S950/S900 Sample Downloading Program
====================================

This program was written to download samples from an AKAI S950 sampler
via the serial RS-232 port. I chose to use the serial port because it
made it easier for me to write the program and higher transfer speeds
are possible.

I tested this on my S950 and it has also been tested on an S900.


LICENCE
-------

This program is provided as is - you use it at your own	risk. I accept
no responsibility for loss of data or damage caused by the use of this
program.

You have permission to use, copy, and distribute this software and
its documentation for free provided that:

  - the PKZIP archive file remains complete,
  - that this readme file appears in all copies,
  - you don't try to make money from this program,


WHAT THE PROGRAM DOES
---------------------

It downloads all the samples loaded in the sampler's memory to the PC.
The samples are saved in SDS format. It uses the name in the sample's
memory to name each SDS file. If a file of that name already exists in
the current directory then the characters 1 to 9 are tried on the end
of the name to see if a unique name can be found.


CONNECTING THE SAMPLER
----------------------

You will need to connect your PC to your sampler. Use either the COM1 or
COM2 serial ports and connect to the sampler with a straight though cable
(the same cable you would use to connect to a modem for instance). The
cable needs CTS/RTS handshaking lines connected.

You then need to enable the RS-232 connection on the sampler. On the S950
(I assume it is similar on the S900) you press MIDI and go to page 5.
Then select 2 for the RS-232 port and set the port speed. Moving the data
entry wheel on the speed setting is very slow - it is much faster to just
type in the speed on the keypad.

Note that the S950 forgets all about any RS-232 settings unless you set
it up for RS-232 and 'save all system settings to disk' - and then have that
disk in the sampler when you power it up. 


RUNNING THE PROGRAM
-------------------

You run the program by typing the following command at the DOS prompt:

  S950 [-p<port] [-m<channel>] [-s<speed>]

The three optional arguments are as follows:

  -p<port> where <port> can be either 1 or 2 meaning COM1 or COM2
  respectively.	If you ommit this argument it defaults to COM1.

  -m<channel> where <channel> is the MIDI channel your sampler is set
  to. This can be from 1 to 16. If you have OMNI switched on it does not
  matter which number you give. If you ommit this argument it defaults to
  channel 1.

  -s<speed> where <speed> is the baud rate to use. This should match the
  baud rate you type in on the sampler and can be one of 9600, 19200
  38400 or 57600. If you ommit this argument it defaults to 9600. 

You should use as fast a speed as possible in order to get the fastest
possible transfer speed. If you have a 16550 in your PC you should
be fine at 57600, if not you may have to use a lower speed.

So for example using COM1 at 57600 baud with MIDI channel 2 you would type:

  S950 -p1 -m2 -s57600

and to use COM2 at 9600 baud with MIDI channel 1 you would type:

  S950 -p2


CREDITS
-------

Thank you to Jules Vleugels for the infomation on his web site at

  http:\\www.cs.ruu.nl\~jules\Akai

which has SysEx info for AKAI samplers and enabled me to write this
program.

Thanks to scratcher for testing the program on his S900 and talking
me into improving the program a bit.

Thanks also to Kurt Gjerde who's SDX program and SDS file format
files also helped me to write the program. The SDX program converts
SDS files to WAV and other formats. SDX and lots of other good SDS
related stuff is available via FTP from

  alf.uib.no  in the directory  /pub/midi/sds


FINALLY
-------

I hope this program is useful to you. If you have any comments you
can e-mail me at:

   info@ringmod.com

For other freeware music utilities check out:

   www.ringmod.com/Musicsoft/


Simon East, September 1995.
