BPM Studio 4.9.1 Manual

1

RC V3RCP-1001RCP-2001-ARCP-2001-BBPM Studio 4 Pro

2

3

Content

Content

1.01. About this manual ....................................... 81.02. System requirements .................................. 81.03. Package contents ........................................ 9

2.01. Software installation .................................... 92.02. Connection of remote control units ............... 122.03. Hardware reset ............................................ 122.04. The First Program Start ............................... 132.05. Defining Remote Control Unit Parameters .... 132.06. Defining Driver and Audio Parameters ........ 14

3.01. The Program Window of BPM Studio ....... 16

3.02. Player ........................................................ 17

3.02.1. Basic Functions .......................................... 173.02.2. Working with DirectCue keys ....................... 183.02.3. Pitch and Master Tempo ............................. 183.02.4. Fine Adjustment of Sliders ........................... 193.02.5. Realtime BPM Counter ............................... 193.02.6. The Player Window ..................................... 20

3.03. Playlist ....................................................... 213.03.1. Basic Functions ......................................... 213.03.2. Waitlist, Single List Mode ............................ 223.03.3. Ajustable Column Width and Content ........ 23

3.04. Preview Player ........................................... 14

3.05. File- and Playlist archive ........................... 223.05.1. File Archive ................................................ 243.05.2. Playlist Archive ............................................ 263.05.3. Playlist History Function .............................. 263.05.4. Adjustable Column Width and Content ........ 273.05.5. Sorting Order .............................................. 27

3.06. Loop Sampler ........................................... 283.06.1. Using the Loop Sampler ............................. 283.06.2. The Loop Sampler display .......................... 29

3.07. Sample Player ...................................... 293.07.1. Editing Samples, and Assigning to keys ...... 30

Introduction 1

The installation of software 2and of remote control units

Description of the program 3

BPM Studio

4

ContentBPM Studio

Content

3.08. Sample Editor ........................................... 313.08.1. Sample Block functions .............................. 313.08.2. Sample Channel functions ......................... 31

3.09. Cross Fader ............................................... 33

3.10. BPM Counter ............................................. 343.10.1. Monitor Player of BPM Counter .................. 343.10.2. BPM determining in manual mode .............. 353.10.3. BPM determining in automatic mode .......... 35

3.11. File Editor ................................................. 363.11.1. Loading and displaying a title ....................... 363.11.2. Adjusting display range ............................... 363.11.3. Marking ranges, and exporting into files ....... 373.11.4. Adjusting volume and pitch ......................... 373.11.5. The Toolbar ................................................. 373.11.6. Functions of different markers ..................... 373.11.7. Working with Cue Points .............................. 38

3.12. File Info Box ............................................... 39

3.13. Mixer .......................................................... 403.13.1. Audio channels ............................................ 403.13.2. The Equalizer .............................................. 413.13.3. Loading and storing equalizer settings ......... 413.13.4. Recoder ..................................................... 423.13.5. Compressor/Limiter (AGC) ......................... 43

3.14. MP3 Stream Modul .................................. 46

3.15. CD-Player / CD Writer ............................... 483.15.1. CD-Reader ................................................. 483.15.2. Encoding Audio-CDs ................................... 483.15.3. CDDB-Query ............................................... 493.15.4. Copying Audio CDs (Ripping) ...................... 493.15.5. "CD at once" Mode of theCD Player ............ 503.15.6. Encoder ..................................................... 503.15.7. CD-Writer ................................................... 513.15.8. Creating Audio-CDs .................................... 523.15.9. Creating Daten-CDs ................................... 533.15.10. System test in test mode ............................ 543.15.11. Deleting CD-RW's ....................................... 54


5

Content BPM Studio

3.16. BPM Print Designer ................................. 553.16.1. Starting BPM Print Designer ........................ 553.16.2. Export list window ....................................... 563.16.3. Print preview window ................................... 58

3.17. BPM Studio Server Components ............. 60

3.18. BPM Studio File Formats .......................... 61

3.19. Program Options ...................................... 623.19.1. Presets ....................................................... 623.19.2. Options ..................................................... 633.19.3. Audio I/O .................................................... 653.19.4. Storing ........................................................ 673.19.5. CDDA-Copy ................................................. 683.19.6. CD-Writer ................................................... 703.19.7. Remote Control ........................................... 733.19.8. User Administration ..................................... 753.19.9. Server components ..................................... 76

3.20. Additional Functions ................................. 773.20.1. Normalize Function ...................................... 773.20.2. Suchen Dialog ............................................. 773.20.3. Monitor Functions ........................................ 773.20.4. The BPM Database ..................................... 783.20.5. The PreAmp Function (Limiter) ................... 783.20.6. The Backup- and Update Functions ............. 783.20.7. Interface for Visualisation Plugins ............... 78

3.21. User Administration ................................. 793.21.1. In General ................................................... 793.21.2. User specific settings ................................. 793.21.3. Example Configurations .............................. 81

3.22. Network Functions ................................... 823.22.1. Adressing MP3 files .................................... 823.22.2. Network File Archives .................................. 833.22.3. Example Configuration ................................. 85

Content


6

ContentBPM Studio

4.01. Where can I get MP3 files? ...................... 86

4.02. How can I play MP3 files? ......................... 86

4.03. Beat-Matching with BPM Studio ............... 87

4.04. How do I w ork with Playlists? ................. 894.04.1. Adding titles to a Playlist ............................ 894.04.2. Modifying the title order ............................... 894.04.3. Storing a Playlist ......................................... 904.04.4. Loading a Playlist from hard drive ............... 904.04.5. Drag&Drop functionality of Playlists ............ 904.04.6. Adding a Playlist to the Archive ................... 904.04.7. Loading a Playlist from the Archive

into a player ................................................ 914.04.8. Merging a Playlist to an already loaded list .. 914.04.9. Adding title sequences of a Playlist

to an already loaded list .............................. 914.04.10. Screening titles ............................................ 91

4.05. Creating Fades between titles .................. 92

4.06. How can I change title information? ......... 94

4.07. Ripping and Archiving of Audio-CDs ....... 95

4.08. How do I use the Sampler most efficient? 984.08.1. Single Play ................................................. 984.08.2. Scratch Mode .............................................. 994.08.3. Configuring the Sample Player .................... 99

5.01. RC V3 view ................................................ 1005.02. RC V3 description ....................................... 1015.03. RC V3 and fader start .................................. 104

6.01. RCP-1001 view ........................................... 1066.02. RCP-1001 description ................................. 1076.03. RCP-1001 and fader start ............................ 112

7.01. RCP-2001-A front view ............................... 1137.02. RCP-2001-B front view .............................. 1147.03. RCP-2001 reverse view .............................. 114

First Steps with 4BPM Studio Software

ALCATech RC Units:Remote Control RC V3 5

Remote Control RCP-1001 6

Remote Control 7RCP-2001 A+B8

Content

7

Content BPM Studio

Content

Professional work 8with the Remote ControlRCP-2001

Appendix 9

7.04. RCP-2001 description ................................. 1157.05. RCP-2001 and fader start ........................... 122

8.01. Working with Loop Player ......................... 1248.01.1. Recording and reproduction of the loop ....... 1248.01.2. Recording using AutoLoop function ............. 1258.01.3. Loop storing ................................................ 1268.01.4 Loop storing by a DirectCue key .................. 1268.01.5. Loop storing by a Sample Player key ........... 1268.01.6. Deleting of the Loop Player ......................... 1268.01.7. Editing a Loop ............................................. 1278.01.8. Beat-Stepping ............................................. 127

8.02. Working with DirectCue buttons .............. 1308.02.1. Define a standard Cue-Point ....................... 1308.02.2. Editing of a Cue-Point ................................. 1308.02.3. Beat-Stepping .............................................. 1318.02.4. Storing of a Cue-Point by a DirectCue key ... 1318.02.5. Setting DirectCue Points on-the-fly .............. 1328.02.6. Editing of DirectCue Points ......................... 1328.02.7. Deleting of DirectCue Points ....................... 1328.02.8. Deleting of all DirectCue Points

and the Loop Player .................................... 132

8.03. Beat-Stepping .......................................... 133

9.01. Keyboard use .............................................. 134

9.02. Tips and instructions ................................... 136

9.03. Support, Contakt ........................................ 137

9.04. Glossary .................................................... 138

8

IntroductionBPM Studio

Congratulations to yourpurchase of BPM Studio!With BPM Studio software and control units fromALCATech, you have exceptional systems foraudio editing and administration at yourdisposition. With your purchase, you have chosento follow a completely new way in multimediaapplications. BPM studio is a next generationaudio-player, providing all new ways of playing,editing, and archiving audio files. These systemshave been developed explicitly for dance clubsand DJs, although, due to their wide spectrum offeatures, they are utilized in many other areas aswell. Currently BPM Studio is the only softwareon the market, capable of playing and archivingdifferent audio file formats to the extend it does.An unparalleled feature is the opportunity toconveniently control the system with 19” rackmount control units. An experienced Team of DJshas tested this software in professional use, whilestill in it’s development phase. It is subject tofrequent quality control, and improvement. Amodern design, ergonomic user interface, and theremote control units allow for save handling evenunder most difficult circumstances. You will besurprised about the many new opportunities BPMStudio will offer you, regardless if you are an entry-level user or a professional. To ensure that youwill be able to take advantage of the programsextensive features, and work effectively with it, itis highly recommended that you thoroughly studythis manual. BPM Studio is available asprofessional level MP-3 DJ software, supportingremote control operation by one or more 19”controllers. Different controllers are available,distinguishing themselves by different numbersof available features, and price. You can determinethe version you have purchased, by checking thesticker on your box. Also available in this productfamily is BPM Studio Gastro, ( a six fold MP-3player, capable of serving audio output to sixindependent areas of a building) and a personaledition. More information about this product isavailable on our web page, or at your nearest retailstore.

1.02. System RequirementTo use BPM Studio you need the following

� IBM compatible Pentium® PC at least III-700� 128 MB RAM (better are 512 MB)� 20 MB available hard drive space for program files� SVGA graphics adapter with a minimum resolution of 1024x768� 16 Bit sound card (better a professional

multichannel sound card)� 40x CD-ROM Drive� Windows® 98, Windows® ME,

Windows® 2000 or Windows® XP� Parallel port LPT1 or USB Port for dongle� Serial port COM 1 or 2 (if an ALCATech RC unit is used)

1.01. About this ManualThe BPM Studio Manual provides detailedinformation about operating soft- and hardware.It is intended to help you with your initial phase ofworking with this system, and to provide answersto frequently asked questions. It is recommendedto install the software before studying this manual.To do so, follow the instructions in the followingchapter. Also, this chapter covers systemrequirements, and delivered supply. This manualrequires you to be familiar with your operatingsystems major functions and conventions, as wellas knowing how to use your mouse. Bold andunderlined terms are covered more extensivelyat another part of the manual. This part of themanual covers functions of different control units.Please be aware that not all functions areavailable at all control units.

9

Installation BPM Studio

3.) Insert your installation CD into your CD-ROMdrive.

4.) If your PC has auto notify enabled, theinstallation program will now be started. If thisisn’t the case, choose run in your Windows startmenu, and enter: ”D:\setup”, D representing yourCD-ROM drives drive letter.

5.) Now the setup for the main application,additional modules, and the online manuals willstart.

Choose install BPM Studio to start the installation.

6.) Clicking [YES] will confirm the installation. Youcan still abort at this point. If you confirm,installation files will be copied to your hard drive.

7.) Now setup will prompt you to ensure that noother applications are running during theinstallation process. At this point too, you still havethe option to abort the installation, by clicking on[CANCEL]

2.1. Software InstallationThis program needs to be installed to your harddrive from your CD. It can not be executed directlyfrom CD. Whenever working with BPM Studio, thesupplied dongle needs to be installed to yourcomputers printer port LPT1 (or USB Port)

1.) Plug the supplied dongle into the printer portLPT1 (or USB Port) of your PC. (If you havealready installed a printer on this port, simply linkyour dongle between printer cable and your PC’sprinter port.)

2.) If you have purchased BPM Studio togetherwith a 19” control unit, connect it to a serial port,(COM1, COM2), using the supplied serial cable.Also connect your unit with the power supply unitto a wall outlet. Read also 2.2., Connecting thecontrol unit

1.03. SupplyPlease make sure that following parts arepresent:

1. BPM Studio Pro CD2. Dongle (Hardware Copy Protection for printer port LPT1 (or USB Port, optionally)3. Manual4. Registering post card5. RC unit with, depending on box sticker, with - Power supply unit - serial cable

If you are installing an upgrade to version4, you must install into the originaldirectory, if you want to further use thefile archive and user administrationsettings. Please refer to paragraph 10 ofthis chapter.

10

InstallationBPM Studio

9.) At this point register your version of DongleServer Tools to your name by entering your firstand last name and, if applicable, your companiesname. Click [NEXT] to confirm.

10.) Now, optionally, you can specify a path forthe program files, other than the default. It isrecommended though to use the default path,since this simplifies possible support questionslater on. The path to the default directory is:c:\program files\alcatech\BMP Studio Pro.

If you install an upgrade from BPM Studiolight, or Home, and you want to keep usingyour file archive and user administrationsettings, you have to install the upgrade intothe old directory. Ifthis is the case,specify the path byusing the[BROWSE] button.(e.g. C:\programfiles\alcatech\BPMStudio Home).

If you are not surewhere these filesare located, you candetermine the path the working directory by rightclicking on the BMP Studio icon on your desktop,and choosing “properties”. The field TARGETindicates the location of these files. By clicking[NEXT] you can proceed to the next step.

8.) If you proceed by clicking [next], setup willdisplay the ALCATech end user licenseagreement

Please read it carefully and only continue theinstallation process if you agree to adhere tothe license terms. Confirm you agree with thelicense agreement by clicking the [YES]button.

11


11.) The following dialog box confirms that newentries have been created into the Windows startmenu for BPM Studio LE, and other useful links.

Of course you have the option to use another,already existing group, or to rename this entry.You can always go back by clicking the [BACK]button.

12.) The unpacked program files will now becopied to your hard drive, according to thepreviously defined parameters. Throughout thisprocess you will continuously be informed aboutinstallation progress, and remaining storagecapacity of your hard drive

13.) Upon completing this process, accordingentries will be added to your Windows registry,and program shortcuts will be created in the startmenu:

Please be patient at this point, since this maytake a little while

14.) In order to complete and apply changes madeto your system, a Windows restart is now required.You also have the option to cancel and restartthe system later, this is not recommended though.

After a system reboot several shortcuts will beadded to the windows start menu.

Also, a BPM Studio icon has been created onthe desktop. Now you can start BPM Studio forthe first time.

12


2.02. Connecting the RemoteControl Unit1.) Connect the control unit [38] to a free serialport of your PC (e.g. COM2) using the suppliedcable. You may also use a different cable, as longas the length does not exceed a maximum of 15meters (45 ft.). It is recommended to use cablesnot longer than 10 meters. (30 ft.)

2.) Connect the supplied power supply unit [39]with the control unit, and plug in to a power outlet.

The connection of the Remote Control is alsopossible by USB Port. Therefore a special USB-serial adapter is available by ALCATech.

2.03. Hardware ResetControl units RCV-1001 and RCP-2001 come withown integrated processors and firmware. Shouldstable operation ever be disrupted by externalinfluence, the control unit can be restarted bypushing the reset button. If the software is running,it will automatically detect if the control unit hasproceeded it’s internal boot process, and resumenormal operation. To reset, push in sequence thetrack-selector and cue key of player A and B. Uponpushing the last key (cue key of player B) the unitwill reset, and reboot. After completed systemboot, the display will show a message stating thatthe unit is working again.

13


2.04. The First Program StartDouble click the program icon onthe desktop or, from yourwindows start menu choose:programs -> ALCATech -> BPM

Studio. The program will now start, and ask if youwant the small player to be default player for MP-3 files. If you do not want the player to be yourdefault program for such files, click no. You canalso prevent this dialog from showing at the nextprogram start, by checking the “don’t ask meagain” check box.

Upon this, the program will search for all localMP-3 files on your system, The search result willbe shown in the “HARD DRIVE” group in FileArchive .

Now the PC’s serial ports defined in the programoptions will be scanned for ALCATech remotecontrol units. If one is found, the program willannounce so. Now you can start your work.Read our step-by-step instructions how to getfamiliar with the hard- and software, and how tocreate file and play lists.

2.05. Defining Remote ControlUnit ParametersBPM Studio remote control units allow forvariable, individual settings. Thus, for example,the pitch slidercan be usedeither to adjustthe pitch value or,alternatively asthe player’svolume control. Toadjust suchsettings, choose“options” in theplayers pop upmenu (Right clickinto the play listarea), and clickon the control unittab.

In this tab you can, depending on your controlunit model, make different adjustments, andmodifications. Please refer to detail descriptions,ALCATech remote control units, from chapter 6on later in this manual, for this. Also refer toprogram options, chapter 3.7.

14


2.06. Defining Driver and AudioparametersBPM studio offers extensive features, andtherefore requires more system resources thansimpler MP-3 players like WinAMP™ for example.The capability of playing 10 MP-3 filessimultaneously, or various channel signal outputfor example, demand a well configured PC.Further BPM Studio offers extensive possibilitiesto manipulate audio engine settings. The audioengine represents the core of BPM Studio, andis responsible for highest quality play backs withshortest possible remote control latency intervals.

Therefore make sure of the following:

1.) Every sound card in your system must haveit’s own, assigned IRQ. This interrupt can not beshared with other system components.

2.) Also the serial port used to connect the remotecontrol unit must have it’s own, unshared interrupt.3.) Background programs, like real time virusscanners, power- and print management, etc.should be deactivated.

4.) For utmost compatibility to various differentsound cards, BPM Studio provides variousdifferent driver models:

Kernel driver: 4..13ms, this driver is definitelythe fastest

Direct Sound driver: 20..30ms, when emulatingdrivers up to150..300ms (!)

MME Wave driver: 70..180ms, depending onbuffer size, and program chosen options

ASIO/EASI driver: 20..50ms, latency is usuallydefined manually in the ASIO drivers programoptions

This suggests to prefer the Kernel, or DirectSound driver, since both work on the kernel levelof the operating system, and therefore operaterather independent from the systems userresource. The ASIO, and Wave drivers also workrather stable, and are especially suitable forbackground music, like in dance schools,restaurants, etc. BPM Studio supports Wavedrivers, since they are available for almost anysound card, and usually provide smoothoperation. Normally they are also deployableunder Windows NT.

Direct Sound Driver:This is the fastest and most stable common driver.Depending on hardware outfit, it allows switchingfrom Cue to Play within 20 to 30ms. For thedemanding DJ, who is very conscious aboutmixing on single-beat level accuracy, utilizing theCue/Play- and loop functions to accomplish this,this driver is essential. Although, if your soundcard is compatible with the kernel driver, it shouldbe preferred, since it has even shorter latencyintervals while still maintaining stability.

Kernel Driver:This device driver, developed by ALCATech,addresses the sound card on a very low kernelmode level. Due to the very high priority kerneldrivers have within the system, they provideshortest latency intervals from 4..13ms, while stillmaintaining system stability. The kernel driverutilizes common driver functionalities like directsound for example, and therefore supports manydifferent cards, even models that, for the reasonof unavailable direct sound drivers, had to be usedwith ASIO wave drivers, and therefore tended toproduce drop outs.Ex version 4.2 the Kernel driver is also able tooperate under Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP.So, this operating systems can be used as fullmultimedia systems, too.

Especially the new DirectCue, and loopfunctions require minimal latencyintervals, and fastest reaction times.Therefore you should try to keeplatency and buffer size to a minimum.

15

Installation BPM StudioASIO Driver:This driver developed by Steinberg, serves asinterface for many multi channel sound cards. Itis usually a bit slower than direct sound driver,and, in user mode, tends to drop out, if systemresources are low. For the most practicaloperations, where background music is the onlyobjective, they work sufficiently well and stablethough. Usually latency is anywhere between 6and 50ms, and can usually be adjusted in thedriver options. To avert drop outs when using BPMStudio, latency should be set to 20..46ms. Thebest value is usually determined by trying out.Some tested cards have been reported to operateunstable, when used with this driver.

EASI driver:This drivers, developed by Ematic, performancein regards of stability, and functionality equals theASIO drivers. As a matter of fact, it was developedas Ematics answer to Steinberg’s ASIO. Allstatements made about the ASIO, can be appliedto the EASI as well, since these two drivers hardlydiffer at all, although the Ematic driver is onlysporadically supported, and therefore is of almostno importance.

Wave driver (wave out):This is a very stable driver that can be usedinstead of direct sound drivers, although it hashigher latency times. On multi channel cards notsupporting direct sound, or ASIO drivers, this isthe only possibility though, to address differentchannels separately. This driver is well suitablefor background music, but hardly for live DJs atall. Latency times are located between 120 and200ms.

Select the driver most suitable for your needs res.available for your sound card in BPM Studio. Ifyou should encounter difficulties in using BPMStudio, change the driver type.

All important audio engine, and sound driversettings are defined on the “Audio IO” tab, locatedin the program options.Read in the according chapter 3.7. How to adjustBPM Studio’s sound card utilization to fit yourneeds.

Should you encounter problems playing titles withBPM Studio try at first to change the followingparameters.

