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- Welcome Alesis D4 Enthusiasts! Thank you for downloading or
- requesting the unregistered version of D4man, developed by Zorch
- brotherz software.
-
- This package should contain the following files:
-
- D4man.EXE - Alesis D4 Manager program, unregistered version.
-
- D4man.ICO - Microsoft Windows icon for D4man.
-
- D4man.INI - Default startup D4 data file.
-
- D4man.DOC - This file, manual and documentation text.
-
- D4man.LOG - D4man's update history log.
-
- ORDER.FRM - Order form for registering your copy. Please
- include the completed order form with your order.
-
- ALLSYS.SYX - Sample D4 "System (All)" file in MIDIEX format.
-
- DRUMST??.SYX - Sample D4 "Single Drumset" file(s) in MIDIEX
- format.
-
- TRIGGERS.SYX - Sample D4 "12 Trigger Setup" file in MIDIEX
- format.
-
- PROGMAP.SYX - Sample D4 "Program Change Map" file in MIDIEX
- format.
-
-
- INTRODUCTION
- ------------
- The Alesis D4 Drum Module is the latest in the line of popular Alesis
- drum machines. It offers over 500 sounds in the space of a single-
- height 19" rack-mount unit, with an incredibly low price tag.
- Although its number of sounds and its size are advantageous, they
- present a problem as far as managing and configuring the unit - so
- many options, but only one two-line LCD to program it with! With
- this in mind, Zorch brotherz software has developed D4man, the D4
- Manager program that runs on your IBM PC or compatible, allowing you
- to edit all D4 parameters while taking advantage of the PC's screen
- and disk storage capabilities.
-
- We are now making the D4man program available to D4 users at a
- reasonably-priced shareware registration fee (please see order form).
- This one-time fee will also include free tech support and upgrades as
- required. Upgrades will be made available to registered users for
- the cost of shipping and handling.
-
-
- And now a commercial from our sponsor:
-
- *********************************************************************
-
- This manual and the software it pertains to are distributed as
- shareware, (C) Copyright 1992, by Bret Costin and Zorch brotherz
- software. The unregistered version of this material may be copied
- and distributed freely, provided the following conditions are met:
-
- - Any copying or distribution must be done free-of-charge.
-
- - The D4man program, this manual, and any data or utility files
- included in this package must be distributed together and
- unaltered.
-
- - If you do decide to keep a copy of this material for your own
- use, please register your copy so that we can keep you posted
- on upgrades. Your registration and money will help us to
- continue supporting our products and make them available to
- users at a reasonable price.
-
- If you find D4man useful, please distribute it to your favorite local
- MIDI and/or Music BBS. As with any software package, the more users
- there are, the better environment for exchanging configurations and
- ideas!
-
- Thank you in advance for supporting the shareware concept.
-
- *********************************************************************
-
-
- HOW TO REGISTER
- ---------------
- It's easy to register D4man, and there are several benefits if you
- do. Just fill out the order form that came zipped with the
- unregistered version of D4man (file name is ORDER.FRM), complete the
- form, and send with check or money order to the address in ORDER.FRM.
- (It is important that you fill out the form so that we may note your
- address, configuration, media preference, etc. for future upgrades
- and technical support.) Also, be sure to make the check or money
- order out to Bret Costin. Finally, once you become a registered
- user, you have access to the D4man Registered Users' Area of our
- support Bulletin Board System. This allows you to download your
- registered version immediately (well, ok, allow at least 24 hours)
- after your order form and payment arrive! Whether or not you
- download the registered version from the BBS, please allow two weeks
- for your D4man disk to arrive in the mail. Future upgrades will be
- available via the BBS and by mail. Upgrades by mail will be
- available for a shipping/handling charge of $5.00 (USA) per upgrade.
- This rate may increase as the price of US Mail service increases. In
- addition, if you live outside of the USA, there may be an additional
- shipping charge.
-
- Well, now that we've got the obligatory text out of the way, let's
- roll up our sleeves (some musician's still prefer them) and get down
- to business!
-
-
- WHAT D4man CAN DO (AND CAN'T DO)
- --------------------------------
- The D4man program is currently a D4 Librarian and Editor that allows
- an Alesis D4 user to configure the D4 and store/recall its
- configurations from disk. D4man, in quick summary, allows a user to:
-
- - Define individual drumsets and modify all drumset parameters.
