There's good relevant info in the similar topic I started a while back, at https://www.yamahasynth.com/ask-a-question/preventing-parts-from-sending-midi-globally

but the TL;DR version just to answer your question is that the best thing to do is not set your external device to receive on channel 1, but instead use channels 9-16 for your external sounds.

OK,

Answered my own question here. Set MIDI I/O mode to single and changed it to Ch. 2. Now it is only transmitting out on Ch. 1 when I turn on the Zone Master.

**Just for clarification, I am using the MODX with an iPad running B3-X and the Crumar D9X drawbar controller which is set by default to transmit on Ch 1. Changing the channel on the D9X requires reprogramming via Arduino which I am unfamiliar with. This is why it is easier for me right now just to have the MODX not transmit on Ch. 1 unless I want it to control the B3-x app. Eventually I can figure out how to make an Arduino sketch and reprogram it.

Hi Ben,
Just some clarification. The MODX will transmit Out all MIDI data that if captured by a MIDI sequencer, would cause the MODX engine to precisely reproduce your performance down to the most minute detail. That is the primary task of any keyboard you play on — it sends every note-on, control movement, etc., Out via MIDI… so that when that data is played back, it reproduces what you did. This is the normal condition for most any synth or keyboard.

When you wish to control something external to the MODX, you have a separate function for it becoming a Master Keyboard Controller.
As you know, the MODX is capable of transmitting on as many as eight MIDI Channels simultaneously. As you’ll see you transmit from the Keyboard Controller to the internal Tone Generator, or you can replace the internal Tone Generator with an external instrument.

There are 8 Parts/Zones, there can be any combination of internal and external that adds up to 8.

The Zone Master Keyboard functions (when active) allows you to build a Part slot specifically to address your external device.
By adding a Part, and assigning a MODX internal sound, then among the Zone settings, turning the INT SW (Internal Switch) = Off, you can replace the internal sound with your external device. The slot and the external instrument are now represented in a similar way as the internal Parts.

Now all the parameters you setup in the “Zone Settings” and” Zone Transmit” can be focused on controlling your external device.
When you create this slot, you should give this Part a Name (Name it after the external instrument and whatever sound you are controlling). Now you can select and move these Part settings you make for it from Performance to Performance, as you would any internal MODX Part.

Remember: If you have multiple internal Parts that you want to play together with the external synth, simply activate the green KBD CTRL icon on both the internal Part slots and the Part slot you designated to control the external instrument.

If you want to have just the external synth sounding, then you can simply program it with KBD CTRL as inactive… then when you *select* that MODX Part, you will be transmitting to your external device.

Alternatively, you could store the Performance with KBD CTRL active only on the Part slot containing your external Zone information.
When setting up your external Zone Transmit Channel, you can choose any Channel 1-16… you do not have to use slot #1. But do realize that the MODX will likely be using Channel 1 for an internal Part (if you leave KBD CTRL active) You can manage this…

The MODX naturally wants to occupy the first 8 MIDI channels starting from 1.
If your external device requires Channel 1, you will need to program each instance where you are combining it with internal Parts, naturally.
If you wish to play just the external device, you can create a MODX Performance dedicated to the external Zone or you can simply set it up so that it only sounds when you *select* that Part directly.
If you want to switch between internal and external Parts, you can manipulate the activity using the “KBD CTRL” function — which Parts are KBD CTRL active can be stored in a [SCENE] for quick/easy recall.

Extra Credit
When you are using Category Search to *replace* an existing PART, you are given several options of making the selection and bringing along its “Mix” settings, it’s “Arp” and “Motion Sequences”, it’s “Scene” settings, and/or it’s “Zone” settings. It is this way you can simply move your external Part/Zone from Performance to Performance same as you would select an internal Part and it’s settings.

Hope that helps.

Hi Ben,
Just some clarification. The MODX will transmit Out all MIDI data that if captured by a MIDI sequencer, would cause the MODX engine to precisely reproduce your performance to the most minute detail. That is the primary task of any keyboard you play on — it sends every note-on, control movement, etc., Out via MIDI.

The Zone Master Keyboard functions (when active) allows you to build a Part slot specifically to address your external device.
By creating a MODX Part, then turning the INT SW (Internal Switch) = Off, you can replace the internal sound with your external device.

To be honest, it doesn't really. Found this explanation hard to follow. I'll dig into the manual, but this is one of the reasons I have been slow to buy the MODX. Yamaha seems to think it knows better than its users and over complicates certain functions while hamstringing others( i.e.midi)

I think the solution I described above will work for my needs, unless you disagree?

Also my two cents is that the whole point of a zone master should be that it overrides whatever else the keyboard does via midi. Otherwise it is not much of a master, no? I get the distinction between multi and single midi I/O mode but seems like the original Motif series had more flexibility in this regard.

There's good relevant info in the similar topic I started a while back, at https://www.yamahasynth.com/ask-a-question/preventing-parts-from-sending-midi-globally

but the TL;DR version just to answer your question is that the best thing to do is not set your external device to receive on channel 1, but instead use channels 9-16 for your external sounds.

Hi Scott, thanks for the response. See my 2nd response right before yours for my solution and why I need to do it this way at least for the time being.

Actually, hard to follow or not, Zone Master does determine for the MODX what it will do Out via MIDI, and it does override the current MIDI I/O Mode setting. Take your time, eventually you may come around and see that it actually IS more powerful than the Motif XF.

The whole purpose of the Zone Master is not just external control but to integrate internal synth Parts with external control. And allows you to customize what gets transmitted from the MODX to each Zone.