EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Does anyone know of a reliable multi-format audio converter
(preferably for MAC, but PC is ok too).  I need it to convert multiple
formats (e.g., REX, Wav, EXS24, aiff, EMU, akai, plain audio, etc) to
the same formats (especially to EMU, Akai, and EXS).

I know of Chickensys Translator and CDXTRact (thanks to the
moderator!).  Are there others?  Which is best?  My goal is to make
use of my EMU E5000 Ultra and Emagic EXS Samplers (when my Pro 6 arrives).

Thanks for the help!

Kind regards,
Dave

> formats (e.g., REX, Wav, EXS24, aiff, EMU, akai, plain audio, etc) 
to
> the same formats (especially to EMU, Akai, and EXS).
> 
> I know of Chickensys Translator and CDXTRact (thanks to the
> moderator!).  Are there others?  Which is best?  My goal is to make
> use of my EMU E5000 Ultra and Emagic EXS Samplers (when my Pro 6 

I tried the Translator but it never worked.  Either it would hang up 
or it would give an error and quit when trying to convert.

I sent a message to support but there have been no answers.  So, from 
my experience I would say "buyer beware".

Well I ve got  a totally different story about translator. I did had
problems twice, I called the 1-800 number and they gave me great service. Is
it possible the mail never got to them ? Email have been very erratic the
last 6 month, hackers are making them unreliable.
Give a call and ask for Garth, he ll fix ur problem; last time I had a
problem, he did a revison for me the same day.

Louis
> 
> 
> I tried the Translator but it never worked.  Either it would hang up
> or it would give an error and quit when trying to convert.
> 
> I sent a message to support but there have been no answers.  So, from
> my experience I would say "buyer beware".
> 
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi,

Louis wrote,
> Well I ve got  a totally different story about translator. 
> I did had problems twice, I called the 1-800 number and they 
> gave me great service. Is it possible the mail never got to 
> them ? Email have been very erratic the
> last 6 month, hackers are making them unreliable.
> Give a call and ask for Garth, he ll fix ur problem; last 
> time I had a problem, he did a revison for me the same day.

I have to concur.  I take messages like the original one (which stated "I sent 
a message to support but there have been no answers.  So, from my experience I 
would say "buyer beware") with a grain of salt.  Anytime, I've had a problem 
with Translator I've contacted Garth (and usually via email I might add) and 
I've received a prompt reply with a resolution the same day or at least some 
information as to when a resolution would be available.  

Many other people have commented previously on similar experiences with Garth.  
In fact, it is a big reason why I initially bought it over CDXtract.  I now own 
both and find that I go to each for different conversions but both programs 
have good support in my experience.

I don't know what happened here but if you tried multiple times to get help 
from Chickensys, I'm sure that you would have received a reply.  Garth is just 
that type of a person.

Fernstudio

On Feb 26, 2004, at 10:56 AM, Fernstudio wrote:
>
> Anytime, I've had a problem
>  with Translator I've contacted Garth (and usually via email I might 
> add) and
>  I've received a prompt reply with a resolution the same day or at 
> least some
>  information as to when a resolution would be available. 
>

My experience as well.  Garth is one of the most helpful people I've 
encountered in technical support of any product.


>  I now own both and find that I go to each for different conversions 
> but both programs
>  have good support in my experience.

Me too.  they excell in different areas.  Both of these programs are 
strong and support, in my experience, is excellent.


julie

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 03:54 PM 2/26/2004 +0000, you wrote:
> > formats (e.g., REX, Wav, EXS24, aiff, EMU, akai, plain audio, etc)
>to
> > the same formats (especially to EMU, Akai, and EXS).
>   My goal is to make
> > use of my EMU E5000 Ultra and Emagic EXS Samplers (when my Pro 6
>
>Either it would hang up
>or it would give an error and quit when trying to convert.
>
>I sent a message to support but there have been no answers.

I don't show any mails from your email that shows in the post, or any order 
from that email. Since you didn't sign your post, I don't know who you are. 
We respond to all emails quick, at least we try; it must be some other problem.

Sorry we didn't respond.

