Using Your Instrument with
Other Devices
PSR-S900/S700 Owner’s Manual 203
What is MIDI?
Example: Recording a performance with the auto accompa-
niment (Style playback) sound of the instrument to an exter-
nal sequencer
As you can see, it is essential to determine which data is
to be sent over which MIDI channel when transmitting
MIDI data (page 207).
The instrument also allows you to determine how the
received data is played back (page 208).

System Messages

This is data that is used in common by the entire MIDI
system. These include System Exclusive messages for
transferring data unique to each instrument manufac-
turer and Realtime messages for controlling the MIDI
device.
The messages transmitted/received by the PSR-S900/
S700 are shown in the MIDI Data Format and MIDI
Implementation Chart in the Data List. The Data List is
available at the Yamaha website. (See page 5.)
What You Can Do With MIDI
■Record your performance data (1–16 channels) using
the auto accompaniment features on an external
sequencer (or computer with sequencer software).
After recording, edit the data with the sequencer,
then play it back on the instrument.
When you want to use the instrument as an XG-com-
patible multi-timbral tone generator, set the receive part
for MIDI channels 1-16 to “SONG” in MIDI/USB 1 in
MIDI Receive (page 208).
■Controlling from an external MIDI keyboard
MIDI Data Compatibility
This section covers basic information on data compati-
bility: whether or not other MIDI devices can playback
the data recorded by PSR-S900/S700, and whether or
not the PSR-S900/S700 can playback commercially
available song data or song data created for other
instruments or on a computer. Depending on the MIDI
device or data characteristics, you may be able to play
back the data without any problem, or you may have to
perform some special operations before the data can be
played back. If you run into problems playing back
data, please refer to the information below.

Sequence Formats

Song data is recorded and stored in a variety of different
systems, referred to as “sequence formats.”
Playback is only possible when the sequence format of
the Song data matches that of the MIDI device. The
PSR-S900/S700 is compatible with the following for-
mats.
● SMF (Standard MIDI file)
This is the most common sequence format. Standard
MIDI Files are generally available as one of two types:
Format 0 or Format 1. Many MIDI devices are compati-
ble with Format 0, and most commercially available
software is recorded as Format 0.
•The PSR-S900/S700 is compatible with both Format 0
and Format 1.
• Song data recorded on the PSR-S900/S700 is auto-
matically saved as SMF Format 0.
● ESEQ
This sequence format is compatible with many of
Yamaha’s MIDI devices, including the PSR-S900/S700
series instruments. This is a common format used with
various Yamaha software.
•The PSR-S900/S700 is compatible with ESEQ.
● XF
The Yamaha XF format enhances the SMF (Standard
MIDI File) format with greater functionality and open-
ended expandability for the future. The PSR-S900/S700
is capable of displaying lyrics when an XF file contain-
ing lyric data is played. (SMF is the most common for-
mat used for MIDI sequence files. The PSR-S900/S700 is
compatible with SMF Formats 0 and 1, and records
“song” data using SMF Format 0.)
● Style File
The Style File Format (SFF) combines all of Yamaha’s
auto accompaniment know-how into a single unified
format.
Message Name Operation/Panel Setting
System Exclusive
Message
Effect type settings (Mixing Console),
etc.
Realtime Messages Clock setting,
Start/stop operation
MIDI cable
Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 3
Channel 4
Channel 5
Channel 6
Channel 7
Channel 8
Channel 9
Channel 10
Channel 11
External sequencer
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10
Track 11
PSR-S900/S700 track
(channel)
RIGHT 1
RIGHT 2
LEFT
STYLE instrument
STYLE instrument
STYLE instrument
STYLE instrument
STYLE instrument
STYLE instrument
STYLE instrument
STYLE instrument
MIDI IN MIDI OUT
MIDI OUT MIDI IN
Instrument
MIDI receive
MIDI transmit Computer or
Sequencer
MIDI IN MIDI OUT
Instrument
MIDI receive