Electronic Sound Solutions M-Blaster User manual

MIDI FILES MP3 PLAYER
User’s Manual
Electronic Sound Solutions s.r.l., via Monviso 54, 46042 Castel Goffredo MN, tel. + 39 0376 780360, fax + 39
0376 778225
www.essound.com e-Mail [e-mail]
E.S.S Customer Service, strada Cipata 25, 46100 Loc Frassino, Mantova. Tel + 39 0376 274658, fax + 39 0376
373253
e-Mail [e-mail]

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INDEX
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................... 3
CONNECTION AND COMMANDS....................................................... 4
POWER SUPPLY ................................................................................. 6
AUDIO CONNECTIONS ....................................................................... 6
HOW TO START ...................................................................................... 6
SWITCHING ON ................................................................................... 7
SONGS ................................................................................................. 8
HOW TO PLAY A SONG ......................................................................... 8
EASY TUNE.......................................................................................... 8
OPERATIONAL MODE ............................................................................ 9
FUNCTION KEYS (FIG.1/6)................................................................... 9
SONGS MODE ................................................................................... 10
CHORDS AND LYRICS VISUALIZATION.......................................... 11
PLAY/STOP/CONTINUE .................................................................... 12
PARAM. (PARAMETERS)....................................................................... 13
TRKCHANG (TRACK CHANGE)........................................................ 15
PARAMETERS FOR MIDI FILE ..................................................... 15
PARAMETERS FOR MP3 FILES ................................................... 18
PLAY LIST .......................................................................................... 19
HOW TO CHOOSE A LIST OF SONGS IN “PLAY LIST” MODE…21
HOW TO PLAY SONGS IN PLAY LIST ......................................... 21
LIST Visualize the list of songs in a group ..................................... 22
TEXT and TRKCHANG .................................................................. 22
MENU/INFO ............................................................................................ 22
SONGS ERASE .................................................................................. 23
USB..................................................................................................... 24
TV SETUP........................................................................................... 24
CLEAR ALL DATA .............................................................................. 25
OPERATING SYSTEM........................................................................... 26
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET................................................................ 27
WHAT TO DO IF: .................................................................................. 28

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INTRODUCTION
First of all, ESS would like to thank you for your purchase of M-Blaster.
M-Blaster is a MIDI, Karaoke and MP3 player characterized by a very
intuitive user interface.
M-Blaster plays:
•Standard MIDI files (.mid format 0 and 1)
•Karaoke files (.kar format 1)
•MP3 files (VBR/CBR, successfully tested up to 256 Kbps
(depending on the encoder)
M-Blaster utilizes as a data storage unit a Compact Flash Card that can
be loaded up to 511 songs.
Included in the packaging are:
-n.1 Off- Line Switching Power Supply Adapter;
-n.1 CdRom containing the software E-link to transfer,
manage files and Backup;
-n.1 Operating manual;
-n.1 USB cable;
-n.1 Compact Flash card;
-n.1 Audio/Video cable (L+R Red/White / Video Yellow).

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CONNECTION AND COMMANDS
Frontal panel
1 10 11 12
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Fig.1
1) Alpha dial encoder, to modify the values of the various parameters
and change the displayed page;
2) Key to use to go back to the page previously displayed;
3) Key to access the global adjustments on the player, like: global
equalization, effects adjustment on the inputs Mic1/Mic2,global
transposition on MIDI songs;

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4) Key to access options like: song erasing, adjustment of the TV set
if connected, page for the files transfer from the PC and the format
of Compact Flash. If the key is pressed while a song is in “play”
mode, the screen will display info about the song. It is possible to
adjust the display contrast pressing the MENU key (fig 1/4) and
rotating the alpha dial knob (fig. 1/1).
5) “Easy Tune” to instantly adapt the tonality key of the song on the
performer peculiarities;
6) Function keys to select different functions; depending on the page
displayed on the screen;
7) Compact Flash Card housing;
8) Play/Stop, to start or stop the song playback;
9) Slider keys, to underline the wanted element among those
visualized on the screen;
10) High brightness backlit display;
11) Individual microphones volume fader;
12) Global volume fader.
Back Panel
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Fig.2
1) Stereo mini-jack output for headphones connection;
2 - 3) Microphones input (Jack 6,3 mm TSR);
4) Audio output (to be connected to the audio system);
5) Video connectors. Output (Video out) / Input (Video in)
6) Connector for video camera power supply (optional) or external
lyrics display (optional);

