EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Hey Mike,

I got the GOS update too, and noticed some screw up with the Hollywood 
Violins and the Cellos (only on Macs). Has to do with the names of the 
samples being too long (37 characters), which confuses EXS. KindIdiot, who 
programmed the patches, was working on a PC, and didn't take into account 
our Mac limitations. Bernard Chavonnet, maker of CDXtract, told me that his 
software should fix that problem. I'm going to try it this weekend, as I'd 
love to check out _all_  the new GOS goodies!

Ned

Mike Auty wrote:
> Just received the new GOS update this week.  The new KI Hollywood
> strings patch is kinda whack with the built in giga conversion but I'm
> sure those 3rd party programs will do a better job...  or else a little
> editing is needed...



http://www.nedfx.com

       Ned Bouhalassa

n e d @ n e d f x . c o m

Hello Julie, Mike and others,

I can confirm that, unfortunately, even the usually-perfect CDXtract 
(version 4.1) cannot translate some of the files in the Hollywood Strings 
GOS Update. I just tried converting a sample that is used in the 1st 
Violins Forte program, called:

soloviolsmixfortetunedlessvib(C4)-L

The result was that, just like EXS24, CDXtract did nothing with the file. 
There are just too many characters in the name. This will explain the 
problems that we're having with the other programs, like the Cellos, etc. 
It's really too bad for Mac users that the update was programmed on a PC. 
Hopefully, a new version of CDXtract or Translator will help us get at 
those programs.

Ned





http://www.nedfx.com

       Ned Bouhalassa

n e d @ n e d f x . c o m

Clarification:

When I wrote: > It's really too bad for Mac users that the update was programmed on a PC.

I was referring to the Hollywood Strings update, not CDXtract.

Ned




http://www.nedfx.com

       Ned Bouhalassa

n e d @ n e d f x . c o m

Julie, Mike and others,

Short and encouraging message tonight from the Man on Northern Sounds' Forum:

"Ned,

We're working on this. Perhaps we can come up with a solution. We certainly 
don't want you to miss out on the fabulous programming done by KI.

Gary Garritan."

Nothin' but class!

Ned



http://www.nedfx.com

       Ned Bouhalassa

n e d @ n e d f x . c o m

Julie, Mike and other GOS users,

Good news!!!! I just got a beta version of a new version of CDXtract, and 
it converts the Hollywood Strings perfectly! Not only does the latest 
version handle long sample names, but it also converts the MWheel and EXP 
patches!!!

Only one very important thing to note: the patches that use the modwheel 
will not play a sample if the wheel is at 0 position (completely 
down/closed), so you must move the modwheel to hear the program. This is 
particularly problematic with Logic, as it resets the modwheel to 0 
everytime you hit the Play button. The best way to subvert this is to place 
a modwheel midi command that is of a higher value than 0 at bar 1, and have 
your song start at bar 2, for eg.

Onwards, virtual composers!

And thank you Bernard Chavonnet, for responding so quickly.

Ned



http://www.nedfx.com

       Ned Bouhalassa

n e d @ n e d f x . c o m

Sounds are not supposed to be compatible with OS9 specifically. Windows
supports long names and 27 characters is just enought to give a name to the
numerous articulations and possibilities.
Any developer should not bark against the OS, Microsoft, Apple or anyone
else, but handle every cases.
If tomorrow a soundbank uses 90 characters for names , do you plan to
release a new version?
Do you manage Unicode, MBCS, ASCII? What will happen if a soundbank has
Russian or Arabic names? These are questions your need to ask yourself
before selling, otherwise your product will crash on NT or XP or Win95 or
MAC...or both...

"We had been on a mission to educate the developers not to exceed 27 chars "
Really? Why not programming all the soundbanks with 8 chars names,  so it
will be compatible with the new upcoming DOS version of your software?

Seriously, test all the possibilities before to release a final version
otherwise call it beta or alpha...

