Word for the Day Archive

System Exclusive

One of the categories of MIDI messages, System Exclusive (Sys Ex) is data intended for, and understood by, only one particular piece of gear. Normally, this data is used to communicate with and control parameters specific to that item. For example, all of the proprietary data in a Roland D-110 synthesizer representing RAM patches might be sent as a "sys ex dump" to a computer librarian. When the computer sends this data back out over MIDI, the only device recognizing and responding to it will be a D-110, all other synths and MIDI devices will ignore it. Other uses for sys ex? MIDI control of parameters not supported by continuous controllers, remote patch editing, patch bank select, and more - uses depend on, and can be tailored for, each specific piece of MIDI gear - that's the beauty of sys ex!