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7) Port MIDI Out to connect an external Synth generator;
8) USB connector to connect M-Blaster to a PC;
9) Power Switch;
10) Connection to the supplied external power supply adapter;
POWER SUPPLY
Connect the adapter plug (male) to the PWR IN female connector
positioned on the M-Blaster back panel (Fig.2/10) .
Finally, connect the adapter plug to the main socket.
IMPORTANT
Please use exclusively the supplied adapter. Otherwise, the
equipment can be damaged.
AUDIO CONNECTIONS
Connect the M-Blaster Audio Outputs (fig 2/4) to your audio equipment
(mixer line input or directly to the line inputs of an audio equipment,
inputs AUX or TAPE of your home Hi-Fi or else).
Note: in order not to damage the audio equipment it is strongly
recommended that M-Blaster is turned on before the amplification set-up.
HOW TO START
M-Blaster is supplied with a software E-link for the Personal Computer
that allows the MIDI and MP3 file transfer directly from the PC to the M-
Blaster data storage unit (Compact Flash Card) and moreover can be
used for backup operations.
First of all install the supplied software on the Personal Computer and,
successively, connect M-Blaster through a standard USB cable A/B
(such as the one used for USB printers ) to a properly functioning USB
port on the PC.

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ESS
M-BLASTER
VERSION XXXX
MIDI Karaoke Mp3 Player
Note: when executing the program, if correctly set, M-Blaster will
automatically position on the “USB” page.
After having done this, launch the program double clicking on the icon
previously created during installation. As for the utilization, please refer to
the on-line guide included with the software.
SWITCHING ON
To switch the M-Blaster on, it is sufficient to insert the supplied adapter
connector in the corresponding socket positioned on the back panel and
push the ON button.
The display will light and after a few seconds wait, the display will read
the following:
READING PROGRAM
Shorty followed by
fig.3
For its correct functioning M-blaster needs the Data storage unit
(Compact Flash Card), to be inserted in its proper housing (fig1/7).
Otherwise, on the display it will appear the following message:
“COMPACT FLASH NOT PRESENT”
note: The Compact Flash Cards are formatted when the product is sold;
However, if necessary, the formatting should be executed with the
following characteristics: FAT 12/16 bit formatting (it will be implemented
to FAT 32).

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Insert the Compact Flash in its proper housing (fig1/7) without forcing its
introduction. M-Blaster will then display the page Songs. It is possible to
adjust the display contrast pressing the MENU key (fig 1/4) and rotating
the alpha dial knob (fig. 1/1).
SONGS
The page on the display (PAGE xxx) contains the songs list, in MIDI or
MP3 format, in alphabetical order, 6 titles of 26 letters per page where,
the audio songs (MP3) are marked by the “A” letter before the title while
the MIDI files are preceded by the suffix “M” (.mid) or “K” (.kar). Above
left on the display it is displayed the current page number. To visualize
the other pages it is sufficient to rotate the switch (fig. 1/1): at every click
the page will change to a new one containing 6 songs.
It is also possible to move from a song to another one, utilizing the slider
keys; after the last song the next page will be displayed.
HOW TO PLAY A SONG
It is extremely easy to play a song, it is sufficient to select the requested
song on the current page through the slider keys (fig. 1/9), and then push
the PLAY button. To stop the playback, just push the STOP button. It is
also possible to keep playing the song just halted by pushing the
CONTINUE key that appears on the display after having used the STOP
button.
EASY TUNE
Thanks to this exclusive function it is possible to instantly adjust, before
or while playing a MIDI song, the tonality key depending on the user
needs.
The functioning is extremely intuitive:
•MALE: if this key is lighted M-Blaster will adjust the MIDI song key
for a male voice;

