Here’s (perhaps) what you’re missing. The MIDI data (events) that are recorded to the Tracks can be saved to a USB stick as a .mid File (this is a Standard MIDI File, Type 0). This does not output or save any of the Tone Generator (Synth) settings. Those settings get stored in the Synthesizer... in a Performance.

The “Song&Perf” link, is just that, it pairs the MIDI event data with the MODX Performance you used to record it... so that recalling the Song data will automatically recall the appropriate Performance.
But at no time is the MODX Performance saved to the .mid File.... only the event data recorded to the Tracks are exported in the .mid File.

Anytime you record data or load data to the MODX Internal Performance Play/Rec function, that data is placed in the MODX’s “Song” Folder.
Press [UTILITY] > touch “Contents” > “Data Utility” > Touch “Song” — here you will see all the Songs that were either created on or loaded to the MODX from a USB stick.

Once data is recalled on the Play/Rec screen you can create a link to a Performance that will be recalled automatically when you dial up that Song title. The data in the Song Folder remains in memory until you delete it or Initialize the internal data.

Thanks for the reply,

So the song data, with exception of midi files isn't actually stored on the USB stick?
Sorry I sound like a dum dum,

Okay,
To anyone reading this.

Song files with exception of midi files,cannot be saved to USB.
I did find I could store everything as a backup and save songs that way.

I would hope for a firmware update to fix the song saving in MODX, but it seems unlikely that will happen.
This isn't a problem.
Just an observation of how MODX saves stuff.

I should mention that saving to a backup file saves everything in MODX.

Maybe this is a mixup of terminology. From the owner’s manual (“Terminology” heading for the Performance Recorder):

Song
======
A Song on this instrument is effectively the same as a song on a MIDI sequencer, and playback automatically stops at the end of the recorded data. The MODX can store up to 128 Songs.

So a Song is MIDI data - that’s it. Internally songs are not stored with any extension that you can see. When you save a song to the USB stick, it always saves as a .MID file.

If you want “song” to record more than that - then you want to save something along with “song”. “Song” is not going to be redefined. What is your concept of a “song file” and how does it differ from the existing definition? Because it’s difficult to discuss if you have your own definition that’s counter to the existing one (I don’t know what you’re thinking).

Thanks for the reply Jason,

Im not sure what my definition of a song in MODX is , lol.
I will go over yours and Bad Misters info while at my MODX and try to get a better understanding of how MODX saves songs.
I think im starting to get it.

I know this should be really simple, but often its the simple things I get hung up on.

Again many thanks to you and Bad Mister.

Don’t over complicate it. The Song is the data you played using the Keyboard and its controllers... it is MIDI event data in the form of Note-On and Control Change messages. The Performance is the programs that were used to play the Song. Consider them separately...

When you go to the Performance Recorder and select “MIDI” you are engaging the instrument’s MIDI data recorder. This is a non-volatile device that documents your interaction with the current Performance. The data you create is referred to as a “Song”. The Song is stored automatically, by the MONTAGE/MODX to the Internal SONG Folder.
If you want to export the Song data in a file, you do so by converting the Song into a .mid File.

This takes the events you recorded and places them in a Standard MIDI File file (.mid) Type 0. This does not included any Bank Select and Program Change information. It includes just what you did between the Record button being engaged and pressing the Stop button. Only.

It does not include the instruments you played. Those are NOT documented in the Song, nor does any info about them appear in the exported .MID File. You could move that .mid File to any other sequencer. You could ‘re-voice’ the Performance — Select a different Drum Kit, a different Electric Piano, choose a Flute instead of the Synth Lead you recorded originally.

Back in the day it was easier to understand these as separate components because each thing was a separate device.

Here’s an analogy that will possibly help.
The KX88 was Yamaha’s Master MIDI Controller Keyboard. It made no sounds only generated MIDI DATA.
The QX1 was Yamaha’s stand-alone Sequencer. It recorded no sounds only recorded the MIDI events generated by the KX88
The TX816 was Yamaha’s Tone Generator (8 DX7’s in a box), it was the sounds you used.

The KX88 connected to the QX1 Sequencer via a MIDI cable, the QX1 connected to the TX816 via 8 MIDI cables.
The sequencer’s file does not contain the sounds used. The sounds used where saved as a separate TX816 file. You restored the sounds to the Tone Generator separately from the documented event data. Two separate files. Two separate devices. You manually linked your Tone Generator Program with the MIDI data that you generated.

In MONTAGE/MODX... The SONG is a proprietary format... kept in the “Song Folder”
You can export it in a .MID File... a Standard MIDI File readable by most any DAW or hardware Sequencer. You would export it for one of two reasons: 1) to have a safety copy of your data, 2) to move it to a DAW or other Sequencer.
The sounds you used are held in a PERFORMANCE... kept in the “Performance Folder”.
And because no Bank Select and Program Changes were inserted in the .mid data, it is just the performing on the Keyboard and the moving of controllers that is documented in that file.

The Sequencer of the MONTAGE/MODX can create a link between the Performance you used and the Song data you recorded. This is the “Song&Perf” that you can store internally. This places a header on the Song data that tells the Tone Generator what Performance to recall when you recall the SONG.

The Song is Yesterday
The band or Perf (sounds used) are The Beatles
The MIDI data is the sheet music

If you want Yesterday played back by The Rolling Stones (a different Performance) you can do that... because the Song is separate from the band (Performance). Simply hand the sheet music to a new band.

A most excellent explanation Bad Mister,

I was treating the song as the one thing only.

I will make sure songs are tied to performances, plus i will save as midi file just to be safe.
The way MODX saves songs threw me off, but im getting it now.
Anyone else would have understood your first explanation, but I can be a bit of a dum dum sometimes.
God bless you for having the patients to reexplain the song workings of MODX.

Many thanks to you and Jason.:D