Copyright: Software Forge Sysex Solution Help


SysEx Solution 95
Software Forge™ SysEx Solution 95

Main contents         SysEx Manager contents         Program Librarian contents         Program Editor contents

SysEx Manager receives, saves, and sends out general System Exclusive messages and data. It works with all types of MIDI instrument.

Program Librarian saves individual programs from your instrument and allows you to rearrange them. It works with a few types of MIDI instrument, but can be made to work with many more.

Program Editor allows you to edit the sounds on your Korg M1 using drag-and-drop on a graph, along with entering settings in the normal manner. It works only with a Korg M1 or M1R

·	Registering
This program is shareware - it's not free. If you haven't paid for it yet, go to this help file section to find out just how reasonable a price I'm charging

·	Techniques
You know what you want to achieve, you think this program can do the job, and you'd like to know how

·	Glossary
A word used on the program's screens, its tooltips, or in this help file has got you confused, and you'd like to know what I mean by it

·	Troubleshooting and frequently asked questions
Something doesn't work. Or, you know there has got to be a way to do something, but you can't figure it out.

·	Credits and Thanks

Legal details

This program and all accompanying files, graphics, and sounds are copyright © 1994-1995 Samuel Marshall. All rights reserved. Some files may be copyrighted by others in addition, but I have permission to distribute these. The program may be freely distributed providing that a) no charge is made other than on-line service charges or a small disk copying fee and b) the distribution consists of exactly the same .ZIP file as the one I released. For all other distribution, please contact me by email or snail mail for permission - which (under normal circumstances) will definitely be granted to anyone wanting to put this program on a CD-ROM or a magazine coverdisk, as long as it is made clear to purchasers that they haven't paid for the program.

Use this program at your own risk. The author cannot be held responsible for any loss of data or any other damage directly or indirectly related to this program.


SysEx Manager 95
Software Forge™ SysEx Manager 95

Main contents         SysEx Manager contents         Program Librarian contents         Program Editor contents

SysEx Manager receives, saves, and sends out general System Exclusive messages and data. It works with all types of MIDI instrument.

·	Registration
This program is shareware - it's not free. If you haven't paid for it yet, go to this help file section to find out just how reasonable a price I'm charging

·	SysEx Manager screen
What happens when you click that button? How do you use that list?

·	Techniques
You know what you want to achieve, you think the SysEx Manager module can do the job, and you'd like to know how

·	Glossary
A word used on the program's screens, its tooltips, or in this help file, to do with the SysEx Manager module, has got you confused, and you'd like to know what I mean by it

·	Troubleshooting and frequently asked questions
Something in the SysEx Manager module doesn't work. Or, you know there has got to be a way to do something, but you can't figure it out.

·	Credits and Thanks

Legal details

This program and all accompanying files, graphics, and sounds are copyright © 1994-1995 Samuel Marshall. All rights reserved. Some files may be copyrighted by others in addition, but I have permission to distribute these. The program may be freely distributed providing that a) no charge is made other than on-line service charges or a small disk copying fee and b) the distribution consists of exactly the same .ZIP file as the one I released. For all other distribution, please contact me by email or snail mail for permission - which (under normal circumstances) will definitely be granted to anyone wanting to put this program on a CD-ROM or a magazine coverdisk, as long as it is made clear to purchasers that they haven't paid for the program.

Use this program at your own risk. The author cannot be held responsible for any loss of data or any other damage directly or indirectly related to this program.


Program Librarian 95
Software Forge™ Program Librarian 95

Main contents         SysEx Manager contents         Program Librarian contents         Program Editor contents

Program Librarian saves individual programs from your instrument and allows you to rearrange them. It works with a few types of MIDI instrument, but can be made to work with many more.

·	Registration
This program is shareware - it's not free. If you haven't paid for it yet, go to this help file section to find out just how reasonable a price I'm charging

·	Program Librarian screen
What happens when you click that button? How do you use that list?

·	Techniques
You know what you want to achieve, you think the Program Librarian module can do the job, and you'd like to know how

·	Glossary
A word used on the program's screens, its tooltips, or in this help file, to do with the Program Librarian module, has got you confused, and you'd like to know what I mean by it

·	Troubleshooting and frequently asked questions
Something in the Program Librarian module doesn't work. Or, you know there has got to be a way to do something, but you can't figure it out.

·	Credits and Thanks

Legal details

This program and all accompanying files, graphics, and sounds are copyright © 1994-1995 Samuel Marshall. All rights reserved. Some files may be copyrighted by others in addition, but I have permission to distribute these. The program may be freely distributed providing that a) no charge is made other than on-line service charges or a small disk copying fee and b) the distribution consists of exactly the same .ZIP file as the one I released. For all other distribution, please contact me by email or snail mail for permission - which (under normal circumstances) will definitely be granted to anyone wanting to put this program on a CD-ROM or a magazine coverdisk, as long as it is made clear to purchasers that they haven't paid for the program.

Use this program at your own risk. The author cannot be held responsible for any loss of data or any other damage directly or indirectly related to this program.


Program Editor 95
Software Forge™ Program Editor 95

Main contents         SysEx Manager contents         Program Librarian contents         Program Editor contents

Program Editor allows you to edit the sounds on your Korg M1 using drag-and-drop on a graph, along with entering settings in the normal manner. It works only with a Korg M1 or M1R

·	Registration
This program is shareware - it's not free. If you haven't paid for it yet, go to this help file section to find out just how reasonable a price I'm charging

·	Program Editor screen
What happens when you click that button? How do you use that list?

·	Techniques
You know what you want to achieve, you think the Program Editor module can do the job, and you'd like to know how

·	Glossary
A word used on the program's screens, its tooltips, or in this help file, to do with the Program Editor module, has got you confused, and you'd like to know what I mean by it

·	Troubleshooting and frequently asked questions
Something in the Program Editor module doesn't work. Or, you know there has got to be a way to do something, but you can't figure it out.

·	Credits and Thanks

Legal details

This program and all accompanying files, graphics, and sounds are copyright © 1994-1995 Samuel Marshall. All rights reserved. Some files may be copyrighted by others in addition, but I have permission to distribute these. The program may be freely distributed providing that a) no charge is made other than on-line service charges or a small disk copying fee and b) the distribution consists of exactly the same .ZIP file as the one I released. For all other distribution, please contact me by email or snail mail for permission - which (under normal circumstances) will definitely be granted to anyone wanting to put this program on a CD-ROM or a magazine coverdisk, as long as it is made clear to purchasers that they haven't paid for the program.

Use this program at your own risk. The author cannot be held responsible for any loss of data or any other damage directly or indirectly related to this program.


Create SysEx Message dialog box

Location	"Create" button from SysEx Manager screen

Click on the graphic to get help on a particular control

References

·	Technique:
Creating SysEx Messages

·	Frequently Asked Question:
Why would you want to create a SysEx message?

·	SysEx Manager contents


Instrument definition dialog box

Location	CTRL + "Librarian" button from SysEx Manager screen
CTRL + "Manager" button from Program Librarian screen

Click on the graphic to get help on a particular control

References

·	Technique:
Creating Instrument Definitions

·	Frequently Asked Question:
What if I just can't figure out how to create a definition for my instrument?
Why aren't there more instrument definitions supplied?

·	Troubleshooting:
I'm using a supplied instrument definition, but it doesn't work!
I'm sure I created my instrument definition correctly, but it doesn't work!

·	Program Librarian contents


Sysex Manager main screen

Click on the graphic to get help on a particular control

References

·	Techniques:
Storing settings from your instrument or device on the computer disk
Retrieving settings from the computer disk to the instrument or device

·	SysEx Manager contents


Program Librarian main screen

Click on the graphic to get help on a particular control

References

·	Techniques:
Storing the programs from your instrument or device on the computer
Retrieving the programs from the computer to selected 'slots' on the device

·	Program Librarian contents


Program Editor main screen 1

Click on the graphic to get help on a particular control. Click here for other screen

Click here for help on the graph display

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I got into the Program Editor main screen OK, and it was working but now it doesn't! Why not?

·	Program Editor contents


Program Editor main screen 2

Click on the graphic to get help on a particular control. Click here for other screen

Click here for help on the graph display

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I got into the Program Editor main screen OK, and it was working but now it doesn't! Why not?

·	Program Editor contents


This button enters the Program Librarian.

 +CTRL...	allows you to select an instrument from the instrument definition dialog


This button enters the SysEx Manager.

 +CTRL...	allows you to select an instrument from the instrument definition dialog and then re-enter the Program Librarian


This button enters the Program Librarian.


This button enters the SysEx Manager.


 This button gets help on the current module.


 This button can bring up information about the program, including whether you have registered.


 This button closes the dialog box, saving the changes made.


This button closes the dialog box, ignoring any changes.


This button enters the Program Editor.


This button switches to the oscillator settings screen.


This button switches to the program settings screen.


You can drag these handles (squares) with the mouse. When you do, the change affects only the line to the left of the handle; although the lines to the right will move, they will be in the same place relative to the handle. In other words, each handle only affects one pair of oscillator parameters at most.


This thin grey vertical line is a border between the left-hand portion of the window, which represents the attack, decay, and sustain portions of the sound envelope, and the right-hand portion, which represents the release portion. The two sections are kept separate, since there is a variable time between them depending on how long the user holds the key.


This scroll bar scrolls the left-hand portion of the graph window, allowing you to see the full extent of the attack, decay, and sustain portions of the sound envelope.


This scroll bar scrolls the right-hand portion of the graph window, allowing you to see the full extent of the release portion of the sound envelope.


This button deletes the program that's selected in the list, from the current bank file. Before it is deleted, you're asked for confirmation.


This button deletes the file that's selected in the list of stored SysEx messages. Before it's deleted, you are asked for confirmation, and also informed of the "real" underlying filename, if the file is stored in the old SysEx Manager 1.0 format.


Editor program selector box

Location	Program Editor screen

Summary

To select the program you wish to edit, open up the list and choose a program from it (using the mouse, or the keyboard up/down/page up/page down keys). All the programs available on the Korg's internal memory are listed, but you can't select or edit programs stored on a data card.

You can also use this box to change the name of the current program; click in the program name section of the box, and edit the name.

Detail

When you select a program, all the editor screen's controls are updated, as is the graph. This is the point where the program's settings are stored, so you can revert to them later if necessary.

If you find this box a cumbersome method to select programs, you can use the Korg. Press PROG, then type the number of the program you want to edit on the M1's built-in keypad. The program should change on the screen display and the Korg's display.

