Generalmusic S2 Turbo User manual

INSTRUCTION PERTAINING TO A RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, OR INJURY TO PERSONS.
WARNING - When using electric products, basic precautions should always be followed, including the following:
1. Read all the Safety and Installation instructions and explanations of Graphic Symbols before using the product .
2. This product must be earthed. If it should malfunction or breakdown, grounding provides a path of least resistance for
electric current to reduce the risk of electric shock. This product is equipped with a cord having an equipment-grounding
conductor and a grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into an appropriate outlet that is properly installed and earthed in
accordance with all local codes and ordinances.
DANGER -Improper connection of the equipment-grounding conductor can result in a risk of electric shock. Check
with a qualified electrician or serviceman if you are in doubt as to whether the product is properly grounded. Do not modify
the plug provided with the product - if it will not fit the outlet, have a proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician.
3. To reduce the risk of injury, close supervision is necessary when this product is used near children.
4. Do not use this product near water - for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, or near a
swimming pool or the like.
5. This product should only be used by a stand or cart that is recommended by the manufacturer.
6. This product, either alone or in combination with an amplifier and headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing
sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at a high volume level or at a
level that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist.
7. This product should be located so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation.
8. This product should be located away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, or other products that produce
heat.
9. The product should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked
on the product.
10. This product may be equipped with a polarized line plug (one blade wider than the other). This is a safety feature. If you
are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact an electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety
purpose of the plug.
11. The power-supply cord of the product should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.
When unplugging the power supply cord, do not pull on the cord, but grasp it by the plug.
12. Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings.
13. The product should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
A. The power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged; or
B. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the product; or
C. The products has been exposed to rain; or
D. The product does not appear to be operating normally or exhibits a marked change in performance; or
E.The product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.
14. Do not attempt to service the product beyond that described in the user-maintenance instructions. All other servicing
should be referred to qualified service personnel.
15. WARNING - Do not place objects on product power cord or place it in a position where anyone could trip
over, walk on or roll anything over it. Do not allow the product, or its bench, or its pedal board to rest on or to be installed
over power cords of any type. Improper installations of this type create the possibility of fire hazard and/or personal injury.
16.Electromagneticinterference(RFI).Thiselectronicproductutilizesdigitalsampledwaveprocessingtechnology(S.W.P.)that
may adversely affect radio/tv reception. Read FCC information inside back cover for additional information.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
IMPORTANT SAFETY AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER
(OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS
INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
EXPLANATION OF GRAPHIC SYMBOLS:
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to
alerttheusertothepresenceofuninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the product’s
enclosurethatmaybeofsufficientmagnitude
toconstituteariskofelectricshocktopersons.
The exclamation mark within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the product.

MUSICPROCESSORS
OWNER’S MANUAL

Registered trademarks cited in this publication
Amiga is a registered trademark of Commodore/Amiga, Inc.Akai and Akai S1000 are registered trademarks of Akai
Professional. Apple File Exchange and Macintosh are registered trademarks ofApple Computer, Inc.Atari and Atari ST
are registered trademarks of theAtari Corporation. Sound Designer is a registered trademark of DigiDesign, Inc. Notator
and Notator Logic are registered trademarks of Emagic GmbH. AccesPC is a registgered trademark of Insignia Solutions,
Inc. MS-DOS and Wave are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. Avalon and Cubase are registered
trademarks of Steinberg Research GmbH. SampleVision is a registered trademark of Turtle Beach Systems, Inc. All other
trademarks cited are the property of the respective manufacturer.
********************************
The information contained in this publication has been carefully prepared and checked. However, no responsibility will be
taken for eventual errors. All rights are reserved and this document may not be copied, photcopied or reproduced in part or
in whole without prior consent from Generalmusic S.p.A.. Generalmusic S.p.A. reserves the right to apply whatever
aesthetic, design or functional modifications are considered necessary to any of their products without prior notice.
Generalmusic S.p.A. assumes no responsibility for the use or application of the products or circuits described herein.
This symbol, silkscreened on the instrument’s back panel, is an indication that the S Series unit incorporates
two rechargeable Ni/Cd (Nickel-Cadmium) batteries which are recharged while the instrument is in use.
These batteries maintain data intact (when the instrument is off) in the Ram (if installed), and any user-
programmed data in EDIT GENERAL (date, time, footswitch polarity and operating status, General MIDI
compatibility, Dynamic and Aftertouch sensitivity in S2/S3 and the Sound Test note in S2R).
© 1994 by Generalmusic S.p.A. All rights reserved.

