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| Home | About | Documentation/Status | FAQ | Order Direct | Screenshots | Download Translator | Support | What They Are Saying |
Last updated on March 14, 2002
How much is the program?
Currently, the price of Translator is $149.95. Domestic US
shipping is $7, International is $12.
Is it shipping yet?
Yep - as I sit here composing this web page, our shipping lady
just walked by with a bunch of Windows versions in her hands,
with address labels and stamps (already licked). This is the
Windows version - the Mac version is not released as yet.
Do I buy
each individual module for my sampler, or do I have to buy the
whole thing?
With the Full Version, the whole ball of wax is included - you
get all available translation capability in one program.
There are different editions of Translator that sold for for specific samplers (click here for more info). For example, the Giga Edition only translates anything to Giga format. It does not translate Roland to Akai, for example.
Is there
a demo?
Yes - go the the Download
Translator
page to download it.
Where can I purchase Translator from?
Does
Translator run on Windows XP, 2000 or Windows NT?
Yes,
it does - however, see the Windows XP/NT/2000
page
for more information how to upgrade your computer to enable Translator
to run properly.
Any floppy disk programs that come unsupported wihtin the program will defnitely not work, as XP/NT/2000 deals with these things differently.
Will you
support floppy disks?
Probably not - why
are you using floppy disks anyway? Translator does not
support reading proprietary floppy disks, such as Ensoniq, Emu,
Akai formatted floppies. However, we include four shareware/freeware
DOS programs, not written by us, with the Translator package.
These enable you to at least read a file onto your hard drive so Translator can then access it. The Translator interface has buttons that can directly access these programs for convenience. Since the programs aren't written by us, they are unsupported - when using them, you are on your own. DO not ask us any questions about them - we won't answer them.
When will
the Mac version be released?
There has been no date set as yet for it's release. There has
been much demand for it. It is being developed, and is presently
at the end of the development process, but it is not at a point
where we know an approximate release date. Click here for more information.
If I buy
the Windows version now, what are the terms for the Mac version
when it is released?
Optimally it would be free, with a slight handling charge for
previous owners. Once it would be released we would ship both
platforms to all new customers. This is what we are shooting for
However, this may not be possible, since final arrangments have
not been completed for full course development. Most likely,
there will be a nominal cross-platform charge, but we can't
guarantee anything as yet. You might consider sending us a
translation job to do for you in the meantime, if you are
concerned with the situation as it stands.
Do you
support (fill in your sampler here) yet?
Go to the Documentation/Status page, look for the
SOURCE and DESTINATION sampler formats you are interested in, and
see what is supported so far. This page is updated daily to
reflect the current translations available, and along with the
mailing list updates, is the first and only source for current
information on translations.
Does the
program come on DAT tape?
Of course not. Translator will be distributed physically via
snail-mail on a CD-ROM. Floppies can be made available on request.
The door is open for net distribution, including updating, but
plans are still in the development stage.
How does
the program work?
Translator's interface is an Windows Explorer clone, only the
additional entries for the SCSI and ATAPI drives. You can drag
and drop any level of file - a single sample; a program,
instrument, or preset; banks, volumes, or whole directories; or
even entire disks. You also only see the files you need to work
with, which cleans up much of your work.
You can't write to
my Akai SCSI Drive. You can't even read it - I tried it; I hooked
it up to my computer, and it said "Disk not formatted, would
you like to format?" I can't even see the directories.
Oh, yes we can. Translator is the ONLY program in existence that
can convert a file format AND write it onto a non-DOS disk format.
You can see all your volumes, folders, directories, contents -
everything.
Aren't
parameters on different samplers different? How is it possible to
make instruments to sound the sample on completely different
samplers?
Obviously
all/most translations will be to a certain extent "lossy."
The point is to get as close as possible to achieve coherency,
just like language translation does. All samplers share basically
the same attributes, with supersets of the basic OSC-FILTER-AMP-ENVELOPE-LFO
scheme. Translator is extensively documented on the abilities and
limitations of it's translations.
Why
should I get Translator when my sampler already imports the
formats I want?
Translator can potentially make better, faster, and more useable
translations. For example, the Ensoniq ASR-X imports Ensoniq EPS/ASR
sounds, but there are certain critical translation problems, the
effects DSP information is not translated, and it has to be done
one-by-one. In addition, the ASR-X can translate Akai and Roland
formats, but only the wavedata and the keymap arrangement on the
keyboard. This is also the case with many other manufacturers
translations - they want to expand the reach of their product,
but have not had the resources to truly get the job done right.
Translator improves on this situation for your benefit.
What if I
don't like the translations that Translator performs? What if I
spot a bug or a obvious translation error?
Call or e-mail us and give us SPECIFIC information on the problem
- best of all, send us the actual source file in question - you
maydo this without prior permission.
For more info on sending files, see the Sending Files area.
Translator has an extensive bug-solving apparatus that allow us to diagnosis any problem. We listen and may upload or e-mail you an update within 48 hours.
You
haven't mentioned a WORD of my desired format.
Make a request at translator@chickensys.com.
How is
Translator shipped and how is it updated?
Translator
is NOT available for download - it is initially shipped via snail-mail.
We ship within 24 business hours of your order. Express Mail
shipping options are available. However, updates ARE available
for download from our Web Site, using our easy-to-use updating
method from the program itself.
So say I
buy Translator and do a bunch of translations, and say they are
OK. When another build comes out and offers a better translation,
do I have to do all my translations over?
Probably
not all of them, but perhaps certain ones. You have an extremely
good point, and is why we are attempting the best possible
translation the first time around. It is also a partial reason
why the program is not released as yet.
I think I
could be a good beta-tester. Where could I sign up?
Go to our Beta Signup Page, and fill out the
application. Benefits include a huge ego boost, a fun time, a
chance to be critical and be thanked for it, and MAYBE the
program for free.
I'm tired
of your stupid mailing list. Take me off it.
No way, not with that attitude. Ok, if you're nice, we'll remove
you. You can also remove yourself by following the
instructions at the bottom of each posting.
Last updated on March 14, 2002
⌐2002
Chicken Systems, Inc. www.chickensys.com
Contact webmaster@chickensys.com for any question
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