When you try to edit the program name, Program Editor will not let you type over the program number or the space after the number. Also, Program Editor automatically restricts the program name to 10 characters, as you type. As you type, the program name on the Korg's display will be updated, too.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
In what way, and how often, does Program Editor update the Korg with the settings displayed on-screen?

·	Program Editor contents


Graph screen

Click on the graphic to get help on a particular control or object.

Click here for help on the editor screen


Revert button

Location	Program Editor screen

Summary

Click this button to return the program to the state it was in before you began editing it.

Details

The program's state is saved when the editor starts up, and also when you change program using the combo box. For instance, if you made changes to program 3, then changed to program 4, then changed back to program 3 and made some more changes, clicking Revert would only undo the second set of changes, not the first.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
In what way, and how often, does Program Editor update the Korg with the settings displayed on-screen?

·	Program Editor contents


Clear button

Location	Program Editor screen

Summary

Click this button to clear the program - make it completely "blank". All the numerical settings are set to zero, and other settings are set to their default values. You would use this button if you wanted to create a new program completely from scratch.

If you click this button by accident, clicking Revert will go back to the program's original state.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
In what way, and how often, does Program Editor update the Korg with the settings displayed on-screen?

·	Program Editor contents


Mode control section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

This section of controls sets up some overall parameters that affect the program.

Details

·	Single
Choosing the Single option means the program only has one oscillator. This will disable all the settings for Oscillator 2 (the settings are not lost; if you change back to Double, they will reappear). If you only need a simple sound, you should use this.

·	Double
Choosing the Double option means the program has two oscillators. You can use this option if you want a more complex sound, but be aware that when a program is set to use two oscillators, you only get 8-note polyphony.

·	Drum
Choosing the Drum option means the program only has one oscillator, and plays drum sounds from one of the drum kits. (Program Editor does not completely support the Drum option, so you might need to finish off the program using the Korg's editing facilities.)

·	Mono
When you check this box, the program is restricted to playing one note at a time. When you press a new note, any other notes playing immediately stop and the new note plays. This is useful if you know a program will only play one note at a time, since you can then prevent it taking up too many oscillators which other programs could use.

·	Hold
Checking this box means that the M1 ignores note-offs. When you press a key, it stays "pressed" indefinitely, and the note will continue until the Korg reallocates its oscillators in response to new notes.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
I don't quite understand all this business about polyphony and oscillators on the M1. How does it all work? Why do I need to know about it?

·	Program Editor contents


Aftertouch control section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

When you push harder on a key that you're already holding down, this generates information called aftertouch. You can assign this information, for instance, to make the sound get louder, or higher-pitched, or sharper, or to add a kind of wobbling sound to it.

Aftertouch enables you to play the keyboard more expressively, and is especially useful for non-keyboard instrument sounds such as trumpets.

On the Korg M1, aftertouch affects all the notes at once - it isn't sensed for each individual key.

Details

All these modifications are cumulative to the effects already obtained using the envelopes and other settings on the oscillator settings screen. They affect both oscillators. Of course, you can use all of them in combination if you like - you're not limited to just one at a time.

·	Pitch
This number indicates how many semitones the pitch will shift at maximum (when you push the key as hard as possible) and which direction - use positive numbers to shift pitch upwards, negative numbers to shift it downwards.

·	Pitch MG Int.
This allows you to adjust the intensity of the Pitch Mg, for instance to give a vibrato effect when you push down the key.

·	Filter cutoff
This number indicates how much, and in which direction, the filter cutoff frequency is modified by aftertouch, at maximum.

·	Cutoff MG Int.
This allows you to adjust the intensity of the Cutoff Mg.

·	Amplitude
This number indicates how much, and in which direction, the amplitude is affected by maximum aftertouch. You can use this to make the sound get louder when you press harder on the key.

References

·	Program Editor contents


Joystick control section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

When you use the joystick on the M1, this can have several effects such as pitch bend or vibrato. These effects are controlled by program settings in the joystick control section.

Details

All these modifications are cumulative to the effects already obtained using the envelopes and other settings on the oscillator settings screen. They affect both oscillators. Of course, you can use all of them in combination if you like - you're not limited to just one at a time.

Horizontal movement

·	Pitch
Use this option to specify how many semitones the pitch will be adjusted if you move the joystick all the way to the right.

·	Filter cutoff
This specifies how much, and which way (up or down) the filter cutoff frequency is adjusted if you push the joystick all the way to the right. Using this option allows you to make the sound sharper or blunter by moving the joystick.

Vertical movement

·	Pitch MG Int.
This allows you to adjust the intensity of the Pitch Mg, for instance to make a vibrato effect that you can control by moving the joystick. (A positive number means Pitch MG gets more intense as you move the joystick upwards).

·	Pitch MG Frequency
This allows you to adjust the frequency of the Pitch MG, for instance to make a vibrato effect faster or slower when you move the joystick.

·	Cutoff MG Int.
This option makes the joystick affect the intensity of the Cutoff Mg.

·	Cutoff MG Frequency
This allows you to adjust the frequency of the Cutoff MG by moving the joystick.

References

·	Technique:
Creating A New Korg M1 Program

·	Program Editor contents


Pitch MG control section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

The Pitch MG makes the sound's pitch vary in a cyclic way - for instance, it can wobble slightly, like vibrato, or gradually go from one extreme to the other, like a police siren.

Details

The Pitch MG is a low-frequency oscillator, which is connected to the pitch calculation section of the sound generator. It adds to, or subtracts from, the pitch that's calculated using the pitch envelope.

·	Waveform selectors
At the left of the Pitch MG control section are four different wave patterns, each with a radio button which you can use to select them. These patterns indicate how the pitch will change - for instance, if you choose the upwards saw wave, then the pitch will gradually increase until it reaches maximum, when it will suddenly drop to minimum and begin to gradually increase again.

·	Intensity
At the maximum point of the Pitch MG's waveform, this is the number that will be added to the program's pitch. (The scale is the same as that used in the pitch envelope).

·	Frequency
This control affects how quickly the Pitch MG goes through its cycle. The higher this number, the faster the "wobble" in the sound will be.

·	Delay
This control can be used to make the Pitch MG kick in "gradually" as you hold the key down. You can make a sound stay stable in pitch for a while, and then gradually begin to wobble more and more.

·	Key sync

If you check this box, the Pitch MG's cycle will start for a particular note when you press that note. For instance, if frequency is such that the Pitch MG reaches maximum after one second, checking this box means that each note pressed will reach maximum pitch one second after it was pressed.
If you don't check this box, the Pitch MG is calculated "globally" for the whole program. This means that, when you press several notes at different times, they will still vibrate in sync with each other.

References

·	Technique:
Creating A New Korg M1 Program

·	Program Editor contents


Cutoff MG control section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

The Cutoff MG makes the sound's cutoff frequency vary in a cyclic way - for instance, it can make the sound get gradually brighter and duller, or it can completely cut off the sound every other half second, so as to get a stuttering effect.

Details

The Cutoff MG is a low-frequency oscillator, which is connected to the cutoff frequency calculation section of the sound generator. It adds to, or subtracts from, the frequency that's calculated using the cutoff envelope.

·	Waveform selectors
At the left of the Cutoff MG control section are four different wave patterns, each with a radio button which you can use to select them. These patterns indicate how the cutoff frequency will change - for instance, if you choose the upwards saw wave, then the sound will gradually increase until it reaches maximum sharpness, when it will suddenly drop to minimum (a blunter sound) and begin to gradually increase again.

·	Intensity
At the maximum point of the Cutoff MG's waveform, this is the number that will be added to the program's cutoff frequency. (The scale is the same as that used in the cutoff envelope).

·	Frequency
This control affects how quickly the Cutoff MG goes through its cycle. The higher this number, the faster the "wobble" in the sound will be.

·	Delay
This control can be used to make the Cutoff MG kick in "gradually" as you hold the key down. You can make a sound stay stable for a while, and then gradually begin to stutter more and more.

·	Key sync

If you check this box, the Cutoff MG's cycle will start for a particular note when you press that note. For instance, if frequency is such that the Cutoff MG reaches maximum after one second, checking this box means that each note pressed will reach maximum sharpness one second after it was pressed.
If you don't check this box, the Cutoff MG is calculated "globally" for the whole program. This means that, when you press several notes at different times, they will still vibrate in sync with each other.

References

·	Technique:
Creating A New Korg M1 Program

·	Program Editor contents


Effect Control section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

This section changes the basic control parameters that go with the effect section - for instance, which effects are used, and how to mix them with the "raw" unprocessed sound.

Details

There are two effect drop-down lists, which allow you to select the types of effect for Effect 1 and Effect 2. The order of the effects can make a difference, since in Serial mode, Effect 2 works on the output of Effect 1, not on the raw sound.

Effect types are as described in the Korg M1 manual, although some have extra features (for instance, the equalizer has three bands instead of two). If a box in the effect options section represents an additional feature - which may not work reliably, since there has to be some reason why the keyboard didn't support it in the first place - then the tooltip which appears when you pause the mouse over that box will include a + symbol at the start.

Some effects are not allowed in combination. If one effect is Symphonic Ensemble or Rotary Speaker, your options for the other effect are limited. See Korg M1 manual.

The effect level controls adjust the balance between the effect output and the raw, unprocessed sound. For instance, if you want a delay to really delay the sound, you'd set the effect level to 100, which would mean you couldn't hear the original sound at all, only the delayed version. However, normally you'd want to hear both, so the effect balance would be set to some intermediate level. Levels can be set separately for each channel (left and right), but this is an additional feature not supported by the keyboard as standard, so don't blame me if it doesn't work.

There is a Parallel checkbox which controls the effect placement. When set to parallel mode, output to channels A and B goes through effect 1 only, and output to C and D goes through effect 2 only. Normally, in serial mode, output to C and D is "raw" (but the part of it that's panned into A and B using the output control section goes through Effect 2). Output to A and B goes through effect 1, then effect 2.

For diagrams and more information on the Parallel function, see the Korg manual. (But ignore the table on page 8, since in our 1994 edition the diagram labels are the wrong way round).

References

·	Technique:
Creating A New Korg M1 Program

·	Program Editor contents


Effect options section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

This section of the screen displays the settings for each of the two effects, depending on which radio button is selected. You can modify the settings by typing into the boxes in the normal way.

Details

Click the radio button to choose which settings you are viewing (Effect 1 or 2). If you are not sure what a particular setting represents, or what its range is, pause the mouse over the edit box, and a tooltip will appear.

