A question from a new inSync reader, but one we get frequently:

"I have a sequence that I recorded in my keyboard's internal sequencer. I want to get this sequence over to my computer sequencer so I can edit it without having to connect MIDI cables and record the sequence into the computer. Isn't there just some way to transfer the data?"

Sure. If your keyboard can read standard MIDI files it can probably save them too. Just save the sequence on your keyboard as a standard MIDI file. Some keyboards save their sequences this way all the time. Your computer sequencer (if it's at all current) can surely read SMF's so you should be able to just put the floppy into the computer and load the file into your sequencer.

There is one caveat to this, however. That is the formatting of the disk. If you have a PC computer it is probably only going to be able to read a DOS formatted disk. If you have a Mac, it will read a DOS or Mac formatted disk, but both platforms can sometimes have trouble with disks formatted in your keyboard (depends on model of keyboard). Your best bet is to format the disk you will use in the computer you want to load the file into. Most keyboards will not read Mac formatted disks so if you have a Mac, make sure you format it in DOS (PC) format.

If you intend to eventually put this sequence back into your keyboard make sure you are clear on which type(s) of MIDI file(s) it supports and be sure to save your sequence back to disk in this format.