GENERAL INDEX I
SUBJECT INDEX
This index lists all the subjects discussed in the manual. Each subject shows the section and relative chapter where
the subject appears.
Abbreviations
U/S User Interface/Selection P Practical guide
ST SampleTranslator R Reference
For example, “Song-load from disk, P2, R11” shows that the description of the procedure to load a Song from disk
is described in the Practical Guide section, chapter 2 and also in the Reference section, chapter 11.
Song
- load from disk P2, R11
- load as Midi-file P4, R11
- save to disk P3, R11
- save as Midi-file P4, R11
- erase from memory P7, R9
- copy to another Bank/Song R16
- create a Bank/Song P7, R8
- Edit Song R9
Sequencer
- controls P6, R8
- select a Song U/S, P6, R8
- playback a Song P6, R8
- record a Song P9, R8
Performance
- how to programme a Performance P8, R3
- programming the tracks P8, R4
- viewing options of the tracks U/S, R1
Sound
- Sound Library
load from disk (as a Sound Library Setup ) P2, R11
save to disk (as a Sound Library Setup ) P3, R11
import a Song from disk R12
organisation R12
- selection (and assignment to a track)
from the control panel U/S
via Midi P12
- Edit Sound
select the type of Sound R5
select the Waveform R5
creat a Waveform ST, R6
definition of an Envelope P11
definition of Tracking P11
- Real time Sound editing P10
- Edit Sound via MIDI P14
Effects
- Effects Bypass U/S
- Effects Libraries
loading from disk (as an Effects Libraries Setup) P2, R11
save to disk (as an Effects Libraries Setup) P3, R11
organisation R13
- Edit Effects R14
- assignment to the Performance P8, R13
- activation of the tracks P8, R13
- selecting the Effects via Midi P13
- modifying the Effects via Midi P13
Drumkits & Sound Patch
- definition and editing R7
Midi
- assigning the Midi channels to the tracks R4
- difinition and programming the Midi-Common R10
- Midi-Merge R10
- General Midi P4, R10
- communcating with an external sequencer P15
Pedals, Footswitches
- assigning the functions P8, R3-10
- activation of the tracks P8, R4
Wheels
- assigning the functions P8, R3
- activation of the tracks P8, R4
Function Controllers
- use P10 (S2R: R3)
- editing R3
Audio Outputs
- programming R4
SUBJECT INDEX

II GENERAL INDEX
GENERAL INDEX
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................ 2
About the S Series instruments ...................................................................................................................................... 2
How to use this manual .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Convention used in the manual ...................................................................................................................................... 4
2. LAYOUTS ........................................................................................ 5
FRONT PANEL S2/S3 ............................................................................................................................... 6
REAR PANEL S2/S3.................................................................................................................................. 9
FRONT PANEL S2R ................................................................................................................................ 10
REAR PANEL S2R................................................................................................................................... 12
3. OVERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT
& ITS EDIT/DATA HANDLING CAPACITY ....................................... 13
OVERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT ....................................................................................................... 14
The Music Processor concept ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Sound synthesis ........................................................................................................................................................... 14
Sampling............................................................................................................................................................................ 14
Waveforms ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Filters and Sounds............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Bank/Song and Performance........................................................................................................................................ 16
Performance ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Tracks ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16
The Track playing mode .................................................................................................................................................... 16
Bank/Song ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Track configuration ........................................................................................................................................................... 17
Multi-timbral ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17
The mixer........................................................................................................................................................................... 17
“Mute” and “Solo”........................................................................................................................................................... 17
Sources and Destinations............................................................................................................................................. 18
MIDI events ....................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Sources .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Destinations....................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Internal memory and disks............................................................................................................................................ 19
Overview of the data and the memorising facilities (floppy disk and Ram-disk).............................................................. 19
The data............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
MODES OF OPERATION: NORMAL, EDIT/HANDLING......................................................................... 20
Normal operative mode..................................................................................................................................................... 20
Edit/Data Handling mode ................................................................................................................................................. 20
Multitasking....................................................................................................................................................................... 20

