Dialogs

This dialog allows to set up methods of displaying and reading sample formats.

AKAI CD import options:


Recognize hidden volumes - allows ExSC to analyze all volumes on a CDROM, even the hidden volumes. By default this option is off and Akai CD's are viewed according to their normal format

Show empty partitions - reveals empty CD partitions, without programs or volumes, if they exist

Merge L/R samples - this is a very important and useful option. Stereophonic Akai samples appear as two joined mono samples. The program takes this into account while displaying them, allowing the samples to be heard in stereo. During conversion, the program treats these samples as stereo and always joins them. Stereo samples are defined in Akai by -L and -R letters combinations at last 11th and 12th position.


Read empty programs - allows program to read "empty" Akai CD programs. The empty programs (ex. "COPYRIGHT") are of no use since they contain no data. By default, this option is turned off.

Akai MULTI PROGRAMs import - this option is used to combine a several Akai programs into one called multi program. Only programs with the same midi channel will be merged together. Because akai format offers only 4 zones per key this technique is used to increase a dynamic range of created instruments played by the same midi channel.

List all VOLUMES in one window - when ON, all "Partitions" are merged into in large virtual "Partition", this results into all "Volumes" of all Partitions are displayed in the "Volume" panel.


GIGASAMPLER / GIGASTUDIO import options:


Read 'zero' zones (used for filling empty mapping spaces) - although this should not happen, certain Giga instruments contain zones without associated samples. If this option is on, the flaw becomes obvious. These regions should be removed, or associated with zero samples. Older versions like GigaSampler 1.0 and GigaStudio 2.0 must use this trick to avoid problems with playing such structures. GigaStudio 3.0 is free from this problem.

Scan giga file on import (checking errors in gig file format) - when ON, scans the giga file before import, and reports any errors found. Option very usable for sound developers where it gives an informations about possible errors and errors in file structure.

Show dimension ranges as a layer name - giga is a structure format based usually on dimensions. In this case converter reads each dimension combination like a separate layer to provide easy navigation between used zones for each controller combination.
With this option selected these layers can be named with its dimension combination.

Example: 3 key switch with 2 modulation switch were used in giga. This gives 6 possible combination of sound. We got six layers named as below.

With option OFF	With option ON
Dimension 1	Keyb0 + Mod0
Dimension 2	Keyb1 + Mod0
Dimension 3	Keyb2 + Mod0
Dimension 4	Keyb0 + Mod64
Dimension 5	Keyb1 + Mod64
Dimension 6	Keyb2 + Mod64

AUDIO FILE import options:


Show compressed files on the list - if ON, then when viewing/searching for files with extension *.WAV, ExSC will also display compressed wave files in the "Files" panel. If the files are found in another format than wave, they will be indicated by a special icon .


SAMPLETANK import options:

These options attempt to overcome the sample naming limitations of the SampleTank sample naming convention. In some cases sample names are not even supplied and the sample name is then always "sample" with a number appended.

Take sample's name from instrument name - when OFF, uses internal SampleTank as sample name; when ON, uses SampleTank instrument name as sample name, making it easier to associate instrument with its samples.

Add root key's number to the sample name (e.g. sample.60) - when ON, the root-key note number is appended to the sample name, this is needed when using instrument name as sample name; if both root key's number and name are OFF, samples will be sequentially numbered.

Add root key's name to the sample name (e.g. sample.C#3) - when ON, the root-key note name is appended to the sample name, this is needed when using instrument name as sample name; if both root key's number and name are OFF, samples will be sequentially numbered.

These options are used in processing or converting to destination format.

GLOBAL SAMPLE DATA PROCESSING:


Automatically apply X-FADE to all looped samples - loops in samples will be automatically cross faded with defined amount of cross fade. This option works in real-time also so we can test results in sample preview before conversion.
X-FADE LOOP value - sets amount of cross fade.


AUTO CREATING DIRECTORIES:

This options allows you save converted files into specified folder structure. It is usable in AKAI CD, EMU conversion and also other formats. We use it when we want to sort files to partitions, volumes, banks, presets etc.

Folder structure can have a three levels:

1st level and its folder name "PARTITION A", "PARTITION B" etc. is used only with AKAI CD conversion

2nd level and its folder name is based on AKAI VOLUME name or EMU BANK name or FILE name

3rd level and its folder name is based on AKAI PROGRAM name EMU PRESET name or PATCH name


EXPORTED AUDIO FILENAME:

This option is used only when we want to export samples into *.wav or *.aif files and we want to change names with some rules. When sample name contains illegal chars for DOS system these chars will be replaced with '#' char.

<no change>	names of the files are not changed
Key Number	names of the samples are created from its root keys 60.wav 61.wav 62.wav 060.wav 061.wav 062. wav C4.wav C#4.wav D4.wav
Prog. Name + Key Number	names are combined from patch name and/or underline char and root key piano_60.wav piano_61.wav piano_62.wav piano_060.wav piano_061.wav piano_062.wav piano_C4.wav piano_C#4.wav piano_D4.wav piano 60.wav piano 61.wav piano 62.wav piano 060.wav piano 061.wav piano 062.wav piano C4.wav piano C#4.wav piano D4.wav
Zone Keys	name is created from zone range where exported sample is located 60-61.wav 62-63.wav C4-C#4.wav D4-D#4.wav
Key Number + Zone Keys	name is created from root and zone range where exported samples is located 60,60-61.wav 62,62-63.wav C4,C4-C#4.wav D4,D4-D#4.wav

Add to original FileName - when switched new name will be created from original sample name and option defined above.

Replace space with - this option replaces a space used to split words in sample name.

Musicial Layout - allows for choosing between different scale names.


