Downloading SysEx/data dump from DrumKat to MacBook Pro

I have a technical question: 

For years I’ve been using a Yamaha MDF2 MIDI Data Filer to back up my DrumKat. (I was originally getting my sounds from drum machines/samplers/synths.) I’ve now “graduated” to using my MacBook Pro using Logic & MainStage. (With a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20.) But what I don’t know is how do I backup my data onto my laptop. I know how to send the info in/out to the Kat (MIDI Left ports) but is there some specific software I need for my laptop to capture and return the data? Yes, I can continue to save the data onto the MDF2, but it seems redundant to carry around both the laptop and the data filer when I can simply use my Mac (and external hard drive) to do the same thing. Besides, 3.5 floppy disk are getting harder to find…

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.7

Posted on Nov 6, 2025 6:33 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 6, 2025 8:26 PM

There are apps that will allow you to receive and send sysex data between your Mac and your MIDI gear.

I can't vouch for the performance of any of these, but they are out there. I found a couple with a quick google search. Here's one: https://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/


Also, Logic Pro itself can receive and send sysex data from and to your MIDI devices, though the process is not a straightforward as it probably could be. I'm sure that once you've figured it out it's probably not terribly difficult. You can store your sysex data within a Logic project and recall it at any time.


Check out the Logic Pro User Guide for Mac - Apple Support online for guidance.

Use the search feature once you are looking at the website.


SysEx events in Logic Pro for Mac - Apple Support



4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 6, 2025 8:26 PM in response to etheob

There are apps that will allow you to receive and send sysex data between your Mac and your MIDI gear.

I can't vouch for the performance of any of these, but they are out there. I found a couple with a quick google search. Here's one: https://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/


Also, Logic Pro itself can receive and send sysex data from and to your MIDI devices, though the process is not a straightforward as it probably could be. I'm sure that once you've figured it out it's probably not terribly difficult. You can store your sysex data within a Logic project and recall it at any time.


Check out the Logic Pro User Guide for Mac - Apple Support online for guidance.

Use the search feature once you are looking at the website.


SysEx events in Logic Pro for Mac - Apple Support



Nov 6, 2025 7:55 PM in response to etheob

"Downloading SysEx/data dump from DrumKat to MacBook Pro: [...]is there some specific software I need for my laptop to capture and return the data?[...]"

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Downloading SysEx/data dump from DrumKat to MacBook Pro:


Use Cloud Storage:

I think what you would need to do is back this up through Cloud Storage - iCloud in terms on Apple. Fro there, you can choose where and how to storage it through iCloud. Not so certain that this would sacrifice your goal here, but this is what Google AI has to say on this: accessing Yamaha MDF2 MIDI Data Filer on icloud. Essentially, you would create a folder on your Desktop and the designate that as to where these created files to be saved to, by default. That seems the ultimate way to achieve this: though cloud storage.

Downloading SysEx/data dump from DrumKat to MacBook Pro

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