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More observations on SIMM contents

More observations on SIMM contents

2015-08-09 by Jack Pratt

I have noted that similar SIMMs have identical (100% the same) main ROMs and that only the presets are different. So that SIMM 12 and SIMM 22 (both "sounds of the ZR" but the second one was from the Halo whereas the first was stand alone - buy in a box) have competely matching main ROMs.�

Most SIMMs barely use half of 2MB of preset memory with some using less than 1MB (even well under 1MB). Since the P2K modules copy the contents of preset to RAM on start up (and don't access it later) the limitation in expanding preset memory is the amount of DRAM that you have. There are no SIMMs with more than 2MB of preset except the 32MB FLASH SIMM which has 4MB of preset FLASH though I've no idea if you can really use that much.�

The command stations have a fixed 8MB SDRAM chip whereas the P2K modules came with a 4MB or 8MB DRAM SIMM although they will accept and use a 16MB DRAM SIMM. So if we max out the preset memory with additional stuff (more arps, more presets, more demos etc) then it may end up becoming not useable. That's because if you have too many SIMMs in your module (beyond the ability of the module to store the preset information in DRAM the presets from the last SIMM(s) are not read at all and you can't see anything from them. I guess that the P2K OS checks the size of the preset ROM and gives up if the space is too large.


As I have previously observed the main memory is made of stock standard .E4B files. From the structure it looks possible to have up to 4 .E4B files in one SIMM. I don't think that the preset memory cares whether they're .E4B files or not since it just points to names and wave files within the main SIMM rather than the .E4B specific stuff. I did note that the XL1/XL7/XK6 main memories are all identical. but they each contain two 16MB images - the Audity 2000 v10 E4B, and the EROM 2 V1.2B which are the 16MB ROM images used in the AUDITY 2K.


If there's no one helping me, it will be a long time before I can get to the stage of putting our own presets and waves into a SIMM. But I will try and copy existing SIMMs in the next week or two.�





Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2015-08-09 by smw-mail@...

As for "the main ROM" of similar SIMMs being the same, that makes perfect sense since (as I understand it), the baby flash has the presets and the main ROM has the samples. Since the various "Composer" ROMS all have the same samples and multisamples, I would expect the main ROM on the P2500, the P2K, and the PK6 (and any variants) would be the same.

When I placed the XLEAD ROM in an ultra sampler I did get a bank called Audity 2000 v10 (15.6MB). Again, no surprise that the samples/multisamples in the XL-1, XL-7 and the keyboard version are the same.

Not sure if I mentioned it here or in the P2K group (I get confused when people hold the same conversation in more than one group), but I did look at Phil Tipping's e4b format and compared it with a single preset exb file.  I started comparing those with what you had written up, but I haven't gotten to do a systematic comparison. 

The exb files seem to have EOS 5 markers for the components (or elements).

As for going at it alone (1) I am very interested for the reasons I explained either here or in the P2K group, but I just don't have the time and mental acuity I had 5-10 years ago. (2) Based on the help I got here when I asked for it a few times, I don't expect that there are many either here or in the P2K group that have the requisite skills. Maybe there are a handful, but they might be committed to other projects.

I continue to encourage you; I think it is a worthwhile project.  I will do what I can. As I have said, personally I would love to have a SIMM that has nothing but arps and 16 channel riffs (32 if it were possible) to use in conjunction with my factory ROMs and possibly my own sample banks compiled from royalty-free found object sounds. I had been thinking of "going soft," but deep down, I am a hands-on hardware kind of guy.

Steve

 

Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-03 by pluto_ro@...

Hello guys Happy NY!

I want to ask you if there is any hope for the flash custom simm to happen?

I am thinking if there is no light on this way to start chase a tehnician guy who worked for EMU on this project, he will defently put the light on it, and of course will be coopted in the project for him to be really intersted.

So how has a lead about the EMu team? We need a name, maybe a personal email address, does the team was from US?