A + sign at the start of a tooltip indicates that this option is an additional feature that can't be accessed using the editing facilities built in to the Korg. Presumably, these features were left out for a reason (although they were all documented in the manual) so they may be unreliable.

L or R signs at the start of a tooltip indicate which channel that particular edit box refers to. These signs are used for those double-effects such as Delay/Hall, in which the Delay effect works on the left channel and the Hall effect works on the right channel.

The specific feature of each setting isn't documented here. They are briefly explained on the tooltips, but for more information you'll have to refer to the M1 user manual.

References

·	Technique:
Creating A New Korg M1 Program

·	Program Editor contents


Outputs control section

Location	Program Editor screen 1

Summary

This section determines what happens to Outputs C and D (also known as 3 and 4). These outputs are not actually used in Program mode, but if you copy the effects section from the program you're editing into a sequencer song, you'll be able to assign individual tracks to Outputs C and D, which, in conjunction with the Parallel effect placement option, gives you more control over which tracks have which effects.

Details

If you want to mix Output 3 into the normal stereo output, make sure the Output 3 box is checked, and type a number between 1 and 65 into the "pan" edit box for output 3. (1 is left, 65 is right).

If you don't want to mix Output 3 into the normal stereo output, make sure the Output 3 box isn't checked.

Follow the same procedure for Output 4.

References

·	Program Editor contents


Oscillator selector buttons

Location	Program Editor screen 2

Summary

Use these two buttons to choose which oscillator you are viewing or editing settings for (note: these buttons do not affect the graph display).

Details

Choose the 1 button to view settings for Oscillator 1. Choose the 2 button to view settings for Oscillator 2.

If the 2 button is not available, the oscillator mode is set to Single or Drum. Set this to Double if you need another oscillator.

References

·	Program Editor contents


Oscillator 2 control

Location	Program Editor screen 2

Summary

This group of edit controls is used to alter the pitch and timing of Oscillator 2, compared to Oscillator 1.

Details

·	Interval
This allows you to move Oscillator 2 up to one octave up or down from Oscillator 1. Enter a value for the difference (in semitones), from -12 to +12.

·	Detune
This allows you to move Oscillator 2 slightly up or down in pitch from the correct value. If you have both oscillators playing the same or a similar sound, detuning them slightly using this control will make the sound fatter.

·	Delay
This allows you to delay the start of Oscillator 2, making it start some time after Oscillator 1. Please note that this delay is not shown on the graph!

References

·	Technique:
Creating A New Korg M1 Program

·	Program Editor contents


Multisound selector list

Location	Program Editor screen 2

Summary

This list allows you to choose the sound sample used by the current oscillator.

Details

In the current version of this program, you can only choose from the internal sounds - any additional sounds you might have on a PCM card will not show up. You can work around this by choosing the multisound using the Korg's controls, and then not adjusting it using Program Editor.

If Korg changed the multisounds in different revisions of the M1, then the names might be wrong if you have an older model. Please let me know if this is the case.

References

·	Technique:
Creating A New Korg M1 Program

·	Program Editor contents


Pitch envelope

Location	Program Editor screen 2

Summary

The pitch envelope lets you specify how the pitch of the sound changes as time goes on after pressing a key. For instance, you can make a sound's pitch decrease as it fades away after the key has been released (listen to the end of the startup sound for an example). Or, you could make a sound contain a "blip" of high-pitched sound right at the start.

Details

The pitch envelope's sustain level is always zero - i.e. after the decay section of the envelope, the pitch is always "correct". However, the envelope does have a variable start level. Apart from this, the pitch envelope is a "normal" ADSR envelope. It can be edited using the graph rather than by typing in numbers, if you like.

Each of the "level" controls varies from -99 to +99. Negative values mean the pitch is below the correct pitch, positive values put it above.

As well as the envelope controls, there is an octave control, which can be set to either 4' (high), 8' (medium), or 16' (low). This just adjusts the octave the sound plays in.

Keyboard tracking controls are not provided, since pitch automatically tracks the keyboard! However, velocity sensing is available, and can be used either to adjust the time of the envelope (making the whole thing happen faster or slower) or the intensity of the envelope (so that, for instance, the pitch only changes noticeably when you hit the key hard).

References

·	Technique:
Using ADSR Envelopes

·	Program Editor contents


Amplitude envelope

Location	Program Editor screen 2

Summary

The amplitude envelope lets you specify how the loudness of the sound changes as time goes on after pressing a key. For instance, a piano sound gets loud very quickly after you hit it, then reduces in volume quickly to another level (once the initial "stab" has finished), then continues at a roughly constant volume while you hold the key. When you release the key, it normally stops almost immediately rather than fading out gradually.

Details

The amplitude envelope always starts at zero and finishes (release level) at zero. Apart from this, it is a "normal" ADSR envelope. It can be edited using the graph rather than by typing in numbers, if you like.

Each of the "level" controls varies from 0 to 99, with 0 being silent and 99 being maximum volume.

As well as the envelope controls, there is an value control, which is used to adjust the balance between the two oscillators and control the overall loudness of the sound.

Keyboard tracking controls are available. They can be used to adjust the time of parts of the envelope, or to adjust the overall amplitude.

Velocity sensing is available too, and can be used either to adjust the time of parts of the envelope (making bits happen faster or slower) or the overall amplitude (so that hitting a key harder makes the oscillator louder - or vice versa, if you want to be weird).

Adjustments to time in these two sections have no effect unless you also use the KT/VS gadgets by the side of each time edit box (eg, there is one to the right of "Attack time"). These gadgets are divided into two halves: the top half, labelled KT, deals with keyboard tracking, and the bottom half, VS, deals with velocity sensing. When you turn one section of the gadget on by clicking on it - it will go red - the time effect indicated in the "EG time VS" or "EG time keyboard track" boxes is applied to that segment of the envelope. Clicking a gadget twice - it will turn blue - will make it have the opposite effect, so that if previously (for a VS part) hitting a key hard made the attack quick, then when you make the gadget blue, hitting a key softly will make the attack quick.

For instance, if you wanted to make hard key-presses start immediately, but soft key-presses fade in gradually, you would set EG Time VS to a suitable value such as 30. Then, set Attack Time to a suitable value (such as 30 again). Then, click the bottom half of the Attack Time gadget so that it turns red. The desired effect should be obtained.

References

·	Technique:
Using ADSR Envelopes

·	Program Editor contents


Cutoff envelope

Location	Program Editor screen 2

Summary

The cutoff envelope lets you specify how the sharpness of the sound - its cutoff frequency - changes as time goes on after pressing a key. For instance, a piano sound starts off very sharp, but quickly becomes relatively blunt.

Details

The cutoff envelope always starts at zero, but it can finish (release level) at any level. Apart from this, it is a "normal" ADSR envelope. It can be edited using the graph rather than by typing in numbers, if you like.

Each of the "level" controls varies from -99 to +99. This level is an offset which - after combination with the EG Intensity value - is added to the overall cutoff value to determine the actual cutoff.

As well as the envelope controls, there is an value control, which is used to adjust the overall cutoff. If you don't need cutoff to vary at all, you can set this value to the cutoff you want, and set the EG Intensity control to zero. (EG stands for Envelope Generator). Otherwise, set this value to the value you'd like when the cutoff envelope specifies zero, and set the EG Intensity to the difference between this value and the one you'd like when the cutoff envelope specifies 99. Note that the graph doesn't display changes in EG Intensity or cutoff value at all! The graph only displays the cutoff envelope.

Keyboard tracking controls are available. They can be used to adjust the time of parts of the envelope, or to adjust the overall cutoff.

Velocity sensing is available too, and can be used either to adjust the time of parts of the envelope (making bits happen faster or slower) or the overall cutoff (so that hitting a key harder makes the sound sharper - or vice versa, if you want to be weird).

Adjustments to time in these two sections have no effect unless you also use the KT/VS gadgets by the side of each time edit box (eg, there is one to the right of "Attack time"). These gadgets are divided into two halves: the top half, labelled KT, deals with keyboard tracking, and the bottom half, VS, deals with velocity sensing. When you turn one section of the gadget on by clicking on it - it will go red - the time effect indicated in the "EG time VS" or "EG time keyboard track" boxes is applied to that segment of the envelope. Clicking a gadget twice - it will turn blue - will make it have the opposite effect, so that if previously (for a VS part) hitting a key hard made the attack quick, then when you make the gadget blue, hitting a key softly will make the attack quick.

For instance, if you wanted to make hard key-presses quickly become soft, smooth sounds, but soft key-presses to stay sharp for longer, you would set EG Time VS to a suitable value such as 30. Then, set Decay Time to a suitable value (such as 30 again). Then, click the bottom half of the Attack Time gadget so that it turns red. The desired effect should be obtained.

References

·	Technique:
Using ADSR Envelopes

·	Program Editor contents


Graph Controls

Location	Graph window

Summary

You can click on the controls on the left-hand side of the graph window to turn the various possible displays on and off, and to select which line has the moveable handles on.

Details

Click on a label once to turn that aspect of the display on. The label will light up in the colour used for that line on the graph, and the line will appear. The moveable points on the line will be displayed for you to drag and drop with the mouse.

Click on a label that's already on to turn it off.

If you want to see the moveable handles on a different line from the one that currently has them, turn the line you're interested in off, and then on again, by clicking twice.

References

·	Graph display


Instrument Model

Location	Instrument selection dialog box

Summary

You can use this drop-down list to select your instrument, if it's one of the provided instrument definitions. If no definition was supplied for your instrument, you can try to create your own definition.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
 Why aren't there more instrument definitions supplied?


Instrument Channel

Location	Instrument selection dialog box

Summary

Your instrument will be set to receive and send information on a particular channel - usually channel 1. You must type this channel number into this box.

Occasionally, this box may be used for some other purpose by a particular instrument definition. If this is the case, the notes section at the bottom of the dialog box will let you know.

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I'm using a supplied instrument definition, but it doesn't work!


Instrument Ports

Location	Instrument selection dialog box

Summary

These two lists must be used to select the MIDI ports your instrument is connected to. The left-hand list chooses the computer's MIDI IN port, and the right-hand lists chooses which MIDI OUT port to use.

These lists work in the same way as the Port lists on the Sysex Manager main screen.

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I'm using a supplied instrument definition, but it doesn't work!


Bank File selector

Location	Program Librarian screen

Summary

You can use this list to select which file to save your programs in. If you want to start a new file, you can choose that option instead; you'll be asked to give the file a name.