Size of BPM Studio’s internal buffer. Change thisvalue if you occasionally experience dropoutswhen playing titles, or the players don’t start right.

Size of the drivers buffer. Change this value ifyou can not achieve clean audio playback. (Thisvalue can only be edited when using wave drivers.

Lowest LatencyBPM Studio operates with smallest buffer sizes,and latency times. Deactivate this check box ifyou experience difficulties with your sound card.

This option enables you to manually enter thelatency interval of your driver. If necessaryincrease this value until you achieve cleanplayback.

To use BPM Studio’s monitor functions,you have to perform a sound card test.Further information about this can befound in the according chapter: Monitorfunctions.

16

3.01. The Program Window of BPM Studio

The Program WindowBPM Studio

The appearance of the program window can be changed completely. (Skin support) Inprogram options (Chapter 3.18.), choose a skin you like. On the ALCATech website,(www.alcatech.com) a “design-pack” with tools and hints for your own skin creation isavailable for download.

The program window contains following modules:

Player APlayer BPlay list for player APlay list for player BSample Pla yerBPM File Ar chive

The lower and center areas (play list, and filearchive) are multi functional.

The center are, containing both play lists, can beswitched to single play list, or wait list view.The lower area displays optionally either filearchive, mixer, or CD-player/ripper. Read thereferring sections on how to switch to theaccording sub modules.The following chapter covers structure, andfunctionality of these modules in detail. To quicklyget into working with BPM Studio, we recommendthe step-by-step instructions in chapter 4.

17

3.02. Player

Player

3.2.1. Basic FunctionsThe player controls playback of audio files andone or more CD-ROM drives, if audio CDs areinserted. Besides the functions of a analog CDplayers, a vast number of additional features isavailable, which are only achievable by utilizing aPC. Structure and ergonomic design allow forprofessional use, and make readjusting fromcommercial double-CD-players easy.All titles can easily be inserted and played from aplay list , or a BPM file ar chive by drag&drop.Also simply double clicking on it in the accordingplay list, can load, and start playing a title. Further,it is possible to start a title from your hard driveover the pop up menu.Also at the remote control unit (only RCP 1001and 2001), by using the track selector button, titlescan be selected and started.

Track Keys:

Jumps to the beginning of the title If titlehas played less than two seconds,jumps to previous title.

Jumps to the next title in the play list.

P o s i t i o nslider.

BPM Studio

Loop/Search keys:

Left mouse button: Player willgo into loop mode, if mouse

button remains pressed, search speed willcontinuously be increased.Right mouse button: Player will go into loopmode, if mouse button remains pressed, playerwill continue search at constant speed. If thesearch keys are used with the right mouse buttonduring regular play mode, they behave likecommon fast forward and fast back keys.

Play mode (switch):

Single play stops the player at the endof the current title, otherwise the next

title will be started immediately.

Loop , repeats current title indefinitely

Shuffle , plays titles in random order

Tempo , switches between pitch andmaster speed

Main functions:

Play / Pause: When switching frompause to play, the main cue-point willbe newly set. When the player isrunning, pressing the right mouse

button will slow it down, if the player is stopped,right clicking will accelerate it. (BRAKE function.)

If a title has been ripped using the CD-at-once feature, Chapter 3.15..5, youcan navigate with the right muse button,and the track keys within this title.

18

PlayerBPM Studio

3.02.3 Pitch, and Master SpeedWith these two functions the playbackspeed of a title is manipulated, andsubsequently, the BPM value. Pitchfunction, contrary to master speedalso raises the audio frequency. Thesetwo functions are used for title speedadjustment when mixing. The

univer sal b uttons and ,can be programmed for differentvariation ranges. Assigned by default are:

Pitch:A: +/- 8%, B: +/- 16%, and C: +/- 24%

Master Tempo:A: +/- 4%, B: +/- 8%, and C: +/- 12%

Switches pitch function on or of for thisparticular player

Pitch Bend, decreases speedcontinuously

Pitch Bend increases speedcontinuously

BPM Match, assumes the BPM value ofthe other player

with right muse button:Title will be faded out, and if single play

option is off, the next title in play list will start.

3.02.2. Working with DirectCue buttonsDirectCue buttons offer the ability to start a titlefrom up to 6 cue point positions on, by pressing abutton. The cue points can optionally be placedon the player display via the pop up menu. A lightblue dot, indicates that a cue point has beenassigned to a particular button.

An orange dot indicates the cue point currentlyloaded into the player.To save any given position within a title as cuepoint, click on the M icon in the display, andsubsequent click a cue point button, to assignthe marked position to it. With the X icon, cuepoints can be deleted, using the same procedure.You’ll find a detailed description in chapter 4. FirstSteps.

Optionally, the alternative cue pointfunction can be activated in the programoptions. This will cause the player toplay as long as the CUP key remainsheld. Upon releasing it, the player willreposition back to the cue point.

DirectCue points will not be loaded,when in auto-fade mode. Please DONOT use this mode if you want to usestored DirectCues.

Stops the player, and repositions tocurrent cue point. When holding thisbutton for 2 sec., it can repositioneither to current cue point, or titlestart.

Plays title from last cue point on.

19

Player

Player popup menu

BPM Studio

3.02.4. Fine Adjustment of SlidersWhen you click on the scale beside a slider, thepitch range will be changed continuously in 0.1%increments. Thus, depending on mouse pointerposition, a value can in- and decreased by veryfine nuances.

3.02.5. Real Time BPM CounterBoth players automatically calculate the exactBPM value of a title, if no value is indicated in thetitles ID3-tag. Via pop up menu, ranges from50..100, 75..150, 100..200, and 150..300, areavailable, and can easily be inserted into the titlesID3-tag, so that it is not necessary anymore todetermine a title’s BPM rate with a separatecounter. By clicking [RESET] in the pop up menu,the counter will anew determine the BPM rate,which is useful, for example, to check appliedmodifications to the ID3-tag.

Remove a title from the player

Load a file directly into the player

Retrieves file information

Starts the file editor

Starts the BPM counter

Opens the search dialog bo x

Applies the normaliz e function on this title

Exports this title as WAVE or MP-3

Change title information in the ID3-tag

Deletes all defined cue points, fades and playcounter

Starts the BPM print designer

Opens the program options dialog

20

PlayerBPM Studio

3.02.6 The Player WindowIn general, the player window is divided in twoareas. To the upper left hand area, a titles positionwithin a play list is indicated (TRACK) The centerarea indicates optionally either past play time(ELAPSED), or remaining play time (REMAIN)You can easily switch between these two modesby either clicking in the area, or on the[TIME] button. You can also switch bypressing the according button on theremote control unit.

10 seconds before play time elapses, thisdisplay will start to blink in red, thusindicating the upcoming end of this title.

The top right area optionally indicates the BPMof a particular title (this information is retrievedout of he titles ID3-tag), or it’s pitch value. Asbefore, here you can also define these settingsby simply clicking into the area.The bottom left area shows a resource meter(audio data buffer size), followed by a spectrumanalyzer. In this display the following modes areavailable, to be switched also by mouse click intothe display area:

OFF (very efficient on resources)

Standard balance display

32 Frequencies display with peak levels

32 Frequencies display without peak levels

64 Frequencies display with peak levels

64 Frequencies display without peak levels

Amplitude, chronological

Scrolling title and performer information

The pop up menu allows you to switch betweenspectrum analyzer, and cue point buttons menu

21

Play List BPM Studio

Titles already in use bythe player, (minimum1 min.) are marked in red.

3.03. The Play List

3.03.1. Basic FunctionsEvery player has an individual play list. Play listsare used to conveniently arrange everything fromsmall title sequences, up to whole event orders.Within the play list, title, performer, BPM, and playlength of an audio file are displayed. The blue barmarks a title. All play lists can be stored as playlist files. (*.lst)Generally there are three ways to insert titles intoa play list: The pop up menu’s [load] function, with

drag&drop out of an archive, or with the

button. The title sequence can also bemanipulated, by using drag&drop. A red arrow

assists in this task.

Titles can be send to the player by eitherdrag&drop functionality, or the pop up menu inthe player itself. Depending on program settings,the title will then either automatically start, or beloaded, and pause. Die ability to store play lists,allows you to create complete event orders, forevents, music genres, show interludes and more.Even importing play lists of other software, likefor example WinAMP™ is possible. BPM Studioimports the *.m3u, and *.pls formats.

The following functions are also available:

Creates an empty play list

Loads an existing play list

Stores a created list to your hard drive.

Adds a title to a play list

Deletes an title from a list.

Marks all titles in a list

Opens the File Inf o Box

The right hand play list areas consists of a statuswindow, and the monitor pla yer status windowfunctions can be switched to display with a mouseclick.

Displays how many titles are ina particular playlist

Indicates the overall play time of a list

Indicates the remaining play time of a list

Due to the ability to store play lists with theiraccording crossfader effects, you can createcomplete event orders, for events, music genres,show interludes and more. The actual titlesthough, are only saved once on your system, evenif they appear in different play lists. Read alsochapter Crossfader about how to assign predefined cross fading effects to titles, or to generateown fades.

22

Play ListBPM Studio

3.03.2 Wait List, Single List ModeAside from the possibility to have different playlists for every player, there is another displayvariation, the wait list. In this mode, both play listsare merged to one. With crossfader functions

and you can switch between singlelist display (play list mode) and dual list display

Load title into player

Play Title in Monitor Pla yer

Remove title from play list

Delete title from hard drive

Add title to play list

Show File Inf o Box for marked file

Starts the file editor

Starts the BPM counter for this file

Opens the search dialog

Starts the normaliz e function

Exports a chosen file into WAVE, or MP-3 format

Exchange the artist or title in the ID-3 tag

deletes cue points, fades, and play counter

Starts the BPM Print Designer

Open program options dialog

Pop Up menu for play list

(wait list mode) When switching from dual to singlelist display, files will be merged in a comb pattern.When switching back from single to dual modetitles will be arranged in a “even – odd” pattern tothe left and right, beginning with title A. Oddnumbered titles will be assigned to player A, evennumbered titles to player B.

23

Play List, Preview Player BPM Studio

3.03.3. Adjustable Column Widthand ContentThe columns in the play list can freely be resized,or assigned to fields of the ID-3 tag. For exampleyou can display annotations in place of theversion, and reduce the column width for artist.To change a column’s width, point the mousepointer into the head row between to columns. Itwill change into a bi-directional arrow. Now click,hold, and move to your liking.

The content of a column can be changed asfollows:Right click into the head row of the column youwant to change.

Here you canchoose what contentshould be displayedin this column. Withthe “Align” function,you can set thejustification of thiscolumn to left orright.

With “Reset”, youcan restore thedefault settings. Thisis especially useful ifa column has accidentally been deleted.

Drag&Drop:Refer to chapter 4.4. (How to work with play lists),for a detailed description of BPM Studiosdrag&drop functionality.

Preview players areused to screen titles,marked in the play list.If the “double click loads

player” is disabled in program options , a simpledouble click on a play list entry will start or stopthe preview player. To the right of the player asmall peak level indicator is located.

The player’s display optionally indicates elapsedtime, remaining time, or number of titles in playlist.

Preview player controls: Jump to previous list title

Play

Stop

Jump to next list title

Position slider

Actual play time

3.4. Preview Player

The archives preview player can also becontrolled with the sample player keys <,0, and >. Where < serves as BACK, > asFORWARD, and 0 as START, and STOP

24

File- and playlist archiveBPM Studio

3.5. File- and playlist archive

The many available features of the file and playlist archive make it a ideal tool to manage yourtitles, play lists, and programs, and programarchives.

3.05.1 File Archive

By clicking the button in the lower area

of mixer, and CD player interface, you can changeinto the archive mode. The master archive,containing all mp-3 files on your system can be

accessed with the button. Here titles

can be categorized by genre, release date, dancestyle or other criteria. BPM Studio does not limitthe number of categories, and sub categories tobe created. They will be displayed in the left-handwindow of file archives. The right hand windowshows the content of these categories, like titles,performers, BPM (if available), and play time.

When creating categories, do not use specialcharacters like / or \. Windows will interpret theseas sub-directories, which may cause difficulties.

The buttons and allow you to import

titles from your hard drives into these categories.

This can also be accomplished by using FileArchive’s pop up menu. Once available files havebeen imported, they can conveniently be dragged,and dropped within categories. (Be remindedthough that this will only change a files listposition, not it’s location on your hard drive!) Thisallows convenient, most simple sorting, andarchiving of your titles.Also by dragging and dropping, audio files areadded to, and positioned in play lists . Morefunctions are available with following buttons:

removes marked files

selects all files in a list

inverts the selection

cancels the selection

automatic sor ting

opens the File Inf o Box

opens title search dialog

When creating categories, do not usespecial characters like / or \. Windows willinterpret these as sub-directories, whichmay cause difficulties.

Automatic sorting creates a new filearchive structure with all ar tists ascategories, and CD names as subcategories. Clicking on this button againwill switch back to the previous view.

25

File- and playlist archive BPM Studio

Pop up menu in both archives title lists

Pop up menu in category list

Creates a new category

Adds a new sub category

Removes a category

Renames the category

Delete a category’s content

Display all categories

Closes all categories


Adds files to a certain category

Updates the archive (See additional functions )

Back up / restore your files


Activate/deactivate automatic sort function

Starts the BPM Print Designer


Plays with monitor -player

Remove title from list

Delete title from hard drive

Add titles

Opens the File Inf o Box

Opens the file editor

Starts BPM Counter



Export file as wave or MP3

Resets Cue, fades, play counter

Starts BPM Print Designer


26

File- and playlist archiveBPM Studio

3.05.2 Play list ArchiveThe play list archive is used to convenientlymanage play lists of, for example, events,programs, or artists. All play lists can be storedin flexible categories. Loading complete play listsinto the player is accomplished by using the samedrag & drop functionality as with a single title.You can access the play list archive by clicking

on (If you want to access play list

archive from Mixer or Player, you have to switch

to archive mode first by clicking

Not like in file archive, the title sequence will notbe changed, and titles can be positioned atmultiple locations if they are to be played more

than once. With dragging and dropping, parts ofplay lists can be copied and pasted in anotherlist, or as new selection. Buttons in the lower rowof the archive, function the same as buttonsdescribed in 3.5.1.

3.05.3. Play List History FunctionBPM Studio automatically creates a “PLAYEDSONGS” category. In this category play logs willbe created containing information about whattitles have been played on a particular date. Thisallows you to analyze successful events, and toreuse parts of them at another occasion – simplyby dragging and dropping. Also, printing of listsof played titles for license royalty payments, orevent promoter billing, are no problem with BPMPrint Designer .

Pop up menu of Category list

Create new category

Add new play list

Remove category, or play list

Rename category, or play list

Delete content of category

Show all sub-categories

Close all sub-categories

Open search dialog

Add files to list

Start BPM Print Designer

Open Program Options Dialog

27

File- and playlist archive BPM Studio

corner of the filearchive a status

display, and another preview player, for screeningof selected titles, can be found. In the statusdisplay the number of titles in the current play listis indicated.

Monitor switch for player Aand B. If the monitor playerhas it’s own sound card

assigned, and monitor functions are enabled inthe systems options ( I/O register tab), player Aand B output can be configured on monitor out.

In the right lower

3.05.4. Adjustable column width,and contents(File Archive and Play List Archive)The columns in the play list can now be assignedto ID3 tag fields, and resized. For example, assignannotations to the field that displays the versionnumber, or resize the column for the artist’s name.This way you can configure File Archive to bestsuit your needs.To change a column width, move your mousepointer over the line between two columns in thehead row of a play list. The mouse pointer willchange into a bi-directional arrow. Click and hold,and move the line to your liking.

The information a column contains can bechanged as follows: Right click the column youwish to modify in the head row, a pop up menuwill appear.

In this pop upmenu chose whatinformation yourcolumn issupposed todisplay. The“ALIGNMENT”option allows youto choose thec o l u m n sjustification, rightor left aligned.

With “RESET”,you can restorethe defaultsettings. This is particularly useful, if a columnhas been deleted by accident.

3.05.5. Sorting Order(Only File Archive)Titles in File Archive are arranged in alphabeticalorder. By double clicking into a head row, titleswill arranged in order of this columns content. Alittle arrow in the head row marks this column.

28

Loop SamplerBPM Studio

3.06. Loop Sampler

With the loop sampler it is possible to clipsequences from the title playing in the accordingplayer, quickly and efficiently; for fur therprocessing like editing, playing, or storing for lateruse. For each player, a loop sampler is available,

which can be opened by clicking the[LOOP] button.Loop samplers are independent modules,which do by no means hinder regular

operation of BPM Studio Pro. The operation modeof loop samplers is indicated by a blinking, red

dot in the player’s display, located between TIMEand PITCH/BPM. It can also be seen in theresource meter of the loop sampler. A red dotstands for recording, while a green dot meansplayback.In the program options , remote control unit tab,the record, stop, and play functions of the loopsampler can be assigned to the multi purpose

buttons and . Thus it is possible to

control loop samplers, without having to displaythem.

3.06.1. Using the Loop Sampler

Sample will be played into it’s originaldirection

Sample will be played backwards

Sample will be played alternatingforward and backward

Sample will be played to monitorchannel, instead of player channel

Starts recording

Stops both playback and recording

Plays the sample

Opens a dialog box, to save sampleas file

In the “save file” dialog box, either wave or mp-3file format can be chosen for the sample

You can drag and drop samples on aplayer button.

Moves the start point

Moves samples endpoint

Adjusts output levelfrom –99.9 dB to 0 dB

Adjusts playback speedin a range from –20% to +20%

29

Sample Player BPM Studio

The sample player canmanage up to 9 samples,which are available forimmediate playback byclicking the accordingbutton.A three color LED indicatesthe player’s status. Greenstands for READY, thesample player is ready togo, orange stands for readyin scratch mode. A red LEDindicates that the sampleplayer is loading data.While loading, playback isnot possible.

The sample player consists of nine, numberedbuttons. Each one can be assigned to a particularsample. The maximum sample length dependson available RAM. If a button has a sample

assigned, the number on it appears raised. Whenclicking this button, the assigned sample will beplayed. When “SINGLE PLAY” in the program’spop up menu is deactivated, simultaneousplayback of more than one sample is possible.

Sample player has two different playback modes.In start/stop mode, clicking on the button will startthe sample. Clicking on it again will stop it. Whenin SCRATCH MODE, a button click will start thesample, and every subsequent click will start itanew. You can switch between these two modeseither in the pop up menu, or with the keyboardsscroll key.The VOLUME control of the sample player allowsadjusting output volume independently from thetwo player’s volume. With the PITCH control, thesample’s playback speed can be smoothlyadjusted. By right clicking on the control you canreset to the zero position.

3.07. Sample Player

By utilizing the “+” and “-“ buttons, values can beadjusted with millisecond accuracy. Adjustmentscan also be made by utilizing the keyboard. Thetab key switches back and forth between the fourcontrollers. Cursor keys change values inmillisecond steps, and page up and /down apply10-millisecond-steps.

3.06.2. The Loop Sampler DisplayThis display is divided in three parts. To the lowerleft a resource meter for the sample buffer canbe found. The sample buffer is a reserved RAMarea of limited size. When exceeding this limit,which is indicated by the resource meter, reaching100%, the sample will randomly loop through, andonly the last recorded part not exceeding theavailable, reserved memory will be recorded.

If you want to use the sample at a latertime, you have to save it to disk. Whendragging a sample on the player, anddropping it, a merely temporary file willbe created.

The display to the top right represents the samplegraphically. The display right below it shows thefollowing parameters:

- current volume- current pitch- Time difference between start of the sample anddefined insertion point (P-IN)- Time difference between start of the sample and defined ending point. (P-OUT)

30

Sample PlayerBPM Studio

With the two and buttons, the sample

player output can be assigned to either player A,or player B. This is only necessary though, if thesample player does not have it’s own sound cardassigned, res., if only two output channels areavailable. (Depending on hard and software outfitof your system) When both players are used withone sound card, these buttons are of noimportance. In the pop up menu a LOOP functioncan be activated, that will play the sample untilthe assigned number key is clicked again. Thepop up menu is opened by right clicking a number

key ( ).

3.07.1. Editing Samples, and Assigningthem to KeysThere are two different ways to assign a sampleto a number key. Either in the pop up menu, or bydragging it from a play list or the BPM File Archive,or with the sample editor.If a sample exceeds the allowable file length of20 seconds, it will automatically be reduced tothe allowable value when loaded.

Play sample (equivalent to clicking the button)

Activates / deactivates the loop function for this sample

Loads a audio file directly from your hard drive for this key

Removes assignment for this key

Deletes complete sample block 1 to 9

Opens File Inf o Box

Opens the File Editor

Opens the Sample Editor

Prevents simultaneous playback of several samples

Switches between scratch mode, and Start/Stop mode

Opens the Program Options Dialog

Sample Player Popup Menu

Please be aware that you need at least128 MB RAM, if you want to assign full50 second length samples to all ninechannels.

31

Sample Editor BPM Studio

3.08. Sample Editor

The sample editor allows editing of all 9 channelsof the sample pla yer. It is possible to makeadjustments like LOOP, VOLUME, PITCH FADEIN, and FADE OUT.The nine channels form a sample block, in whichany number, or all adjustments can be saved

as*.SMP-file by using the button.