GENERAL INDEX III
OVERVIEW OF THE EDIT/HANDLING ENVIRONMENTS ..................................................................... 21
Edit, handling, utility environments ............................................................................................................................... 21
The pages..................................................................................................................................................................... 21
The menus.................................................................................................................................................................... 22
The structure and selection of the menus .......................................................................................................................... 22
Commands/options....................................................................................................................................................... 22
Parameters ................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Simple parameter .............................................................................................................................................................. 22
Main menu and secondary menus ..................................................................................................................................... 22
Multiple parameter............................................................................................................................................................ 23
Graphic parameter............................................................................................................................................................ 23
Escape from edit/handling ............................................................................................................................................ 24
Analysis of the ‘edit sound’edit environment ................................................................................................................... 24
Analysis of two edit/handling environments.................................................................................................................. 24
The “Are you sure?” display............................................................................................................................................. 24
Analysis of the ‘disk’handling environment ..................................................................................................................... 25
4. INSTALLATION, POWER UP, DEMO ........................................... 27
CONNECTING THE POWER CABLE ..................................................................................................... 28
CONNECT THE AUDIO CABLES............................................................................................................ 28
Connecting to an external amplification system ............................................................................................................... 28
Stereo headphones............................................................................................................................................................. 28
S2R: CONNECTING TO A MASTER KEYBOARD OR TOAN EXTERNAL SEQUENCER .................... 29
Connecting to a Master keyboard................................................................................................................................. 29
Connect the Midi ports...................................................................................................................................................... 29
Connecting to a monosplit master keyboard (via Midi-Common) .................................................................................... 29
Connecting to a multisplit master keyboard ..................................................................................................................... 29
Connecting to an external sequencer ........................................................................................................................... 30
Connecting the Midi ports................................................................................................................................................. 30
Check the track status of the midi in Source ..................................................................................................................... 30
Deactivation of Midi-Common.......................................................................................................................................... 30
How to deactivate the Midi-Common channel .............................................................................................................. 31
Save the Midi-Common status to disk .......................................................................................................................... 31
How to save the Midi-Common status to floppy disk ........................................................................................................ 31
Save the Midi-Common status to the Ram-disk................................................................................................................. 32
POWER UP.............................................................................................................................................. 33
Powering up with empty disk drive RAM-disk .................................................................................................................. 33
Powering up with a floppy disk inserted in the drive........................................................................................................ 33
Powering up with data in the RAM-disk ........................................................................................................................... 33
Regulating the volume....................................................................................................................................................... 33
Before turning off the instrument... ................................................................................................................................... 33
S2R: “SOUND TEST”............................................................................................................................... 34
Sound Test in the main display .......................................................................................................................................... 34
Sound Test in the Sample Translator................................................................................................................................. 34
DEMO ...................................................................................................................................................... 35
The ROM demonstration Song ..................................................................................................................................... 35
The “Demo Disk 01” and “Demo Disk 02” demo songs ................................................................................................ 35
Load the contents of “Demo Disk 01” automatically ....................................................................................................... 35
Play back the “Demo Disk 01” demo songs ..................................................................................................................... 35
Interrupt the “Demo Disk 01” demo songs ...................................................................................................................... 35

