A unit on the EPS/ASR that holds wavesamples across one keymap of the keyboard. You can
have up to 8 layers in an INSTRUMENT.
OBJECT
A unit within an Ensoniq le - for Instruments, a Layer or Wavesample; for Songs, a Sequence or
Track; for Banks, a Slot Location.
PATCH SELECT
A Ensoniq innovation that selects a pre-programmed group of layers from a pair of momentary
onboard buttons.
RUBBER CHICKEN SOFTWARE CO.
The makers, developers, sole distributors or Ensoniq MIDI-Disk Tools for Windows. They also
make samples for the EPS/ASR series, and other items, specically for Ensoniq samplers.
SAMPLER NAME
This area tells you what kind of sampler the computer is expecting. Once you read the EPS/ASR
through MIDI, the computer nds out for itself and changes this automatically.
SOUNDVERT
The original .WAV-to-Ensoniq program. Developed by Tim Dorcas, it inspired this program.
SYS-EX (or, more properly, System Exclusive)
A MIDI standard that communicate specic messages to specic instruments. Ensoniq MIDI-Disk
Tools uses this to changes just about any parameter in the EPS/ASR.
TOOLBAR LIGHTS
These lights tell you (from the left) if the MIDI is turned on so the computer can receive MIDI signals, if MIDI is coming into the computer, and if MIDI is transmitting out of the computer.
.WAV FILES
This format was developed by Microsoft (who else). It is sometimes called RIFF (Resource Interchange
File Format), in contrast to AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format). The Windows-Intel platform (PC)
uses mostly .WAV les. Think of it this way - it is the “PC’s sound le format. .WAV Files cannot be
looped, nor do they contain multiple wavesamples. There is another .WAV type called ADPCM, which
is a compressed type of .WAV le. These are usually low-quality, and are very small in size. Ensoniq
Disk Tools does not support these les - convert them using a Sample Editor such as SoundForge
or CoolEdit, or Awave.
WAVE OVERVIEW
A function where you can view the entire waveform, as opposed to just part of it.
WAVESAMPLE
A unit on the EPS/ASR that holds a set of parameters affecting the wavedata, and also either the
actual sample data or pointers to another wavesample that actually holds the data.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER
Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows is the sole property of Rubber Chicken
Software Co. You are granted a license to use Ensoniq Disk Tools
for Windows for your own personal use but YOU MAY NOT COPY
OR DISTRIBUTE any version of Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, duplication, or distribution is
prohibited by law.
Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows is the ultimate Ensoniq disk utility. Since
Ensoniq uses a proprietary disk format with the EPS/ASR samplers, you can’t
use standard Windows and DOS functions with the disks and les - they simply aren’t recognized. Thus the need for a program.
Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows not only reads, writes, and formats any oppy
or SCSI device, it also performs a number of le transfer, le converting,
and le building operations. You can transfer any amount of les to and from
Ensoniq oppy disks, DOS hard drives, SCSI hard drives, and any CD-ROM
drive. You can convert other le formats, such as the standard .WAV and AIFF
formats, and transfer them to and from Ensoniq les. And lastly, you can create and edit your own Ensoniq les - build them from scratch, add or subtract
the amount of objects, and edit any paramter within. Powerful? You bet!
Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows was conceived from and handy little util-
ity called SoundVert 1.03, a nifty .WAV to Ensoniq le conversion utility. We
knew it could go a lot farther. After the rst development, it used to be called
TS Tools, since the program was originally designed for TS-series owners to
sample and edit their own sounds. (in fact, the name of the main executable
still bears it’s name.) But since the program does have a wider scope, the
name was changed to Disk Tools.
Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows is also part of our agship program, Ensoniq
MIDI-Disk Tools for Windows. It is sold separately as well, since TS-Series
owners cannot take benet of the EPS/ASR MIDI functions implemented in
that program.
If you are a registered owner, you are qualied for free updates for the life of
the program, which will be sent to you automatically from Rubber Chicken Software Co. There are many things we intend to add to this program to
make it more versatile for you to use.
This is an Image of an entire disk of les, as dened in the EPS/ASR. The les contained within
can be Instrument, Bank, Sequence, Song, MacroFile, System-Exclusive, Effects, or Backup Files.
It comes in Giebler format (.ede or .eda), or GKH format (.gkh).
