General Music S2 Turbo, S3 Turbo, S2R Owner's Manual

INSTRUCTION PERTAINING TO A RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, OR INJURY TO PERSONS.

WARNING - When using electric products, basic precautions should always be followed, including the following:

1. Read all the Safety and Installation instructions and explanations of Graphic Symbols before using the product .

2. This product must be earthed. If it should malfunction or breakdown, grounding provides a path of least resistance for

electric current to reduce the risk of electric shock. This product is equipped with a cord having an equipment-grounding
conductor and a grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into an appropriate outlet that is properly installed and earthed in
accordance with all local codes and ordinances.

DANGER - Improper connection of the equipment-grounding conductor can result in a risk of electric shock. Check

with a qualified electrician or serviceman if you are in doubt as to whether the product is properly grounded. Do not modify
the plug provided with the product - if it will not fit the outlet, have a proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician.

3. To reduce the risk of injury, close supervision is necessary when this product is used near children.

4. Do not use this product near water - for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, or near a

swimming pool or the like.

5. This product should only be used by a stand or cart that is recommended by the manufacturer.

6. This product, either alone or in combination with an amplifier and headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing

sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at a high volume level or at a
level that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist.

7. This product should be located so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation.

8. This product should be located away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, or other products that produce

heat.

9. The product should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked
on the product.

10. This product may be equipped with a polarized line plug (one blade wider than the other). This is a safety feature. If you
are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact an electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety
purpose of the plug.

11. The power-supply cord of the product should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.
When unplugging the power supply cord, do not pull on the cord, but grasp it by the plug.

12. Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings.

13. The product should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
A. The power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged; or
B. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the product; or
C. The products has been exposed to rain; or
D. The product does not appear to be operating normally or exhibits a marked change in performance; or
E. The product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.

14. Do not attempt to service the product beyond that described in the user-maintenance instructions. All other servicing

should be referred to qualified service personnel.

15.

WARNING - Do not place objects on product power cord or place it in a position where anyone could trip

over, walk on or roll anything over it. Do not allow the product, or its bench, or its pedal board to rest on or to be installed
over power cords of any type. Improper installations of this type create the possibility of fire hazard and/or personal injury.

16. Electromagnetic interference (RFI). This electronic product utilizes digital sampled wave processing technology (S.W.P.) that
may adversely affect radio/tv reception. Read FCC information inside back cover for additional information.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT SAFETY AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF

ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER

(OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS

INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED

SERVICE PERSONNEL.

EXPLANATION OF GRAPHIC SYMBOLS:

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the product’s
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation mark within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the product.

MUSICPROCESSORS

OWNER’S MANUAL

Registered trademarks cited in this publication

Amiga is a registered trademark of Commodore/Amiga, Inc. Akai and Akai S1000 are registered trademarks of Akai
Professional. Apple File Exchange and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Atari and Atari ST
are registered trademarks of the Atari Corporation. Sound Designer is a registered trademark of DigiDesign, Inc. Notator
and Notator Logic are registered trademarks of Emagic GmbH. AccesPC is a registgered trademark of Insignia Solutions,
Inc. MS-DOS and Wave are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. Avalon and Cubase are registered
trademarks of Steinberg Research GmbH. Sample Vision is a registered trademark of Turtle Beach Systems, Inc. All other
trademarks cited are the property of the respective manufacturer.

********************************

The information contained in this publication has been carefully prepared and checked. However, no responsibility will be
taken for eventual errors. All rights are reserved and this document may not be copied, photcopied or reproduced in part or
in whole without prior consent from Generalmusic S.p.A.. Generalmusic S.p.A. reserves the right to apply whatever
aesthetic, design or functional modifications are considered necessary to any of their products without prior notice.
Generalmusic S.p.A. assumes no responsibility for the use or application of the products or circuits described herein.

This symbol, silkscreened on the instrument’s back panel, is an indication that the S Series unit incorporates
two rechargeable Ni/Cd (Nickel-Cadmium) batteries which are recharged while the instrument is in use.
These batteries maintain data intact (when the instrument is off) in the Ram (if installed), and any user­programmed data in

EDIT GENERAL

(date, time, footswitch polarity and operating status, General MIDI

compatibility, Dynamic and Aftertouch sensitivity in S2/S3 and the Sound Test note in S2R).

© 1994 by Generalmusic S.p.A. All rights reserved.

GENERAL INDEX I

SUBJECT INDEX

This index lists all the subjects discussed in the manual. Each subject shows the section and relative chapter where
the subject appears.

Abbreviations

U/S User Interface/Selection P Practical guide
ST SampleTranslator

R Reference

For example, “Song-load from disk, P2, R11” shows that the description of the procedure to load a Song from disk
is described in the Practical Guide section, chapter 2 and also in the Reference section, chapter 11.

Song

- load from disk P2, R11

- load as Midi-file P4, R11

- save to disk P3, R11

- save as Midi-file P4, R11

- erase from memory P7, R9

- copy to another Bank/Song R16

- create a Bank/Song P7, R8

- Edit Song R9

Sequencer

- controls P6, R8

- select a Song U/S, P6, R8

- playback a Song P6, R8

- record a Song P9, R8

Performance

- how to programme a Performance P8, R3

- programming the tracks P8, R4

- viewing options of the tracks U/S, R1

Sound

- Sound Library

load from disk (as a Sound Library Setup ) P2, R11
save to disk (as a Sound Library Setup ) P3, R11
import a Song from disk R12
organisation R12

- selection (and assignment to a track)

from the control panel U/S
via Midi P12

- Edit Sound

select the type of Sound R5
select the Waveform R5
creat a Waveform ST, R6
definition of an Envelope P11
definition of Tracking P11

- Real time Sound editing P10

- Edit Sound via MIDI P14

Effects

- Effects Bypass U/S

- Effects Libraries

loading from disk (as an Effects Libraries Setup) P2, R11
save to disk (as an Effects Libraries Setup) P3, R11
organisation R13

- Edit Effects R14

- assignment to the Performance P8, R13

- activation of the tracks P8, R13

- selecting the Effects via Midi P13

- modifying the Effects via Midi P13

Drumkits & Sound Patch

- definition and editing R7

Midi

- assigning the Midi channels to the tracks R4

- difinition and programming the Midi-Common R10

- Midi-Merge R10

- General Midi P4, R10

- communcating with an external sequencer P15

Pedals, Footswitches

- assigning the functions P8, R3-10

- activation of the tracks P8, R4

Wheels

- assigning the functions P8, R3

- activation of the tracks P8, R4

Function Controllers

- use P10

(S2R: R3)

- editing R3

Audio Outputs

- programming R4

SUBJECT INDEX

II GENERAL INDEX

GENERAL INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................ 2

About the S Series instruments ...................................................................................................................................... 2

How to use this manual .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Convention used in the manual ...................................................................................................................................... 4

2. LAYOUTS ........................................................................................ 5

FRONT PANEL S2/S3 ............................................................................................................................... 6

REAR PANEL S2/S3.................................................................................................................................. 9

FRONT PANEL S2R ................................................................................................................................ 10

REAR PANEL S2R................................................................................................................................... 12

3. OVERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT

& ITS EDIT/DATA HANDLING CAPACITY ....................................... 13

OVERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT .......................................................................................................14

The Music Processor concept ...................................................................................................................................... 14

Sound synthesis ........................................................................................................................................................... 14

Sampling............................................................................................................................................................................ 14

Waveforms ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Filters and Sounds............................................................................................................................................................. 15

Bank/Song and Performance........................................................................................................................................ 16

Performance ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Tracks ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16

The Track playing mode .................................................................................................................................................... 16

Bank/Song ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Track configuration ........................................................................................................................................................... 17

Multi-timbral ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17

The mixer........................................................................................................................................................................... 17

“Mute” and “Solo”........................................................................................................................................................... 17

Sources and Destinations............................................................................................................................................. 18

MIDI events ....................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Sources .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18

Destinations....................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Internal memory and disks............................................................................................................................................ 19

Overview of the data and the memorising facilities (floppy disk and Ram-disk).............................................................. 19

The data............................................................................................................................................................................. 19

MODES OF OPERATION: NORMAL, EDIT/HANDLING......................................................................... 20

Normal operative mode..................................................................................................................................................... 20

Edit/Data Handling mode ................................................................................................................................................. 20

Multitasking....................................................................................................................................................................... 20

GENERAL INDEX III

OVERVIEW OF THE EDIT/HANDLING ENVIRONMENTS..................................................................... 21

Edit, handling, utility environments ............................................................................................................................... 21

