| Main | • | SGX2000 | • | Nightbass | • | SGX-Nitro | • | FAQ | • | Manuals/Resources | • | Links |
Answer: First, be sure that your system meets the minimum requirements as outlined on the download pages. You should have a Windows compatible sound card (e.g. SoundBlaster) with a MIDI adapter (usually a joystick connector to a breakout box with MIDI In/Out jacks). Or you might have a dedicated MIDI card. There are many inexpensive cards and adapters on the market. Make sure you've installed them properly according to the device documentation.
You will need -two- MIDI cables to communicate with your SGX processor. The software sends requests to the SGX via MIDI out and expects to receive responses via MIDI in. Connect MIDI out from your sound card/adapter to the SGX MIDI input jack. Then connect the SGX MIDI out to the sound card MIDI in. This establishes two-way communication and they should both then be able to talk to each other. Do not connect MIDI out to MIDI out or in to in! In other words, hook it up just as you would your guitar or PA rig - e.g. amp out to speaker in.
Other things to consider: The SGX and the software must be set to communicate on the same MIDI channel (1 thru 16). You can select the software setting from the main menu (consult your help file). To set the SGX MIDI channel, go to the unit's Utility menu (consult your manual). Also be sure you have selected the correct MIDI in and out devices in the software (again consult your help file). You may find that your soundcard's internal sound device is initially selected (usually the default MIDI-Out for playing MIDI sequences) and that you'll need to select the external MIDI out device.
Answer: Yes. You can select the "Pre-express" setting from the main menu (consult your help file). This will disable the Express-specific features such as multiple banks and internally generate the correct request codes for your device. There is no difference in the preset format between the two versions. However, presets created for the Express version which use the effects which were not available before (e.g. phaser and dual ptr) will not be backward compatible.
Answer: The customized editor features are device specific and so will only communicate with the target device. I also have made a Line6 Pod editor for those of you who might be interested. But no other devices are currently supported. The basic MIDI in-out-monitoring features of the software are universal however. This can be very handy to troubleshoot any MIDI device. For example, I've been able to verify X-15 foot controller settings by hooking it up to my computer and running the SGX editor. Just move the pedals and you can see in glorious detail every MIDI message it generates in the MIDI Monitor window. Nice. (It will help if you have some familiarity reading hex dumps however).
Answer: I have made available all patches and links to patches that I have. Check out the links and download pages. I don't know of any others. When you find them please send me a copy so I can share them here.
Answer: I am told that they can still be ordered from ART (as of June 2004). Don't know the status on it myself, but you can try contacting them. But reportedly they were still charging full price for the upgrade ($99?) which hardly seems worth it at this point. For another possibly less expensive option, please refer to the firmware section on the Resources page.
Answer: Be sure your video resolution is set to at least 800 x 600 as stated in the system requirements.