3.08.1 Sample Block FunctionsThe buttons, located at the window’s bottom, referto the whole sample block.

Opens a dialog box for loadingof previously saved sampleblocks

Opens save dialog box

Deletes all files in the opensample block

Adopts all current settings, andcloses the editor window.

Closes the sample editor,discarding all current settings

3.08.2 Sample Channel FunctionsFollowing settings will be adjusted for eachsample individually:

When LOOP function is active, (see alsosample pla yer pop up menu) the samplewill be played in an endless loop.

32

Sample EditorBPM Studio

Plays a sample (same as clicking on PLAY button)

Activates / deactivates loop function for this button

Load a sample from harddisk

Deletes settings for this channel

Opens File Inf o Box for this file

Opens the File Editor for this sample

Popup Menu in Sample Editor

Volume adjustment forthis sample

Pitch value adjustmentfor this sample in arange from –20% to+20%

Defining the fade in time for this filebetween 0 and 5 sec. (Depending onfile size)

Defining the fade out time for this filebetween 0 and 5 sec. (Depending onfile size)

All these functions can be easily reset to 0 byright clicking into the green display, or on thecontrols. All adjustments can be performed whileplaying a file.

Plays the sample on the monitor channel

Opens a dialog box for loading samplesinto the sample channel. Previously

loaded file will be replaced.

Opens the File Editor, for even moreways of manipulating this file. (Refer

to Editing MP-3 Files in file editor)

Use Sample Editor to save files that havepreviously been assigned a key in thesample block out of Loop Sampler.

More information, current sound card test results, program updates, and frequently askedquestions can be found on our web site at www.alcatech.de

33

Cross Fader BPM Studio

The Cross-Fader is usedto fade between player A,and player B. It can be setto either manual, orautomatic mode. Theautomatic mode can beswitched on and off, byclicking the button.When automatic mode isactive, the fader will byitself fade to the otherplayer, at the end of a title.The fade sequence canbe adjusted in the pop upmenu of Cross-Fader, viapredefined fades, or by

moving the pre set red and blue curve with yourmouse pointer. Dragging and dropping assignsa fade to a title. It will always be assigned to thetitle’s end. All subsequent titles in the play list willnow have the same fade effect assigned; up thepoint where another effect is assigned to a title.Titles in the play list with assigned fades aremarked with a blue underline. If a alreadyassigned fade is supposed to be modified, theedited fade needs to be reconfirmed by draggingand dropping again. This prevents unwantedoverwriting of already assigned fades. All fadeswill be stored in the play list file.

A red, blinking button, in the upper left-handcorner of the display indicates active auto mode.It will automatically be deactivated as soon asthe buttons [CUE], [CUE/PLAY], or [START/STOP] are clicked in either player. With the button, the fade can be initiated ahead of time,by using the current titles assigned fade.

3.9. Cross Fader

When auto mode is not active, fade is initiated byclicking the button, it will be executed withthe predefined settings shown in the display. Thisway it will always use the predefined settings, andnot the settings assigned to a particular file. switches to single list view.

The fade duration is adjusted with the FADE TIMEcontrol, where as, it is important to mind that thisrefers to the whole time frame. Meaning, if thewindow isn’t completely filled, the real fade timeshortens accordingly.

Adjusting fade time

A manually controlled fade can be created withthe MANUAL FADE control

Fader between player A and B

To the top right of the display, the balancing ofboth channels while fading can be observed. Thevertical white line indicates the actual positionon the time axis.

In single play list mode,the Cross-Faderappears in a modifiedlayout. Since this modeis normally used duringauto fading, six predefined fade settingshave been added tochoose from. Also thesliders allow for moreaccurate adjustment. Inthe bottom are you can switch back to dual listview by clicking the button.

34

Cross Fader, BPM CounterBPM Studio

3.10. BPM Counter

This module accurately determines the BPMs(beats-per-minute) of a title and, if desired, savesthis value to the ID3-tag and a internal BPM-Database. Two different modes are available.

Default fade mode

Fade modes 1 to 6

Arrests the display res. the edit field of Cross-Fader

Switches between clock, and fader interface

Pop Up menu in Cross-Fader

When using the MANUAL FADE control, the set fade mode is disregarded

In automatic mode, the base beat of a title isdetermined by utilizing special filters. The programmeasures these frequencies, and analyzes them.In manual mode, the value is determined bykeystrokes.

3.10.1. Monitor Player of BPM CounterBeat Counter providesit’s own player to playtitles to be measured,the Monitor-Player. Byutilizing the positionslider it is possible toquickly navigate to agiven point in a title.

Above the slider, elapsed playtime, and signallevel are indicated. The lower three buttons areused to control playback.

35

BPM Counter BPM Studio

3.10.2. BPM Determining in Manual Mode

Switch counter tomanual. Start the title inMonitor-Player.

The space key on yourkeyboard will function astrigger. Press it at every

occurring base beat.

The program nowcounts every basebeat, indicating so bya red, blinking field. Ifno input is

recognized for more than two seconds, thecounter will reset to 0.

Watch the displayed BPM value. Once it stopsincreasing, you can leave the BPM counter byclicking the [OK] button. The determined valuewill be entered into the BPM database, anddisplayed in the play list

3.10.3. BPM Determining in Auto Mode

Switch counter to Auto.Confirm by either clickingthe [star t] button, or

starting a title in Monitor Player. The module willnow analyze the title using the same procedureas the automatic beat counters in the players.Independent of these though, the beat of a titlewill be filtered, and analyzed. Now watch the BPMdisplay, and the red area. When the shown valuedoes not increase anymore, and the blinking iscompletely synchronized with the title’s beat, itcan be assumed that the beat value has beenaccurately determined.

Since it can happen that a title can not be correctlydisplayed with a standard filter (e.g. red areadoesn’t blink, but stays red), this filter can bemodified. To do so, activate [Filter Correction] inthe lower left corner of the filter window.

Upon starting analyzing, you can now adjust thefilter frequency range, so that the red area willblink exactly once per beat, and thus will provideclean results.The horizontal bar can be modified in position,and width, thus changing the filter curve. Thever tical slider changes the filter intensity(Amplitude). The so created frequency range willbe displayed visually.

After this process is complete the determinedvalues will be entered into the ID3 tag, added tothe internal BPM Database, and indicated in theplay list.

36

File EditorBPM Studio

3.11. File Editor

With the file editor it is possible to cut sequencesout of a file, or to set cue points with single beataccuracy. All applied settings like volume, pitchcontrol, cue in, and cue out will be detected bythe players and applied, and can also be savedin Play Lists .

3.11.1. Loading and displaying a TitleWhen loading an audio file for the first time,initially, peaks will be created, and saved.

This procedure does not make any changes tothe file, it remains in it’s original condition. Peakswill be stored on the local hard drive. In programoptions , you can define if these peaks are to bedeleted after your done working with the program(more storage efficient), or if they should be saved.(More time efficient)

Once loaded the file will be graphically displayed.The field editor consists of two windows, of whichthe lower one always displays the file in it’s wholelength. This way you always have a completeoverview of the file, and are able to quicklynavigate within it. The top window is used to edit,set cue- start- and endpoints, or to select a certainarea for export to a file.

3.11.2. Adjusting Display RangeThere are two ways of modifying the top part ofthe window:Either adjustthe width, ormove thearea bar backand for thbetween the

37

File Editor BPM Studio

The ToolbarStops playback in file editor

Starts playback in file editor

Jumps to beginning of selected area. Ifno area selected, jumps to title start, ifplayback is stopped, sets locator back

to title start

Plays marked area in a endless loop

Assigns magnifier function to rightmouse button

Displays the audio file in wave format

Displays audio file as dots

bottom, and upper window. The upper windowalways shows the area, marked in the lowerwindow.

When marking areaswith the magnifyingfunction by rightclicking and moving themouse pointer, theinverted area will bemagnified, and

displayed in both windows. The area selection canbe made on both windows.

By double clicking into the inverted area you canswitch between zoomed and overall view.

3.11.3. Marking ranges, and exportinginto files

Deactivate the magnifier function , and mark

an area in the upper or lower window by holdingright mouse button and moving. The marked area

will appear red. Tomodify keep r ightmouse buttonpressed, to open popup menu, with optionslike zoom, play, andsave as *.wav or

*.mp3 single right click. Save as file, if you wishto work with selection at a later point.

3.11.4. Adjusting volume and pitchThe volume controlallows to set outputvolume between –20 to0 dB

The pitch range can bemodified by +/- 20%

The + and – keys allow fine adjusting these values.They will be saved, and applied when loading fileinto player. The set pitch value will be added ontop of the value the player is set for.

3.11.5. Functions of different markersThe file editor recognizes four different markers,which can be used to mark different positions orareas within an audio file. All markers can beedited via pop up menu in the in the marker row,or moved with the mouse pointer.

The red locator – indicates the current play

and pause positions, and can equals the positionsliders in players, and Monitor Players. Thismarker can be positioned by left click.

38

File EditorBPM Studio

The blue entrance and end markers –

mark the beginning and end of a title. They, also,can be moved either with the mouse pointer, orvia pop up menu. Once placed, the position sliderin the players will use these markers as new startand endpoint of a title.

The yellow cue point markers – indicate cue

points. They also can be moved with the mousepointer. Via the pop up menu in the marker row,additional cue points can be inserted

The blue cue point marker – indicates the

active cue point. The active point is defined byeither in the cue point list to the top right, the popup menu, or the CUP button in the player.

3.11.7. Working with cue pointsA cue point is a position within a title recognizedby players as start point. The CUE button inplayers navigates to these points, and the CUPbutton starts playback from this point on. (Equalto CUE and PLAY) The file editor can assign upto nine cue points within each title.

Ex version 4.2 of BPM Studio the cue points defined within the File Editor are alsowrapped as DirectCue points when loading the title.

Defines current cuepoint as standard

Deletes current cuepoint

Places start marker at this position

Places endmarker at this position.

Marker Row Popup Menu

Since players have only one CUE and CUPbutton, one of these points will be defined asstandard cuepoint. Thispoint will beused asd e f a u l twhenever CUE or CUP is clicked. To manage cuepoints, the file editors cue point list, in the upperright corner is used. Here the cue points are listedwith their exact location (1/1000sec. Accuracy)The current cue point is marked with a blue bar.When playing the title in the field editor, this bartravels, and always indicates the last passed cuepoint.

Adds a cue point

Deletes selected cue point

Defines selected cue point as standard

Plays title form selected cue point on, placeslocator to selected cue point

39

File Info Box BPM Studio

3.12. File Info BoxThe “GENRE”field generates adrop down menu,allowing you toassign titles todifferent styles.This way you cancategorize titles,which allows forconvenient searching later on.

Confirms changes

Cancels without saving changes

Retrieves additional information ifthe file has been ripped from CDby using CD-at-once. This button

only appears if the whole CD has been ripped asone title

Starts the BPM Counter for thattitle

Opens this title in file editor.

The File Info Box allows editing the entire ID3tag. In the program options you can choose tosave this information in the new ID3v3 format, orto keep the old ID3 format. If the File Info Box isopened from multiple selections, an additionaldrop down menu appears, allowing you to select,and edit particular titles.

If you want to change an entry for all selectedtitles mark the related checkbox for this entry andconfirm with OK.

40

MixerBPM Studio

The mixer merges all internal, and external audiosources. For players A and B, and the CD-ROMdrive frequency ranges can be adjusted andcorrected. The AGC is responsible for a steady,constant output level, and prevents through alimiter overload of the connected PA system. Withthe Recorder it is possible to record the audiosignal from an external audio source (MIC orLINE IN). Recordings can also be done from thecurrently loaded program of both players.Recordings can be saved as either *.mp3 or *.wavfiles, or they can also be sent to a streamingserver.

3.13.1. Audio ChannelsThe audio mixer has four internalstereo inputs (Players A and B,CD-ROM drive, and Sampler),and two stereo outputs (Master,Monitor). The recorder supportstwo sound card inputs (MIC andLINE IN). The level control allowsadjusting the volume for everysingle stereo channel separately.A level indicator to the right ofthe control indicates the volume.The dB values of the individualchannels are indicated to the topright. Using the panning field to the top right, thechannel balance can be shifted. A right clickresets to zero. Channels can be muted by clickingthe [MUTE] button.

The Mixer contains of four components, whichare displayed as pairs. In standard view, to theleft the audio channels are located, and theequalizer to the right. In the master channel (sumof all audio signal sources) a Compressor /

3.13. Mixer

limiter module (AGC – Automatic-Gain-Control)can be switched into the channel, by clicking the

button, below the master volume control.Optionally the equalizer display can be replacedwith the recorder by clicking the button.

Level indicators can be turned off in theprogram options. This saves systemresources.

41

MIxer BPM Studio

permanently, the overall amplification of theequalizer is set to high, which can causedistor tions. In this case it is recommendedactivate the PREAMP (Limiter) function, or tomake according adjustments to the equalizersettings.The to start the recorder click on the button

3.13.3. Loading and Storing EqualizerSettingsBPM Studio supports loading and saving of asmany different equalizer settings as you like. Also,predefined templates are available. To manageyour settings use the “Presets” function in theequalizer’s pop up menu.

Each input channel’s monitor button (Players Aand B, CD-ROM, and Sampler), allows to routethe audio signal through the MONITOR outputchannel, where it can be played independentlyfrom titles currently played by the players. Thisrequires of course that the monitor options areenabled in the program options, and that themonitor has disposition over it’s own sound card.

To the left of the channel designation beat displaysfor every input channel can be found. TheMASTER-Output controls the overall volume ofall four input channels. Located close by, is theAGC Module button, indicating by a little LED init’s center if it is active or not.

All control can be reset to a value of –1.0dB bysimply right clicking on them.

3.13.2. The Equalizer

The equalizer is used to adjust and correctfrequency ranges of Players A, B, and the CDplayer. Individual player settings can be opened

by clicking buttons , and be

activated and deactivated by clicking . Thecontrols allow to adjust every single one of all 14frequency ranges individually. These settings aregraphically displayed in a curve, located in thedisplay above the controls. By right clicking intothe display, or a click on the button, this curvewill be reset to linear frequency ranges.If the red OVERFLOW LED comes one

42

MixerBPM Studio

3.13.4. Recorder

The button in the equalizer opens therecorder. The MIC and LINE controls are used tomanipulate two input signals of any sound card.Too choose a sound card use the controls popup menu. Also, the MP3-Stream-Module can bechosen there. The RECORD IN control is used tomanipulate the overall recording, and transmittinglevel.

The button starts recording, res.

transmitting. The button allows to

adjust recording levels before doing so. Thecurrent recording is marked by a red dot, and acounting elapsed time counter ( ).

Ends recording. If you have recorded

in WAVE or MP3 format, a dialog box will appearasking you to define name, and in what directory

this file should be saved. automaticallystarts recording, if a predefined input starts toreceive audio data.

In the menu point “RECORDING FORMAT” youcan determine to what file type your audio datais to be converted. Available are WAVE format(resource efficient), MP3 file (storage capacityefficient), MP3 Stream to a streaming server, oroutput to a Visualizations Plugins interface.Streaming module and visualization interface aresubject another point in this manual. The

button leads back to equalizer.

The Equalizer Popup Menu

Limiter function

Signal Subsidizing

Opens the equalizer settings menu

Resets settings back to zero

Displays the Program Options

43

Mixer, AGC BPM Studio

3.13.5. Compressor/Limiter (AGC)

Especially when recording MP3 files seriousdifferences in volume level may occur. Reasonfor this are usually differently mastered CDs, ordeferring encoding parameters, when different

To record a current program, all virtual devices need to be assigned to the same, duplexcapable, sound card. The windows mixer settings for this card need to be set on enableWAVE recording and LOOP functions. And this card needs to be chosen as recordingdevice in the RECORDER field.

Recorder Popup menu

Select sound card for recording

Select file format fore recording

Dialog for program options

Save settings

Opens search dialog

System functions

Exit BPM Studio

encoding software is used. The AGC modulecompensates these differences in real time, andprovides a stable audio output signal. The modulecan be adjusted in three level-, and two timeparameters.

The AGC-Modul is developed primary forusing with background music or pre-defined playlists. So this module will bework only in Autofade Mode in the currentprogram version.

44

AGCBPM Studio

Threshold(Adjustment level –60 to 0 dB)This parameter defines the trigger level of thecontrol. Soft passages or silence at the beginningand end of a title will not be changed to avoidnegative impact on a titles total dynamic. Thisalso prevents unwanted increasing and amplifyingof unwanted background noise.

Target(Adjustment level –21 to -3 dB)This is the predefined target output level. AGCwill try to raise or lower every level that is louderor quieter than the threshold level.

Scope(Adjustment level 0 to 21 dB)This value defines the max. amplification ordiminution, thus defining the intensity of thecontrol. If, for example, a peak level exceeds morethan the scope value over the target, it will onlybe decreased by the max. Scope value.

Attack(Adjustment level from 1 to 500ms)With this parameter the latency of this control canbe adjusted. Peak levels lasting shorter than thisvalue, will not be recognized by the AGC.

Release(Adjustment level 1 to 500ms)This parameter defines how long it takes for theintervention to abate res. how long it takes to goback to regular output level.

Limiter(Adjustment level –18 to 0 dB)The limiter restricts levels at very short reactiontime. It’s purpose is to restrict the signal level, toprotect devices in the following signal course likeexternal mixers, cross overs, output stages, andspeakers from over modulation and overloading.Below it’s predefined trigger level it stays inactive.

Input / Output(Adjustment level –12 to 12 dB)These two controls allow a linear adjustment ofinput and output signal. The displayed barsrepresent signal level before and after the change.

Displays within the AGC ModuleThe display within the AGC modules consists ofthe compressor display (left), and the limiterdisplay (right). If the amplification indicator ispositioned in the center, the signalloops through the AGC modulewithout modification. If the indicatortravels below the zero level, the inputsignal is too strong, and is weakenedby the module in accordance withpredefined parameters. Vice Versa,the signal will be amplified, if theindicator travels above the zero level.

The red bar in the top right handcorner indicates the trigger level ofthe limiter. The peak level at theAGC’s signal output is marked inyellow. As long as this marker movesbelow the red area, no modificationswill be applied. Should this marker touch the redarea, the signal will rapidly be lowered to thedefined maximum peak level.

The Limiter also allows to restrict veryshort peak levels, which the AGC wouldnot address, since the AGC response timeis way shorter than the duration ofexposure it would take to overmodulate,or even damage equipment.

The AGC only works in the auto fademode. Even if the AGC is active, it will notbe of any effect if auto fade is not active.

45

AGC BPM Studio

AGC PresetsFor quick deployment of AGC,five pre defined parameter setsare available. These areadjusted situation specific.Select a preset most suitable foryour need, and fine adjust it foryour purpose.

starts and stops the AGCmodule

Mixer switches back to themixer audio channels.

Work method of the AGCFollowing is a quick description of the workmethod of AGC at different input levels. (See alsodiagram on next page)All shown values are standard values and canbe, depending on application, changed.

Up to point A the AGC does not take effect, sincethe input level does not reach the threshold levelof –42dB.From point A on, the AGC gets active, trying toraise the output level to the target of –15dB sincescope is set to a value of 15dB, the signal canonly be amplified by 15dB.

From point B on, the input signal is less den 15dB(Scope) smaller than the target, and the AGC isnow able to define the output level to accurately–15dB. The volume difference between point B,and point C will be balanced out, since in anycase the deviation is less than the 15dB scope.

From point C on the input signal is more than15dB stronger. The AGC lowers the signal by15dB.Meanwhile the output signal exceeds the 10dBlimit set by the limiter, and will immediately cutoff. At point D then, the volume difference of inputsignal to target is lower than the scope value,and the AGC can level to the –15dB target again.Between E and F, the amplification reaches it’slimit of 15dB again.From point F on, the input level will again fall shortof the action range of the AGC, and the inputsignal will again be routed to the outputunchanged.

In this diagram it is assumed that changes aremade without delay. If according values aredefined for attack and release, the controls trigger-and fade behavior is delayed accordingly.

46

In this field the file format for the stream can bedefined. Please select these settings inconsideration of your available bandwidth.

PROFILES:Allows naming and saving of differentconfigurations

SERVER:Define URL: or IP Address of the selected streamserver

PORT, PASSWORD:Are also to be defined in accordance with thestream server’s settings.

MP3 Streaming ModulBPM Studio

3.14. MP3 Streaming Modul

This module allows you to directly send an MP3stream in aninternal network, orto a streamingserver in theInternet. The

streaming module appears automatically, if youselect “Streaming” in the recorders pop up menu.You can hide the module by clicking in its topright corner, and reopen it by clicking theaccording icon in the task bar. Anyway, it staysactive as long “Streaming” is selected asrecording format in the recorders pop up menu.

With the two SET buttons settings for server andfile format can be defined. These settings haveto match the settings of the stream-server.Currently supported protocols are Shoutcast andIcecast.

This field indicates the current server. The setbutton opens the server settings dialog, wherevarious configurations can be created and stored.

47

Use the check marks to select the desired transferprotocol Shoutcast and Icecast are currently usedby the stream server providers shoutcast.com andicecast.com. These are free for noncommercialuse. More information can be obtained on theaccording web sites. The following informationsare used to publish your “radio station” in serverdirectories.

if you have checked the “Public Server” checkbox.