The pages..................................................................................................................................................................... 21

The menus.................................................................................................................................................................... 22

The structure and selection of the menus .......................................................................................................................... 22

Commands/options....................................................................................................................................................... 22

Parameters ................................................................................................................................................................... 22

Simple parameter .............................................................................................................................................................. 22

Main menu and secondary menus ..................................................................................................................................... 22

Multiple parameter............................................................................................................................................................ 23

Graphic parameter............................................................................................................................................................ 23

Escape from edit/handling ............................................................................................................................................ 24

Analysis of the ‘edit sound’ edit environment ................................................................................................................... 24

Analysis of two edit/handling environments.................................................................................................................. 24

The “Are you sure?” display............................................................................................................................................. 24

Analysis of the ‘disk’ handling environment ..................................................................................................................... 25

4. INSTALLATION, POWER UP, DEMO ........................................... 27

CONNECTING THE POWER CABLE ..................................................................................................... 28

CONNECT THE AUDIO CABLES............................................................................................................ 28

Connecting to an external amplification system ............................................................................................................... 28

Stereo headphones............................................................................................................................................................. 28

S2R: CONNECTING TO A MASTER KEYBOARD OR TO AN EXTERNAL SEQUENCER .................... 29

Connecting to a Master keyboard................................................................................................................................. 29

Connect the Midi ports...................................................................................................................................................... 29

Connecting to a monosplit master keyboard (via Midi-Common) .................................................................................... 29

Connecting to a multisplit master keyboard ..................................................................................................................... 29

Connecting to an external sequencer ........................................................................................................................... 30

Connecting the Midi ports................................................................................................................................................. 30

Check the track status of the midi in Source ..................................................................................................................... 30

Deactivation of Midi-Common.......................................................................................................................................... 30

How to deactivate the Midi-Common channel .............................................................................................................. 31

Save the Midi-Common status to disk .......................................................................................................................... 31

How to save the Midi-Common status to floppy disk ........................................................................................................ 31

Save the Midi-Common status to the Ram-disk................................................................................................................. 32

POWER UP.............................................................................................................................................. 33

Powering up with empty disk drive RAM-disk .................................................................................................................. 33

Powering up with a floppy disk inserted in the drive........................................................................................................ 33

Powering up with data in the RAM-disk ........................................................................................................................... 33

Regulating the volume....................................................................................................................................................... 33

Before turning off the instrument... ................................................................................................................................... 33

S2R: “SOUND TEST”............................................................................................................................... 34

Sound Test in the main display.......................................................................................................................................... 34

Sound Test in the Sample Translator................................................................................................................................. 34

DEMO ...................................................................................................................................................... 35

The ROM demonstration Song ..................................................................................................................................... 35

The “Demo Disk 01” and “Demo Disk 02” demo songs ................................................................................................ 35

Load the contents of “Demo Disk 01” automatically ....................................................................................................... 35

Play back the “Demo Disk 01” demo songs ..................................................................................................................... 35

Interrupt the “Demo Disk 01” demo songs ...................................................................................................................... 35

IV GENERAL INDEX

Load the contents of “Demo Disk 02” in Ram ................................................................................................................. 36

Playback the “Demo Disk 02” demo song ....................................................................................................................... 36

Cancel the “Demo Disk 02” demo song from the Music Processor’s memory ................................................................ 36

5. USER INTERFACE / SELECTION................................................ 37

DATA ENTRY COMMANDS ..................................................................................................................... 38

Dial, +1/> and -1/<, Enter, Exit...................................................................................................................................... 38

Alphanumeric keypad ................................................................................................................................................... 38

How to specify numeric data............................................................................................................................................. 38

How to enter alphabetic characters .................................................................................................................................. 39

Navigating with the Dial, Enter and Exit........................................................................................................................ 39

Use of the numeric keypad to navigate in the menus................................................................................................... 40

«EMERGENCY» BUTTONS.................................................................................................................... 41

PANIC................................................................................................................................................................................ 41

MIDI OFF (S2/S3) ............................................................................................................................................................ 41

EFF. BYPASS..................................................................................................................................................................... 41

UNDO ............................................................................................................................................................................... 41

DISPLA Y AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS ............................................................................................. 42

MAIN DISPLAY / SAVE PERFORMANCE............................................................................................... 43

“Performance” mode........................................................................................................................................................ 43

“Sounds” mode ................................................................................................................................................................. 43

“Save Performance” (save) .............................................................................................................................................. 44

“Save Performance” in S2/S3........................................................................................................................................... 44

“Save Performance” in S2R ............................................................................................................................................. 44

BANK/SONG AND PERFORMANCE SELECTION................................................................................. 45

Selecting the Bank/Songs and Performances in S2/S3................................................................................................ 45

Selecting with the buttons of the Bank/Song and Performance sections .......................................................................... 45

Selecting the Bank/Songs and Performances in S2R .................................................................................................. 45

Selecting in “Performance” mode .................................................................................................................................... 45

Selecting Bank/Song and Performances in “Sounds” mode............................................................................................. 45

Selecting in “Performance” mode .................................................................................................................................... 45

Selecting a Performance of the active Bank/Song in “Sounds” mode.............................................................................. 45

SELECTING SOUNDS ............................................................................................................................ 46

Selecting Sounds with the Dial (or the +1/> and -1/< buttons) ....................................................................................... 46

Selecting Sounds with the alphanumeric keypad .............................................................................................................. 46

Selecting Sounds directly from the Sound Library ............................................................................................................ 46

CORRECT TRACK VISUALISATION ...................................................................................................... 47

Visualisation of the tracks that can be played on a keyboard........................................................................................... 47

Visualisation of the tracks that can be played via Midi In (not Midi-Common)............................................................... 47

Visualisation of the tracks played by a Song..................................................................................................................... 47

TRACK PLAYING MODE......................................................................................................................... 48

Track playing modes available for each Source ............................................................................................................... 48

Description of the track playing modes ............................................................................................................................ 48

i How to set a split point for the split track playing mode ................................................................................................ 49

PLAY, MUTE, SOLO................................................................................................................................. 50

Play ................................................................................................................................................................................... 50

Mute................................................................................................................................................................................... 50

Solo.................................................................................................................................................................................... 50

GENERAL INDEX V

6. PRACTICAL GUIDE...................................................................... 51

1 PREPARE A WORK DISK WITH THE S SERIES DISK DRIVE .......................................................... 52

2 LOAD THE CONTENTS OF A DISK INTO MEMORY ......................................................................... 53

Load all the instrument’s data from disk ........................................................................................................................... 53

Load a Group of Bank/Songs ............................................................................................................................................ 54

Load a Single Bank/Song .................................................................................................................................................. 54

Load a Setup...................................................................................................................................................................... 55

3 SAVE THE CONTENTS OF MEMORY TO DISK................................................................................. 57

Save all the instrument’s data to disk................................................................................................................................ 57

Save all the Bank/Songs in a Group.................................................................................................................................. 58

Save a single Bank/Song ................................................................................................................................................... 58

Save a single Setup............................................................................................................................................................ 59

4 LOAD AND SAVE A MIDI-FILE............................................................................................................ 61

Memory format and Midi-files .......................................................................................................................................... 61

Compatibility of the sounds (Midi-files in General Midi/GS standard)............................................................................ 61

Activation of the General Midi/GS compatibility.............................................................................................................. 61

Load a Midi-file ............................................................................................................................................................. 62

Save a Midi-file ............................................................................................................................................................. 63

5 OVERVIEW OF THE DISKS SUPPLIED WITH THE INSTRUMENT .................................................. 65

“Demo Disk 01”............................................................................................................................................................. 65

The Bank/Song directory................................................................................................................................................... 65

The Setup directory ........................................................................................................................................................... 66

Check the Ram-Sounds contained in Demo Disk 01 ......................................................................................................... 67

Load the Bank/Songs and Setups from Demo Disk 01...................................................................................................... 67

“Demo Disk 02”............................................................................................................................................................. 68

Load the new pianoforte from Demo Disk 02 ................................................................................................................... 68

“Freeware Disk” ............................................................................................................................................................ 69

The “Hardcopy” program................................................................................................................................................. 69

The “Disk_Dir” program.................................................................................................................................................. 69

The “Copy_Prg” program ................................................................................................................................................ 69

6 SONG PLAYBACK / THE SEQUENCER CONTROLS........................................................................ 70

Load a Song using the standard procedure....................................................................................................................... 70

