Korg DSS-1 questions

[C-stein]

I got a Korg DSS-1 for 75 euro with a broken diskdrive, which cost me 25 euro for a replacement. Not bad I think but nevertheless I have some troubles.

1.
I got some problems with the midi functions of the DSS-1.

I programmed my Behringer BCR2000 with Sysex messages for all the parameters of the DSS-1.
Here are the links to my Template and here is the layout of my template
When I connect my BCR with the DSS-1 is does give a certain crackle in the sound of the DSS-1 (if a play at the same time), but none of the parameters are changing.

Furthermore, I cannot use SampleVision.
When I want to communicate with the DSS-1 (e.g. get sample, or dumping, or searching for the device) it says it cannot find a DSS-1 device.
My midichannel is right (no 1 on both the DSS as in SampleVision), I got mode 1 on, omni mode on, in SampleVision I chose the right Midi device (my soundcard), tried with local on and local off.

I would be grateful if anyone could help me out here.

2.
Is there an easy way for looping sounds after sampling (apart from using -ahem- SampleVision ?
The only way I see is to scroll through the milliseconds/sampleframes to get is right which is a very tedious exercise.

[gs]

I got a Korg DSS-1 for 75 euro with a broken diskdrive, which cost me 25 euro for a replacement. Not bad I think but nevertheless I have some troubles.

1. I got some problems with the midi functions of the DSS-1.

I programmed my Behringer BCR2000 with Sysex messages for all the parameters of the DSS-1.
Here are the links to my Template and here is the layout of my template
When I connect my BCR with the DSS-1 is does give a certain crackle in the sound of the DSS-1 (if a play at the same time), but none of the parameters are changing.

First off, congrats on a great purchase. Seems like you got a great synth and replacement drive for a bargain.

Okay, first off, I couldn't tell by looking at your layout file what exactly you are entering into the BCR as Sysex data. The .syx file you pointed to I presume is the file to load these setups into the BCR, but that still won't help me to help you, because I don't have a BCR.

But... I have a DSS1 support site here: http://glenstegner.com/dss1 where I have published the Sysex specification for the DSS1 on a spreadsheet. Look under software support in the main menu. I have also programmed the Peavey PC-1600 and the Kenton Control Freak for the DSS-1, and those .syx files are available on my site as well.

The first thing you should check is that you are editing on the BCR while the synth is in performance mode -- not Edit mode!! Or any other mode. Make sure you can see the name of the patch on the LCD. Then you are in performance mode. And also: the LCD of the DSS-1 will not update as you move a knob on your BCR. You won't see anything happening there. You just have to go by the change in the sound, or the readout of the BCR if any.

Other than this, I can't tell you why your params aren't changing in real time unless I can see your raw Sysex code, for instance, what are you using to control the Res parameter? Does it match the Sysex code in my spreadsheet? If not, there's something wrong with the way you programmed the BCR.

It's true that the DSS1 makes this "MIDI stuttering" noise (the "crackle" that you speak of) when you are moving a knob/slider while sounding off a note. But, with the exception of the VCF Cutoff param (and one or two others), all params update in real time even if you get this stuttering noise.

Furthermore, I cannot use SampleVision.
When I want to communicate with the DSS-1 (e.g. get sample, or dumping, or searching for the device) it says it cannot find a DSS-1 device. My midichannel is right (no 1 on both the DSS as in SampleVision), I got mode 1 on, omni mode on, in SampleVision I chose the right Midi device (my soundcard), tried with local on and local off.

I would be grateful if anyone could help me out here.

In my experience with SampleVision, I never got it to work on a machine that was Win2000, WinXP, or above. I only ever got it to work on a Win98/lower machine. Why this is, I have no idea. The software is very old, perhaps there is stuff in the newer versions of Windows that throws it off. There are a lot of unpredictable varables here, such as the MIDI interface you are using and whether or not SampleVision likes or hates that interface. In any case, good luck on that one.

2. Is there an easy way for looping sounds after sampling (apart from using -ahem- SampleVision ?
The only way I see is to scroll through the milliseconds/sampleframes to get is right which is a very tedious exercise.

Looping isn't really that hard on the DSS-1 once you get the hang of it. First off, looping and crossfading are all part of the creaton of a Multisound, not an individual sample (e.g. 'Sound'). When you go into Multisound Mode to create your first sample in the set (it could be a Multisound with only one sample in it...), the DSS-1 asks you if you want this looped. You answer "yes" and continue. (You can go back and change it later with Option 5: Loop On/Off).

After you create a sample within the Multisound, you go to Option 6: Loop Start/Length, and define the area where the loop is to begin, and where it ends. Normally it's hard to get a perfect loop this way, so you have Option 7: Crossfading and Back&Forth Looping, to create a more seamless loop. The process of doing this is pretty tedious the first time around, but you get used to it. I created some pretty good acosutic piano and rhodes Multisounds on my own, so I'm pretty experienced with all the aspects of this machine. If you need more help in this area, don't be afraid to PM me or keep this thread going.

[C-stein]

Thanks Glen, I appreciate your reply.

Your right about the performance mode; the BCR seems to work in that mode.
Nevertheless I experience some kind of Midi overload (which 'freezes' the machine so it has to be turned off and on again) when turning the knobs too fast.
I did not find the time to check it all out.

I noticed the back/forth and crossfading features but when I tried those -which is already a couple of weeks ago- I did not achieve satifying results, hence my questions about SampleVision.
But it seems that this program is indeed not working properly with XP.

[gs]

Thanks Glen, I appreciate your reply.

Your right about the performance mode; the BCR seems to work in that mode.
Nevertheless I experience some kind of Midi overload (which 'freezes' the machine so it has to be turned off and on again) when turning the knobs too fast.
I did not find the time to check it all out.

Good, I'm glad that you got it to work. I never had my DSS-1 freeze up on me using the Peavey PC-1600, but I never move too many sliders at once. Try just moving one knob at a time and see if it freezes up. Either the problem is that you are turning too many knobs at once, or there is still something wrong in your sysex code. To be sure, check my web site for the MIDI Sysex Code, here is a direct link to the file: http://glenstegner.com/dss1/DSS1_Sysex.xls.

I noticed the back/forth and crossfading features but when I tried those -which is already a couple of weeks ago- I did not achieve satifying results, hence my questions about SampleVision.
But it seems that this program is indeed not working properly with XP.

Although I know there are some looping/crossfading options in Samplevision, I never successfully got any of this to port over to the DSS-1. In my experience, Samplevision only seems good for editing and truncating the individual samples that make up a multisound. After working with it for a while, I discovered it was actually easier to just do the sample editing right on the DSS-1 along with the looping and crossfading stuff. Like I said, it requires a learning curve but once you get beyond the curve you're good to go.