General Music S2 Turbo, Owner'S Manual

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GLOSSARY c
Master Keyboard: A controlling device (keyboard). Usually,
a MK is a generator of MIDI events, incapable of gener-
ating Sounds. It is connected to the MIDI IN port of an
external Sound generating device (an Expander), or
another MIDI compatible musical instrument. The Mas-
ter Keyboard’s utility is its capacity of supplying ad-
vanced control functions, centralised in a single system
of controllers. S2 and S3 can operate as advanced Master
Keyboards, with functions such as Split, Merge and the
programmability of the MIDI Controllers.
Menu: List of items. In Edit situations, you can access single
functions or proceed to others from a list (menu) of
different items, by moving the reverse-highlighted zone
with the Dial and pressing Enter. In menus, each function
or procedure corresponds to a number which, if specified
on the numeric keypad, allows you to access the relative
function directly.
Merge: See MIDI Merge.
Microscope: Refers to a particular function of the S Series
Sequencer (Edit Song), in which every recorded MIDI
event of a Track can be individually modified in terms of
the song position as well as the value.
MIDI: (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). A system of
communication between different digital musical instru-
ments. MIDI is based on the connection via three types of
ports: IN, OUT, THRU. The MIDI system renders all
electronic digital instruments completely programmable
at a distance (e.g. from a computer).
The MIDI data provides the receiving instrument with all
information necessary to produce sounds.
MIDI Common: A programmed MIDI channel to, (1) simu-
late the S2/S3 keyboards on a connected Master Key-
board, (2) send control messages (Bank/Song change,
Performance change, Effect Change...) from an S-Series
instrument to another instrument of the same series.
MIDI Controllers: MIDI messages which transmit informa-
tion relating to performance parameters (Modulation,
Main Volume, Damper Pedal...).
MIDI Merge: The function which “mixes” MIDI signals
originating from different Sources, sent by the S Series
MIDI processor to the MIDI OUT. In cases relating to
signals arriving from a MIDI In Source, the MIDI proc-
essor acts as a redirecting device, given that a MIDI
signal is usually directed to the MIDI THRU and not
MIDI OUT.
MIOS: (Musical Instrument Operating System). Refers to the
S Series Operating System, that is, the program that
makes the instrument work. MIOS is resident in ROM
and cannot be modified, but it can be expanded by means
of User Programs.
Modulation: Dynamic modification over time. Modulation
can affect Amplitude (Tremolo), Pitch (Vibrato) and the
Filter. It is usually activated by the right Wheel or by
After Touch.
Move: A function of the Sound Library and Effects Libraries
that permits you to reconfigure the respective maps, by
moving a Sound or Effect from its default position to
another location.
Multitasking: The Operating System’s capability of perform-
ing several operating tasks simultaneously without block-
ing the machine. The S Series Musical Instrument Oper-
ating System (MIOS) is Multitasking, because, for
example, you can modify a Song while the Sequencer is
in Playback mode, you can “freeze” the Edit Sound and
access any other operating system (“Normal” or “Edit”),
you can load or save a Song while listening to another
Song...
Normal: The basic S Series operating environment. It includes
all the Source section. It is the environment in which you
can assign different Sounds to a Track and where you can
select the four different playing modes, Single, Multi,
Layer or Split for the Track configuration.
Operating System: See MIOS.
Option: A space predisposed for the functions implemented
by User Programs.
Oscillator: The chip which produces the sound. The S Series
utilises two oscillators per polyphonic voice. The oscil-
lator reads a Waveform, which is then modified with
Envelopes and Filters, in relation to Dynamic, After
Touch and Pitch Bend messages etc., arriving from the S
Series Controllers and from MIDI IN.
Pan: Abbreviation for Panorama. The Pan is the position of the
Sound between two Stereo audio outputs.
Pedal: Programmable continuous physical controlling devic-
es that can be connected to the appropriate sockets on the
back panel of S2/S3.
Performance: The Track configuration that can be used by a
song at any moment, or in a live situation.
Pitch: Intonation, frequency.
Pitch Bend: Dynamic modification of the intonation. Usually
activated by the left Wheel of the S2 or S3 or by a MIDI
Message.
Playback: The term that describes the Sequencer’s capability
of reproducing a Song. Also the name given to the display
which is seen when you press the Song button in the Edit
section.
Preload: “Background” Song loading while the Sequencer in
playing another Song (the machine is not blocked by
Preload).
Program Change: A MIDI Message which changes the
Sound in a Track. The Program Change can be sent by the
Data Entry section to the Internal Sound Generation, or
sent via MIDI OUT to an external musical instrument. It
can also be recorded in a Song.
Quantize: Correction of imperfect timing errors committed
during Song recordings (including Rhythm patterns).
RAM: (Random Access Memory). A part of the S Series
Memory which can be updated and in which new data can
be loaded. The S Series are provided with 2 Megabytes of
RAM dedicated to new Samples and 2 Megabytes of
RAM dedicated to the operations performed by the
microprocessor, the Bank/Songs, parts of the Setup (Gen-
eral, Sound Library, Effects Libraries, Clipboard) and to
the User Programs. RAM memory is volatile, that is, it is
cancelled when the instrument is switched off.
RAM-disk: A hard disk with high speed accessing possibili-
ties, consisting of static RAM chips which retain their
data after turning off the instrument. If installed, the S
Series RAM-disk can have dimensions of 512 kb or 2 Mb.
ROM: (Read Only Memory). A part of the S Series memory
which cannot be modified, and in which factory pro-
grammed data is conserved, such as the 518 ROM Sounds,
the 209 Waveforms, the MIOS Operating System. ROM
memory is not cancelled when the instrument is switched
off.
Sample: Refers to a portion of the sound recorded in numeric
form. The combination of several samples across various
ranges of the scale is called a multi-sample. In the S
Series, the multi-sample is called the Waveform and it
forms the basis of the Sound, which assumes new Enve-
lope and Filter information etc. during its stages of
development.
Save: Memorize. This is a command found in the Disk
environment as well as the Normal (Save Performance).
Save renders all the modifications carried out to particu-
lar data permanent, or renders a set of data available for
future use (a Song, a Sound Library...).
Search: The function found in the Sound Library which
permits you to look for a Sound quickly by specifying
two or more letters that are contained in the Sounds name.