Use Preload to load a Song in background ...................................................................................................................... 70

How to select the Song ...................................................................................................................................................... 70

The Sequencer ................................................................................................................................................................... 71

7 CREATE OR MODIFY THE BANK/SONGS......................................................................................... 72

Cancel Song 1 (Demo) ................................................................................................................................................. 72

Prepare a start-up disk to power up without Song 1 (Demo)........................................................................................ 72

Record a new Song using the Performances of an existing Bank/Song ...................................................................... 73

Using a Bank/Song already present in memory ................................................................................................................ 73

Using a Bank/Song contained in a disk............................................................................................................................. 73

Create a new Bank/Song.............................................................................................................................................. 74

Cancel one of the 10 default Bank/Songs present in memory ........................................................................................... 74

Create a completely new Bank/Song................................................................................................................................. 74

8 EDITING THE PERFORMANCES ....................................................................................................... 75

Create, copy and cancel the tracks .............................................................................................................................. 75

How to cancel tracks ......................................................................................................................................................... 75

How to create tracks ......................................................................................................................................................... 75

Copy a track to another..................................................................................................................................................... 76

VI GENERAL INDEX

How to assign the Sounds to the tracks ....................................................................................................................... 76

Select the Sounds from the main display........................................................................................................................... 76

Select the Sounds from the Sound Library ........................................................................................................................ 76

Set the tracks to Play or Mute....................................................................................................................................... 77

Track volumes .............................................................................................................................................................. 77

How to vary the track Volumes with the Function Controllers ......................................................................................... 77

How to vary the Volumes in edit performance/tracks ....................................................................................................... 78

TRANSPOSE ........................................................................................................................................... 78

How to vary the track transposition in the track transposer ............................................................................................ 78

How to vary the track transposition in edit performance/tracks ...................................................................................... 79

Effects........................................................................................................................................................................... 79

How to assign the Effects to a Performance ..................................................................................................................... 79

How to engage the Effects to the tracks ............................................................................................................................ 80

How to activate and programme the pedals and wheels .............................................................................................. 80

How to assign a function to a pedal and wheel ................................................................................................................ 80

How to activate/deactivate the pedals and wheels for the tracks ..................................................................................... 81

Save the modifications to the Performance .................................................................................................................. 81

9 HOW TO RECORD A SONG ............................................................................................................... 82

What is a Song?................................................................................................................................................................. 82

The Song tracks ................................................................................................................................................................. 82

Prepare the tracks for the recording ................................................................................................................................. 82

Activate Record mode and select the recording options ................................................................................................... 83

Select the parameters of the Song ..................................................................................................................................... 84

The Song pointer (locator) ................................................................................................................................................ 84

Now record the Song ......................................................................................................................................................... 85

Recording methods............................................................................................................................................................ 85

10 REAL TIME SOUND EDITING ........................................................................................................... 86

The S2/S3 hardware Function Controllers.................................................................................................................... 86

Panel mode........................................................................................................................................................................ 87

User mode ......................................................................................................................................................................... 88

The S2R Function Controller ........................................................................................................................................ 88

Save the modifications to the Performance .................................................................................................................. 89

11 EDITING SOUNDS IN THE STUDIO ................................................................................................. 90

Types of Sound............................................................................................................................................................. 90

The three fundamental Sound types .................................................................................................................................. 90

The combinations: Sound Patch and Drumkits................................................................................................................. 90

Rom-Sound, Ram-Sound, Ram Sound..........................................................................................................................91

Waveform...................................................................................................................................................................... 91

Filters ............................................................................................................................................................................ 91

The filters and the Cutoff-frequency.................................................................................................................................. 91

Resonance ......................................................................................................................................................................... 91

The filter envelopes ........................................................................................................................................................... 92

Envelopes ..................................................................................................................................................................... 92

Types of Envelopes ............................................................................................................................................................ 92

Programming the envelopes.............................................................................................................................................. 92

Tracking ........................................................................................................................................................................ 93

Types of Tracking .............................................................................................................................................................. 93

Programming the Tracking ............................................................................................................................................... 93

Lfo, Pitch, Pan .............................................................................................................................................................. 94

Lfo ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 94

Pitch .................................................................................................................................................................................. 94

Pan .................................................................................................................................................................................... 94

Memorising the Sound in the Sound Library................................................................................................................. 95

GENERAL INDEX VII

Escape from edit sound ..................................................................................................................................................... 95

Escape edit sound and cancel the modifications............................................................................................................... 95

Escape from edit sound saving the Sound in the Sound Library....................................................................................... 95

Save the Sound Library to disk.......................................................................................................................................... 95

12 SELECTING THE SOUNDS VIA MIDI...............................................................................................96

Selecting the Sounds with Bank Select and Program Change..................................................................................... 96

The Program Change ........................................................................................................................................................ 96

The Bank Select (Midi Controller 0) ................................................................................................................................. 96

Select the Sounds via the Performance Change event ................................................................................................ 98

Programming the Midi-Common channel......................................................................................................................... 98

Select the Performances via Midi-Common...................................................................................................................... 98

13 SELECTING THE EFFECTS VIA MIDI............................................................................................ 100

Programming the Midi-Common channel....................................................................................................................... 100

Controlling the Effects via Midi-Common ...................................................................................................................... 100

14 EDITING SOUNDS VIA MIDI........................................................................................................... 101

15 PROGRAMMING WITH AN EXTERNAL SEQUENCER — PERFORMANCE 10 OF BANK/SONG 1 ... 102

7. SAMPLE TRANSLATOR............................................................. 105

SAMPLE TRANSLA TOR 2.0.................................................................................................................. 106

About Sample Translator................................................................................................................................................. 106

Waveforms and multi-samples......................................................................................................................................... 106

Accessing Sample Translator .......................................................................................................................................... 107

Temporary escape from Sample Translator .................................................................................................................... 107

The “Waveform” display.............................................................................................................................................. 108

The “Waveform” command functions ............................................................................................................................. 108

Loading samples (“Load”)........................................................................................................................................... 109

1. Loading a sample contained in a Ram-Sound............................................................................................................. 109

2. Loading a sample via MIDI ........................................................................................................................................ 109

3. Loading samples from Ms-Dos/Atari floppy disks ....................................................................................................... 111

4. Loading Samples and Programs from an Akai S1000 floppy disk ...............................................................................112

“Cut End” ........................................................................................................................................................................114

Assigning samples to a keyboard range (“Assign”) .....................................................................................................114

Cancelling assignments (“UnAssign”) ............................................................................................................................115

Re-assigning limits after an Unassign command.............................................................................................................115

“Play Single” display ....................................................................................................................................................116

“Zoom” ............................................................................................................................................................................116

“Gain” .............................................................................................................................................................................117

“Loop nr:(x)”...................................................................................................................................................................117

“Send”..............................................................................................................................................................................117

“Exit” ...............................................................................................................................................................................118

The “Info about” display ...............................................................................................................................................118

“Note”..............................................................................................................................................................................118

“SR” .................................................................................................................................................................................119

“Length” (cannot be modified) ........................................................................................................................................119

“Loop Start” & “Loop End” ...........................................................................................................................................119

“Loop T ype”.................................................................................................................................................................... 120

“Note range” (cannot be modified) ................................................................................................................................ 120

Commands in the right-hand column .............................................................................................................................. 121

Cancelling a sample (“Delete”) ................................................................................................................................... 121

Copying a sample to a different location (“Copy & Paste) .......................................................................................... 121

Saving a Waveform (“Save”)....................................................................................................................................... 122

Escape from Sample Translator ................................................................................................................................. 123

VIII GENERAL INDEX

8. REFERENCE GUIDE .................................................................. 125

1 THE SOURCE SECTION................................................................................................................... 126

The buttons in the Source section.................................................................................................................................... 126

Local Source.................................................................................................................................................................... 126

i The Set split command ................................................................................................................................................. 127

Midi in Source ................................................................................................................................................................. 127

Song Source..................................................................................................................................................................... 128

Option Source.................................................................................................................................................................. 128

The solo button ................................................................................................................................................................ 128

2 TRACK TRANSPOSER / MASTER TRANSPOSER.......................................................................... 129

The track transposer button ............................................................................................................................................ 129

Track Transposer............................................................................................................................................................. 129

Master Transposer .......................................................................................................................................................... 129

The master transpose buttons (only S2/S3) ..................................................................................................................... 129

3 EDIT PERFORMANCE/CONTROLS ................................................................................................. 131

Page 1 Effects.................................................................................................................................................................. 131