Any help will be much apreciated

Lets make it happen this year guys :)

Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-03 by D F Tweedie

This seems a good idea. E-Mu was located in Scott's Valley, Northern California.That is also the home of Universal Audio and their DSP operation. I think many of these engineers may have roots at Stanford. There is a guy in that area who refurbishes ... if I can find his contact info, I'll post it.

There is also this company in Los Angeles that advertises they fix anything. Musical Electronic Repairs | Los Angeles | AME


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Musical Electronic Repairs | Los Angeles | AME
If you need any musical electronic device fixed or modified, then call Advanced Musical Electronics. Top techs, great service and reasonable rates.
View on advancedmusical.com
Preview by Yahoo
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Maybe they have a tech who has insight/ contact with someone who worked for them.

Finally, maybe a GearSlutz post or an AES forum (I assume they have some) post could dig up a lead.

DF

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.



From: "pluto_ro@... [xl7]"
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 3, 2016 5:19 AM
Subject: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

�
Hello guys Happy NY!

I want to ask you if there is any hope for the flash custom simm to happen?

I am thinking if there is no light on this way to start chase a tehnician guy who worked for EMU on this project, he will defently put the light on it, and of course will be coopted in the project for him to be really intersted.

So how has a lead about the EMu team? We need a name, maybe a personal email address, does the team was from US?

Any help will be much apreciated

Lets make it happen this year guys :)


Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-03 by Matt

There used to be one of the main designers here in this list in the early years. Maybe he can be found. Ippolito, if I remember correctly?

On Jan 3, 2016 09:55, "D F Tweedie bienpegaito@... [xl7]" <xl7@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

This seems a good idea. E-Mu was located in Scott's Valley, Northern California.That is also the home of Universal Audio and their DSP operation. I think many of these engineers may have roots at Stanford. There is a guy in that area who refurbishes ... if I can find his contact info, I'll post it.

There is also this company in Los Angeles that advertises they fix anything. Musical Electronic Repairs | Los Angeles | AME


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Musical Electronic Repairs | Los Angeles | AME
If you need any musical electronic device fixed or modified, then call Advanced Musical Electronics. Top techs, great service and reasonable rates.
Preview by Yahoo
 
 
Maybe they have a tech who has insight/ contact with someone who worked for them.

Finally, maybe a GearSlutz post or an AES forum (I assume they have some) post could dig up a lead.

DF

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.



From: "pluto_ro@... [xl7]" <xl7@yahoogroups.com>
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 3, 2016 5:19 AM
Subject: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

 
Hello guys Happy NY!

I want to ask you if there is any hope for the flash custom simm to happen?

I am thinking if there is no light on this way to start chase a tehnician guy who worked for EMU on this project, he will defently put the light on it, and of course will be coopted in the project for him to be really intersted.

So how has a lead about the EMu team? We need a name, maybe a personal email address, does the team was from US?

Any help will be much apreciated

Lets make it happen this year guys :)


Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-03 by George G

Amazing guys, great input!

If we know his user do you think we can have his email address also? Maybe a full name to look for him on facebook

I will make a post on gearslutz regarding this, but I can't do it in other forums, maybe you'll help me with it.

Lets keep in touch about this

Thanks

On 3 ian. 2016, at 22:17, Matt somatt@... [xl7] <xl7@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

�

There used to be one of the main designers here in this list in the early years. Maybe he can be found. Ippolito, if I remember correctly?

On Jan 3, 2016 09:55, "D F Tweedie bienpegaito@... [xl7]" <xl7@yahoogroups.com>; wrote:
�

This seems a good idea. E-Mu was located in Scott's Valley, Northern California.That is also the home of Universal Audio and their DSP operation. I think many of these engineers may have roots at Stanford. There is a guy in that area who refurbishes ... if I can find his contact info, I'll post it.

There is also this company in Los Angeles that advertises they fix anything. Musical Electronic Repairs | Los Angeles | AME


�
�
�
�
�
�
�
Musical Electronic Repairs | Los Angeles | AME
If you need any musical electronic device fixed or modified, then call Advanced Musical Electronics. Top techs, great service and reasonable rates.
Preview by Yahoo
�
�
Maybe they have a tech who has insight/ contact with someone who worked for them.

