Saying hello, and having a question

[Cresthen]

Greetings to all sentient beings of Planet Z !

It's already 2012 that I finally got a Creamware Elektra produced in 2000 Embedded with the card's full package came some software installers with activation keys, i.e. Luna, Luna 3, Modular II, Scope Platform 3.1 & 4.0 (the installer was 4.5), VolksZampler VST and Main Studio Package.

In addition I've found some really handy devices here on this site (eternal gratitude to the creators!), and here is my current project layout - the result of trying to combine the most necessary functions with minimal DSP load (to leave as much as possible for the hungry Modular II, one can also see the place for it between the Merger and Mixer on my screenshot).

My funds are too low for purchasing any official updates from Creamware at the moment, so I have to stick with Scope 4 and freeware solutions, but as I'm not a professional sound designer it doesn't make me unhappy at all.

... but for one little thing: I really miss a soundfont sampler. Of course nowadays there are many VST and DX plug-ins that can do that (including this VolksZampler I have the key for), but I've always been really mad about hardware synthesis and processing - that's why I now have this Creamware DSP board and a huge soundfont collection left after Creative cards (an Auzentech X-Fi Forte is still in use but its synth somehow sounds worse than the ones of previous sound blaster generations, and gives fewer voices at a time, though it finally works stable - that's why I need an additional sampler to have more voices, preferably a hardware one). Yes I'm not looking for easy ways but amateurs don't have to be rational.

Unfortunately the STS sampler's activation key was not included with my card (thankfully at least something was!), so is there any freeware soundfont sampler / wavetable synthersizer for Scope environment that could partially replace it? And if none, does VolksZampler have any advantage over other soft samplers just because it is Creamware's development (maybe it somehow integrates with my card?)? And finally, if nothing helps, what free software samplers can one be recommended nowadays?

Looking forward to any kind of advice,
C.

[dante]

Look under 'Samplers / Loopers' here :

http://www.hitfoundry.com/issue_14/mra_mast.htm

[Cresthen]

Thank you Dante! (for the only reply...)
Looks like there are lots of stuff on that site, I'll have a closer look at it when I have time.

[dante]

I remember using 'Sample Player' successfully in the early years before I had STS - its under 'Legacy'.

[Cresthen]

Thanks again, attempted an immediate try but got this:

when loading from file browser.
Pressing both "Sample Player" and "Sample Player F" in Scope menu does nothing.

I guess it's "too legacy" for 4.0...

Another question arises after a bit of reading: is there any difference in what mixer to use for track mixing?
People say they mix their projects in Scope and have superb quality (better than mixing inside their DAW/sequencer), but there are loads of mixers all round, and it seems unlikely that their DSP algorithms are similar... or am I wrong?

[garyb]

the sample player may work, but you can't load it from the file browser. you can load samples into via the file browser, the sample player needs to be loaded into the routing window via the menu at the top of the routing window or via the live bar.

[Cresthen]

the sample player may work, but you can't load it from the file browser. you can load samples into via the file browser, the sample player needs to be loaded into the routing window via the menu at the top of the routing window or via the live bar.

Yes I tried that (as the file location shows), but when I choose and press it in the menu, nothing happens - it doesn't appear in the routing window.

[garyb]

it's possible that it just doesn't work. why not use the sts?

[Cresthen]

no money for upgrades atm

[Mr Arkadin]

No money required. Shoot Sonic Core an email with your card's serial number and ask for a current key. You'll probably find all sorts of extras you didn't know you were entitled to, plus there should be an STS2000P (sample player) and STS3000 available for free.

[garyb]

don't you have the sts2000?

[Cresthen]

No money required. Shoot Sonic Core an email with your card's serial number and ask for a current key. You'll probably find all sorts of extras you didn't know you were entitled to, plus there should be an STS2000P (sample player) and STS3000 available for free.

Wow that brings me back some hope!

I got a key file (*.skf) from the card's previous owner and imported it during Scope 4 installation:



Including STS5000 (not seen on this picture), none of the samplers was assigned a key, and therefore none was installed.

Here is the list of registered components I ended up with:



I know that when Pulsar owners first installed their cards they were offered a choice between either having an FX pack or a synths pack for free.
But my tiny 3-DSP Elektra was designated as a "Modular Synthesis DSP System" from the very beginning, as the package claims, and its main highlight was Modular 2. Another 3-DSP card, Power Sampler, was a dedicated sampling system, and that is where STS would come for free. This diversity makes me believe one wasn't allowed to combine all the stuff on any of these cards, but was meant to choose one according to his needs... Great misfortune for me though, I really enjoy Modular but need a sampler too.