Page 2 Controllers (S2/S3) ............................................................................................................................................. 131

Page 3: User Keys (S2/S3) .............................................................................................................................................. 132

Page 4: User Controllers (S2/S3) ................................................................................................................................... 132

Page 2: Controllers (S2R)............................................................................................................................................... 132

Page 3: Function Controller (S2R) ................................................................................................................................. 132

Assignable MIDI messages ........................................................................................................................................... 133

4 EDIT PERFORMANCE/TRACKS ...................................................................................................... 134

General commands.......................................................................................................................................................... 134

Page 1: Configuration..................................................................................................................................................... 135

Page 2: Common............................................................................................................................................................. 136

Page 3: Local (S2/S3) ..................................................................................................................................................... 137

Page 3: Local (S2R) ........................................................................................................................................................ 138

Page 4: Internal Sound ................................................................................................................................................... 139

Page 5: Midi Filter In ..................................................................................................................................................... 139

Page 6: Midi Filter Out................................................................................................................................................... 140

MIDI messages assignable to the Midi Filters (In & Out) ........................................................................................ 140

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 141

5 EDIT SOUND ..................................................................................................................................... 142

Single Oscillator (SO), Dual Oscillator (DO), Dual Crossfade (DC) Sounds ............................................................... 142

Sound types...................................................................................................................................................................... 142

Polyphony obtained with different types of sounds ......................................................................................................... 143

Maximum polyphony obtainable in the various track playing modes............................................................................. 143

Access the edit sound environment.................................................................................................................................. 143

The edit environment (the editors of the edit sound menu) ............................................................................................. 143

The editors of the edit sound menu ................................................................................................................................. 143

......................................................................................................................................................................................... 143

The options of the main menu and of the editors ............................................................................................................ 144

The options of the main menu ......................................................................................................................................... 144

The editor options (secondary menus) ............................................................................................................................ 144

Status of the instrument in edit sound mode.................................................................................................................... 144

Temporary escape from edit sound.................................................................................................................................. 144

Escaping from edit sound and saving the modified sound.............................................................................................. 144

Possible error messages during the Sound save task ...................................................................................................... 145

Escape from edit sound without memorising the modified sound ................................................................................... 145

Converting a Sound to a different type ....................................................................................................................... 146

Conversion limits ............................................................................................................................................................ 146

Waveset...................................................................................................................................................................... 147

Waveform (Sound Dual Crossfade)................................................................................................................................. 147

Waveform (Single Oscillator Sound)............................................................................................................................... 147

GENERAL INDEX IX

Page 1 Waveform (Dual Oscillator Sound)..................................................................................................................... 148

Page 2 Oscillator Balance (Dual Oscillator Sound) ...................................................................................................... 148

Volume........................................................................................................................................................................ 149

Page 1 Volume................................................................................................................................................................. 149

Page 2 Volume Tracking .................................................................................................................................................. 149

Amplitude envelope .................................................................................................................................................... 150

Page 1 Amplitude Envelope Control............................................................................................................................... 150

Page 2 Amplitude Key On ............................................................................................................................................... 151

Page 3 Amplitude Key Off............................................................................................................................................... 152

Page 4 Amplitude Envelope Tracking ............................................................................................................................. 152

Lfo............................................................................................................................................................................... 153

Lfo ................................................................................................................................................................................... 153

Filter 1/2...................................................................................................................................................................... 154

Page 1 Filter 1 ................................................................................................................................................................ 155

Page 2 Filter 2 ................................................................................................................................................................ 155

Page 3 Filter 1 Tracking ................................................................................................................................................. 156

Page 4: Filter 2 Tracking................................................................................................................................................ 156

Filter Envelope (dc and do sounds) ............................................................................................................................ 157

Page 1 Filter Envelope Control ...................................................................................................................................... 157

Page 2: Filter Key On Envelope ..................................................................................................................................... 157

Page 3 Filter Key Off Envelope ...................................................................................................................................... 158

Page 4 Filter Envelope Tracking .................................................................................................................................... 159

Pitch Envelope............................................................................................................................................................ 160

Page 1 Pitch Envelope Control....................................................................................................................................... 160

Page 2 Pitch Key On Envelope ....................................................................................................................................... 160

Page 3: Pitch Key Off Envelope...................................................................................................................................... 161

Page 4 Filter Envelope Tracking .................................................................................................................................... 162

Pan ............................................................................................................................................................................. 163

Page 1 Pan Envelope Control (DC and DO Sounds) ..................................................................................................... 163

Page 2 Pan Key On Envelope (DC and DO Sounds)...................................................................................................... 163

Page 3 Pan Key Off Envelope (Sound DC and DO) ....................................................................................................... 164

Page 4 Pan Tracking (DC and DO Sounds) ................................................................................................................... 165

Pan Control (Sound SO) ................................................................................................................................................. 165

ROM-Waveforms with separate Pitch Envelopes for the two oscillatori even when Detune=0............................ 166

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 167

6 SAMPLE TRANSLATOR.................................................................................................................... 169

Accessing Sample Translator .......................................................................................................................................... 169

The instrument status during the Sample Translator tasks ............................................................................................. 170

Controlling the S2R......................................................................................................................................................... 170

Temporary escape from Sample Translator .................................................................................................................... 170

A closer look at Sample Translator............................................................................................................................. 170

The Waveform display ..................................................................................................................................................... 171

Load................................................................................................................................................................................. 171

Save ................................................................................................................................................................................. 172

Assign .............................................................................................................................................................................. 172

UnAssign ......................................................................................................................................................................... 172

Play Single ...................................................................................................................................................................... 173

Info About ........................................................................................................................................................................ 173

Exit .................................................................................................................................................................................. 174

Cut End............................................................................................................................................................................ 175

Delete .............................................................................................................................................................................. 175

Copy ................................................................................................................................................................................ 175

Paste ................................................................................................................................................................................ 175

7 SOUND PATCH AND DRUMKIT ....................................................................................................... 176

The Sound Patch edit environment .................................................................................................................................. 176

Commands/options .......................................................................................................................................................... 176

Parameters ...................................................................................................................................................................... 177

X GENERAL INDEX

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 178

8 SEQUENCER AND SONG ................................................................................................................ 179

What is a Sequencer – The S Series Sequencer............................................................................................................... 179

Playback and Record ...................................................................................................................................................... 179

The Song and the Performance Bank.............................................................................................................................. 179

The sequencer controls .................................................................................................................................................... 180

Creating a Song............................................................................................................................................................... 180

Creating a Bank/Song ..................................................................................................................................................... 180

Creating a Performance with default values ................................................................................................................... 180

Cancelling the Song ........................................................................................................................................................ 181

Recording a new Song..................................................................................................................................................... 181

“Undo” ........................................................................................................................................................................... 182

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 182

9 EDIT SONG MODE............................................................................................................................ 184

Accessing edit song mode................................................................................................................................................ 184

The main menu editors of edit song ................................................................................................................................ 184

Options of the main menu of edit song............................................................................................................................ 184

Options of the secondary menus ..................................................................................................................................... 184

Selecting the Tracks in Edit............................................................................................................................................. 185

Selection Screen .............................................................................................................................................................. 185

“Execute”........................................................................................................................................................................ 185

“Undo” ........................................................................................................................................................................... 185

Erase events.............................................................................................................................................................. 186

Page 1: Erase from track ................................................................................................................................................ 186

Page 2: Erase from Master Track................................................................................................................................... 186

Move events .............................................................................................................................................................. 187

Move from track .............................................................................................................................................................. 187

Insert/delete bars ....................................................................................................................................................... 188

Page 1: Insert bars.......................................................................................................................................................... 188

Page 2: Delete bars......................................................................................................................................................... 188

Dynamic..................................................................................................................................................................... 189

Dynamic .......................................................................................................................................................................... 189

Transpose.................................................................................................................................................................. 189

Transpose ........................................................................................................................................................................ 189

Quantize .................................................................................................................................................................... 190

Page 1: Quantize Key On................................................................................................................................................ 190

Page 2: Quantize Key Off ............................................................................................................................................... 191

Copy .......................................................................................................................................................................... 191

Page 1: Copy from single track ....................................................................................................................................... 192

Page 2: Copy all tracks................................................................................................................................................... 192

Page 3: Append ............................................................................................................................................................... 192

Microscope ................................................................................................................................................................ 193

Accessing the events of the Event List and their parameters .......................................................................................... 193

Moving to a data bar....................................................................................................................................................... 193

