Ok, well I've owned this thing for about 3 or 4 years now and still can't figure it out! I've read the manual too many times..

I'm not exactly sure what I'm trying to do here. I compose music in midi on my computer. The synth is hooked up to the computer so that it will playback the midi.

I have always used the GM mode.. I know I am missing out on ALOT of different sounds and patches. I think what I want to do is be able to setup the 'user' group with an assortment of instruments that can be played from my computer just like general midi. So exactly the same type of instruments in the same part number (I think that is what it is) as general midi, but some of the instruments changed to other ones I like better on the synth.

I'm using a very limited midi program. Well, actually it's a guitar tablature program that can play back your tabs as midi as well as export as a midi file. The only thing I can do in that is sellect different instrument types (all preset into the program) and change the channel they are on. So I can't really do much with that program so all the changes need to be done on the synth itself.

According to the manual, I set the synth to the performance mode, set the patch channel (for the first instrument I set it to channel 2) then in the midi program I set that track to channel 2. Then I turn the category/bank knob and find the patch I want. Then for the next instrument I set the channel to 3, (and set it to 3 in the midi program).. then go about it the same way I did the first one.

Now, when I hit play in the midi program it doesn't play any of the instruments I sellected. Also I noticed if I change the instrument type in the program itself.. (change from #24 accoustic guitar to #56 trumpet) it changes the sound that comes out of the synth on that track. What instrument am I suppose to set the program too? I figured if I just set it to the right channel it would play that instrument no matter what?

But anyways, that's not exactly how I want to go about doing it. I would rather setup my own defaults on the 'user' group that stay their everytime I turn the synth on. So I can just leave it set at user regardless if im writing my own midi or listening to downloaded midi. I just want to use some of the better instrument patches that are on it other than the ones in the general midi.

phew..

I will appreciate any help or info I can get. :-)
Thanks