Finally, maybe a GearSlutz post or an AES forum (I assume they have some) post could dig up a lead.

DF

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.



From: "pluto_ro@yahoo.com [xl7]" <xl7@yahoogroups.com>
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 3, 2016 5:19 AM
Subject: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

�
Hello guys Happy NY!

I want to ask you if there is any hope for the flash custom simm to happen?

I am thinking if there is no light on this way to start chase a tehnician guy who worked for EMU on this project, he will defently put the light on it, and of course will be coopted in the project for him to be really intersted.

So how has a lead about the EMu team? We need a name, maybe a personal email address, does the team was from US?

Any help will be much apreciated

Lets make it happen this year guys :)


Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-03 by pluto_ro@...

so I found the guy, thanks for the tip his name is Aaron Eppolito and found him on Facebook and contacted about the flash project.

I explained him the situation and told him about actual status, I hope he will come back to us.

Also I would like to ask Jack Pratt if he agree to collaborate with Aaron the ex EMU guy, for example I am willing to pay extra comparing to Jack's prices that he propose us so Aaron can be also really interested in this project.

I will keep you posted about his answer, till then maybe Jack will tell us his opinion about this (I hope he will be not offended about my action…)

Take care   
 

Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-06 by smw-mail@...

I haven't seen Aaron chime in here in a few years; not sure he is still watching the list.  Sean of E-Mu recently rejoined.  Maybe he wants to chime in. 


It might be nice if those of us who would want to see the creation of new samples, presets, banks, etc. for our well-loved "legacy" gear had a tool that would cross-compile resources for the new ROMs as well as the Proteus X/Proteus VX/Emulator X line.  As I mentioned before, I think it would be great to a large number of original arp patterns (i.e., designed by users) on one of newly designed ROM.


Perhaps an arrangement could be made with whoever might own the rights to the original samples or has the official imprimatur to resell them (if such a person exists) to repackage them. It might be nice to know what the terms were, too.  Were the samples work-for-hire? If so, did rights revert back to the artists who created the samples and presets after the gear reached the end of its useful life? Does anyone know?


Steve


    

Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-08 by Sean Wilhelmsen


Digital sound factory is your best route. Tim Swartz, the owner of �DSF,was the head of E-mu sound design for 20 plus years. I have not been an E-mu employee for nearly 10 years, so what�I what I have to offer would be limited, I'm not even sure if parts would be available for such old equipment. The idea be hide custom flash roms was to give the user a�way to share samples and instruments created by the E4 Ultra, basically satellite E4's.�The Flash board was a proprietary part designed by E-MU, those will be hard to find. Tim would be a good person to chat with though, if there's a way he will know.
����I rejoined the list as an artists that loves his command stations and is excited to see so many people still using them, reminding of the first drawing,concept proposal and specification I wrote for version 0.1 close to 15 years ago.
I am in a totally different industry now so a lot of the underlying technology, chips, circuit boards etc. discussions are going to be beyond my scope. But I will help as much as can, the nice thing is I'm will be completely unfiltered now, might�even give you my real opinion of Ensoniq at some point.

Sean Wilhelmsen

On Wednesday, January 6, 2016 11:43 AM, "D F Tweedie bienpegaito@... [xl7]" wrote:


�
I believe Digital Sound Factory owns the sample rights.



I tried to go to this URL this morning, but got internal server error.


I must assume that Creative owns the hardware patents, as they purchased E-Mu


DF

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.



From: "smw-mail@... [xl7]"
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 6, 2016 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

�
I haven't seen Aaron chime in here in a few years; not sure he is still watching the list.� Sean of E-Mu recently rejoined.� Maybe he wants to chime in.�

It might be nice if those of us who would want to see the creation of new samples, presets, banks, etc. for our well-loved "legacy" gear had a tool that would cross-compile resources for the new ROMs as well as the Proteus X/Proteus VX/Emulator X line.� As I mentioned before, I think it would be great to a large number of original arp patterns (i.e., designed by users) on one of newly designed�ROM.

