Developers guide

Important Concepts
Ensoniq MIDI-Disk is an easy program to use; however, there are two special
concepts that are important to keep in mind. These concepts are the framework
of the program.
In a perfect world, a keyboard manufacturer would make their musical instrument
quickly accessible to the best user interface possible. Roland comes close by
providing a direct monitor output on their keyboards, and programming software
that shows exactly what is loaded into the machine. Ensoniq does not come as
close, but does make many aspects of the instrument available.
Concept 1: MIDI Parameter Reading
Ensoniq MIDI-Disk Tools can query the EPS/ASR for the current contents of the
sounds and sequences loaded into RAM. It stores that information in a le that
is identical to the Ensoniq le format; in fact, you can load the newly made le
into your EPS/ASR via oppy or SCSI and it would be work identically (with two
important exceptions).
Ensoniq MIDI-Disk Tools can then take the Instrument parameters and change
any parameter within that Instrument, just as you would do on the front panel of
the EPS/ASR. It then goes even goes further, by batch certain functions together
to make more efcient operation. At the same time, MIDI-Disk Tools updates
the stored le, keeping it current with the Instrument in the EPS/ASR memory.
There are a couple signicant shortcomings of the EPS/ASR MIDI implementation:
1. You cannot nd out what Effect is stored within the instrument, however,
you can read a subset (nine) of the parameters via MIDI.
2. Certain parameters are not available; e.g., Pitch Tables, etc.
3. MIDI is a VERY slow data transmission format. Reading the parameters of
an Instrument take a bit of time, but the majority of an Instrument's data is
the wavesample data. Getting this information from the EPS/ASR via MIDI,
given a 500 block instrument, takes about 3-4 minutes. That's too long!
Ensoniq MIDI-Disk Tools attempts to rectify these concerns by establishing the
next concept:
Concept 2: Storage Device Reading
Ensoniq MIDI-Disk Tools can also query an actual Ensoniq le on oppy or SCSI
Device for the same information; parameters, effects information, wavedata;
Shortcut Quick Reference
Control Key
A MIDI -ReadAll
B MIDI Tester
C (Copy)
D Write to Disk Image
E MIDI - Read Single
F Format Floppy
G Global Parameters Screen
H Auto-Load Function
I Ensoniq File Analyzer
J SampleVue Screen
K MIDI Keyboard
L Load Remote File
M MIDI Monitor
N Naming Wizard
O Read Floppy to Disk Image
P (Print Parameters)
Q Exit Program
R Read File Image
S Setup Screen
T Ensoniq Disk Tools
U (Sequencer Track Control)
V (Paste)
W Write File Image
X (Cut)
Y (Sequencer Control Board)
Z Normalizer
Alt Key
F - R Read File Image
W Write File Image
X Exit
D - R Read Disk Image
W Write Disk Image
F Format Floppy
M - A MIDI - Read All
S MIDI - Read Single
M MIDI-Tester
U - Z Normalizer
N Naming Wizrd
A Auto-Load
T Ensoniq Disk Tools
I, L or W - R Create
C Copy
D Delete
L Locate
P - M Main Page
G Global Parameters
K MIDI Keyboard
B (Seq Control Board)
Q (Sequencer Track Con-
trol)
V SampleVue
Z Ensoniq File Analyzer
I MIDI Monitor
S Setup Screen
I - C Cascade Windows
T Tile Windows
A Arrange Windows
H - C Contents
H How to Order
T Trouble Shooting
R Revision History
U Update Policy
A About
Page 45 Page 5
Shortcut Quick Reference Important Concepts