DX-Shuttle GENERAL RAMBLINGS ================= After waiting a number of years before I could afford to buy my DX7 keyboard I finally got one in September of '88. However, after the substantial outlay of money (on my salary anyway!) I discovered that I didn't have enough left over that I could justify (to my wife) to spend on a Patch Librarian. So I turned to the SIG's and RT's and much to my surprise I discovered all the patch librarians available for the ST were for either the Casio line of synthesizers, or the Yamaha four algorith synths. (DX21, DX100 etc). There wasn't anything available for the 'Old reliable' DX7. So as with most 'Shareware', DX-Shuttle was born of need. DX-Shuttle is a plain (vanilla) Patch Librarian for the numerous voices available for a DX7 synthesizer. It is not a Voice editor, it simply 'shuttles' voice data to and from your Atari and DX7. DX-Shuttle has currently only been tested on a colour monitor in Medium resolution. Although it should work on a monochrome monitor, the aspect of the display may be a little out of whack due to my lack of access to a monochrome monitor. Currently, the DX7 is the only keyboard I own, so I haven't been able to analyze the formats of any other keyboards, and can probably assume that they will not work with DX-Shuttle. In fact DX-Shuttle will probably not even work with the newer DX7's because of their 'dual' DX7 configurations. However, it is my intention to be adding the capabilities of other keyboards to the program as soon as the specific information becomes available. If you would like to see a particular keyboard supported by DX-Shuttle, please provide the specifics of the System Exclusive data format for your keyboard and I will try to include it in a future upgrade. If enough interest in DX-Shuttle is generated further enhancements will be made so it can handle many more keyboards. I eventually hope to be able to design and edit voices with it. But this development depends solely on you! Being that I am relatively new to the world of MIDI, my needs and expectations of a Patch Librarian are fairly limited. So I would appreciate any suggestions to improve the program for your needs. I would also appreciate specific MIDI information pertaining to other keyboards so that I can add the capability of storing and retrieving their voices to the program. DX-Shuttle is extremely simple to use, due mostly to the use of GEM and it's 'Drop-down' menus. As a matter of fact, DX-Shuttle is entirely driven from the 'Drop-down' menus. Your familiarity with GEM will make most operations intuitive. However, due to the DX7's method of handling data, the transfer of voices does not happen automatically. DX-Shuttle operates like a second DX7 keyboard, and voice transfer is accomplished by using both the Atari ST, and the Control Panel buttons on the DX7. Features of DX-Shuttle ====================== - Voice data can be transferred in either a full 32 Voice Bank Transfer, or as individual Voices. - 32 Voice Bank data is stored in standard files with the file extension ".DXB". - Individual Voices are stored in 'Relative Indexed' files with file extensions of ".DXI" for the index, and ".DXG" for the actual data groups. Each relative file has a maximum capacity of 65,535 individual voices. When the file first opened, all the voices are sorted in alphabetical sequence for easy location. - Names for each individual voice are automatically taken from the 10 character name displayed on the LCD panel on the DX7. - Voices with identical names can be stored in the file. Before transferring voices ========================== Before transferring data to and from the DX7 a few steps of preparation are required. a/ Connect the MIDI cables from your Atari to the DX7. Make sure that the MIDI OUT of one, connects to the MIDI IN of the other. b/ Remove the protection from the internal memory of the DX7 by pressing the 'X'/'Internal Memory Protect', then the 'OFF'/'-1' keys on the DX7. c/ Press the Function Key then the '8' on the DX7. The menu should display 'MIDI CH= x' (where x is a number from 1-16), if it does not then continue to press the '8' key on the DX7 until it does. d/ Using the '+1'/'-1' keys, set MIDI CH=1. e/ Press the '8' key on the DX7. The menu should display 'SYSTEM INFO UNAVAIL'. f/ Press the 'ON'/'+1' key to show 'SYSTEM INFO AVAIL'. Transferring 32 Voices to the Atari =================================== Under the Drop-down Menu titled '32 Voice', select the item indicating note transfer from DX7 to the Atari Fuji symbol. Press the Function and '8' on the DX7. Continue to press the '8' key until the message 'MIDI TRANSFER ?' appears. Press the 'YES'/'+1' key. After a brief period of time the Atari screen will indicate that the data has been received successfully, or that an error occurred. If an error occurred, re-select the DX7 to Atari menu item again then press the 'YES'/'+1' key again. Normally, errors in data transfer can be attributed to 'buffered' characters in the MIDI channel and System commands sent from the DX7 other than the 32 Voice data DX-Shuttle is expecting. If the data was received correctly, you are asked whether you wish to save the data in a file. If you respond with a 'Y' followed by a carriage return, then a standard GEM File selection window will prompt you for the Path and filename you wish to save the data under. Note! The ".DXB" file extension does not need to be typed in, it will automatically be appended to the filename. If you do type in the extension be warned!, the extension you use will be replaced with ".DXB", so you