From: khaberl@BBN.COM (Karl Haberl)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Rothwell and Metlay in EM
Date: 18 Nov 1992 16:12:10 GMT
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Distribution: world
Reply-To: khaberl@BBN.COM (Karl Haberl)
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

Newsgroups: rec.music.makers
From: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Subject: Re: Alesis quadraverb (G+) information
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1992Aug5.170133.17682@amgen.com> Myles Wakeham <mylesw@amgen.com> writes:
>>I've been in one of our local shops asking about a Alesis quadraverb,
>>but, these quys don't seem to really want to sell something because
>>the most specific information they could give was the price :
>>
>>	Quadraverb fl. 1080 (~$540)
>>	 "  G+	   fl. 1185 (~$600)
>>
>>Also, I understood that G+ was for direct usage with guitar. Of
>>course, I will go visit other shops around, but I also ask all of you
>>if you have experience with one of the above amps, or if you have
>>experience with something that resembles these amps. I want to use the
>>amp in combination with guitar (direct/indirect via microphone), home
>>studio (with final mix, reverb) and maybe between synthesizer and
>>home studio, when recording the synthesizer tracks. By the way, I am
>>in the happy position of having enough money to buy such a thing, or
>>even something in a higher price range.. Any comments welcome.
>
>Well I just bought a standard Quadraverb for $280.00 second hand.  
>Works fine.  The GT model simply has some distortion sounds in there,
>but in truth the Quadraverb works best on the effects loop of an
>amp, not in the pre-amp stage where distortion should go.  I wouldn't
>worry about the GT model, and stick to a straight QV or QV+.
>
>Myles

I understand from the original poster's comments that he wants to use the unit
for a combination of direct recording of guitar to tape as well as other 
general home studio uses. It was for these purposes that I bought the GT
version, and I definitely think the GT version is worth the extra bucks,
especially if you don't have a good preamp already, and are not proficient
with miking techniques, etc. The GT version offers much more than just "some
distortion sounds in there". It features compression, overdrive, distortion,
flat/presence/bright guitar-amp style EQ controls, a noise gate, and two
different cabinet simulators for recording direct to tape. IMHO, good-sounding
stuff, and easy to work with.

The digital FX section is the same as the QV+, and you can still use it in
FX loop of an amp, or as a standard vocal/synth FX processor bypassing the
analog preamp front end, if you so desire. I paid $490 new for mine, and I
think it has been worth every penny.


Karl Haberl               | "I'm not here to make friends and give my shoes and
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com |  jersey away to them. They're here to get beat and
                          |  then go home." - Charles Barkley on Olympic Spirit

Newsgroups: rec.music.makers
Subject: Re: Alesis quadraverb (G+) information
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1992Aug5.170133.17682@amgen.com> Myles Wakeham <mylesw@amgen.com> writes:
>>I've been in one of our local shops asking about a Alesis quadraverb,
>>but, these quys don't seem to really want to sell something because
>>the most specific information they could give was the price :
>>
>>	Quadraverb fl. 1080 (~$540)
>>	 "  G+	   fl. 1185 (~$600)
>>
>>Also, I understood that G+ was for direct usage with guitar. Of
>>course, I will go visit other shops around, but I also ask all of you
>>if you have experience with one of the above amps, or if you have
>>experience with something that resembles these amps. I want to use the
>>amp in combination with guitar (direct/indirect via microphone), home
>>studio (with final mix, reverb) and maybe between synthesizer and
>>home studio, when recording the synthesizer tracks. By the way, I am
>>in the happy position of having enough money to buy such a thing, or
>>even something in a higher price range.. Any comments welcome.
>
>Well I just bought a standard Quadraverb for $280.00 second hand.  
>Works fine.  The GT model simply has some distortion sounds in there,
>but in truth the Quadraverb works best on the effects loop of an
>amp, not in the pre-amp stage where distortion should go.  I wouldn't
>worry about the GT model, and stick to a straight QV or QV+.
>
>Myles

