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1992-01-02
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Samdisk V1.0 - by Pete Lyall
January 2, 1992
What is samdisk?
================
Samdisk is a disk catalogue and disk utility for owners of the Roland
S330, S50, and S550 that use IBM compatible computers.
What can it do for you?
=======================
Samdisk has the following features:
a) Can read sampler diskettes into a standard DOS file on either
your hard disk or other floppy disks.
b) Can write the sampler disk image file back onto any 720K capable
diskette. This diskette can be formatted either by the sampler
or by standard DOS utilities.
c) Can produce a listing of the diskette's type (S330, S-50,
S550), title (if any), subtitle (if any), patches, and tones.
d) Can produce a simple multiple disk catalogue.
e) Can produce a multiple disk catalogue using a binary record
format (provided below) so that other programs may be used (or
WRITTEN) to manipulate your sampler disk data.
f) Can duplicate multiple copies of a sampler disk with just one
read pass.
What do I want from this?
=========================
Well, typically I despise guiltware. I hate it when every Tom, Dick,
and Harriet has their hand out for the latest/greatest directory program.
What I'd like to suggest is this:
o - If you use/like the program, PLEASE at least let me know.
o - Since one of the main reasons for writing the program was to make
our sample disks transportable over telecommunicatios media, I'd
like to see some disks uploaded to Internet servers or Compuserve.
True, the files are large, but with FTP and 9600 baud modems (even
2400 baud modems), over the net disk transfers aren't too painful.
o - I'd love more samples. If you could shoot me a disk or two with
your favorite samples, I'd REALLY appreciate that.
o - If you're TRULY tickled, I could always use a little extra lunch
money - whatever. Please - nothing over $20, as this isn't about
making a profit; it's about getting samples between displaced
users, and about finding that harmonica sample in a stack of disks
at 1:30 AM.
Samdisk Modes
=============
READ MODE (default)
-------------------
Example: samdisk
samdisk -f outfile
samdisk -d a -f outfile
etc.
Read mode is the default state for samdisk. In this mode, a sampler
diskette in the default samdisk drive is read sector by sector, and
the output is deposited into a sampler disk image file (default is
'samdisk.out').
WRITE MODE (-w mode)
--------------------
Example: samdisk -wf last.dsk
This is the logical inverse of READ MODE. A sampler disk image file is
read from your hard/floppy disk, and the sectors are written back onto
a 720K diskette in the samdisk drive. Note that diskettes formatted
either by DOS or by the sampler may be used. Note also that the
sampler doesn't like 1.44 MB floppies (or 5 1/4"), but samdisk will
let you write to any of them.
REPLICATE MODE (-r mode)
------------------------
Example: samdisk -r
This is merely a single read followed by one or more write operations.
You will be asked if you wish to make multiple copies, and will be
prompted at the appropriate time to insert a new 720K diskette. This
is a great way to make duplicates.