Perhaps an arrangement could be made with�whoever might own the rights to the original samples or has the official imprimatur to resell them (if such a person exists) to repackage them. It might be nice to know what the terms were, too.� Were the samples work-for-hire? If so, did rights revert back to the artists who�created the samples and presets after the gear reached the end of its useful life? Does anyone know?

Steve

����




Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

2016-01-09 by D F Tweedie

Great to have you here, Sean.

FWIW, I am also a lucky owner of Emulator X3 ... the greatest piece of orphaned software in the world.

DF Tweedie
�
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.



From: "Sean Wilhelmsen sean.wilhelmsen@... [xl7]"
To: "xl7@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Friday, January 8, 2016 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

�

Digital sound factory is your best route. Tim Swartz, the owner of �DSF,was the head of E-mu sound design for 20 plus years. I have not been an E-mu employee for nearly 10 years, so what�I what I have to offer would be limited, I'm not even sure if parts would be available for such old equipment. The idea be hide custom flash roms was to give the user a�way to share samples and instruments created by the E4 Ultra, basically satellite E4's.�The Flash board was a proprietary part designed by E-MU, those will be hard to find. Tim would be a good person to chat with though, if there's a way he will know.
����I rejoined the list as an artists that loves his command stations and is excited to see so many people still using them, reminding of the first drawing,concept proposal and specification I wrote for version 0.1 close to 15 years ago.
I am in a totally different industry now so a lot of the underlying technology, chips, circuit boards etc. discussions are going to be beyond my scope. But I will help as much as can, the nice thing is I'm will be completely unfiltered now, might�even give you my real opinion of Ensoniq at some point.

Sean Wilhelmsen

On Wednesday, January 6, 2016 11:43 AM, "D F Tweedie bienpegaito@... [xl7]" wrote:


�
I believe Digital Sound Factory owns the sample rights.



I tried to go to this URL this morning, but got internal server error.


I must assume that Creative owns the hardware patents, as they purchased E-Mu


DF

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.



From: "smw-mail@prodigy.net [xl7]"
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 6, 2016 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: [xl7] Re: More observations on SIMM contents

�
I haven't seen Aaron chime in here in a few years; not sure he is still watching the list.� Sean of E-Mu recently rejoined.� Maybe he wants to chime in.�

It might be nice if those of us who would want to see the creation of new samples, presets, banks, etc. for our well-loved "legacy" gear had a tool that would cross-compile resources for the new ROMs as well as the Proteus X/Proteus VX/Emulator X line.� As I mentioned before, I think it would be great to a large number of original arp patterns (i.e., designed by users) on one of newly designed�ROM.

Perhaps an arrangement could be made with�whoever might own the rights to the original samples or has the official imprimatur to resell them (if such a person exists) to repackage them. It might be nice to know what the terms were, too.� Were the samples work-for-hire? If so, did rights revert back to the artists who created the samples and presets after the gear reached the end of its useful life? Does anyone know?

Steve

����






Re: [xl7] More observations on SIMM contents

2016-09-01 by Aaron Eppolito

I’m probably as bad at checking Facebook as I am at checking the XL-7 list…  =)

To be honest, I haven’t read through the posts on here in a long time, but I’ll of course always have a soft spot for the Command Stations.

Long story short, I’m still here, albeit not too often. �As always, feel free to reach me at synthesis77@yahoo.com

-Aaron


On Jan 12, 2016, at 1:11 AM, pluto_ro@... [xl7] <xl7@yahoogroups.com> wrote:



Aaron Eppolito was contacted on Facebook by me, no answer after one week

Again I think if a new design of flash rom will be made and using our own samples and midi phrases will not be a copyright problem

For example I know it was a company that remake the extended memory for Nord Modulars G1 and that didn't have any official endorsement, the same with an Waldorf synth