ESS 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 [email protected]
Distributed in Australia by The Midi People:
PO Box 270
Jannali NSW 2226
Ph: 02 9542 4105
Web: www.ausmidi.com
Email: [email protected]

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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 ….….....20
HOW TO PLAY SONGS IN PLAY LIST ................................................... 20
LIST Visualize the list of songs in a group.................................................21
TEXT and TRKCHANG..............................................................................22
MENU/INFO...............................................................................................22
SONGS ERASE.........................................................................................23
USB............................................................................................................24
TV SETUP..................................................................................................24
OPERATING SYSTEM..............................................................................25
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET.......................................................................26
WHAT TO DO IF: ......................................................................................27

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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 characterised 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 uses a Compact Flash Card as a data storage unit. The M-Blaster can
be loaded with up to 511 songs.
Included in the packaging are:
Off- Line Switching Power Supply Adapter;
CD-Rom containing the e-link software to transfer, manage and backup
files;
Operating manual;
USB cable;
Compact Flash card;
Audio/Video cable (L+R Red/White / Video Yellow).

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CONNECTION AND COMMANDS
Frontal panel
1 10 11 12
9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fig.1
1) Adjustment knob, to modify the values of the various parameters and change
the displayed page;
2) Use this button 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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3) Use this button to access options like: song erasing, adjustment of the TV set
if connected and transferring files from PC to Compact Flash Card. If this button
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 by pressing this key and rotating
the alpha dial knob.
4) These buttons are used for the “Easy Tune” feature, which enables instant
adjustment of the tonality/key of the song for a Male or a Female performer.
5) Function buttons. These buttons select different functions, depending on the
page displayed on the screen;
6) Compact Flash Card housing;
7) Play/Stop, to start or stop the song playback;
8) Arrow buttons, to select elements visualised on the screen.
9) Exit current screen, or go back to the previous 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
Fig.2
1) Stereo mini-jack output for headphones connection;
2) 2 Microphones inputs (Jack 6.3 mm TSR);
3) 2 Audio outputs (to be connected to the audio system);
4) Video connectors. Output (Video out) / Input (Video in)
5) Connector for optional external lyrics display or video camera power supply

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6) Port MIDI Out to connect an external sonic generator;
7) USB connector to connect M-Blaster to a PC;
8) Switch on;
9) 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.2/9). Then connect the adapter plug to a power
point.
IMPORTANT
Please only use the adapter supplied, otherwise the equipment can be
damaged.
AUDIO CONNECTIONS
Connect the M-Blaster Audio Outputs (fig 2/3) to your audio equipment (mixer
line input or directly to the line inputs of audio equipment - AUX or TAPE - of your
home Hi-Fi or similar).
Note: In order not to damage the audio equipment it is strongly recommended
that M-Blaster is not turned on before the amplification set-up.
HOW TO START
M-Blaster is supplied with “e-link” software for the Personal Computer which
allows you to transfer MIDI and MP3 files directly from your PC to the MBlaster
data storage unit (Compact Flash Card). This software can also be used for
backup operations.
First of all install the supplied software on your PC, then connect your 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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Note: when executing the program, if correctly set, M-Blaster will automatically
position on the “USB” page.
After having done this, launch the program by double clicking on the icon created
during installation. As for the software utilization, please refer to the on-line guide
included with the software.
SWITCHING ON
To switch the M-Blaster on, insert the supplied adapter connector into the
corresponding socket positioned on the back panel and push the ON button.
The display will light up and after a few seconds, you will see the following:
READING PROGRAM
Shortly followed by:
ESS
M-BLASTER
VERSION XXXX
MIDI Karaoke Mp3 Player
For its correct functioning M-blaster needs the Data storage unit (Compact Flash
Card), to be inserted in its proper housing (fig1/6). Otherwise, the following
message will appear on the screen:
“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 (fig1/6) without forcing it. M-
Blaster will then display the songs page by page. It is possible to adjust the
display contrast by pressing the MENU key (fig 1/3) and rotating the alpha dial
knob (fig. 1/1).
SONGS
The page on the display contains the songs list, in MIDI or MP3 format, in
alphabetical order, 6 titles of 26 letters per line. 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 of the display is the current page
number. To visualize the other pages 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
one song at a time, utilizing the arrow buttons (fig. 1/8); after the last song the
next page will be displayed.
HOW TO PLAY A SONG
It is extremely easy to play a song. Highlight the required song with the arrow
buttons (fig. 1/8), and then push the PLAY button. To stop the playback, just
push the STOP button. It is also possible to keep playing the song from where
you stopped it by using the function buttons (fig. 1/5) to select CONTINUE as it
appears on the display.
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”
transposes most MIDI songs correctly 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 the PARAM-MIDI page.
OPERATIONAL MODE
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 BUTTONS (fig.1/5)
The use given to the four function buttons 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 button as it shows on
the last line of the display: there are four boxes at the bottom of the display which
correspond to the four function buttons directly below them.

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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 with the arrow buttons a single song to play using the PLAY key;
Visualize chords and lyrics (if memorized in the song);
Adjust volume, effects, transposition and tempo of the song
(“TRKCHANG”);
Instantly exclude the melody track (if present in the MIDI file).
Authorised function keys:
When there are no songs playing in SONGS mode, 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”: this allows stopping 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;
o“TRCK ON” the melody track (ch4 default) is activated;
o“TRCK OFF” the melody track (ch4 default) is disabled;
“PLAYLIST”: allows to access the PLAYLIST mode described later;
“TEXT”: allows accessing 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);
“TEXT” (see above);
“TRKCHANG (TRACK CHANGE)”: Adjust many variables such as the
volume, reverberation,