Tools for MIDI file transfer in DOS/Windows9x \ VOGONS

Tools for MIDI file transfer in DOS/Windows9x

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First post, by ludicrous_peridot

Posted on 2025-07-26, 12:38

ludicrous_peridot Offline

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Ran into a device which can interface a Yamaha MDF2 for MIDI transfers.
Which got me curious what PC software could be used as a replacement for MDF2 to make such transfer.
I am hoping something like this exists.... doesn't it?

GA-G41M-Combo G41/ICH7 - Core 2 Quad Q9550 - DDR3 1033 - Radeon RX570 - YMF744 (Cobra) - X3MB (Buran)
Beetle/M/i815+ICH2 - Celeron 566Mhz - Opti 924 (Typhoon Media)

Reply 1 of 3, by SScorpio

Posted on 2025-07-26, 13:45

SScorpio Offline

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What do you mean by MIDI transfer? The Yamaha MDF2 can both record and playback MIDI files from a floppy drive.

Any MIDI file player on the PC does pretty much the same thing as playback when you route it to an external MIDI interface. And there are many software utilities that can record MIDI input.

What are you trying to do?

Reply 2 of 3, by ludicrous_peridot

Posted on 2025-07-27, 07:38

ludicrous_peridot Offline

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I would like to use my PC for MDR-based transfers to connected MIDI devices, similar to how MDF2 is used.

Here is the relevant page from MDF2 manual.

The attachment Screenshot_2025-07-27-09-30-32-508_mega.privacy.android.app-edit.jpg is no longer available

Because I only have MIDI out of my legacy gameport, the software I am looking for would be for DOS or Windows 9x.

GA-G41M-Combo G41/ICH7 - Core 2 Quad Q9550 - DDR3 1033 - Radeon RX570 - YMF744 (Cobra) - X3MB (Buran)
Beetle/M/i815+ICH2 - Celeron 566Mhz - Opti 924 (Typhoon Media)

Reply 3 of 3, by SScorpio

Posted on 2025-07-28, 12:53

SScorpio Offline

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Gotcha, this appear to be a proprietary Yamaha function to dump a device's memory to then back it up to a file on a MDF2/3.

However, from reading it appears Yamaha just sends this data over via MIDI SysEx messages which is how various other synths support upload patches. It appears that any software that can capture SysEx message should work. https://faq.yamaha.com/usa/s/article/U0002260

MIDI OX on the PC side or other SysEx compatible software should work. https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles … x-on-pc-or-mac/

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