-
- - Setup all parameters associated with each trigger input.
-
- - Audition individual sounds or entire drumsets via computer
- keyboard and mouse.
-
- - Setup an entire D4 "system" configuration, including all
- drumsets, triggers, program change table, footswitch modes,
- etc.
-
- - Modify the 128 Program Change Table locations.
-
- - Store and retrieve all data to/from disk media, using a widely
- accepted and supported (by both commercial and shareware
- programs) file format, MIDIEX (a.k.a., Sysex, System Exclusive,
- or Cakewalk System Exclusive).
-
- - Operate the D4 via a programmable MIDI Patch Bay.
-
- The D4man program is available in two versions, the "registered" and
- the "unregistered" version. Both operate in the same fashion with a
- few exceptions:
-
- - The unregistered version displays an invocation message that
- informs the user that the program is unregistered.
-
- - The unregistered version's Zorch pull-down menu displays "How
- To Register" information.
-
- - The unregistered version does not allow data to be stored to
- disk. It does allow data to be loaded from disk. Samples of
- all file formats are provided so that you may operate D4man and
- test file compatibility with other products.
-
- - The unregistered version displays an exit message that gives
- information regarding registration.
-
- The unregistered version contains no hidden "time bombs". It does
- not automatically exit after a given session time, nor does it self-
- destruct after a given time period. If either occurs with your
- version, please note your setup and notify Zorch brotherz software.
-
- This software has been tested on several different brands and
- configurations of computers and MIDI interfaces. If D4man does not
- operate correctly on your machine, notify us and we will attempt to
- remedy the situation. Also, if there's a feature you'd like to see,
- we're open to suggestions - many of the powerful features of our
- Zorch brotherz software products are the result of registered users'
- and unregistered evaluators' suggestions.
-
-
- HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
- ---------------------
- To take advantage of all D4man program features, you should have the
- following hardware:
-
- - Alesis D4, with internal software revision 1.02 or later,
-
- - IBM PC or compatible computer (this includes the Yamaha C1
- Music Computer), with at least 512k of RAM,
-
- - DOS 2.0 (MS-DOS 3.31 or later preferred) operating system,
-
- - A MIDI interface that is Roland MPU-401 compatible (this
- includes Voyetra's, Music Quest's, and CMS lines of MPU
- compatibles, as well as Micro Channel Architecture versions of
- the MPU). IRQ is not critical,
-
- OR
-
- A Yamaha C1 MIDI interface (connected to first IN port and
- first OUT port only),
-
- OR
-
- A Sound Blaster with MIDI interface, (you'll need to set-up its
- address via the D4man Setup function),
-
- - CGA or better video card and monitor,
-
- - An optional Microsoft, Logitech, Genius, or compatible mouse or
- trackball with its software driver installed.
-
-
- You should have at least 256k of RAM available to run D4man.
- Shelling to DOS from inside the program may require even more memory.
- The DOS CHKDSK.COM program displays the number of free bytes in your
- machine, as does DOS 5.0's MEM.EXE command. For more information on
- determining available memory, please consult your DOS manual.
-
- Most IBM PC-compatible video cards are supported - D4man currently
- operates in 80-column, color text mode.
-
- D4man will run with or without a mouse and/or MIDI interface.
- Without a MIDI interface, don't expect to hear any sound except the
- hi-tech BEEP! of the PC speaker. When no MIDI interface is
- installed, it is best to setup D4man with the MIDI interface disabled
- (see D4man Setup section), or to invoke D4man with the "no midi"
- command line switch set.
-
-
- INSTALLING AND RUNNING D4man
- ----------------------------
- D4man's installation is simple. First back-up your copy to another
- floppy disk, then just copy the D4MAN.EXE and other files to the disk
- and directory you would like D4man to run from. Then change to that
- disk/directory (or include its directory specification in your DOS
- PATH statement) and start D4man. The first time you start D4man, you
- may have to specify one or more of the D4man command switches:
-
- -base=AAAh Set I/O base address if using MPU-401 compatible
- interface. AAA specifies the hexadecimal I/O base
- address of the MPU card installed in your system.
-
- -c=XX Set MIDI channel. D4man automatically sets its
- internal MIDI channel to the value specified by XX
- (acceptable values: 1 through 16). Note that once
- D4man is running, you can also set the MIDI channel
- via pull-down menu or D4man Setup Screen.
