You can get the manual in .PDF form here:
http://soundprogramming.net/synthesizers/ensoniq/ensoniq_vfx_sd
The VFX-SD is fully programmable. Each "program" is comprised of 1 to 6 separate "voices." Each voice has a wave sample to start with, and then the various modulations - pitch, LFO, envelopes and filters -- are laid on top of that sample.
When you are programming a sound, you begin by selecting a voice, and then all the other programming buttons affect just that voice. You can double-click a voice in Select Voice to have it play solo (without any other voices playing).
I would start by picking a simple sound, like SwellStrngs, select one of the two active voices (inactive voices are in parentheses), and click the Wave button, and then cycle through the different waves available. You'll also see a value called "Start" that let's you choose where the sample starts to play; for example, SwellStrngs starts at 70 so it leaves off the initial scrape of the bow on the string, whereas the single Violin program starts earlier so you hear that.
If you play live, you can program the Patch Select buttons above the pitch bend and mod wheels to activate/de-activate voices in a program, which can be very useful and is really easy to set up.
Regarding the floppy disks -- if you can find DD floppies, then you can format them on the VFX-SD itself.
Good luck! And feel free to write back with any questions. You've picked an excellent synthesizer, well ahead of it's time.
Dan
--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Joe McMahon <mcmahon@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 12:49 PM, chartrusemag<chartrusemag@...> wrote:
> > Hey all,
> > I got a vfx-sd a few weeks ago and I've been having some fun with it.
> Welcome! The VFXsd was my first as well, and it's a great learner machine.
>
> > 1.) I enjoy some of the sounds (patches? Is that the term?) included inside the vfx-sd. How do I go about making my own?
> This is a bigger subject than I can go into in an email to the group;
> I'll drop you a note direct with some useful information. Do you have
> the manual? (I'm guessing not - there's a pretty nice intro to
> programming the VFXsd in there.)
>
> > 2.) If I'm looking for more sounds, how do I get .syx files onto the vfx-sd? SoundLib? Or can I just drag & drop .syx files onto a floppy? (I have an os x mac.)
> Any sysex librarian will work. I have one called just "Sysex
> Librarian" that I've found to work great. Not many features (dump,
> load, and that's about it) but it works.
>
> The floppy format is a twisto variation on PC floppy format; you can't
> use a Mac to create them - in fact, it's tough to find a modern PC
> that can. If you have access to a 90's vintage machine that can run
> FreeDOS, there are some files on the group server that will let you
> format and create sequencer OS disks on such a machine. But the Mac is
> a lost cause for supporting the VFXsd. (I've seen a Russian mod to use
> flash memory instead of floppies, but I've never been quite able to
> bring myself to risk the cash on seeing if they really have a product
> or not.)
>
> > 3.) Soundlib is a painfully confusing program. Any help there?
> Sysex Librarian is minimalist and works fine.
>
> --- Joe M.
>