Selecting an event with Catch Locator............................................................................................................................ 194

Programmable Events and Parameters .......................................................................................................................... 194

The Command/Options Column ...................................................................................................................................... 195

Commands/options .......................................................................................................................................................... 195

“Undo” ........................................................................................................................................................................... 196

Utility .......................................................................................................................................................................... 196

Utility............................................................................................................................................................................... 196

Master Track.............................................................................................................................................................. 197

Accessing the events on the Event List and their values ................................................................................................. 197

Moving to a data bar....................................................................................................................................................... 197

Selecting an event with Catch Locator............................................................................................................................ 198

Programmable Events and Parameters .......................................................................................................................... 198

The Command/Options Column ...................................................................................................................................... 198

GENERAL INDEX XI

Commands/options .......................................................................................................................................................... 198

“Undo” ........................................................................................................................................................................... 199

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 200

10 EDIT GENERAL............................................................................................................................... 201

Tuning/Scale.............................................................................................................................................................. 201

Page 1: Tuning/Scale ...................................................................................................................................................... 201

Page 2: Edit Keyboard Scale .......................................................................................................................................... 202

Footswitch controls .................................................................................................................................................... 203

MIDI....................................................................................................................................................... 203

Page 1: Midi (1) .............................................................................................................................................................. 204

Page 2: Midi (2) .............................................................................................................................................................. 205

Date/Time set ............................................................................................................................................................ 205

Date & Time .................................................................................................................................................................... 205

Dynamic/touch sensitivity (s2/s3) .............................................................................................................................. 205

Sensitivity ........................................................................................................................................................................ 205

Sound test (s2r) ......................................................................................................................................................... 206

Sound test ........................................................................................................................................................................ 206

General Midi .............................................................................................................................................................. 206

General Midi ................................................................................................................................................................... 207

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 208

11 DISK ................................................................................................................................................. 209

Automatic loading when powering up............................................................................................................................. 209

The Ram-disk................................................................................................................................................................... 210

The Groups...................................................................................................................................................................... 210

Organisation of the disk environment ..........................................................................................................................211

General commands/options..............................................................................................................................................211

i Directory ....................................................................................................................................................................... 212

i Data displayed in the directories .................................................................................................................................. 213

The Disk environment pages (Load, Save, Erase, Utility) ......................................................................................... 214

Load................................................................................................................................................................................. 214

Save ................................................................................................................................................................................. 215

Erase ............................................................................................................................................................................... 216

Utility............................................................................................................................................................................... 216

Possible error messages during disk operations ........................................................................................................ 219

Errors common to all operations .................................................................................................................................... 219

Load errors ...................................................................................................................................................................... 219

Load and Erase Errors .................................................................................................................................................... 219

Formats of the magnetic supports used .......................................................................................................................... 220

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 220

12 SOUND LIBRARY............................................................................................................................ 221

How the Sound Library is organised............................................................................................................................... 221

The Sound Library display .............................................................................................................................................. 221

Selecting Families and Sounds........................................................................................................................................ 221

Selecting Sounds by entering the Program Change and Bank Select number................................................................ 222

Selecting Sounds with the search function ...................................................................................................................... 222

Commands/options .......................................................................................................................................................... 222

Types of Sounds and their identification symbols ........................................................................................................... 224

13 EFFECTS LIBRARIES ..................................................................................................................... 225

How the Effects Libraries are organised......................................................................................................................... 225

Selecting the Effects ........................................................................................................................................................ 225

Command/options ........................................................................................................................................................... 226

Library 1 (standard) ..................................................................................................................................................... 226

Library 2 (standard) ..................................................................................................................................................... 226

XII GENERAL INDEX

14 EDIT EFFECT .................................................................................................................................. 227

How to access the effect edit ........................................................................................................................................... 227

How to escape from the effect edit .................................................................................................................................. 227

How the edit effect environment is organised ................................................................................................................. 227

How to Programme the Effects of Library 1................................................................................................................ 228

Reverbs without programmable early-reflections........................................................................................................... 228

Reverbs with programmable early-reflections ................................................................................................................ 228

How to Programme the Effects of Library 2................................................................................................................ 229

Delay, Panecho, Dubbing ............................................................................................................................................... 229

Chorus ............................................................................................................................................................................. 229

Flanger ............................................................................................................................................................................ 230

Phaser, Ensemble ............................................................................................................................................................ 230

Rotary .............................................................................................................................................................................. 231

Fladel, Panmix ................................................................................................................................................................ 231

Notes and suggestions ..................................................................................................................................................... 232

15 CLIPBOARD .................................................................................................................................... 234

Layout of the “Clipboard” page ..................................................................................................................................... 234

How to copy an edit page................................................................................................................................................ 234

How to copy a clip to an edit page.................................................................................................................................. 234

How to cancel a clip from the Clipboard ........................................................................................................................ 234

16 UTILITY............................................................................................................................................ 235

“Juke_box” ..................................................................................................................................................................... 235

Utility............................................................................................................................................................................... 235

17 PRELOAD ........................................................................................................................................ 237

APPENDIX............................................................................................ i

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART.............................................................................................................IV

MESSAGGI MIDI / MIDI CONTROLLERS.................................................................................................V

MIDI SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE CODE INTERFACE.....................................................................................VI

LIST OF THE WAVEFORMS RESIDENT IN ROM (ROM-WAVEFORMS)............................................ XIV

THE ROM SOUND MAP......................................................................................................................... XV

TABLE OF THE PERFORMANCES CONTAINED IN ROM ................................................................. XXII

THE DRUMKITS OF THE STANDARD SOUND LIBRARY .................................................................XXVI

PERCUSSION SAMPLES .................................................................................................................XXXVI

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS......................................................................................................XXXVIII

GLOSSARY / ALPHABETICAL INDEX .............................................. a

GLOSSARY ...............................................................................................................................................B

MIDI MESSAGES/MIDI CONTROLLERS..................................................................................................E

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................................................................................ I

INTRODUCTION 1

1

❏ INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

2 INTRODUCTION

I

NTRODUCTION

Congratulations and thanks for purchasing the S Series Music Processor - an instrument
conceived and developed with the most up-to-date technology to guarantee a high degree
of reliability and durability.

The name “Music Processor” describes the instrument’s ability to handle the complete
creative process, starting from sound synthesis right down to the registration of multi­timbric songs and the complete control of the entire MIDI setup.

We are confident that you will find your S Series Music Processor beyond all expecta­tions.

About the S Series instruments

S2 Turbo and S3 Turbo Music Processors are keyboard synthesizers with 61 keys and
76 keys respectively. This manual also refers to the previous models upgraded with the
“Turbokit” board. S2 and S3 also operate as Master Keyboards, thanks to the integrated
controls (Wheels, Function Controllers) and extensive MIDI programmability.

S2R is the 19” rack version of the S2/S3 Turbo. It is totally compatible with these two
keyboard synthesizers.

• Multitimbral generator

The S Series instruments are 16 part multi-timbral units with a maximum polyphony
of 32 notes.

• Sound generation method

Sound generation is based on a mixed digital/analog technology which permits,
through the use of analog techniques, the manipulation of Samples of real or synthetic
origin. The S Series Sounds are based on sampled Waveforms which are processed by
one or two digital State Variable Filters with programmable envelope. Separately,
each filter provide a 12 dB per octave slope (2 pole). Combined, they operate as a 4
pole filter with a 24 dB per octave slope.

• ROM and RAM Sounds

The permanent memory (ROM) houses 6 Megabytes of Waveform, the basic element
which provides more than 500 Rom Sounds.

2 Megabytes of Sample RAM are ready to receive (from disk or MIDI) other Wave­forms, for the creation of Sounds based on new Waveforms created with the Sample
Translator.

The new Waveforms can be loaded from Atari/MS-DOS floppy disks in the formats
Sound Designer, Avalon, Sample Vision, Wave. They can be loaded from Akai S1000
disks, or received via MIDI.

The Sound Library is where the Sounds are housed. It can contain up to 2048
Sounds (ROM + RAM Sounds).

• Amount of RAM

The S Series units are fitted with 4 Megabytes of RAM (volatile):
– 2 Megabytes of Operative-Ram to process and control the Banks and the Songs;
– 2 Megabytes of Sample-Ram to control the Waveforms created with Sample Transla-

tor or loaded with the RAM-Sounds.

• 2 Digital Signal Processors

Two Digital Effects Processors, controlled in real time, enrich the sound with environ-

INTRODUCTION 3

mental and creative effects (reverbs and modulations). The Effects Libraries house the
Effects and they can store up to 64 reverbs and 64 modulations.

