Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Wanted to bring up a subject just to make everyone aware, should 
they by chance not be, that the days of the floppy disk drives on 
computers are slowly coming to an end it would appear. Assuming that 
presumption is true, this will have some impact on us as Ensoniq 
users as I see it. And certainly feel free to straighten me out on 
this subject if I am wrong.

Hans Artmann recently asked me to send him a copy of the VFX-SD Demo 
Songs along with the associated patches so that he could load them 
on his unit. I recently purchased a new computer and as you may 
know, they no longer automatically come with a 3-1/2 inch floppy 
drive. You have to request one and at some point in the near future 
I suspect even that will not be possible. By chance I still had my 
old computer which has a floppy drive so I could make the required 
data conversions and email that data to Hans. Remember what happened 
to the 5-1/4 inch floppy?

Now – to the best of my knowledge there are two ways currently 
available to us for exchanging VFX/SD1 data. We can create a disk 
with the VFX/SD1 on-board disk drive and mail it to one another or, 
using the DOS programs created by Hans, we can exchange information 
via email and downloads by creating ".img" files via these DOS 
programs. Meaning, for example, that I can send you a sequence and 
the associated patches (sounds) to load on your VFX or SD1. I can 
even send you a copy of my original disk I got with my VFX or SD1 
which includes the Operating System along with some Presets and 
additional patches. But…..you have to have a floppy disk drive on 
your computer so that you can convert the ".img" files you receive 
to data that can be read by the disk drive on your VFX/SD1. It goes 
without saying that CD/DVD storage devices will never be an option 
for us.

Another option available for transferring information to and from 
your VFX/SD is via midi cables connecting to your computer from your 
VFX/SD1. Other programs such as the SoundLib allows for loading 
patches into your VFX/SD1 and saving patches to your computer. Those 
are ".syx" file types. I don't believe any other information such 
as "sequences" or "operating systems" can be exchanged between a 
computer and the VFX/SD1 via midi connections. Since I personally 
use computer software sequencers it is not a direct concern of mine 
but could certainly be of concern to others. I could be wrong with 
regard to this particular item but that is why I am bringing this 
subject up.

I would personally like to know what my limitations would be without 
the availability of a floppy disk drive on my computer when it comes 
to the VFX/SD1 and I am assuming that others might like to know 
also. So the floor is open. Are my stated options correct or do we 
have more options.….or less options?

What say oh all ye of infinite VFX/SD1 knowledge (and floppy disks 
too)?

Alan

Alan,

I can understand your concerns with the floppy drives. However, I don't
agree that the situation is that bad. There will always be plenty of
drives available e.g. on ebay (you can still buy 5 1/4'' drives) and, in
case your PC won't have an interface any more to connect it, there would
be very cheap PC's available with enough power to write a VFX floppy
;-).
Maybe it's a good idea anyway to keep a PC with let's say Win98, a
soundcard with Midi, a network card, and a floppy drive, of course...

I've much more concerns with the availability of DD floppies!

Hans
 

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Alan [mailto:alangino@...] 
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 10. März 2005 14:56
An: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Betreff: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Floppy Disk Drive Alert?




Wanted to bring up a subject just to make everyone aware, should 
they by chance not be, that the days of the floppy disk drives on 
computers are slowly coming to an end it would appear. Assuming that 
presumption is true, this will have some impact on us as Ensoniq 
users as I see it. And certainly feel free to straighten me out on 
this subject if I am wrong.

Hans Artmann recently asked me to send him a copy of the VFX-SD Demo 
Songs along with the associated patches so that he could load them 
on his unit. I recently purchased a new computer and as you may 
know, they no longer automatically come with a 3-1/2 inch floppy 
drive. You have to request one and at some point in the near future 
I suspect even that will not be possible. By chance I still had my 
old computer which has a floppy drive so I could make the required 
data conversions and email that data to Hans. Remember what happened 
to the 5-1/4 inch floppy?

Now – to the best of my knowledge there are two ways currently 
available to us for exchanging VFX/SD1 data. We can create a disk 
with the VFX/SD1 on-board disk drive and mail it to one another or, 
using the DOS programs created by Hans, we can exchange information 
via email and downloads by creating ".img" files via these DOS 
programs. Meaning, for example, that I can send you a sequence and 
the associated patches (sounds) to load on your VFX or SD1. I can 
even send you a copy of my original disk I got with my VFX or SD1 
which includes the Operating System along with some Presets and 
additional patches. But…..you have to have a floppy disk drive on 
your computer so that you can convert the ".img" files you receive 
to data that can be read by the disk drive on your VFX/SD1. It goes 
without saying that CD/DVD storage devices will never be an option 
for us.

Another option available for transferring information to and from 
your VFX/SD is via midi cables connecting to your computer from your 
VFX/SD1. Other programs such as the SoundLib allows for loading 
patches into your VFX/SD1 and saving patches to your computer. Those 
are ".syx" file types. I don't believe any other information such 
as "sequences" or "operating systems" can be exchanged between a 
computer and the VFX/SD1 via midi connections. Since I personally 
use computer software sequencers it is not a direct concern of mine 
but could certainly be of concern to others. I could be wrong with 
regard to this particular item but that is why I am bringing this 
subject up.

I would personally like to know what my limitations would be without 
the availability of a floppy disk drive on my computer when it comes 
to the VFX/SD1 and I am assuming that others might like to know 
also. So the floor is open. Are my stated options correct or do we 
have more options.….or less options?

What say oh all ye of infinite VFX/SD1 knowledge (and floppy disks 
too)?

Alan







 
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