-
- -c1 Executing on a Yamaha C1 computer. "C1 mode" may
- also be configured from the D4man Setup window.
-
- -n No MIDI interface. Setting this switch allows you
- to run D4man, edit all D4 parameters locally on the
- PC, and store files to disk without actually having
- a MIDI interface physically residing in the system
- or a D4 attached.
-
- -q=FFFF Quickload. D4man will automatically load the
- filename specified by FFFF, transmit it to your D4
- via MIDI, then immediately exit. Quickloading is
- handy for loading banks from the DOS prompt or from
- within batch files and is especially useful in live
- performance applications as it acts like a MIDI
- "data disk".
-
-
- Here's a few examples of switch usage (by the way, instead of using a
- '-' at the beginning of a switch, you can alternately use a forward
- slash character '/'):
-
- D4man -n <Enter> The user's PC has no
- MIDI interface.
-
- D4man -c=13 -c1 <Enter> The user's D4 is on MIDI
- channel 13 and the
- computer being used is a
- Yamaha C1.
-
- D4man -c=8 -q=c:\d4\sys.all <Enter> The user is quickloading
- file SYS.ALL from
- directory C:\D4 to a D4
- on MIDI channel 8.
-
- D4man -base=230h <Enter> The user has an MPU-
- compatible MIDI card
- installed at I/O base
- address 230h.
-
- After entering the command line, if the quickload switch has been
- set, the program name, version number, and copyright notice will
- appear. Then the file will load to the D4. Immediately after the
- file has loaded, the program will return to the DOS prompt.
-
- If the quickload switch has NOT been set on the command line, the
- program name, version number, copyright notice, and Zorch brotherz
- logo will appear. If you are running an unregistered copy, that fact
- will also be displayed. Strike any key to continue. The screen
- should clear and the main program screen will immediately appear.
-
- If you have D4man's MIDI Patch Bay feature enabled (see D4man Setup
- section), D4man will now switch your Patch Bay over to your
- predefined setup. Once in the program, if it is the first time you
- have run D4man (or no D4man.CFG file exists in the same directory as
- D4MAN.EXE) the program will prompt you with the Setup Window. Set
- D4man's parameters to match your system (see D4man Setup section),
- and press <Esc> to return to D4man's main screen.
-
- Also, if D4MAN.INI exists in the D4man directory (and it should!),
- D4man will load in the default drumsets and setup. By the way, the
- file D4MAN.INI may be modified to your own tastes (See D4MAN.INI
- Section).
-
-
- USING THE INTERACTIVE MENU SYSTEM
- ---------------------------------
- D4man implements an interactive pull-down menu system similar to many
- of today's commercial products. The menu system makes the tasks
- associated with the D4man program simpler and more intuitive. Menus
- may be operated by either a mouse or the computer's keyboard. Hot-
- keys are implemented that allow the user to execute D4man functions
- via single keystrokes (typically function keys).
-
- To select a menu via mouse, position the mouse cursor (a red
- rectangle) on the top menu bar and hold down a mouse button. If the
- cursor is on one of the top line menu fields, a pull-down menu will
- appear and remain until all mouse buttons have been released. To
- select a pull-down menu item, while pressing the mouse button, "drag"
- the mouse cursor over the pull-down fields. As the cursor passes
- over each field, it highlights that particular field. To run a
- routine associated with a field, release the mouse button(s) as the
- mouse cursor selects the field. If you don't want to run any of the
- routines on that pull-down menu, merely move the mouse cursor outside
- of the pull-down menu and release the mouse button(s).
-
- Various pop-up windows will allow selection via single and double
- clicks. Just place the mouse cursor over the selected field and
- click once or twice. When in Full-Screen Edit Mode, parameters are
- highlighted by mouse clicking, and selected for edit by mouse double-
- clicking.
-
- To select a menu via keyboard, hold down the <Alt> key and press the
- highlighted (black) letter of the top line menu topic you would like
- to pull-down. Once the pull-down menu appears, the menu's fields may
- be highlighted by using the keyboard's cursor keys, <Home>, and <End>
- keys. To run a routine from the pull-down, highlight the desired
- field and press the <Enter> key. To abort a pull-down menu, press
- <Esc>.
-
- Notice that many of the functions displayed in the pull-down menus
- have a function or control key "hot key" associated with them. These
- designated "hot keys" allow the user to execute functions with one
- keystroke. For example, to quit the D4man program, press <F10>.