Free email addresses (such as yahoo for the most part) are prone to look 
like spam, especially when your mail is short, typical, and you don't sign 
it. It's entirely possible that your emails wound up as spam and got 
ousted. However, I did check the Spam boxes and you ain't dere either...

Rarely, sometimes we download mail and something screws up and we lose a 
couple mails here and there. Sometimes we miss emails. Or, you mailed with 
a wrong date and it got buried in past emails. Could be a lot of things, if 
things on your end were unusual...

We do answer our phone during normal business hours and often around them, 
and supply an 800 number for support (if Americun), and even have 16 
different drive-thru locations that include 1-hour photo development in 
participating strip malls in major markets. Your friendly representative 
will throw in a free espresso with your first order.

We do give lots of contact methods in our manual, other than email.

I've emailed you privately, please contact us back at the customer service 
email support@....

Garth Hjelte
Sampler User

So, it sounds like a lot of people are having problems but are 
getting some support.  I do not believe that my email got lost or 
some such because I had some correspondence going with Garth.  I even 
sent him an example EPS file that I wanted converted to EXS24 that 
was causing the application to crash.  After that, I have heard 
absolutely nothing.  

So again, I would say "buyer beware".  Make sure it does what you 
think it will.  I bought the full version and the 2 things that I 
have tried (EPS & SF2 to EXS24) have NOT worked.

Perhaps, he is working on it.  But, it has been several weeks now..



--- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, Fernstudio <fernstudio@t...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Louis wrote,
> > Well I ve got  a totally different story about translator. 
> > I did had problems twice, I called the 1-800 number and they 
> > gave me great service. Is it possible the mail never got to 
> > them ? Email have been very erratic the
> > last 6 month, hackers are making them unreliable.
> > Give a call and ask for Garth, he ll fix ur problem; last 
> > time I had a problem, he did a revison for me the same day.
> 
> I have to concur.  I take messages like the original one (which 
stated "I sent 
> a message to support but there have been no answers.  So, from my 
experience I 
> would say "buyer beware") with a grain of salt.  Anytime, I've had 
a problem 
> with Translator I've contacted Garth (and usually via email I might 
add) and 
> I've received a prompt reply with a resolution the same day or at 
least some 
> information as to when a resolution would be available.  
> 
> Many other people have commented previously on similar experiences 
with Garth.  
> In fact, it is a big reason why I initially bought it over 
CDXtract.  I now own 
> both and find that I go to each for different conversions but both 
programs 
> have good support in my experience.
> 
> I don't know what happened here but if you tried multiple times to 
get help 
> from Chickensys, I'm sure that you would have received a reply.  
Garth is just 

> that type of a person.
> 
> Fernstudio

> I don't show any mails from your email that shows in the post, or 
any order 

This account is a junk account that I use so that my personal account 
isn't filled with spam and such.

If you don't remember the emails about EPS conversions, etc not 
working, I'll send them again.  

However, I found another tool (awave - http://www.fmjsoft.com/) that 
had a trial period and allowed me to convert the EPS files to SF2.  
But, the EXSP24 synth will not load them or any of the other SF2 
sounds that I bought a while back.  I am not sure what the manual 
means when it says that the EXSP24 will convert the SF2 files to 
EXS24.  It does not behave the way the manual says it will.

So, I am kinda stuck with a bunch of old sound libraries that I 
really like but cannot use in the EXSP24.  And I am not in the mood 
to shell out more money for more frustration.  I was hoping that your 
Translator software would save me.

--- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, "daehnub" <daehnub@y...> wrote:
> > I don't show any mails from your email that shows in the post, or 
> any order 
> 
> This account is a junk account that I use so that my personal account 
> isn't filled with spam and such.
> 
> If you don't remember the emails about EPS conversions, etc not 
> working, I'll send them again.  
> 
> However, I found another tool (awave - http://www.fmjsoft.com/) that 
> had a trial period and allowed me to convert the EPS files to SF2.  
> But, the EXSP24 synth will not load them or any of the other SF2 
> sounds that I bought a while back.  I am not sure what the manual 
> means when it says that the EXSP24 will convert the SF2 files to 
> EXS24.  It does not behave the way the manual says it will.
> 

In EXS24 MkII you simply copy your SF2 files into the Sampler Instruments folder, 
click Rfresh on the flip menu and the SF2s should show up along side your other 
folders/instruments - just select one to complete the conversion. What steps are you 
following?