EFFECTS
The Ensoniq 16-Plus and ASR-10/88 have a built-in effects chip, which you can assign param-
eters per instrument and bank.
ENSONIQ DEVICE
Refers to a oppy disk or SCSI drive that is formatted to be read by the EPS/ASR/TS equipment.
FILE IMAGE
This is an Image of a single le as dened in the EPS/ASR. It can be an Instrument, Bank, Sequence, Song, MacroFile, System-Exclusive, Effects, or Backup File. It comes in Giebler format
(.efe or .efa), or .GKH format (.ins or .gkh). These images can exist on their own, or reside inside
a Disk Image le.
FRAGMENTATION
In most les, the data is arranged with the data being read one byte after the other; in other words,
the information is in order. But certain les may have been worked with in such a way that the le
is disarranged. The le works because there is a “table of contents” (called the FAT, or File Allocation Table) that arrange it. Such a le is called a Fragmented.
GIEBLER DISK IMAGE FORMAT
Giebler Enterprises introduced this le format. It really is a 512 byte header, and afterwards it contains the exact byte contents of the Ensoniq Disk File. Within the header there is a table that lists
which blocks have all zeros, and which don’t. That way the le is only as large as it as to be. EPS
images use the .EDE extension (max 1585 blocks); ASR images use .EDA (max 3167).
GIEBLER FILE IMAGE FORMAT
Giebler Enterprises introduced this le format. It really is a 512 byte header, and afterwards it contains the exact contents of the Ensoniq File. It can be an Instrument, Bank, Sequence, Song, Macro,
System-Exclusive, Effects, or Backup File. EPS les use the .EDE extension, and ASR les use the
.EDA extension. NOTE: the differences between an EPS and ASR le-type are minimal. Really, it
species if the le has pertinent information relating to new parameters within the 16-Plus/
ASR, or that the type of effect is and ASR or 16-Plus.
.GKH IMAGE
This format is the oldest, developed by a guy named Goh King Wah (what a name - thus the G K H
format). It is a short header, followed by the exact contents of the Ensoniq le. There is no skip table,
and the bytes do not follow 512 byte boundaries. To make it more confusing, les with this extension
MAY BE A DISK IMAGE OR FILE IMAGE OF EPS OR ASR TYPE. Ensoniq Disk Tools’ rule is that
.GKH should be Disk Images, and .INS les are File Images, and converts things that way. However,
Ensoniq Disk Tools will recognize both types.
.INS FILE IMAGE
The .ins le extension was implemented by Michael Chen, the author of EPSDisk, a program that put
together many of Goh King Wah’s programs. Michael needed a le type that would represent a File
Image, and since by that time the Giebler utilities had come, he adapted the exact same header, but
used a different extension. So a .ins le is exactly the same format as the Giebler .efe./,efa format.
INSTRUMENT
A unit on the EPS/ASR that contains up to 8 Layers and up to 127 wavesamples.
Page 2Page 51
Thank You's and Legal Notices
Thanks to the excellent set of beta-testers involved with this project (in particular Ted Bicknell, Fred Hoover, Nathaniel Gillette). You can be a pseudobeta-tester too - just contact us and give us your opinion!
Thanks to Michael Hyman for the clever designer icon.
Thanks also to Robby Berman, Steve Coscia, Al Blake, Tony Ferrera and Bert
Nuskirk of Ensoniq, whom we always count on for assistance and friendship,
and Eric Geislinger and Jane Talisman of the Transoniq Hacker, whom it only
seems days ago when we had a Mirage and we picked up our rst Hacker and
read it cover to cover.
Installation Instructions
Installation Instructions
1. Take your CD-ROM and insert it into your CD-ROM Drive. The setup program should start up; otherwise type d:\setup in START-RUN, where “d” is the
drive letter of your CD-ROM Drive.
2. Double-cluck on the Chicken icon within the new Ensoniq Disk Tools Program Group, and you are ready to roll! If the program has problems at any
point, don’t hesitate to call or write Rubber Chicken Software Co. at contact
addresses.
And nally thanks to the programs of CoolEdit (David Johnston), WinZip,
EPSSENSE (Jeffery Richter), and the Ensoniq Disk Manager (Gary Giebler)
for the creative genius and inspiration these programs gave ours.
Legal Notices
Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows was compiled using Microsoft Visual Basic
3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 Professional Version, Microsoft Word 7.0 for Windows 95, and
the Ensoniq ASR-10, EPS 16-Plus, and Original EPS (no TS was used!).