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•NORMAL: if this key is lighted M-Blaster will play the MIDI song in
its original key;
•FEMALE: if this key is lighted M-Blaster will adjust the MIDI song
key for a female voice.
Note: the tonal transposition of “EASY TUNE” is not automatically saved.
In order to do that, the transposition will have to be done (and then
saved) in the “TRKCHANG” (track change) page.
Despite the fact that “EASY TUNE” adjusts correctly most of the MIDI
songs and the transposition depending on the performer (male/female), it
is possible that certain songs, with special peculiarities, will not adapt
perfectly to the transposition.
You can find the tonal transposition of “EASY TUNE” on PARAM-MIDI
page.
OPERATIONAL MODE
Before describing the various operational modes, it is necessary a
preliminary remark on the display and on the slider key. The meaning of
the words and the symbols visualized on the display varies depending on
the chosen mode:
•in SONGS mode: name of the songs;
•in PLAYLIST mode: name of the groups;
•in MENU/INFO mode: player managing functions or played song
characteristics;
•in PARAM.mode: MIDI/Audio global adjustments functions, like the
MIDI transposition and equalizations.
FUNCTION KEYS (fig.1/6)
The use given to the four function keys F1-F2-F3-F4 is variable and
changes from time to time depending on the active operational mode.
Clearly, it is not necessary to remember which function is assigned to
every key as it shows on the last line displayed: in correspondence of
every function key there is a box that displays the possible use of the
below key in that moment.

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In this way the four function keys can always access the “typical”
functions of the operational mode running in that moment.
SONGS MODE
The functions offered by the SONGS mode allow to:
•choose via the slider keys a single song to play using the PLAY
key;
•visualize chords and lyrics (if memorized in the song);
•adjust volume, effects, transposition and playing metronomic time
of the song (“TRKCHANG”);
•exclude instantly from the listening the melody track (if present in
the MIDI file).
Authorised function keys:
If in SONGS mode and with no song in PLAY (or if the previous song is
finished), M-Blaster is in “stand-by” (the STOP button is lighted while the
PLAY button is off).
In the last line of the display the following function keys are active:
•“TRCK ON” / “TRCK OFF”: it allows halting the melody track from
playing. The factory set MIDI channel is 4, however in “Param.”→
“MIDI” it is possible to assign the value to other channels as well.
Once set, the parameter will remain active until the equipment is
turned off or when the function is disabled;
“TRCK ON” the melody track (ch4 default) is activated;
“TRCK OFF” the melody track (ch4 default) is disabled;
•“PLAYLIST”: allows to access the PLAYLIST mode described later;
•“TEXT”: allows to access the visualization mode of chords and
lyrics.
When the M-Blaster is in “PLAY” (Green led above the PLAY key is
lighted), in the last line of the display the following function keys are
active:
•“TRCK ON” / “TRCK.OFF” (see above);
•“LIST” (see above);

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•“TEXT” (see above);
•“TRKCHANG (TRACK CHANGE)”: allows to access the page
where to adjust the following parameters: volume, reverberation,
chorus, transposition and playing metronomic time of the song
being played.
Note: the function TRKCHANG is not available when the song is not in
“PLAY” because the adjustment values of the single parameters vary
depending on the starting value that’s preset on each song. To read the
preset starting values of each song (normally included in the first
measure of the song) it is necessary to put the song in PLAY. Pushing
twice the STOP button the effects (Rev./Delay/Chorus) come
momentarily off from MIC1/2 (“TALK” mode). The effects will
automatically reactivate when playing a song.
When a song is interrupted through the STOP button, in the last line of
the display the function TRKCHANG is replaced by:
•“CONTINUE”: it is the function which usually is coupled with the
functions Play/Stop, and it is used to restart a song exactly from
the point where it had been interrupted by the STOP button.
CHORDS AND LYRICS VISUALIZATION
The function is activated by the function key “TEXT” and it can be used
either before or after having put a song in PLAY. If you active the
function before playing the song, you are sure not to loose the first
phrase.
The underlined song contains lyrics or chords and lyrics it is sufficient to
push TEXT and then PLAY.
To leave the TEXT mode, push the EXIT button.