Send Meta info causes title- and artist name tobe sent along

This information is sent parallel to your MP-3stream. You can enter e.g. the title of your show,and your web URL:

MP3 Streaming Modul BPM Studio

Even with marked AUTO checkbox,title information will only be sentproperly, if auto fade mode is active.

If the two [AUTO]-checkboxes are marked, theactual title and URL will be adopted from BPMStudio (provided auto fade is active) and theserver settings dialog, and entered into thedirectory.

Opens the web browser andnavigates to the servers statuspage

Establishes connection to theserver

Terminates the connection tothe stream server. (This shouldalways be done before exiting

BPM Studio)

48

CD Player / CD WriterBPM Studio

3.15. CD Player / CD Writer

The CD player / CD-writer provides all functionsnecessary to work with CDs. Here, reading inCDs, and compressing to MP3 format isaccomplished. You can also burn titles on CD-Rsas audio CD to be played with conventional CDplayers, or as data CD for back up purposes.

To do so, three different modules are available:, and, with buttons located in the center

area of the CD player.

3.15.1. CD-Reader ( ):With this module, also called CD Player, you canuse your CD-ROM drive as fully functional audioCD player. All functions like Pitch, Master-Speed,Pitch Bend, Cue-Points, etc. are available withoutrestrictions. The playback can be routed througha separate sound card channel, and will be treatedas separate audio channel in the mixer. Also, MP3files can be played with this player. Simply drag atitle out of a Play List or archive, and drop it onthe CD player; and use it this way convenientlyas Monitor Player!

The Play List and the player module are similarin structure and handling to the two main playersand the Play Lists.The CD-Reader also functions as device forreading in audio CDs, and copying them to harddrive. Read also in chapter 4 step-by stepinstructions for copying, and compressing audioCDs.

3.15.2. Encoding audio CDsGenerally encoding (compressing into MP3format) can be done in two different ways. Eitherby saving an audio file in WAVE format and lateron conversion or by immediate compression toMP3 while reading in. This choice is made in theProgram Options, on the register tab CDDA-Copy

/ Configuration / . If this

checkbox is marked, copying and encoding willbe done in a one step process. Whencompressing large numbers of audio CDs it isrecommended to read all of these in, in high-speed mode as wave format, and then batchcompress them in Encoder Mode over night, forexample.

The CD Player also supports MP3, andWAVE formats, thus, it can be used asthird MP3 player, or as convenientpreview player.

Whenever an audio track is loaded inone of the players the CD ROM drivewill be locked. It can be unlocked byeither choosing “Remove” in theplayers pop up menu, or by pressingthe eject button.

49

CD Player / CD Writer BPM Studio

Information downloaded from theCDDB server will be stored by BPMStudio, and will be available withoutbeing online.

3.15.3. CDDB-QueryUpon inserting an audio CD in the CD-ROM drive,the titles in the Play List will appear as numbered

tracks. Now click the button.

Provided so configured in windows, the PC willconnect to the Internet, logs on to the CDDB(database for administration of title informationof audio CDs) and attempts to find informationabout the inserted CD.

If successful the information will be transmitted,and displayed in the Play List. These informationswill also be saved on your PC, so that they’ll beavailable when this CD is inserted again.

Query for several CDs (Batch-Function):As soon as an audio CD is inserted, BPM Studiowill store the CD code. With the next CDDB query,it will be attempted to retrieve all information, forCDs not yet identified. You can save time, byinserting audio CDs, wait till their track numbersare displayed, and then click on the CDDB query

button . Now all title lists of these

CDs (if available) will be retrieved, and beavailable when the CD is inserted again. Aftercompletion the Internet connection will beterminated. You can also establish the connectionmanually via the pop up menu of the CDDB –button. On the CDDA-Copy register tab inProgram Options different CDDB servers can beselected.

It is mandatory to enter title informationmanually, or to download it from CDDB,BEFORE titles are being r ipped.Otherwise BPM Studio can only useCD-Code, and track numbers as filename.

3.15.4. Copying Audio CDs (Ripping):After successful CDDB query all CD titles will bedisplayed in the Play List.

If no information has been available for this CDin the CDDB database, you can now enter itmanually in the File Inf o Box.Now mark the titles to be read in with the left-

hand check box, and click on

All marked titles will now be read in. Progress isdisplayed in a status window.

50


If the “encode during copy” function, on the CDDAregister tab of Program Options is active, readin titles will immediately compressed into the MP3format, and stored in the according folder. Thisfolder can be defined in the “storing” register tabin Program Options.After successful encoding all titles willautomatically be listed in the “NEW FILES” or“NEUE DATEIEN” category of file archive. Formore clearness a subfolder for the current datewill be created. (See picture on top of page)

3.15.5. “CD at once” Mode of CD playerThe “CD at once” mode allows to rip and archivea whole CD as one single title. This is useful ifyou, for example, want to read in a mixed CDseamlessly, to replay it as a single title later on.Also when reading in particular albums, of whichthe title order needs to stay unchanged, it makessense to read in the CD in one piece. To do sostart the copying process with the pop up menu

(right mouse button) of the button.

All titles will be ripped as single track, and alsoadded to the file archive as single title.

But information about single titles won’t be lost!The button “MORE”, in the File Inf o Bo x, the

whole title list of the original CD can be displayed,provided it has been ripped with the “CD-at-once”mode.

It is also possible to select single titles with thePlayer or the remote control unit (only RCP-1001and 2001) directly.If you click the track buttons of Player with theright mouse button, the next title (or previous)within one of these “CD-at-once” titles will bestarted.Equally you can use the track selector buttons[12] of the remote control units RCP-1001, andRCP-2001 to navigate within one of these CD-at-once tracks by pushing, and turning it at thesame time. The subtitles will then shown in theVFD display

3.15.6. Encoder ( ):The encoder converts WAVE files Info the MP3format. Here you will find all previously read inaudio-CDs, if you do not have activated the“COPY/ENCODE” option in the Program Options,before ripping. Also, the encoder can convertother, already present WAVE files, that have beenripped with other programs. Simply drag them outf the Windows Explorer, and drop them on the

encoder Play List, or, add with the button.

51


Eject button opens and closes theselected CD-ROM drive.

CD-ROM Selection field. Hereyou can select the CD-ROM drive

to be displayed.

Starts copying selected titles.By right clicking you can opena pop up menu, allowing you

to copy a whole CD as CD-at-once track

Starts the CDDB-Inquiry. Theright click pop up menu allowsyou to manually establish a

connection to the Internet, if a connection isavailable in the Windows system settings.

(Only active in the Encoder)Starts the encoding procedurefor selected titles.

3.15.7. CD-Writer ( ):Produce your own audio CDs with your own mixor compilation - all with only one program: BPMStudio.The integrated burner supports all common CDwriters and media. Even burning MP3 files is noproblem. Thus you can conveniently createbackup copies, and quickly transfer play lists withthe according tracks to another system.

Before you start to create CDs, we recommendthat you make yourself familiar with the handlingof CD-R's, and CD-RW's. Also check the CDWriter settings on the according register tab inthe Program Options. In this manual, chapterProgram Options, you'll find all importantinstructions and explanations to optimallyconfigure your CD Recorder. Once set up, theBPM Studio CD writer allows you to very simplyand quickly create Audio- and Data-CDs.

Generally start a new CD project with the

button. In the following dialog you can decidewhether to create a Data- or a Audio-CD:

For screening, and controlling also the CD Playercan be used. The files can be played, controlled,and edited with the File-Editor. Following, themarked part will be transferred to the MP3 format

by clicking the button.

After compression is completed, you’ll find a newentry in the BPM file archive under NEW FILESwith the actual date, in which the compressedfiles are being stored. This folder can be renamedwith the RENAME button, or you can assign thosetitles to other present categories.

52

(Pay attention not to exceeding the media’smaximum play length when assembling the titlelist. If you do, an according message will warnyou before the write process.)The title order can be modified by Drag&Drop.Start writing with the button. In thefollowing dialog fields, progress can be monitored,and modified.

At first, the Cue-Sheet will be created. It containsinformation that will be written onto the mediaparallel to the audio data, such as starting points,title length and (if the Recorder supports thisfunction) CD text information. Upon completion,a dialog with the calculated data will appear.

Here you can check if all the data is correct, if soconfirm with [next] and start the writing process.Of course you can still abort with [cancel]


3.15.8. Creating Audio CDsSelect this mode if you want to create a CD thatcan be played with any common CD player orchanger. The maximum play length depends onthe type of media you use, and vary between 74and 80 minutes.

After confirming the dialog box by clicking[OK] the selected CD format will bedisplayed in the track list status bar.

Place the media to be recorded into theRecorder. The CD status indicator belowthe track list gives you information aboutthis media, and theRecorder itself.

Now you can load any title or whole PlayLists in the writers track list. This can be

done in different ways

1.) Drag & Drop from the from Play Lists, filearchive, or Play List archive.

2.) Via the clipboard, with “copy” and “paste”(Ctrl – C / Ctrl – V)

3.) With the button you can load any Play

List present on the hard drive.

4.) With the button you can selected

tracks directly from your hard drive.

The status bar to the left indicates overall lengthof the CD. Additionally a status bar below the tracklist displays the remaining capacity of the media.

It is not necessary to convert MP3 filesinto the WAVE format. All tracks can beloaded into the writer as MP3s.Decompression is done in real timeduring the burn process.

Please avoid writing CDs over a network.If you use BPM Studio in a network, theCD Writer should be local, with the MP3or WAVE files to be burned.

53

The following status windows keeps you informedabout the whole writing process

After successfully writing the CD, the drives slidewill open, and you can take out .the CD

3.15.9. Creating data CDsSelect this mode if you would like to copy MP3files already present on your system to a CD, thatcan later on be played on a PC with a standardCD ROM drive installed. Thus, you can back upfiles easily, or transfer them to another computer.The maximum available drive capacity dependson the used media, and usually varies between650 to 700 MB.

Start a new CD project by clicking the

button. In the following dialog box select ‘Data-CD”

The selected mode will be indicated in the statusbar to the left.


Please make sure that with BPM Studioonly work you authored, or work of whichyou are explicitly allowed by author orsomeone in lieu, will be copied. Otherwiseyou might commit the offense of copyrightfraud, which is a federal felony, or be heldliable by the author, or designated peoplein lieu of.

Now insert the media into the Recorder. The CDstatus window to the right below the status barindicates, as when creating audioCDs, the contents of the CD, andthe Recorder.

Now you can load selected titles, complete PlayLists into the Recorder.

This can be done in various ways:

1.) Drag & Drop from the from Play Lists,file archive, or Play List archive.

2.) Via the clipboard, with “copy”and “paste” (Ctrl – C / Ctrl – V)

3.) With the button you can load

any Play List present on the hard drive.

4.) With the button you can selected

tracks directly from your hard drive.

The status bar to the left shows how much storagespace on the media is already in use. Additionallya status bar to the right below the track listindicates the required disk space. (Pay attentionnot to exceed the media’s maximum play lengthwhen assembling the title list. If you do, anaccording message will warn you before the writeprocess.)

54


Eject button opens the tray of the selectedRecorder.

Select Recorder field. Select herewhich Recorder is to be used.

Important NoteA list of all supported CD Recorders can be foundin the version history, which is delivered with everyversion of BPM Studio.Please have understanding for the fact that wecan not support every CD Recorder on the market.This is not the objective of BPM Studio, and itdoes not claim to be a full-featured CD recordingprogram. Much more BPM Studio is primarily aDJ system for live performing.

Please make sure that in case of problems withburning CDs the first step should bee to reducethe speed. Not every media can record at anyspeed. Anyway you should disable auto load forevery available CD player; otherwise problemsmay arise, especially when burning CDs.Should there be any further problems consult thefollowing website:

http://www.disc4you.de/kompendien/cd/(German)

http://www.brennmeister.com/articles/aspi/(German)

http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~aa571/aspi.htm(English)

http://www.goldenhawk.com/firmware_body.html(English)

We recommend paying especial attention to sitesconcerning firmware upgrades, and ASPI drivers.

Start the writing process by clicking the button. In the following dialog field you can controlthe progress and manipulate the writing process.Explanations of the according dialog boxes canbe found in the previous chapter “Audio-CD”

3.15.10. Systemtest in test modeIf you star t the writing process with the

button, it will only be simulated. Your

computer will perform all actions that it wouldperform in a real write, with the exception thatthe laser will be disabled. This is very useful totest the system performance. The media will notbe changed in this mode.

3.15.11. Deleting CD-RW’s(If supported by the Recorder)If a CD-RW (CD rewriteable) already containingdata is inserted into the drive, you can delete this

data by clicking the button.

Adding another Session:(Data CD only)You can add data to an unfinished media thatcontains data already, in a new session. To doso, the “import session” function on the CD-Writerregister tab in Program Options must be enabled.When inserting such a media, the used storagecapacity will be indicated in the status bar.

55

BPM Print Designer BPM Studio

3.16. BPM Print Designer

Need to print a Play List? Need a printed summaryof a particular category, or complete archive? Alist of titles played last Saturday to report to thepromoter, or the GEMA? A taker asks for yourrepertoire?All this is no problem with the BPM Print Designer!Printouts can be fitted to any need with extensiveselections of sorting orders, and a variety ofpossible adjustments. Of course print previewsare also possible. To use lists in other programs,they can be saved as text files, as well as in otherformats.

3.16.1. Starting BPM Print DesignerThe BPM Print Designer can be started fromwithin File Ar chive, Play List Ar chive , or thedifferent Play Lists via the according pop upmenu entries.

Depending on selected category or Play List, upto three selections can be made:

Print Group:Titles of selected category will be adopted intoPrint Designer for printout,

Print Group with Subgroups:All titles in a selected category, including allsubcategories will be adopted into Print Designerfor printout.

Print Archive:All titles of all categories, and subcategories willbe adopted into Print Designer

Now the main screen of Print Designer will bedisplayed, with all selected titles. Here you havethe opportunity to make various adjustments, andto choose which title information is to be printed.

56

BPM Print DesignerBPM Studio

3.16.2. Export List Window

Selecting Fields to be Printed:First select all fields that are to appear on theprintout. To do so, open the pull down menu

And select the desired fields of the ID3 tag.

Change order of columns:The head row of the title column can be dragged,and inserted at a selected position:

Thus you can adjust the order of columns to yourliking.

Adjusting column width:In the head row, click on the marker between twocolumns:

Keep the mouse button pressed, and move thepointer sideways.

Thus the separator between two columns can bemoved, and the column width is adjusted.

Automatically adjust column width:

If you check the checkbox, allcolumns will be adjusted to the longest entry inthis column.

Selection of sorting order:The titles to be printed can be sorted by any orseveral columns. For a simple sort, by only onecolumn, just click on the head row of the column.This row will be marked with a little arrow. Withanother click in this column you can switchbetween ascending, and descending order. Thearrow will indicate the selected order.Another way to select the column by which tosort is the pull down menu.

By clicking into the bottom right cornerof BPM Print Designer, and holding themouse button, you can adjust thewindow size of the main screen.

57


Multiple sorting:Use this feature to define your sorting order bymore than one column. When check box

is selected, the arrow to indicatesorting order changes to yellow, and will bemarked with a 1. Now you can select morecolumns by holding down the ‘SHIFT” key, andclicking on the selected columns. Additionalarrows will then be numbered in consecutiveorder.

The list will now be sorted by column 1, andsubsequently by column 2, and so on. Thus youcan, for example sort a list by artist, and withinthe artist sort by release date. (See screenshot)

Modifying printout fonts:The “FONT” button opens awindow in which, windowscompliant” font, style, size, and

color can be selected.

Exporting lists to file:BPM Print Designer offers theability to export lists in variousformats for further processing

with other programs. For a list of available fileformats see screenshot. In the dialog box filename, and target folder are entered. The pulldownmenu determines the file format.

Print preview:The “PREVIEW” button allows youto switch between the mainscreens column view, and the print

preview. When in preview mode, more featuresare available to finish the document. Also a zoomfunction is available.

Exiting BPM Print Designer:The [EXIT] button exits themodule. All made adjustments,and modifications in the Print

Designers options will be stored, and availableat next start. This makes it easy to print differentcategories in the same design.

58

BPM Print DesignerBPM Studio

3.16.3. Print preview window:The print preview is used to manipulate the overalllayout, and additional, useful information can beadded to the list.

Zoom functions:

Downsize the view insteps

Enlarge the view in steps

Zooms on whole Page

Zooms to fit page width

Navigating within several print pages:

Jumps to first Page

Jumps to previous page

Jumps to next page

Jumps to last page

Page layout adjustment, and additionalfunctions:The “Settings” button opens afourfold toolbox. Here, thefollowing settings can beadjusted:

Register tab“Page”:

Direction: Defineif page is to beprinted on aslandscape orportray.

Page setup: Herethe margins aredefined. You havethe possibility tochoose a measurement unit of your choice.

Stretch: List will be adjusted to the overallpage width.

59


Register tab“Layout”:

Show titleSelect if a page titleshould be printed.The following fieldsyou can enter a pagetitle, and choose afont.

This button defines the justification ofthe page title. (Aligned left, aligned

center, aligned right)

Show marginsShow margins in preview.

Show grid linesPrints the lines between columns and rows of alist.

Register tab“Head row”:

On this tabsettings for thehead rows of allpages areentered. Analog tothis, on the forthregister tab thefooter settings aredefined.

Show HeaderSelect this check box if a head row should beprinted on every page. In the following fields, textand font for this head row can be entered.

This button defines the justification ofthe head row. (Aligned left, aligned


Additionally to the regular text, fourvariables fields are available, which

will be updated while printing

{PAGES} automatically adds page numbers{NUMPAGES} adds the number of pages{DATE} Adds the current date{TIME} Adds current time

Show Header LinePrints a line between the head row and the pagetitle. In the following fields you can define colorand width of this line.

Register tab“Footer”:

On this tab theparameters for thefooter are entered.

Show footer:Select this checkbox if footershould be printedon every page. Inthe followingfields, text and font for this footer can be entered.

60

BPM Print Designer, Server ComponentsBPM Studio

3.17. BPM Studio Server Components

The BPM Studio server components are auniversal interface to control the most softwarefunctions remotely. This functionality has beendeveloped mainly to be able to cross platform withother programs. Since the interface is based onopen standards though, control is available viastandard protocols like HTTP or Telnet. Thisenables you to control different workstations (PCswith BPM Studio installed) that are located indifferent rooms. If the server component isactivated (Register tab “Server” in ProgramOptions) BPM Studio will establish an HTTP- anda Telnet-Server. The HTTP-server port and theTelnet port are freely configurable. Be awarethough, that when controlling a component over

This button defines the justification ofthe footer. (Aligned left, aligned


Additionally to the regular text, 4 fourvariables fields are available, which

will be updated while printing

{PAGES} automatically adds page numbers{NUMPAGES} adds the number of pages{DATE} Adds the current date{TIME} Adds current time

Show Footer LinePrints a line between the page content and thefooter. In the following fields you can define colorand width of this line.

Start printing:The “PRINT” key startsthe print out. Before thisthough, you can enter how

many pages, and copies of the document youneed.

The “Close’ button will lead you back to the exportlist window, in case you wish tomake changes there.

a network the reaction time on a released signalmay be delayed.

Both servers make many important functionsavailable via a command prompt or also as a URL.

Complete documentation is provided on the BPMStudio Webserver at http://localhost:port/cmds.html

Please have understanding for the fact that onlylimited support is available when implementingthis interface, especially in very specificimplementation cases.

If possible avoid printing and audioplayback at the same time. If the selectedprinter should not be ready when theprintout is started, the windows time-outmay cause the playback to stop, andinterrupt communication with the remotecontrol unit.

61

BPM Studio File Formats BPM Studio

3.18. BPM-Studio File Formats

This chapter is supposed to give you a betterunderstanding of the file formats, and endingssupported by BPM Studio. Some of them can bedeleted, for others it is recommended to leavethem on your hard drive.

*.grp, *.idx, *.gps, *.plg, *.lst:These files are used for the file- Play List archive.The *.gps, and *.idx files contain information aboutthe structure of File- and Play List archive. For alltitles in a major category of the File Archive, a[category name].grp file will be created containingall title information for this category. The Play Listcategories can be found in the *.plg files, and thePlay Lists are stored as *.lst files. These arecompatible with the directly store- and loadablePlay Lists.

eq.eqp:File for equalizer presets

Bpm.set:Encrypted file for user information

*.bml, colors.cfg:This file contains the skins for BPM Studio. Thebitmaps are contained in the *.bml files, colorsare defined in the file colors.cfg.

*,cut:The cut format is available in the editors exportfunction. In this case it is not the marked areathat will be saved, but the Cue-Points, and markerinformation as links. Information that wouldotherwise only be available in the Play List or thefile archive can be backed up separately this way.

*.~*:Tilde files are created automatically as back upsof all files of File- and Play List Archive. (Eitherwhen exiting the program, or, when auto save isactive, every 15 minutes.

*.scn:Scan files will be created when needed by BPMStudio to position exactly in VBR files or very longMP3 files. They should not be deleted for:

1.) The Cue-Points will not be restored correctlysince BPM Studio can’t jump to the exactposition, which can cause a “jump” afteraddressing the Cue-Point.

2.) The *.scn files in auto play mode would haveto be generated anew, to determine theactual lenght of the title.

*.mem:Files for the saved files for the sampler functionsof all files. (A.B.Exit-Loop)

*.cue:Files for the Cue-Points of each file.

*.mem and *.cue files can be deleted. Of courseall Cue-Points of a loop will be lost, it still can beuseful to clean up every once in a while though

*.sdd:Files for the peak files of the wave editor. Theyserve the editor in navigating in, and loading offiles. These files can be deleted, the loading willtake longer though.

62

Program OptionsBPM Studio

3.19. Program OptionsFrom anygiven pop upmenu viaoptions, the

programs basic settings can be opened. Theseare split in 8 different areas, which can be selectedon the 8 different register tabs.

Presets – Language and Internet options

3.19.1 Preset –Language and Internetoptions

Language Pack:Select here your languagepreference. Should yourlanguage not yet besupported by BPM Studioyou can, provided you’reinterested, order our SDKlanguage pack, and create atranslation for your language.

Skin Pack:Here you can select a skin.The list will display allavailable skins compatiblewith this version of BPMStudio installed in the folder...\BPM Studio\Skins\. Thedownload area of theALCATech website,information about new orupdated skins can be obtained.

Pitch Range:Defines the pitch area for sliders. This value willbe overwritten when clicking on one of the threepitch area buttons. (see also 3.2./ player)

Bend Speed:Defines the pitch bend area

Options - General settingsAudio I/O – Sound card configurationStoring – Defining directoriesCDDA-Copy – Adjusting CD parametersCD-Writer – Settings for CD-RecorderRemote Control Unit – Configuring the remotecontrol unitUser – User administrationServer – Server components configuration

Match Speed:Defines the time for BPM match

Brake Speed:Defines the time for the Brake function

Navigation:Not all register tabs willbe shown, use thesebuttons to navigate backand forth

63

Program Options BPM Studio

3.19.2. Options –General Settings

Load Wave FilesScans for WAVE files atprogram starts, and loadssuch files

Load Sub DirectoriesProgram will load allsubsequent directories of aselected folder

Soft Pitch and BendChangesAllows for smooth operationof the sliders, and simulatesthe inertia of a vinyl albumwhen using pitch bend.

Double Click loadsPlayerWhen double clicking a title in a Play List it willnot be loaded into the preview player, but intothe main player.

Ask before loading a playerPerforms a security inquiry before the next titlewill be loaded

Reload File in Single Play ModeIf Single Play is activated, the current trackwill be repeated on end

Blink Display before file is done10 sec. prior to the end of the current title, thedisplay will blink in red.

Use Normalization if file is normalizedWhen check box is activated the settings ofthe normalized audio file will be used;otherwise they will be disregarded.

Use Silence Detection in AutoPlayWhen activated, possible silence at the endof the title will be skipped. This is done to

optimize title transitions in auto fade mode. Thisfunction will only work properly, if the title hasbeen edited with the normalize function fromversion 4 on.

Check Play Lists when loadingWhen loading a Play List, presence of all list titleson the hard drive will be confirmed.

Show Playlist ColumnsShows vertical lines in head rows, and Explorer

Show Mixer LevelsActivates level indicator in Mixer. (Requires somesystem resources)

Show Mixer beatsActivates beat indicator in Mixer

Remove Files from Playlist if playedThe title will automatically removed from the PlayList, once played.

64


Auto Cue (Skip Silence)Possible silence at the beginning of the title willbe skipped

Auto BPMActivates the automatic beat counter in the payers

Auto SaveAll settings and the state of the file archive willbe stored every 15 minutes

Alternate Bitmap DrawingUse this option if you experience problems withyour display, for example the slider look distorted.

Change Screen Resolituin on StartupAt program start, the windows monitor resolutionwill automatically be set to 800x600

Delete Editor PeakfilesAt program end the peak files generated by FileEditor will be deleted.

Scan VBR filesActivate this checkbox to enable exact positioningin files with variable bit rates

Save ID3 tagsThis program modifies the ID3 tag of the originalMP3 File

Write ID3v3 tagsThe program writes the ID3 tag with the version3. (It will not be accessible by older MP3 playersanymore)

Lock Main Window PositionThe position of the program’s main window onthe screen will be locked

Show TooltipsActivates the “hints” function (Requires somesystem resource)

Alternate Cue-Play functionWith this function activated, the player will playas long as the CUP button is held. Once released,the player will jump back to the Cue-Point.

Cue-Memory DirectstartUpon clicking a DirectCue button the player willimmediately be started with the Cue-Point, res.with the stored loop. When this checkbox is notselected, and the player is in pause res. cue, Cue-Points will merely be loaded into the player andwill not start until the [PLAY/PAUSE] res. the[EXIT/LOOP] button is clicked. If the player ison, in any case a DirectCue button will start thetitle

Start as exclusive shell applicationWith this function, BPM Studio will be theexclusive application under Windows. Uponactivating, a reset will be initiated, after whichBPM Studio will be the exclusive application.

Aggressive refreshThis option causes a quicker display of the levelindicator, the spectrum analyzer, and the titlescrolling. On systems of lesser performancesystem resources can be freed, by deactivatingthis mode.

Ask before removing a fileWhen activated, a confirmation will be requiredbefore a title is removed from the player

Hidden menusThis option causes all pop up menus to bereduced to the important functions. The completemenu can be viewed though by clicking on thelast entry. If this is not selected, all entries will beshown.

Create Data BackupIf this checkbox is selected, BPM Studio createsa backup of the current File- and Playlist Archiveat each startup. By this way the last 10 programstartups are stored. Those backup files can beused for restore by the Backup Function. The filesare located in the program folder under Data/Backup.

65


3.19.3. Audio I/O-Configuring the SoundCard

DriverHere the device driver isselected (Direct Sound),WAVE, ASIO, EASI, or Kerneldriver), the settings of theASIO driver can be configuredright here.

MonitorDefines on which sound card,res. which channel the previewplayer output will be assigned

Player A, Player B, Sampler,CD-Player:Via the pull down menu everydevice can have a sound cardres. a stereo channel of multichannel sound card assigned.Below the selected output channel the actuallatency time of the according driver is indicated

Buffer SizeDefines the size of the WAVE Out buffer. Thehigher the value, the higher the program stability.It takes a little bit longer to write into the bufferthough, which can be noticed by short delayswhen switching from Cue to Play, and back

Preload SizeSize of the internal playback buffer. Manipulatethis value if you experience dropouts duringplaying, or the players don’t start clean.

Auto-Cue LevelHere the trigger level for the auto cue function(skip silence at title beginning) can be defined.This value can be set from –inf (absolute silence)to –30 dB (a quiet level).

Soft FadesBPM Studio fades all audio signals in, and out,smoothly before any audio title or cue. Thus itprevents possible disturbing noises / crackling.

Use MonitorActivates the mixer monitor-function of the soundcard/s. Prior to activating, the sound car d testneeds to be performed.

Lowest LatencyThe Kernel Driver operates with a very smallbuffer, and shortest latency times. Deactivate thisfunction if you experience playback difficulties,or drop outs with your sound card.

Starts the sound card test. More information isprovided in the Monitor -Functions

66


(Only if Kernel Driver has been selected) Opensthe dialog for latency adjustment:

Select the audio driver:Select the driver to modify

Driver LatencyHere you can manipulate the driver’s latencytimes. For a minimal delay between a button beingpushed, and the reaction of the sound card;meaning, for a rapid response of the Cue-, Play-, and Direct Cue buttons and Loop functions, thisvalue should be kept as small as possible. Onlyincrease this value if you experience problemswith playback.

ASIO-Driver settings(Only if ASIO driver is selected) With the configbuttons, located beside the pulldown menus ofthe virtual devices you can access the ASIODriver settings for a particular device.

Please refer also to chapter 2.5 / Adjustingaudio parameters!

67


3.19.4. Storing -Defining directories

Default Search DirectoryIn this folder all relevantapplication data will bestored. That for examplewould be the default Play Lists, the categories, andsubcategories of the FileArchive, Sample-Blockinformation, the equalizerpresets, and the CDDB titleinformation of previouslyread in CDs. It isrecommended not to changethis folder. If you want toaccess this file archive fromanother version of BPMStudio, the folder needs toopen to “file sharing”

Directory for the RipperIn this folder the WAVE files to be compressedwill be stored temporarily. This path can leadto another, bigger hard drive. For example ifyou would like to rip several CDs first and thenencode them in one process. (See also CDDAoptions – copying, encoding)

Directory for MP3 encodingIn this folders the MP3 files will be stored aftercompression. It is recommended to create aseparate folder (e.g. C:\MP3) in which all titleswill be stored. This will make it easy to upgradethe system later on with additional hard drives.BPM Studio automatically scans all logicaldrives for present titles, if the original pathshould not be present anymore.

Directory for recorded filesDefault folder for WAVE- and MP3 files for theRecorder. If an extended mix is to be recorded inWAVE format, the file can easily exceed severalGBs. For this, you can specify another folder onanother hard drive.

FilenamesHere the filename, which later on will begenerated by programs, will be defined. It isrecommended to keep default values.In case you have a large file archive of alreadypresent files without ID3 tags, and want to read itinto BPM Studio, you can change the assignmenttemporarily.

The possible adjustments on this register tab areof increasing importance when useradministration, and network functionality becomeinvolved. Please refer to the according chaptersin the manual, for more information.

68


3.19.5. CDDA CopyDefining CDDA- andcompression parameters

Block CountNumber of blocks on a media, thatwill be read if the CD-ROM drive isaccessed.

Read CD Text InfosAudio CDs that have text on them,will be read (will not work with olderAudio CDs, or on older CD ROMdrives

Force Generic (NT)Activate this option if you are havingproblems under Windows NT witha possibly loaded ASPI driver

Encode during CopySelect this option if you want to read in audioCDs directly and convert them into MP3s, withouttemporarily storing them. Otherwise the ripper module will merely write filesin the WAVE format, and copy them to theirprospective folder. The conversion into the MP3format will then be done in the encoder mode ofthe CD player / ripper.

CDDB ServerHere you can define the desired CDDB server.With a click on “GET LIST” the mirror server listwill be loaded, and then the desired mirror servercan be selected. When having problems withcddb.cddb.com try freecddb.freecddb.org.

Your email settingsTo register with a CDDB server, your emailaddress is required

CD-ROMSelect here the CD-ROM drive, for whichadjustments are to be made.

Copy Mode: Burst CopyRead and write access will be performedsimultaneously

Copy Mode: NormalAlternating read and write access will beperformed

Copy Mode: Sector synchronizationIn this mode an exact repositioning of the readerhead is guaranteed in case the information flowshould be interrupted. This is the safest mode,but also the slowest copy method.

69


CD TypeHere you can select out of the list of your CD-ROM drives. This setting is only necessary whenyou are experiencing problems while reading inCDs, and “AutoDetect” does not solve theproblem.

Internal MP3 CodeWhen encoding, BPM Studio’s own internal codeis used (Recommended). If additional codes areinstalled on your PC, they can also be selectedhere.

Write RIFF WaveWrites a MP3-Wave-File, that is compressed, butcan still be played on most Windows players.

FormatThis selection field shows all audio compressioncodes available on a system. The BPM Studio’sown supplied MPEG Layer 3.

Format OptionsHere the quality of the compression is defined.(Depending on file format). It should be at least a128 kBit/s, 44,100 Khz stereo.

70


3.19.6. CD WriterAdjusting Recorder Parameters

CD-ROMSelect a Recorder out of a list of allRecorders available in the system.The following six checkboxesindicate which functions aresupported by the selected Recorder.Functions not supported by theselected Recorder will be displayedin gray. (Inactive)

SpeedHere the burner speed is defined.MAX adjusts the speed to themaximum possible on the selectedRecorder. Decrease the speed ifyou frequently receive errorscaused by the performance of yoursystem, or the used media.

Record Track-at-onceTrack-at-once (TAO) is a writing method that foronce (similar to disc-at-once) burns single sessiondiscs, and for the other (mainly) can be used tocreate multi session discs – which would actuallynot be able with DAO per definition. With TAO thelaser will be switched off after writing eachparticular track, moved to the PMA to update thetemporary table of contents, repositioned to theend point of the previously burned track, andswitched back on to continue.

Record Disc-at-onceDisc at Once is the writing method of choice whencreating professional Audio-CDs and masters forcommercial mass production. With this method aCD will be burned within one single session, andthen closed. The laser writes without interruptionthe Lead-in with the table of contents, all tracks,and eventually the Lead-out. (This explains whya unusable through write interruption disc appearsto be containing all tracks, even if the mistakeoccurred during the first track. The table ofcontents has been written first, thus the player“thinks” the listed tracks are really on the media.)

Record MCN and ISRCsThe ISRC-Code (“International StandardRecording Code”) identifies a recording (ingeneral this means a track). In principal thereforevery track of a CD should have a ISRC code,which identifies it uniquely. This protocol is onlymastered by newer CD burners.

Record CD TextA procedure developed by Sony® and Phillips®.With CD text audio players of the newestgeneration are capable of displaying name ofartist, name of current title, and even annotations.The information of the ID3 tag will be added ontothe media, if the Recorder supports this function

Example of CD-ROM drives capable of readingout CD-Text*:

- Plextor PX-40TS (SCSI)- Sony CD-ROM CDU 711 (SCSI)- Teac CD-524-EA-B (IDE)- Teac CD-532-E-A (IDE)- Teac CD-532-E-B (IDE)- Teac CD-540 (IDE)

71


Following CD Recorders are currently capableto read and write CD-Text *:

- Teac 56S/58S later than Firmware 1.0j(SCSI)

- Plexwriter 4220 later than Firmaware 1.02(SCSI)

- Plexwriter 8220 (SCSI)- Ricoh 7040 later than Firmware 1.20 (SCSI

& ATAPI)- Ricoh 7060 later than Firmware 1.20 (SCSI

& ATAPI)- Sony 948S later than Firmware 1.0h (SCSI)- Sony CDX 100 / 110 / 120 / 130 / 140 / 145- HP 8100 / 8110 / 8200 / 8210 / 9100 / 9110

(Same vendor as Sony)

To find regular CD players capable of reading CD-Text, visit your local consumer electronics store.

Record on Rewriteable DiscsThe Recorder supports writing on CD-RWs. Mediathat can be reused.

Record with Burn ProofBurn Proof is a procedure developed by Sanyo®in which throughout the whole process of burningthe Recorder’s internal buffer is monitored. Whensystem performance becomes slow, or evencritical, the drive notices that a buffer underrun isunavoidable – and stops the burning procedureat a suitable location. This gives the buffer timeto reload, the data is compared and synchronized,and the writing process continues right afterwhere it stopped. This averts the media to becomeunusable, if the data throughput should beinterrupted again.

Import SessionsSessions already present on the CD will beimported, the CD may not be finished though.Select this option if you want to write more dataon a multi session CD. Important! When writingon a multi session CD without activated import,all previous sessions will be destroyed.

CD-ROM/XAThe CD-ROM/XA is a mixture of the specificationsfor CD-I, CD-ROM mode 2, and the current formatfor data CDs. Deactivate this option if you arehaving problems reading in the CDs created withBPM Studio. Some older CD-ROM drives do notsupport this format. When writing multi sessionCDs, this format is a requirement in mostrecorders.

Close DiscFinalizes the CD after the burn procedure. OlderCD-ROM drives can not read Data-CDs if theyare not finalized. Audio CDs will always befinalized in general, since here it is not possibleto write on the CD in several sessions.

Burn ProofActivates the burn proof function of the recorder.(if any) Buffer underrun errors will be averted, andthe burn process will be faster.

Eject Disc from RecorderIf this option is selected, the tray of the drive willautomatically be opened when the burningprocess is complete.

Test ModeWhen in test mode, writing will only be simulated.All functions of a “real” burn will be performed,with the exception that the laser is switched of.Thus the media will not be changed or damaged.This mode is used for troubleshooting, to avoidto many plain media will turn out as scrap. Keepthe function “Eject Disc from Recorder” activated,since many Recorders only allow anotherrecording on the same media if it has beenremoved, put back into the device, and scannedback in anew.

* no Guarantee

72


Pregap (sec)Here define the pause between tracks of a audioCD. For data CDs this function is obsolete.

File / Disc CachingBy using File / Disc caching, buffer underrunerrors are mostly history. Also it allows for a moreefficient use of the processor and other systemreasources.

File/Disc Caching Options

Enable CachingEnables File/Disc Caching

Cache Size (MB)Select cache size in MB. (Minimum is 1MB, max.is 32MB)Recommended cache sizes depending onavailable RAM:

RAM Rec. Cache Size 64MB 2 to 4 MB128MB 4 to 8 MB256MB 8 to 16 MB

Please do not exceed the maximum cache size.This could cause performance to decrease evenmore, than it would without activated caching

Full to Empty Ratio (%)Setting of data size to be read in, before the cachehas to be refilled. If the ratio is 86% to 15% forexample, the cache will be filled to a 100%, andafter 15% of the data have been purged, refilledto a 100% again. (This cycle will be repeated,until no data to be cached is present anymore.) Ithas been proofed that this method is moreefficient than trying to keep the cache filled to a100% at any given time.

CPU priority LevelSelects the processor priority level of the cacheprocess. For 99% of all systems the “normal”setting can be maintained.

A very extensive and clearly arrangeddocumentation about CD-Rs, CD-RWs, Recorder,and file formats can be found at http://www.disc4you.de/kompendien/cd/

Please pay attention also to troubleshootinghints in chapter 3.15. CD Player / CD Writer ofthis Manual!

73


3.19.7. Remote ControlConfiguring external controlunits

On this register tab theconnected control units will beadjusted to your needs.Depending on how deployed,(local PC / DJ Case, portable PC,or notebook) hardware outfit(number of sound cards,hardware audio outfit), and typeof remote control unit, differentfunctions can be assigned to thesliders, and multi purposebuttons. The level of adjustabilitydepends on the type of theconnected remote control unit.Additional information can befound in the chapters of eachparticular unit.

Connecting 2 remote controlunits: BPM Studio PRO can beoperated with two remote controlunits simultaneously. Thus, thesame system can be accessedfrom two different rooms. Foreach control unit separateoptions are available, like COM port, etc. Ofcourse very control unit needs it’s own serial port.The two tabs to the lower left you can selectoptions for control units 1 and 2:

Available control units can freely be combinedwith each other. Although, under cer taincircumstances, restrictions can arise from the factthat the sliders on the control units can not beautomatically used.

When using two control units whit sliders, one ofthem must always be dedicated as master

, the sliders of the other unit will stay

inactive. When combining a unit with sliders witha unit with pitch wheels, only sliders will work.The pitch wheels of the other unit will be disabled.When combining two units with pitch wheels, norestrictions apply, therefore this solution shouldbe preferred.

RC ActiveShould always be enabled at the connectedremote control unit. If so, the program will checkon star t up if the unit is connected, andoperational.

74


Selecting a COM port:Defines on which port the unitwill be connected during theinitial installation.

Slider A, Slider BSelect here which functions you wish to assignto the sliders of the two players. (Not with RCP-2001-B).

Slider C(Only RC V3) is the slider of the sample player.Three functions are available: Sampler Pitch,Sampler Volume, and Manual Fade A/B. Whensetting as manual fader, crossfades betweenplayer A, and player B can be performed evenwithout external mixer.

Switches A, B, CDefine here the functions of the multi purposebuttons of the two players. (Only RC V3) Thesesettings also apply for the two players in theprogram!

Adjust SlidersActivate this option when you have problems withthe sliders. (Only RC V3)

Text ScrollingActivates title scrolling in display(Needs some system resource)

Level Meters(only RC V3) Shows level indicator in RC display.(Uses some system resource)

Activate this checkbox if aexternal mixer is connected

to the fader start socket [36] or [37] , and theplayers should be started automatically whenblending in a particular channel (Only RCP-1001/ 2001)

Activate this checkbox if aexternal mixer is connected

to the fader start socket [36] or [37] , and theplayers should be stopped automatically whenblending in a particular channel. Should thischeckbox stay activated, the players will keepplaying, even if the mixer controls are pulled down.(Only RCP-1001 / 2001)

Activate this option if youwould like to use the pulse

start socket of the remote control unit. (Only RCP-1001 / 2001)

(only RC V3) With this button theremote control unit sliders are

calibrated. To do so place the 3 sliders into theircenter position and click on CALIBRATE. Theslider position will be defined to 0.

75


3.19.8.User AdministrationA detailed description ofthese features can befound at a later point in thismanual later.

With the user administration,several users can work in thesame system at differenttimes, without influencingeach other. Each user hashis own program settings, forexample play lists, filearchives, skin (programappearance), ProgramOptions, or the assignmentof virtual devices to particularsound card channels.Further all modules can beactivated/deactivated, userspecifically. Each user canhave his own File Archive, oraccess the (write protected) Master Archive.The user administration is activated by creatingthe first new user, or by creating a password forthe administrator. From this point on a passwordinquiry will be performed at any every programstart. The password field can also be left blankthough.

Separate SettingsSettings for this user will be administratedseparately in the Program Options

Seperate File ArchiveUser obtains own File Archive

File Archive read onlyThe user is not authorized to change the filearchive (with no regards on if he has his ownarchive, or uses the administrators)

Playlists read onlyUser can not save play lists

Enable delete filesUser is authorized to use “Delete file fromharddisk”

Enable program terminationThe user is authorized to close BPM Studio (ifinactive, the administrator password is required)

Enable Ripper/Encoder up to EnableEncoderHere BPM Studio modules can be activated, res.deactivated for this user.