What I may not be aware of is whether Creamware could change their policy through years.

I discovered a variety of downloadable plug-ins at Sonic Core FTP (put into "nokeys_OXE" folder... I wonder what "nokeys" could mean) and tried a few, but they all seem to require a "software serial number" which I have no idea about

For a clearer example, I'll repeat my actions with STS:
- downloading STS3000 from ftp://ftp.sonic-core.net/software/SCOPE ... /Samplers/
- unpacking the "STS3000.gz"
- adding *.oxe extension to the file
- copying it to "Program Files\Scope\App\Oxe" directory
- restarting Scope and seeing these messages (sorry for a creepy font):



(no worries, it's already restarted)



(happy to know! )

Now the oxe file has disappeared, but there is a new "Sampler" directory in created "Devices" folder, with 2 new files:
STS 2000P.dev
STS 3000.dev

Scope menu shows the same:



But then... Houston, we have a problem



Observation: typing random letters followed by pressing "Copy to clipboard" button makes those letters appear in angular brackets marked below.

Anyway, sending an e-mail to Creamware with random text or an empty field is a dead end... or maybe should I try?

[garyb]

nope, looks like that card has almost nothing registered to it. it's unfortunate, but....

[Mr Arkadin]

I know that when Pulsar owners first installed their cards they were offered a choice between either having an FX pack or a synths pack for free.
But my tiny 3-DSP Elektra was designated as a "Modular Synthesis DSP System" from the very beginning, as the package claims, and its main highlight was Modular 2. Another 3-DSP card, Power Sampler, was a dedicated sampling system, and that is where STS would come for free. This diversity makes me believe one wasn't allowed to combine all the stuff on any of these cards, but was meant to choose one according to his needs... Great misfortune for me though, I really enjoy Modular but need a sampler too.

What I may not be aware of is whether Creamware could change their policy through years.

The Elektra and PowerSampler cards are the same - they are just the same 3 DSP cards, so they can run any software. I have what used to be a PowerSampler2 card, but just run Scope on it like all my other cards, so no, there's no need to choose the 'right' card - they all run Scope 4.0. When I originally bought PowerSampler2 it was because I too thought you had to have it for the sampling option - I bought a Pulsar2+ at the same time for the synths and mixer. Once cascaded via an STDM cable I realised I was using the Pulsar2+ as the 'master' card and the PowerSampler2 card was just extra DSP, the STS was actually running in the Pulsar2, not the PowerSampler card. Those were the early days though (1999) before I realised how it truly worked.

Don't send any emails to Creamware - they haven't existed for a number of years. Contact Sonic Core with your card's serial number and they will send you a current keyfile for Scope 4.0 which was the last free update and see what you have after that.

[Cresthen]

Thank you mega super much for you advice Mr Arkadin!

After a nice but slow (up to 1 month per e-mail) conversation with Sonic Core support team, they sent me out a keyfile for my card.

For the reference, here is the list of components currently included with 3-DSP boards:

CW SCOPE 4.0 Software
CW Scope Fusion Platform
CW Main Studiotools Package
CW Spectral Balance Controller
CW Effects Package 1
CW Synthesizer Package 1
CW STS-2000P
CW STS-3000
CW STS-4000
CW Modular v2
CW Luna Mixer (RM242)
CW Luna Mixer (SM166)
CW Volkszampler
CW Arpeg 01
CW GraphEQ
CW Master Verb Pro
CW Poison FM

Now going to reinstall SCOPE for testing out all new thingies.

[Mr Arkadin]

Well it looks like you finally got your sampler and lots of other goodies. The only problem now is you may find you like to use many of those devices at once and will need some more DSP. This is how DSP addiction starts.

If you want some more presets for your ynths I've gathered a load here:

http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=28825

[Liquid EDGE]

yeah i started with a luna (3dsp) Rapidly got a pulsar2 (6dsp)
Now have a xite-1.
Once you have tasted it you will want more i reckon. (can get hold of extra cards for a bargain now)

[Cresthen]

I'm disappointed by poor DSP power ever since I first tried Modular (some patches can't even be loaded because 1 voice is already too much). As a pianist, I lack voice number greatly (comfortable playing = 10 fingers + sustained keys), and as a music creator I need maybe less voices but simultaneous use of all stuff = impossible with 3 DSPs too.

I'll try to fight the temptation of buying anything descending from PowerPulsar to Luna for S/TDM DSP merging, but start saving money on XITE-1 which replaces them all.

Thank you for the presets, already downloaded them, though at the moment I'm barely acquainted with factory ones