_____ ____ ____ _____ ____ ____ | ____| _ \/ ___| / / _ \/ ___|| _ \ | _| | |_) \___ \ / / |_| \___ \| |_) | | |___| __/ ___) / /| _ |___) | _ < |_____|_| |____/_/ |_| |_|____/|_| \_\ _ _ | | | |___ ___ _ __ ___ | | | / __|/ _ \ '__/ __| | |_| \__ \ __/ | \__ \ \___/|___/\___|_| |___/ ____ _ _ _ ___ _ / ___| _ _ _ ____ _(_)_ ____ _| | | |/ (_) |_ \___ \| | | | '__\ \ / / \ \ / / _` | | | ' /| | __| ___) | |_| | | \ V /| |\ V / (_| | | | . \| | |_ |____/ \__,_|_| \_/ |_| \_/ \__,_|_| |_|\_\_|\__| This FAQ is posted monthly to the EPS/ASR mailing list. Last updated: 21/6/94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents ----------------- 1. Introduction to the mailing list. 2. FTP site information. 3. Transoniq Hacker. 4. EPS/ASR effects disks. 4.1 PARALLEL EFFECTS DISK 4.2 AUDIO IN EFFECTS DISK 4.3 RESONANT FILTER DISK 4.4 THE VODER 5. Selected Software. 5.1 IBM software. 5.2 MAC software. 5.3 ATARI software. 5.4 AMIGA software. 5.5 NeXT software. 6. EPS and Midi programming. 7. Hard Disk Drives 8. OEX - Output Expander 8.1 EPS Classic 9. EPS/ASR Bug List. 10. General Questions. 11. Addendum --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Introduction to the mailing list. ------------------------------------ The EPS/ASR mailing list is for the discussion of the Ensoniq EPS/ASR family of digital sampling keyboards. Members post questions, answers, informal reviews, and other information. The mailing list includes nearly 350 men and women from North America, Europe, and Australia. This list is automatically summarized into a digest which is mailed nightly (11 PM Eastern time in the United States.) If you'd prefer to receive a digest nightly instead of mailing list traffic as it occurs during the day and night, unsubscribe from this list and subscribe to eps-digest instead: 1) Send email to eps-request@oak.oakland.edu. In the body of your message, put the command: unsubscribe 2) Send email to eps-digest-request@oak.oakland.edu. In the body of your message, put the command: subscribe To send a message to the list, please send e-mail to eps@oak.oakland.edu. Please do NOT send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to the eps address: these should all go to eps-request or eps-digest-request address. When you send email to that address, the machine there sends a copy to each individual on the list. If you have problems or questions about using the list, send your query this address: jeff@oakland.edu Thanks for looking after us Jeff! Archives of past discussions are available as compressed text files via anonymous ftp to oak.oakland.edu. The file(s) are in /pub/eps/digests, and were compressed using gnuzip. Feel free to access oak.oakland.edu using Gopher (gopher.acs.oakland.edu, port 70) or WWW (Mosaic/Lynx URL: http://www.acs.oakland.edu). Oak's IP address is 141.210.10.117. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. FTP site information. ------------------------ Our current ftp site is oak.oakland.edu and the subdirectories in this area are as follows: /pub/eps/ | +--incoming/ (Upload new files here.) | +--utils/ (Platform specific utilities.) | | | +--amiga/ (Amiga specific utilities.) | | | +--atari-st/ (Atari-ST specific utilities.) | | | +--mac/ (Macintosh specific utilities.) | | | +--msdos/ (MS-DOS, IBM-PC specific utilities.) | +--digests/ (Archived digests.) | | | +--indexes/ | +--samples/ (Public Domain samples.) | | | +--PD/ | | | +--aiff/ | | | | | +--BreakBeat/ | | | | | +--Kick/ | | | | | +--Numbers/ | | | | | +--SecretAiff/ | | | | | +--Snare/ | | | | | +--misc/ | | | +--demo/ | | | +--lm/ | | | +--misc/ | | | +--vfx/ | +--docs/ (Text files for the EPS/ASR) | | | +--utils/ | | | +--reviews/ | | | +--samples/ | +--system-software/ (Operating Systems.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Transoniq Hacker. -------------------- Transoniq Hacker (TH) is an independent users support magazine for Ensoniq products. It provides... * Reviews of samples and patches * Software Reviews * New products news * Free Patches (for Ensoniq Synths) * Phone network for free help * Programming tips * How-to articles * Questions and answers (The interface) * Free Classified adds * Interviews * ...and 3rd party company support i.e... Software, Memory Expanders, SCSI Drives etc. In the forum "The Interface" where letters get answered, not only by TH staff but "real" people at Ensoniq, who offer their services for this section. TH provide a money back guarantee that if you do not think your subscription has paid for its self in 3 issues then you can claim back your subscription. Alternatively they offer a 3 month "skeptics" subscription offer. There is no-way (practically) that you will get your fingers burnt with them, if you don't like TH you get ALL your money back. First time subscribers get a special deal, 12 monthly issues for $18 US ($25 All others outside the USA) This is $5 off the subscription price. Special "skeptics" deal is 3 issues (3 months) for $5 US ($7 Non US). After the first year you revert to... $23/year (US$32 outside the US). HOW TO SUBSCRIBE? Three methods... 1) Mail your cheque (payable to "Transoniq Hacker") OR your (Mastercard/Visa) number and expiry date with details of address, city, state, zip or post-code to... Transoniq Hacker 1402 SW Upland Drive, Portland, OR 97221. Phone: 503/227-6848 (8 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST). 2) Phone their TOLL-FREE 1-800-548-8925 (US only) and give your Mastercard/Visa number and expiry date with details of address, city, state, zip or post-code to the answering machine (24 Hour service). 3) Alternatively and this is a real PLUS!! you can contact Eric (the publisher and owner of TH) via Compuserve on... 73260.3353@compuserve.com You can give your (Mastercard/Visa) details to him over the net, with details of address, city, state, zip or post-code. Why not drop him a line and have a chat about TH (say Scott sent you, Eric will go ... Eh? What? Who is that? :-) The other good thing about having email contact with TH is that you can send in letters/articles easily and quickly and have a chat to Eric at the same time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. EPS/ASR effects disks. ------------------------- Waveboy industries have released a whole bunch of new FX (yes brand new!) for the EPS 16 Plus & ASR-10. They load straight into the EPS FX chip (ESP chip) from diskette. This is a brief summary of what is available: 4.1 PARALLEL EFFECTS DISK ------------------------- For the Ensoniq ASR-10 and EPS 16 PLUS. "Very rarely does a product come along that is useful, elegant, fun, innovative, and (amazingly enough) inexpensive but Waveboy's Parallel Effects Disk (PED) succeeds on just about any criteria used to evaluate a product. ...It's like having your EPS retrofitted with a 'DP/4 Junior.'" Craig Anderton, Transoniq Hacker, April 1992. This disk contains 16 algorithms which load into an EPS or ASR and redefine what the signal processing chip can do. Each algorithm contains four parallel sub-effects. Each sub-effect can process a different (mono) input with a different effect. So it's suddenly possible to (for example) use a long reverb on a snare, a short reverb on the high-hat, a flanger on the bass and a chorus/delay on the electric piano all at the same time. And each of the four effects has a stereo output with adjustable pan and level. The PARALLEL EFFECTS DISK version 1.2 now works with the Ensoniq ASR-10 as well as the Ensoniq EPS-16 PLUS. While the ASR-10 comes with a many effects, most of them are single effects or serial effects. The parallel effects on this disk give the ASR more multi-timbral power. Price: Parallel Effects Disk: $39.95 4.2 AUDIO IN EFFECTS DISK ------------------------- For the Ensoniq EPS-16 PLUS. What Are Audio-In Effects? Audio-in effects let you send external audio signals into the effects processor that's built into the Ensoniq EPS-16 PLUS. A guitar, mic, or line level signal, when plugged into the audio-in jack, is routed to BUS1 of the effects processor. A Mic/Line switch and level control adjusts the gain of the input. But then I can't use the keyboard? No, internal sounds can still play too, using BUS2 or BUS3. You may want to use the unique keyboard-controlled pitch-shifter to change your voice into a vocal quartet in real-time. Or if you're the type who likes to use rhythm loops from records, you will definitely be using the Time-Dicer to change the pitch of a track without changing its tempo. Examples on how to use the effects are included on the disk. Price: Audio-In Disk is $39.95 (EPS 16 PLUS only) 4.3 RESONANT FILTER DISK ------------------------ For the Ensoniq ASR-10 and EPS 16 PLUS. The REZ FILTER algorithm is a striking re-creation of an analog synthesizer, the classic Minimoog. A four-pole low-pass resonant filter is coupled to a lightning- fast ADSR envelope generator. The filter's resonance control (also known as emphasis, bandwidth, or Q) gives it that distinctive analog sound by creating a sharp peak in the frequency response. This peak can be swept up or down on each note or controlled by the keyboard or velocity or any modulation source. It does things you can't do by sampling an analog synth. But wait... there's more: this disk includes another algorithm that does frequency modulation (FM.) There's something about pure FM synthesis that samples just can't capture. It's the dynamic interaction of a performer, making every note a little different from the last. The WAVeBOY FM+FX algorithm uses software inside the effects processor to synthesize one voice of live frequency modulation. The RESONANT FILTER disk works with both the Ensoniq EPS-16 PLUS and the Ensoniq ASR-10. The price is $39.95 direct from WAVeBOY Industries, including shipping. 4.4 THE VODER ------------- The Voder is a keyboard-controlled vocoder and morphing filter bank for the EPS-16 PLUS and the ASR-10. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH IT? Teach your sampler to talk; synthesize and sequence a vocal chorus singing the words to your song! Get those classic vocoder sounds - talking wind, talking bass, talking anything; sequence elaborate EQ changes that happen in sync to the music; all this is possible using the Voder. WHAT IS IT? The Voder effect is a bank of programmable filters that loads into the built-in effects processor of an EPS-16 PLUS or an ASR-10. The filters are multi-band parametric equalizers (EQs) that can be modulated in interesting ways - most notably, they can make a sound talk or sing words! Like a classic vocoder, the Voder imposes the moving resonance of speech onto any input sound. But while the conventional vocoder uses a live vocal input to derive the control information, the Voder uses the music keyboard or MIDI. Ordering Information Send check or Money order to: WAVEBOY Industries P.O. Box 233, Paoli, PA 19301 USA (610) 251-9562 To order with VISA or MC call 215-251-9562. Prices include shipping to U.S. and Canada. Foreign orders, add $6, PA residents add 6% tax. Use Mastercard, Visa, money order or cashier check. Also available from selected dealers worldwide. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Selected Software. --------------------- Below is a list of software currently available for different computer platforms and the EPS/ASR group of synthesisers. This list is current to 1st June 1994. Thanks must go to Garth Hjelte for compiling this list: EPS-SENSE Original EPS Parameter Editor/Waveform Displayer Author: Donna Murray, Jeffrey Richter Available through: Rubber Chicken Software Co., 4118 SW 61st Ave, Davie, FL 3314 (800)8-PRO-EPS Reviewed in the Aug. '89 Transoniq Hacker EPS/ASR-TOOLS Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 Parameter Editor/Programming Assistant Author & Source: Rubber Chicken Software Co., 4118 SW 61st Ave, Davie, FL 3314 (800)8-PRO-EPS Not Reviewed Yet Ensoniq Disk Manager Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 EPS File/PC File Converter Available through: Giebler Enterprises, 26 Crestview Drive, Phoenixville, PA 19460 (610) 933-0332, Demo through FTP eps@oak.oakland.edu: /pub/eps/utilities/msdos Internet: GIEBLER@AOL.COM Reviewed in various Transoniq Hackers EPS-Wave Original EPS Waveform Displayer Author: Richard Robinson Available through: Online FTP- INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/msdos EPSREAD, EPSWRITE Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 EPS floppy Disk reader/writer Author: Goh King Wha Source: Online- FTP INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/msdos EPSPC Original, 16-Plus?, ASR-10? EPS Disk/PC File Converter Author: Steve Bey Available through: Online- CompuServe MIDI/Music Forum library EPSDisk Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 EPS File/PC File Converter Author: Michael Chen Available through: Online FTP - INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/msdos AIFF2EFE and EFE-AIFF Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 .AIFF to EPS instrument converter Author: Terje Finstad, Vetlandsvn. 85, 0685 Oslo 6, NORWAY (e-mail INTERNET:t.g.finstad@fys.uio.no) Source: FTP INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/msdos SoundVert 1.02 Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 .WAV File/PC File Converter Author: Tim Dorcas Available through: Online FTP - INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/msdos, CompuServe MIDI/Music Forum 5.2 MAC software. ----------------- Alchemy - Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10? Wavesample Editor Author & Source: Passport, 100 Stone Pine Rd., Half Moon Bay,CA 94019, (800)545-0775 Reviewed in Transoniq Hacker Sound Designer - Original, 16-Plus Wavesample Editor Available through: Digidesign, (415)688-0600 Reviewed in Transoniq Hacker TurboSynth - Original, 16-Plus?, ASR-10? Sound SynthesisProgram Author & Source: Digidesign Tiresias Original, 16-Plus?, ASR-10? Parameter Editor Author: Chip Burwell, Bokonan Technologies Source: Online FTP (Demo only) - CompuServe MIDI/Music Forum Library Reviewed in Dec.'90 Transoniq Hacker EPSm Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 EPS File/Mac File Converter Author: Terje Finstad, Vetlandsvn. 85, 0685 Oslo 6, NORWAY (e-mail INTERNET:t.g.finstad@fys.uio.no) Source: Online FTP- INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/mac aDOWNLOADER Mac File to EPS File writer Author: Terje Finstad, Vetlandsvn. 85, 0685 Oslo 6, NORWAY (e-mail INTERNET:t.g.finstad@fys.uio.no) Source: Online FTP- INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/mac EPSmINIT Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 Initializer for EPSm Author: Terje Finstad, Vetlandsvn. 85, 0685 Oslo 6, NORWAY (e-mail INTERNET:t.g.finstad@fys.uio.no) Source: Online FTP - INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/mac KRZ2SD1 Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 K20000 File EPS/ASR Converter Author: Terje Finstad, Vetlandsvn. 85, 0685 Oslo 6, NORWAY (e-mail INTERNET:t.g.finstad@fys.uio.no) Source: Online FTP - INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/mac SMAC Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 Roland (S330, S50, S550, W30) to EPS/ASR Converter Author: Terje Finstad, Vetlandsvn. 85, 0685 Oslo 6, NORWAY (e-mail INTERNET:t.g.finstad@fys.uio.no) Source: Online FTP- INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/mac scEPSi Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 EPS File/Mac File Converter Author: Steve W. Berkley, (C) Ensoniq Source: Online FTP - INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/mac 5.3 ATARI software. ------------------- Avalon - Original EPS, 16-Plus, ASR-10 Wavesample Editor Author & Source: Steinberg/Jones EZE (Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10) EPS/ASR Parameter Editor Author: Gelva Software, P.O Box 631, Double Bay 2028, AUSTRALIA Source: The Electric Factory, 011 (03) 480-5988 Reviewed in Dec., 1989, March 1990 Transoniq Hacker, Interface Letter April, 1994 Mzpatch (EPS, 16-Plus?, ASR-10?) Wavesample Editor Author: Mr. Zetterquist Source: Maartists (R.I.P.) Reviewed in the Sept. '90 Transoniq Hacker Disk Wizard (EPS, 16-Plus, ASR) Atari/EPS Disk Manager Author: Steve Quartly INTERNET: steveq@sndcrft.DIALix.oz.au Source: Online FTP-INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/atari-st Reviewed in the Nov. '92 Transoniq Hacker stEPS Original, 16-Plus, ASR-10 Instrument builder Author: Terje Finstad, Vetlandsvn. 85, 0685 Oslo 6, NORWAY (e-mail INTERNET:t.g.finstad@fys.uio.no) Source: Online FTP - INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/atari-st 5.4 AMIGA software. ------------------- GenWave (Original EPS?, 16-Plus?, ASR-10?) Wavesample Editor Author & Source: Interval Music Systems 12335 Santa Monica Blvd #244, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310)-478-3956 Amiga Disk Manager (Original, 16-Plus) EPS File/PC File Converter Author: Timo Rossi Source: Online FTP- INTERNET:eps@oak.oakland.edu:/pub/eps/utilities/amiga, Aminet INTERNET FTP site, Aminet CDROM 5.5 NeXT software. ------------------ EPS-TAR (Original EPS, 16-Plus, ASR-10) Ensoniq SCSI hard disk management Author & Source: Brian Willoughby, email:sounds!brianw@nwnexus.wa.com BrianW@SoundS.WA.com, SoundSoftware, Bellevue, WA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. EPS and Midi programming. ---------------------------- For those of you struggling with the EPS sysex and MIDI while trying to write your own code there is a whole bunch of EPS sysex routines written in turbo-C avaliable for anonymous ftp... AT : oak.oakland.edu IN : /pub/eps/docs FILE: epslib_2.0.tar.Z SIZE: 154704 This is a portion of the readme file in the archive: This is version 2 of my long-promised EPS System Exclusive routine library. The routines contained in this distribution implement a large subset of the routines found in Ensoniq's "EPS Performance Sampler External Command Specification" and should be useful to anyone writing code to control the EPS via MIDI. These routines were written in Turbo C, for the IBM PC and MPU-401, which explains some of the identifiers. However, it should be simple enough to port them to any other platform. All of the MPU-specific routines are defined in 'mpu.c' and 'mpu.h'. There is some IBM-specific stuff in 'eps.c' and 'eps.h', too. These four files should be the only ones you need to modify. I've also included 'epsl.lib', a Turbo C large model library, containing all of this stuff, for those who can use it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Hard Disk Drives ------------------- In the Transoniq Hacker, there used to be a list. They stopped printing it, because there are so many HD out there, and generally most of them work with the ASR/16-Plus. The Original EPS is a problem instrument when it comes to SCSI. The interface was picky, and had no internal termination, which really causes problems, as most connection errors are termination based anyway. Here's the last list the TH published: All PS Systems All Frontera All Ramtek All Eltekon All Dynatek Rodime 45plus, 60plus, 100plus, 140plus Microtech R45, N20, N40, N80, N100, N150 PL1 45 meg Removeable Mass Micro Data Pak 45 - * ASR ONLY * Readers to TH also approved these Jasmine Direct Drive 100 PowerDrive 44 Any Syquest 555 or 88c or 105 Quantum 100M, 210M Seagate 80M Tech Data Model 60e This is not to say that there aren't others that will work though. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. OEX - Output Expander ------------------------ The output expander for the EPS is not just a pin-for-pin audio plug. It has complex circuitry with op-amps and multiplexing so you can't just make your own cable. Here are some details. 8.1 EPS Classic --------------- This information is not too useful to anyone without a basic experience in the design of simple operational-amplifier chip-based circuits. "Inside The EPS"- that happens to be the title of an article by Dick Lord in issue #39 of the Transonic Hacker, way back in Sept. 1988. Here, the signals inside the EPS which drive the OEX are explained as follows (a short excerpt): "The 8-output expander uses these output selection lines to route the differential signals at pin 5 and pin 9 of J16 to one of the eight outputs. Since only three pins are available for selection, outsel0 and outsel3 are combined by an op-amp and fed to pin 2 of the connector. When pin 2 is non-negative, it can control bit 0 of the external output selector. Pin 1 supplies a clock to gate each output sample. In the Ensoniq expander the differential signals probably are not re-combined immediately, but pass through a differential pair of output selectors to minimize switching noise. Power for the output expander circuitry is available from the positive and negative 12V supplies on pins 3 and 4." J16 OUTPUT EXPANSION 5 4 3 2 1 9 8 7 6 1 -> OUTCLK 2 -> OUTSEL0/3 3 -> +12 4 -> - 12 5 -> Differential output - 6 -> OUTSEL2 7 -> OUTSEL1 8 -> GND 9 -> Differential output + (OUTSEL0/3 is described in a graph, but since I can't do graphics here I'll just transcribe it into a table:) J16-2 (pin 2 -> OUTSEL0/3) Level OUTSEL3 OUTSEL0 ----- ----- ----- +5V 1 1 +0V 1 0 -2V 0 1 -7V 0 0 EXTRA ----- I have a few things to add to Dick Lord's notes, but I haven't actually looked inside an OEX. Siliconix makes a few analog multiplexer chips, and they have one which fits the bill for the OEX exactly. The DG507A is a Differential 8-Channel Multiplexer. Here is how it would connect to the DB-9 on the back of the EPS (J16 in the article): pin 1 (V+) = J16-3 pin 2 (Db) = J16-9 pins 4 - 11 are + outputs pin 12 (GND)= J16-8 pin 15 (A2) = J16-6 pin 16 (A1) = J16-7 pin 17 (A0) = "OUTSEL0" from J16-2 through a dc-shifting op-amp circuit pin 18 (EN) = J16-1 AND ("/OUTSEL3" from J16-2 thru op-amp comparator) pins 19 - 26 are - outputs pin 27 (V-) = J16-4 pin 28 (Da) = J16-5 OTHER NECESSARY CIRCUITRY ------------------------- You would probably want to buffer the signals instead of taking a chance on blowing out the DG507 or the EPS. Of course, the more difficult circuit is the op-amp comparator and the 8 sample-and-hold op-amps to store the individual channels as they are clocked by the EPS. The op-amp comparator would need to generate OUTSEL3 by generating 5V whenever OUTSEL0/3 is greater than -1V and generating 0V whenever OUTSEL0/3 is less than -1V. Another section should use an op-amp to generate OUTSEL0 by passing through OUTSEL0/3 when the comparator says OUTSEL3 is logic 1, but a positive dc offset of 7V should be added to OUTSEL0/3 to generate OUTSEL0 whenever the comparator has OUTSEL3 as logic 0. Not too tricky to design this, but I don't have a working/proven circuit to share. The 8 sample-and-hold op-amps should be connected to combine the respective differential outputs (e.g. S1a, pin 19, would connect to the inverting input, and S1b, pin 11, to the non-inverting input - the output of this would be Solo 1). This circuit would be repeated eight times to combine each demultiplexed differential output, this design cancels out any switching noise generated by the DG507 during demultiplexing (thanks, Ensoniq!). Also, it would be just as easy (sure :-) to do a 16-channel output expander. In this case the 8 pre-panned settings would be available individually as monophonic outputs (hopefully without affecting the quality of the internal stereo outputs). A second DG507 would be wired like the first, except that its pin 18 (EN) would be J16-1 AND OUTSEL3 (instead of the inverted /OUTSEL3). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. EPS/ASR Bug List. -------------------- There's a first attempt at a WWW page for the eps/eps16+ bug lists at the that can be accessed via the URL: http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~richard/index.html If you have any troubles with this, please drop me a line. I'm not a subscriber to this list, so I'm not going to see anything that isn't mailed directly to me. I'd also appreciate any ideas about improving the formatting of this information (and how it ought to be indexed and linked together in future). Also, new bugs/workarounds are gladly accepted. richard richard@cit.gu.edu.au. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. General Questions. --------------------- Q. I bought a used EPS classic, and I don't know what operating system version I have, how do I find that out? What is the latest version, and how do I get it?" A. Press COMMAND ENV1, and left-arrow over until you get to the software information page. Press ENYER/YES andyou'll get various tidbits. Don't monkey with the other stuff (though "examine analog inputs" and "calibrate keyboard" are pretty safe). The latest RAM OS version is 2.49, ROM Version 2.40 (Important if you plan on adding a hard drive later). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Addendum ------------ This FAQ is maintained by Steve Quartly (steveq@sndcrft.DIALix.oz.au). Should you have anything you would like to contribute to this FAQ or you think I need to add something else to it, please send me the information at the above address and I will include it. This FAQ is provided *AS IS*, without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. In no event will I, Stephen Quartly, be liable for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages or data loss resulting from the use or application of this FAQ. The entire risk as to the results and performance of this FAQ is assumed by you.