Hello! I am new to the forum. I just purchased the MOXF8 and am having difficulty loading a MIDI file from the flash drive. This post will be long, but I’m including every piece of information that might help someone to solve my problem.

1) I am using Finale 2012 software. I use Save As and create a Standard MIDI File. I have created two files; one with the 0 option (all instruments to a single track) and the other with the 1 option (all instruments to separate tracks).

2) I then move the file to a flash drive on my MacBook Pro.

3) I follow these instruction I found on the Yamaha website:

Yamaha Instructions:
1). Save a MIDI file onto a USB flash drive.
2). Insert the USB flash drive into the keyboard.
3). Press the [FILE] button.
4). Press the [F3] button for the Load tab.
5). Set the TYPE to “SONG”.
6). Select the desired MIDI file on the right.
7). Press the [SF1] button to EXECUTE.

After Step seven, I get an error message saying: Unknown Error -41999. The file will not load.

4) I was able to import this same file to a Yamaha Clavinova.

5) My point of doing this is to have the MOXF8 playback the music I have created in Finale 2012, but to enable me to use different and better voicing options. So, I believe the correct terminology is that I want to revise a MIDI file.

What am I doing wrong?

As an aside, I tried to have the MOXF8 format the disk and then repeated the steps above. Same error.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Also, the Final website says this about the MIDI file: This is a standard MIDI sequencer file. It can be read by most sequencer programs.

Thanks…

Welcome to the forum.

What’s the exact name of the file you are trying to load, including file extension?

If the file name is something like MidiFile.MID, the Mac might have also created a file named ._MidiFile.MID
- if so, you can’t load the “dot underscore” file.

Which OS version is installed in your MOXF?
To check the OS version…
Press [UTILITY]
Press [JOB]
Read the displayed firmware (Firm:).
See page 150 of the MOXF Reference Manual
The most recent MOXF OS is version 1.10

The exact filename is Nightfall_Piano_0.mid.

The Utility -> Job says: Boot: V1.01 / Firm: V1.03.0

Do I need to update the firmware...and how do I do that? I was on the Yamaha site looking at downloads, but when I clicked on MOXF6/MOXF8 V1.03 Operating System Updater it says:

Error

Some problem occurred: Either some unexpected information has been sent or system failure occurred.
Please go back to the previous page to perform necessary operation, or please wait for a while and try it again.

Here is the site I was on:
http://download.yamaha.com/search/product/?language=en&site=usa.yamaha.com&product_id=1816956

Thanks!

It should be possible to load a proper type 0 or 1 SMF (Standard MIDI File). I don’t know if the latest OS version will help with what you’re experiencing, but it’s probably a good idea to update it anyway, since other issues will be resolved.

The USA download site seems to have continuing problems. The European site is an alternative:
http://download.yamaha.com/search/product/?category_id1=16277&category_id2=16381&product_id=1816956

Also…
MOXF6/MOXF8 V1.10 Operating System Updater direct download:
http://download.yamaha.com/file/62675

Please let us know if updating the OS fixes the problem or not.

Well, bad news...I downloaded the v1.10 updater file and followed the directions in the read me file and got a File Error message. So, I downloaded the v1.03 updater and got the same error message.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

It might be the flash drive. I grabbed another one and it seems to be doing the update. So, I’ll keep you...updated ;-)

Thanks!

moxf2015 - 03 May 2015 08:33 PM

It might be the flash drive. I grabbed another one and it seems to be doing the update. So, I’ll keep you...updated ;-)

Thanks!

If all goes well could you share the make or model of the one that gave you trouble?

Thanks, Stone

moxf2015 - 03 May 2015 08:33 PM

It might be the flash drive. I grabbed another one and it seems to be doing the update. So, I’ll keep you...updated ;-)

Thanks!

OK. :-)

By the way, you might see if the problem with loading the .MID file was related to the particular USB drive.

OK, so I was able to update to v1.10. However, I get the same error message trying to load the file (and I am using the drive that loaded the files. I removed the update files and only have the .mid file on the thumb drive). Further, when I try to play the .mid, I get the message Unknown File Format.

Again, here are the steps:
). Save a MIDI file onto a USB flash drive.
2). Insert the USB flash drive into the keyboard.
3). Press the [FILE] button.
4). Press the [F3] button for the Load tab.
5). Set the TYPE to “SONG”.
6). Select the desired MIDI file on the right.
7). Press the [SF1] button to EXECUTE.
8). Set the song location on the keyboard to load the MIDI file.
9). Press the [SF1] button to EXECUTE.

I get a message saying Please keep power on and then the Unknown error. ( -41999 ) message.

???

Thanks!

stoneb3 - 03 May 2015 08:40 PM

moxf2015 - 03 May 2015 08:33 PM

It might be the flash drive. I grabbed another one and it seems to be doing the update. So, I’ll keep you...updated ;-)

Thanks!

If all goes well could you share the make or model of the one that gave you trouble?

Thanks, Stone

It was a promotional, no-name drive. It seemed to work for other applications. The one that did work, for the update, is a PNY 16GB monkey tail.

5pinDIN - 03 May 2015 08:41 PM

moxf2015 - 03 May 2015 08:33 PM

It might be the flash drive. I grabbed another one and it seems to be doing the update. So, I’ll keep you...updated ;-)

Thanks!

OK. :-)

By the way, you might see if the problem with loading the .MID file was related to the particular USB drive.

I may be mistaken, but I can only see one location for a flash drive input. Is that what you mean by USB drive?

Thanks!

moxf2015 - 03 May 2015 09:23 PM

It was a promotional, no-name drive. It seemed to work for other applications. The one that did work, for the update, is a PNY 16GB monkey tail.

Thanks, appreciate the reply. We try of keep track of compatible/non-compatible drives.

moxf2015 - 03 May 2015 08:57 PM

Again, here are the steps:
). Save a MIDI file onto a USB flash drive.
2). Insert the USB flash drive into the keyboard.
3). Press the [FILE] button.
4). Press the [F3] button for the Load tab.
5). Set the TYPE to “SONG”.
6). Select the desired MIDI file on the right.
7). Press the [SF1] button to EXECUTE.
8). Set the song location on the keyboard to load the MIDI file.
9). Press the [SF1] button to EXECUTE.

After you’ve selected your desired file you should set your target destination. This would be between steps 6 and 7. You may also likely need to be in Song Mode before you enter file mode. I don’t own a MOXF but this has been the case with past models.

moxf2015 - 03 May 2015 08:57 PM

[...] when I try to play the .mid, I get the message Unknown File Format.[...]

Are you trying to play the SMF precisely as instructed on page 160 of the MOXF Reference Manual?

The MOXF Owner’s Manual doesn’t list the “Unknown File Format” message, although it’s listed in the MO Owner’s Manual.

Could you zip and attach the .MID file to a post, so that we can see what might be the problem?

OK, I had to stop thinking like a musician and start thinking like a programmer. I solved the problem and here’s how I did it:

1) 5PinDIN suggested that I post the MIDI file.

2) I decided to look at it in GarageBand before I posted it.

3) The MIDI file loaded, but there were about 20 tracks. The third one was the only one populated.

4) I deleted all the empty tracks.

5) I went to this website and followed the instructions about converting my file into a MIDI file in GarageBand: http://scotttroyer.com/2014/05/export-midi-from-garageband/

6) I followed the instructions here to load the MIDI file: http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/index/id/8196/search_query=load midi file&current_page_id=1

7) I am now able to hear the MIDI file.

However, I was not able to revoice it. I’ll try again tomorrow.

My final recommendation is to check the MIDI source file against another program to see how the actual file looks. I’m not sure why Finale 2012 would output so many empty tracks when I only had one, but it did.

Thanks for all the ideas. They were all very helpful.