- Adios.
-
-
- BROWSING THE MAIN (OR "CURRENT DRUMSET") DISPLAY
- ------------------------------------------------
- Users may browse around the main screen and edit the various
- parameters of the currently selected drumset. Supporting both the
- mouse and the keyboard, D4man provides multiple methods for operating
- the display.
-
- There are several ways to select a parameter. A parameter may be
- selected by moving the blue bar cursor via the computer's cursor,
- <Home>, and <End> keys until the desired field is highlighted. Mouse
- users, on the other hand, may merely click on the desired field to
- highlight it.
-
- Once highlighted, a parameter may be selected for edit by pressing
- <Enter> (mouse users may double-click on the parameter field). The
- blue cursor will change to red - this indicates that you are editing
- the current parameter. To change the parameter value, use the
- up/down cursor keys to increment/decrement the value. To change the
- value in larger increments, use the PgUp/PgDn keys. Maximum and
- minimum values may be set by pressing the <Home> and <End> keys,
- respectively. Once you have completed setting a parameter, you have
- a choice of saving the current value, or cancelling and returning the
- value to its original value (setting before you edited it). To save
- the edited value, press <Enter>, to cancel press <Esc>.
-
- Mouse users may select a parameter for editing by double-clicking the
- desired parameter's field. Once the cursor turns red, a mouse user
- may edit the selected parameter using the keyboard as described in
- the above paragraph. Mouse users also have the added advantage of
- incrementing and decrementing the selected parameter by pressing a
- mouse button and moving the mouse in the vertical axis. While
- pressing the left button, the parameter is incremented or decremented
- by 1; while pressing the right button, the parameter is incremented
- or decremented by larger increments (the larger increment's size is
- dependent on the parameter). To save the edited value, double-click
- the mouse or press <Enter>. To cancel, press <Esc>.
-
- A D4 drumset is assigned across a 60-note window. Because D4man
- displays only 18 note assignments at a time, there are two ways to
- pan up and down the 60-note D4 window. One way is via the cursor,
- <Home>, <End>, <PgUp>, and <PgDn> keys, the other is via mouse. A
- mouse click on the top and bottom keys of the keyboard display will
- pan you up or down a page, respectively.
-
- Also, the D4 sounds may be triggered from the computer keyboard, as
- well as via mouse. Keyboard keys '1' through '0' (left to right
- across the keyboard) will trigger the drums assigned to your D4
- triggers 1 through 10, while the '-' key will trigger drum trigger 11
- and the '=' key will trigger drum trigger 12. Mouse users may press
- click on the displayed keyboard to test sound assignments. Holding
- the button down will continually trigger the D4 note selected on the
- D4man display.
-
- Experiment in the drumset display - there are lots of thrill-packed
- features. You can't hurt anything if you don't write to disk or D4,
- so practice freely.
-
- Now let's go over the various pull-down menus that are accessible
- from the top line menu.
-
-
- FILE Menu
- ---------
- The File menu allows the user to load various types of files from
- disk, save data to disk files, configure D4man, shell to DOS, and
- quit the program.
-
- FILE - Load (F1)
- -----------------
- The File Load function allows the user to load data files into the
- computer's memory. Once Load is selected via mouse, <Enter> key, or
- the <F1> key, a directory window pops up allowing the user to select
- a specific file to load. (Note that you may scroll to the top of the
- directory window and change disks and directories freely.) A file
- may be selected via double mouse click, clicking the LOAD button, or
- by pressing the Enter key. To exit the Load function without loading
- a file, press the <Esc> key or click on the CANCEL button.
-
- After selecting a file to load, D4man will display the file name and
- file type, then ask you if you would like to load the file. Mouse
- users should click on LOAD to load the file, CANCEL to cancel the
- load. Keyboard users should press the <L> or <Enter> key to load,
- the <C> or <Esc> key to cancel the load.
-
- FILE - Save (F2)
- -----------------
- The File Save function allows the user to store specific D4
- information to the computer's disk as a MIDIEX format file. When
- prompted for a file name, the user must enter a filename that
- conforms to DOS conventions. During entry, the user may edit that
- name via the cursor, <Ins>, <Del>, backspace, <Home>, <End>, and
- alphanumeric keys. To exit the File Save function without storing
- the bank to disk, either click on the CANCEL button or press the
- <Esc> key.
