PS02PatternEditor Help and FAQ July 07,2003 Armin Heinrich ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Demo Version Questions 2. General Questions 3. Advanced Questions 4. New in Version 3.0 New in Version 3.2 5. Platform Questions Demo Version Questions: -------------------------------- What can I do with the demo version ? - Test all features of the full version - Test the PS02PatternEditor for as long as you like (No time limit) What are the limits of the demo version ? - Can't execute the menu 'Generate and Save PS02 Pattern' - Can't import Midi files - Stops after 10 Minutes General Questions: -------------------------------- How can I build my own PS02 Drum Patterns ? - Click a field to trigger the instruments at this position (You see a dark rectangle with a green border) - Click again to deactivate it - Press the small '>' button to hear the pattern What is the meaning of the "1...2...3...4" over the event field ? - After the start of the PS02PatternEditor one measure with a 4/4 beat is shown - The red numbers mark the first beat of a measure - The black numbers mark a beat - The dots mark a 1/16 - Right after the start the shortest event is a 1/16 How to get more than one measure ? - Click the menu "Pattern/Double Number of Measures" - The maximum number of measures is 4 How to create beats other than 4/4 ? - Click the menu "Pattern/Build New Pattern" - You can select 1/4 to 8/4 with up to two measures or 1/4 to 4/4 with up to four measures. - The PS02 can't handle 6/8, please use 3/4 How to get a higher resolution than 1/16 ? - Click the menu "Pattern/Build New Pattern" - Select 8 or 24 divisions What is a division and what is the shortest event ? - Division = 4 -> 4 events per 1/4 -> 1/16 - Division = 8 -> 8 events per 1/4 -> 1/32 - Division = 24 -> 24 events per 1/4 -> 1/96 - Division = 48 -> 48 events per 1/4 -> 1/192 How can I build my own PS02 Bass Patterns ? - The drums and bass pattern in the PS02 are combined - Build a pattern with bass in the same way as a drum-only pattern - Click a field to trigger the instruments at this position(You see a dark rectangle with a green border and a '1' in the middle) - Click again to de-activate it - Press the small '>' button to hear the pattern How long will a bass event sound ? - The PS02 bass sound is monophonic - A bass event will sound until another bass event overrides the old one - To stop the sound of a bass event without another bass event use a 'middle click' (You see a red rectangle) (Use 'shift and click' if your have a mouse without a 'middle click)' How can I use other drum instruments as the pre-defined ones ? - After the start of the PS02PatternEditor you get the most common drum instruments - Select other drum instruments with the 'instruments field' left of the event field Why are some drum instruments names in the 'instruments combo box' only numbers ? - The numbers are the Midi Note Numbers for drum instruments - The names are the names for the 'PS02 Rock Set/HQRB1 Set' - Not all instruments are available in all sound sets (check the midi list for all soundsets provided by Zoom) (you can download this sets and lists from the Zoom homepage) - Some instruments are only available in the set HQRB1 (you get this from www.soundside.de - PS02SampleLock) The names in the 'instruments field' do not fit to the sound I hear in my soundcard. For some instruments I hear no sound in my soundcard! - Zoom adds some non standard instruments e.g. the 'BassDive' of the 'Rock Set' - The standard sound for 'Cowbell' Midi note 56 is used for 'Scratch Snare' in the 'Hip Hop Set' - Select the closest sound, build your pattern, and change the instrument before you store the pattern in the PS02 format. How to prevent data loss ? - Before you use 'Generate and Save PS02 Pattern' from the file menu, make a backup copy of the current selected song file (You can see the name of this file in the title of the PS02PatternEditor) How can I listen to patterns in song files ? - Download a PS02 Song file e.g. from the Zoom homepage or copy one of your PS02 song files to your hard disk (You need a Smart Media reader) - Use File/'Open PS02 Song File' to select this PS02 song file - Select the pattern you like with the combo box (above the event field) - Click the