Korg DW-8000 Midi Sysex TUTORIAL

Ever so often I get asked about how to actually do a sysex transfer of my patch bank to the DW-8000 or EX-8000 so here is the answer. A step by step tutorial on how to set this up.
You must do this to the DW-8000/EX-8000 prior to transfer:
Parameter 84 must be set to "1" and parameter 85 must be set to "2". Write Enable must be "ON".
Use both MIDI In and Out on your MIDI interface and be aware that not all Midi interfaces will work for all Midi sysex transfers.
That's why I have two different ones, the Roland UM-One and a M-Audio Midisport 4x4. Sometimes I have to switch between these two, for various synths and sysex data.
Don't forget to actually choose the interface you use in the sysex transfer program!
In my experience I've never came across a working DW-8000 that was unable to receive a sysex transfer. I've been using them for over 30 years and I've used a lot of them. I f you can't get this to work you're not following the above steps to the T.
However, using a Mac for sysex transfer is a recipe for hurt. I strongly advice against using a Mac for any such thing.
www.bome.com/p...
My patch bank for the DW-8000 can be found here:
thepatchbay.co...
Support this channel on Patreon:
/ espenkraft

[@tommiilee]

Dear Espen, thanks for this tutorial. It helps me a lot to load factory sysex to Korg DW 6000. A little difference is only in parameters numbers. I changed in DW 6000: Parameter 81 to 1 (Midi channel 1), Parameter 82 to 2 (Note Data enable ALL) ❤

[@Roisland]

Thanks!

[@jselfdoubt]

You just saved my life! I never understood how to do this sysex things and I couldn't find any result for my DW-8000 because of it's age.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers! :D

[@andyhelmholz9838]

I just got the notification that you uploaded a video and thought you were kidding. I just bought your sysex on friday and had a real hard time uploading it on my dw8000, I also just recently bought - because of your video. That thing is marvelous. I also got the alpha juno after watching your presentation. Big up and keep the good work. I m now thinking about buying sy77 or tg77 but you didn’t do a video on it so I remain undecided lol.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks for the support, I appreciate it! I will probably do something with the SY77 in a bit. Both the SY77 and TG77 are great synths, well worth having if you have the space. (SY77).

[@andyhelmholz9838]

@@EspenKraft you‘re ridiculously humble - thank you for sharing your knowledge and music. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for it. Stay safe.

[@kaivincenzigginemeth2789]

I am using a ESI MIDI to USB on my DW-8000 and my Computer , it works perfect .

[@Nmh]

Did this with the Um-1 and your dw-8000 patches a few weeks back and was surprised at how easy it was! Thanks again

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome, thanks a lot!

[@mikeskory3157]

Sorry for jumping on so late. I think I have this set up right for the transfer but the DW-8000 will not let me select parameter 84 or 85. On fresh start it says 8.8 but whatever I press will go to 6.x. For example if I press 84 it reads 6.4. If I hit 85 it reads 6.5 and so on. Has anybody ever seen that?

[@mikeskory3157]

I'm working on a DW8000 for a customer. I had that same problem. Had to replace the #1-#8 tac switches. Solved that problem but I still can't get the download to happen.

[@marcump]

Thank you, my midi interface must be the problem. I will purchase this one since it's proven to work.

[@EspenKraft]

Good luck! :)

[@ombo000]

Hi Espen, I landed here because I was searching for information if it's possible to send a single patch from the dw8000 to my computer and vice versa. Cause that's the only chance I see to make my own collection with only the sounds I like on the synth. Thanks and greetings from Berlin

[@EspenKraft]

Use Unisynth as I link to in the video description.

[@ombo000]

@@EspenKraft thanks so much! Worked with the second midi interface

[@geir6159]

Nice! 😃 I used to have my dumps on a cassette. But now I use my phone and the tape option on my EX-8000 🤓

[@EspenKraft]

Absolutely, that works fine. ;-)

[@knobkraft8131]

I had sooo many problems with the volume level in getting my DW-8000 to accept the audio, I wrote a software that converts WAV files into sysex without the device: github.com/christofmuc/dw8000_wav2syx. That was fun.

[@AirGuitar]

Nothing happened when I pressed Send. Bad MIDI cable? I did every other step correctly, and I've used the same interface to install sysex files in 2019. Hopefully the MIDI ports on the synth haven't gone bad.

[@futago.sounds]

Thanks Espen. When you have a little time, could you indicate how to download the complete sysex with the 64 sounds? Thank you 🤗

[@EspenKraft]

If you buy my patches you get a download link. That's it.

