home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- ROLAND U220 LIBRARIAN PROGRAM - LIB220
-
- INTRODUCTION
-
- This program is designed to serve as a System Exclusive
- (SYX) file librarian for the Roland U-220 Sound Module. It
- can perform the following operations:
-
- - Read and write SYX files for the U220.
- - Display and edit U220 SYX files.
- - Send SYX information to a U220.
- - Create lists of Timbres and Patches from a SYX file.
-
- This program will only run under Microsoft Windows
- (Version 3) and requires a mouse and a graphic display
- system. I have run it on a 286 machine with one megabyte of
- memory and an EGA display, and on a VGA, 386 machine.
-
- REGISTRATION
-
- This is a shareware program. As such, you are
- permitted to use and evaluate it for a period of 14 days.
- At the end of that time, you must either pay to register the
- program, or stop using it. See the file LIB220.REG for
- details regarding registration.
-
- INSTALLATION
-
- The program must be unpacked for installation. Three
- files are required:
-
- LIB220.EXE - the executable file.
- LIB220.CFG - configuration file.
- U220.SYX - a base U220 file.
-
- These files should be in the same subdirectory. If you
- already have a subdirectory of SYX files, use that one.
-
- Two other files are included, and are not necessary for
- program operation:
-
- LIB220.DOC - this file.
- LIB220.REG - registration information.
-
- To install the program in Windows, use the File item in
- the program manager menu. Select New and Program Item.
- Select a Description (like 'Librarian') and enter the path
- to the EXE file. If you wish, you can select 'Change Icon'
- to install the Icon contained in this file (it's the third
- one).
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- OPERATION
-
- To execute the program, select it to run from the
- Program Manager. The program will load the U220.SYX file,
- and display the Setup Control Panel.
-
- THE SETUP CONTROL PANEL
-
- Some synthesizer parameters can be modified here (like
- master frequency and effects controls). To change the
- settings on a connected U220, click on the SEND button. The
- SEND ALL button will transmit the entire SYX file to the
- synthesizer. Patches can be edited by selecting either the
- Patch Parts Edit or Patch Effects Edit buttons. Timbres are
- edited by selecting the Timbre Edit button.
-
- The FILES menu item at the top of the screen provides
- access to SYX files and other miscellaneous functions. The
- List Timbres and List Patches functions create list files
- containing information from the SYX file (names and
- numbers). The list files are named PATCH.LST and
- TIMBRE.LST, and are stored in the currently active
- directory. They can be printed for reference.
-
- Using the DONE button here (or ALT-F4 or the Exit item
- on the menu) will cause your current SYX file to be updated
- with any changes you have made. The configuration file will
- be changed to record your current patch, timbre and work SYX
- file. If you do not wish to modify the SYX file, use the
- FILES menu item Save As to assign the output to another
- file.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- page 2 LIB220
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- TIMBRE EDIT
-
- Here you can edit or create timbres. For most work,
- this is where you will start, since timbres are the basic
- building blocks of the Roland system.
- Most of these controls are also easily understood.
- Here too, changes are transmitted to the synthesizer as they
- are made. The WRITE button also performs this function.
- This combination of actions allows testing timbres from your
- keyboard.
- This screen contains a graphic display of one of three
- basic timbre characteristics: Envelope, Vibrato, or Auto
- Bend. The GRAPH button within each of these groups causes
- its graph to be shown; changing a parameter which effects
- the graph also causes it to be displayed.
- The Current Patch/Flat Patch button near the top is
- used to select the patch within which the current Timbre is
- tested. The flat patch is set to number 64 (it can be
- changed in the configuration file), and that patch should be
- nominally flat (no reverb, chorus, range limits, etc.).
- This button displays a label which toggles to indicate which
- patch you will get if you press it.
- Exit from here with DONE.
-
- PATCH EFFECTS EDIT
-
- This screen provides access to the patch effects
- (Chorus and Reverb), and special controller assignments.
- Also here are the Rx Volume and Rx Hold boxes, which enable
- controllers for these functions. Here too, you can select
- the patch you wish to modify or view, and change its name.
-
- Graphics included on this screen characterize the
- chorus and reverb settings. They are updated
- as you change parameters they represent.
-
- The Post Reverb check box (in the chorus group)
- selects the insertion point for chorus effects:
- if it's checked, chorus will be inserted after
- reverb, otherwise before reverb.
-
- Patch effects changes (except controller assignments)
- are transmitted to the synthesizer as soon as they are made.
- The WRITE button also performs this function. DONE takes
- you back to the Setup Control Panel.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- page 3 LIB220
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- PATCH PARTS EDIT
-
- This screen allows access to all of the parameters
- associated with patch parts (including the percussion part).
- The top line displays a drop box selector to select the
- patch desired. Each part also contains a drop box selector
- to select the timbre (or percussion set) desired. The send
- key has two effects: 1) it transmits the patch to the U220,
- and 2) it causes the patch you're editing to become the
- currently selected patch in the synthesizer. This allows
- you to test the patch from your keyboard. The right mouse
- button also functions as a SEND. To use it this way, be
- sure that the cursor isn't on a scroll bar, button, or drop
- box.
-
- Most of the controls on this panel are self-
- explanatory. Some are not:
-
- The RX check boxes under the Level and Pan scroll
- bars are used to enable reception of Level and
- Pan controls from a controller.
-
- The unlabeled check boxes under the V.Thrs
- (velocity threshold) scroll bars indicate Below
- if checked.
-
-
- To exit this screen, click on the DONE button. This
- will return you to the Setup Control Panel.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- page 4 LIB220
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- CONFIGURATION FILE FORMAT
-
- The configuration file (LIB220.CFG) is a text file
- containing information which is saved between executions of
- LIB220. Each line contains a two-letter identifier followed
- by an equal sign and a value. The configuration file
- supplied has the following format:
-
- IO=816 (Midi Port address)
- WF=u220.syx (Current SYX file)
- PN=3 (Currently Active Patch)
- TN=2 (Currently Active Timbre)
- TP=64 (Current Timbre 'Flat Patch')
-
- This file can be edited to reflect your preferences.
-
-
-
- DESIGN PHILOSOPHY AND LIMITATIONS
-
- I use the U220 for sequencing, not performance. This
- program is limited in ways which reflect this bias.
- Currently, it will not allow maps to be edited, won't allow
- editing of the Percussion assignments or instruments, and
- doesn't address a few of the after sense parameters. Some
- of these will be added in future versions (like editing
- percussion instruments), some will be added only if users
- express an interest in them (like the mapping functions).
-
- In addition to these limitations, LIB220 will allow you
- to do things that the U220 cannot handle. More than 30
- voices can be reserved, and the upper pitch range of an
- instrument may be set below its lower pitch range. Validity
- checks may also be added in future revisions; for now, avoid
- setting illogical or disallowed conditions.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- page 5 LIB220
-
-