ENSONIQ, EPS, EPS-16 PLUS, TS-10, TS-12, and ASR-10 are trademarks
of ENSONIQ Corp.
“GIEBLER”, GIEBLER ENTERPRISES, ENSONIQ DISK MANAGER, ENSONIQ DISK EXTRACTOR, “EDA”, “EDE”, “EFE”, and EFA are trademarks of
Giebler Enterprises.
Glossary
.AIFF FILES
This format is usually used with Apple computers. It stands for Audio Interchange File Format. The
format is actually better used with Ensoniq wavesamples because the byte-ordering (the way the
bytes are arranged in the le) is the same, whereas .WAV orders the bytes in an opposite way.
Think of AIFF this way - it is “Apples sound le format.”
4. If you are updating this program, don’t hesitate to delete the old les or
directories.
After this, you’re set!
LIST OF FILES
Program Files
dt32.exe
rcsfx.efx
Text and Help les
readme.txt
disktool.hlp
ActiveX Controls
tabctl32.ocx
msoutl32.ocx
msghoo32.ocx
Operating Systems and Templates
eps249os.efe
eps13os.efe
asr353os.efa
Dynamic Link Code Libraries
msvbvm50.dll System directory
esd32.dll App directory
.DLL OLE les (all in system directory)
(note: these are all 16-bit versions of the le. In the
If the program has problems at any
point, don’t hesitate to call or fax us at
our contact addresses.
COMMON DIALOG
A standard Open or Save As Windows dialog that navigates Drives, Directories, and Files within
DOS devices. Ensoniq Disk Tools uses these whenever possible; however, it uses a replacement
when it becomes necessary to navigate Ensoniq devices as well.
DISK FILE
A le saved to your hard drive that stores all the parameters of an instrument read by Tools. See
File Image.
Page 50Page 3
Screen DescriptionFinal Notes
Screen Description
The Main Screen of
Ensoniq Disk Tools is
designed for most of
your major functions. It
can be used as a starting point for almost all
operations. Please note
that it can be resized,
to offer a wider view to
your screen. However,
you will notice it has
a minimum size. The program will show properly down to a 640x480 screen
resolution.
.WAV-AIFF List Box
This displays all or some of the .WAV Files on the drive marked above in the
drive box. In the Options dialog, you can set whether this box shows all the les
in a particular directory, or all the les in the drive itself. Ensoniq Disk Tools stores
the path information, so it isn’t shown.
Typical Functions:
Click to select a .WAV-AIFF le, or select multiple les
Press Space Bar to hear the .WAV le (if you have a sound card)
Right-click selected .WAV-AIFF le(s) to perform operations
Drag a selected .WAV le to another Box to convert or transfer it
Disk List Box
This displays all or some of the Disk Images on the drive marked above. In the
Options dialog, you can set whether this box shows all the les in a particular
directory, or all the les in the drive itself. Ensoniq Disk Tools stores the path information, so it isn’t shown. If the Disk Image is invalid, it will give you a warning
when you click on the selection. If there is fragmentation, Disk Tools automatically
defragments it when selected.
Typical Functions:
Click to see the contained les in the Instrument/Layer/WS box
Right-click selected Disk Image(s) to perform operations
Drag to extract les to File Images or .WAV/AIFF Files
Final Notes
A couple of things to keep in mind. Please report any alleged bugs that you might
come in contact with. Also, if you have any ideas about how to make Ensoniq Disk Tools for Windows better or easier to use let me know. Here are a few numbers to
keep in mind.
EPS/ASR/TS Internet users Group
epsasrts@soundcentral.com
Send subscribe requests to epsasrts-request@soundcentral.com
Essential for in-depth Ensoniq probing
These next two numbers may not be available anymore. Ensoniq does not exist, and the Transoniq Hacker ceased publication a couple years ago.
Ensoniq Corp.
155 Great Valley Parkway
Malvern, PA 19355
Customer Service (610)-647-3930
Customer Service e-mail: music-support@ensoniq.com
Transoniq Hacker
1402 SW Upland Dr.
Portland, OR 97221
(503)227-6848
E-mail: interface@transoniq.com
Thank You’s and Legal Notices
Thanks very much to John Bodenstein, whose extra patience and helpful assistance made this project possible.