menu File/'Import PS02 Pattern' - Press the small '>' button How to change the playback speed? -Use the combo box at the right of the play button '>' I like to have a faster playback speed than 180 bpm I like to have a lower playback speed than 60 bpm How can I set the playback speed with a higher resolution (e.g. 124 bpm) -The combo box has only the most important presets 60-180 -To get other speed settings just enter the speed you want (1..400) into the combo box How to modify a pattern ? - Download a PS02 Song file e.g. from the Zoom homepage or copy one of your PS02 song files to your hard disk (You need a Smart Media reader) - Use File/'Open PS02 Song File' to select this PS02 song file - Select the pattern you like with the combo box (above the event field) - Click the menu File/'Import PS02 Pattern' - Make any modification you like How to store a modified pattern ? - Click the menu File/'Generate and Save PS02 Pattern' - You can load this file into the PS02 (You need a Smart Media reader/writer) How to store a new pattern ? - Use File/'Open PS02 Song File' to select a PS02 song file - Click the menu File/'Generate and Save PS02 Pattern' - You can load this file into the PS02 (You need a Smart Media reader/writer) How to copy a pattern from one song file to another ? - Use File/'Open PS02 Song File' to select the source PS02 song file - Select the pattern you like to copy with the combo box (above the event field) - Click the menu File/'Import PS02 Pattern' - Use File/'Open PS02 Song File' to select the destination PS02 song file - Select the pattern you wish to replace - Click the menu File/'Generate and Save PS02 Pattern' I love the drums from one pattern but don't like the bass of this pattern. How can I copy the bass part? - Use File/'Open PS02 Song File' to select this PS02 song file - Select the first 'bad' bass pattern - Uncheck the 'Bass' and check the 'Drums' - Click the menu File/'Import PS02 Pattern' - Select the 'nice' bass pattern - Check the 'Bass' and uncheck the 'Drums' - Click the menu File/'Add PS02 Pattern' - Select the first 'bad' bass pattern - Click the menu File/'Generate and Save PS02 Pattern' (The 'bad' bass pattern will be replaced with the 'nice' bass pattern. - Repeat it for all other 'bad' bass pattern How to change the pattern name ? - Select the pattern you'd like to change - Insert the new name in the combobox - Click the menu 'Pattern/Rename Pattern' How to add new pattern without changing the old patterns ? - The PS02PatternEditor can not add new pattern (in this version) - You can modify an existing pattern or override an existing pattern with a new one. How to mute all drum instruments ? - 'Right click' the '- Drums:8 +' field - 'Right click' again to de-activate How to mute one single drum/bass instrument ? - Click on the 'X' leftside of the instrument (an yellow 'X' will be shown after mute is activated) How to mute one single drum event ? - Click this event to mute it - 'Middle click' this event to deactivate it with the same volume (if you deactivate it with a 'click' you set this event with the default volume) (Use 'shift and click' if your have a mouse without a 'middle click)' How to mute all bass instruments ? - 'Right click' the '- Bass:8 +' field - 'Right click' again to de-activate Is there a solo function ? - Click on the 'S' leftside of the instrument (an red 'S' will be shown after solo is activated) How to change the Midi playback volume for all drum instruments ? - Click the '-' of the '- Drums:8 +' field to decrease the volume - Click the '+' of the '- Drums:8 +' field to increase the volume (max=8) How to change the Midi playback volume for all bass instruments ? - Click the '-' of the '- Bass:8 +' field to decrease the volume - Click the '+' of the '- Bass:8 +' field to increase the volume (max=8) Can I set the volume for one single event ? - Yes, move the mouse to the event you'd like to change - 'Right click'. A context menu will be visible 'Level (single)' (0..15) - Click the volume you like (0=0ff, 1=min volume, 15=max volume) How to change the volume for one drum instrument / bass note (Event Volume) ? - Hold the 'Ctrl' Key on your keyboard - Move the mouse to the event you'd like to change - 'Right click'. A context menu will be visible 'Level (all)' (0..15) - Click the volume you like (0=0ff, 1=min volume, 15=max volume) What is the difference between the 'Event Volume' and the 'Midi playback volume' ? - The ' Midi playback volume' will change nothing on your PS02. The PS02 has its own slider for the drums/bass main volume. - The 'Event Volume' will be generated for the PS02 as well. This volume sets the volume for each instrument individualy! If I set a new event I always get the default volume 12, can I change it ? - Yes, hold the 'Alt' or 'Shift' Key on your keyboard - Move the mouse to the event you'd like to change - 'Right click'. A context menu will be visible 'Level (new)' (0..15) - Click the new default volume you like (0=0ff, 1=min volume, 15=max volume) I'd like to temporarily switch off one single drum event. After I switch it on I always get the default volume. Can this be changed ? - Yes, use a 'middle click' to switch it on How can I change the octave of the bass? - Move the mouse to the event you like to change - Click. A context menu will be visible 'Transpose (single)' (0..7) - 0=c0-b0, 1=c1-b1, 2=PS02 special mode, 3=c2-b2 ... Do I have to change each single bass event ? - No, Hold the 'Ctrl' Key on your keyboard to change all events in this line - Hold the 'Alt' or 'Shift' key to set a new default Can I zoom the event field ? - Yes, you can zoom useing the zoom button (-+) - Click the zoom button (-+) to make switch between auto zoom on/off - 'Right click' the '-' to zoom down - 'Right click' the '+' to zoom up - Hold 'shift' to make smaller changes - Hold 'ctrl' to make very small changes What is the 'Window/Top' menu for ? - Click 'Top' to make the window the topmost window. Advanced Questions: -------------------------------- I like to use a lot of percussion. How can I add the bongos to the drums instruments. I would like to have more drum instruments available at one time ! How to change the drum instruments order ? ... - You find a file 'Drums.ahi' in your PS02PatternEditor directory - Save this file as 'Drums.ahi_original' as backup copy. (You cant start the PS02PatternEditor without this file or with an corrupt file !) - Open the file 'Drums.ahi' with any text editor (e.g. Notepad) - After the line 'Instruments:' you can add new lines for additional instruments - E.g. if you use the 'Hip Hop Set' you can add a line: '26 Rap Finger Snap' - Between the number (here 26) and the instrument name (here Rap Finger) must be a Tab - E.g. You can change the name of any of the instruments as you like. Only the (Midi) number is important. - The new instruments are available in the instruments combo box after the next start of the PS02PatternEditor - After the line 'Defaults:' you can add new lines for additional instruments - E.g. 26 to add a new instrument line for the 'Rap Finger' - E.g. 60 and another line with 61 to add 'Bongo Lo' and 'Bongo Hi' - The 'Instruments:' Section defines instruments (available in the instruments combo box) - The 'Defaults:' section (sets the number and order of drum instruments) - Important: Only instruments defined in the 'Instruments:' Section can be added in the 'Defaults:' section Where do I find the numbers of the PS02 Midi notes ? Download them from the Zoom homepage New in Version 3.2 -------------------------------- 1.) New instrument selection implemented. Ressources reduced. In older version was a combo box a check box and a user control for each instrument. (Problems on some older PC's) 2.) Menu Pattern\'Build New Pattern' can build 4 measures with 48 divisions. (Usefull for Midiimport) 3.) Menu Pattern\'Double Number of Measures' can build pattern wiht 8 measures (Usefull for Midiimports with 4 measures + 48 divisions. Transfert to 8 Measures wiht 24 Divisions) 4.) Import of pattern imports only as much measures as available. (Faster import) If the pattern won't fit 'Pattern To Large' will be displayed Please increase the number of measures. 