Midi Connections: Outputs

The Yamaha DJX-1 and DJX2 have very different midi kinds of midi outputs. The Yamaha DJX midi out port lacks full midi implementation and therefore limits it use as a professional keyboard or in a professional set-up.

Midi stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Midi uses 16 channels, each channel can communicate as and individual channel of information. Midi is a industry standard for digital musical instruments.= It allows one instrument or device to speak and communicate with another midi device or instrument.

For example, if you are using a instrument like the DJX-1 with another keyboard such as a Korg NEX5 keyboard, both which happen to have full midi implementation, and you press a key on the djx-1 it will play the same key on the Korg NEX5, sounding either the same sound or another sound that you have set on the Korg to play in response to a midi signal.

This signal of information is called System Exclusive Messages. The DJX-2 however does not have the ability to send this information from it's midi out port.

Yamaha in the opinion of all of us who have been in the music related industry for a while realize that they "got cheap" while designing the DJX-2 midi output. The DJX-2 midi out port can only send specific information which makes it impossible to control another midi device or instrument from the DJX-2. The DJX-1 however does not have this problem.

This midi limitation on the djx-2 creates limitations for it's useablity with computer sequencers too.

The DJX-1 Midi Out Port:

To use the DJX-1 with a computer (including sends/dumps) you will need midi cables and possibly an adapter depending on your computers audio card.

The DJX midi out will go to the midi in port of you computer. This will allow your djx to communicate with your computer. You will need to set-up your computers sound card to receive information from the midi in port of the computer. (See the information that came with your computer or audio card)

for more information on setting up the DJX-1 for midi out, see page 94 of the Yamaha DJX-1 Manual. Don't forget that you will obviously need some kind of software to use with the DJ for your computer.

To connect your DJX-1 from one instrument/device to another, you will need midi cables. Simply connect one midi cable from the midi out port of the djx to the midi in port of the other instrument.

This will allow you to control that instrument from the DJX-1. You may need to set the remote channels of both instruments to the same midi channels. (See page 95 of the DJX-1 Manual)

The DJX-2 Midi Out Port:

As mentioned above, the DJX-2 has a limited midi out port. You are unable to use it to control another keyboard. The only information the DJX-2 midi out is capable of sending is Sampling Data Bulk Dump.

This breaks the traditional midi standard for keyboards. However, it was Yamaha's low cost solution to providing easy saving of the DJX-2 samples and patterns to a computer using a midi cable adapater and their Pattern Editor which was designed specifically around this midi out port.

Non professional musicians which want to simply create some jamming tunes easily will most likely not miss or even need the full midi out functions available on the DJX-1.

The primary disadvantage of this midi shortcoming is that in order to take full advantage of the DJX-2's feature for creating your own patterns, you will have to purchase a midi keyboard controller.

This is not a problem for the professional musican who already has a full professional keyboard or the DJX-1. However, to a non professional musician this means shelling out another $200.00 or more for a midi controller. (See page 72 of your DJX-2 manual for more information about this)

The DJX-2 at it's best is a solo keyboard or a slave keyboard controlled by another keyboard.

Copyright 2000 Randall Gorden
All International Rights Reserved