Newsgroups: rec.music.misc,alt.rock-n-roll,alt.fan.frank-zappa
Subject: Re: Think of it this way... 
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <Bsy5rq.Ay1@chinet.chi.il.us> katefans@chinet.chi.il.us (Chris'n'Vickie of Chicago) writes:
>Do you support Jesse Helms? 
>Do you support Pat Buchanan?
>Do you support Phyllis Schafly?
>Do you support Pat Robertson?
>Do you support Jerry Falwell?
>Do you support anyone who supports these people?
>
>If you do, then by all means, vote for George Bush. Or, if that thought
>disgusts you, then don't vote at all. Or throw away your vote on a
>frivolous candidate. Any of those people will be more than happy you did.
>
>For those who think that their vote is only one and won't matter, think
>about this. It's what I do. I pick a conservative jerk I can't stand.
>Phyllis Schafly is my main lady, though any of the above would do. I
>then imagine Election Day. Phyllis gets up, has breakfast, does whatever
>bigoted things she has on her agenda that day, and at some point goes to
>the voting booth and ticks, clicks, checks or whatever, the space marked
>"George Bush." 
>
>I get up on Election Day, I never eat breakfast, so I go right to the 
>voting booth. I tick, click, check or whatever (this will be my first 
>time voting in the state of Illinois, so I don't know what their
>procedure is) the space marked "Bill Clinton." I can leave the voting
>booth, smug and secure in the knowledge that I have cancelled out
>her vote. I happily say "F**k YOU Phyllis Schafly" and feel really good
>for the rest of the day. 
>
>That's how *YOU* can feel like you're accomplishing something on Election
>Day. Your vote will cancel out someone else's. If you put a name on that
>other person's vote, and it's someone you despise, you too can feel really
>good!
>
>It won't work if you vote for someone who has no chance of beating George
>Bush. If you really want, say, Frank Zappa, to be president, write a 
>letter and tell him. Don't throw away your much needed vote on him. Any
>vote cast for someone other than Bill Clinton is, in effect, a vote *FOR*
>George Bush, because you haven't cancelled out anyone else's vote for him.
>
>The Republicans have, especially in the last 3 elections, a major advantage 
>over Democrats. That is that they *VOTE*. All the Young Republicans, all
>the Conservatives, every student at Bob Jones University, all the bigots
>and racists in the country, nearly all the *Republicans* in the country
>will be going to the voting booths. They don't mess around with frivolous
>candidates. They don't say to themselves "my vote won't matter, I'm just
>one person" because they *KNOW* the power of the vote. They *KNOW* that
>the Democratic party is full of apathetic, pathetic fools, the kind of
>people who say things like "my vote won't matter" and "I don't want to
>vote for Clinton because I don't like his Vice Presidential nominee's 
>*wife*" and things like that. You see? The Republicans, especially the
>arch-conservative Republicans, are smart in this way (even if they aren't
>in any other way) and they take advantage of it. They take advantage of
>*YOU* if you let them. You have to decide if you're going to let them.
>
>I *REFUSE* to let them!!! I used to be one of those apathetic, pathetic
>fools. I voted in the 1976 and the 1980 elections, then quit voting.
>I realize now that I share partial blame for things like Clarence
>Thomas, IranGate, IraqGate, the massive environmental and budget
>problems this country has. My vote, one vote, small and insignificant,
>would still have cancelled out someone else's, and I didn't even think
>of that. Now that I've thought of it, I'll never forget it.
>
>Dan Quayle and Pat Buchanan will be running for office in 1996. Will you
>then wake up and say "holy cow! I'd better vote against (whoever wins
>the primary) and I gotta talk other people into voting against them too"
>and then find out that you're up against the same sort of apathy that
>you yourself showed, like I am now? It's not fun, believe me.
>
>Tipper won't hurt you. She's peanuts compared to the Ultra-Right who
>will gladly turn this country into a State of Christianity, given
>the chance. I don't like the PMRC either, but a few labels are better
>than what the Pats and Jerrys and Dans and Georges and Jesses have in mind
>for you.    *** THINK ABOUT IT ***
>
>There's a saying that countries deserve the kind of leaders they elect.
>If we are indeed such a racist, bigoted, sexist, homophobic, apathetic
>society, then Republicans (backed by the Ultra-Conservative Right) 
>*should* stay in power. If you don't think that's right, then prove it!
>Vote!!
>
>Vickie
>


Newsgroups: rec.music.makers
Subject: A gig from heaven
Expires: 
From: khaberl@BBN.COM (Karl Haberl)
Reply-To: khaberl@BBN.COM (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: world
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: MOTU changing their customer support ways??
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: world
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1807rlINNba8@early-bird.think.com> Paco Ojeda <Paco_Ojeda_Gonzalez@macmailgw.dfci.harvard.edu> writes:
>In article <1992Sep1.115937.7253@ac.dal.ca> , arpraym@ac.dal.ca writes:
>>Recently I responded to a flame of MOTU and their customer service. I too
>>had an opinion that was less than complimentary.
>>
>>As a result of my post (flame), a MOTU technical support person got in
>touch
>>with me. His name is Neil Lischner. He politely said that a friend of his
>>had read my post and forwarded it to him, and then he asked me if there
>was
>>anything that he could do to assist me. He also updated my personal
>>information on their database.
>>
>>Assuming that this could be a trend, and not the work of a single helpful
>>individual bucking an otherwise poor customer support program, my opinion
>>of MOTU may quickly change. The only fault I saw was in customer support,
>>(ONLY??). They produce pretty good software/hardware from my vantage
>point.
>>
>>I told Neil I would respond to r.m.s. and let 'yous guys' know that at
>least
>>there is one person in customer support at MOTU who cares about you.
>
>I'm so glad that they called you. I think more and more, software
>developers, hardware developers and people who sell these goods are
>paying closer attention to the kind of dialog that goes on here, as well
>as commercial services such as Compuserve, America Online, etc., and
>realizing that it is for their best interest to follow what goes on here. 
>
>    *****************************************************
>    ** Paco Ojeda-Gonzalez                             **
>    **                                                 **
>    ** Paco_Ojeda_Gonzalez@macmailgw.dfci.harvard.edu  **
>    *****************************************************


Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Help with SY99
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1992Sep3.163829.6707@hpcvusn.cv.hp.com> bw@hpcvlx.cv.hp.com writes:
>I am posting this for a friend who has an SY99.  This is a snippet of a 
>message he sent me.  Any clues would be appreciated.  Thanks!
>
>  Also, if you ever come across synthesizer files on the Yamaha SY-99, I'd be
>  interested in knowing if anyone else has had some baffling problems I've had
>  with mine that Yamaha, at least on the phone, says they know nothing about.
>  
>  Like, every once in a while when I power it up, it sounds like an out-of-tune
>  electric piano on EVERY voice.  I have to power it up and down several times
>  to get it to be normal.  Or, sometimes in edit mode, it will all of a sudden
>  exhort a terrible "farting" sound at ear-splitting levels.  This is my second
>  SY-99 and they both have done it, so I know it's not just "my unit."  I've
>  been wondering if anyone has come up with a "fix" for some of the annomalies?
>
>-- 
> Bill Wilhelmi    
> Hewlett-Packard - User-interface Technology Division CV
> 1000 NE Circle Blvd.  Corvallis, OR 97330
> bw@hpcvlx.cv.hp.com


Newsgroups: rec.music.misc
Subject: Re: Santana's "All I Ever Wanted Was to be With You"...
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: usa
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1992Sep4.123119.16767@pool.info.sunyit.edu> gtas1@pool.info.sunyit.edu (Terrance Stedman) writes:
>
>	I'm not positive that I've got the correct song title in the subject,
>but that line is repeated over and over again in this incredibly jamming
>song.  What album is this on?
>-- 
> I ) I I <~ I_I   Terry Stedman
> I \ I_I _> I I   Internet: gtas1@pool.info.sunyit.edu
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Subject: Re: New ENSONIQ Sampler (ASR-10)
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <DucHRB1w165w@cyberden.uucp> moon!cyberden!system@well.sf.ca.us writes:
>ruska@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Dave Ruska) writes:
>
>> Ensoniq has a new sampler : ASR-10
>> Advanced Sampling Recorder
>>  * 31 Voice @ 29.6 KHz
>>  * 23 voice @ 44.1 KHz
>>  * Stereo Sampling: (1 bit) sigma delta A/D converter with 64X oversampling
>>  * 40 effects algorithms from the DP/4
>>  * Stereo Audio in and through effects available at all times
>>  * Full realtime re-sampling with effects, with the sequencer running!
>>  * 1.6 MB 3.5" floppy with 1.44 MB mode for computer compatibility.
>>  * 4 slots for 1 or 4 MB simms up to 16 MB or RAM
>>  * Loads EPS and EPS 16+ sounds
>>  * New design metal case (with trap door for user installed SIMMs)
>>  * List price of $2699 w/ 2MB of RAM
>>  * SCSI option
>>  * Digital I/O option
>>  * 61 note poly pressure kbd, rack version release date still to be announced
>
>And I thought this was all hush hush...
>
>What about the HD Playback option off the HD while running sequencer?

And does it still have the limitation of only 8 "instruments" loaded at a time?
(Yes I know about the patch select buttons - are they still on there too?)


Karl Haberl
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Net.Ethics
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1680249@hpsad.sad.hp.com> smithj@hpsad.sad.hp.com (Jim Smith) writes:
>In rec.music.synth, ats@phoenix.udev.cdc.com (alex t stagg x4718) writes:
>
>    Blaaaaaaa. You lose.
>
>    There can be no meaningful discussion of ethics unless we all
>    agree that there is a 'right' and a 'wrong' and agree what
>    those things are. If there's no God, who cares?
>
>Heaven Forbid!  :-> If the only reason you can find for the
>existence of man and morality in the world is to please some hypothetical
>superior being, that's too bad.  Maybe some of us might want to follow
>some other path, such as discovering the potential for beauty in the
>existence of experiencing, cognitive beings, regardless of their ultimate
>origins.  But that is masked in this society by the domination of
>the "supreme being" meme.  And some of us are pretty sick of it.  The
>opposite of chaos is total lockstep uniformity.  Some of us prefer chaos.
>
>                   - Jim Smith  smithj@hpsad.sad.hp.com 
>    "The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the simple 
>     unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry." - R. Dawkins
>


Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
From: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Subject: Re: More K2000(R) comments
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1992Oct9.125016.9152@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> xxrich@alliant1.lerc.nasa.gov (Rich Rinehart) writes:
>In article <1512@bbx.basis.com> scott@bbx.basis.com (Scott Amspoker) writes:
>>Since I've been digging into my K2000R I've got a few more tidbits that
>>may be of interest to some readers:
>>
>
>I too have just purchased a K2000R.  What a wonderful box!  (I take back
>any of my earlier K2000 bashing.)  The unit integrates extremely well with 
>the Kurzweil Midboard too, glad to see that with the change in owners, the
>Kurzweil combatibility was still maintained.  The manual is also quite 
>detailed and easy to follow (given the inherent complexity of this box). 
>
>Nothing to report yet except I thought that the new OS was able to read 
>Emulator samples?  Don't see it mentioned anywhere.  Also, there is a 
>program memory upgrade (as opposed to sample memory) from 120K to 760K.  Has 
>anyone done this themselves?

Last I heard the battery-backed RAM upgrade was still a twinkle in Kurzweil's
corporate eye: a planned upgrade that will happen sometime January-February
(this from Kurzweil a month or so ago). Anybody else hear something different?


Karl Haberl       |      It's another Maalox moment.
Internet: khaberl | 
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: KORG Wavestation
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <1992Oct20.035552.15219@cs.sandia.gov> jhgreen@cs.sandia.gov (Jethro H. Greene) writes:
>
>I've recently asked about the KORG Wavestation as a synth for a
>one keyboard studio.  I've received many responses, confusing
>me greatly.
>"The WS is not much of a 1-keyboard studio synth."
>"I would probably recommend the Wavestation above any other synth
>for a 1-synth studio."
>What should I do???  HELP!!!!!!!

Spend some time to do some research on what synthesizers are all about and
what their capabilities are. You can get information in Keyboard and
Electronic Musician magazines, Mix Bookshelf, and from your local music
dealers. When you have more of the facts and figures under your belt, and
have actually played around with some things, then come back and ask again
for more focused advice based on what you are trying to accomplish.

If you email me with questions and more information on what you are trying
to do, I'll try to help point you in the right direction.

Karl Haberl
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com



Newsgroups: poster
From: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Subject: Re: Sampling option for K2000
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <40528@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> ee154fbk@sdcc15.ucsd.edu (M) writes:
>Could someone please fill me in on the details about the sampling
>option for the K2000?  

From Kurzweil literature:
 "These powerful new options for the K2000 (SMP-K) or K2000 Rack (SMP-R)
  allow for user stereo sampling and direct digital input/output. Inputs
  include 1/4" stereo analog inputs, and AES-EBU, S/PDIF and Optical
  connectors for digital inputs. The AES-EBU and S/PDIF connectors may also
  be used for digital outputs.
  This option will also add Version 2.0 firmware, a new operating system
  featuring sample editing screens and many other enhanced functions. Also
  included is the ability to read Ensoniq EPS 16+ sample disks."

  Samples are 16-bit. Analog sampling rates: 29.4/32/44.1/48 kHz.
  Digital sampling rates: All.

  Original list price for SMP-K was $795. This has now been dropped to $595
  because an alternate vendor was found leading to reduced costs. The list
  price for SMP-R will be essentially the same, or perhaps a little more
  because there are minor differences in the hardware from SMP-K to SMP-R.

>Is it out commercially yet??  

No it is not yet commercially available. The latest information I have from
Kurzweil technical support is to expect it to ship by Christmas (given the
obvious commercial incentive to do so, I think this might actually happen).

The delays in shipping have been due to extended functionality being added
to the SW to really make the K2000 competitive with other high-end samplers.
The hardware is apparently ready now.

>Is this a separate box which you can stuff with regular SIMMS??

The sampling option is not a separate box; it is a plug-in board for your
K2000 or K2000R. Unlike Peavey's SX sampling front-end, you don't need to
"stuff it with regular SIMMs" - you use the SIMMs that are already in your
machine. Of course, if you don't have any SIMMs yet, you'll need to get some.
The K2000 and K2000R use regular Macintosh SIMMs.

>Is it supported by Alchemy or does it come with good editing features
>built-in?

The K2000/K2000R come equipped with SCSI ports, and support is provided for
the SMDI (SCSI Musical Data Interchange) protocol. This protocol is supported
by various hardware and software packages to permit sample transfer over
SCSI. It is probable that Alchemy and Sound Designer support it, though I
cannot confirm this. Anyone else know? You can also transfer samples over
MIDI (if you have the patience) using MIDI Sample Dump. The intent of the
extended K2000 SW with graphic sample editing, however, is to provide
high-end sample processing integrated right into your K2000 workstation 
environment, which can simplify and speed the sampling process.


Karl Haberl
Internet: khaberl@bbn.comNewsgroups: poster
Subject: Re: Sampling option for K2000
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <40528@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> ee154fbk@sdcc15.ucsd.edu (M) writes:
>Could someone please fill me in on the details about the sampling
>option for the K2000?  Is it out commercially yet??  Is this a
>separate box which you can stuff with regular SIMMS??  Is it
>supported by Alchemy or does it come with good editing features
>built-in.
>
>Checked my local dealer but he didn't know much about this.
>
>Thanks
>		ee154fbk@sdcc15.ucsd.edu
>
>

Newsgroups: poster
Subject: Re: Sampling option for K2000
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <40528@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> ee154fbk@sdcc15.ucsd.edu (M) writes:
>Could someone please fill me in on the details about the sampling
>option for the K2000?  

From Kurzweil literature:
 "These powerful new options for the K2000 (SMP-K) or K2000 Rack (SMP-R)
  allow for user stereo sampling and direct digital input/output. Inputs
  include 1/4" stereo analog inputs, and AES-EBU, S/PDIF and Optical
  connectors for digital inputs. The AES-EBU and S/PDIF connectors may also
  be used for digital outputs.
  This option will also add Version 2.0 firmware, a new operating system
  featuring sample editing screens and many other enhanced functions. Also
  included is the ability to read Ensoniq EPS 16+ sample disks."

  Samples are 16-bit. Analog sampling rates: 29.4/32/44.1/48 kHz.
  Digital sampling rates: All.

  Original list price for SMP-K was $795. This has now been dropped to $595
  because an alternate vendor was found leading to reduced costs. The list
  price for SMP-R will be essentially the same, or perhaps a little more
  because there are minor differences in the hardware from SMP-K to SMP-R.

>Is it out commercially yet??  

No it is not yet commercially available. The latest information I have from
Kurzweil technical support is to expect it to ship by Christmas (given the
obvious commercial incentive to do so, I think this might actually happen).

The delays in shipping have been due to extended functionality being added
to the SW to really make the K2000 competitive with other high-end samplers.
The hardware is apparently ready now.

>Is this a separate box which you can stuff with regular SIMMS??

The sampling option is not a separate box; it is a plug-in board for your
K2000 or K2000R. Unlike Peavey's SX sampling front-end, you don't need to
"stuff it with regular SIMMs" - you use the SIMMs that are already in your
machine. Of course, if you don't have any SIMMs yet, you'll need to get some.
The K2000 and K2000R use regular Macintosh SIMMs.

>Is it supported by Alchemy or does it come with good editing features
>built-in?

The K2000/K2000R come equipped with SCSI ports, and support is provided for
the SMDI (SCSI Musical Data Interchange) protocol. This protocol is supported
by various hardware and software packages to permit sample transfer over
SCSI. It is probable that Alchemy and Sound Designer support it, though I
cannot confirm this. Anyone else know? You can also transfer samples over
MIDI (if you have the patience) using MIDI Sample Dump. The intent of the
extended K2000 SW with graphic sample editing, however, is to provide
high-end sample processing integrated right into your K2000 workstation 
environment, which can simplify and speed the sampling process.


Karl Haberl
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com
Newsgroups: poster
Subject: Re: Sampling option for K2000
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 


In article <40528@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> ee154fbk@sdcc15.ucsd.edu (M) writes:
>Could someone please fill me in on the details about the sampling
>option for the K2000?  

From Kurzweil literature:
 "These powerful new options for the K2000 (SMP-K) or K2000 Rack (SMP-R)
  allow for user stereo sampling and direct digital input/output. Inputs
  include 1/4" stereo analog inputs, and AES-EBU, S/PDIF and Optical
  connectors for digital inputs. The AES-EBU and S/PDIF connectors may also
  be used for digital outputs.
  This option will also add Version 2.0 firmware, a new operating system
  featuring sample editing screens and many other enhanced functions. Also
  included is the ability to read Ensoniq EPS 16+ sample disks."

  Samples are 16-bit. Analog sampling rates: 29.4/32/44.1/48 kHz.
  Digital sampling rates: All.

  Original list price for SMP-K was $795. This has now been dropped to $595
  because an alternate vendor was found leading to reduced costs. The list
  price for SMP-R will be essentially the same, or perhaps a little more
  because there are minor differences in the hardware from SMP-K to SMP-R.

>Is it out commercially yet??  

No it is not yet commercially available. The latest information I have from
Kurzweil technical support is to expect it to ship by Christmas (given the
obvious commercial incentive to do so, I think this might actually happen).

The delays in shipping have been due to extended functionality being added
to the SW to really make the K2000 competitive with other high-end samplers.
The hardware is apparently ready now.

>Is this a separate box which you can stuff with regular SIMMS??

The sampling option is not a separate box; it is a plug-in board for your
K2000 or K2000R. Unlike Peavey's SX sampling front-end, you don't need to
"stuff it with regular SIMMs" - you use the SIMMs that are already in your
machine. Of course, if you don't have any SIMMs yet, you'll need to get some.
The K2000 and K2000R use regular Macintosh SIMMs.

>Is it supported by Alchemy or does it come with good editing features
>built-in?

The K2000/K2000R come equipped with SCSI ports, and support is provided for
the SMDI (SCSI Musical Data Interchange) protocol. This protocol is supported
by various hardware and software packages to permit sample transfer over
SCSI. It is probable that Alchemy and Sound Designer support it, though I
cannot confirm this. Anyone else know? You can also transfer samples over
MIDI (if you have the patience) using MIDI Sample Dump. The intent of the
extended K2000 SW with graphic sample editing, however, is to provide
high-end sample processing integrated right into your K2000 workstation 
environment, which can simplify and speed the sampling process.


Karl Haberl
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com
Newsgroups: poster
Subject: Re: Sampling option for K2000
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <40528@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> ee154fbk@sdcc15.ucsd.edu (M) writes:
>Could someone please fill me in on the details about the sampling
>option for the K2000?  

From Kurzweil literature:
 "These powerful new options for the K2000 (SMP-K) or K2000 Rack (SMP-R)
  allow for user stereo sampling and direct digital input/output. Inputs
  include 1/4" stereo analog inputs, and AES-EBU, S/PDIF and Optical
  connectors for digital inputs. The AES-EBU and S/PDIF connectors may also
  be used for digital outputs.
  This option will also add Version 2.0 firmware, a new operating system
  featuring sample editing screens and many other enhanced functions. Also
  included is the ability to read Ensoniq EPS 16+ sample disks."

  Samples are 16-bit. Analog sampling rates: 29.4/32/44.1/48 kHz.
  Digital sampling rates: All.

  Original list price for SMP-K was $795. This has now been dropped to $595
  because an alternate vendor was found leading to reduced costs. The list
  price for SMP-R will be essentially the same, or perhaps a little more
  because there are minor differences in the hardware from SMP-K to SMP-R.

>Is it out commercially yet??  

No it is not yet commercially available. The latest information I have from
Kurzweil technical support is to expect it to ship by Christmas (given the
obvious commercial incentive to do so, I think this might actually happen).

The delays in shipping have been due to extended functionality being added
to the SW to really make the K2000 competitive with other high-end samplers.
The hardware is apparently ready now.

>Is this a separate box which you can stuff with regular SIMMS??

The sampling option is not a separate box; it is a plug-in board for your
K2000 or K2000R. Unlike Peavey's SX sampling front-end, you don't need to
"stuff it with regular SIMMs" - you use the SIMMs that are already in your
machine. Of course, if you don't have any SIMMs yet, you'll need to get some.
The K2000 and K2000R use regular Macintosh SIMMs.

>Is it supported by Alchemy or does it come with good editing features
>built-in?

The K2000/K2000R come equipped with SCSI ports, and support is provided for
the SMDI (SCSI Musical Data Interchange) protocol. This protocol is supported
by various hardware and software packages to permit sample transfer over
SCSI. It is probable that Alchemy and Sound Designer support it, though I
cannot confirm this. Anyone else know? You can also transfer samples over
MIDI (if you have the patience) using MIDI Sample Dump. The intent of the
extended K2000 SW with graphic sample editing, however, is to provide
high-end sample processing integrated right into your K2000 workstation 
environment, which can simplify and speed the sampling process.