can't have a file saved as "ROM1_A.NEW" in order to protect an existing file named "ROM1_A.DXB". Transferring 32 Voices from the Atari to the DX7 ================================================ Under the Drop-down menu titled '32 Voice', select the item which indicates transfer from the Atari Fuji symbol to the DX7. A GEM Fileselect window will open and prompt you for the Path and filename of the 32 Voice data you wish to send to the DX7. Simply 'click' on the file of your choice. After a few moments the message 'MIDI RECEIVED' will appear on the LCD screen on the DX7 indicating that the 32 Internal Voices have been replaced with those from the file. Transferring Single Voice data ============================== Before storing or retrieving Single Voice data, the file where you wish to store or retrieve data from must be selected. If it is a new file, one will be created for you. Transferring Single Voice data to the Atari =========================================== Once the file is open, select the DX7 to Atari item under the 'Drop-down' menu titled '1 Voice'. A prompt will indicate that the Atari is waiting for the data to be sent. Simply press the button on the DX7 which corresponds to the internal voice you wish to save. If it is received successfully, the Atari will display the 10 character name of the voice data it just received, and prompt whether to save the data or not. Simply answer the prompt with a 'Y' or 'N' followed by a carriage return. Transferring Single Voice data to the DX7 ========================================= From the 'Drop-down' menu titled '1 Voice', select the item indicating transfer from the Atari Fuji symbol to the DX7. The screen will then list a maximum of 10 voices on-screen numbered 0-9. If the voice you wish to transfer is listed simply press the number (0-9) corresponding to the voice, followed by a carriage return. If the voice you're looking for is not displayed press the 'Return' key, and the next 10 voices in the file will be displayed. If for some reason you decide not to send a voice to the DX7, simply press 'Q' followed by a carriage return, and you'll return to the main screen. Once a voice has been successfully sent, the LCD panel on the DX7 will display the new voice with a flashing cursor. At this point in time you can play the keyboard, and hear the new voice. However, it is not permanently stored in the synth, it is only in the temporary edit buffer. To save the voice, press the 'W'/'STORE' key on the DX7 followed by the 'INTERNAL'/'EXTERNAL' memory select key (depending on whether you want to store the voice in Internal or Cartridge memory) then the number corresponding to the voice you desire to save it as. Confirm your decision by pressing the 'YES'/'+1' key when the DX7 prompts 'ARE YOU SURE ?'. (Ensure that Cartridge memory protect is OFF if you're storing it in the Cartridge memory). The Shareware Agreement ======================= This is one of many programs that I have written and made available to the general public, some of which are in the Public Domain, and probably don't have anything to identify me as the author. Others BELONG to companies so I reap no benefit from them. Why the story? Well after relinquishing my spare time for the benefit of others, in the last eight years all my work has only once been rewarded: a trade of my services for a single 'standby' flight ticket to Austrailia. Because of this, I have anguished over the decision to make DX-Shuttle a 'Shareware' product. However, in doing so, I hope to offer an extremely fair deal: If you like DX-Shuttle, and would like to see further enhancements made, or your suggestions put into practice, fill out the following Registration form, and mail it along with a nominal 18$(Cdn) or 15$(US) registration fee. Your registration will entitle you to information on upgrades of the program, and the most current revision mailed to you free. But that's not all! You'll notice that when you access the 'About DX-Shuttle' item in the menu, a Distribution number is displayed. Copy that Distribution number onto the registration form you send in. The revision mailed to you will have your own unique Distribution number on it. Share that copy with someone else, and for every five registrations I receive with your number on it, I will send you your original registration investment of 18$(Cdn) or 15$(US). If ten people to register with your copy of DX-Shuttle, not only will DX-Shuttle have cost you nothing, but you'll have actually made money. Think of it as more of a 'profit sharing' agreement. Like other 'Shareware' products, your suggestions will shape the product's future, so that it becomes more of what you want. REGISTRATION FORM To Register, complete and mail the following form with your payment. Payment can be made by Personalized Cheque, or Money Order. DO NOT SEND CASH. Make your cheque payable to Douglas Hope, and mail to: DX-Shuttle c/o Novax Industries Corp. 658 Derwent Way New Westminster, B.C. Canada V3M 5P8 NAME: _________________________________________________ ADDRESS: _____________________________________________ CITY: _______________________________ STATE/PROV: ______________ POSTAL/ZIP CODE: _________ DISTRIBUTION NUMBER: _______ REVISION: __.__ Other Keyboards you would like to see supported: Brand:________________________ Model #:___________________ Brand:________________________ Model #:___________________ Brand:________________________ Model #:___________________ Brand:________________________ Model #:___________________ COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS