The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Hi, I have struck a snag using the AN1xedit software on my Athlon 
12Ghz cpu system using an SBLive card (not an SBLive Value card).

The software seems to lock up or crash after sending or receiving even 
one patch. I cannot use it for anything.

I am using the APS drivers with the SBLive card.

I am running Windows 98 first edition.

The SBLive works perfectly with ALL OTHER SOFTWARE like Sonar. Sonar 
can handle full sysex dumps. This problem with only AN1xedit seems 
very odd to me.

Any ideas appreciated.

Regards, Liam

Hi Liam,

I've had very similar problems using a joystick-based ("legacy") MIDI adapter with my Athlon 950 and Win2K.  I've ended up using a MIDIman 2x2 USB, which locks up occasionally, too.  I've also had similar problems with the upgrade software for my Korg CX-3 -- a niche product, to be sure, but the trend is there.  Both devices work fine, however, with any software that I can throw at them in Win98SE.  'SE seems to be very stable, MIDI-wise.  Perhaps you should upgrade.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions\ufffd   http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...


At 08:28 A 5/27/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi, I have struck a snag using the AN1xedit software on my Athlon 
>12Ghz cpu system using an SBLive card (not an SBLive Value card).
>
>The software seems to lock up or crash after sending or receiving even 
>one patch. I cannot use it for anything.
>
>I am using the APS drivers with the SBLive card.
>
>I am running Windows 98 first edition.
>
>The SBLive works perfectly with ALL OTHER SOFTWARE like Sonar. Sonar 
>can handle full sysex dumps. This problem with only AN1xedit seems 
>very odd to me.
>
>Any ideas appreciated.
>
>Regards, Liam

Hi Bruce, yes I will upgrade soon. Maybe to XP. Seems ridiculous as 
only the AN1xedit doftware does not work on my system. Amazing really. 
This morning I tried using the special Creative midi cable that came 
with my Live card. Exactly the same problem. Everything works except 
the editor. 

I am using Sonar and that can accept full sysex dumps to and from the 
AN1x without any hitches. Now tell me that is not an indication that 
the problem lies within the editor program?

The hardware does work with every other midi software program.

I am using version 1.1

Regards, Liam

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> 
> I've had very similar problems using a joystick-based ("legacy") 
MIDI adapter with my Athlon 950 and Win2K.  I've ended up using a 
MIDIman 2x2 USB, which locks up occasionally, too.  I've also had 
similar problems with the upgrade software for my Korg CX-3 -- a niche 
product, to be sure, but the trend is there.  Both devices work fine, 
however, with any software that I can throw at them in Win98SE.  'SE 
seems to be very stable, MIDI-wise.  Perhaps you should upgrade.
> 
>

Two thoughts - you might want to reread what Bruce said. He 
mentions the reliability Win98SE not XP. If /when you go to XP it's 
a whole new ball game with XP.

2nd, successful bulk dumps are not indicative of much as there 
is NO error checking whatsoever - it's strictly hit or miss. You 
might want to reread some of the recent discussion regarding 
the packet size of SysEx strings from the AN1x to better 
appreciate why these problems occur. AN1x SysEx is a hog!

Jon

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "liamdonalds" <wdonalds@b...> wrote:
> Hi Bruce, yes I will upgrade soon. Maybe to XP. Seems 
ridiculous as 
> only the AN1xedit doftware does not work on my system. 
Amazing really. 
> This morning I tried using the special Creative midi cable that 
came 
> with my Live card. Exactly the same problem. Everything works 
except 
> the editor. 
> 
> I am using Sonar and that can accept full sysex dumps to and 
from the 
> AN1x without any hitches. Now tell me that is not an indication 
that 
> the problem lies within the editor program?
> 
> The hardware does work with every other midi software 
program.
> 
> I am using version 1.1
> 
> Regards, Liam
> 
> --- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> > 
> > I've had very similar problems using a joystick-based 
("legacy") 
> MIDI adapter with my Athlon 950 and Win2K.  I've ended up 
using a 
> MIDIman 2x2 USB, which locks up occasionally, too.  I've also 
had 
> similar problems with the upgrade software for my Korg CX-3 
-- a niche 
> product, to be sure, but the trend is there.  Both devices work 
fine, 
> however, with any software that I can throw at them in 
Win98SE.  'SE 
> seems to be very stable, MIDI-wise.  Perhaps you should 
upgrade.
> > 
> >

Hi Liam,

>Two thoughts - you might want to reread what Bruce said. He 
>mentions the reliability Win98SE not XP. If /when you go to XP it's 
>a whole new ball game with XP.

Yes this is an important point.  MIDI performance was pretty good in Win 3.1, fell off in Win 95 and 98, then returned in 98SE.  It seems to have gotten worse again in Win2K.  Win98SE is the most stable Windows musical platform I have seen.  I have no idea if XP will be an improvement or not.

In my particular case, I also have some difficulties with other programs under Win2K, such as running the Korg CX-3 update program through the legacy port.  In both cases -- AN1xEdit and the update -- I cannot even send the first packet of data, and in both cases, the actual data is quite large -- the CX-3 update takes 12-15 MINUTES to send via MIDI!

>2nd, successful bulk dumps are not indicative of much as there 
>is NO error checking whatsoever - it's strictly hit or miss. You 
>might want to reread some of the recent discussion regarding 
>the packet size of SysEx strings from the AN1x to better 
>appreciate why these problems occur. AN1x SysEx is a hog!

Just to put some perspective on it; these are all full SysEx dumps of gear I own or used to own, including global/system parameters:

AN1x                    bi-timbral VA synth          260,391 bytes
Alesis Quadraverb/S4    16-part multitimbral synth    77,776 bytes
Korg CX-3               modeled (VA-like) organ       19,025 bytes
RED Sound DarkStar      5-part multitimbral VA        32,928 bytes
Voce V3                 modeled (VA-like) organ       16,392 bytes
Alesis DM5              drum machine                   7,932 bytes

As can be seen, the AN1x uses a much larger SysEx file than many comparable keyboards.  Some of this may be because of the complexity of the design, but I also feel that Yamaha made little attempt to streamline the data.  Unfortunately, the large size means greater opportunities for error.  In addition, the AN1x has no "send all data" command, so AN1xEdit has to ask for each patch and user sequence separately.  This results in a good bit of MIDI traffic, which needs to interweave to complete the data dump.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions\ufffd   http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...

I did note the reference was to Win98SE - thanks. With Xp I can 
install it as an alternative OS using a partition.

Regards, Liam


In AN1x-list@y..., "jondl_2000" <jondl_2000@y...> wrote:

> Two thoughts - you might want to reread what Bruce said. He 
> mentions the reliability Win98SE not XP. If /when you go to XP it's 
> a whole new ball game with XP.
> 
> 2nd, successful bulk dumps are not indicative of much as there 
> is NO error checking whatsoever - it's strictly hit or miss. You 
> might want to reread some of the recent discussion regarding 
> the packet size of SysEx strings from the AN1x to better 
> appreciate why these problems occur. AN1x SysEx is a hog!
>

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "liamdonalds" <wdonalds@b...> wrote:

> I am running Windows 98 first edition.
Upgrade to second edition. 

Cheers, Tom

I have dumped the entire sysex from the An1x to Sonar. No hitches 
there.

I can record and playback midi with no problems.

I can send and receive single patches thru Sonar sysex panel.

I can update to Win 98SE soon. I am reluctant to do so just to solve 
one smallish problem. But I will.

Thanks for all the info

regards, Liam

Hi Liam,

>I can update to Win 98SE soon. I am reluctant to do so just to solve 
>one smallish problem. But I will.

If it's any consolation, Win98SE is better than Win98 in every regard that I am aware of.  It has better MIDI support.  It has better multimedia support.  It has better USB support.  It is more stable.  IMHO, Win98SE is not a new OS; it is the update necessary to provide users with the support they *should have received* with Win98 in the first place.  The fact that MS renamed it as it's own entity is more of a marketing coup than "truth in advertising."

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions\ufffd   http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...