IV GENERAL INDEX
Load the contents of “Demo Disk 02” in Ram ................................................................................................................. 36
Playback the “Demo Disk 02” demo song ....................................................................................................................... 36
Cancel the “Demo Disk 02” demo song from the Music Processor’s memory ................................................................ 36
5. USER INTERFACE / SELECTION ................................................ 37
DATA ENTRY COMMANDS..................................................................................................................... 38
Dial, +1/> and -1/<, Enter, Exit...................................................................................................................................... 38
Alphanumeric keypad ................................................................................................................................................... 38
How to specify numeric data............................................................................................................................................. 38
How to enter alphabetic characters .................................................................................................................................. 39
Navigating with the Dial, Enter and Exit........................................................................................................................ 39
Use of the numeric keypad to navigate in the menus................................................................................................... 40
«EMERGENCY» BUTTONS.................................................................................................................... 41
PANIC................................................................................................................................................................................ 41
MIDI OFF (S2/S3) ............................................................................................................................................................ 41
EFF. BYPASS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41
UNDO ............................................................................................................................................................................... 41
DISPLAY AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS ............................................................................................. 42
MAIN DISPLAY / SAVE PERFORMANCE ............................................................................................... 43
“Performance” mode........................................................................................................................................................ 43
“Sounds” mode ................................................................................................................................................................. 43
“Save Performance” (save) .............................................................................................................................................. 44
“Save Performance” in S2/S3........................................................................................................................................... 44
“Save Performance” in S2R ............................................................................................................................................. 44
BANK/SONG AND PERFORMANCE SELECTION ................................................................................. 45
Selecting the Bank/Songs and Performances in S2/S3................................................................................................ 45
Selecting with the buttons of the Bank/Song and Performance sections .......................................................................... 45
Selecting the Bank/Songs and Performances in S2R .................................................................................................. 45
Selecting in “Performance” mode .................................................................................................................................... 45
Selecting Bank/Song and Performances in “Sounds” mode............................................................................................. 45
Selecting in “Performance” mode .................................................................................................................................... 45
Selecting a Performance of the active Bank/Song in “Sounds” mode.............................................................................. 45
SELECTING SOUNDS ............................................................................................................................ 46
Selecting Sounds with the Dial (or the +1/> and -1/< buttons) ....................................................................................... 46
Selecting Sounds with the alphanumeric keypad .............................................................................................................. 46
Selecting Sounds directly from the Sound Library ............................................................................................................ 46
CORRECT TRACK VISUALISATION ...................................................................................................... 47
Visualisation of the tracks that can be played on a keyboard ........................................................................................... 47
Visualisation of the tracks that can be played via Midi In (not Midi-Common)............................................................... 47
Visualisation of the tracks played by a Song..................................................................................................................... 47
TRACK PLAYING MODE......................................................................................................................... 48
Track playing modes available for each Source ............................................................................................................... 48
Description of the track playing modes ............................................................................................................................ 48
i How to set a split point for the split track playing mode ................................................................................................ 49
PLAY, MUTE, SOLO................................................................................................................................. 50
Play ................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Mute................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Solo.................................................................................................................................................................................... 50

GENERAL INDEX V
6. PRACTICAL GUIDE...................................................................... 51
1 PREPARE A WORK DISK WITH THE S SERIES DISK DRIVE .......................................................... 52
2 LOAD THE CONTENTS OF A DISK INTO MEMORY ......................................................................... 53
Load all the instrument’s data from disk ........................................................................................................................... 53
Load a Group of Bank/Songs ............................................................................................................................................ 54
Load a Single Bank/Song .................................................................................................................................................. 54
Load a Setup...................................................................................................................................................................... 55
3 SAVE THE CONTENTS OF MEMORY TO DISK................................................................................. 57
Save all the instrument’s data to disk ................................................................................................................................ 57
Save all the Bank/Songs in a Group .................................................................................................................................. 58
Save a single Bank/Song ................................................................................................................................................... 58
Save a single Setup............................................................................................................................................................ 59
4 LOAD AND SAVE A MIDI-FILE ............................................................................................................ 61
Memory format and Midi-files .......................................................................................................................................... 61
Compatibility of the sounds (Midi-files in General Midi/GS standard)............................................................................ 61
Activation of the General Midi/GS compatibility.............................................................................................................. 61
Load a Midi-file ............................................................................................................................................................. 62
Save a Midi-file ............................................................................................................................................................. 63
5 OVERVIEW OF THE DISKS SUPPLIED WITH THE INSTRUMENT .................................................. 65
“Demo Disk 01”............................................................................................................................................................. 65
The Bank/Song directory ................................................................................................................................................... 65
The Setup directory ........................................................................................................................................................... 66
Check the Ram-Sounds contained in Demo Disk 01 ......................................................................................................... 67
Load the Bank/Songs and Setups from Demo Disk 01 ...................................................................................................... 67
“Demo Disk 02”............................................................................................................................................................. 68
Load the new pianoforte from Demo Disk 02 ................................................................................................................... 68
“Freeware Disk” ............................................................................................................................................................ 69
The “Hardcopy” program................................................................................................................................................. 69
The “Disk_Dir” program.................................................................................................................................................. 69
The “Copy_Prg” program ................................................................................................................................................ 69
6 SONG PLAYBACK / THE SEQUENCER CONTROLS........................................................................ 70
Load a Song using the standard procedure....................................................................................................................... 70
Use Preload to load a Song in background ...................................................................................................................... 70
How to select the Song ...................................................................................................................................................... 70
The Sequencer ................................................................................................................................................................... 71
7 CREATE OR MODIFY THE BANK/SONGS......................................................................................... 72
Cancel Song 1 (Demo) ................................................................................................................................................. 72
Prepare a start-up disk to power up without Song 1 (Demo)........................................................................................ 72
Record a new Song using the Performances of an existing Bank/Song ...................................................................... 73
Using a Bank/Song already present in memory ................................................................................................................ 73
Using a Bank/Song contained in a disk............................................................................................................................. 73
Create a new Bank/Song.............................................................................................................................................. 74
Cancel one of the 10 default Bank/Songs present in memory ........................................................................................... 74
Create a completely new Bank/Song ................................................................................................................................. 74
8 EDITING THE PERFORMANCES ....................................................................................................... 75
Create, copy and cancel the tracks .............................................................................................................................. 75
How to cancel tracks ......................................................................................................................................................... 75
How to create tracks ......................................................................................................................................................... 75
Copy a track to another..................................................................................................................................................... 76

