How can I get a Kurzweil sequence into an external sequencer?

Importing .MID Files

Both the K2000 and K2500/K2600 can import Standard MIDI Files (.MID). However, prior to v3.54, the K2000 would only import type 0 .MID files. There are two commonly used .MID formats – type 0 and type 1. If you receive an error message saying the file can’t be imported, it is probably a type 1 file.

To convert a file from type 1 to type 0, you simply need another sequencer, such as a software sequencer, that can read both formats. Load the file into that sequencer and export it, making sure to specify type 0.

If you upgrade the K2000 to v3.54 or later, it will be able to read type 1 files.

Exporting .MID Files

To export a sequence to another sequencer, the easiest way is to save the file as a .MID file. To do this, once you have selected Save in Disk Mode, press the Export soft button. Select the MID soft button and you will see a list of all Songs currently in the Kurzweil’s memory. Simply select the song you want exported and follow through the rest of the save dialogs. For all versions of the K2000 or the K2500 with a version prior to v2.52, the file is always exported in type 0 format. If you have v2.52 or later for the K2500 (or a K2600), you will be given a choice of type 0 or type 1.

What’s the difference between type 0 and type 1?

Type 1 files contain separate information for each track. For a type 0 file, however, all the tracks are merged into a single track, although MIDI channel information is still retained. When a type 0 file is loaded into a sequencer, it will take each channel’s information and put it on a separate track. So for a typical sequence with one track per MIDI channel, it will not normally matter if the sequence is saved as type 0 or type 1. But if your source sequence has several tracks assigned to the same M IDI channel (for example several drum tracks playing the same program on the same channel, but with an individual drum sound on each track), then it is best to export it as a type 1 file. If exported as type 0, all tracks assigned to the same channel will be merged into a single track when the .MID file is loaded.

An alternative way to move a sequence to another sequencer

If your external sequencer can’t read a .MID file, or you have some reason for not wanting to export it in that format, you can record a sequence in real time from the Kurzweil to another sequencer. Make sure that the Control parameter on the MIDI Transmit page is set to Both and that the tracks in the song are all assigned to Local + MIDI (eachTrack Destination parameter on the Song Edit COMMON page will be set to “-“). On the Song Mode MISC page, make sure Sync is set to Transmit or Both. On the external sequencer, set it to sync to an External Clock. Set up the tracks on the external sequencer to match all the channels being used on the Kurzweil sequence and make sure it is set to Multi-Record. (This will allow you to record multiple channels of information in one pass. If the sequencer can’t do this, you will have to make one pass for each MIDI channel.) Then press Record on the external sequencer and Play on the Kurzweil. The data will be recorded in real time.

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