Whiteline: Alpha/Whiteline Alpha.iso/sound/midi/dx_patch/patch.doc

Text File | 1994-09-24 | 9.5 KB | 194 lines

FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW


Automatic Patch Generation and Archiving for the DX100 and CZ-101


The following instructions apply both to DXPATCH.PRG and CZPATCH.PRG .

Both of these programs interact with the user identically.  To use either,
MIDI your synthesizer to the ST (ST MIDI IN -> synth MIDI OUT, ST MIDI OUT ->
synth MIDI IN) and run the program (in any resolution).  Due to extensive memory
requirements, it might be necessary to de-activate RAM disks before doing so,
however.  You will then be presented with a menu of options.  They are:

n - Generate and load a random voice into the synthesizer.  The voice does
    not go into any permanent storage area of the synth.  It goes into a
    temporary area for the currently sounding voice.  To store it *in the
    synthesizer* permanently, follow the normal synthesizer procedure for
    storing an edited voice.  The program can store the voice on disk using
    the next option.

s - Save the synthesizer's currently active voice on disk.  Random voices can be
    improved using the synth's normal editing facilities, for instance,
    before being saved.  You will be prompted to give the voice a name
    before it is saved.

l - Load a voice from the program's library into the synth.  You will be
    prompted for which voice you want.  The loaded voice's name and number
    will be displayed on the upper right of the screen.

r - Re-load the current voice (shown on upper right of screen) into synth.
    Useful if you made an error while editing the voice with the
    synthesizer.  Random voices are re-loaded correctly.

a - Audition next voice in library.  Loads next voice number (see upper right of
    screen) into synth.  Will wrap around from end of library to beginning.

f - Find voice by name.  Will prompt you for a search string and will find all
    voice names that contain that string.  The search is case sensitive.
    Unfortunately, there is no wildcarding.  It is possible to find names
    that contain *more* than one string.  To do so, enter the strings on
    one line, separating them with the *keypad* plus key.  In this mode,
    the keypad plus key will generate a special symbol to avoid confusion
    with the normal plus key.

w - Change weirdness factor.  When random voices are generated, the weirdness
    factor determines whether the voice is more like a musical tone or a
    sound effect.  The *higher* the weirdness factor is set, the more
    *normal* the voice is.  This is because the chance that the program
    sets a voice parameter to a weird value is 1/(weirdness factor).  This
    factor is displayed in the upper right of the screen.

e - Go to the edit screen (explained below).

q - Quit program.


The 'e' option above changes you to the edit menu, which has the following
options:

c - Change the name of a library voice.

d - Delete a voice.

D - Delete a range of voices.

m - Move a voice to a new position in the file.  Useful for grouping similar
    voices or for putting your favorites in the first positions.

M - Move a range of voices.

r - Read in an alternate voice file and append it to the current library.  This     is useful if you are sharing voice files with others or manage your
    voices in several separate files (one file for each class of voice,
    for example).  When prompted, specify the file as follows:

            [Drive:][\Path\]Filename

    For instance, if your file was VOICES.OLD in folder OLD on drive A, it
    would be specified as A:\OLD\VOICES.OLD. If drive A is the drive you
    were already using, you could drop A: and just type \OLD\VOICES.OLD.
    Finally, if OLD was the folder that you started the program from, you
    could just type VOICES.OLD.

x - Execute the changes specified in this editing session and save them to
    disk.

q - Quit the session without saving the changes specified.  If you goofed up,
    this is your option.  The library will be restored to its pre-edit
    form by reading it back off the disk.


A lot of sample voices have been included on the disk for you to try out.

These two programs have various support files associated with them on the disk.
For DXPATCH.PRG to function, the files DX100.DTA and KEYTAB.DTA must be present
in the same folder.  For CZPATCH.PRG to function the files CZ101.DTA, CZMIDI.DTA
and KEYTAB.DTA must be present in the same folder.  KEYTAB.DTA contains the
keyboard translation tables used in the 'find voice' menu option.  CZMIDI.DTA
contains tables to translate CZ101 vibrato setting levels to the MIDI data the
CZ expects.