-
- Once the output filename has been specified, D4man prompts the user
- for the type of file to save. The user has 4 options:
-
- - Single Drumset (Current). Save the currently selected drumset
- as the specified filename.
-
- - Program Change Map. Save the current Program Change Map as the
- specified filename.
-
- - Trigger Setup. Save the current setup for all 12 trigger
- inputs as the specified filename.
-
- - System All. Save the state of the entire D4 as the specified
- filename. This is the same format as the D4's built-in MIDI
- "System (All)" function.
-
- The mouse user selects one of the file types by double-clicking the
- appropriate field, or by highlighting the field and clicking on the
- SAVE button. The keyboard user selects a file type via the cursor
- keys and presses the <Enter> or <S> key.
-
- Please note that the unregistered version of D4man does not actually
- store the files to disk.
-
- FILE - Setup D4man (Ctrl-F1)
- -----------------------------
- The Setup D4man function is used to configure your copy of D4man to
- match your system. Parameters set in the Setup window take effect
- immediately after exiting Setup and also become default values each
- time you start D4man.
-
- Once the Setup window pops up, keyboard users may highlight
- parameters via the cursor keys. Once highlighted, a parameter may be
- selected for edit by pressing the <Enter> key. Mouse users may
- highlight a parameter by clicking on it, then select for edit by
- double-clicking on it. Once selected, the parameter may be edited
- via the cursor, <Home>, <End>, <PgUp>, and <PgDn> keys. To exit the
- edit, press <Enter> again to save the value, or press <Esc> to
- restore the value to its state before you began editing it. The
- Setup window is exited via the <Esc> key or a mouse click on the
- "window close" icon (a small yellow square) in the upper left-hand
- corner of the Setup window.
-
- Setup allows the user to set the following parameters:
-
- MIDI Port - Enable/Disable D4man's use of the MIDI
- port, and if enabled, select the type of
- MIDI interface installed in your system.
- Set to "Not Installed" if you have no
- actual MIDI interface installed.
-
- MIDI Channel - If MIDI Port is enabled, then this is the
- MIDI channel that D4man will use to
- communicate with your D4. Your D4 must
- also be set to this channel or set to
- "omni" mode for successful communication.
-
- File Path - This is the disk and directory where you
- usually keep your D4 data files. D4man
- will automatically change to this path when
- the program is first invoked.
-
- Mouse Resolution - This is the mickey resolution of the mouse
- while modifying a selected parameter via
- mouse. The higher the resolution, the
- further you will have to move the mouse in
- order to modify that selected parameter.
-
- Patch Bay Support - Enable/Disable D4man's MIDI Patch Bay
- support. When enabled, your patch bay will
- be sent a predefined message at program
- startup, and another predefined message at
- program exit.
-
- Patch Bay Channel - If MIDI Patch Bay is enabled, then this is
- the MIDI channel that D4man will use to
- communicate with your Patch Bay.
-
- Patch Bay Entry - If MIDI Patch Bay is enabled, this is the
- byte value transmitted to it when D4man is
- first invoked.
-
- Patch Bay Exit - If MIDI Patch Bay is enabled, this is the
- byte value transmitted to it when D4man is
- exited.
-
-
- Exiting the Setup function will store your configuration to a
- D4MAN.CFG file. Once a D4MAN.CFG file has been created, it is
- automatically loaded each time D4man is started - that way you don't
- have to specify your command line switch(es) every time you run
- D4man. You may also change D4man's setup in any session via the
- Setup function under the Files Menu (see D4man Setup section). Note
- that even once a D4MAN.CFG file has been created, you may still
- override your default setup by using command line switches.
-
- FILE - Dos Shell
- ----------------
- The DOS Shell function temporarily suspends execution of the D4man
- program and allows command entry from the DOS prompt. When ready to
- return to D4man, enter "exit" at the DOS prompt.
-
- FILE - Quit (F10)
- ------------------
- The Quit function causes the D4man program to terminate and return to
- DOS. When Quit is selected, D4man will pop-up and indicate which of
- the 6 banks have been saved to disk and which haven't. You are given
- a choice whether to Cancel (go back to D4man) or to Exit (exit
- program and return to DOS).
-
-
- EDIT Menu
- ---------
- The Edit Menu allows the user to modify the Footswitch Setup, Program
- Change Map, Trigger Setup, current Drumset Name, and the current
- drumset's Root Note.
