Boss DR 660 midi help

[N2NXZ]

Glad to see the Boss DR 660 has a use after all these years.Mine was purchased
many years ago new and seemed like too much work to program as a guitarist.
Now have purchased a Yamaha USB-Midi Interface UX16 and after installing the driver,looks to be connected fine.
Now the question...
How can I playback midi files from the PC through the DR 660?
I do not even know how this all works.
So far I have tried several midi software which do show the device is connected properly.
However,I do not know the terms as I am new to midi interfacing. In order to get on the right track,can anyone guide me to easy software / setup to playback my midi files?
So far I have MIDI-OX installed and ready to install CUBASE LE 6 just because I have them.
Hope this makes sense,any help would be appreciated.
JimmyZ

[N2NXZ]

Searching internet for answers and ran across my own question...that tells me I am in for showerless,foodless late nights for something that is most likely simple.

[ssscientist]

it's not possible to use the DR-660 as a sound module. It doesn't accept anything through it's midi in except midi clock. It would need to accept midi note numbers for it to be used that way, and it does not.

In other words, what you're willing to get dirty and hungry for doesn't exist...

You could use it's midi clock capabilities to sync it with Cubase LE 6, but then you'd either need to use either the preset patterns or, as a guitarist, get some rudimentary drum programming skills. If I was you, I'd sit with the machine for an hour and see how far you get. Start with a blank one or two bar pattern, make sure the metronome is enabled and start with the kick drum.

[N2NXZ]

ssscientist

Well,I have the MIDI interface OUT plug from interface going into the MIDI IN on the DR 660.Fired up Cubase LE 6 and select import a midi file then PLAY.
Guess what?
It plays the drum patterns exactly like the original tune through the DR 660 connected to my stereo.
Been waiting 20 years for this as to avoid the lame manual beat programming...or worse yet...dealing with real drummers who never seem to TRY.
It works great now after a trip to the House of Guitars and asking the guru in the shop.
Now to get the bass tracks functioning and start jammin some guitar.

[ssscientist]

Well, hush my mouth! Your DR-660 DOES accept midi note numbers! That's one to file away in the 'never make THAT mistake again' folder...

I'm a guitar player too and my 'lame manual beat programming' skills are not lame at all. In fact, I've been at it for 30 years and if I wanted to I could program a part that an expert drummer couldn't tell was machine-generated.

Kudos to you though for not giving up and seeking a second opinion. I know a lot about midi, but obviously not as much as I think I do!

[N2NXZ]

No problem and thank you for at least trying to answer my question.
It works great for what it is and since I have no patience programming drums into the unit,
the easy way is good enough for me and now enjoy playing guitar to some tunes I have liked over the years.For whatever reason,it has renewed my dwindling passion of guitar playing.
Now I have another question...since the DR 660 also has bass,wondering now if the bass tracks can also
playback with the drums...that would make things even better.Many midi song files have bass tracks.
So far using the pad bank button,I can hear the bass tracks,but the samples are not bass.It seems
it plays other percussion samples and can not seem to assign the pads to the bass samples.
You seem to have this sort of stuff down to a science...maybe you know a solution.
Also notice the drum kits change every time I restart the same song.
Hope this makes sense.

[ssscientist]

As far as your problem w/the kits changing every time you start playback, try putting a Program Change command at the start of the track. You may need to back off the inital downbeat of the song by 5ms or so to give the Program Change command time to work. There is an easy way to do this - according to the DR-660 manual, the machine sends out program changes. First make sure the midi out of the DR-660 is hooked up. Put Cubase in record for a bar or so, select the kit you want on the front panel and press enter if needed. Now take Cubase out of record and play your midi drum track back.

As far as bass lines, that would require your DR-660 to 'listen' on 2 separate midi channels. This is because individual drum hits use midi notes as triggers, while bass lines use midi notes melodically. I don't think the DR-660 is that advanced midi-wise, but I've been wrong before.

[N2NXZ]

Sorry for long delay for reply.
Thanks for the info regarding bass and drum tracks played together from midi files.It would have been great if it was capable to do so.Suppose I could be elaborate and run things through the 4 track and create my own...but too much like work for what I want it for.I play guitar for fun not work.
I did find a much simple software besides Cubase to play back drum GP3/4/5 files.
It is called Sekaiju and is a free software and very easy to use.So that is it for me and does more than I expected as far as what I need here.Hope at least this info will help others looking for some basic midi file playback options using the DR 660.
JimmyZ