data characteristics, you may be able to play back the data without any problem,
or you may have to perform some special operations before the data can be played back. If you run into problems
playing back data, please refer to the information below.
Sequence format
The system which records song data is called "sequence format."
Playback is only possible when the sequence format of the disk matches that of the MIDI device.
SMF (Standard MIDI File)
This is the most common sequence format.
Standard MIDI Files are generally available as one of two types: Format 0 or Format 1. Many
MIDI devices are compatible with Format 0, and most commercially available software is recorded
as Format 0.
• The PSR-740/640 is compatible with both Format 0 and Format 1.
• Song data recorded on the PSR-740/640 is automatically recorded as SMF Format 0.
ESEQ
This sequence format is compatible with many of Yamaha's MIDI devices, including the Clavinova
series instruments. This is a common format used with various Yamaha software.
• The PSR-740/640 is compatible with ESEQ.
XF
The Yamaha XF format enhances the SMF (Standard MIDI File) strandard with greater functional-
ity and open-ended expandability for the future.
• The 740/640 is capable of displaying lyrics when an XF file containing lyric data is played.
Style File
The Style File Format — SFF — is Yamaha's original style file format which uses a unique
conversion system to provide high-quality automatic accompaniment based on a wide range of
chord types.
• The PSR-740/640 uses the SFF internally, reads optional SFF style disks, and creates SFF
styles using the Style recording feature.
Voice allocation format
With MIDI, voices are assigned to specific numbers, called "program numbers." The numbering standard (order of
voice allocation) is referred to as the "voice allocation format."
Voices may not play back as expected unless the voice allocation format of the song data matches that of the
compatible MIDI device used for playback.
GM System Level 1
This is one of the most common voice allocation formats.
Many MIDI devices are compatible with GM System Level 1, as is most commercially
available software.
• The PSR-740/640 is compatible with GM System Level 1.
XG
XG is a major enhancement of the GM System Level 1 format, and was developed by
Yamaha specifically to provide more voices and variations, as well as greater expressive
control over voices and effects, and to ensure compatibility of data well into the future.
• The PSR-740/640 is compatible with XG.
DOC
This voice allocation format is compaible with many of Yamaha's MIDI devices, including the
Clavinova series instruments.
This is also a common format used with various Yamaha software.
• The PSR-740/640 is compatible with DOC.
MIDI Functions
• Even if the devices and data
used satisfy all the
conditions above, the data
may still not be completely
compatible, depending on
the specifications of the
devices and particular data
recording methods.
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