VI GENERAL INDEX
How to assign the Sounds to the tracks ....................................................................................................................... 76
Select the Sounds from the main display ........................................................................................................................... 76
Select the Sounds from the Sound Library ........................................................................................................................ 76
Set the tracks to Play or Mute....................................................................................................................................... 77
Track volumes .............................................................................................................................................................. 77
How to vary the track Volumes with the Function Controllers ......................................................................................... 77
How to vary the Volumes in edit performance/tracks ....................................................................................................... 78
TRANSPOSE ........................................................................................................................................... 78
How to vary the track transposition in the track transposer ............................................................................................ 78
How to vary the track transposition in edit performance/tracks ...................................................................................... 79
Effects........................................................................................................................................................................... 79
How to assign the Effects to a Performance ..................................................................................................................... 79
How to engage the Effects to the tracks ............................................................................................................................ 80
How to activate and programme the pedals and wheels .............................................................................................. 80
How to assign a function to a pedal and wheel ................................................................................................................ 80
How to activate/deactivate the pedals and wheels for the tracks ..................................................................................... 81
Save the modifications to the Performance .................................................................................................................. 81
9 HOW TO RECORD A SONG ............................................................................................................... 82
What is a Song?................................................................................................................................................................. 82
The Song tracks ................................................................................................................................................................. 82
Prepare the tracks for the recording ................................................................................................................................. 82
Activate Record mode and select the recording options ................................................................................................... 83
Select the parameters of the Song ..................................................................................................................................... 84
The Song pointer (locator) ................................................................................................................................................ 84
Now record the Song ......................................................................................................................................................... 85
Recording methods ............................................................................................................................................................ 85
10 REAL TIME SOUND EDITING........................................................................................................... 86
The S2/S3 hardware Function Controllers.................................................................................................................... 86
Panel mode........................................................................................................................................................................ 87
User mode ......................................................................................................................................................................... 88
The S2R Function Controller ........................................................................................................................................ 88
Save the modifications to the Performance .................................................................................................................. 89
11 EDITING SOUNDS IN THE STUDIO ................................................................................................. 90
Types of Sound............................................................................................................................................................. 90
The three fundamental Sound types .................................................................................................................................. 90
The combinations: Sound Patch and Drumkits................................................................................................................. 90
Rom-Sound, Ram-Sound, Ram Sound..........................................................................................................................91
Waveform...................................................................................................................................................................... 91
Filters ............................................................................................................................................................................ 91
The filters and the Cutoff-frequency.................................................................................................................................. 91
Resonance ......................................................................................................................................................................... 91
The filter envelopes ........................................................................................................................................................... 92
Envelopes ..................................................................................................................................................................... 92
Types of Envelopes ............................................................................................................................................................ 92
Programming the envelopes.............................................................................................................................................. 92
Tracking ........................................................................................................................................................................ 93
Types of Tracking .............................................................................................................................................................. 93
Programming the Tracking ............................................................................................................................................... 93
Lfo, Pitch, Pan .............................................................................................................................................................. 94
Lfo ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 94
Pitch .................................................................................................................................................................................. 94
Pan .................................................................................................................................................................................... 94
Memorising the Sound in the Sound Library................................................................................................................. 95