LIST MODE (-l mode)
-------------------
Example: samdisk -l
This mode will present an ASCII display of the sampler disk's mode
(i.e. S330, S-50, S550, or ????), title (if amy), subtitle (if any),
patch names, and tone names. The format is:
*******************************************************************************
===============================================================================
Title: S-330 - System Disk [2] Multi Patch by Roland
Type: S330
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patch P11: Drums Tone T11: Kick Tone T31: B.Mari-L
Patch P12: Slap Bass Tone T12: Snare Tone T32: B.Mari-H
Patch P13: Fretles Bass Tone T13: Tom Tone T33: EP-1
Patch P14: Bras Section Tone T14: Hihat-O Tone T34: EP-2
Patch P15: AltoSax Solo Tone T15: Hihat-C Tone T35: EP-3
Patch P16: E.Piano Tone T16: Ride Tone T36: EP-4
Patch P17: J.Wind Bell Tone T17: Crash Tone T37: EP-5
Patch P18: Marimba Tone T18: Handclap Tone T38: EP-6
Patch P21: Slap Bass sw Tone T21: ThmbBass Tone T41: Sax-1
Patch P22: S.Bass uni Tone T22: PullBass Tone T42: Sax-2
Patch P23: FrtlsBas uni Tone T23: Fretless Tone T43: Sax-3
Patch P24: Brass dual Tone T24: Brass-L Tone T44: Sax-4
Patch P25: Brass+Sax Tone T25: Brass-M Tone T45: Sax-5
Patch P26: Marimba+Bell Tone T26: Brass-H Tone T46: Sax-6
Patch P27: E.Piano uni Tone T27: J.W.Bell Tone T47: Sax-7
Patch P28: Bell Piano Tone T28: ??? Tone T48: Sax-8
*******************************************************************************
CATALOGUE MODE (-c mode)
------------------------
Example: samdisk -cf sdisks.cat
Catalogue mode is like the list mode, except that it may also be sent to
a file (using the -f option), and that it will cyclically ask for more
diskettes until you indicate that you are done. When using a file for
output, if it already exists, it will be appended to. This way you can
stop cataloging and continue again at a later time.
BINARY MODE (-b option)
-----------------------
Example: samdisk -bf records.bin
The binary mode is JUST like catalogue mode, except that rather than
writing an ASCII version of the disk's contents, a binary record is
written for each disk catalogued. This builds a primitive database
that may be manipulated by programs you write (or possibly some
commercial packages that allow specification of the record structure).
The format of each record is as follows:
Field Size Contents
----- ---- -------------------------------------------------------
1 5 Type. "S550", "S-50", "S330", or "????". NULL
terminated.
2 13 Title (13 chars, NULL terminated)
3 52 Subtitle (51 chars, NULL terminated)
4 208 Patchnames (16 names x 13 chars, each NULL terminated)
5 288 Tone names (32 names x 9 chars, each NULL terminated)
If you do write programs (such as sorters, cross referencers, and
lookup tools), please share them with us.
Other command line options
==========================
-f FILENAME
-----------
Example: samdisk -wf woof
Allows you to specify that the output of read (or input of write)
operations be sent to a file other than 'samdisk.out'.
-d DISKDRIVE
------------
Example: samdisk -d A
Allows you to specify that the default samdisk drive be other thabn
'B:'.
Caveats
=======
I have noticed that when using a disk cache program, operations can be
slowed down when cataloguing if the floppy is cached. The reason for
this is that the cache program tries to grab as much of the floppy as
it can when the disk is inserted. If doing a list, catalogue, or
binary operation, this is extreme overkill, as only a small part of
the diskette needs to be read. Also, I'm not sure why, but many times
the caching program will not detect the changed diskette and re-read
into it's internal sector buffer. This may be because these aren't DOS
formatted disks, and the cache doesn't recognize them.
Remember to use 3.5 720K diskettes. We may be able to cheat and use
1.44's in the future, but for now the sampler doesn't like the higher
density diskettes. Covering the 'high density' hole on the HD
diskettes may work, but no promises.
Application ideas
=================
Some of the things that samdisk will allow you to do:
o - Create disk image files of all of your sampler disks so you can
compress them and roll them off to low cost backup tapes on your
PC.
o - Ship sampler diskettes over modems or networks to other users.
o - Network sample archive servers for Roland sample users are now
feasible.
o - Send catalogues of your disk collection to others so that you can
swap non-duplicate samples.
o - Use the binary mode and your programming talents to develop the
ultimate sample disk manager utility.
Contact information
===================
If you have problems, questions, bugs, or some new ideas, I can be
reached at any of the following:
Compuserve: 76703,4230
Internet : pete@wlbr.imsd.contel.com
U.S. Mail : Pete Lyall, 6180 Wisteria St., Simi Valley, CA 93063
Work (GTE): (805) 372-5493
Enjoy the program, and PLEASE - let's get some samples flowing!