-
- EDIT - Footswitch Setup (F3)
- -----------------------------
- The Footswitch Setup function enables the user to set the Footswitch
- Mode (as either Hi-Hat or Drumset Advance mode), and the Footswitch
- Close and Footswitch Open note assignments. The footswitch setup is
- shared amongst all 21 loaded drumsets. Please note that Footswitch
- Close and Footswitch Open note assignments are only valid if the
- Footswitch Mode is currently set to "Hi-Hat." Exit from this pop-up
- is performed by pressing the <Esc> key, or by clicking on the "close"
- icon in the top left corner of the pop-up window. Mouse users may
- optionally double-click their way out of the pop-up.
-
- EDIT - Program Change Map (F4)
- -------------------------------
- The Program Change Map function allows modification of the D4's
- program change assignments. Each MIDI program change number
- (numbered 0 through 127) is assigned to one of the D4's 21 drumsets
- (numbered 0 through 20). Each assignment pair is displayed in column
- order with the program change number on the lefthand side of the
- colon, and the drumset assignment on the righthand side of the colon.
- Exit from this pop-up is performed by pressing the <Esc> key, or by
- clicking on the "close" icon in the top left corner of the pop-up
- window. Mouse users may also double-click their way out of the pop-
- up window.
-
- Be aware that program change numbers vary amongst manufacturers.
- Some manufacturers' MIDI devices may implement program numbers
- starting with 1 instead of 0. You may adjust for this by either
- modifying the D4 program change map, or changing the setting of the
- MIDI device that is transmitting the program change message to the
- D4. For example, if you are running a sequencer that automatically
- sets the program number of the D4 before starting the sequence, just
- adjust the program number setting in your sequencer.
-
- EDIT - Trigger Setup (F5)
- --------------------------
- The Trigger Setup pop-up window is used to set the parameters of the
- D4's 12 trigger inputs. These trigger parameters include MIDI Note
- Assignment, Gain, Velocity Curve, Cross-talk, Decay, and Noise Floor.
- Each parameter may be selected and modified in a manner similar to
- the D4man main screen.
-
- Please be aware of the fact that when a trigger's velocity curve
- parameter is set to 0, the trigger is effectively disabled and may
- not be assigned to a MIDI note. Also note that the Note Assignment
- in the Trigger Setup is actually relative to the Root Note of the
- currently selected drumset. As you select different drumsets that
- have different Root Notes, you will notice that the Trigger Setup's
- MIDI Note Assignments change along with them. This is not a D4man
- anomoly - it concurs with the D4's design.
-
- Exit from this pop-up is performed by pressing the <Esc> key, or by
- clicking on the "close" icon in the top left corner of the pop-up
- window.
-
- EDIT - Drumset Name (F6)
- -------------------------
- The Drumset Name function allows the user to edit the name of the
- currently selected drumset. Once this function is selected, the
- drumset name field on the bottom lefthand corner of the screen is
- highlighted and D4man allows the user to edit the current voice name
- via the cursor, backspace, <Ins>, <Del>, <Home>, <End>, and
- alphanumeric keys. A shortcut to this function exists for mouse
- users - instead of having to select <F7>, a mouse user may double-
- click on the drumset name field in the bottom lefthand corner of the
- screen.
-
- EDIT - Drumset Root Note (F7)
- ------------------------------
- This function sets the Root Note for the current drumset. Each
- drumset maintains its own root note, ranging from MIDI note #0 (note
- C-2) to #67 (note G3). Use the cursor, <PgUp>, and <PgDn> keys to
- increment and decrement the root note. Exit from this pop-up is
- performed by pressing the <Esc> key. (Mouse users may optionally
- exit by double-clicking either mouse button).
-
- Mouse users may also select the root note for edit by double-clicking
- on the topmost displayed note number in the current drumset window.
- The effect of this shortcut will be the same as pressing the <F8>
- key. Then to set the Root Note via mouse, hold the left mouse button
- down and move the mouse in the vertical axis. For larger steps, push
- the right button instead of the left one.
-
-
- MIDI Menu
- ---------
- The MIDI menu allows the user to reset the MIDI interface, transmit
- data to the D4, and receive data from the D4. D4man's MIDI channel
- is set via D4man's Setup Screen (See FILE - Setup D4man section).