Nikko

----- Original Message -----
From: "Garth Hjelte" <garth@...>
To: <exs-users@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 12:40 AM
Subject: Re: [EXS] Re: Garritan Strings = joy


> Regarding the Garritan Hollywood update:
>
> The current version of Translator (and going back a couple months)
converts
> the names correctly, the whole problem is that the person doing the
> programming had names longer than 27 characters in the Instruments, Sample
> Folders, and the Samples. We had been on a mission to educate the
> developers not to exceed 27 chars (27 plus 4 for the ext) max for OS9, but
> I think we missed someone. =)
>
> More specifically, the Translator Garritan Edition (the convertor that
> comes free with the Garritan library) will be updated to recognize these
> files, and Translator (this includes the demo version) will have a
function
> where you can massage the .gig file separately and shorten the names. This
> will also be intelligent; for example:
>
> If you have a Instrument called Full Strings EXP KS (C0-C#0) (28 chars),
> and you have others that start with Full Strings that are over, you can
> says 'make "Full Strings" "FS"' and this will shorten it the way you want.
> Or you can do it all manually as well. Lastly, another option is to vie to
> not write the extensions, giving 4 extra chars to work with.
>
> This function can also be helpful with Sample Names with the root keys
> named at the end of the sample; that way they aren't truncated.
>
> Again this is will be on the free Demo and the Garritan Edition, so any
EXS

> user can access this and not have to purchase a separate convertor; they
> can use the EXS one. They should be out by tomorrow AM.
>
> Garth Hjelte
> Sampler User
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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>
>

Regarding the Garritan Hollywood update:

The current version of Translator (and going back a couple months) converts 
the names correctly, the whole problem is that the person doing the 
programming had names longer than 27 characters in the Instruments, Sample 
Folders, and the Samples. We had been on a mission to educate the 
developers not to exceed 27 chars (27 plus 4 for the ext) max for OS9, but 
I think we missed someone. =)

More specifically, the Translator Garritan Edition (the convertor that 
comes free with the Garritan library) will be updated to recognize these 
files, and Translator (this includes the demo version) will have a function 
where you can massage the .gig file separately and shorten the names. This 
will also be intelligent; for example:

If you have a Instrument called Full Strings EXP KS (C0-C#0) (28 chars), 
and you have others that start with Full Strings that are over, you can 
says 'make "Full Strings" "FS"' and this will shorten it the way you want. 
Or you can do it all manually as well. Lastly, another option is to vie to 
not write the extensions, giving 4 extra chars to work with.

This function can also be helpful with Sample Names with the root keys 
named at the end of the sample; that way they aren't truncated.

Again this is will be on the free Demo and the Garritan Edition, so any EXS 
user can access this and not have to purchase a separate convertor; they 
can use the EXS one. They should be out by tomorrow AM.

Garth Hjelte
Sampler User

At 11:22 PM 4/22/03 +0200, you wrote:

>Sounds are not supposed to be compatible with OS9 specifically. Windows
>supports long names and 27 characters is just enought to give a name to the
>numerous articulations and possibilities.
>Any developer should not bark against the OS, Microsoft, Apple or anyone
>else, but handle every cases.

Right, but the EXS convertor doesn't. That was the point.

>If tomorrow a soundbank uses 90 characters for names, do you plan to 
>release a new version?

Are you referring to Emagic?

>Do you manage Unicode, MBCS, ASCII? What will happen if a soundbank has
>Russian or Arabic names? These are questions your need to ask yourself
>before selling, otherwise your product will crash on NT or XP or Win95 or
>MAC...or both...

All formats deal with ASCii, and in extreme cases, the extended 127-255 
ASCii as well. I know of no FORMAT that supports anything else.

>>"We had been on a mission to educate the developers not to exceed 27 chars "

>Really? Why not programming all the soundbanks with 8 chars names

I agree with you in theory. But in the real world, with free native 
convertors that don't handle the character issue correctly, it's not in the 
developers best interest to tell their customers that they have to buy 
something else in order to get their Giga library to work on their 
instrument. They look for the "out of the box" thing, of course.

>so it will be compatible with the new upcoming DOS version of your software?

A DOS version of Logic? Been there, done that. =)

Garth Hjelte
Sampler User

With all the interest in the Garritan Orchestral Strings here recently, I
thought that I would mention that Gary is sending out yet another free update to
existing customers. I am currently using the Giga version...

This one (CD numbers 19 and 20) adds new samples, includes reduced sized
versions of the GOS Libraries, add ons to the Maestro MIDI tools, Emagic Logic
Audio environment enhancements for Virtual Maestro Tools, etc.

Anyone who is considering a collection such as this should include this one in
their search...


Danny