Karl Haberl
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com
Newsgroups: comp.music,rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Computer<=>Sampler via SCSI (was Re: Sampling option for K2000)
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@maestro.bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <Bx7y99.85o@news.cso.uiuc.edu> furio@uiuc.edu (furio ercolessi) writes:
>can a sampler and a computer share a SCSI disk (as opposed to hooking
>directly a SCSI disk to a sampler) ? if yes , what are the conditions to
>do that ? 

I don't claim to be an expert on SCSI, but I believe that it is possible
for two separate devices (computer and sampler) to share the same SCSI
disk, provided that they both don't try to access the disk at the same
time, and provided that the format of the disk (or of the software that
is responsible for reading it) is compatible with each. Since the K2000
wants DOS format, this might be a problem if you want to hang a Mac on the
other end (?). Each SCSI device must be assigned a unique SCSI ID and the SCSI
bus must be properly terminated (there are connectors for this).

>how does SMDI fit onto the picture ?

SCSI defines the _hardware_ interface requirements. SMDI is the _protocol_
that defines how sample information is represented and exchanged. Two 
different sampling tools (e.g. K2000 and Alchemy) are enabled to exchange 
samples with each other SCSI because SMDI (I would assume) defines a 
canonical format for the sample data which each tool understands, even if 
they don't use that particular format internally. Thus, SCSI defines how
hardware devices talk, SMDI defines what samples look like (for example, 
where to find the loop points, etc.).

>perhaps in practice the computer would act as a file server for the sampler
>(SCSI requires a "master", right? this has to be the computer),
>but then the sampler would have to know something about
>the operating system of the computer (at least the structure
>of the file names).

No. The computer does not act as a file server. It is just another device
hanging off the SCSI bus. The K2000 is its own computer, and when it wants
sample data on the external disk, it becomes the master and gets the data
directly. When the computer wants data on that disk, IT becomes the master,
issuing SCSI commands to the disk. As I said above, you don't want both the
computer and the K2000 to try to be the master at the same time.

The K2000 doesn't need to know anything about the computer's OS at all, at
least to get data off an external disk. That is, unless Kurzweil decided to
give the K2000 the ability to really act like a Mac, in which case (if you
had System 7) you could set up File Sharing on your Mac to share certain
folders containing sample data, and then get them that way over AppleTalk or
EtherNet. I don't know what possibilities there may be for PCs.

If there's anybody out there who REALLY knows what they're talking about,
feel free to trample all over my ego and correct any mistakes or augment
this discussion.


Karl Haberl
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Rothwell and Metlay in EM
Summary: 
Expires: 
Reply-To: khaberl@bbn.com (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: 

In article <9211172106.aa24981@gate.demon.co.uk> cassiel@cassiel.demon.co.uk (Nick Rothwell) writes:
>>BTW:  Did anybody notice that our net aquaintances, Metlay and Rothwell,
>>were mentioned in the article about laptop MIDI computers?
>
>Oh, yeah; that was an interesting little episode. We want to get a detailed
>follow-up published.

I'm curious. Nick, a while back you posted some interesting details on various
tests that you had done with the Powerbooks, yet not even a summary of
these results made it into the EM article. How come? Did EM want to save
the details for the follow-up you mention, or was there some other reason?

Inquiring minds want to know ...


Karl Haberl               | "Properly raising the Feedback gives the tone
Internet: khaberl@bbn.com |  a manner" - excerpt from Sony R7 manual (from EM)



Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Rothwell and Metlay in EM
Expires: 
From: khaberl@BBN.COM (Karl Haberl)
Reply-To: khaberl@BBN.COM (Karl Haberl)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: world
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Keywords: