| INTRODUCTION |
The Space Station is a memory resident, software driven virtual sampler for Windows 95\98 or DOS 5 and greater.
It features all of the standard functions found on a hardware sampler and several others never seen before!.
The user interface has been designed for quick and easy use. However, the Space Station is a professional audio suite, and time will be needed to explore all its possible applications.
The manual deals with all Space Station functions and concepts, but some understanding of MIDI, Sampling and Sound Design is necessary, as technical terms have been used where applicable.
Space Station Pro does not support Direct Sound, or windows sound system drivers, only DAI compatible sound cards can be used. For a full list of DAI compatible cards, see Compatibility\Supported Card List below.
Musicians from all around
the world are finding themselves drawn to the SSPro for its Performance,
Stability and Uniqueness. If you have been looking for a PC virtual
sampler, that can withstand 24Hr studio sessions and the stress of stage
performance, then download the demo today.
| REQUIREMENTS |
The Core of the Space Station's Output Engine can be adjusted to 11Khz, 22Khz or 44Khz in Stereo or Dual Mono modes, this enables the Software to run on any IBM or Clone PC with a 386Dx40 or faster processor, containing 6Mb of RAM or more, a DAI compatible sound card, a dual speed CD ROM or faster, a 16 colour VGA adapter or better and a minimum of 10Mb of Hard Disk space.
386 DX40
11Khz Stereo or Dual Mono
modes only using DOS 5 or greater.
Maximum Stereo Polyphony
expected = 8 notes 11Khz.
486 DX66
11Khz or 22Khz Stereo
or Dual Mono modes using DOS 5 or greater.
Maximum Stereo Polyphony
expected = 15 notes at 22Khz.
P60 - P90
All modes using DOS 5
or greater or the same as a 486 DX66 in WIN 95.
Maximum Stereo Polyphony
expected using DOS = 22 notes at 44Khz.
P100 - P200
All modes in DOS or WIN
95.
Maximum Stereo Polyphony
expected using DOS = 70 notes at 44Khz.
P166MMX -P300MMX
All modes in DOS or WIN
95.
Minimum Stereo Polyphony
expected using DOS = 35 notes at 44Khz.
P2
All modes in DOS or WIN
95.
Minimum Stereo Polyphony
expected using DOS = 40 notes at 44Khz.
For more information on
Polyphony Values please download the Manual.pdf, and read Test Results
page 7.
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| COMPATIBILITY |
The Space Station Pro only supports DAI compatible sound cards, and some of these are from the Creative range. There are many audio cards claiming to be 100% Sound blaster compatible which in fact, are not. The SSPro talks directly to the Digital Sound Processor (DSP) of your audio card. Unless you have one of the Creative Labs cards listed below, full contact will not be established, and the SSPro will not launch.
Space Station Pro will
not support the new Creative range of Cards, (I.E.: PCI64, 128, Live or
Live Light).
This range of cards run
an SB16 emulator that is not capable of recording or receiving MIDI.
The PCI 64 and 128 cards
only support SB Pro 8bit emulation, thus support is very unlikely.
If you own a Live or Live
Light card, SSPro might launch using the SB16 emulator. If you would
like to see full DAI compatible drivers, please contact Creative Labs.
SUPPORT FOR NEW CARDS.
If you own a sound card
that is not one of the supported cards, and are interested in using the
SSPro, please contact your card manufacture and ask them when drivers are
expected. Please keep your eyes on this page as we will be updating
the supported card list as drivers become available.
| SUPPORTED CARD LIST | VERSION NEEDED |
| CREATIVE SB16 | V1.0 OR GREATER |
| CREATIVE SB16 IDE | V1.0 OR GREATER |
| CREATIVE VIBRA16 MK1 | V1.0 OR GREATER |
| CREATIVE AWE32 | V1.0 OR GREATER |
| CREATIVE AWE64 | V1.0 OR GREATER |
| CREATIVE AWE64 GOLD | V1.0 OR GREATER |
| CREATIVE VIBRA16 MK2 OEM | V1.42 AVAILABLE SOON |
| CREATIVE PCI 64 AND 128 | NOT AVAILABLE |
| CREATIVE LIVE LT AND LIVE | NOT AVAILABLE |
| AARDVARK AARK 20\20 | V1.43 AVAILABLE SOON |
| AARDVARK AARK TDIF | V1.44 AVAILABLE SOON |
| AARDVARK AARK DIRECT PRO | AVAILABLE SOON |
| AARDVARK AARK DIRECT | AVAILABLE SOON |
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| FUNDAMENTALS |
The Space Station Loads Waves into RAM, eliminating the need for Audio Cards with RAM on board, the more RAM your PC has the more Waves you can Load. All operations including Wave Play back are carried out from within RAM, limiting Disk access and preventing most of the noise associated with PC Audio. Protected RAM control allows the SSPro to continue running after windows VXD errors, general protection faults and hard disk failure, (Crash Resistance). This legendary function makes SSPro ideal for Live on stage performance, if stability is important to you, then SSPro is the virtual sampler you've been looking for.
SSPro has been reviewed
by popular magazines all over the world. Each of which has found
the software to be capable of functions, not obtainable by any hardware
or software instrument.
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| PERFORMANCE |
The Space Station will perform like any Multitimbral Hardware device, with use of 16 MIDI Channels sharing a global Polyphony Value. Instruments can be Loaded\ Assigned to MIDI Channels and Played back simultaneously. Instruments can be modified both on screen and with MIDI in REAL TIME.
This is tightly written,
performance-driven software at its best, (Martin Walker, PC Notes, Sound
on Sound, April 1999).
If you missed the reveiw
click on the logo below.
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| INSTRUMENTS |
Standard PC Wave files can be Loaded\Assigned to Keys and modified using Sampler\Synth style editing tools. Instruments can consist of 1-128 Waves (single Layered) or 2-256 Waves (multi layered) and stored to disk as Banks.
1-256 WAVES = 1 BANK, 1-16 BANKS = 1 GROUP
SPACE STATION PRO FREE
LIBRARY
4636 pre recorded Waves.
1417 pre programmed Banks.
118 pre programmed Groups.
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| STRUCTURE |
The SSPro has been split
into seven Functional areas known as Zones, each of which is colour coded
and has several Control Windows known as Levels. All Zones and Levels
are numbered for quick identification, and can be accessed with no more
than two mouse clicks.
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| ZONES |
Designed for controlling and Monitoring MIDI, Groups, Banks and Waves.
Desktop (Zone 0)
Split into three Levels
for monitoring MIDI Data, Status and Memory Messages.
Edit Group (Zone 1)
Split into five Levels
for assigning Banks, (Instruments) to MIDI Channels and setting Audio quality\Polyphony,
Sound blaster Levels, MIDI and Preferences.
Edit Bank (Zone 2)
Split into nine Levels
for generating and modifying Banks (instruments). All Levels
within this Zone give access to advanced synth style editing functions
used for controlling Waves in a none destructive manner. All
Versions except OEM.
Edit Wave (Zone 3)
Split into five Levels
for modifying and Recording Wave Files. All Levels within this
Zone physically modify the Waves. PRO and Manufacture Versions only.
Sequencer (Zone 4)
Split into five Levels
for creating and modifying Songs. All Levels within this Zone are
used for modifying MIDI Data in different ways. Zone Under Construction.
Mixer (Zone 5)
Split into three Levels
for transmitting fixed or user definable MIDI Data and constructing
and saving Mixers.
Navigator (Zone 6)
Split into two Levels
for moving around Zones\Levels quickly and providing on line Help for the
current active Level.
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| LIBRARY |
To make the SSPro more immediately useable for amateurs and pros alike, there is an extensive Instrument\Accessaries library supplied on CD ROM. You will find six directories named Groups, Banks, Waves, Mixers, LFO and Envelope.
Groups
Contains a range of Demo
files to get you started.
Banks
Contains a range of sub
directories each of which tree down to list of available Instruments,
ie: Banks\Sounds\Keyboard\Piano\ Acoustic\Grand02.bnk.
Waves
Contains a simular directory
structure to Banks and contains two Types of Waves.
Type One
Loop Waves, one Bar live
performances in the Key of A or E within twelve Tempos. All of the
available Loop Waves have be Assigned and saved as Banks utilising the
Loop Mode 2 Function and without, all Loop Mode 2 Banks have a 2 on the
File Name end.
Type Two
Single Tones Recorded
from Keys C0,1,2,3,4,5,6 used for creating Instruments such as Grand02.bnk,
use these Waves to create your own Instruments and save as Banks.
Mixers
Contains a range of different
User Mixers for controlling all types of MIDI Hardware.
LFO
Contains a range of different
LFO Shapes used within Zone 2 Levels 7, 8 and 9.
Envelope
Contains a range of different
Envelope Shapes used within Zone 2 Level 3.
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| WINDOWS 95 |
The SSPro can be Sequenced
on the same PC running WIN 95/98 as long as there is another MIDI port
installed, this can be a second Sound Card or a dedicated MPU401 or compatible.
The second MIDI port is used to physically Output to the DAI compatible
sound card using MIDI cables, as the SSPro deals only with MIDI generated
by itself or received from the cards external Input, however use
of the AWE32/64 Wave table or SB16 Daughter Board can still be achieve
internally. When using a Sequencer capable of Hard Disk Playback
it is important to Launch the SSPro first unless two DAI compatible cards
are installed or the Sequencer is set to default to the other card, this
is due to the SSPro utilizing the Wave Play back section of the Audio card.
When using two Sound cards Hard Disk Play back is possible but Polyphony
will be seriously effected.
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