Enable OptionsUser is authorized to change Program Options(regardless on if he uses his own, or the systemadministrators.

76

HTTP Default Doc:Define the file that will be displayed as start pageif the user enters merely the IP address of thecomputer into his browser, without specifying aparticular file.

If this checkbox is selected, both servers will beactivated and BPM Studio is accessible, and canbe controlled from every PC connected to thenetwork. Provided appropriate measurementshave not been taken against this.


3.19.9.Server componentsFurther informations aboutthis feature can be found inthe chapter BPM StudioServer Components.

The server components ofBPM Studio offer functionsthat allow to remotely controlthe program via Web-Browser, or Telnet. On thisregister tab the mostimportant parameters forboth servers are defined. Werecommend maintaining thepreset settings, as long asthey do not cause conflictswith other PCs or Servers inthe network.

Telnet Port:Here the port number for the Telnet server isdefined. Default is 23

HTTP Port:Here the port number for the HTTP Server isdefined. Default is 80. If the server is active,access to the PC with a web browser is possible.This is done, in the best case scenario, byentering http:// -followed by the IP address of thecomputer.If access is to be gained on the same computer,on which the program is installed, you can enter“localhost” instead of the IP address.

HTTP Doc path :The HTTP server will make this folder as maindirectory publicly available. It can containproprietary information, e.g. web pages withcontrol functions for BPM Studio

77

Additional Functions BPM Studio

3.20. Additional Functions

3.20.1. Normalize FunctionVia the pop up menu in File Archive and thedifferent play lists, the normalize-function can beactivated. Use this function if a title playback iseither too loud, or too quiet. If you activate thisfunction in the categories window, all titles presenton the system will be normalized. With largearchives this procedure can take several days (!),therefore must only be applied to a title once. Ifnew titles are added, this function will be applied,already normalized titles will not be scanned againthough, which speeds up the procedureconsiderably.During normalization the Peak- and RMS Valuesof all titles are determined, and a average valuefor the titles volume is calculated. Upon this theloudest and most quiet title are known, and basedon these values titles will be adjusted later on.Very quiet titles will be amplified, and very loudones will be reduced in their volume. The dynamicmostly stays unchanged, since only oneamplification factor is applied and no dynamicadjustment.

3.20.2. Search DialogThe search dialog is also accessible via the pop

up menu in BPM File Archive or the button

in the file lists. Here you can perform your searchaccording to the following search criteria: BPMrange, artist, title, title version and album. Thesearch term or text string will always be comparedexactly with the list entries. But you can also use

wildcards. Here some examples: WEST* will findall titles with WESTBAM, WESTERNHAGEN, etc.*HAGEN will find all titles like WESTERNHAGEN,NINA HAGEN, etc.*EN* finds all titles containing an EN, e.g. DENHARROW, or X-PERIENCE.If the search was successful, a new folderSEARCH RESULTS will be created in BPM FileArchive in which the search results will be listed.If this folder should exits already, all files in it willbe overwritten.

3.20.3. Monitor FunctionsFor professional use of BPM Studio the monitorfunctions are essential. While a title in Player A,B, the Sample Pla yer or the CD Player is playedover the PA System, it is possible to listen to, orprescreen any other given external or internalsignal source via headphone to e.g. screen titles,place Cue-Points, determinate the BPMs of aparticular title, or equal out BPMs. The basicrequirement for this is at least one additionalsound card, or multiple channel sound card, toassign the monitor channels if BPM Studio to adedicated audio channel.The monitor functions have to be enabled in theProgram Options on the register tab Audio I/O.In the monitor area, a dedicated sound card willbe assigned to the monitor channel. The followingvirtual devices utilize the monitor channel:

- All Preview-Players in the Play Lists and the BPM File Ar chive

- The preview player of the BPM Counter

- The monitor switch in themain program

- The monitor buttons in the Mixer

The volume of the monitor channel is adjustedwith the MONITOR control, in the Mixer

78

Additional FunctionsBPM Studio

More information about current sound card tests, program updates, and answers to frequentlyasked questions can be found on our website www.alcatech.de

Before the monitor functions can be used a soundcard test, and synchronization need to beperformed. Otherwise differing samplefrequencies would cause runtime differencesbetween monitor channel and player whenplaying. To synchronize sound cards proceed asfollows:First select the desired driver. (Synchronizationis necessary with Direct Sound, WAVE, andKERNEL driver. )Then click on the button “Test Sound Card”. EachSound Card will now be tested for 1 min. BPMStudio then analyzes the results, andsynchronizes the Sound Cards. This test needsto be performed separately for WAVE and DirectSound Driver, if both are to be used.

3.20.4. The Program internal BPMDatabaseBPM Studio disposes over it’s own database, inwhich the BPM values of all titles are stored. Abasic supply of BPM values is included. Additionaltitles will be added through the File Inf o Box, orthe BPM Counter.Whenever you add a new title to the system, theprogram checks if a BPM value is alreadyavailable, and assigns it to the file.If a new MP3 file is loaded, that has a BPM Valuein it’s ID3 tag already, then this tag will be adoptedinto the internal BPM database. If a value isalready determined for this title, it will be updated.

3.20.5. The PreAmp-Function(Limiter)Within the equalizer the PreAmp function can beactivated. This is recommended if the red“OVERFLOW” LED stays on permanently. Thismeans the overall amplification is to high, whichmay cause distortions.

3.20.5. The back-up- and UpdatefunctionsVia the pop up menus of the Group window andthe File Archive you can access the BackUp andUpdate function.The back up Function allows you to create abackup copy of the entire File Archive in apredefined folder. From there it can be restoredlater on. With this method a copy of the FileArchive can be transferred to another PC also.The Update-Function offers two options.“Search Hard Drive” scans the entire system,including all connected network drives for playabletitles, and lists them under NEW FILES + date.“Update Archive” removes all titles no longerpresent out of the File Archive, and lists all newtitles in the NEW FILES category.

3.20.7. Interface for VisualizationPluginsVia the Recorder pop up menu the interface forWinAMP Visualization Plugins can be activated.In a list, the in the folder \BPMStudio\Studio\Plugin installed plugins are listed.Some of these plugins can be configured withinthe range of their functions. To do so, click on thebutton “Configure” and make the desiredadjustments. To compensate for resourceproblems the “Priority” control is uses. ALCATechGmbH does not guarantee that BPM Studio willwork with these Plugins.

79

User Administration BPM Studio

3.21.1. In GeneralThis section explains the work method of the BPMStudio user administration. Exampleconfigurations can be found at the end. The useradministration enables different users to work atthe same system independently. Additionally it ispossible to assign different levels of access.Especially when more than one version of BPMStudio is in use in a network environment, thenetwork functions and the user administrationdevelop a synergistic effect and offer extensiveadministration possibilities. Please see also“Network functions”.

Activating the User AdministrationTo activate the user administration either a newuser is created with the “NEW” button, or apassword is defined for the system administrator.From this point on, a username and passwordinquiry is performed whenever the program isstarted. The password can be omitted.

Defining Login and Logout passwordsIn the “Login password” and “Logout” fields thepasswords for program start, end exiting theprogram are defined. A password for exiting theprogram is usually not necessary though. If thefield is left blank, no inquiry will be performedwhen exiting

Switching the active (logged in) usersOnly exiting, and restarting BPM Studio canswitch the active user. At the new program start,the other username needs to be selected.

3.21.2. User specific settingsThe “User” register tab is divided into the globalsettings for a selected user, (left column), andthe access restrictions for the BPM Studiomodules (right column).

Separate SettingsWhen this checkbox is activated, all settings onthe 6 register tabs in the Program Options will bestored separately. This can be done if the userlogs on under his user name, and then defineshis own settings in the Program Options. This isonly possible though, if the “Options” Checkbox,in the right column of the user administration, isselected. This offers the opportunity that the useradjusts these settings once (or the administratorlogged on under the users name), and theadministrator then locks access to the ProgramOptions.Other possible utilization is to serve differentsound card settings. (Channel assignment orflexible configurations / notebook installations)

3.21. User Administration

80

User AdministrationBPM Studio

Separate File ArchiveWhen this checkbox is marked off, a own FileArchive will be created for this user. The user canconfigure this archive independently from theMaster File Archive (which is maintained by theadministrator) to his liking. If so though, he isresponsible for backups, and actualization. Forthis the File Archive Function in the groupwindows pop up menu can be used.In network installations the users archive can bestored also on the server, or the Master FileArchive of this server will be displayed for thisuser (read only). See also Network-Functions .If this is the case, the user can store his filearchive also on the server. Or the Master FileArchive can be displayed for this user. (Read only)

File Archive read onlyThis option is pretty much self-explanatory. If thischeckbox is marked, the user will not be able tomake modifications to the File Archive. Thisrelates to the category structure, and play lists inthese categories. Modifications to the titlesthemselves (in the ID3 tags) will be grantedthough.(If this is to be avoided, either the modules “BPMCounter” and “File properties” need to be disabled,or the checkboxes “write ID3 tags” and “saveID3Vs tags” need to be deselected.)

Play Lists read onlyThis checkbox deactivates the “SAVE LIST”button within all play-lists. This avoids lists beingsaved, or present lists to be overwritten. The userwill only be able to access prepared play lists, hecan change them while the program is running.Saving modifications at the end of the session isnot possible though.

Enable delete filesThis checkbox activates the pop up menu optionof File Archive and Play Lists to delete files fromthe hard drive. When deactivated, files can merelybe removed out of the Play List and the FileArchive. To deactivate this option can be helpfulto avoid accidental file deleting.

Enable program terminationIf this checkbox is selected, the logged on usercan close BPM Studio. If previously a log outpassword has been defined it will be requiredthough.If this checkbox is not marked, the administratorpassword is required to exit BPM Studio. If BPMStudio has been defined as exclusive shellapplication, and the PC is not accessible, thisway it can be avoided that user gainsunauthorized access to the system.

Checkboxes “ Ripper” to “ Mixer”Here the different modules are activated /deactivated for a particular user

Enable OptionsWhen selected, the user is authorized to modifythe Program Options.

If a Master File Archive is accessiblethrough the network, access will alwaysbe granted on a “read only” basis, even if“File Archive read only” checkbox is notselected.

If the “Separate Settings” checkbox is notselected, the user will have access to thesame options as the system administrator.

81

User Administration BPM Studio

3.21.3. Example ConfigurationsA given PC is used by the system administrator(e.g. the dance club owner) and two DJs. Theowner keeps the File Archive current, andfrequently adds new titles. Both DJs work withthose titles available on the system. DJ 1 merelyuses the File Archive provided by the owner, DJ2 has created his own File Archive, and updatesit himself. Both DJs work independently atdifferent times.

( =selected, =not selected, !=necessary,*=recommendable, .=irrelevant)

DJ 1:

* Separate Settings

! Separate File Archive

* File Archive read only

. Playlists read only

* Enable delete files

. Enable Program termination

* Ripper

. File Info

. BPM Counter

. File Editor

. Sample Editor

. Recorder

. Mixer

* Options

DJ 2:

! Separate Settings

! Separate File Archive

! File Archive read only

. Playlists read only

* Enable delete files

. Enable Program termination

* Ripper

. File Info

. BPM Counter

. File Editor

. Sample Editor

. Recorder

. Mixer

* Options

If you upgrade from BPM Studio Hometo BPM Studio Pro, the settings of theuse administration will not beautomatically adopted. If so, pleasespecify the old folder during theinstallation. Read also the moreextensive explanation in the Updateinstructions.

82

Network FunctionsBPM Studio

This part explains the extended network functionsof BPM Studio.The first two subchapters separately explain thedifferent functions. Following, different examplesof application and example configurations aredescribed. Since the network functions stronglyinteract with the user administration, it isrecommended to consult the UserAdministration in your studies. Deploying BPMStudio in a network basically has the objective ofserving MP3 files to clients from a central server,res. a client that also shares this task. Additionally,network wide access to file archives is possible.

3.22.1 Addressing MP3 FilesYou can install BPM Studio on several client PCs,and then use a shared pool of MP3 files, which isbasically a requirement when working withnetwork file archives. Although we recommendthe use of a 100Mbit network, but also 10Mbitnetworks of up to 5 clients are known to runsmoothly. The folder /s with the MP3 files will beshared on the server PC. On the client PCsaccess can now be gained either over a networkdrive (recommended), or via the network clientof Windows98.

Addressing MP3 files via the Drive letterThis form of addressing is predefined in theProgram Options logical drive letter assignmenton the “Storing” register tab. It is also arequirement for correct functioning of the networkfunctionality in general, and the “Update” functionin the File Archive. Also when you add MP3 filesto the File Archive using the “+FILE” or “+DIR”,you usually select them viaDesktop\My Computer\[LW]:[Folder].

Addressing will follow the LW:\[Folder]\[Subfolder]\*.mp3 pattern

At the end of this page two example entries areshown. In the first section of the entry, the locationof the files becomes obvious. Also, at initialprogram start, only logical drives, meaning localdrives, and network drives will be scanned. Anetwork drive can be connected in WindowsExplorer -> connect network drive.

3.22. Network Functions

Addressing via drive letter:Example entry in a *.grp-file of the File Archive(Displayed with a word wrap, that is not present in the original file)

Track0=C:\PROGRAMME\ALCATECH\BPM-STUDIO PROFI\DATA\A-HA - EARLYMORNING.MP3|TAG|A-HA|EARLY MORNING||HEADLINES AND DEADLINES THE HITS OF A-HA|||OTHER|MP3|0|179696|0|327680|0|0|-1|0|0|0|3|128|7|-1|0|0|0|-1|||0|

Example entry in a Playlist(Displayed with a word wrap, that is not present in the original file)

C:\MP3\EIFEL 65 - BLUE DABADI.MP3|TAG|EIFEL 65|BLUE DABADI||||HTTP://WWW.BPMSTUDIO.DE||MP3|0|221152|0|327680|0|0|-1|0|0|0|3|128|8|-1|0|0|0|1019794890|||0|

83

Network Functions BPM Studio

Addressing MP3 files via the computer nameIf no network drives are supposed to installed ona client PC, for example if the client PC isconnected to particular servers only randomly, itis possible to access the files through theWindows network client. Here also the files orfolders are loaded with +DIR or +FILE, but nowvia the network neighborhood of Windows, not“My Computer”The address of the MP3 files will then be in formo f \ \ [ C o m p u t e r n a m e ] \ [ F o l d e r ] \[Subfolder]\*.mp3An example of a File Archive row, in which thefile is addressed via the computer name, can befound at the end of this page. In place of the driveletter here \\HOLI\ (the computer name) and thename of the shared folder DATA1 are displayed.When using this method of addressing though,at every access a Windows name resolutionneeds to be performed, which can, undercircumstances, lead to timing problems forexample if the address of the WIN-S-Masterbrowser changes. Until now though,dropouts due to this addressing method areunheard of. Be also reminded though, that theBPM File Archive “Update” functions don’t workcorrectly.In mobile use with local server connectivity it isrecommended, to create a user for every placeof use, and then load the files via the networkclient.

3.22.2. Network File-ArchivesA BPM File Archive consists of a group of textfiles located at the DATA folder of the particularBPM Studio installation. The files Groups.gps andGroups.idx contain the folder directory of the FileArchive. The *.grp files, like Default.grp, containthe paths to the different MP3 files. These filescan be located on a local drive, a connectednetwork drive, or on a PC addressed via\\[computer name]\ See also addressing viacomputer name. With no regards to the type ofthe file archives, it is always the MP3 files providedby the central server that are actually accessed.In general one tells apart between a Master FileArchive, and user file archives.A Master File Archive will be provided by theserver, and is only editable from there. It can beviewed on the clients in read only mode. Any givenuser can use this File Archive, without having toworry about updating or maintenance. This willbe the network administrator’s task.A user file archive can be created on the clientPCs or, similar to the Master File Archive, on theserver. If the user file archive stored locally, thereis no way to access it from another client PC.Modifications would have to be made by eachparticular user.

Addressing via the Network Client:Example entry in a *.grp-file of the File Archive(Displayed with a word wrap, that is not present in the original file)

Track620=\\HOLI\DATA1\MP3\RUBRIKEN\HOUSE\WATERGATE - MADE OFORLEANS.MP3|TAG|WATERGATE|MADE OF ORLEANS||DREAM DANCE - VOL.13 - DISC1||||MP3|0|230400|0|327680|0|0|-1|0|0|0|3|128|8|-1|0|0|0|-1|||0|

84

Network FunctionsBPM Studio

For this reason it is possible to store the user filearchives on the server. This way the user canfind his own, current archive on every client PC.All these settings can be adjusted in the useradministration on the “Storing” register tab. Whattype of network file archives actually will be used,depends on the type of network, number of users,maintenance strategy, and other localcircumstances. In general it is recommended toanalyze these facts before the installation, andto coordinate with the network operator.

Creating a Master File ArchiveWhen initially installing BPM Studio on the server(or the client PC that will later on provide serverservices) a default archive is created in theprogram folder under \DATA. This archive will notbe deleted, even if new user accounts are created,and can be edited through the administratoraccount.The path to this File Archive is defined in theProgram Options-> file storage. Additionally theequalizer presets (eq.eqp), and the locally storedCDDB (cdda.cdb) inquiry results are stored here.Also the default path to the encoded mp3 files islocated here after the initial installation, whichshould at this point be modified to the sharedfolder for MP3 Files. (See also shared MP3 files)

To be able to access this File Archive from a BPMStudio client on another PC, some adjustmentsare necessary.To begin with the folder \DATA in the BPM Studiodirectory must be unlocked in the file sharingoptions if Windows Explorer. (There is also thepossibility to grant access to the whole drive c: ofthe server PC, for security reasons this ids notrecommendable though).

On the client PCs a new drive letter will becreated, and assigned to the shared DATA folder.Afterwards, in the BPM Studio Program Optionsof the client PCs, the server PCs folder can beselected via this drive letter. When closing theProgram Options, BPM Studio will now announcethe presence of a File Archive, after a securityinquiry, this Master File Archive will be displayed,instead of the user File Archive.

Protected Access of Network File ArchivesTo ensure that current information is available onall clients, BPM Studio has two backgroundfunctions.

1.) The File Archive can only be edited on theserver, and will be provided to the clients inread only mode. BPM Studio automaticallydetects if a File Archive is located on theserver, or no a client.

2.) Each client inquires the server in shortintervals for modifications of the file archive,and updates its own archive accordingly.

Title search function when loadingWhen several PCs use a shared File Archive, itcan not be guaranteed that a MP3 file will belocated under the same drive letter, although itwill be in the same folder res. the same directory.Therefore BPM Studio scans all logical drives fora file when it is loaded. This is also useful onstandalone platforms, when additional hard drivesare added to the system. BPM Studio willautomatically scan for the same directory underall other drive letter.

85

Network Functions BPM Studio

3.22.3. Example ConfigurationWith this example the work method of networkfunctions are explained.

A dance club with 1 server in the office, and 2clients in different areas. All DJs work with thesame File Archive provided by the dance club,but can make their own BPM Studio settings andadjustments on the clients. Archiving of new CDs,and File Archive maintenance are done at theserver.

Configuration:The MP3 files and a Master File Archive are savedon the server. The servers access the File Archive,and the files in “read only” mode.

Server:The server is consists of a system drive C:\, twodata drives D:\ and E:\, and a CD-ROM drive F:\.Reading in CDs is done locally in the office, whichcan be done during an event without anyproblems. To do so, the server needs to have W98,and a version of BPM Studio Home installed.The User Administration on the server will beunmodified. On drive C:\, the BPM Studio \DATAfolder, drive D:\ and drive E:\, will be opened forfile sharing.

Client:The client PCs will be configured as follows:

System drive C:\,W98, BPM Studio Home or ProfessionalSound Card depending on intended purposeCD-ROM drive D:\

Three network drives, connected with the server:E:\ as the data directory of the serverF:\, G:\, with D:\ and E:\ of the server

Now, in BPM Studio, the data path will be modifiedfrom C:\program files\Alcatech\BPM Studio\DATAto the server (D:\, since this is the logical driveconnected with the server’s DATA folder). Thusthe administrator of the client PC will hence usethe Master File Archive. Modifications can fromnow on only be done on the server.After a restart of BPM Studio the Master FileArchive will be loaded from the server, and theclient will automatically log on to the server. If atitle of the file archive is selected, BPM Studioscans the two connected network-drives for thistitle, and loads it.

Expansion for multi user:More users can be created on the client, whichwill have their own settings, and will also be ableto store their own play lists, while still being ableto access the Master File Archive. To do so, thetwo new users will get entries into the useradministration, get passwords, and the accordingentries will be made. Additionally, the “File ArchiveWrite Protected“ function should be enabled.

86

4.1. Where can I get MP3 files?

First StepsBPM Studio

BPM Studio will be delivered without any MP3Files. Our systems are designed for you to copyyour Audio CDs to your computers hard drive,and save them as MP3 Files. Thus you can beassured that there will be no loss in quality, andplayability of the titles. But also the most MP3titles from other systems, as well as MP2, andWAVE files can be played with BPM Studio. Step-by-step instructions on how to copy CDs, andcreating a File Archive can be found in the FirstSteps chapter of this manual. You can also utilizeother encoders from other vendors, be awarethough, that quality differs between differentencoders.