Details

The list shows all files that have the same program size as the current instrument. (Program size for an instrument is specified in the instrument definition dialog box). If you have several different types of instrument which use the same program size, it's best to select different bank files - since programs from one instrument will not work on the other, there's no point in grouping them together.

Beneath this control is the list of all programs stored in the current bank file. This will change as you change bank file.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
Is it possible to combine two bank files, say if someone else sent me theirs?

·	Program Librarian contents


List of programs stored in bank file

Location	Program Librarian screen

Summary

This list contains, in alphabetical order, all the programs you have stored from your instrument. When you save a program from the instrument, it appears here. If you want to take some action on a stored program - either copy it to a slot on the instrument, or delete it - you must first select it by clicking on its name from this list.

Details

The list contains all the programs in the current bank file. You can change bank file using the bank file selector. If you have a lot of programs for one type of instrument, you may wish to divide them into groups - bass sounds, string sounds, etc - with a different bank file for each group. To make it easier for yourself, if you decide to do this, decide at the start before you make up any bank files.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
Is it possible to combine two bank files, say if someone else sent me theirs?

·	Program Librarian contents


List of programs on device at present

Location	Program Librarian screen

Summary

This list shows you all the programs currently stored on your device, along with the numbers that the instrument uses to identify them. Where the names of some programs aren't known, these are displayed as "Unknown".

You must select a slot on this list, by clicking on it, before you can save a program from your device into the bank file, and before you can copy a program the other way.

Details

Most instruments support program name grabbing, which means that Program Librarian automatically retrieves the name of an instrument whenever you try to save it. If program name grabbing is supported, you can click the Update button to fill in all the program names in the list. Some instrument definitions are set to automatically update in this way every time you go to the librarian - this option takes time, so you may want to turn it off using the "Auto update" checkbox in the instrument definition dialog box.

If program name grabbing is not supported, perhaps because your device does not have names for its programs (for example, some Roland devices have names for tones and patches, but not for timbres), then the situation is a little different:

When you save a program, you'll be prompted for a name to use for it in the bank file. This name will also appear on this right-hand list, now that Program Librarian knows what the name should be for that slot. (Names also appear in this list when you copy a program into the device from the bank file.)

The clever bit is that Program Librarian automatically remembers, between sessions, what programs were stored where, so that your display won't have "Unknown" all over it.

Unfortunately, if you change programs around in some other way, without using Program Librarian, then the displayed information will be wrong. To clear it back to "Unknown", click the Clear button.

References

·	Program Librarian contents


Copying programs to instrument

Location	Copy button on Program Librarian screen

Summary

You should first select the program you want copied to the instrument, from the list of programs stored in the bank file on the left-hand side of the display. Then select the slot you want to copy the program into, on the list of programs and slots on the device. Then, clicking the Copy button will do the transfer.

Make sure you don't want the program currently existing at the instrument slot you specified, since it will be deleted without asking for confirmation.

Details

Of course you can select the slot first, then the program, rather than as described above, if you want.

There is no way to copy more than one program at a time. Both list-boxes only accept one selection.

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I got into the Program Librarian main screen OK, and it was working but now it doesn't! Why not?

·	Program Librarian contents


Saving programs from instrument

Location	Save button on Program Librarian screen

Summary

If you have a program stored on the instrument that you'd like to save into the bank file, click on its name or number on the list of programs on the device, at the right of the display. Then click Save.

Details

If your instrument supports name grabbing for programs on the device, then when you click Save you won't be asked for a name; the program will automatically be given the name that Program Librarian found for it. If you'd like to bypass this and enter a name manually, hold down CTRL while you click Save As.

If a program of the given name is already present in the bank file, you'll be asked to confirm whether you want to overwrite the old program or not.

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I got into the Program Librarian main screen OK, and it was working but now it doesn't! Why not?

·	Program Librarian contents


Update / Get All button

Location	Program Librarian screen

+CTRL...	makes the button become Get All

If your instrument doesn't support program name grabbing, this button becomes the Clear button.

Summary

When you click the Update button, Program Editor scans all the program names on your instrument (which can take several seconds) and fills in the list of programs on the device appropriately.

When you hold down CTRL and click the Get All button, Program Editor stores all the programs on your instrument into the currently-selected bank file.

Details

When you do Get All, any programs with duplicate names are ignored; only the first program with a particular name is stored. Program Librarian won't stop and ask you for names.

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I got into the Program Librarian main screen OK, and it was working but now it doesn't! Why not?

·	Program Librarian contents


Clear button

Location	Program Librarian screen

Summary

When the currently-selected instrument definition file doesn't support program name grabbing, the Update button becomes the Clear button.

This button clears the list of programs on the device, restoring all the program names to "Unknown".

References

·	Program Librarian contents


Input port selector

Location	Sysex Manager screen

Summary

You use this control to select the MIDI IN port on your computer that you want to use with SysEx Manager.

Details

Usually, this port will include the name of the expansion card on your computer that you're using for MIDI input. For instance, if you were using a Roland MPU-401 or compatible MIDI interface, you would set this port to "Roland MPU-401". If you were using an Advanced Gravis Ultrasound soundcard, you would set this port to "Ultrasound MIDI Input Port".

If you have several MIDI input ports, connected to different instruments, then select the input port which is connected to the instrument you want to save settings from.

If the input port is set correctly, then instructing your MIDI instrument or device to send a bulk dump of its settings will result in some text appearing in the input SysEx message list (at the left of the display).

References

·	Sysex Manager contents


Output port selector

Location	Sysex Manager screen

Summary

You use this control to select the MIDI OUT port on your computer that you want to use with SysEx Manager.

Details

Usually, this port will include the name of the expansion card on your computer that you're using for MIDI output. For instance, if you were using a Roland MPU-401 or compatible MIDI interface, you would set this port to "Roland MPU-401". If you were using an Advanced Gravis Ultrasound soundcard, you would set this port to "Ultrasound MIDI Output Port".

If you have several MIDI output ports, connected to different instruments, then select the output port which is connected to the instrument you want to send settings to.

If the output port is set correctly, then sending a SysEx message recorded from an instrument back to it will result in the instrument's settings being set back, as desired. Obviously, you'll have to get the input port working first, or you wouldn't have been able to record the message in the first place.

References

·	SysEx Manager contents


List of received SysEx messages

Location	Sysex Manager screen

Summary

When you transmit SysEx data from your MIDI instrument (for instance, by using its MIDI Bulk Dump or similar function), information on the size of data received will appear in the list, indicating that the receive was successful. You can then save the data to disk.

Details

Received data is indicated in the following fashion:

number bytes [manufacturer]

where number indicates the size of the data, and manufacturer indicates the manufacturer of the instrument you sent data from. Usually, manufacturer will be a name, but in some cases a two-digit code may be displayed instead, when I didn't have the manufacturer name that went with the code. If you get a code display, please contact me and let me know the code, as well as the name of the manufacturer it represents. I can then add this information to future versions of this software.

You can edit received data using the built-in hex editor (which is suitable only for very simple tasks) by selecting it with the mouse and then clicking the Edit button. It's also possible to create entirely new data in this way by clicking the Create button when nothing is selected. When you use these facilities, data is indicated like this:

number user [manufacturer]

Clicking Save As to save the received data saves all the received data, not just the selected item. Saving data also clears the list.

To clear the list without saving it, click the Clear button.

References

·	SysEx Manager contents


List of stored SysEx messages

Location	Sysex Manager screen

Summary

All the stored SysEx messages in one disk folder are displayed in the right-hand window. You can send them to an instrument by selecting one, and clicking Send. If the message you want to send is in another folder, click Send when nothing is selected, which will bring up a standard file selection box.

Details

The folder displayed by default is the folder that SysEx Solution 95's program file (SysEx95.exe) is stored in.

If you'd like to display files from a different folder, use either the Send or Open commands when no file is selected. After sending or opening the file that you select using the standard file selection box, SysEx Manager will update the list to display the other files in that directory.

If you want to start off SysEx Manager with a different folder, you can start SysEx Solution by right-clicking on a .SYX file and choosing Open, instead of by starting the actual SysEx95.exe file. (Don't double-click on a .SYX file or right-click and choose Send, as this will just send the file without loading up SysEx Manager.)

Some files are displayed in the list with symbols in front of their names. If a file is a standard .SYX format file, rather than one created by SysEx Manager, its name will appear with a * in front of it. If a file is an old-format SysEx Manager 1.0 file, its name will appear with a - in front of it.

You can delete the selected file by clicking Delete.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
Explain all those different file formats to me?

·	Technique:
Different Ways to Start SysEx Solution

·	SysEx Manager contents


Clear button

Location	Sysex Manager screen

Summary

Clicking the Clear button removes all input data from the received SysEx data list. There is no confirmation question, so make sure you really want to do it.

Details

Normally, you use the Clear button if your instrument constantly transmits SysEx messages every time you press a button or something, to avoid storing all those unwanted button presses in with the actual data.

References

·	SysEx Manager contents


Edit/Create Button

Location	Sysex Manager screen

+CTRL...	makes the button become Create

Summary

When nothing is selected in the received SysEx messages list, this button will be Create. If something is selected, this button will be Edit.

To edit or create a SysEx message, simply click the button, then enter or modify the hex (that's hexadecimal, not as in witches) data required for the message in the Create dialog box. Please note that this dialog box has a limit of 10,000 byte messages but is really intended for much shorter messages (for instance, 10 or 20 bytes).

References

·	Technique:
How to Create SysEx Data

·	SysEx Manager contents


Save As button

Location	Sysex Manager screen

Summary

When you click this button, you're given a standard dialog box to specify a filename and file format. All the received SysEx messages are then saved into that one file, and the list of received messages is cleared.

Details

To save the settings from your MIDI device or instrument onto the computer, follow this procedure:

·	Make sure the input and output ports are correctly set up.

·	Using the control panel on your device, get it ready to send its settings.
If your device doesn't have a control panel, but you think it's possible to send a SysEx message to it requesting that it send back its settings, you'll need to create this SysEx message instead. Once you've saved this message, select it from the list and click Send to make the device send its settings.

·	Before you send the settings, if any SysEx messages have already appeared in the received data list, make sure to clear them.

·	Make your device send its settings. One or more items should appear on the received data list.

·	Click the Save As button, and type in a name for the file. You don't need to alter the file type option.

·	The filename should appear in the stored SysEx data list on the right of the display.