-
- MIDI - Reset MIDI Interface
- ---------------------------
- The Reset MIDI Interface function resets and initializes the MIDI
- interface to the proper mode of operation. This function should not
- be required unless some external event on the MIDI bus (beyond
- D4man's control) hangs up the MIDI interface. For example, a user
- might shell to DOS and run an ill-behaved MIDI program. Upon return
- to D4man, the MIDI interface is locked-up. In such a case, the user
- may reset the MIDI interface via the Reset MIDI function.
-
- MIDI - Read D4 Drumset (F8)
- ----------------------------
- This function reads a D4 drumset via MIDI and stores the information
- in the currently-selected D4man drumset. After selecting the Read D4
- Drumset function, the user must specify the D4 drumset number to
- read. Then, once the user indicates that it's OK to transfer the
- drumset information, the transfer is automatic.
-
- This function reads data to the D4man current drumset, but does not
- store the information to disk - if you desire to save this data to
- disk, it must be saved afterwards via the File Save function. If you
- have problems transferring data from the D4 to the computer, make
- sure the D4man MIDI channel matches the unit's MIDI channel and the
- unit's MIDI In and MIDI Out cables are connected properly.
-
- MIDI - Read D4 All (Ctrl-F8)
- -----------------------------
- This function reads all D4 data that is included in a D4 System (All)
- dump. This data includes all 12 trigger setups, program change
- table, all 21 internal drumsets, footswitch setup, and system data
- such as MIDI channel, omni on/off, and currently selected drumset.
-
- This function reads the D4, but does not store the information to
- disk - if you desire to save this data to disk, it must be saved
- afterwards via the File Save function. If you have problems
- transferring data from the D4 to the computer, make sure the D4man
- MIDI channel matches the unit's MIDI channel and the unit's MIDI In
- and MIDI Out cables are connected properly.
-
- MIDI - Write D4 Drumset (F9)
- -----------------------------
- This function writes the information from the currently-selected
- D4man drumset to a specified internal drumset on the D4 via MIDI.
- The term "internal drumset" refers to a drumset location, 0 through
- 20. The storage is similar to storing a drumset from the D4 front
- panel - once stored, the D4 "remembers" the drumset even if you
- select another drumset number. Remember that you can always restore
- the factory drumsets via the D4 front panel.
-
- If you have problems transferring data from the computer to the D4,
- make sure the D4man MIDI channel matches the unit's MIDI channel and
- the unit's MIDI In and cable is properly connected to the computer's
- MIDI Out.
-
- MIDI - Write D4 All (Ctrl-F9)
- ------------------------------
- This function writes all D4 data that is included in a D4 System
- (All) dump. This data includes all 12 trigger setups, program change
- table, all 21 internal drumsets, footswitch setup, and system data
- such as MIDI channel, omni on/off, and currently selected drumset.
-
- If you have problems transferring data from the computer to the D4,
- make sure the D4man MIDI channel matches the unit's MIDI channel and
- the unit's MIDI In and cable is properly connected to the computer's
- MIDI Out.
-
-
- ZORCH Menu
- ----------
- The Zorch menu displays information about the program itself. The
- unregistered version of D4man displays information on how to register
- your copy of the program.
-
-
- QUITTING D4man
- --------------
- To quit the D4man program, select the Quit function under the Files
- menu, or type <F10> from the keyboard. D4man will ask you whether
- you would like to exit the program, or cancel and return to the
- program. Press <X> to exit, <C> to cancel. Mouse users may press
- the mouse on either the EXIT or CANCEL buttons. If you decide to exit
- the program, you will be automatically returned to the DOS directory
- that you entered D4man from.
-
-
- MIDI PATCH BAY SUPPORT
- ----------------------
- D4man provides support to MIDI Patch Bays that are MIDI-controllable
- via MIDI "Program Change" messages. D4man does this by sending
- specific program change numbers to your MIDI patch bay on your patch
- bay's MIDI channel. A program change number must be specified for
- entry into the D4man program, and another must be specified for exit
- from D4man. The "entry" value will set your patch bay so that your
- D4 Midi In and Midi Out ports will be routed to your computer's MIDI
- interface. The "exit" value will return your patch bay to your
- default setting. Also, you must specify your patch bay's MIDI
- channel (this should be a different channel than your D4 is on!).
