After years as a MPC user I have purchased the ASR-10. I have a lot of questions about how the keyboard functions. My ASR-10 has an SCSI 100MB zip drive and expanded memory.
1. First my ASR-10 only successfully tunes the keyboard about 10% of the time. Should I be concerned about this or is this a common problem with an old machine like this?
2. How do people manage there files on the ASR? What are Macro files and how do they work? What about directories? Maybe someone can walk through how they typically use there zip drive to store seq/song/instruments/other files in an organized fashion.
3. How do audio tracks work? I have figured out how to record to different sequences and over dub different instruments on top of them but how does the audio tracks function come into play while working with the keyboard?
4. I am also confused about layering. I know how to sample trim and assign sounds to different key ranges but how do layers work with in the instrument files?
I am working my way through the manual and I am sure I will have more questions as I go along. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.
The manual can be a headache, but it's good, I still go back to it from time to time.
First of all, I am not quite sure what you mean by the tuning. The pitch table ( EDIT>ENV1>PITCH ) usually takes care of all my problems, and I sample all kinds of detuned stuff.
I have never seen Macros outside of Ensoniq CD-Roms. They are awesome though. I use zips. I believe, but am not positive, that if you save files normally ( not sequences/songs ) there is a limit to how many you can fit on a disc-regardless of available memory. When you use the COPY SCSI DISK feature, you can fit a lot more, where there will be folder inside of a folder, inside of a folder, e.t.c. with each folder containing the normal maximum amount of files.
I can't really comment on the AUDIO TRACKS feature. I use OS 1.61 and this feature was implemented in a later version. While I don't like to use negative words when talking about my baby, I understand the consensus to be that this feature is a little primitive compared to even the most basic recording software.
Depending on if you're using stereo or mono wavesamples, there are a couple of different ways to layer. A good place to start would be to read the COPY WAVESAMPLE section of the manual. Although it's counterintuitive, that is actually the command you're looking for.
When I say tune I mean when you start up the ASR it has to calibrate the keyboard. Some times this takes multiple trys. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I worry about servicing it?
Can any one address the audio tracks question I posted? Also can someone tell me about the "patch". I am unclear as to how this works? What am I patching where?
Also effects. I understand how they function but what if I want to have 8 instruments loaded up and only have one with an effect on it but when I go to over dub the instrument with the effect on it all my instruments have that effect on them. How do I get around this?
yo carry, not to be a dik or anything you seem chill, but ur unwillingness to rtfm is the issue here. the calibration thing isn't good, but if it works after a couple of tries - hey what floats the boat I guess. Patch selects can either be done in the instrument pages, or look to the left of your keyboard...they're the 2 buttons above the wheels, u can hit 1 or both at the same time, 4 total.
zeus put it mildly, the audio tracks feature sux a$$ and nobody uses it, most people ain't even above OS 2.5 or whatever cuz the ASR-10 runs faster/smoother on the older OS. the only reason IMHO to use 3.53 is if ur dumping SDS via Recycle 2.0. seriously though just get a cheap pc w/DAW for that... you need one anyway to hear your stuff unless you got a tape machine, or an ATARI e.t.c.
THere's a couple ways to make the effects so their "off" or whatever just go to the edit/effects page and turn the bus volume down, or go to edit/amp and select dry-but that's the laZy way. fo real there's a good fool-proof section on effects in the manual.
1. The first ASR10 I had didnt always tune keyboard. And it had a low sssssccchhhh noize in the 44,1 k reverb (i think it was). I was told that this a sideeffect of some scsi cards for the ASR10 that are "slightly" incombatible.
If it sounds ok just use it, I did. ASR10 doesnt tune that good anyways.
When I had my first ASR I just used it "untuned" if it didnt tune the first boot, couldnt hear difference.
2. zip100, load - save. insts, banks , seqs , songs. I use no "shortcuts"(if there are any). But zip100 is SO much faster than when we were using floppies.
3. Think I used audiotrack one time.
4. layering is very complex on the ASR, u can do just about anything. U can build some fantastic sounds case every layer has its own set of (endless) parameters and a lot of the parameters u can assign to wheel or something else.
Thanks for the help guys I am making progress. I am 50% done with the manual but the issue is not my ability to read it is that every machine has its own language and it takes a little getting used to. I am still unclear about the patch feature I understand how it works but what does it do. How do you use the patch not just change it. Get at me.
Yea patch select buttons are not limited to ensoniq products. if you don't know what they do, and you don't have any factory EPS/ASR-10 sounds to test the preset patches...then there's no better place to start than the manual ( towards the beginning if I recall ) just keep reading/researching. it's not really about reading the whole manual cover to cover. 1/2 of the ol' bugger are effect parameters, and reading that won't make anybody smarter
peace
p.s. heresastandardpatchselectexample
no patch=plays the sample as normal
patch 1=plays the sample in reverse
So I got in there I am done with the manual and I even chopped my first beat. I do however have a few remaining questions.
1. FX Routing: Can I apply FX to individual instruments without applying them globally?
Can I apply FX to individual instrument layer without effecting the other layers?
Can I apply FX to individual wave samples without effecting the whole instrument?
Can I apply FX to individual keys or copies of a wave sample that is parameters only?
2. Filtering: Same questions as above but for Filtering.
3. Source Monitoring: Can I monitor my audio inputs without using the audio track buttons?
Thank you in advance I think these are the only remaining questions I have after reading through the entire manual.
Everyone else's responses are totally correct. I have a couple of other things you may want to consider, too:
The tuning issue at boot is a VERRRRY bad thing!! Your board is about to crap out, or it could be as simple as a short in one or more keys.
I wish I could walk you through the directories and stuff as far as scsi goes, but it's kinda long. I think I have a little insight for you as far as using the floppy when it comes to sequences/songs/banks: a "song" is linked to a "bank" and vice versa, but a sequence is not. Sequences remain independent of banks/songs unless you use the "save song/seq" option. I can explain more via email if you would like. In essence, save your song FIRST using the "save song/all seq" button, and then save your bank. When you re-load the bank, it will load every sequence that was in memory when you saved the bank and load the song automatically. Also, the later OS versions let you save/load more than one song. LIke I said earlier, they are linked to the corresponding bank. I generally name my banks the same name as the song.
As a few people have said, the audio track thing was groundbreaking back in 1992. Basically, what it did was let you use the available RAM as a digital recorder. However, the ASR maxes out at 16mb, so we all know what kind of good that is gonna do these days. Besides, re-sampling the outputs is a lot more efficient. One good thing about those audio track buttons is they let you mute/un-mute your sample source pretty conveniently.
Layers are literally different sounds stacked on top of each other. With that said, you can copy a layer(s) from a totally different instrument to another instrument, which is where PATCHES can come into play. Your patch selects are simply this: LeftButton, RightButton, LeftANDRightButton. So, three different patches. In the "Edit Instrument" menu, there is a sub menu for "layer up and layer down" and you will see the numbers 1 thru 8. When there, press one of the "patch" buttons, and you'll see what LAYERS are selected when you press that button. It's pretty self explanatory from there.