[@docteurgreene]

Espen have you heard about the new Korg ModWave? this seems to be based on the old DW8000...

[@EspenKraft]

Yes I have and everything about screams "not for me". I'm simply not interested in this, at all. Too DJ/Groove oriented and too much lights and bling. My teenage kids would be impressed, I'm not. ;)

[@docteurgreene]

​@@EspenKraft same for me... :)

[@lajolieplanete.8179]

Thank you for your Wonderfull Hiqht Quality video. I love!

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks! :)

[@tidusandjecht10]

For anyone using SysEx librarian on Mac, it only worked when I set the transmit buffer size to 4

[@nyyhurwitz1]

Awesome and thank you! Just wondering how to transfer my own patches via sysex back to sysex library. I couldn't figure it out via the manual. any help appreciated thank you!

[@EspenKraft]

You can't do that on the DW-8000 without using more advanced sysex techniques. Use Unisynth as I link to in the video description.

[@nyyhurwitz1]

@@EspenKraft Thank you!

[@soundisles]

Great video. Do you also use that Roland UM-ONE to transfer sysex patches to the DW-8P programmer?

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! No, the UM-ONE does not work for flashing the Retroaktiv controllers. "Active sensing" ruins that on that one.

[@soundisles]

@@EspenKraft yeah I've been having trouble getting extra patches to the expanded memory card on the DW-8P due to probable active sensing on my interface. Trying to find a better MIDI option.

[@EspenKraft]

The M-Audio MidiSport interfaces works very well for updating the Retroaktiv stuff.

[@Mrmre]

I think the poly800 if i remember correcrtly is the same process

[@eaglechildkeys]

This synth is one of the best I've ever owned.

[@Sonikbytes]

The modulated delay reeealy can fatten things up in a good way

[@johnfinnis8373]

Thanks for a very useful video, Espen. Much appreciated. I'm trying to save my present patches by dumping them to pc using Bome but can't seem to find a way to do it. The usb midi cable works perfectly and it's all wired up right but blowed if I can find a way to export from the synth!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! You can't do it that way. You don't have a way to dump them from the synth over to Bome. You should download Unisynth, I link to that from my original DW-8000 video. It's free and it will do what you want. You must have a PC though.

[@johnfinnis8373]

@@EspenKraft Thank you for the info, sir. I figured as much, so Unisynth it is!

[@asdifasi]

Very nice. Espen please do the same with Yamaha TX 81z

[@EspenKraft]

I don't have the TX81Z anymore. It's gone. ;-)

[@damion2226]

Espen, can you just use your DAW instead of having to use a third party like Bome? Thanks

[@EspenKraft]

Yes you can.

[@MrSOUNDSOL]

Hi, thank you very much for the Infos. I habe hier an old Emagic amt8 with USB. I send the patches from the Mac an i see in the midi interface the leds lighting. But the DW8000 dont do anythings. It is possible that the amt8 dont give the right informations to the Keyboard?

[@EspenKraft]

Mac and sysex can often be trouble. The MIDI interface is also critical and not all midi interfaces will work.

[@MrSOUNDSOL]

@@EspenKraft Thank you very much and happy New Year 2022!!! 🍀🎹🎉

[@markustg09]

I am restoring a Korg DW 8000 I have it back up and running but am having midi patch loading SYSEX issues. I use Midi OX and also the suggested program SendEX in this video For some reason it only wants to take the first patch for memory location 11. That location works but the rest of the locations do not take when I send them over Midi in the same batch. I have re-set the memory more than once, and that clears it, but then again only on patch will stay.. I have the version 7 Firmware ROM that I think is the oldest. I see version 13 firmware ROM's for sale and one of them denotes improvement in Midi. Anyone have an idea if the new firmware is what may be needed?

[@reubenrussi6210]

Is there a way to use this program to back up the patch's you already have on your DW 8000? There's some patches currently on thr synth I want to keep.

[@takemeback9904]

Hi In your patch bank I can find oryginal korg dw8000 patch songs plus your custom patches Or just your custom patches? Thanks greetings

[@EspenKraft]

My patch bank is 64 original patches. The factory patch bank is easily found online.

[@jackellister5522]

do you happen to know if also the DW6000 is able to do sysex dumps and loads ?

[@EspenKraft]

Yes it does. Same as the DW-8000.

[@toadspit9635]

does this apply to the DW-6000 also

[@EspenKraft]

Can't tell. Don't have a 6000 in now, it's been a while.

[@geoffduncanmusic]

I love my DW-8000!! I've been getting great results with the RetroAktiv DW-8P Programmer, if anyone has considered getting one. It's made it very simple and fast to create original sounds and tweak sounds to suit whatever I'm working on. Cheers!

[@EspenKraft]

It's a great controller!

[@thetexascaromclub8741]

Where can I find the factory preset patches for this synth?

[@EspenKraft]

That's what Google is for.

[@thetexascaromclub8741]

@@EspenKraft lol thanks

[@Wacholder]

Midi In -> Midi In? That´s the first time is see this being done. All the gear i know needs to have Midi In -> Midi Out and vice versa...

[@EspenKraft]

Only meant that the physical MIDI plug named "MIDI IN" must go the the MIDI IN on the DW-8000, that's what it means and you wouldn't believe how many actually does this wrong and thus can't get the sysex transfer going. ;-)

[@musicbycandlelightmbc3225]

Hello Espen Kraft. Your videos make me miss the JX-3P, DX-7, D-50, and my Juno-106. All gone now from old one sided divorce. I also had a EMU-Proteus-1 and twin Yamaha FB-01 modules. At that time, I had used the Alesis HR-16 for the drum machine. It was awesome! For reverb, I surprisingly still have the Alesis QuadraVerb. I do have that drum machine but is sitting in the US. Do you remember an analog string/bass synthesizer by Crumar? I think it was the Crumar Performer back in 1979. My keyboard player when I was young had one and a Yamaha CP-30 electric piano. In my old band while playing the song, "Coming Home," by Brian Adams, I played the string part on it. It was a ridiculously easy part. Next song played would be me playing the lead guitar parts for Deep Purple's, "Highway Star." Another keyboard I had the privilege of playing in 1975 was the FARFISA Synthorchestra Analog Synthesizer. An Italian made product. It was great for lead synth parts. Gosh I am old...lol. It was weird though as toggle switches were right below the keys. This vintage synth was used by Klaus Schulze on his album, "Moondawn," by Ash Ra (Ashra Tempel) and by Vangelis. It sure was unique for such an odd oldy. Both the Crumar and Farfisa together were outstanding for string, leads, and fx work.

[@EspenKraft]

I remember most of what Crumar did yes. ;-) Cheers

[@wichobicho123]

Hi Espen! I tried to dump the files using two different interfaces, a focusrite 2i4 and a focusrite 18i8 but still no luck. Using a Mac with Os Catalina 10.15.6. Can I convert your files to dump through tape memory? Or should I try another interface?

[@EspenKraft]

MAC can be tricky. You can't convert this to audio either. You should get an old Windows PC, PCs are much better for this kind of stuff.

[@wichobicho123]

@@EspenKraft thanks for the reply! I’ll try this on PC

[@GeraldreiDaniel]

Awesome :-)

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@tonyjackson5261]

Hey EK, is this the same program you us for your S-10?

[@EspenKraft]

No. The I use "S-10 manager" for that. That's a program made specifically for the S-10.

[@papacarsten8375]

it works ! Very nice. Thx Espen. Great. i loaded the original MEX Factory Bank. I have also the Factory Banks of the DW8000. But i don't have a "bank" file, only each preset as its own sysex. You know how can i "build" a bank of all the 64 sysex files ? If not, do you know, where i can get the original banks ? First of all i will buy your patches at patchbay. There are awesome ( as all of your patches) ;-)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks for saying Papa! The DW-8000 is in itself quite crude in how it handles sysex transfers so I highly recommend using Unisynth, as I link to in the original demo video of the patches. That program (you don't need the paid version) gives you all the flexibility you want to change single sounds etc. Mind you, it's Windows only. It's a fantastic program to use if you spend a lot of time with the DW-8000.

[@Sonikbytes]

Perhaps you could also do a tutorial: how to dump an internal bank to tape as there is no MIDI DUMP in DW...something I had to learn just recently. Now just got to program my old Peavay pc 1600 controller for DW :)

[@EspenKraft]

Just use Unisynth, as I link to in the original DW-8000 video I did. With that you can do it all in terms of patches over Midi. Easy, fast and it works perfectly. I have no plans of doing any tape-transfer tutorials for the DW-8000. ;-)

[@Sonikbytes]

@@EspenKraft I do use mac os sysex program to send banks but DW has no MIDI DUMP (internal RAM) command onboard DW as far as I know. Its a limitation...says so online as well.