Thanks to James Olsen for his generous help and partnership in SoundCentral.
File List Box
This displays all or some the File Images on the drive marked above. In the
Options dialog, you can set whether this box shows all the les in a particular
directory, or all the les in the drive itself. Ensoniq Disk Tools stores the path information, so it isn’t shown. If the File Image is invalid, it will give you a warning
Page 4Page 49
Thanks also to Stephan Sprenger of Prosoniq, who helped us immensely with
the effects le format.
Thanks to everyone who gave their comments and help, especially on the Internet
Ensoniq mailing list; especially Dietmar Tinhof and Paul Najar.
Update Policy
Updates to this program are free for the lifetime of the program. Starting with
updates after Version 2.2, Revision/Build 22, Ensoniq Disk Tools updates will
be available again on our Web Site. They will be in the form of "Patches", les
you download to update your currently installed program.
You will need at least Version 2.2, Revision/Build 22 to use this system. You
will simply click the Update Button on the main screen in the program - that
will bring up your browswer, dial the Internet, and take you to a Web page that
will inform you on the availability of an update. If there is one, it will display a
link for you to download it. You will not need to incrementally update. Your only
concern is to update your version to the current one displayed.
Screen DescriptionUpdate Policy
when you click on the selection. Unlike the other boxes on the Main Screen, you
can only select one File Image at a time.
Typical Functions:
Click to select a File Image
Right-click the selected File Image to perform operations
Drag to extract waves, include in a Disk Image, or write to Ensoniq volume
Objects List Box
This displays the Objects (Layers, Waves, Sequences, Bank Listings, etc.)
contained within a Disk Image or File Image, depending on what is currently
selected in the other boxes.
Typical Functions:
Click on a Layer (Sequence) to see the Wavesamples (Tracks)
Right-click the current selection to perform operations
Drag to convert Objects into les
Click on [space bar] to hear Wavesample over sound card
These "Patches" ARE NOT COMPLETE PROGRAMS. They only update your
current installation. If you need another complete version, it will need to be
snail-mailed to you at a $5.00 ($8.00 international) charge.
You can always be fully updated; that is, get all the les needed for a full installation, by following these steps:
Download the Disk Tools Setup File and install it on your computer. Make
sure you note the directory you installed it in.
Start the Disk Tools program le, named dt32.exe (it must be version 2.2
revision 22 or later) from within the directory you specied when installing
the Disk Tools Setup File.
IF YOU CAN CONNECT TO THE INTERNET FROM THIS COMPUTER
Click the Update button on the Disk Tools main screen, and follow the
prompts from the web page that it dials.
IF YOU CANNOT CONNECT TO THE INTERNET FROM COMPUTER
Click Help, and go to the About box. Note the Version number and the
Revision number (such as 2.2.25). When you can connect to the Internet,
use this syntax to get to the correct web page:
Save your update le to oppy disk or other backup medium.
Ensoniq Devices List Box
This displays the current contents of the selected device in the Drive Box for
Ensoniq volumes. You may drag items to any other List Box to exchange les.
Typical Functions:
Status Bars
This displays critical info you need to know as you work with the program.
Drive Box for .WAV Files
Click on this to change the Drive for the .WAV-AIFF List Box
Drive Box for Disk and File Images
Click on this to change the Drive for the Disk List Box and the File List Box
Drive Box for Ensoniq Devices
This selects which device you want to see Ensoniq-format information for.
Object Button
This reloads the contents of the Objects List Box.
Ensoniq Devices Button
Reloads the contents of the selected device the Drive Box, and displays it in the
Ensoniq List Box.
.WAV-AIFF Button
Adds to the WAV-AIFF List Box. Displays a Common Dialog where you can nd
a particular le from any directory or drive.
Right-click the selected le(s) to perform operations
Drag to write a le to DOS hard drive
Page 48Page 5
Screen DescriptionTroubleshooting/Support
Disk, Files Button
Adds to the WAV-AIFF List Box. Displays a Common Dialog where you can nd
a particular le from any directory or drive.
Refresh Files
Clicking the Refresh Button on the Main Screen refreshes the contents of all the
List Boxes with their current les.
Explorer
This displays the Ensoniq Explorer screen. You may do intensive Ensoniq oppy
disk and SCSI management here. For more information see Page 8
Find
This enables you to nd an Instrument le within a Drive’s worth of Disk Images
or File Images. Click to bring up the Find dialog to start your search. For more
information see Page 17
Options
Displays the Options dialog, where your major program preferences are made.