> So, I am kinda stuck with a bunch of old sound libraries that I 
> really like but cannot use in the EXSP24.  And I am not in the mood 
> to shell out more money for more frustration.  I was hoping that your 
> Translator software would save me.

Converted many EPS and ASR sounds into EXS format using Translator for Mac. What 
error are you receiving? No doubt Garth will try to help.

Jon

At 05:35 PM 2/27/2004 +0000, you wrote:

> > I don't show any mails from your email that shows in the post, or
>any order
>
>This account is a junk account that I use so that my personal account
>isn't filled with spam and such.

Did you contact our support address? I still haven't heard from you, 
whoever you are. (This is getting weird) Or call us, although it's too late 
today.

Leave a message on the voice mail. We'll call you this weekend, after we 
get off the cruise ship.

>If you don't remember the emails about EPS conversions, etc not
>working, I'll send them again.

It's not that I don't remember, it's that we handle thousands of 
correspondences each month. I would really like to remember every one of 
them, but it's not possible.

And I can't remember you - you haven't identified yourself!

Even after two more list posts for you and me sending you a private email, 
I still don't know your name, nor your email address, or any way I can 
trace anything. If you really want assistance, come out of the dark. (The 
old joke is "my telepathy is out today...")

>So, I am kinda stuck with a bunch of old sound libraries that I
>really like but cannot use in the EXSP24.  And I am not in the mood
>to shell out more money for more frustration.  I was hoping that your
>Translator software would save me.

Shoot, you don't. I just converted Ensoniq's CDR-1 and it works great. I 
did a couple SF's and again they are fine.

We're dying here - email us! Tell us who you are! Tell us what your 
problems are! Is it... our deodorant? (Or lack of...)

Please take this offlist.

Garth Hjelte
Sampler User

> > > I don't show any mails from your email that shows in the post, or
> >any order
> >
> >This account is a junk account that I use so that my personal account
> >isn't filled with spam and such.
> 
> Did you contact our support address? I still haven't heard from you, 
> whoever you are. (This is getting weird) Or call us, although it's too late 
> today.
> 
> Leave a message on the voice mail. We'll call you this weekend, after we 
> get off the cruise ship.
> 

Garth,

Have you seen Lord of the Rings? 

everybody likes to talk about Gollum but I think they did a fantastic job creating the TROLLS. I think that the TROLLS are very believable and in The Return of the King I think the TROLLS are even better than the TROLLS seen in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Bob Vandiver

>..TROLLS..

No, I am NOT a Troll.  Just becasue my experience hasn't been as 
wonderful as yours does not mean that I am not having problems.

Garth, if your are reading, I read your post as well.  I have been 
busy with other projects.  I'll send you and email tonight with some 
offending EFE files.

I sure hope your software will work.  If it does, you are definately 
tops in my book.

> In EXS24 MkII you simply copy your SF2 files into the Sampler 
Instruments folder, 
> click Rfresh on the flip menu and the SF2s should show up along 
side your other 
> folders/instruments - just select one to complete the conversion. 
What steps are you 
> following?

Yep.  That's it.  I even went step by step with the screenshots on 
their website.  I sent them an email and they notified me that 
because I had purchased Logic from Guitar Center (which is apparently 
not an authorized dealer) that I was not allowed support; but, I 
could purchase support from a third party.  :-)

(what fun this is)


> Converted many EPS and ASR sounds into EXS format using Translator 
for Mac. What 
> error are you receiving? No doubt Garth will try to help.

I will talk directly with Garth on this from now on.. but,

Here are the steps I took..
1) used EPSDISK to create an EDE (disk image)
2) used EPSDISK to extract the EFE (individual instrument)
3) browsed to the EFE in Translator and selected it.
4) it shows up with the wavesample, etc.. data on the right
5) right-click and get the convert menu
6) choose EXS24
7) it either hangs after breifly starting or the app quits

btw.. this is on a PC - not a Mac.  I would actually rather it work 
on my Mac.  The problem is that I don't have a floppy on my Mac.