Lately, titles are offered for purchase in the MP3file format already, these can usually used be withBPM Studio without problems.

BPM Studio offers two independent Players forplaying MP3 files, which provide all functions ofa professional double-CD-player for DJs.A requirement to use BPM Studio that there arealready MP3 files saved on a PC. These will beread in, and displayed in the play lists, at thefirst program start after the installation. Theplayers will automatically play the play list indescending order.

1.) At any given time titles can be added to the

Play List by clicking the button at left

lower corner of the Play List The title selectedin the File Ar chive will be added to the playlist. If no title is selected, a Explorer windowwill open showing the directory of your harddrive(s). Select here the MP3 files to beinserted, and confirm with OK. The selectedMP3 files will now be inserted into the playlist.

Legal reminder:BPM Studio may only be used to copy/encodetitles if you are the author, or if the author, or aperson owning the copyrights has authorized youto do so. Otherwise you take the risk that youmake yourself liable to prosecution, res. to be heldliable by the copyright owner. Please pay attentionto laws and regulations regarding the use of MP3files. You can inform yourself about these eitherwith the regional office of the GEMA, or on theInternet at www.gema.de. If you use BPM Studiooutside of Germany, please refer to the accordinginstitutions representing ar tist, and recordcompany rights.

4.2. How can I play MP3 files?2.) Load a given title out of a Play List or the

File Ar chive into one of the two players byDrag&Drop. To do so, move the mousepointer over the title, press the left mousebutton, and hold it down. The mouse pointerwill change into two little musical notes. Nowmove the mouse pointer over one of the twoplayers, and let go of the button. The titlewill be loaded into the player, and the redLED display over the [CUE] button will comeon. A click on the [PLAY] button starts theplayback. Alternatively you can start the titlevia the remote control unit also. The buttons[PLAY] [CUE] on the computer screen areidentical with the buttons [4] and [5] on theunit.

In the following chapter read how you can mixMP3 files with single beat accuracy, and use theplayers professionally. In the Player chapter ofthis manual you can find detailed descriptions ofall player functions.

87

First Steps BPM Studio

4.3. Beat Matching with BPM StudioAs when working with regular CD – players, singlebeat accurate mixing takes quite an amount ofempathy and lots of practice. But to make thetransition from CD to MP3 as easy as possible,the especially for BPM Studio developed remotecontrol units and the extensive and versatilesoftware allow you work with the same look &feel as with a high quality, conventional doubleCD player.

Single beat accurate mixing means a titlesseamless transition into the next one, where thebase beats of both titles can be heardsimultaneously, but appear to be one. (3)

During this process both titles play simultaneouslyfor a certain time, which allows to create variouseffects.To achieve this it is necessary that both playersplay the titles at exactly the same speed. The BPMvalues (Beats per Minute) of both titles must beexactly equal. Also, the beats of both titles mustbe played simultaneously. (Beat synchronizing 3.).BPM Studio offers powerful tools to simplify beatmatching. The real time BPM counter determinesthe BPM value of every title in real time. With the[SET] button [21] (also called BPM Match button)the BPM value of the other player (Master) isautomatically adopted, and both title’s speed isautomatically equaled.*

Only remote control units with Pitch Controls:When this process is executed the pitch LED [25],and the pitch indicator in the equaled playersdisplay [14f] will blink. The adjusted player willmaintain its pitch value, until you position the pitchcontrol on the remote control unit to the valueindicated by the software. Following the pitchvalue of the adjusted player can be manipulatedfrom this position on again. (With the pitch wheelof the RCP-2001-B this value can be manipulatedagain immediately)

Quick description of single beat accuratemixing:1.) Select two titles that somewhat correspond

in style and speed. Load these titles into thetwo players, e.g. via Drag&Drop out of theFile Archive. Now the BPM value for bothtitles will automatically be determined, andbe indicated in the top right corner of theplayer’s displays. (If this indicator showsPITCH, it can easily be switched to BPM byleft clicking on it.

2.) Initially, move both pitch controls back tozero. To do so, right click on the slider scaleof both pitch-controls.

3.) Activate speed control (Pitch) with the

button. The green pitch LED should now beon in both players.

4.) In player B click on the BPM match button

( ), and observe the BPM indicator. The

BPM value of player A should be adopted. Ifthis is not the case, then the differencebetween the two speeds is to small for thecurrently selected pitch range. By clicking

on the or button select a larger

range, and try again to adjust by clicking on

the oder button. (The BPM Match

button is also available at the remote controlunits.)

88


5.) When the BPM values in both players areequal, the titles are played with the samespeed. You can ensure this, if you startPlayer B, and screen with headphonessimultaneously to Player A.

6.) Now prepare the second title to be mixedin, by setting a Cue Point directly in front ofa beat. To do so start the player B withheadphones.

7.) Stop player B at approximately the first beatof a new bar. BPM Studio will from now onremember this point a Cue Point

8.) Now start player A, and try to start player Bat a beat of player A. You can try this severaltimes by not stopping player B with the Play/Pause button, but with the Cue button. Thusthe player will return to the stored point, andwill start from there on again. Should thetwo titles not be approximatelysynchronized, the Cue Point needs to becorrected as follows.

9.) Click one of the search buttons or

smartly. The player is now in loop

mode, and frequently repeats 160ms of thetitle from the Cue Point on. Through clickingthese two buttons again (or with the jogshuttle dial at the remote control unit) youcan now move this Cue Point forward, andbackwards, within the title. By screening thetitle through headphones, and by observingthe spectrum analyzer in the player’s display,you can place the Cue Point exactly on thebeginning of the beat. The loop mode willbe ended by clicking the Cue- or Play button,and made adjustments will be adopted.When the Cue Point is placed so accuratethat you can start player B approximatelysimultaneously with player A, not until thenthe title is prepared for accurate beat mixing.

10.) Now you can start player B simultaneously

to a beat of player A by clicking the

button. Player B will now play approximatelysynchronous to player A.

11.) Now you can shortly slow down, or

accelerate the player B with the and

buttons, and compare by

headphones when the beats will be exactlysynchronous. If you discover that the titlesbecome asynchronous after a little while,simply adjust the pitch value with theaccording control in the smallest, possibleincrements. For this the pitch wheel of theRCP-2001-B remote control unit isespecially suitable.

12.) From now on there are no limits to yourimagination when it comes to working withthe two synchronously playing titles.Alternate between the two players by beator by bar with the manual fader, killfrequencies at the external mixer, or just playboth titles parallel.

After BPM equalizing with the [SET]button the adjusted player will block theuse of RC’s Sliders. As soon as youposition the pitch slider of the lockedplayer to its true position at the remotecontrol unit, the block will be removed,and thus the pitch value can be modifiedagain, e.g. to make slight corrections.The PITCH indicator on the remotecontrol unit will blink when blocked, andwill show the difference between remotecontrol unit slider, and real position ofthe slider, which simplifies positioningthe remote control unit slider to its realposition.

89


4.4. How do I work with Playlists?

BPM Studio saves the title order in the play listsbelow the two players. The player will now playthose titles in the order of this list.You can modify this list to your liking, add titles,delete titles, rearrange the title order, or save thelist for further use. It is also possible to enter atitle a couple of times repeatedly, or in differentpositions on the list. All modifications made tothe list, (for example with the File Editor) will bestored, and will be available when loading thislist again.In the Play List Archive you will manage all yourplay lists conveniently and you can even copyparts of one play list into another, or load completelists into the player. During this process only thetitle information get modified, the MP3 filesthemselves will stay at their location.

This part of the manual only covers handling ofsingle play lists. Read in the File- / Play ListArchives what possibilities you have whenarchiving play lists.

4.4.1. Adding titles to a play list

1.) Click on the button, in the bottom left

corner of the play list. The title selected fromthe File Ar chive will now be inserted intothe play list at the predefined spot. If no titleis selected, a Explorer window will openshowing the root directory of your hard drive/s.

2.) Now select the MP3 files to be inserted, andclick OK to confirm. The selected titles willbe inserted into the play list.

4.4.2. Modifying the title orderVia Drag&Drop the order of titles can be modified.Click on a title, and drag it to another positionwithin the list. A little red arrow to the left in thelist simplifies sorting in.

You can also pull complete play lists orcategories from the File- and Play Listarchive into a play list. The titles will beadded. Pull a complete play list, orcategory on a player, and the old list willbe replaced with the new one.

90


4.4.3. Storing a Play List

Click on . An Explorer window will open in

which you can specify a name, and a folder forthe play list to be saved. OK confirms, and theplay list will be stored under this name.

You can also store the complete Play List in thePlay List Archive, by dragging and dropping it onthe group window. Upon doing so, you canrenamed the newly created list.

4.4.4. Loading a Play List from HardDrive

Click on . A Explorer window will open, from

which you can load BPM Studio play lists (*.pls),as well as other formats like for example WinAMPplay lists. The previously loaded list will be lostthough.

4.4.5. Drag&Drop functionality of PlayListsBPM Studio offers various functions toconveniently assemble, load, and archive playlists. A central position in this functionality ispresented by the Play List Archive. Here, the playlists can be stored in freely definable categories.Also, the play list history is located here. Switch

to the play list archive by clicking the

button. The left window will now display thedifferent play list categories, and the right window(title list) will show the titles within a categoryselected to the left.

You can also store the complete Play Listin the Play List Archive, by dragging anddropping it on the group window. Upondoing so, you can renamed the newlycreated list.

4.4.6. Adding a play list to the archiveClick into the head row of a play list window of aplayer, and hold the mouse button down.

Now drag the play list into the group window ofthe Play List Archive. There, a list symbol willappear beside the mouse pointer.

Drop the play list by letting go of the mouse button,it will now be added to the archive under the namePLAYLIST. Now choose [rename] in the pop upmenu of this entry, and define a name that makessense for this list. You can also sort this new listinto another category by Drag&Drop, or move itfreely within the group window.

91


4.4.7. Loading a Play List from theArchive into a PlayerIn the group window of the Play List Archive clickon the list to be loaded, and hold down the mousebutton. A note symbol will appear beside themouse pointer.

Now drag the selected play list on the desiredplayer. Drop the list by letting go of the mousebutton. This play list will now be loaded into theplayer, and the previous one will be replaced.Read how to amend, or insert a play list onto orinto a already present list in the next chapter.

4.4.8. Merging a Play List to analready loaded ListScroll to the end of the play list window of thedesired player. In the group window of the PlayList Archive click on the list to be loaded with theleft mouse button, and hold it. A little note symbolappears beside the mouse pointer. Now drag theplay list to the last title of the loaded play list, anddrop it below. The new play list will be amendedto the one already loaded.

4.4.9. Adding title sequences of a playlist to an already loaded listIn the group window select the desired play listcontaining the titles to be added. Then mark thedesired titles by clicking right into the title window.By holding the [Ctrl] key down, you can selectand deselect multiple titles. When all desiredsongs are selected, click on one of the selectedtitles, and drag the whole block into the play listwindow of the player, and drop them.

4.4.10. Screening titlesWith the preview player in the lower right handcorner of the play lists you can screen markedtitles, without having to load them into a player.

In chapter 3.3 all functions of the play list areextensively explained

You can also insert the new play list atany other desired spot within the loadedplay list. The little red arrow to the left ofthe list simplifies this.

You can also, as when loading completeplay lists, drag the selected titles directlyon the player. Thus the selected titles willbe loaded into the player, and theprevious play list will be discarded.

The preview player of the File Archive canalso be controlled with the Sample Playerkeys <, 0, and > of the remote control unit.0 stops and starts the player, < and > areused for rewind and fast forward.

92


4.5. Creating Fades between Titles

The Cross-Fader enables automatic fadesbetween the two players. Every single title of theplay list can have a different fade assigned. Thusthe fade can be adjusted exactly to the particulartitle.

1.) Screen the end of the title to be faded, andselect a point from which on you wish to startfading out. Before doing so, switch the timeindicator to REMAIN so you can observethe remaining playtime of the title.

2.) Adopt the remaining playtime of the title intothe cross fader as fadetime. To do so, adjust theFADE TIME controlaccordingly.

3.) Now pick up the end of thelevel curve of the title to befaded, by clicking the leftmouse button on it.

The mouse pointer changes intoa bi-directional arrow.

Move the end of the curve intothe lower right hand corner of thecross fader display.

Now the last seconds of the title to be faded willbe displayed in the cross fader’s display. The timewill also be displayed.The title will be faded out in accordance with theadjusted level curve. If this curve is set like in thispicture, the cross fader will start fading out slowlyat half of the set fade time.By moving the start point of the fade curve youcan adjust the time, in which the title will be fadedout.

If you move the point all the way tothe right for example, then the titlewill be played with the full volumeall the way to the end.

If the start point of the curve is setall the way to the left, a slow, andcontinuos decrease of volume untilthe end of the title will be applied.But also any other desired fade pattern can beadjusted by Drag&Drop.

93

Once the fade is assigned, this title will be markedwith a little rectangle in front of the time columnof the play list:

All following titles in the play list, will now havethe same fade assigned, until another fade isassigned to one of the following titles. If an alreadyassigned fade needs to be modified, the modifiedfade needs to be reassigned via Drag&Drop toconfirm. This avoids unwanted modifications onpreviously assigned fades.

The Automatic-Mode will be switched on and offwith . Only when automatic-mode is active,will the assigned fades be applied.

All functions will be explained extensively in theCross Fader Chapter.


Assigning a fade to a titleWhen all adjustments have been made in thecross fader, the prepared fade needs to be

assigned to the according title.This is also accomplished byDrag&Drop. To do so, click onan empty spot within the crossfader display.

Drag the adjusted fade to the title in the play list,which it is to be assigned to. The mouse pointerwill have a little cross fader symbol accompanyingit:

94


4.6. How can I change title information?

BPM Studio offers convenient options on how theinformations attached to a title are managed.These informations are stored in the ID3 tags ofthe files themselves, and in the play list files (*.pls)

1.) Point the mouse pointer on the title to bemodified.

2.) With the right mouse button / pop up menuselect the “Properties” point. Alternatively

you can also use the button.

3.) The File Inf o Box will be opened:

When you select several files, and openthe File Properties Dialog, a checkboxwill appear beside every entry. If thischeckbox is marked, the modification inthe according field will be applied to alltitles. This is especially useful if severaltitles are to be assigned to a particulargenre, or album title.

Here all information contained in the ID3 tag willbe displayed. If you want to modify any of theinformation, simply overwrite it, and confirm withOK. The information will be updated in the ID3tag, as well as in the Play List .

To the right of the BPM field, the complete pathto this MP3 file will be displayed. If there is notenough space, you can move the mouse pointerover it, and the whole path will be displayed astool tip.

The “MORE” button will only appear if the selectedfile is a CD-at-once track. Read the CD-Player /CD-at-once chapter for further explanations.

With the BPM... button you can open the BPMCounter module, and be able to determine theBPM value directly out of the properties dialog,and save it.

Edit... will start the File Editor with the selectedtitle.

In the chapter File Properties Dialog you can findfurther information and descriptions aboutmodifying title information.

95


4.7. Ripping and Archiving Audio-CDsBPM Studio does not only provide the means toprofessionally play and mix titles. Also manyfunctions and perfected modules are available forcopying and archiving audio-CDs. How you cantransfer your existing CD collection to the BPMStudio system, is explained in the followingsection.

Requirements:Music in the MP3 format occupies about 1 MB ofhard drive space for 1 minute of music. Thismeans that on a hard drive with 30 GB capacityapproximately 8,000 to 10,000 titles with anaverage length of 3.5 minutes can be stored.The Audio-CDs are read in with the CD-ROM driveand copied to the hard drive. This procedure isalso called “ripping”. The speed of this processmainly depends on the quality of the drive. Butalso the performance of the overall system isimportant, for example if copying and encodingare to be done in one single process.

After the installation of BPM Studio, MP3 fileswill be stored in the \DATA folder on drive C bydefault. We recommend, when using the programprofessionally, to install a second (or even more)additional hard drive/s, and to move the MP3folder accordingly to the new hard drive. This canbe done in the Program Options, “storage”register tab.Optimally create a \MP3 folder on the new harddrive, and select this folder as standard for MP3files. BPM Studio will then store all ripped, andencoded files in this folder.

A large relief, when adopting title lists on the PC,is the global CD database on the Internet. There,the title information of the most known and currentCDs are stored, and can be downloaded for free.BPM Studio has a built in CDDB inquiry function,

to be started over the button. If a

particular CD can not be found in this database,an alternative CDDB-database can be defined inthe Program Options. Or, the information can beentered manually in the file properties dialog.To be able to use the CDDB inquiry you need aInternet connection either over the dial up networkadapter of Windows, or through a real Internetconnection through a masked network. StandardProxy software for Windows only offers HTTP andFTP services. If you own a UNIX system asgateway, activate masquerading, and enter theIP Address of the gateway into the networksettings of Windows. If you use programs likeWinGate, or AVM KEN!, please activate theSOCKS Proxy in these programs, res. install theproper client software on the BPM Studio PCYou can get more help from about this topic fromyour system administrator, or your local PC store.

We recommend to save all MP3 files inone folder. The BPM Studio File Archiveand the hard drive directory stand in norelation to each other. If you move a filein the BPM Studio File Archive, thephysical location on the hard driveremains unchanged. This way, it can getmessy very easily, if you store files indifferent folders on your hard drive, andlater on rearrange them in the FileArchive.

96


Ripping Audio-CDs:1.) Switch to the CD-Player of BPM Studio by

clicking the button. Insert a audio-CD

into the CD-ROM drive. After a couple of seconds,all titles on the CD should appear in the playersPlay List. Since BPM Studio doesn’t know thisCD yet, all titles will be displayed as TRACK –followed by their title number.

2.) Now click on the button.

Provided Windows has a Internet connection setup, the PC will log on to the Internet, connects tothe CDDB (central disc data base for audio-CDs)and try’s to retrieve the information for the CD inthe drive.

3.) After successful CDDB query all titles of theCD will be listed.

If no information was provided in the CDDB forthis particular CD, at this point enter themmanually, in the file properties dialog. Now markthe titles to be read in with the according checkbox

to their left in the list, and click on .

All marked titles will now be read in. The progresswill be displayed in a status window.

After successful encoding all files willautomatically listed in the File Archive’s “NEWFILES” category. For clearer appearance asubfolder with the current date will be created.(See also screen shot at end of page)

In the chapter CD Player you can read up morefunctions available for convenient audio-CD readin BPM Studio. You can, for example, read inwhole CDs as one track, or retrieve the CDinformation for several CDs with one single CDDBquery.

Creating a own File Archive:BPM Studio can manage several ten thousandsof titles. At such vastnumbers, it is easyto loose track, iftitles are notassigned to differentgeneral categories.For this purpose theFile Archive is used.In the screen shot tothe side you can seean examplestructure of anarchive of this kind.It consists of anumber ofcategories, and subcategories that canbe opened andclosed by doubleclick. After the initialinstallation or after reading in CDs you’ll find newtitles here that can be assigned to categoriesaccording to your preference.The archive shown here consists of the followingcategories:

97


NEW FILES:This category will automatically created by theripper, whenever new CDs are read in. The date,of when the CD was ripped, will be used as subcategory. In this sub category you will then findall the titles that have been read in at this particularday.

FIND RESULTS:This category will be created from BPM Studioafter the initial installation, when all hard drivesare scanned for MP3 files. This category willcontain sub categories, sorted by drive letter, inwhich all found MP3 files will be located.

DEFAULT:If you do not wish to make further modificationsin different categories res. subcategories, you cansort in all titles here. Otherwise just leave thegroups empty. This particular group/category isnecessary for BPM Studio to work properly, andcan not be deleted.

ARTIST:This category is created individually. As subcategories, different artists are defined. In one ofthese sub categories all titles of a certain artistpresent on the system are listed. This is veryuseful if you have a lot of titles from one particularartist, or whole albums are intended to be savedtogether. The sub category MIKE OLDFIELD forexample contains a second branch sub categorycalled TUBULAR BELLS, in which all titles of thisparticular album are saved.

TIME:This also individually created category utilizesdifferent times as sub directories. Here titles aresaved for which not the artist, but the release dateis used as index.

Of course these are only examples. Every usershould create a File Archive according to his ownneeds, and in the for him most overviewablefashion, so it can be browsed quickly duringevents.Independent of the File Archive structure, it isrecommended to use the search function, to finda particular title.

Read in the File- and Play List Archive chapterabout even more functions available in BPMStudio for archiving titles. You can, for examplenot only archive files, but whole Play Lists, inwhich the order of titles will also contain all fades.

Drag&Drop out of the group window:You can drag a whole group out of thegroup window (to the left in File Archiveor Play List Archive), and drop it on aplayer. The previous play list will then bereplaced with the new titles. If you dragthe titles into a play list, they will all beamended to this list.

98


4.8. How do I use the Sampler most efficient?With the sampler of BPM Studioyou can load short jingles,loops, and sound effects, andthen replay them by the click ofa button. The maximum lengthof such a sample in BPM StudioLE is 20 seconds. As in the twoplayers the playback will startexactly when the sampler buttonis clicked. This is achieved byutilizing very fast Direct Sounddrivers, or the Kernel Driver

developed by ALCATech. Learn now, how you canload and play samples with the sample player.

