EMUSIC-L Digest Volume 29, Number 7 This issue's topics: Reliable SR-16 dumps - suggestions? Quadraverb Help! (3 messages) Software synthesis? Ensoniq keyboard problems Editors for VFX and Q-verb (2 messages) nick's fave rave (3 messages) Yamaha SY77 / TG77 (2 messages) Guitar Multi-effects units (5 messages) Taurus Magnetic Filings II Shipping! Mag Filings orders received Your EMUSIC-D moderator is Joe McMahon. Please send articles to emusic-L@auvm.american.edu (or EMUSIC-L@AUVM.BITNET). Administrative mail should be directed to xrjdm@scfvm.nasa.gov. Digests will be distributed semi-monthly to monthly. For faster response to questions, subscribe to EMUSIC-L@AUVM.BITNET (or emusic-l@auvm.american.edu). The EMUSIC-L discussion group can alo be accessed via bit.listserv.emusic-l on Usenet. Subscribers to this list may send articles to EMUSIC-D@AUVM.BITNET (or emusic-d@auvm.american.edu); they will be reviewed and forwarded to EMUSIC-L. Back issues are available from xrjdm@scfvm.gsfc.nasa.gov. This is a manual operation, so requests for things like "all back issues" will take a long time. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 17:59:48 EDT From: Keith Subject: Re: Reliable SR-16 dumps - suggestions? Jeff, I used to use tape dumps with my MMT-8 Alesis Sequencer and after a lot of headache, I finally got a Brother MDI-40. I use it strickly for dumping the Alesis' memory to disk. It pretty fast in most cases. I alsoo used it to hold my D-110 and DX-100 sysex dumps. The only problem I've had with it is that the Alesis' memory is filled more that around 70%, the Brother returns an over- flow error. This could have the been the buffer problem someone told you about The way I get around that is to simply dump the Alesis' memory before I get to 70% ("30% remaining"). You'll use more disks in the long run but it's a good machine for sysex (and for the $$$) in my opinion. Keith... "Sometimes I feel as though money is everything..." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 15:31:00 CDT From: TMARTIN@KNOX.BITNET Subject: Quadraverb Help! Does anybody out there have immediate access to the Quadraverb+ reset sequence at power-up. I just crashed my Quadraverb+ via MIDI & it just sits there displaying: SOFTWARE VERSION NUMBER: 2.01 Right now, it's 3:30pm Central Time - if you can get to me within 2 hours, thank you very much...otherwise, I will be able to dig it up sometime tomorrow. Thank you. -- Tim Martin TMartin@Knox.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Jun 91 09:53:00 CDT From: TMARTIN@KNOX.BITNET Subject: Quadraverb Help! Well, I couldn't find the info, but I did manage to get it up & running again...still, does anybody remember how to reset the machine? -- Tim Martin TMartin@Knox.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Jun 91 12:31:00 CDT From: TMARTIN@KNOX.BITNET Subject: Quadraverb reset Well, I phone Alesis. If anybody needs the information for reinitializing the Quadraverb, it's: Bypass&Program at power-up. -- Tim Martin ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Jun 91 12:23:39 EST From: PEREZG@EVALUN11.BITNET Subject: Software synthesis? I'M AN SPANISH USER AND I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS TO UNDERSTAND ENGLISH. I'M MAKING MUSIC WITHOUT ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AND I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS. I HAVE AN IBM PS/2 50Z WITH 1MB RAM AND AN 80286 PROCESSOR. IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME ABOUT SOFTWARE AND OTHERS, PLEASE WRITE SOMETHING. THANK'S. (In spanish if it's possible ..... Thank's) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 09:20:24 -0400 From: Brian Adamson Subject: Ensoniq keyboard problems Does anyone know if the VFX keyboard problems extend to other Ensoniq models as well. Has anyone had problems (the EPS 16+ in particular) with other models? Brian A. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 10:33:56 BST From: Nick Rothwell Subject: Re: Editors for VFX and Q-verb >I had been holding out for the Wavestation, but >that must be the biggest disappointment in 10 years. _So_ weedy, so >gimmicky... The other deciding factor was the avalanche of plugs from >Nick Rothwell etc, so if you're listening Nick, it's all your fault. Good, good, the buck stops somewhere over there. The VFX SDii is a very nice machine. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole, since I actually prefer using equipment which works, but if yours seems reliable, good for you. Be sure to have a spare on in case of any live work. The Wavestation is OK once you get a feel for it, but Korg really dropped the ball with the filtering. It could have been truly devastating. As it is, I'm getting some pretty workable results from it. The factory presets stink; I wiped them from my machine. >Hopefully you'll all hear the results on MagFilings3! >Does anybody have any info, comments or suggestions on Mac Editors for >the VFX, also for the Alesis Quadraverb (not mine, it belongs to a >colleague). I'd be pleased to hear from you! I have a VFX librarian, but didn't see much use for an editor - the front-panel interface was good enough for me. Getting the librarian going was hard enough - the VFX is truly weird. The only device I've come across which is weirder regarding SysEx spec. is... ...the QuadraVerb. I'll do an editor for it eventually but it's going to be tricky. (My next project is librarian support for WS wave sequences. I want to have the first Waveseq librarian in the world.) Nick. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 10:49:27 BST From: Nick Rothwell Subject: Re: Editors for VFX and Q-verb >The amount of banging around it gets seems to be a major part of >the trouble. Not true. My machine was traded in in pretty much mint condition. The thing which broke it (and Glyn's machine as well) was the Apex stand. >Make sure that your dealer installs the keyboard mod >detailed in maintenance notes 9b and 11. My main reason for selling was the Ensoniq UK are not doing this. They don't know anything about it, as far as I can tell. And it's impossible to phone them. Certainly, their dealers don't know about these mods. I was sick of getting no support for a $2000 machine still under warranty. You do want these fixes, though. That gets rid of the most serious bug, leaving you with the remaining twenty five. If I could have one wish, it would be for the new 76-key Ensoniq VFXsd-inspired wonder-machine to work properly. If I could be convinced of it, I'd be willing to spend a fair amount of money on one. All Ensoniq have to do is make it reliable, but I reckon that's too hard for them. Nick. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 10:33:11 BST From: Nick Rothwell Subject: Re: nick's fave rave >Any idea what the new firmware does, other than support the WaveSlave? >Bug fixes? The only new feature mentioned in the documentation is a kind of automatic pure tuning based on realtime analysis of notes played. It does seem that things like open 5ths sound better, but that could be my imagination, and A/B listening tests are rather tricky since swapping EPROMs is a bit tedious. (The MicroWave uses a 68000 as main processor, in case anybody's interested. The insides of the machine are quite neat - digital board for processor and memory, analog board for the filters which I think are Curtis if I remember the designation correctly.) One fix to what I thought was a bug: the MW now powers up in the last-used mode (Multi or Single) - before it would always power up in Single mode, so I always had to press one of its buttons when I turned on the rack. There are enhancements to the SysEx spec, but I don't have documentation for them, so I'll have to enquire. My existing software still works. Nick. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 91 08:33:00 EDT From: "William R(ay) Brohinsky" Subject: Re: nick's fave rave >The only new feature...is a kind of automatic pure tuning based on >realtime analysis You mean to say that the synth is monitoring what you are playing and adjusting the individual notes to keep them in just intonation, relative to what has been' played before? I'd appreciate a quote from the manual. raybro ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 91 06:49:15 MDT From: Adam Schabtach Subject: Re: nick's fave rave > A/B listening tests are rather tricky since swapping EPROMs is a bit > tedious. I suppose you could look at it with a good spectrum analyzer to see if it's doing anything, if you were so inclined. Probably not worth it, though, if it's that subtle. > (The MicroWave uses a 68000 as main processor, in case anybody's > interested. I'm interested--I usually open my boxes up as soon as I can do so without voiding the warranty, just to have a look around. The Ensoniq boards use the 68000 also. Much to my surprise, the MTP uses a 65C02--essentially the same chip as in the Apple ][. > There are enhancements to the SysEx spec, but I don't have documentation > for them, so I'll have to enquire. My existing software still works. You realize, of course, that I'm going to come begging for a copy of Anodyne when I get my Waldorf--yes, it's beginning to look like I'll actually have one before much longer. The question is whether Rossi and Mike will have one, also. --Adam ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 13:44:43 -0400 From: Brian Adamson Subject: Yamaha SY77 / TG77 I played with the SY77 a bit this weekend at a local music store. I was really impressed alot of what I heard. There were the sounds you expect from FM boxes (bright, bell-like etc) but there were also some surprisingly warm (analog-like) sounds. I think the 24 dB /octave filters contribute to this somwhat. Not having an intimate understanding of the intricacies of FM synthesis, it isn't clear to me what results modulation of FM elements with sampled signals will have, but it certainly is intriguing and some of the sounds I heard coming out of the box were complex to say the least. My biggest impression was the "presence" or "personality" (although I don't think the SY77 would necessarily be tagged with some characteristic quality) that it had as compared to my experience with the Wavestation. This is a very personal, subjective perception, but the SY77 sounds really struck home with me far more than what I heard coming from the Wavestation. What is interesting to me is that both boxes have voice architectures, which to