> Here are the steps I took..
> 1) used EPSDISK to create an EDE (disk image)
> 2) used EPSDISK to extract the EFE (individual
> instrument)
> 3) browsed to the EFE in Translator and selected it.
> 4) it shows up with the wavesample, etc.. data on
> the right
> 5) right-click and get the convert menu
> 6) choose EXS24
> 7) it either hangs after breifly starting or the app
> quits
> 
> btw.. this is on a PC - not a Mac.  I would actually
> rather it work 
> on my Mac.  The problem is that I don't have a
> floppy on my Mac.

I don't usually reply to these messages I only read
and try to learn. Regarding the floppy disc situation,
you can get an external floppy disc drive for your MAC
really really cheap at www.macmall.com and they work
very well.

--- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, "daehnub" <daehnub@y...> wrote:
> 
> I will talk directly with Garth on this from now on.. but,
> 
> Here are the steps I took..
> 1) used EPSDISK to create an EDE (disk image)
> 2) used EPSDISK to extract the EFE (individual instrument)
> 3) browsed to the EFE in Translator and selected it.
> 4) it shows up with the wavesample, etc.. data on the right
> 5) right-click and get the convert menu
> 6) choose EXS24
> 7) it either hangs after breifly starting or the app quits
> 

I'll hazard a guess that those of us who are saying 'all is well' are using Ensoniq series 
CDRs and not EFE's extracted using EPSDISK.

Have you tried testing a freebie EFE or EFA download from Sound Central or 
ChickenSys? I suspect the problem is with your source file. Can you at least preview 
the audio from the EFE file you're working with in Translator? If not, I think that might 
confirm something is corrupting your source file.

Good luck,

Jon

> btw.. this is on a PC - not a Mac.  I would actually rather it work 
> on my Mac.  The problem is that I don't have a floppy on my Mac.

At 02:04 PM 3/2/2004 -0800, you wrote:

>>The problem is that I don't have a floppy on my Mac.

>I don't usually reply to these messages I only read
>and try to learn. Regarding the floppy disc situation,
>you can get an external floppy disc drive for your MAC
>really really cheap at www.macmall.com and they work
>very well.

Sometimes a good idea, but...

If the thought is to take the Ensoniq floppy and have the Mac read it, 
nope. Some Translator owners have reported Translator being able to see 
Ensoniq floppies using USB floppy, but we never could get that to work.

If the thought is to have a transfer medium between PC and Mac, there are 
better ways to do that - network or burning CD's are the top 2. They are 
both dead easy to do, and cheaper than getting a limited floppy drive.

Garth Hjelte
Sampler User

At 08:33 PM 3/2/2004 +0000, you wrote:

> > In EXS24 MkII you simply copy your SF2 files into the Sampler
> > Converted many EPS and ASR sounds into EXS format using Translator
>for Mac. What
> > error are you receiving? No doubt Garth will try to help.
>
>I will talk directly with Garth on this from now on.. but,
>
>Here are the steps I took..
>1) used EPSDISK to create an EDE (disk image)
>2) used EPSDISK to extract the EFE (individual instrument)

Why didn't you just take the "EFE" off the floppy using EPSDisk? Would save 
a step...

>3) browsed to the EFE in Translator and selected it.
>4) it shows up with the wavesample, etc.. data on the right
>5) right-click and get the convert menu
>6) choose EXS24
>7) it either hangs after breifly starting or the app quits

Works here. I'd like to see the .efe. Maybe you could try taking the .efe 
directly from the floppy, not off the .EDE (which I think is actually a .gkh).

>btw.. this is on a PC - not a Mac.  I would actually rather it work
>on my Mac.  The problem is that I don't have a floppy on my Mac.

You can always move the .efe over to the Mac (I assume you have a way to 
transfer stuff over).

BTW, I still haven't seen any private emails form you. Perhaps something 
else is wrong concerning communications?

Garth Hjelte
Sampler User