Glad
to see that you are offering the FZ Shareware Library,
but I put a lot of work into converting the samples and
there are several people that need to be given
credit!
Randon snippets from the NoteIt web site
(www.geocities.com/soho/2163/fz.html):
In the
late 1980's Casio started a public domain distribution
program of samples. The program had three distribution
houses where users were encouraged to submit samples as
well as add to their collection of samples by sending
formatted blank disks. The FZ Shareware Catalog
eventually grew to include 142 sample disks, including
14 samples which required 2 meg machines. As the years
passed, the distribution houses no longer supported the
public domain library. FZ users were then forced to turn
to one another, often making post on several of the
usenet groups.
After several e-mails between
Steve Petry and myself in November and December 1996,
Steve offered to host some of the samples that I had on
his ATMOSFEAR web site. Slightly before ATMOSFEAR's
demise (around March 1997), I became aware of Jeff
McClintock's work on FZ-Dump, and the very nice cable
that he had developed for sample transfer between a PC
and the FZ. At that time I did not build the cable. In
December 1997 I contacted Casio, and was luckily enough
to speak with Ed Alstrom. He kindly provided me with an
almost complete library. Now with more than 150 disks I
needed a fast way to archive the samples. Remembering
Jeff's PC-FZ cable I built it and was pleased with just
how well it worked.
I could now transfer samples
between the PC and FZ in 35-90 seconds per meg! There
was still one problem, the library that I had was
missing several disks. One more thank you goes to Mr.
Russell Alexander for mailing me several disks and
making the Casio Freeware Collection complete.
Hi
Mike, Do you still remember how to make the FZ-dump
cable? I've been trying for years to get my FZ-1 a
quicker way of dumping to PC. I have seen scant details
of it over the years, but nothing like a "you do this,
then this" simple step-by-step guide on how to make it.
I know many FZ users would appreciate a comprehensive
instruction on how to make it and use it with FZ Dump.
Would you be willing to help us?
The FZ-Dump cable is pretty easy to
build, inexpensive and works well- the only negative is
that it will take a little time to build. To use the
Jeff McClintock's cable, you will also need to be
running DOS (no way on a 98 or XP but I've had been
e-mailed by a few folks that they did get it work work
in DOS mode under 95- I've never been so lucky). PCs are
cheap, and you don't need a speed demon, so it's not too
bad (plus you'll be saving a PC from the
landfill!).
Jeff's FZDump is freeware and there
are copies of the program all over the net (I'll attach
a copy to this post to save you a little
time).
From the text file of FZDump (pretty much
tells how to build it):
------ Begin paste
---------------------------------------
PC to
Casio FZ Synth Cable
Specification ----------------------------------------
Jeff
McClintock 1996
This cable connects a PC printer
port to a Casio FZ-1 Synthesiser High Speed
Port.
NOTES - VERY
IMPORTANT. The data lines between FZ and PC are
bi-directional, FZ-DUMP protects the PC by placing
the port in a safe state (tri-stated). Therefore you
can only safely connect the cable while FZDUMP is
running. ALWAYS Disconnect the cable after exiting
FZDUMP, if any other software accesses the port while
the FZ is connected you could damage your PC.
-
Please be very careful to wire this correctly, clearly
label the cable ends 'PC' and 'FZ', and always
connect the correct way. If cable is wrong, it is
possible to damage either the PC or FZ.
- Try to
keep cable as short as practical for reliability. Mine
is 3 meters.
- Older computers may not have a
bi-directional printer port, these can send samples
to an FZ, but not receive.
- FZDUMP uses your
PC's interrupt 7 to receive data. If another
peripheral (Soundcard etc) is using interrupt 7 or if
your printer port is using another interrupt, FZDUMP
can not receive data.
- FZDUMP for DOS does not
run under Windows. - FZDUMP for DOS MIDI dumps
support only Soundblaster, not MPU401.
FZDUMP is
freeware, and may not be sold for profit.
Thanks to Carsten
Wolters, David Minodier for help developing
FZDUMP.
--------- End paste
--------------------------------
When I built
my FZ Cable box, I cut a DB-25 cable and boxed all the
soldered joints (in a little plastic box project from
RatShack).
I know that this is not a
step-by-step guide, but it is really not too difficult
to build and well worth the time if plan on using more
than a couple FZF samples in a hour (takes about an hour
to dump 4-6 FZF files via MIDI).
When
you are looking at the DB25 plug (from the male side)-
the pins will be "sticking out you"- pin number 1 is on
the top left of the plug, then the TOP row of pins are
numbered 1 through 13. The second row starts at the
bottom left (pin 14) then goes to the right again to pin
25. Like I said, look at the above web site- or one of a
hundred others, and it will all become
clear.
Building the box is very easy, it will
just take time. Be sure to double check EVERYTHING
before connecting it to your FZ and PC. A mistake could
fry either unit.