References

·	Technique:
How to Create SysEx Data

·	SysEx Manager contents


Open button

Location	Sysex Manager screen

+CTRL...	makes the button become Open... allowing you to select a file using the standard file opening dialog box

Summary

When you select a file in the list of stored SysEx files, then click Open, all the messages stored in that file are added to the list of received messages. You can then edit them, or open extra files, and save the result.

If you hold down CTRL, or if you haven't selected a file, then clicking Open will bring up a standard dialog box. You can find the file you want to open using this box, instead of having to select it from the list of stored SysEx files.

Details

To edit a SysEx message that's already been stored on disk, follow this procedure:

·	Click the Clear button if there's anything in the received messages list.

·	Select the file you want to edit, from the list of stored files. Then click Open. If the file you want to edit doesn't appear on the list of stored files, because it's in another folder, hold down CTRL and then click Open to select a file from anywhere on disk.

·	All the messages stored in the file will appear in the list of received messages.

·	Select the one you want to edit, and click the Edit button and edit the message.

·	When you've edited the message, click Save As to save the file again. You can choose the same filename you used before, and write over the old version, or you can make a new file.

To combine two or more files worth of SysEx messages into one file:

·	Click the Clear button if there's anything in the received messages list.

·	Select one of the files you want to combine, from the list of stored files. Then click Open. If the file you want to combine doesn't appear on the list of stored files, because it's in another folder, hold down CTRL and then click Open to select a file from anywhere on disk.

·	All the messages stored in the file will appear in the list of received messages.

·	Select the next file, and open that too, in the same way as above. Repeat until all the files have been opened, and all their data has appeared in the received messages list.

·	Then click Save As to save the file again. You can choose one of the old filenames to write over, or you can make a new file.

References

·	SysEx Manager contents


Send button

Location	Sysex Manager screen

+CTRL...	makes the button become Send... allowing you to select a file using the standard file opening dialog box

Summary

When you select a file in the list of stored SysEx files, then click Send, all the messages stored in that file are sent through the MIDI cable attached to the selected MIDI output port.

If you hold down CTRL, or if you haven't selected a file, then clicking Send will bring up a standard dialog box. You can find the file you want to send using this box, instead of having to select it from the list of stored SysEx files.

Details

If you want to send just one SysEx data file, without cluttering up your screen or having to wait so long for the program to load, you can send the file by double-clicking it from a normal folder window (the kind you get by double-clicking on a drive icon in My Computer). The file will be sent after a short loading delay, but with no displays or other indications unless something goes wrong - apart from the registration reminder dialog box.

You can also do this by right-clicking on the SysEx file's icon (which should look like a bunch of 0s and 1s with a keyboard in the bottom right corner) and then selecting Send from the pop-up menu that appears.

References

·	Technique:
Different Ways to Start SysEx Solution

·	SysEx Manager contents


Polyphony on the Korg M1

Polyphony is a value which depends on the keyboard. It's usually given in the form "8-note polyphony" or similar. What this means is that you can play 8 notes at a time, in total (spread between all the different programs that might be playing at once). If you try to play more than 8 notes at a time, some notes will stop playing - usually the oldest ones.

With the Korg M1, it's a little more complicated since each program can use either one or two oscillators. The Korg has a maximum of 16-note polyphony, but if you use a program with two oscillators, each note counts as two notes.

Some people actually require more notes played at once than they realise. For instance, if you play a piano while holding the sustain pedal, you might only be pressing four or five keys at any one time. But because the other notes continue in the background, there could be ten or more notes actually playing at once.

Sometimes, it doesn't matter if notes are cut off, because there's enough going on that it isn't noticeable.


Filter Cutoff Frequency

This concept is quite simple. You know a graphic equaliser on a hi-fi system? The way you can turn down the right-hand sliders, taking all the hiss and sharpness out of the sound and turning it into some kind of dull, muddy noise? (A bit like my startup sound... but that's not my fault)

The Korg's filter does exactly that. It's a low-pass filter, which means that low sounds get through. But sounds above a certain frequency - the cutoff frequency - are, well, cut off.

Of course, making your beautiful program sounds into dull, muddy noises wouldn't be such a smart idea. But the filter cutoff is rather more useful than that, because its cutoff frequency is variable. For instance, a piano sound starts off really sharp and then immediately gets rather less piercing. You simulate this by making the cutoff envelope so that the cutoff frequncy starts off high and then immediately reduces to a sensible level.

Or, a snare drum sound. If you hit a real snare drum hard, it goes crack. Whereas if you just tap it, it's more a kind of thud - with less high frequency sounds. You can simulate this by making velocity sensing affect the frequency cutoff.


Velocity sensing

Key velocity is the rate at which a keyboard note key went down. If you press a key hard, it'll move down very fast; if you press a key lightly, it'll go down slowly.

The keyboard senses key velocity so that it can sound different depending on how hard you hit the key. Normally, for instance, you'd want a sound to be louder if you hit the key harder. (Unless it was an organ or something.) So you'd set amplitude velocity sensing on.

Or, say you had a string sound. You might want the sound to kick in immediately - kind of a hit sound - when you hit the key hard. But when you press a key gently, the sound should sort of gently fade in. To achieve this, you'd use the velocity sensing amplitude EG time option.


Keyboard tracking

Using this facility, you can choose a central key. When you play this note, the sound will be as it was if keyboard tracking wasn't turned on. The more "away" you go from that central note, up or down the keyboard, the more different the sound becomes.

For instance, in some cases higher notes can sound louder than lower notes, even when their amplitude value is the same. So you could enable keyboard tracking on amplitude, to make lower notes be played louder.


Program slots

I've used the term slot to refer to the numbered places in your instrument or device where programs are stored. For instance, if your instrument has programs numbered 0-99, then you have 100 slots where programs could be copied into or from.


MIDI Device
Device

MIDI device is a term I'm using to refer to your "thing" that's plugged into the MIDI interface. It could be a keyboard, a sound module, an effects unit, a mixer, a lighting unit, a DAT recorder, or whatever.

I also use the word "instrument" to mean the same thing.


Instrument

I sometimes use the term "instrument" to refer to a MIDI device.


Why create SysEx data manually?

You might want to manually create SysEx data because your MIDI device or instrument doesn't have the necessary front-panel controls to make it send out its settings. Usually, these devices can be told to send out their settings by sending them a short SysEx message called a request message. They will respond by immediately sending back their settings.

Alternatively, most devices that do have front-panel controls still support the use of SysEx request messages to make them send their settings. So if you have a complicated set-up, and you can't face crawling through all the wires to the other side of the room to trigger that settings dump, you can set up a request message file - and then, all you have to do is select it and click Send.

Creating SysEx messages isn't easy unless you're a programmer or something, or you've had practice, so don't try it without a good reason.

References

·	Technique:
Creating SysEx Messages

·	SysEx Manager contents


I can't create an instrument definition!
I can't create an instrument definition! What do I do?

First, contact me by email just in case there's a definition in the works for your particular instrument - or if your instrument is one of those cases that I've decided not to support. If these don't apply, I'll give you the best address to use for me, and you can send me (at this point, we're talking actual, genuine snail mail, remember that?) a bunch of photocopies from your manual.

What photocopies do I need? Well, not just any pages, and certainly not the whole manual. There'll be a (probably incomprehensible) section at the back of the manual, sprinkled with tables, small print and lousy grammar. Usually, it's headed "System Exclusive specification" or something similar. There'll be about five or ten pages of this.

Going down to the post office, finding out how much it costs to send your letter to the UK, and so on is a lot of bother, right? So should you go to the trouble? In a word - yes.

·	By sending me the information, you'll ensure that new users of the program who own the same instrument get it working, right away, with no effort.

·	Until the end of February 1996, just sending me the correct pages of the manual gets you a free iNETRiS registration (iNETRiS is probably the best Tetris game for Windows, and that's just in single player. You can play against other people across the Internet, too. See the Software Forge home page for more information)

·	If / when I manage to convert the gibberish you sent into the very different brand of gibberish that makes up an instrument definition, you'll probably be asked to test it for me. When you take up that opportunity, and when the definition tests out OK, you'll be given a free registration of Program Librarian, too (whatever the date).

So, in summary, for very little work, you're assured $10 worth of software. In all probability, for a very little more work - just testing some files - you'll get another $10 worth of software, which you probably need or you wouldn't have bothered downloading this program in the first place. I think that's worth a quick trip to the post office. Even if it's after February 1996, you'll still get $10 worth of useful software.

References

·	Technique:
Creating Instrument Definitions

·	Program Librarian contents


Why no instrument definition for...?

If there isn't an instrument definition for your instrument, that could be for several reasons. Let's look at them in order of niceness, best first, and see what you can do about the problem.

·	Your instrument definition is one that's become available since this release
There's almost bound to be lots more instrument definitions appearing after the release. Check out the Software Forge home page to see if your instrument is now covered.

·	I haven't yet received information on your instrument; that's the only reason why it isn't included
If this is the case, you can try several things. First, try to create an instrument definition yourself. If you really can't cope trying to understand all that complicated stuff (I'm not being insulting, it really is complicated) that isn't the end of the world... click here.

·	I've decided not to support your instrument
This is pretty unlikely, but if your instrument happens to be a 28 year old home-converted analog synth that takes up the whole house, and there's only one in existence, then I'm unlikely to want to spend time supporting it.

·	Your instrument doesn't have the necessary features Program Librarian requires
Some commercial librarians might be able to cope with it, so you'll have to look at what's available (and get out the check book...)

·	Your instrument doesn't have the necessary features for any librarian

Usually, this only happens if a librarian wouldn't have done anything anyway - for instance, if there's only one user-adjustable program, or if you can't change any of the programs at all. Anyway, if for whatever reason this is the case, you're obviously out of luck.

References

·	Instrument definition dialog box


How often does the editor update the M1?

Summary

As you change settings in the editor, the differences are reflected in the actual settings of the M1 synth. You can play notes as you change a setting, to see how much effect the change is having. However, don't try to hold notes while you change settings, since every time the M1's settings are changed by the Program Editor, all notes will be silenced.

Details

As you type a new setting, the changes are made. For instance, if the box for amplitude attack time has 35 in it, and you delete that using Backspace and then type 17, the M1 will receive a sequence of updates, with amplitude attack time set to 35, then 3, then 1, and then 7.

When you type an invalid setting - for instance, at one point in the above example, the editor box was completely clear - the change is not sent to the Korg. You'll be informed that there is a mistake, when you try to move the cursor to another control.