5.) New checkbox 'Fit'. Sets the number of measures to 8, imports and cuts the empty measures. This features (with 4 measures) was always switched on in verion 3.0 (takes a longer time on slower PC's) 6.) New Mute (X) / Solo (S) features -Both Mute and Solo can be set with the (left) mouse click -Last Mute state will be saved if solo is used -Mute can be toggled -Shift mute = mute only for the current instrument -Solo can be added to multiply instruments -Solo can be toggled -Shift solo = solo only for the current instrument -Mute/Solo will be reseted after loading a new definition file (drums.ahi) Bugfixes in 3.2: 1.) Instrumet changes (combo boxes) were overriden after the next 'pattern import' or 'new pattern' 2.) Mute and solo state were overriden if another instrument was selected (combo boxes) New in Version 3.0 -------------------------------- 1.) Level and Transpose: no shift key = 'Single' (as before) ctrl = 'All' (as before) other = 'New' (old only 'Alt Key' - Problems on some PC's) 2.) New Menu 'Open Instrument Definition File' to load new '*.ahi' files The default File 'Drums.ahi' is for the original set provided by Zoom. Hiphop-Set.ahi = for the Zoom HipHop Set Rock-Set.ahi = for the Zoom Rock Set HQRB1-Set.ahi = for the High Quality Rock and Blues Set1 (included in the PS02SampleLock) The *.ahi files where build by Ray Terrett - Thanks Ray ! 3.) 48 Divisions trick for the PS02. 1 or 2 measures long patterns with 48 divisions (max 4/4) will be changed to 2 or 4 measures long patterns with 24 divisions. For Midi Import of high resolution files: 1. change to 48 divisions 2. import the midi file (up to 2 measures) 3. use 'Quantize Special' 4.) 'Quantize' Menu changed. No more 'up' 'down' but '4/8/24/48' 5.) New 'Midi Import Dialog': -'Remember Midi File' option loads the same file next time 'Midi Import' is pressed -'Auto increase' of the beat offset (selectable) -Selectable Midi channel for the 'Bass Import' (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,11,12,13,14,15,16,'<>10') In 2.0 '<>10' was used always 6.) 'Auto Zoom' activated after startup 7.) 'Copy Measures' Menu removed. 'Repeat' context menu expanded (Instrument, Drums, Bass, All) 8.) 'Bass Playback Sound' selectable (GM Sounds 0..127) 9) 'Transpose values' from 0..5 (old 0..7 but PS02 can handle only 0..5) 10) Bass transformation during import and export (generation) according to the list found by Ray Terrett. (check 'A guide to programming the Bass line' of the 'PS02 Pattern Editor Manual by Ray Terett). Only the notes below 'C0 to D#0'' are transposed to 'C1 to D#1' because the lowest possible PS02 note is 'E0' 11) Auto Measures Import: Switch to 1/2/4 Measures automatically 12) PS02 Import Mapping (*.ahi file) Midi Import Mapping xx=yy xx is the new note number yy is the old note number all old note numbers will be changed to new note numbers. If more than one yy with the same value are inserted - the first will win Program will work with old file (without the Map: Section also) This could be used to import midi files with 'non standard drum instruments' or to use midifiles with a lot of instruments not implemented in the PS02. 13) Number of pattern in the loaded *.pts file will be shown in the status bar 14) Pattern Menu Level1 and Level2 will be shown in the status bar after any pattern change 15) Panic Key 'ESC' will stop the editor and all midi events 16) New demo version - only an very old demo version (1.0) was available 17.) Rename and Import Pattern not based on PatternName but PatternPosition. (same pattern names for different pattern was not possible before) 18.) A lot of internal optimization, for better resolution and stability Bugfixes in 3.0: 1.) New internal high resolution timer implemented, this is the biggest change in Version 3.0. On some PC (mainly with win9x) some crashed occurred during playback. ->fixed On some PC an error occurred after shutdown ->fixed 2.) All Reset was done if Midi Import was canceled -> fixed 3.) 'Bass Mute Event' was not generated if a drum event was between the last 'Bass On Event' and the Bass 'Mute Event' ->fixed 4.) In some dialog 'Save' was shown but 'Open' would be right -> fixed Platform Questions: -------------------------------- Will you build a version for MAC's or LINUX ? No, but you can use an emulator (see below) Can I use the PS02PatternEditor with my MAC ? Yes, but you need a Windows emulator Check this links: http://www.macwindows.com/emulator.html Blue Label $19.95 http://www.lismoresoft.com/ Can I use the PS02PatternEditor with LINUX ? Yes, but you need a Windows emulator Check this link: http://www.vmware.com