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Convert Unisyn files to Sysex files

Posted: Sat May 27, 2017 3:07 pm
by rpatters1
In the 80s and 90s I used Unisyn to design patches for Casio CZ-1000 synth modules. I carefully saved my work in Unisyn, which is now useless to me. (The last version I had was Unisyn 1.5, which apparently was pre-OSX.)

Does anyone know of a way to convert my patches to sysex so that I can load them now? Or would anyone who has a functioning Unisyn be willing to do it?

Re: Convert Unisyn files to Sysex files

Posted: Sat May 27, 2017 5:27 pm
by cleamon
I wrote a librarian for the CZ series in the mid-80s. I could display the parameters, but not edit (was working on that when I had to give it up). If you want to send me an example file, I'll take a shot at extracting the data. No promises.

Re: Convert Unisyn files to Sysex files

Posted: Sat May 27, 2017 9:34 pm
by James Steele
Seems like you'd have to find old hardware that could run Unisyn, dump it into the CZ, then dump it back out of the CZ into a generic Sysex app. The CZ was a weird case though as it used unterminated sysex messages sometimes. (Also handshaking had to occur). I wonder if it can send or receive just a straight bulk dump? It should.

Re: Convert Unisyn files to Sysex files

Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 8:44 am
by cleamon
I've written a small utility, command line tool to convert the unisyn file to individual .syx files. I've tested the results with virtualCZ and it seems to be working fine. Should anyone else need this, I'd be happy to convert your files. PM me and we'll set it up. Since the program is "hard wired" for certain things, it's better that I get your file, convert it, then send you the results.