To see the allowed range for a setting before you make a mistake, pause the mouse over the edit box for that setting. The resulting tooltip will include the allowed range for that setting.

Because the MIDI interface can only take so much data, the program information will only be updated a maximum of five times a second.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
Can I use the data entry controls on the M1 instead of the computer keyboard?

·	Program Editor contents


What new features do I get on the M1?

Summary

The editor enables you to set some features that you can't control with the M1's built-in editing facilities. A warning: there is presumably a reason why these features were left out, so use them at your own risk. (I've tried most of them, and they seem to work OK, but I wouldn't guarantee it...)

Details

·	Stereo effect balance
Using the M1's built-in controls, you can adjust the balance between effect and original sound - but only for both left and right channels at once. Now you can set different effect balance for each side of the stereo picture, enabling even more variety using effects.

·	Three-band EQ
The Korg built-in equaliser effect has two bands - low and high. Now you get a third, middle band, which has an adjustable frequency too.

·	Mid EQ on the Overdrive effect
The Overdrive effect always had low and high EQ, but now you get an adjustable-frequency mid EQ too.

·	And there might be some others I didn't notice. (let me know if there are, OK?)

All these were documented in the Korg M1 manual, so if they don't work, blame Korg.

References

·	Program Editor contents


Can I combine two Librarian bank files?

Summary

Yes. When you've selected the bank file you want to add to, hold down CTRL and select the bank file you want to add to it from the list box.

Detail

Swapping files in bank format rather than native format is a good idea if both people have SysEx Solution. Getting the voices from straightforward SysEx dumps isn't so easy, and nor is saving your entire bank in that format.

If you're not sure if the other person has SysEx Solution, perhaps because you're uploading to an ftp site or something, you could include both formats; if you do, you'd better include a pointer to the Software Forge homepage, so people know how to read the .SFBank format.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
What's with all the file formats?

·	Program Librarian contents

·	Sysex Manager contents


About those tooltips...

Summary

Yes, you can turn them off or make them slower to appear (and also remove the really obvious ones). From a main program screen, hold down CTRL and press P. Then select either Medium or Off in the tooltips section of the preferences dialog box.

If you use the Program Editor, the tooltips are very helpful.

Details

In the Program Editor, tooltips show you the range of numbers allowed for a particular control. Just move the mouse over an edit box, wait, and the tooltip that pops up will have a little section looking something like

[-12,+12]

which means that you're allowed values in this inclusive range. (The other way to find out what range is allowed, short of looking it up, is to get it wrong; the program will inform you when you try to go on to another control.)

Also in the Program Editor, the tooltips for numbers that can be affected using drag-and-drop on the graph have all had a * added to the front.

In the Program Editor's effects options section, tooltips that begin with + indicate that a feature is extra and is not available from the Korg's built-in editing facilities, and tooltips that begin with L or R indicated which channel the option applies to.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
What keyboard commands are available?

·	Program Editor contents


What keyboard commands are there?

Summary

Because I added functionality well after designing the dialog boxes, some controls just wouldn't fit in a mouse-accessible way, so I added a couple of keyboard controls: CTRL+P brings up the preferences dialog box, and CTRL+U brings up the uninstall dialog box.

Details

You can use a keyboard command from any of the three main screens. If it beeps, don't worry: this is normal.

·	CTRL+P Preferences dialog box
From here, you can turn off the tooltips or make them slower to appear. You can also turn off the title sound, and the title graphic. (Only registered users are allowed to turn off the title graphic.) If when you first ran the program, you chose to allow some other program to continue handling double-clicks and right-clicks on .SYX files, and you would now like SysEx Solution to handle these files, you can enable this, too. (You can't stop SysEx Solution handling them, except using the Uninstall facility.)

·	CTRL+U Uninstall dialog box
The dialog box explains how to uninstall the program. When you click OK (of course, you can cancel if you change your mind) the program will automatically remove all references to it from Windows' configuration files. If before you installed SysEx Solution, some other program was handling .SYX files, this program will be set to handle them again.
To complete the uninstall process, you will have to delete the actual files, and also
delete any shortcuts, etc, that you made yourself.


Can I use the M1's controls?

Summary

Yes, in the Program Editor module. The Program Librarian takes no notice of the Korg controls.

Details

You can use both the data slider, and the increment/decrement keys (labelled up/down) to alter the settings in the Program Editor. Both methods work on the edit box that contains the text cursor, so first click on the box you'd like to change, then use the controls.

It's also possible to change programs using the Korg's keypad. To do this, press PROG and then type in the program number.

If the data entry controls stop working, press PROG and then press the A key (letter-A, not note-A...) under the display. Then try again.

The data entry slider is not at all accurate, so use this only for rough values. (The way I use it, it only has 21 positions.)

References

·	Program Editor contents


What are all those file formats?

Summary

There are three file formats for .SYX files. You should use SysEx Manager format for new files, or Standard format if you want to send files to people using other software.

There are also bank files (.SFBank) and instrument files (.SFInstrument) which can be used to launch SysEx Solution in different ways, but are not compatible with any other software.

Details

There is also a SysEx Manager 1.0 format. This is provided for compatibility with the previous version of this software. It has the advantage of allowing long filenames even under 16-bit Windows 3.1, so you should use this format to transfer files to people using SysEx Manager 1.0 and Win 3.1. (If they're using 1.0 and Win95, they shouldn't be, since the registered users get a free upgrade to this SysEx Solution 2.0 version.)

All three formats are available from the Save As dialog box in SysEx Manager. Files in all three formats are also displayed correctly on SysEx Manager's list of stored files. They are given an initial special character so that they display as follows:

This is a SysEx Solution 2.0 SYX file.syx

- This is a SysEx Manager 1.0 SYX file

* This is a standard format SYX file.syx

The .syx extensions shouldn't appear on 2.0 or standard format files, if Windows 95 has been set up not to show file extensions from the Options box on any folder window, but I haven't tried this.

References

·	Sysex Manager contents


Main Glossary

Main glossary         SysEx Manager glossary         Program Librarian glossary         Program Editor glossary

This glossary contains all the available glossary entries. If you know you want information on a term used by a specific program module, you may find it quicker in the module-specific glossary.

Channel

Cutoff frequency

Device

Envelope

Instrument

Keyboard tracking

Name grabbing

Oscillator

Polyphony

Program

Slot

SysEx

Velocity sensing


SysEx Manager Glossary

Main glossary         SysEx Manager glossary         Program Librarian glossary         Program Editor glossary

This glossary contains only entries relating to SysEx Manager.

Device

Instrument

SysEx


Program Librarian Glossary

Main glossary         SysEx Manager glossary         Program Librarian glossary         Program Editor glossary

This glossary contains only entries relating to Program Librarian.

Channel

Device

Instrument

Name grabbing

Program

Slot


Program Editor Glossary

Main glossary         SysEx Manager glossary         Program Librarian glossary         Program Editor glossary

This glossary contains only entries relating to Program Editor.

Cutoff frequency

Envelope

Keyboard tracking

Oscillator

Polyphony

Slot

Velocity sensing


Program

Summary

Throughout the software and the help file, I've used the word "program" to mean a bunch of parameters that the instrument uses.

Details

On a Korg keyboard, Programs would fit my definition of the word. But Combinations would also fit my definition of a program.

On Roland keyboards, timbres, tones, and patches are all types of program.

Other instruments may use the term "voice". This would also be a type of program, by my definition.

You might have a lighting unit with five memories for different sets of light brightnesses or whatever. Each of these memories would be a program.

This isn't intended as an actual definition of the word, but it's an explanation of how the word is used in this software. Every example of a program above would require a separate instrument definition. (Yes, even Programs and Combinations for the same model of Korg instrument).


Starting SysEx Solution

Summary

There are several ways to start this software running. It's possible to get the software to start with a different module; for instance, you might want to load straight into the librarian module.

Details

·	Making it easier to start SysEx Solution
Probably you loaded this software by double-clicking on its name or icon in a folder window. You might want to make it available from the Start menu; to achieve this, drag the SysEx95 icon to the Start button.

·	Changing the module that comes up initially
When you start this software, a title graphic appears while it loads. At the bottom of this graphic, the three module names (SysEx Manager, Program Librarian, and Program Editor) are listed. One name will have a red bar to the left of it; this is the one being loaded.
To move the red bar, hold down the CTRL key. Keep it held down until the program has loaded. You only have two choices of module to load - normally either SysEx Manager if you don't hold CTRL or Program Librarian if you do.
If you have turned off the title graphic, the CTRL key still works to choose the starting module, but you'll have to remember what it does.

·	Double-clicking on icons to load the software in specific ways
You can load the software modules in specific ways, if you load them by double-clicking a data icon rather than the SysEx95 icon.
Double-clicking a .syx file will automatically send that file to the most-recently selected SysEx Manager MIDI output port, and then quit, without displaying any messages or windows unless something goes wrong (apart from a registration reminder).
Right-clicking a .syx file will bring up a menu, from which Send will do the same as double-clicking the file, and Open will load up SysEx Manager, with that .syx file opened into the left-hand window.
Double-clicking an instrument definition file will load up Program Librarian with that instrument and the first bank file that matches that instrument. If the instrument definition is for a Korg M1, you can hold down CTRL while the software is loading to get immediately to Program Editor instead.
Double-clicking a bank file will load up Program Librarian with that bank file and an instrument definition that matches the program size stored in the bank file. (If you use several instruments, it's possible that this could load up the wrong instrument definition, in which case you'll have to choose the correct one.)


Using ADSR Envelopes

Summary

ADSR (attack, decay, sustain, release) envelopes are used to adjust some feature of a sound as time passes. The "envelope" is a graph of the numerical value of this feature, which features four lines representing each of those four sections, and possibly one other line which represents a constant value while a keyboard note is held down.

Details

The first three sections - attack, decay, and sustain - happen in order, and a section is begun when the previous one ended. The release section begins when the keyboard note is released.

Envelopes on the Korg M1 can have some of nine parameters: start time, attack time, attack level, decay time, break point, sustain time, sustain level, release time, and release level.

Each of the "time" parameters refers to the time taken in that line segment of the graph. For instance, if the attack time is 30, then when a key is pressed, 30 time units later the envelope will have reached the attack level.

Each of the "level" parameters refers to the level after that section of the graph. The start level is the value the envelope has immediately you press the key. When any of these parameters are not included in a particular envelope settings section, this indicates that the parameter must have value zero.