The program you run will expect to find a voice library file (DXVOICES.DTA and
CZVOICES.DTA respectively) in the same folder.  If one is not found, an empty
one will be created.  Otherwise, the file will be read in automatically and
be ready for use.  No more than 1000 voices are allowed in one file.

The DX100.DTA and CZ101.DTA files contain the parameters used by the
respective programs to generate random voices.  Unlike the previous files
mentioned, which are all binary, these are in ASCII and can be edited with
any word processor or editor to customize them as you see fit.  Each file
contains three large groups of numbers, each group enclosed in braces [{}].
The numbers in each group correspond in a one-to-one manner to the voice
parameters of the voice being generated.  For the DX100, these voice
parameters are listed on page 54 of the DX100 owner's manual.  For the CZ101,
these parameters are listed in the file CZ101.DOC on the disk.  In the
first group of numbers, each number is the highest value that its respective
voice parameter can assume (lowest value is always 0). In the second and
third group of numbers, there are two numbers for each parameter.  The first
number is the value the program uses when it has decided to set this parameter
to a weird value (see 'w' menu option, above), the next number is the normal
value.  Numbers in the third group tell the program how many times it should
generate a random number in the range (0 - maximum parameter value).  Numbers
in the second group tell the program whether it should set the parameter to
the highest, lowest, or median value just generated (1=high, 2=median, 3=low).

This whole process can be thought of as glorified die rolling.  The first
group of numbers defines the number of sides on the die.  The third group of
numbers tells you how many times to roll the die, and the second group of
numbers tells you whether you are taking the highest, lowest or median value
you roll.

Note that the program will ignore any non-numeric characters that are put in
the file, so you can put notes in the file if you wish.  The program will
ignore *any* characters that are between asterisks [*], including numbers.
So the numbers already in the files that are between a '/*' and '*/' are just
there to help you see which values correspond to which parameter numbers, and
are ignored by the program.



NOTES


There are many safety features included in the program to prevent you from
inadvertently clobbering your voice file or going over the 1000 voice limit
(if you have more than 1000 voices, remember the 'r' edit option!).  However,
if you manage to do it anyway, remember that as long as you stay in the
program you can save a new voice file with the 'x' edit option  (as long as you
move one voice so that the program knows the voice library has changed and will
therefore re-save the file).  Also note that a voice is not lost as long as
it can be sounded on your synth (if you accidentally quit before saving).  Just
restart the program and save the voice!

Nonetheless, it is advisable to occasionally backup your voice library just for
your own peace of mind.

If you change the voice parameter files, back them up first.

Don't set the weirdness factor to greater than 32767 (highest value for an
normal integer on the ST).



HINTS


Some voices generated for the CZ will be garbage, a few will be perfect without
any change, but many will need just a little fiddling to be very useful.  Try
each line select.  Hit the ring mod button.  If the voice does things you don't
like after the key is released, make the DCA1 or DCA2 END step closer to the
SUSTAIN step (or nearer first step if no SUSTAIN).  If the voice clicks when
the key is hit, reduce the attack RATE of the first step of either DCA1 or
DCA2.  If the voice is too quiet raise the LEVEL of the SUSTAIN step of DCA1
(or first step if no SUSTAIN).  If the voice seems out of tune check the value
of NOTE in the DETUNE section, if it is 1 or 11, change it.  Remember the
re-load option in the main menu.

The DX is much harder to fine tune.  On the other hand, the random voices
usually sound much better to start with.  But don't ask me how you fix 'em
if they don't.  [Actually, if you are familiar with all the voice parameters,
you can probably fine tune the voices.]

You might consider putting some code on the end of the voice name to tell
you what it is useful for (e.g. 10=effect, 20=bass, 30=lead, 40=bell).  You
could then use the main menu find option to find all voices with a certain code.
Alternatively, you could use the edit menu move option to keep all your
voices sorted or you could keep similar voices in separate files.  Or you
could be like me and just sit there.

Have fun!

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, I can be reached via
USENET electronic mail.  My address is: ucbvax![e-mail].