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NOTES:
Lyrics and chords, if present in the midi file, are visualized slightly in
advance with respect to the part of the song being played, to give the
performer the time to change the sentence/chord. The time of advance
depends from the setup of the midi file.
It is possible to enter the TEXT mode even after having the song in
PLAY. It is also possible to enter and to exit the TEXT mode various
times during the song performance. Entering the TEXT mode while the
song is being played, it is sometimes necessary a short wait before being
able to visualize correctly the lyrics on the display, it may happen to
“lose” the lyric portion that should be visualized while activating the TEXT
mode. In fact, the lyric is memorized in the song and then read by the M-
blaster with a short advance on the point of playing (therefore the lyric
that should be visualized on the display could actually belong to a
previous section of the song, played shortly before activating the TEXT
mode)
To be visualized on the display, the chords and the lyrics have got to be
memorized in the MIDI file. The readable formats are:
• Tune 1000 (files with extension “.mid”): in format “1” or “0”
• Solton (files with extension “.mid”): in format “1” or “0”
• Word Box/M-Live (files with extension “.mid”): in format “1” or “0”
• Karaoke (files with extension “.kar”): in format “1”
PLAY/STOP/CONTINUE
In SONGS mode, to PLAY a song, it is necessary to select it with the
slider key (to underline it).
Pushing the PLAY button the underlined song is selected and played.
Pushing the button MENU/INFO during the song playback the display will
show:
•The full title of the song in playback;
•For the MIDI files, the time signature (4/4, 3/4 etc);
•For the MIDI files the current position, indicated in measures and in
quarter of measures, for the Mp3 files it will be visualized the time
gone from the start of the playback;
•For the MIDI files the metronomic time, for the MP3 files the bit rate
value (kbps).

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If during the song playback the STOP button is pushed, the song is
interrupted. At this point it is possible to use the function key CONTINUE
(to restart the song playback from the point where it was halted) or push
the PLAY button again to restart the song from the beginning.
NOTES:
The song that is playing is always the one underlined with the slider key.
If during a song another one is underlined and the PLAY button is used,
the playback will be halted and the new song will start immediately.
If a song is interrupted with the STOP button see the following:
After having halted a song with the STOP button and underlined another
one, using the PLAY button the new song will start playing from the
beginning, using the CONTINUE function the first song will resume
playing (from the point where it was halted)
PARAM. (Parameters)
Press the button PARAM, also during the playback of a song, to access
the “Parameters” page where it will be possible to adjust the MIDI and
Audio parameters in real time (during playback).
From left, the function keys permit the selection of the page relating to:
1. MIDI, where is possible to find the following regulations:
•MIDI TRANSPOSE: to adjust the global transposition (of all the
MIDI files). The value can be varied of +/- 12 semitones before or
during the song playback.
This parameter will be active until the equipment is turned off.
•MIDI VOLUME: to adjust the quantity of volume only for the midi
files. You should put this parameter on level 0, if you want to use
MBlaster2 with an external expander, maintaining the audio
functionalities (microphone, MP3).
•MIDI REVERB: to adjust the global quantity of the reverberation
effect on the MIDI songs; this parameter is saved.
•MUTE TRACK: to choose the intervention channel of the function
key TRKON/OFF. The factory preset value is 4, a MIDI channel to
which is usually assigned the melody track; this parameter is
saved.

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•EASY TUNE: visualizes the value of the transposition applied to
the song being played.
2. “OUT EQ” : to adjust the output global equalization.
The adjustable parameters are:
TREBLE : high frequencies;
BASS : low frequencies.
3. “MIC EQ” : to adjust the equalization of the microphone inputs Mic 1
and Mic 2.
The adjustable parameters are:
HIGH : high frequencies;
MID F : MID intervention frequency;
MID : medium frequencies;
LOW : low frequencies.
NOTES:
On the medium frequencies the equalizer is of the “semi-parametric”
type. Through the parameter “MID F” it is possible to adjust the
frequency on which intervene, enhancing or easing it up through the
“MID” parameter.
This means that intervening exclusively on the “MID F” parameter no
tonal variation will be heard. The intervention frequencies start from
110hz (identified as low frequencies) up to 1800hz (identified as high
frequencies, or high pitched) and cover the range of frequencies not
modifiable by the “HIGH or “LOW” regulations.
A practical example to understand the regulation of the semi-parametric
filter: enhance the “MID” parameter, then, speaking in the corresponding
microphone move as you please the parameter “MID F”. It will be then
possible to hear the different frequencies to enhance (or ease up) using
the “MID”.
4.“MIC FX ”. To adjust the type and quantity of the effect for the Mic1 and
Mic2.
The adjustable parameters are:
•DELAY TYPE : it is possible to choose among three types of delay:

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Mono/Stereo/Triple;
•DELAY LEVEL : quantity of delay effect;
•REVERB SEND : quantity of reverberation;
•CHORUS SEND : quantity of chorus effect.
“EXIT” to leave the page “PARAM.”
TRKCHANG (TRACK CHANGE)
How to adjust customized parameters of each song (volumes/effects /transposition
/time etc).
During the playback it is possible to adjust and save customizations for
each single song pressing the TRKCHANG function key (activated during
the song playback)
The TRKCHANG page is different depending on the type of file played,
MIDI or audio (MP3).
NOTE: As the effect generator (reverberation and chorus) is common
between the MIDI playback and the MIC1/2, it is possible that the
reverberation and/or chorus characteristics can modify depending on the
type of messages coming from the MIDI file in playback
PARAMETERS FOR MIDI FILES
To be able to adjust the volume, the effects, the transposition, the
metronomic time and other parameters on a MIDI file, it is necessary to
select the function TRKCHANG.
As explained above, the function is accessible from the main page
SONGS through the function key TRKCHANG and visualized only after
that the song has started.

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Once TRKCHANG is activated, the function keys have assigned the
following functions:
•RESTORE: zeroes all the variations to the parameters done by the
user and restores the presets originally memorized in each song;
•SAVE: saves the modifications done by the user through the
function SAVE;
•RELOAD: recalls the last values saved by the user through the
function SAVE;
•MUTE: it mutes a track (same as zeroing the volume of the
corresponding MIDI channel) if on the status bar CHANNEL
VOLUME TRKCHANG is underlined;
•SOLO: it puts to “solo” the underlined channel if on the status
CHANNEL VOLUME TRKCHANG is not underlined;
NOTES: All the variations done through the function TRKCHANG do not
modify in any way the parameters memorized into a song.
To understand the way in which TRKCHANG works on a song, it is
possible to imagine a chart paired to the song, in which all the variations
on the default song values done by the user are memorized (+/- values).
For instance let’s imagine a song with the volume on the MIDI channel
n°2 recorded with the following progression:
 first measure (beat 1.1) set to Volume=100
 tenth measure (beat 10.1) set to Volume=110
When the song is in PLAY, on the M-Blaster display (in correspondence
to the MIDI channel n°2 volume) we will read the value “100” until the
tenth measure, after that we will read “110”.
Let’s imagine we set via the knob PAGE/VALUE a variation on the
channel 2 volume equal to “-020” (saving the variation with the function
key SAVE).

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Playing the song again the display (in correspondence to the MIDI
channel n°2 volume) will read the value “080” until the tenth measure and
“90” after that.
This means that with the TRKCHANG function it is possible to set
variations that will add up (or subtract) the preset parameter values of
the songs. Such variations can be saved on the Compact Flash (in a
chart paired to the song) and will have effect only when the song is being
played not affecting the original parameters that can be recalled any
time.
Once activated TRKCHANG, the display shows a page divided in two
zones by a status bar.
The upper part concerns the managing of the single MIDI channels,
while the lower one allows to choose on which parameter to work.
The choice can be done on the following parameters:
•VOL (Volume)
•TRN (Transpose)
•PRG (Program change)
•BNK (Bank select)
•REV (Reverberation)
•CHR (Chorus)
•PAN (Panpot)
•TEMPO (metronomic time)
It is very important to understand what changers depending on the
position of the slider key: using it in the lower part it is possible to select
the parameter on which to work, being able at the same time to globally
modify it in all the MIDI channels using the adjustment knob. In that case
on the status bar the indications shown will be those of GLOBAL
followed by the name of the parameter in use and from the word
TRKCHANG. It is obviously forbidden the global regulation of PROGRAM
CHANGE and BANK SELECT
Moving the slider key to the upper part (in that case the status bar will
report the word “CHANNEL” followed by the name of the variation in use
and by the word TRKCHANG) it will be possible to adjust singularly, only
for the MIDI channel on which the slider key is positioned, the parameter
in use.