-
- "Entry" and "Exit" patch numbers, and patch bay MIDI channel are
- application-specific and vary from user to user. In order to
- configure D4man for your patch bay setup, enter D4man Setup, enable
- patch bay support, set the MIDI channel of your patch bay, and then
- set the "entry" and "exit" values for your specific system.
-
-
- FILE FORMATS
- ------------
- Four different file formats are supported by D4man at this time, all
- of which contain one or more consecutive MIDIEX message(s). The file
- formats are identical to those output by the D4 when manually running
- a Sysex Backup from the D4's fifth MIDI page. This means that data
- dumped directly to disk from the D4 may also be loaded by D4man, and
- vice-versa. Here are the 4 supported formats:
-
- Single Drumset - Same format as D4's "Edit Buffer" format.
- Data includes drumset name, footswitch
- closing and holding notes, trigger note
- assignments, and volume, pan, output, bank,
- voice, tune, and group assign information.
-
-
- Program Change Map - Same format as D4's "Program Table" format.
- Data includes all 128 Program Change
- assignments.
-
- Trigger Setup - Same format as D4's "Trigger Setup" format.
- Data includes gain, velocity curve, cross-
- talk, noise floor, and decay settings for
- all 12 trigger inputs.
-
- System (All) - Same format as D4's "System (All)" format.
- Data includes 25 consecutive MIDIEX
- messages: the Program Change Table,
- Trigger Setup, Edit Buffer, 21 Single
- Drumsets, and the System Info message.
-
-
- MIDIEX format files may be used with other popular shareware programs
- such as SYSX.EXE (any version) or MIDIEX.EXE (we suggest version 1.9
- or later), or with commercial products such as the Cakewalk
- sequencer. When a MIDIEX file is loaded by the D4man program, the
- MIDI channel embedded in the MIDIEX file is replaced by D4man's
- current MIDI channel setting. In the same manner, MIDIEX files
- stored by D4man will have the same MIDI channel as D4man's current
- setting.
-
-
- D4MAN.INI File
- --------------
- The D4MAN.INI file contains D4 information that will be loaded
- automatically every time you start D4man. Included in this
- information is data for all 21 drumsets, the trigger setup, the
- program change map setup, the footswitch setup, and all D4 system
- parameters.
-
- The D4MAN.INI file is actually a MIDIEX file in the same format as
- the D4's "System (All)" format (also same as D4man's "System (All)"
- format). Therefore, you may replace D4MAN.INI with your own file by
- just renaming and copying your file to the same disk directory as
- D4MAN.EXE and D4MAN.CFG. Just be sure that the file is the proper
- format! We recommend that you keep a copy of the original D4MAN.INI
- as a safety precaution. The original D4MAN.INI file matches the
- actual Alesis factory configuration.
-
-
- HOT KEY REFERENCE
- -----------------
-
- F1 = Load File
- Ctrl-F1 = Setup D4man
- F2 = Save File
- F3 = Footswitch Setup
- F4 = Program Change Map
- F5 = Trigger Setup
- F6 = Drumset Name
- F7 = Drumset Root Note
- F8 = Read D4 Drumset
- Ctrl-F8 = Read D4 All
- F9 = Write D4 Drumset
- Ctrl-F9 = Write D4 All
- F10 = Quit Program
-
-
- FUTURE UPGRADES
- ---------------
- Key Midiator interface support.
-
-
- MORE INFO
- ---------
- A great deal of time and effort went into developing and testing
- D4man. If you experience problems with D4man, please note the
- symptoms and contact us. We'll do our best to rectify the situation.
- If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about D4man or
- other Zorch brotherz products, we will be glad to receive and/or
- answer them. We may be contacted by mail at:
-
- Bret Costin
- c/o Zorch brotherz software
- 3475 Rolling Trail
- Palm Harbor, FL 34684
-
- or leave us a message at one of these Bulletin Board Systems:
-
- - The Gulf Coast MIDI Users' Group BBS (Sponsored by Zorch
- brotherz software), (813) 789-5880 (To: Bret Costin),
-
- - Compuserve Mail [70474,3534] (To: Bret Costin),
-
- - The MIDILINK Musicians' Network, (708) 949-MIDI, Main Board or
- IBM Conference, (To: Bret Costin).
-
-
- The Gulf Coast MIDI Users' Group BBS is sponsored by Zorch brotherz
- software and is loaded with additional Zorch products and public
- domain demos, patches, samples, and sequences, as well as messaging
- to MIDILINK, the premiere Musician's Network.
-