[@EspenKraft]

Unisynth is Windows only, but it's clever and bypasses a lot of the limitations set by other programs.

[@knobkraft8131]

@@Sonikbytes Mine is macOS and Windows, and free as in OpenSource: github.com/christofmuc/KnobKraft-orm

[@ryansnyder9556]

I tried the mio XC interface from Guitar Center because I was impatient and didn't want to wait for shipping with the Roland UM-1. THE MIO XC DID NOT WORK I know not all interfaces work. But just add this to the list of interfaces that do not work. I hope I can save someone the money and the hassle of buying the incorrect interface. -ryan s.

[@ryansnyder9556]

UPDATE: The Roland UM-ONE arrived and EVERYTHING JUST WORKED. THANK YOU!!!!

[@kiko1935]

This is handy! Question, maybe you might know: recent ex8000 owner. I've noticed that when using the dw8p, the parameters seem to move someone slow (like cut off for example), reminds me of the matrix 6r in terms of lag. Is that just how the ex8000/dw is or could this be a configuration issue on my end?

[@EspenKraft]

Can't say I've noticed any noticeable lag in either the DW or the EX myself. Is it only when using the DW8P? Then you should ask Retroaktiv.

[@anoniconoclast2030]

Why doesn't this guy get the turbo mod?

[@EspenKraft]

I have no need for that. I generally don't like hardware mods on my own synths.

[@anoniconoclast2030]

@@EspenKraft You're missing out man.

[@EspenKraft]

@@anoniconoclast2030 I make music. I'm not a gearhead.

[@anoniconoclast2030]

@@EspenKraft Sure you are, you got the Programmer for it. The patches one can make with the turbo mod are wonderful. But you don't know it.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

It is said that primitive man didn't have 'nostalgia.' Nostalgia is something for modern people. It can be argues some of the political uprising has to do with a desire for nostalgia. We want things back like they were back then. "Back then, things were good." Social network programs seek to fulfil this human need for nostalgia.

[@EspenKraft]

I wanted the 80s back way before the internet became common. I was there so I remember how epic it was. ;-)

[@TheUrbanK]

Espen! do you have an Emulator in your studio 0:15 ? :-)

[@EspenKraft]

;-) Didn't you watch my video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mV68ZWSwfaqHpJY

[@TheUrbanK]

@@EspenKraft Nice, no sorry i have not. It's a nice machine and it's a + to, our Emulator is only a II. Korg DW-8000 is a very nice synth, it's so 80's. Korg is our favorite brand of Synth, we have Poly 800II, DW-6000, DW-8000, Wavestation, M1, Korg DS-8, TR-rack, Poly 61 and about 20 more synths of different brands.

[@EspenKraft]

He-he, no problem friend, I just got so many comments on the pick-up video after that "Santa's wish list". ;-) I'm very happy to have this for a visit and I'm already making some music with it and of course there will be a video eventually too. :)

[@spektrum8740]

First !! Love u !

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@jimgourgoutis]

Man I miss my DW-8000! I continue to kick myself for selling it.

[@RosalvoParadella]

Eu uso o app SYX-LIB No meu celular android e uma interface midi Roland UM-one, funciona perfeitamente. Já salvei programações de ritmos da drum machine Alesis SR16/18 e também do Yamaha PSR 510. Também deve funcioar com o Korg DW8000. O SYX-LIB. Está disponível no Google Play Store.

[@knobkraft8131]

Great video showing the sysex setting setup! I finally got me an EX-8000 as I cannot live without that sound, and that made me add the DW-8000/EX-8000 as a supported device to the free Sysex Librarian I am developing. This is a software to manage all your patches in a database on your computer, and send them into the synth for auditioning with a single click, without having to bother with the synth's patch programs. You would not send the bank into the synth, but rather load the sysex file into the software, and then send it from there. Adapts to MIDI channel changes as well, but needs the same setup for bidirectional communication Espen shows in the video. If you want to give it a try, here is a link: github.com/christofmuc/KnobKraft-orm, and it supports a lot of other synths as well!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks for sharing! I'm sure there's some wanting to try this out. Cheers :D

[@IncorrectDisposal]

Should reach out to Audaire and do a demo of their Zenith synth editor/ parameter sequencer. I can confirm it controls the EX8000 nicely and has many other profiles for old hardware or configure your own: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZiaooR8p8yWkNk

[@EspenKraft]

The Retroaktiv controller for the DW-8000 ( I have a video tutorial on this) is the best controller there is for the DW-8000. No other can beat it. ;-)