• Sequencer

The multi-track sequencer can memorise 250.000 events in the 2 Megabyte Operative­RAM. This 16 track sequencer has a very extensive Event Edit facility, including the
functions Master Track, Copy, Insert/Delete Events, Quantize, Microscope and others.

• Disk drive

The S Series Music Processor data can be saved to floppy disk via the disk drive,
which handles 3.5” HD floppy disks and force-formats them with a capacity of 1.62
Megabytes. The drive can also format and use Ms-Dos floppy disks (1.44 Mb or 720
Kb) or Atari (720 Kb), for the transferring of MIDI Files and Samples read by Sample
Translator.

•RAM-disk

The S Series Music Processor can be fitted with a 512 kb or 2 Mb optional Static RAM
(NON-VOLATILE), backed by a small rechargeable Nickel/Cadmium battery. The RAM­disk is a fixed disk with high speed accessing facilities.

•MIOS multitasking operating system

The S Series Music Instrument Operating System allows simultaneous operation of
several tasks, such as modifying a Sound, playing back a Song, loading a Song in
background, etc..

• User Program

The MIOS can be expanded by User Programs, made available from time to time by
Generalmusic, providing the instrument with additional functions by loading appropri­ate software via floppy disk.

• Advanced MIDI control

The S Series Music Processors incorporate 2 independent MIDI lines with MIDI-Merge
and MIDI-Thru functions. These instruments are fully implemented MIDI units.

• SampleTranslator 2.0 incorporated

SampleTranslator is a Waveform creating programme which allows the creation of
new Sounds starting from samples originating from Akai S1000 floppies, from
floppies containing files generated by the more popular computer editors, or from data
received via MIDI.

• Samples and Programs read from Akai S1000™ floppy disks

The possibility of reading the Akai format allows the S Series instruments to gain
access to the greatest sample library available on the market. The Programs
(multisamples) are converted into Music Processor Waveforms.

How to use this manual

This manual is divided into several sections.

❑ Overview of the instrument and the edit/handling environments describes the sound

synthesis technique and how the data handling operations are organised.

❑ Installation, power up, demo explains how to setup and turn on the instrument and

how to listen to the demonstration songs (demo).

❑ User interface/selection explains how to use the Data Entry controls, examines the

display and takes a look at the operations common to sound and data selection.

❑ Practical guide is a simplified guide for the non-expert synth user. The information

contained in this section is sufficient for a normal use of the instrument: how to load
songs and new Sounds from disk, how to record and play back a song, how to control

4 INTRODUCTION

the instrument via MIDI.

❑ Sample Translator is the practical guide to the Sample Translator 2.0.
❑ Reference guide lists all the edit environment parameters and describes the instrument

and all its functions in detail.

❑ Appendix contains schematic information (standard Sound Library, MIDI tables,

technical specifications...).

❑ Glossary/Index contains the Glossary and an Alphabetical Index. The Glossary pro-

vides a list of the most commonly used technical terms. The alphabetical index lists all
arguments dealt with in alphabetical order, indicating the relative page number and its
relation to other arguments. This section also contains a Troubleshooting table to help
you solve problems of a technical nature which may occur from time to time.

Convention used in the manual

The appearance of the symbols “S2/S3” or “S2R” indicate that the paragraph which
follows is dedicated only to S2/S3 or S2R respectively.

The symbol (s.) indicates the presence of a detailed explanation of the argument in
another part of the manual or glossary.

The symbols “Rom-” or “Ram-” cited before “Sound” or “Waveform” indicate, respec­tively, that the elements are contained in the instrument’s Rom (and, therefore, are a
standard part of the instrument’s library), or in Ram (and, therefore, erasable and ex­changeable).

5

LAYOUTS

2

❏ LAYOUTS

- S2/S3 Front panel

- S2/S3 Rear panel

- S2R Front panel

- S2R Rear panel

6 LAYOUTS

F

RONT PANEL

S2/S3

RECORDEFF. BYPASS

VOLUME A B E F G

FUNCTION CONTROLLERS

PAN SHOWFILTER 1 FILTER 2ATTACK RELEASEVOLUMEPANEL TRANSPOSERGENERAL

SOLO

SOURCE

MIDI IN

OPTION

SONG

LOCAL

EDIT

PERF. CONTR.

SOUND

SONG

OPTION

PERF. TRACKS

F

A

B

D

C

E

G

CD

MASTER

TRACK6745231USER

C

E
F
G

A
B

D

MUSIC PROCESSOR

1. VOLUME. Slider to regulate the general volume.

2. FUNCTION CONTROLLERS. Sliders and keys that control

the sound parameters. The Function Controllers marked A, B, C,
D, E, F, G, correspond to the silk-screened letters on the left of
the display; each letter relates to one of the tracks that appear in
the display.

3. EDIT SECTION. These buttons gain access to the edit
environments:

–

PERF.CONTR allows the programming of the general

Performance parameters (effects, footswitch) and the
Function Controllers.

–

PERF.TRACKS gains access to the programming tasks of the

Performance tracks (MIDI channels, configuration, volume,
transpose, delay, aftertouch, footswitch activation, audio
outputs, MIDI filters).

–

SOUND allows the modification of the Sound assigned to the

currently selected Track and gains access to the Sample
Translator.

–

SONG controls the sequencer. Pressing this button gains

access to the “Playback” display, which shows the Song
Pointer in playback mode. From here you can gain access to
the Edit of the currently selected song.

–

OPTION is available for future expansion programs loaded

from disk (User Programs).
–

GENERAL controls all the general keyboard parameters:

keyboard transpose and tuning, footswitch polarity, M IDI
parameters, Data/Time, compatibility General Midi On/Off
switch.

4. SOURCE SECTION. Allows the independent check and edit
of the Track configurations relating to each Source. The Sources

1 2 3 4

2021

22

23

24

7

NORMAL DISK

PLAYSTOP CLOCK

<< >>

EXITENTER

ABCPANIC DEF GHI

STU VWX

JKLUNDO MNO PQR

LIBRARY

EFFECTS

LIBRARIES MIDI OFF

MASTER TRANSPOSE

PERFORMANCE

21

10

8

9

65

7

34

UTILITY PRELOAD

BANK / SONG

21

10

8

9

65

7

34

G

A

C

E

B

D

F

321

0

89

6

54

7

’

-

, .

/

b #

SOUND

CLIPBOARD

C

E
F
G

A
B

D

YZ

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( )

1

/ >

1

/ <

are the origins of MIDI DATA which control the sound generation:
keyboard (LOCAL), events received at Midi In (MIDI IN), internal
sequencer (SONG), future expansions (OPTION).

5. DISPLAY AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS. The backlit
LCD display has dimensions of 240 x 64 pixel. The triangular
buttons on the left select the tracks (

TRACK SELECT KEYS), the

buttons on the right operate according to the commands and
options which appear in the display (FUNCTION KEYS).

The two small rectangular buttons on the left allow you to bring
into view, on seven lines, 16 tracks of the current Performance
(

TRACK SCROLL BUTTONS). The two small rectangular buttons on

the right operate according to the commands which appear in the
display (MULTIFUNCTION BUTTONS).

When the main display is showing (the one that appears after
powering up) the

FUNCTION KEYS select the viewing mode

(Performance or Sounds). In Sounds mode (as shown in the
illustration), these buttons select the track playing mode (Single,
Multi…). The

RIGHT MULTIFUNCTION BUTTON gains access to the

Save Performance command.

6. DATA ENTRY SECTION. This section is divided into two
distinct parts:

– the

DIAL can be rotated freely in both directions to change

the current data value continuously, to change Performance
or Sound, to move the reverse-highlighted cursor within the
edit page menus. The +1/> and -1/< buttons operate in
exactly the same manner as the Dial, but increases or
decreases data in single units.

ENTER confirms data entered or commands; in edit environ-

ments, it gains access to parameters that require modifica­tions. EXIT annuls values inserted or cancels some commands.

5 6 8 9

10111213141516171819

7

S2/S3 Front panel

8 LAYOUTS

– the ALPHANUMERIC KEYPAD is used to specify absolute
numeric data or alphabetic data. For numeric data entry,
confirmation with ENTER is always required. It is also used to
gain direct access to the menu parameters in edit environ­ments (without the use of ENTER).

The Data Entry section also makes use of the

UNDO function. UNDO

undoes or reverses the most recent action or restores the last
saved situation. There is also an UNDO specific to the sequencer.