See Page For more information see Page 24
About
This tells you how to reach us, and what version:revision the program le is.
Troubleshooting/Support
At Rubber Chicken we pride ourselves for the personal support we can give,
because we believe the only important problem to you is your own problem!
(Makes sense, doesn’t it?)
But before you call/write in for support, we do ask you of some requirements.
a) Please describe the problem specically (what screens come up,
what do they say VERBATIM, any repeatable steps we can describe
so we can duplicate the error here). If you say “it doesn’t work”,
we’re sorry, that just isn’t enough for us to go on. IT IS VITAL THAT
WE CAN REPLICATE THE ERROR. We need to know what is the dif-
ference in your computer that is causing the conict.
b) It is VERY HELPFUL, in case of errors in reading parameters, to
send us the File Image le that your are reading. Zip the le up using WinZip or related program (it will compress to a very small size)
and attach it in an e-mmail message to us. These are very helpful in
determining what the problem is.
d) Tell us which revision of the program you are using, what platform
(Win95 or Win 3.x).
e) If the program “crashes”, please be specic - does the computer
freeze, or do you get an error dialog? What does the dialog say?
Contact information
Rubber Chicken Software Co.
714 5th Street SE
Willmar, MN 56201 USA
Toll Free Order Line: 1-800-8-PRO-EPS (800-877-6377)
Tech Line, Fax, and Int’l: 1-320-235-9798
E-mail: support@chickensys.com
Web Page: www.chickensys.com
Page 6Page 47
Tutorial - Building a directory & saving files to Ensoniq SCSI Drive
the left-hand box again, and selecting Write Directory.
7) You may enter a directory just like you do a regular dialog box - double-click
on the name or icon.
8) After you are nished writing the directories, start adding your les.
9) Click on the DOS option on the screen - then you will nd the standard
DOS directory-le structure.
10) Find your File Image - a double-click on it - a button will appear that will
be ashing Write…
11) Click again on the Ensoniq option, and nd the directory where you want
the File Image.
12) Click on the ashing Write… button - the File Image will be written there.
13) Continue until you are done.
Automatic Method: This is a more efecient method, especially for large op-
erations.
1) Prepare yourself - have a piece of paper written out (or text le written
out) saying exactly where you want to put things.
2) Make a directory that will hold all the sounds you intend to put on your
hard drive - give it any name you want.
3) Within that directory, make your total directory structure, like want you
wrote down, and follow the rules below:
a) Do not put more than 38 les and directories within a single directory
- since Ensoniq only allows 38 les in a directory, Disk Tools will ignore
all les after writing 38.
b) To make a directory, create a DOS directory, and name it with a digit
between 1-38; this will be the le number of the directory when it is written
on your hard drive. Then make a text le named x.rcs (x representing
the same number as your directory), and write within it the name of that
directory. This method is required because a directory require two pieces
of information: the le number and name.
4) After you are nished, use the Restore SCSI Drive function to “restore”
your volume setup into the SCSI Drive.
Menus
Menus
Ensoniq Disk Tools holds a lot of power behind right-clicks. That’s the way of
Windows! The following are a list of menu items. NOTE: Not all options may be
available, depending the status of your settings. For example, if you have a Song
File Image selected in the File List Box, your options will be slightly different than
if you had a Instrument File Image selected. Please see the correspoding Page
number For more information see Page on a certain menu item.
Pop-up for .WAV-AIFF List Box
Write to Disk -Single Inst Page 34
Write to Disk - Multi Inst Page 34
Convert to File Image Page 34
Convert to Multiple Images Page 34
Edit
Normalize Gain Page 38
Sample Rate Page 39
Sample Editor Page 38
Info Page 23
Pop-up for Disk List Box
Write to Floppy Page 29
Read From Floppy Page 28
Batch Write Page 22
GKH -> Giebler Page 42
Extract Page 35
Edit Disk Image Page 35
Create Disk Image Page 35
Settings… Page 9
Test Disk Image Page 42
Info Page 23
Pop-up for File List Box
Write to Floppy Page 29
Create Disk Image Page 37
Add To TS Disk Image Page 41
Create Bank Page 14
Optimize Song Page 36
Import SMF Page 39
Export to SMF Page 39
Settings… Page 9