Break point could also be called "decay level", which is more uniform.

References

·	Program Editor contents


Creating Instrument Definitions

Summary

To create an instrument definition, you should first be familiar with creating sysex messages. You need to enter some numerical information, and then two hexadecimal strings including special characters indicating where to put specific data. You find this information by interpreting the often-confusing data in the back pages of your instrument's manual. If you are not experienced in this kind of thing, you may well have difficulty.

Details

·	Program size
This should be set to the size of the data that will be saved on disk for each program. Depending on your send and request strings, this may or may not include the "header" and "tail" of the SysEx message that is sent.

·	Program number range
These numbers indicate which numbers are acceptable for the # parameter in the send and request strings. For instance, if your instrument has 16 editable programs, these numbers might be 0 and 15.

·	Program number offset
This number is added to the # value, for display purposes only; it makes no difference to the program operation. For instance, if in the above example, those 16 programs were normally displayed as programs 1-16, you would enter 1 for the program number offset.

·	Program name grabbing
If your instrument supports ASCII format names for each program, Program Librarian can display these on its screen. To enable this, check the appropriate box. Then, enter into the associated edit area the (decimal) positions in the data at which each letter is stored. Positions are relative to the start of the saved data (i.e. if you set it up not to save the SysEx header, this won't count; if you set it up to save that header, this will count). For instance, if the program name is stored at positions 0 to 9 inclusive from the start of the file, you would enter "0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9" here.
There is an "auto update" checkbox. This is useful if you are patient or you have a small number of editable voices; if you check this, the software will read in the voicenames from your instrument every time you enter Program Librarian. Updating, for instance, 50 program names could take ten seconds or more, though, so if this bothers you, do not select the option.

·	Request string
The request string is a string of bytes in hexadecimal notation that is sent to the instrument to request a particular voice. For some instruments, this can be as simple as a program change; for others, this can require complicated arithmetic and checksum calculations.

Request string special characters

#	This indicates a single byte which will be filled with the program number being requested.

!	This indicates half a byte (i.e. one hex digit) which will be filled from the "channel" number in the instrument definition dialog box. This need not necessarily be a channel; if need be, you can use this field for something else. Commonly, it is used for "unit number" or similar information.

[#...]	Brackets of this form ask Program Librarian to perform a calculation on the program number, and then enter the result in this place of the string.
[#iy*a+b]
i indicates the number of bits to use in the calculation (7, usually). y indicates the number of bytes to use for the result (either 1 or 2). a is the number to multiply the program by, and b is a number added to the result. (Optionally, the *a or +b sections can be omitted, but one must be included.) If y was more than one byte, the first byte will be the high byte.
[#yi*a+b]
This works the same, but if there are two bytes, the first byte will be the low byte.

For example, "[#27*30+1]" would mean that Program Librarian would calculate, for program # = 28 decimal, the hex result "49 03". (7-bit, 2-byte result.)

[$...]	Brackets of this form request a checksum on some data. This checksum is of the type where the single-byte 7-bit value stored here is the value that, when added to all the values the checksum is being calculated on, will result in a total whose low 7 bits are zero.
[$a-b]
a is the start of the range to calculate the checksum on, and b is the end (the range is inclusive). These numbers are relative to the start of the data block being sent and cannot include anything that comes after this checksum instruction.

;	You must include a semi-colon section at the end of the request string. This section indicates how long the message the instrument will send back in response is going to be (in total, including any SysEx header), and also what offset in this message the actual stored program data starts at.
;a,b
a is the length of the received message; b is the offset to take the program data from, to store it.
If you are storing the whole message including the SysEx header, you would use ;programsize,0 for this section.

·	Send string
The send string is a sequence of bytes in hexadecimal notation that is sent to the instrument in order to transmit back a particular program. For some instruments, this can be as simple as a program change and then transmitting the stored data; for others, this can require complex arithmetic.

Send string special characters

You may use all the special character sections from the request string, apart from the semi-colon section which is obviously unnecessary. In addition the following are available:

%	This indicates where to put the data that's stored on the computer for the program, into the send message.

[$R]	This indicates that Program Librarian should work out a request message for the current program #, and calculate the checksum specified in that. This value will then be placed here.

These special characters will be extended as new information comes in about requirements for specific models of instrument. Check for the latest version on the Forge web page, and if you require additional facilities, such as a new type of checksum, to create your instrument definition, please email me with full details.

If you succeed in creating an instrument definition (or even more than one!), please, please email - UUENCODED or MIME-encoded - the .SFInstrument file to me. You'll get $20 worth of free software (SysEx Manager and Program Librarian) plus, if you get it to me before the end of February 1996, a further $10 worth: iNETRiS. (Sorry, but no cash alternative or refunds if you already have any of them) You'll also have my thanks.

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
I can't create an instrument definition! What do I do?

·	Instrument definition dialog box

·	Program Librarian contents


The created instrument definition fails!

Summary

You created an instrument definition, but it didn't work; on entering the librarian, a dialog box popped up informing you of an error, and you were put back to the instrument definition box. Alternatively, you were allowed into the librarian, but it didn't work.

Details

·	If you weren't allowed into the librarian
This indicates that either the request string, program number range, or the instrument channel or ports are set incorrectly.

·	If you were allowed into the librarian, but it didn't work
This indicates that the request string, program number, channel, ports etc are probably correct, but the transmit string is wrong.

You should check through your instrument manual again, to make sure that you have specified the correct numbers and request/transmit strings in the instrument definition dialog box. Be alert for sections of the manual that have more than one possible interpretation.
If all else fails, send me what you've achieved so far (on paper is easiest), along with copies of the relevant pages of your instrument manual (see FAQ below).

References

·	Frequently Asked Question:
I can't create an instrument definition! What do I do?

·	Instrument definition dialog box

·	Program Librarian contents


A supplied instrument definition fails!

Summary

You selected a supplied instrument definition, but it didn't work; on entering the librarian, a dialog box popped up informing you of an error, and you were put back to the instrument definition box. Alternatively, you were allowed into the librarian, but it didn't work.

Details

·	Check that you have selected the correct channel, input port, and output port in the instrument definition dialog box.

·	Check that your MIDI cables work and are plugged in to the right instruments.

·	Check that your computer's configuration is not at fault - i.e. make sure SysEx Manager is working OK.

·	Check that your instrument is in the correct mode. Some instrument definitions require a specific mode; most of them should tell you this in their Notes sections. But some may not, so try to put your instrument in the most friendly mode possible for receiving and transmitting the SysEx program data.

·	Some of the supplied definitions may be untested; see their Notes sections for more details. In this case, please email me to inform me that it doesn't work.

References

·	Instrument definition dialog box

·	Program Librarian contents


The librarian fails to transfer data

Summary

The librarian used to work with the instrument you're using, but now it seems to have stopped functioning for no apparent reason.

Details

·	Check that you have selected the correct channel, input port, and output port in the instrument definition dialog box. Remember that often, it's possible to change channel on the instrument too, so make sure you haven't changed this by accident.

·	Check that your MIDI cables still work and are plugged in to the right instruments.

·	Check that your computer's configuration is not at fault - i.e. make sure SysEx Manager is working OK. This is only likely to be the case if you've just done an operating system upgrade or installed a new MIDI interface.

·	Check that your instrument is in the correct mode. Some instrument definitions require a specific mode; most of them should tell you this in their Notes sections. But some may not, so try to put your instrument in the most friendly mode possible for receiving and transmitting the SysEx program data.

References

·	Instrument definition dialog box

·	Program Librarian contents


The editor fails to work

Summary

Although the librarian still works with your Korg M1, the editor doesn't.

Details

·	Check that you've selected the right instrument definition in the librarian. For instance, if you select the configuration that edits combis rather than programs, the editor won't work.

·	Check the librarian really does work.

References

·	Troubleshooting:
I got into the Program Librarian main screen OK before and it was working, but now it doesn't! Why not?

·	Program Editor contents


Troubleshooting and FAQ

Main FAQ                SysEx Manager FAQ                Program Librarian FAQ                Program Editor FAQ

This FAQ contains all the available entries. If you know you want help on errors, or advice on common problems, for a specific program module, you may find it quicker in the module-specific FAQ list.

About those tooltips...

Can I combine two Librarian bank files?

Can I use the controls on the M1?

How can I get rid of the title graphic and sound?

How often does the editor update the M1?

I can't create an instrument definition!

What are all those file formats?

What keyboard commands are there?

What new features do I get on the M1?

Why create SysEx data manually?

Why isn't there an instrument definition for...?


SysEx Manager Troubleshooting and FAQ
SysEx Manager FAQ

Main FAQ                SysEx Manager FAQ                Program Librarian FAQ                Program Editor FAQ

This FAQ contains only entries relating to SysEx Manager. If you know which control (button, listbox, whatever) relates to the problem, you might find help more easily from the main screen help section.

About those tooltips...

How can I get rid of the title graphic and sound?

What are all those file formats?

What keyboard commands are there?

Why create SysEx data manually?


Program Librarian Troubleshooting and FAQ
Program Librarian FAQ

Main FAQ                SysEx Manager FAQ                Program Librarian FAQ                Program Editor FAQ

This FAQ contains only entries relating to Program Librarian. If you know which control (button, listbox, whatever) relates to the problem, you might find help more easily from the main screen help section.

About those tooltips...

Can I combine two Librarian bank files?

How can I get rid of the title graphic and sound?

I can't create an instrument definition!

What are all those file formats?

What keyboard commands are there?

Why isn't there an instrument definition for...?


Program Editor Troubleshooting and FAQ
Program Editor FAQ

Main FAQ                SysEx Manager FAQ                Program Librarian FAQ                Program Editor FAQ

This FAQ contains only entries relating to Program Editor. If you know which control (button, listbox, whatever) relates to the problem, you might find help more easily from the main screen help section.

About those tooltips...

Can I use the controls on the M1?

How often does the editor update the M1?

What are all those file formats?

What keyboard commands are there?

What new features do I get on the M1?


About Registration

Summary

Unless you have "registered", you haven't paid for the program. Registering is the term for sending me money, in return for which I'll send you (by email or post if necessary) a code that removes the "nag boxes" from the program modules you paid for. You don't have to register the entire package; each module can be bought separately. Unless you register, you may only try out each program module for 28 days, after which time you should uninstall the program and delete it from your hard disk. Please bear in mind that, although it may be possible to "fool" the program's usage counters, you are still obliged to stop using a program module within 28 days of the time you started using it, unless you have registered that module.