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The upper bar reports the name of the instrument assigned to the MIDI
channel where the slider key is positioned and the value of the parameter
in use, visualized as a variation (-/+) set by the user for that channel.
NOTE: on channel 10 the transpose is only possible in “CHANNEL”
mode
The usable function keys in the TRACK CHANGE page are the same
ones of the previous operative systems RESTORE, SAVE, RELOAD,
MUTE with the addiction of a new one that changes its use depending on
the parameter it is working with.
More precisely:
“MUTE”: visualized when working on the volume parameter. Pushing the
function key it changes the track on which the slider key is positioned.
“SOLO”: Visualized for all the other parameters. Pushing this function
key, as already said, it will be possible to hear only the channel on which
the slider key is positioned in that moment.
NOTE:
1. The MUTE values set for the various channels are saved
through SAVE, on the Compact Flash in a chart paired to the
song. The saving is not done for the SOLO values that have
been modified;
2. Differently to other parameters (that act in a additive way,
summing to the preset parameters memorized in every song)
the parameter TEMPO acts as a multiplying coefficient on the
time setup of each song. Experiment the effect of the setups
of the TEMPO parameter on songs that have TEMPO
variations using the Master Track.
PARAMETERS FOR MP3 FILES
To be able to adjust the usable parameters on a audio file (MP3) it is
necessary to select the function TRKCHANG.
As described above the function is accessible from the main page
SONGS through the function key TRKCHANG, it is visualized only after
the song has started: Once activated the function TRKCHANG the
function keys have assigned the following uses:

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•RESTORE: “zeroes” all the variations done to the parameters by
the user and restores the presets originally memorized in each
song;
•SAVE: saves the modifications done by the user;
•RELOAD: recalls the last values saved by the user with the SAVE
function;
•MUTE: parameter not usable in this page.
The parameters available in this page are:
•LEVEL: adjusts the volume of the song in playback;
•TREBLE: increases or decreases the high frequencies level
(treble);
•BASS: increases or decreases the low frequencies level (bass);
•PANPOT: to adjust the balancing between the two stereo channels
(left/right);
•PITCH: to modify the key of the song in playback without altering
its pace (tempo) The values allowed are +/- 6 halftones;
•TIME STRETCH: to modify the tempo of the song in playback
without altering its key (pitch). The values allowed are +/- 3;
NOTE:
The parameters “PITCH” and “TIME STRETCH” are functions that can
be very useful, particularly ”PITCH”. However is better to remember that
the sonic quality will be altered and that, the more the original key is
modified the more the sonic signal quality will decrease.
PLAY LIST
The PLAY LIST is what M-Blaster uses to organize the files in a simple
and intuitive manner. It is possible to create PLAY LIST containing songs
to be played sequentially (to help organize own repertoire) or to group
song by genre thanks to the software E-LINK. It is also possible that one
song can be part of more than one Play List (without duplicating the song
on the Compact Flash) in order to choose among alternative play lists.
Each Play List can contain maximum 48 songs, mixed between MIDI
files and/or MP3. M-Blaster capacity is up to 100 groups.
The functions offered by the play list mode allow to:

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•Choose a group of songs to play through the PLAY button;
•Choose whether to play the songs in sequence (one after the
other) or if to select and then play one or more songs from the
PLAY LIST;
•Visualize chords and lyrics (if memorized into a song);
•Customize parameters like volumes, effects, transposition and
metronomic time of the song playback.
To activate the PLAY LIST mode it is necessary to start from the SONGS
mode and then push the function key PLAY LIST.
Function Keys activated:
If in PLAY LIST mode and no song in PLAY LIST (or if the previous song
is finished) M-Blaster is in “Stand-by” (STOP button lighted – PLAY
button off); in the last line of the display the following function keys are
active:
•LOOP/NOLOOP: to decide whether, after one song from the group
is finished the next one should automatically start (LOOP) or
viceversa if the song that are part of the group should be played
individually (NOLOOP) ;
•LIST: to visualize the list of songs that are part of the group and to
choose from which one to start among them;
•TEXT: similar to the SONGS mode.
When the M-Blaster is in “PLAY” (green led above the PLAY button
lighted) in the last line of the display further function keys, compared to
what previously described, are active:
•TRKCHANG: identical to the one described in the SONGS mode;
when the song playback is halted through the STOP button, the
function key TRKCHANG is substituted by CONTINUE.
•CONTINUE: is the function normally called Continue, his behaviour
is analogue to the one seen in the SONGS mode.