7. PANIC. Emergency button which sends an “All Note Off”, a
“Reset Controls” and an “unlock” message to notes and controls
“locked” by, for example, the reception of a “bad” MIDI event.

8. PERFORMANCE. Performance select buttons.

9. BANK/SONG. Bank/Song select buttons.

10. PRELOAD. Allows background song loading (while the

sequencer is in playback).

11. UTILITY. Gains access to several useful applications: change
Performance or Bank/Song name, cancel Bank/Song and
Performance, copy Bank/Song and Performance.

12. MASTER TRANSPOSE. General transposer, in semitone
steps.

13. MIDI OFF. Allows the temporary disconnection of the MIDI
ports (when the led is on).

14. EFFECTS LIBRARIES. Storage facilities for the Effects,
one for the Reverberations and another for the Modulations.

15. SOUND LIBRARY. An archive which stores all the Sounds
in the instrument’s memory. Incorporated are functions which
permit the importation of single Sounds from floppy disks
containing other Sound Libraries (imp_disk and imp_ramd).

16. DISK. Gains access to all the data handling procedures on
floppy disk and Ram-disk. The operations are Load, Save, Erase
and a Utility menu with several functions (Format, Disk Name,
M

IDI-file conversion).

17. CLIPBOARD. An application which allows “clips” of edit
situations to be stored and used in other edit environments to save
time.

18. NORMAL. Returns to the main display from any situation.

19. CONTRAST. Controls the brightness of the display and

requires adjustment for different viewing angles.

20. EFF. BYPASS. A temporary deactivating device for the

Effects (led on) - the sounds are emitted “dry” from the Stereo
Left & Right Outputs. Normally (led off), the sounds are emitted
“wet” from this output pair.

21. TRACK TRANSPOSER. Individual and independent Track

Transposer. Also provides the “Master” command which gains
access to the general transposition of the instrument.

22. DISK DRIVE. Reads and formats 3.5” HD floppy disks

(force-format to 1.62 Mb) for the saving and loading of S Series
data. Also formats, reads and writes on 3.5” DD floppies (Ms­Dos or Atari) for MIDI-file data exchange. Recognises and loads
samples from Akai S/1000 format disks.

23. WHEELS. Two wheels completely and independently

programmable. The left Wheel is predisposed for Pitch Bend and
is spring loaded to return to the centre position. The right wheel,
normally assigned to provide Modulation, is centre-dented so that
you can take it exactly to centre position. Its normal position is
with the centre-dented mark at its lowest point to avoid hearing
Sounds with Modulation.

24. PHONES. Stereo headphones socket.

MOD.
SER.
AC ~

MADE IN ITALY

by

S.p.A.

GENERALMUSIC

N

D

Fl

“WARNING”

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC

SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

“

COMPLIES WITH THE LIMITS FOR A ”CLASS B“ COMPUTING

DEVICE PURSUANT TO SUBPART J OF PART 15 OF FCC RULES”

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

AVIS

: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE-NE PAS OUVRIR

!

1 2

9

R

EAR PANEL

S2/S3

MUSIC PROCESSOR

OUTPUTS

IN 2 OUT 2 OUT 1 THRU 1

PEDALS / FOOTSWITCHESPEDAL

VOLUME IN 1THRU 23 RIGHT LEFT41221

MIDI

1. POWER SWITCH. Small rocker switch with On/Off positions.

2. MAINS SOCKET. Connect the supplied power cable to this

socket. Connect the other end to an AC outlet of the correct
voltage.

Warning: check for the correct voltage before connecting your
instrument. The correct voltage is silk-screened close to the
mains socket.

2. OUTPUTS. Audio outputs which can operate as six separate

mono outputs or as three stereo pairs.

LEFT/RIGHT: “wet” signal emitters. The instrument checks the

insertion of the jacks; if only one output is connected, the
complete mono signal is emitted from the relative socket.

1, 2, 3, 4: “dry” signal emitters.

3. PEDAL VOLUME. Connection for a continuous control pedal

to control the general Volume.

4. PEDAL / FOOTSWITCH 1 & 2. Connections for continuous

control Pedals (to control parameters such as Volume, Expres­sion, etc.), or Footswitch pedals (switch control pedals) to control
parameters such as Damper, Start/Stop, Performance advance,
etc.. The programming facilities of the pedals are found in EDIT

PERFORMANCE

/CONTROLS, EDIT PERFORMANCE/TRACKS, EDIT GENERAL.

5. MIDI PORTS. A double series of MIDI ports: MIDI IN 1&2, MIDI

OUT 1&2 and MIDI THRU 1&2. Set “1” are active by default. The
MIDI ports allow S2/S3 to be controlled by external MIDI
controlling units and allow slaved devices to be controlled by S2/
S3.

IN 1 – IN 2: connections for any MIDI controlling device

(master keyboard, sequencer, guitar controller, Midi Accor­dion …).

OUT 1 – OUT 2: connections for instruments slaved to the S2/

S3 which can be controlled by S2/S3’s internal sequencer. If
MIDI-MERGE is active, these ports also transmit the MIDI data
received at MIDI IN.

THRU 1 – THRU 2: the data received at MIDI IN escape from

these ports.

3 4 5 6

S2/S3 Back panel

10 LAYOUTS

F

RONT PANEL

S2R

PHONES

GENERAL

OPTION

EDIT

PERF. CONTR.

SOUND

SONG

PERF. TRACKS

TRANSPOSER

TRACK

VOLUME

SOLO

SOURCE

MIDI IN

OPTION

SONG

LOCAL

EFF. BYPASS RECORD PLAYSTOP CLOCK<< >>

GENERALMUSIC

®

MUSIC PROCESSOR

1. PHONES. Stereo headphones socket.

2. VOLUME. Slider to regulate the general volume of S2R.

3. EDIT SECTION. These buttons gain access to the S2R edit

environments:

–

PERF.CONTR. allows the programming of the general

Performance parameters (effects, footswitch) and contains
the Function Controller “software”.

–

PERF.TRACKS gains access to the programming tasks of the

Performance tracks (MIDI channels, configuration, volume,
transpose, delay, aftertouch, footswitch activation, audio
outputs, MIDI filters).

–

SOUND allows the modification of the Sound assigned to the

currently selected Track and gains access to the Sample
Translator.

–

SONG controls the sequencer. Pressing this button gains

access to the “Playback” display, which shows the Song
Pointer in playback mode. From here you can gain access to
the Edit of the currently selected song.

–

OPTION is available for future expansion programs loaded

from disk (User Programs).

–

GENERAL controls all the general parameters: S2R transpose

and tuning, footswitch polarity, MIDI parameters, Data/Time,
Sound Test, compatibility General Midi On/Off switch.

4. SOURCE SECTION. Allows the independent check and edit of

the Track configurations relating to each Source. The Sources are
the origins of MIDI DATA which control the sound generation:
keyboard (LOCAL), events received at Midi In (MIDI IN), internal
sequencer (SONG), future expansions (OPTION).

5. DISPLAY AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS. The backlit
LCD display has dimensions of 240 x 64 pixel. The triangular
buttons on the left select the tracks (

TRACK SELECT KEYS), the

buttons on the right operate according to the commands and
options which appear in the display (FUNCTION KEYS).

The two small rectangular buttons on the left allow you to bring
into view, on seven lines, 16 tracks of the current Performance
(

TRACK SCROLL BUTTONS). The two small rectangular buttons on

the right operate according to the commands which appear in the
display (MULTIFUNCTION BUTTONS).

When the main display is showing (the one that appears after
powering up) the

FUNCTION KEYS select the viewing mode

(Performance or Sounds). In Sounds mode (as shown in the

1 2 18 17

3 4 5

16

11

OFF ON

NORMAL

ENTER

CLIPBOARD

EXIT

DISK

PANIC

UNDO

1 / >

1 / < PERFORM.

SOUND

LIBRARY

B/SONG

LIBRARIES

EFFECTS

UTILITY

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STU

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MNO

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PRELOAD

illustration), these buttons select the track playing mode (Single,
Multi…). The RIGHT MULTIFUNCTION BUTTON gains access to the

Save Performance command.

6. DATA ENTRY SECTION. This section is divided into two
distinct parts:

– the

DIAL can be rotated freely in both directions to change

the current data value continuously, to change Performance
or Sound, to move the reverse-highlighted cursor within the
menu of the edit pages. The +1/> and -1/< buttons operate in
exactly the same manner as the Dial, but with single
increments.