Details

The cost of registration is £5 (or $10 US) per module, payable in cash. (Normal cheques are accepted, only if they are drawn on UK funds - i.e. from a UK bank. Eurocheques are also accepted, but please add £5 handling charge, because I have to mess about filling in forms. No other foreign cheques accepted). If you really object to this, find some method of payment that doesn't cost me anything to cash it, and check it's OK by email.

If you are registering the Program Editor module, you must also register the Program Librarian module. Other than that you can register the parts you want.

To register, if necessary first go down to your local bank, bureau de change, post office, or wherever, to change some money into either 10 US Dollars or 5 UK Pounds, per module. (The pounds should be cheaper). Then, print out the order form provided.

Fill in the details on the form. If you include your email address, I'll donate a percentage of the registration fee to charity (see the Web page for details of which charity gets the money).

Registering one module at a time, 5% goes to charity; two modules, 7.5% goes to charity; three or more modules, 10% goes to charity. These percentages are percentages of the UK price, even if you pay in US dollars. So that you can take advantage of this (only works with this form), I've also included iNETRiS on the order form - for more iNETRiS details, see the web page.

If you want, and you think the programs are worth more, feel free to pay me more! :)

Please include comments or anything else on blank spaces or on the reverse of the sheet.

Put the lot in an envelope (for security, fold the order form around the cash; by the way, so far I've had a 100% success rate from folks sending cash through the post to register my programs, none has got lost) and send it to me, at

Samuel Marshall

Software Forge

31 Budebury Road

Staines

Middx

TW18 2AZ

United Kingdom


Software Forges WWW Homepage
Software Forge's WWW homepage

Summary

Software Forge have a homepage on the World-Wide Web (the graphical part of the Internet, if there's still someone who hasn't heard of it before). The URL is http://www.dur.ac.uk/~d405ua/. At the homepage, you can get information on any possible bugs in my software, download upgrades and new software, and possibly contribute to discussion lists about the software (how it could be improved, etc). This is also where you go to find new instrument definitions.

Details

The URL above should be valid at least until June 1997. After that date, if it has been deleted, you could try InfoSeek's search facilities or a similar search program, looking for the keywords "Software Forge", to see where my current Web presence is.

At the Web page, you can also read fiction I've written, download the excellent iNETRiS internet tetris game (biased?  who, me?), and of course link to a collection of carefully-selected interesting and high-quality sites.


Credits and Thanks

Credits

Task	By	Using

Design	Samuel Marshall

Coding	Samuel Marshall	Symantec C++ 7.0

Testing	Samuel Marshall, Joseph Marshall

Title graphic	Samuel Marshall	Adobe Photoshop 2.5

Peter Marshall (a photograph, which I mangled rather seriously...)

Title sound	Samuel Marshall	SF Program Editor; Korg M1

Help file	Samuel Marshall	MS Word 2, 6, 7

Thanks

Peter Marshall	It's his computer!

Sarah Thompson	Programming information on tooltips

Various	Instrument definitions (see "notes" fields in individual definitions)


Techniques

Main Techniques        SysEx Manager Techniques        Program Librarian Techniques        Program Editor Techniques

This section contains all the available techniques. If you know that what you'd like to achieve requires a specific module, you may find it quicker in the module-specific techniques list.

Copying individual programs back onto your instrument

Copying the settings back to your instrument

Creating a program

Creating instrument definitions

Creating SysEx data manually

Different ways to start SysEx Solution

Setting your preferences for the software

Storing individual programs from your instrument

Storing the settings of your instrument

Using ADSR envelopes


SysEx Manager Techniques

Main Techniques        SysEx Manager Techniques        Program Librarian Techniques        Program Editor Techniques

This section contains only techniques relating to SysEx Manager.

Copying the settings back to your instrument

Creating SysEx data manually

Different ways to start SysEx Solution

Setting your preferences for the software

Storing the settings of your instrument


Program Librarian Techniques

Main Techniques        SysEx Manager Techniques        Program Librarian Techniques        Program Editor Techniques

This section contains only techniques relating to Program Librarian.

Copying individual programs back onto your instrument

Creating a program

Creating instrument definitions

Different ways to start SysEx Solution

Setting your preferences for the software

Storing individual programs from your instrument


Program Editor Techniques

Main Techniques        SysEx Manager Techniques        Program Librarian Techniques        Program Editor Techniques

This section contains only techniques relating to Program Editor.

Different ways to start SysEx Solution

Setting your preferences for the software

Using ADSR envelopes


Creating a Program

Summary

Choose the program slot you want to edit in. (The program currently there will be lost, so make sure you saved it with the librarian if you want it). If you want to create a program from scratch, you should first click the Clear button to start off with a blank program. Otherwise, you can modify the settings of the program that was there before. Then edit the parameters.

Details

We have the following tips for creating programs:

·	Do the basic oscillator settings first
You should turn off the effects, turn off the MGs, and turn off the oscillator 2 (set mode to single oscillator). Then get Oscillator 1 settings correct using the graph or the number boxes. If you are going to have an MG on this oscillator always (i.e. not just on aftertouch or joystick) you might want to turn that on and program that now, too.
Then, repeat for Oscillator 2, if you need two oscillators. Make sure it matches correctly with Oscillator 1's timing; the graph is not always precise.
Don't forget to set up the velocity sensing and keyboard tracking that you want, too.

·	Then set up what should happen for aftertouch, joystick, etc.

·	Finally, do the effects, and the effect balance. Bear in mind that the effects will only be "usable" in program mode, since sequencer mode only has two effects between the entire song.

References

·	Program Editor contents


How to contact me

Summary

If you have a bug report or suggestion for the program, or you need to contact me about an instrument definition, or you want to contact me for any reason, the best method is to go to the Software Forge homepage and use the appropriate link from the contacts page there.

Details

·	The best way to contact me is via WWW and the contacts page on my homepage. This page contains a mailto link that lets you send email to the address that will reach me quickest.

·	Alternatively, email to Samuel.Marshall@durham.ac.uk during university terms.

·	If you're not sure whether it's a university term or not, email to petermarshall@cix.compulink.co.uk, including the words "To Sam" in your subject line. My parents will forward it to me.

·	Snail mail contact for anyone who doesn't have email; use

Samuel Marshall
31 Budebury Road
Staines
Middx
TW18 2AZ
United Kingdom

·	When sending registrations, use the address specified in the help section on registration.


Registration Order Form

Please fill in this form. Tick (check) the appropriate (   ) sections and fill in the details. Add any comments in blank space or on the reverse of the sheet.

__________________________________________________________________

SF orderform 1.0 (3/11/95)

To: Samuel Marshall, Software Forge, 31 Budebury Road, Staines, Middx TW18 2AZ, UK

I would like to register the following ticked (checked) programs:

(    )	Software Forge SysEx Manager	 95	£5 or $10

(    )	Software Forge Program Librarian 95	£5 or $10

(    )	Software Forge Program Editor	95	£5 or $10	must also register Librarian

(    )   Software Forge iNETRiS 2.0	£5 or $10

I enclose:

(    ) cash	(    ) a cheque from a UK bank	(    ) a Eurocheque (add £5 to cost)

My full name is: ___________________________________________________________

(    )	I have an email address: ________________________________________________

(    )	I don't have an email address; this is my ordinary mail address

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________


How to create SysEx data

Summary

First, you'll have to read the "back pages" of your manual, to try and figure out the "request message" for the data you want. Then, you'll have to enter this message using hex digits into the Create dialog box (if you are creating a SysEx Manager message) or into the appropriate section of the instrument definition dialog box (if you are creating an instrument definition).

You can also use the Create function to make a kind of "macro" that automatically changes program for you, or the Edit function to add this to any already-existing SysEx message.

Details

Understanding manual back pages can be kind of difficult, to say the least. Here's a rough example of the type of thing you're looking for. Say you want to request the program data for a numbered program.

·	The manual says... (an imaginary manual after cutting out worst of the gobbledygook, and note that this is probably a best-case solution...):

Program data request (11H)

F0	System exclusive start

48	TUNECOM Manufacturer ID

17	Instrument Model ID

0c	Instrument channel

11	Command code

nn	Program number (0-127)

F7	EOX

·	You enter into the dialog, to retrieve program 43 (2B hex) from instrument on channel 5 (channel 4 when you start counting from 0) ...
F0 43 17 04 11 2B F7

Suppose you want to send a program change message. The MIDI message for this is

Cc nn	where c is channel, nn is program number (in hex)

So to change program to the program given in the example above:

C4 2B

If you really can't figure this out, then find a friend who's a computer expert, or preferably a MIDI expert, and ask them to help.

References

·	Technique:
Creating Instrument Definitions

·	Program Librarian contents

·	SysEx Manager contents


Oscillator

An "oscillator", in the way that Korg use the word, is an electronic device on a chip somewhere inside the instrument's box, that actually makes one sound* (and only one at a time; i.e. it can only play one note using one sample at a time). Oscillators are triggered (started) when you press the note key. They have a series of settings attached such as the envelope, to control their "level" over time, as well as obvious settings like which sample (multisound) to use.

A program can use one or two oscillators, but there are only 16 available on the Korg M1, so if you use two you are limited to eight notes playing at once, even if you are only using the one program at a time. Note that the oscillator is still playing through the sound, even when it is fading away.

*to be exact, makes the signal representing one sound, which might well still be in digital form...


Channel

Channels are a way of making the single MIDI cable carry information to more than one instrument, or else more than one program at a time on the same instrument, "at the same time" even though there is only one wire. (In fact, they aren't quite at the same time... but anyway.)

There are 16 MIDI channels. On instrument front panels or LCD displays, these are numbered 1-16. Internally, however, they are numbered 0-15 (0-F in hex).

Typically, for System Exclusive purposes required by this software, an instrument is assigned a single channel using controls on the instrument. It will respond only to messages sent on that channel. (You can have several instruments on the same channel, as long as they are different models, since instruments only respond to data in their own formats).


SysEx

SysEx stands for "system exclusive". This is a term meaning that the data formats are not "included" in the MIDI standard; i.e. they are extensions of that standard by an individual manufacturer, and will only work on specific instrument models.

System Exclusive data is required for all features not supported by the basic MIDI standard. This includes program settings and all other instrument settings; all that MIDI supports is simple events such as playing notes, changing program number, aftertouch, pitch bend, joystick, and similar controllers, and timing information. Everything outside this range is System Exclusive data. (Apart from a few minor things I probably forgot, of course...)