me, after reading brochure hype, each have a number of qualities worth exploring, I imagine you could spend a lifetime creating wave sequences or modulating FM carriers with sampled sounds. Maybe it was just a difference in programming, but the SY77 carried more punch with me, even given my fondness for KORG products and disdain at hearing DX7's everywhere, all of the time during the course of the 1980's. On the negative side, the SY77 is the first keyboard I have had to have someone at the store show me how to operate to such simple things as try out preset patches. I can see where the user interface could be a pain, particularly if you were interested in the SY77 as a controller keyboard or sequencer. The pecularities of the user interface may suit its voice programming architecture, though. That will take further exploration. A question for those of you with more experience with the SY77/TG77: As far a voice generation and on-board effects, the SY77 and TG77 are identical, right? Nothing lacking on the TG77 in this area, even given its substantially lower price? I, for one, am certainly interested in hearing more from others who've done more with the 77's, programming or otherwise...... Brian Adamson ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 91 12:53:00 EDT From: Joel Kraft Subject: Re: Yamaha SY77 / TG77 What's up E-dudes... Just thought I'd let you know... I've had the SY77 for about a year now and I have found that once I got used to it (which didn't take more than a few hours).. I found the user interface to be quite pleasent to use... It makes everything from programming voices to sequencing quite easy... The large view screen displays graphs for EGs, filters, stacks, you name it..... Instead of doing everything in your head.. you can see exactly what is going on right in front of you.... I've used the 77 at quite a few shows and as long as I don't have to make any major changes things move along quite rapidly Sorry... I don't know much at all about the TG77 Joel ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 91 14:40:17 LCL From: Norwich.School@MAC.DARTMOUTH.EDU Subject: Guitar Multi-effects units Dear all, I've been reading the list for a few weeks now, answered one reply, and now would LOVE some advice from you experts out there. I'm looking to convert from my home-made, EXTREMELY funky pedal board to a rack mounted guitar multi-effects unit. Since I do 40-50 gigs a year with my oldies band THE FLAMES, I'd probably need one that had a foot switch controller of some kind. Is Roland the way to go? I'm looking to spend 500-600 total, with the board but could stretch it a bit if it was worth it. There are Roland, Yamaha, and Peavey dealers close, if that would make a difference, though I may buy mail-order at Sam Ash in New York if the price was significant. I'd considered used if anyone was selling. I do some MIDI recording with my K1 Kawai and Alesis HR-16, with Mastertracks 3.5, and a Midiverb II, which I also use as PA reverb. I may be on the wrong list, and if so could you point me to the right one? Reply on the list or via EMAIL to Cam.Cross@dartmouth.edu. Many thanks in advance for your help. Cam Cross "This one goes to 11." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Jun 91 10:30:00 N From: OLIVOTTO@ITNVAX.CINECA.IT Subject: RE: GUITAR MULTI-EFFECTS UNITS >I'm looking to convert from my home-made, EXTREMELY funky pedal board to a >rack mounted guitar multi-effects unit. Since I do 40-50 gigs a year with my >oldies band THE FLAMES, I'd probably need one that had a foot switch >controller of some kind. >Is Roland the way to go? Hi Cam, I think that would be a good idea. I'm the singer in a band, but I occasionaly play gtr on stage - and feed it thru' a Roland GP-8. It is a good unit, fully pedal controlled and can store up to 128 different effects. There are 8 basic effects in it and two of them are fully digital (i.e. Chorus and Delay). I know there's a GP-16 or something like that around, but I haven't tried it yet. The only drawback of GP-8 is that it has *no* reverb - but that might not be a problem, 'cos usually you reverb separately. As far as I know, GP-16 has reverb built in. I don't know about the prices, but I think that GP-8 doesn't cost a lot 'cos it's rather old now and probably Roland points to GP-16. The best thing you can do is go and try it. Anyway, to my advice, it would be a good choice. Best Wishes! Marco Olivotto (Italy) olivotto@itncisca.bitnet olivotto@itnvax.cineca.it ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Jun 91 08:35:00 EDT From: wbf@CBEMA.ATT.COM Subject: Roland GP-8 I received no mail the other day so I only saw Marco's response to a posting by Cam that I never saw. I've had a GP-8 for some time now and I still love it. I used to use the spring reverb in my Fender amp until I stole my old Yamaha R-1000 reverb out of the studio and put it into my guitar rack (GP-8, GM-70,, R-1000, and one space left over). Since the backup band is Director-S software running on my S-550 sampler, I have no foot pedal. Program changes originate from the sequencer. If I weren't sequence driven, I'd use a foot pedal, but I wonder: (1) how fast you could switch from group A, bank 4, patch 3 to group B, bank 1, patch 7, and (2) how you could remember that over pressing the chorus, distortion, and delay stomp boxes under the pressure of live performance? I suppose you could order the patches for the set list and just press increment all night long. Is there a patch librarian to make that easier? Roland, Digitech, and others make all sorts of rack mount guitar sound processors and I'm really glad to see that we poor old dethroned guitar heros haven't been totally forgotten in MIDI-land! Long live Eric Clapton! Bill Fox Columbus, Ohio (If I said Pataskala, you'd say, "Where!?" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Jun 91 09:27:40 EDT From: Joel Kraft Subject: Re: Guitar Multi-effects units Cam... If you can, try to look into the Digitech GSP-21 PRO... I have considered quite a few different processors, (Yamaha and Roland) and have found that the GSP-21 will suit my needs on stage and in the studio the best. I actually now have an older Yamaha and am upgrading.. The GSP-21 has 21 different effects ranging from distortion to delay, reverb, chorus, compression, you name it. I can do all of this stuff now but the GSP-21 allows you to do it all at the same time... Up to 10 effects at a time... For around $650 you can get the rack box and an awesome footswitch board with either 10 or 12 footswitches (I can't remember which) and a LED display... They are so popular in my area that dealers find it hard to keep them in stock.... I highly recommend checking one out... Joel ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Jun 91 13:51:18 EDT From: Joel Kraft Subject: Guitar effects Rack people.... Granted, switching patches may be a bit of a problem when one plays an extra song or strays from the progression of the set list... But I have found this much better than bending down to adjust seperate footpedals (delay time, distortion mix, etc.) and also better than walking over to your rack and pressing buttons on each of your rack units (adjusting the same controls) after each song... Many of my favorite pro guitarists.. and even some bass players use multi switch footboards.... It all depends on how many different sounds you want to use... Classic Clapton may not need the footboard... but I like to use a variation of different effects, (various delay times) etc... -Joel ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Jun 91 15:04:00 CDT From: TMARTIN@KNOX.BITNET Subject: Taurus Does anybody have any info on old Moog Taurus bass pedals? I have been looking for a set for a long time; in fact, I passed up one several years ago. Has anybody seen them around recently. I know that there was some company picking up on old gear & MIDIing it (minimoog, prophet5, etc.). Any ideas? -- Tim Martin TMARTIN @ KNOX . bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Jun 91 05:17:01 GMT From: Cecilia M Tan Subject: Magnetic Filings II Shipping! Yes, at last, finally, we are ALMOST ready to ship. Millions of thanks to Jari Riitala for providing the amazing beautiful cassette sleeves. They arrived safely from Finland. I am expecting the tape to ship July 19th. I wanted to get it out tomorrow, but I'm just not going to be able to before I leave for Florida (I need this vacation more than ever...) Let me apologize for being four months behind schedule with this, but I hope you'll all agree atht it was worth the wait. For those still wishing to order, you certainly may. Prices again: $7.00 for US/Canada, for 1st Class mail delivery $9.00 for airmail, outside US/Canada contributors to the tape get a special rate: $5.75 in US/Canada, $7.75 overseas Send check or money order to: Cecilia Tan 90 Montebello Road, #1 Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (617) 983-9204 The tape is 90 minutes of solid e-music created and recorded by people who read and post to Emusic-l. By the way, people who missed last year's collection, Magnetic Filings Volume 1, if you want a copy of that sent in the same package with Vol. II, add $5.00 to your order. (i.e. $12.00 in US/Canada) Volume One is also 90 minutes. -ctan -- i was going to write a bit of original song lyric to put here but i felt like cats were running through my eyes, hissing so I settled for stream of consciousness instead -ctan **----------------------> ctan@world.std.com <---------------------** ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Jun 91 05:20:44 GMT From: Cecilia M Tan Subject: Mag Filings orders received By the way, here are the checks I have received to date: Matti Saavalainen Jari Riitala Thomas Gutnick Joe McMahon Adam Schabtach Thomas Parker Scott Bringen Daniel Dion Brad Miller John Young John McIntyre Dan Yuen Jason Keeler If your name is not on this list, and you sent me a check or money order longer than a week ago (2 weeks if overseas) then you may want to send me e-mail. I'll double check, but this is all I have right now. Thanks! -ctan -- i was going to write a bit of original song lyric to put here but i felt like cats were running through my eyes, hissing so I settled for stream of consciousness instead -ctan **----------------------> ctan@world.std.com <---------------------** ------------------------------ End of the EMUSIC-L Digest ******************************