STS PULSAR ANTI-POP PROTECTION:

Samples in Creamware samplers are played directly from its start. In situation when sample do not begins from 0 point it can produce a small pop on start. This option eliminates this by replacing/removing start samples with 0.5 ms silent and 0.2 ms attack.


WUSIKSTATION SETTINGS:

Options used when converting to WusikStation format.

When Wusikstation is installed in your system converted allows for placing files directly in Wusik folders. In this way such sounds like banks, presets, multisamples will be visible in Wusik menus.

Multisample files must be placed in Wusikstation data structure in specified folder name which can be defined in Category name for exported soundsets.


GIGASTUDIO SAVE:

This option must be checked when you convert to GigaStudio 2.0 and a patch may contains some empty spaces in mapping. GigaStudio 2.0 is a regular format and do not allows for missing samples, in some cases GigaStudio may crash. This option is recommended if you want to create files compatible with earlier versions of GigaStudio.

Some destination formats save samples in separate place. To find a sample they use relative paths which is added to path of its main file. Some of formats allows for absolute paths.

Relative paths can be used in KONTAKT, HALION, SFZ format eg. Samples\Piano\Low.
Absolute paths are used only by KONTAKT, HALION format eg. C:\Giga\Samples\Piano\Low.

When you choose option Save samples into specified folder samples are stored to different location then main patch file (it can be place on another hard disk or partition). This option stores absolute sample paths.

Samples are saved in the same folder as the main patch file.	Samples are saved into "Samples" folder which is created in the same location as main patch file.	Samples are saved in 2 sub folder created in "Samples" folder.
Samples are saved in the folder name of the main patch file.	Samples are saved into "Waves" folder which is created in the same location as main patch file.	Samples are saved in 2 sub folder created in "Waves" folder.

GRAPHICAL settings:
permits change of displayed data.


Show hidden and system directories - turning on this option forces the explorer window to show hidden and system directories from disk. (e.g. system and hidden files, and hidden directories in the Recycled sub-directory ). As a rule, no one keeps important files in hidden directories , so this option is switched off by default.

Sort name of presets alphabetically - sorts programs, presets and tools alphabetically. This makes it easier to organize programs in big GM banks with up to 200 items.

Sort name of samples alphabetically - sorts sample and audio files alphabetically for easy lookup.

One mouse click in Explorer - defines method of opening folders in explorer. Can be standard (double click opens a folder) or as a hot link one click opens a folder.

Shadowed wave view - Sample data are displayed in "3D look" with shadow.

C3 / C4 / C5   Middle C on graphical keyboard - this option allows adjustment of where Middle C is displayed on the graphical keyboard. It applies to the display of ranges and regions of layers and zones, especially where names are used to represent samples instead of numbers. Unfortunately, there is no uniformity among sequencers and editors regarding the representation of sounds. So this option allows adjustment of names to a particular sequencer or editor. As a rule, middle C is the the key C4 numbered as 60. This is the default setting for ExSC.


AUDIO PLAYBACK settings:
allows selection of the sound card for playback of audio, and also for setting playback volume. MME and DirectSound drivers are supported.

Automatically play sample on click - selected sample (or audio file) is played automatically when this option is set. (Default position is on)

Audio Volume - allows setting playback volume. It is scaled with real dB units. (Default value is 0 dB)

Audio Output - allows selection of sound card, and which channel will be use during playback of audio.
The symbol WM means the selected drivers work in Windows Multimedia (MME) mode.
The Direct Sound prefix means the selected drivers work in Windows Direct Sound mode. In the future playback via ASIO also is planned.


REAL-TIME AUDITIONING settings:

This adds an possibility an audition patches/programs before its conversion in real-time mode. It uses two methods. Built-in in Windows system and its DirectX component called as a DirectX Synthesizer or shorter DirectX Synth. Or it can communicates with APS, Sound Blaster Live! and Audigy cards and use their built-in hardware wave-table synthesizers.

Sounds can be auditioned in three ways:
- by playing on external midi keyboard (midi input must be selected then)
- by clicking on exsc's virtual keyboard (virtual keyboard is automatically lunched after selecting patch).
- by clicking on "Mapping View"

DirectX Synth - When ON, auditioning uploads instrument in DirectX synthesizer.

MIDI Volume (CC 07) - this parameter sets 'Control Change 07' (Volume) from midi synthesizer. (Default setting is set to maximum at 127)

MIDI Input - allows choice of MIDI port used by external keyboard to playing SoundFonts. (By default this option is not set)

Hardware SF2 Synth - allows selection of synth used during loading of SoundFonts. (By default, the program takes the first synth from the list)

SoundFont layer's auditioning - allows auditioning of some parts of presets (sound layers). (By default this option is turn off)

Bank/File audition during browsing - lunches audition of selected file or bank.


EXTERNAL AUDIO EDITOR settings:

Here we can define a path for used software for sample editing. When we switch from editor to ExSC application (activate) converter re-reads all exported samples to check its changes.

Currently we cannot change sample mono/stereo mode in external editor yet. We are planning to improve this in the future versions because mono/stereo is highly related with zones and its structure. We can change lot's of other sample data including its size, content, sample rate, loops, bit resolution.

After finishing of edit we must to save file in external audio editor.

The external audio editor can be launched in different ways:

• by selecting a sample and pressing shortcut
• by selecting a sample and pressing button
• by choosing a command "Edit sample in External Audio Editor" from "Tools" menu

Update loop changes when back from audio editor - when we change a loop settings in external audio editor this values are copied to sample in ExSC also.

Export to mono L/R - stereo samples are divided in two mono files for separate edit.


"Reset to default settings" button - you can always get back to default settings by pressing this button.