ENTER confirms data entered or commands; in edit environ-

ments, it gains access to parameters that require modifica­tions. EXIT annuls values inserted or cancels some commands.

Pressing

ENTER when a main display is showing, or when the

Sample Translator is active, will play a note (Sound Test).

– the

ALPHANUMERIC KEYPAD is used to specify absolute

numeric data or alphabetic data entry. For numeric data
entry, confirmation with ENTER is always required. It is also
used to gain direct access to the menu parameters in edit
environments (without the use of ENTER).

The Data Entry section also makes use of the

UNDO function. UNDO

undoes or reverses the most recent action or restores the last
saved situation. There is also an UNDO specific to the sequencer.

7. PANIC. Emergency button which sends an “All Note Off”, a

“Reset Controls” and an “unlock” message to notes and controls
“locked” by, for example, the reception of a “bad” MIDI event..

8. B/SONG and PERFORM. The B/SONG and PERFORM buttons

permit the selection of one of the 10 Bank/Songs which can be
present in the S2R memory and one of the 10 possible Perform­ances contained in the selected Bank/Song.

9. UTILITY. Gains access to several useful applications: change

Performance or Bank/Song name, cancel Bank/Song and
Performance, copy Bank/Song and Performance.

10. PRELOAD. Allows background song loading (while the

sequencer is in playback).

11. EFFECTS LIBRARIES. Storage facilities for the Effects, one

for the Reverberations and another for the Modulations.

12. SOUND LIBRARY. An archive which stores all the Sounds in

the instrument’s memory. Incorporated are functions which
permit the importation of single Sounds from floppy disks which
contain other Sound Libraries (imp_disk and imp_ramd).

13. DISK. Gains access to all the data handling procedures on

floppy disk and Ram-disk. The operations are Load, Save, Erase
and a Utility menu with several functions (Format, Disk Name,
MIDI-file conversion).

14. CLIPBOARD. An application which allows “clips” of edit

situations to be stored and used in other edit environments to save
time.

15. NORMAL. Returns to the main display from any situation.

16. CONTRAST. Controls the brightness of the display and

requires adjustment for different angles.

17. EFF. BYPASS. A temporary deactivating device for the

Effects (led on) - the sounds are emitted “dry” from the Stereo
Left & Right Outputs. Normally (led off), the sounds are emitted
“wet” from this output pair.

18. TRACK TRANSPOSER. Individual and independent Track

Transposer. Also provides the “Master” command which gains
access to the general transposition of the instrument.

19. DISK DRIVE. Reads and formats 3.5” HD floppy disks

(force-format to 1.62 Mb) for the saving and loading of S2/S3
data. Also formats, reads and writes on 3.5” DD floppies (Ms­Dos or Atari) for MIDI-file data exchange. Recognises and loads
samples from Akai S/1000 format disks.

20. ON/OFF PUSH BUTTON. Press this button to turn S2R on or

off.

S2R Front panel

6 7 6 9

20

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19

8

12 LAYOUTS

R

EAR PANEL

S2R

GENERALMUSIC

®

MUSIC PROCESSOR

IN 2 OUT 2 THRU 2 IN 1 OUT 1 THRU 1

MIDI

4

OUTPUTS

3 2 1 RIGHT LEFT VOLUME

PEDAL

21

FOOTSWITCHES

“WARNING”

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR

ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS

PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

MOD.

SER.

AC ~

MADE IN ITALY

by

S.p.A.

GENERALMUSIC

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Fl

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

AVIS

: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE-NE PAS OUVRIR

THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. OPERATION

IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS:

(1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE AND

(2) THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED,

INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION.

1. MIDI PORTS.

A double series of MIDI ports: M

IDI IN 1&2, M

IDI OUT 1&2 and M

IDI

THRU 1&2. Set “1” are active by default. The M

IDI PORTS ALLOW

S2R to be controlled

by external MIDI controlling units and allow slaved devices to be controlled by S2R.

IN 1 –
IN 2: connections for any MIDI controlling device (master keyboard,

sequencer, guitar controller, Midi Accordion …).

OUT 1 –

OUT 2: connections for instruments slaved to the S2R which can be

controlled by S2R’s internal sequencer. If M

IDI-MERGE is active, these ports also

transmit the MIDI data received at MIDI In.

THRU

1 – THRU 2: the data received at M

IDI

IN escape from these ports.

2. OUTPUTS.

Audio outputs which can operate as six separate mono outputs or as

three stereo pairs.

LEFT

/RIGHT: “wet” signal emitters. The instrument checks the insertion of the jacks;

if only one output is connected, the complete mono signal is emitted from the

relative socket.

1, 2, 3, 4:

“dry” signal emitters.

3. PEDAL VOLUME.

Connection for a continuous control pedal to control the general

Volume.

4. FOOTSWITCHES 1 & 2.

Connections for Footswitch pedals (switch control pedals)

to control parameters such as Damper, Start/Stop, Performance advance, etc..

5. MAINS SOCKET.

Connect the supplied power cable to this socket. Connect the

other end to an AC outlet of the correct voltage.

Warning: check for the correct voltage before connecting your instrument. The correct

voltage is silk-screened close to the mains socket.

1 2 3 4 5

13

3

❏ OVERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT

- The Music Processor concept

- Sound synthesis

- Sources and Destinations

- Tracks, Performances, Bank/Songs

❏ INTERNAL MEMORY AND DISKS

❏ OPERATING MODES

❏ OVERVIEW OF THE EDITING & DATA HANDLING ENVIRONMENTS

OVERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT

ED ITING & DATA HANDLING CAP ACITY

14 OVERVIEW

The Music Processor concept

A the Attack phase, which starts from the moment of

the initial sound emission (key on) to the moment of
maximum intensity. [→Attack]

D the Decay phase, in which the emission starts to

“fade” after reaching the maximum peak. [→Decay]

S the Sustain phase (sound “prolongation”), where,

after the first turbulent instances, the emission tends
towards stabilisation (e.g. Strings) or reduction (e.g.
Piano). [→Sustain]

R the Release phase, which proceeds from the moment

in which the action of the musician terminates (note
off), and the emission continues towards total si­lence. For example, when a piano key is released
with the right pedal held down. [→Release]

Sampling records the entire attack and decay phases and
only a part of the sustain phase, while the release is
completely ignored. This limitation in sampling is due
to the fact that the recording of a sound occupies RAM,
which, being costly, cannot be exploited to record the
entire envelope. The better the quality of the sample, the
more RAM is required to contain it.

The “missing parts” are substituted by intervening on
the recorded part with the musical instrument. The
sustain phase is electronically simulated by repeating a
sampled fragment. This repetition of the sampled frag­ment in the sustain phase is called the “Loop”.

The loop, however, often generates a “defect” created
by the interaction of the terminal and initial points of
the sampled fragment - similar to what is heard when the
needle of a vinyl disk jams.

The problem derives from the fact that the “loop” is only
one element, based on a single fragment of the sustain
phase. To overcome this problem, Generalmusic have
adopted an innovative system called the “Multiloop”

O

VERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT

The S Series instruments are so called because they are,
as the name suggests, processors of music, a long step
away from synthesizer workstations.

These instruments allow the creation of new sounds (as
in synthesizers), the creation of Songs and the possibil­ity of simplifying the unit’s programming tasks in live

situations (as in workstations), they incorporate a so­phisticated MIDI implementation, which allow them to
operate as a control centre in the studio as well as on
stage, operating as a programmable master keyboard or
a MIDI processor with powerful MIDI Thru and MIDI
Merge functions.

The sound generation of the Generalmusic S Series
instruments utilises a hybrid system based on sampling
and subtractive synthesis, all digitally controlled.

• Sampling guarantees a high degree of sound authentic­ity, indispensable for the simulation of multi-instru­ment situations as well as for the simplification of
sound creation starting from common timbral sources.

• The part relating to subtractive syntheses allows sounds
of real or synthetic origin to be subjected to the action
of one or two programmable filters, which deeply inter­vene on the harmonic content of the original sound,
rendering it extremely “live”.

Sampling

Sampling technology is a technique of recording sounds
“live”, which permits the reconstruction of the original
acoustic instrument using an electronic musical instru­ment.

The development over time of the intensity of a sound is
represented by the envelope. The Envelope of a sound ­any sound - can be represented graphically in the fol­lowing manner:

A D

S

R

Amplitude

Time

“Amplitude” measures the intensity reached by the sound
within a certain period of “Time”. The letters A, D, S, R
indicate the various phases of the sound’s development:

Sound synthesis