1.) Look up a jingle in your Play Lists . (You canalso use a regular title, merely 20 secondswill be loaded in the sampler though.

2.) Drag the title onto the desired button of the

sampler, e.g. . To do so, place your

mouse pointer over the title, push the leftmouse button and hold it down, while youpoint at the desired button with the pointernow. The n let go. The sampler LED willshortly change its color from green to red,thus indicating that the sample has beenloaded. When the sample is loadedcompletely, the digit on the Sampler Buttonwill become brighter, this making it easierto determine which buttons have samplesassigned.

You can also load asample directly from thehard drive, via the pop upmenu. To do so point onthe desired button, andclick the right mousebutton. In the appearingmenu select “Load”, andselect the desired file inthe Explorer windowpopping up. Confirm withOK.

3.) Now click on the sampler button. The samplewill be played. For the duration of the sampleplayback can be stopped, by clicking thesame button again (not in scratch mode).You can also start the sample with thenumber block on your PCs keyboard or withthe sample block of the remote control unit(not RCP-1001). These buttons work parallel

Through the pop up menu two different playbackmodes can be selected for the sample player.

4.8.1. Single Play:When this option is activated (a little check markcan be seen in front of the entry) a possible stillplaying other sample will b stopped. Only ONEsample will be played at a time.

99


4.8.2. Scratch mode:When this option is activated (a little check markcan be seen in front of the entry), upon clickingthe same button again the sample will not bestopped, but restarted. With this function a samplecan for example be played repeatedly to the beatof the title.

The volume of the sample player can be adjustedat the two [VOLUME] controls. Also the speed ofthe sample player, (Pitch) can be manipulated:

4.8.3. Configuring the Sample Player:BPM Studio supports output of the differentdevices, through different sound card channels.If not enough channels are available though thesample player can share the two output channelsof player A and B. In Program Options, registertab Audio I/O, simply the same channel as forplayer A, is entered for the sample player. When

using BPM Studio, the assignment keys

und are used to select if the output is

combined with that of player A or B. Please beaware that shifting the title takes a couple ofseconds. This will also be indicated by the samplerLED, when turns green again, the sampler isready.

100

RC

V3 V

iewBPM

Stud

ioRC V3

Front view

Reverse view

101

RC V3 Description BPM Studio

5. Remote Control Unit RC V3

The basic operation of the RC V3 is identical withthe top area of the program window. If the remotecontrol unit is registered in the Program Options ,the program will check at start if the remote controlunit is connected and ready.

Installation( Also refer to the reminders for connection ofremote control units, and reminders for the initialprogram start on page 13)The remote control unit will be connected to thePCs serial por t (COM1 or COM2) via itsconnection socket [REMOTE/PC] [38] and thesupplied cable. A power supply unit is alsoprovided.Now start BPM Studio and open the remotecontrol units register tab. The followingadjustments need to be made:

COM1 / COM 2Enter which COM port the unit is connected to.

RC ActiveMark this checkbox to inform the program aboutthe presence of a remote control unit. Theprogram will from now on check at start up if theunit is present, and ready.

OperationThe remote control unit is divided in sections forPlayers A and B, and the Sample Player. Thebasic functionality corresponds to the moduledescriptions on the according pages for Playerand Sample Player.

If the program finds a external remote control unitat startup, and the controls of this unit areconfigured for Pitch, the pitch controls in theplayer’s program window will be locked. Pitchmodifications can then only be made at theremote control unit. The sliders on the monitorthe merely indicate the slider position on the unit.The purpose of the sliders and the programmablemulti purpose buttons can be assigned in theProgram Options , register tab remote controlunit. The two sliders on the two players [10] (SliderA and B in the Program Options) can either beused to control pitch, or volume. Thus, when usinga notebook mixing can be done without externalmixer, and the pitch will be adjusted by software.The slider in the Sample Player [47] (Slider C inthe Program Options) can be programmed tocontrol sample volume, sample pitch, or manualfading between player A and player B.

Also the multi purpose buttons inthe top right corner of the twoplayers [49], [50] and [51] can be

configured for different functions.

102

RC V3 DescriptionBPM Studio

Controls at the front side of thedevice:

[3] Cue-Play-ButtonThis button combines the two buttons Cue andPlay. If the player is in play mode (The green LED[46] is on) it will jump back to the previous CuePoint and start playing from there on, uponpressing the [Cue-Play] button. If the player is inpause mode, it will jump to the current Cue Point,and play from there on.

Alternative Cue-Play FunctionAlternatively to the functions of the [Cue-Play]button described above, another variant can beselected in the Program Options. If this othervariant is selected, the title will start playing uponpressing the [Cue-Play] and will play as long asthe button is held. Upon releasing the button thetitle will be reset to the current Cue Point

[4] Cue ButtonUpon pressing this button the player will jumpback to the previous Cue Point, and switch topause mode.When pressing the button for longer than onesecond, the player will jump back to beginning ofthe title res. will jump back to that Cue Point whenpressing for more than one second again.

[5] Play ButtonWhen pressing this button the player will startplaying from its current position, res. from the setCue Point. If pressed again the player will go backto pause mode.The current starting position of the player will besaved as Cue Point if the Play button is pressedagain, and can be located with again at any timewith the [Cue] button.

[9] Pitch-Bend-ButtonWith these keys the playback speed cantemporarily be in- or decreased. An indispensabletool when synchronizing the beats of two titles

[10] Pitch ControlAdjust this control to the desired playback speed.On the display [40] the deviation will be indicatedin %.This control is only active when the [Pitch] –button [24] is switched on, and the Pitch-LED [25]is also on.

[19] Time ButtonWith this button the time indicator in the display[40] can be switched between elapsed, andremaining playtime.

[24] Pitch ButtonThis button can block adjustment of the playbackspeed with the [Pitch-Control] [10]. The PitchLED [25] will indicate the current status.

[25] Pitch LEDThis LED indicates if the Pitch Control [10] isactive.

[28] Sample Buttons 1 to 9These buttons start the samples 1 to 9 of theSample Player of BPM Studio. Read the chapterSample Pla yer in this manual to learn about thedifferent possibilities when working with samples.

[29] Sampler-Status-LEDThe three colored status LED indicates the modeof the Sample Player. If green, the Sample Playeris ready. Orange means ready in scratch mode.A red LED indicates that data is loaded into theSampler. During this period no samples can beplayed.

[30] Sampler-Control, res. controllingthe Preview Player

With the two buttons and the Sample

Player’s output can be assigned to Player A orPlayer B. This is only necessary if the SamplePlayer does not have its own sound card channelassigned, res. only two channels are available(depending on hard- and software outfit of yoursystem) The [0] – button stops the playback of allsamples.

103


Controlling the Preview-Player:Whenever the Sample-Player is in pause-mode,meaning, when no sample is played, you can startthe preview player from within the File Archivewith the [0] button. Now the selected title will beplayed over the monitor channel and can bescreened independently from the running

program. In this mode the two and

buttons function as rewind and fast forward.

[40] LCD DisplaysIn the LCD display the most important feedbackof the particular player is indicated.

[40a] Indicates if speed control is applied with orwithout master speed function. (At this remotecontrol unit only at the program window of thetwo players).

[40b] The deviation of the title from its standardspeed in %

[40c] Current title. Here the title and artist areindicated out of the ID3 tag of this MP3 File. Thisdisplay will scroll automatically if not allinformation of this tag can be displayed. Ifproblems with the system’s performance are athand, this scrolling can be deactivated in theProgram Options, on the register tab remotecontrol unit.

[40d] Indicates the pre load buffer

[40e] Current playtime (Can be switched betweenELAPSED and REMAIN with the [TIME] button[19] )

[40f] Indicates the selected pitch range. Thisselection can be made with the multi purposebuttonsA, B, and C ([49], [50] and [51] ) if this is set upaccordingly in the Program Options. (see alsopage 11)

[40g] Signal level indicator

[41] to [44] Track- and Search buttonsWith the track buttons you can select titles incurrently loaded play list. The search buttons areused for exact setting of Cue Points. For thispurpose a small portion of the title will be playedas a loop. The position of this loop will then bemoved with the search buttons.Also read the chapter about players in thismanual.

[45] Cue LEDThis LED will come on if the player goes intopause mode

[46] Play LEDThis LED will come on if the player goes into playmode

[47] Manual Fader res. Sampler PitchThe horizontal control below the Sample Playercan be used as manual fader, sample volumecontrol, or pitch control of the sample player. Theaccording settings are defined in the ProgramOptions, on the remote control register tab.When set as manual fader cross fades betweenplayer A and B can be created without externalmixer.

104

RC V3 DescriptionBPM Studio

Fader Start Functions RC V3(BPM Studio Pro/HW from Ver. 3.00 B)

Fader start functions are only working with aRemote Control Unit from Ver. 3.00 B. Accordingto the Remote Control Unit, connection of themixer (fade start enabled) via the Fader-Start-Adapter (special accessory) or by the normal 3,6mm stereo jack cable. Please pay attention tothe installation instructions in the chapters ofrespective RCs, if you have acquired adapterseparately or later.

The version number of your Remote Control Unitwill be shown during start-up / Program start ofBPM Studio. (By pressing CTRL key, the dialogbox stays visible until the key will be releasedagain).

From Ver. 3.00 B will be supported:Mixer with Reedcontact or microsensor,Mixer with of impulse control (for examplePIONEER) is Ver. 3.00 C required.

In the program options, you can choose thefollowing different operation modes:

Fader Start (Program options / RemoteControl Unit)If this checkbox is active, then Player starts whenthe control of the external mixer will be put on.

Fader Stop (Program options / RemoteControl Unit)If this checkbox is active, then Player stops whenthe control of the external mixer will be put off.

[49], [50], [51] Universal keysThe universal keys can be verified in the programoptions, section Remote Control , every time asdescribed below:

The A [49] key: - Pitch range 1- Player A Monitor- Loop - Sampler Record

The B [50] key: - Pitch range 2- Player B Monitor- Loop - Sampler play

The C [51] key: - Pitch range 2- CD Player Monitor- Loop - Sampler Play

[38] Serial cable socket (reverse side)Connect plug (9-pin, Sub-D) of Remote ControlUnit through serial cable to your PC. The maxi-mal cable’s length is 15 m, however we do notrecommend to use more than 10 m.

[39] Power supply socket (reverse side)Connect delivered power supply cable (9 V, atleast 500 mA).

[52] Fader start cable socket (reverse side)Connect to this plug (9-pin, Sub-D) an Fader startcable which is optional available as accessoryby ALCATech. Please read instructions of ‘Faderstart’ on the following pages of the manual beforeusing it the first time.

105


So you can connect Fader start adapter toRemote Control Unit and to the external Mixer

Fader Start Functions RC V3(BPM Studio Pro/HW from Ver. 3.00 B)

106

RC

P-1001 view

BPM

Stud

ioRCP-1001

Front view

Reverse view

107

RCP-1001 Description BPM Studio

6. Remote Control Unit RCP-1001

Remote Control Unit RCP-1001 is a simpleversion of the RCP-2001 with a limited functionsrange. It works with the BPM Studio Professionalund with BPM Studio LE ex Version 4. Besides ofvery clear VFD displays, it is equipped , exactlyas RCP-2001, with Track Selector and Jog ShuttleWheels as well. It allows among other to choosedirectly the titles of the file archives (only BPMStudio Pro software). If external Remote ControlUnit is logged-on in the program options , thenprogram examines during start up, if the RemoteControl Unit is connected and operative.

Installation(Please, read the instructions on how to connectthe Remote Control Unit on page 12 andinstructions how to run the program for the veryfirst time on page 13).Connect [REMOTE/PC] [38] socket of RemoteControl Unit using the supplied cable to a serialport (COM1 or COM2) on your computer. Powersupply is given by delivered power adapter.Following settings should be made:

COM1 / COM 2Select to which COM portthe Remote Control Unitis connected

RC ActiveSelect this check box to inform the program thata Remote Control Unit is connected. Every timethe program is started it will check, if RemoteControl Unit is connected and operative.

OperationThe Remote Control Unit contains a controllerfor both Player A and B. The basic functionalityis the same as described in the section of themanual dedicated to the player. When the pro-gram finds an external Remote Control Unit duringits startup and the Remote Control Unit has thepitch button activated, then the pitch slider of bothplayers in the program are locked. Only theexternal Remote Control Unit can change thepitch. The slider on the screen shows merely theposition of the slider on the Remote Control Unit.Using the Remote Control options tab in the pro-gram options , you can program the slide bars.They are adjustable by either Pitch or volume. Ifyou are using the notebook version, it is alsopossible to mix without an external mixer. ThePitch setup will be taken over by the software.

108

RCP-1001 DescriptionBPM Studio

Control elements on the front sideof device:

[1] [2] Jog Shuttle WheelThe Jog Shuttle Wheel allows you to use a lot ofthe BPM Studio functions easily andergonomically. The external ring [1] and theinternal disc [2] are working touch sensitive. Ifthe ring is moved further i.e. if the internal wheelis moved more quickly so the parametermodification of the player will be made morequickly. Jog Shuttle Wheel have 3 operationmodes: Search, Cue und Archive mode.

Jog Shuttle Wheel in Search Mode:This is the standard mode which is active duringplay of any title. Search Mode will be shown inthe Display [14] by symbol . You caninfluence the play back of the loaded or playedtitle with the wheel.You can move the loaded title forward or in thereverse direction using the external r ing.According to the turn angle of the ring [1] , thereare 3 different search speeds available (+1, +2,+3 or -1, -2, -3) and step mode where you canplay the title in 1 minute steps (+min or -min).

Using the internal disc [2] of the Jog Shuttle Wheelthis title will slow down or accelerate. It worksalso when title slows down straight by BRAKEfunction or on start-up.

Jog Shutter Wheel in Cue Mode:If the Player is in Pause Mode, then a Cue Pointcan be set exactly with the internal disc [2] . If thePlayer is stopped and the disc will be moved byone step, then the Player goes into this modeand 160 ms of the current play position will beplayed repeatedly as Loop. This position can benow positioned exactly before the next Beat.Changes of the Cue-Point are taken over bypressing the Cue key anew.

Beat-Stepping:If in the Cue mode the [ LOAD] key [11] isadditionally held down, then you can move exactlystep-by-step forward or backwards to a Beat inthe title. Read chapter “Beat Stepping using theBPM Studio” too.

Jog Shuttle Wheel in Archive Mode:In the Archive mode you can comfortably navigatein File Archive or Playlist Archive using this wheel.You can switch into the appropriate mode using[Archive] or [P.List] keys [16] , [17] . The archivemode is shown in the display by the symbols

or . Choose the desired group inleft part of archive window using external ring [1] .Once more you can choose from four differentScroll speeds. -1 or 1 switches exactly one groupfurther or back. +2/+ 3 or -2/-3 present twodifferent search speeds in the list with the groups.+min/-min finally moves the selcetion bar to thebeginning or to the end of the list.A group will be opened if you stay longer thanone second on a group using the selection bar.Then, you can select the subgroups using theJog Wheel. Now in this case you can load thecomplete group into Playlist by pressing the[LOAD]- key [11] .You can also select any title from the group usinginternal disc [2] . Loading may be made also by[LOAD]- key [11] . By a simple click, the title willbe loaded into Playlist after the marked position.

109


If you would like to play the title immediately, thenload it directly to the Player by double click. Thejust selected group or title will be shown in thedisplay [14] during the selection using the JogShuttle Wheel. Therefore the Archive can beoperated without looking constantly at the monitor.You can move back to the Search mode bypressing the [ARCHIVES] or [P.List] key [16, 17]anew. The Archive mode ends automatically after10 seconds without any entry.

[4] Cue ButtonPressing this key moves the player back to thelast Cue-Point and goes into Cue mode.Press the Cue key longer than one second andthe player then moves to the beginning of thetitle or by pressing one second again will move itto the current Cue-Point.

[5] Play ButtonPressing this key starts the player from the currentposition (i.e. the Cue-Point). If the Play button ispressed again, the player goes into Pause Mode.The current start position of the player (beforeany anew pressing on the Play key is made) isstored as a Cue-Point and can be started againwith the [Cue] key any time.

[9] Pitch-Bend ButtonsUsing these keys, you can temporarily increaseor decrease the play speed. These keys are anindispensable tool for synchronizing the secondtitle’s Beats. They are used to navigate by Beatin a title, if the Player is in Cue Mode (see alsochapter ‘Beat stepping using BPM Studio’).

[10] Pitch SliderSet the desired playback speed using the PitchSlider. The actual speed in BPM appears on thedisplay [14] as well as the difference in percent.The slider is only active if the [Pitch] key [24] ison and the Pitch-LED [25] enlights.

[11] LOAD ButtonThe function of this key depends on the set modeof the Jog Shuttle Wheel [1] and [2] . In Searchmode (standard), the next title of the Playlist isloaded into0 the Player by pressing of the [LOAD]key.In Cue mode, additional holding of [LOAD] keywill cause a change of current position of Cue-Point by beat or by tact (see chapter ‘Beatstepping using BPM Studio’ too). In Archive mode,pressing the [LOAD] key will load the selectedtitle into the Playlist using the Jog Shuttle Wheel.This title will be loaded into Player immediatelyby double click.Holding the key longer than 3 seconds will replacethe complete Playlist by the selected group orplaylist in the archive.

[12] Track SelectorYou can move inside the Playlist using the TrackSelector. A full turn of the ring switches 24 titlesdown the list. If you navigate in really big lists,then by pressing the Track Selector and turning itat the same time, you can move by 10 steps at atime. By pressing the button the selected title willbe loaded into the Player.

[14] The VFD displayIn the VFD display, all the parameters and activitymodes of the respective Player will be shown asfollows:

110


[14a] Indicates the number of loaded Tracks

[14b] NEXT TRACK indicator.(Not active by RCP-1001)

[14c] Displays the time. Playtime of the title isshown in minutes, seconds and in tenth ofseconds. Time information can be switched overby using the [TIME] key [19] between total titleplay time (ELAPSED), remaining title play time(REMAIN) and total remaining play time of theplaylist (TOTAL). If the Player is in Cue mode,then the current Cue-Point will be shown.

[14d] Operation mode of the time display,switchable by the [TIME] key [19]

[14e] BPM value indicator, here the display willshow BPM value taken from the ID3-Tag of theloaded title or value of real time BPM Counter.

[14f] Displays Pitch value in percents.

[14g] Displays the Pitch mode type. Accordingto the chosen mode in the program panel, youwill see if the changes of speed will work with orwithout change of the sound level (Master-Tempo).

[14h] Displays the mode of Jog Wheel. Using theArchive [16] , [17] keys it is possible to switchbetween operation modes of the Jog Wheels.

indicates File Archive Mode, indicates the Playlist Archive Mode and the

Search Mode (standard operationmode).

[14i] Bar indicator displays the current playposition

[14k] The title display shows the current loadedtitle and the interpreter from ID3- Tag of the MP3file. The display scrolls automatically when datacannot be completely presented. If youexperience problems with the performance of yoursystem, title scrolling can also be turned off inthe program options of the Remote Control Unit.

This display can be also used to show a lot ofsupplementary information. In the archive modefor example, the respective selected group,Playlist or the title in archive will be displayed heretemporary.

[14l] Displays the four additional functions: Single-/Continous-Play, Shuffle and Repeat.Programming can be done using the [MODE] key[20] and [SET] key [21] .

[14 m] Display for the Loop-Sampler(not active in BPM Studio LE or RCP-1001)

[16], [17] Archive KeysUsing the [ARCHIVE] [16] key you can switchthe Jog Wheel [1], [2] into the File Archive Mode.It is indicated additionally in the display by symbol.The [P.List] key [17] switches to the PlaylistArchive mode. By pressing the key again theSearch mode will be switched back (switchingback takes place automatically as well, when anyother key of the Player is pressed or after 30seconds, if you have not moved the Jog ShuttleWheel during this time).

[19] Time ButtonUsing this button you can switch the play timeindicator in display [14] between total play time(ELAPSED) and remaining time of title (REMAIN).(TOTAL is not supported at present)

[20] MODE ButtonBy this button you can program four additionalfunctions: Single-/Continous-Play, Shuffle andRepeat.By pressing this [MODE] button multiply you canselect one of the modes. Corresponding indicatorwill blink in display [14] .

111


Now, using the [SET]-key [21] function, you canswitch it on/off.

Continous Play :If this mode is activated, then next title in thePlaylist will be automatically loaded and playedat the end of the current title.

Single Play :If this mode is activated, then next title in thePlaylist will be automatically loaded but not startedat the end of the current title.

Shuffle :The titles in the Playlist will be played in randomorder. Each change of the Playlist will cause arandom new title order of list as long as this modeis enabled.

Repeat :If this function is active, then the loaded title isplayed continuously. If this function is turned off,then the next title of the list will be loaded.

[21] SET Button(Also BPM Match key) The current BPM value ofrespective (Master) Player will be taken over bypressing the SET key in Standard Mode. Readalso chapter ‘Beat-Matching using BPM Studio’.Please read in this chapter the exact descriptionof the function of the SET button. If theProgramming Mode is active ([MODE]-key [19]pressed), pressing the SET key will then switchthat function on or off.

[24] Pitch ButtonUsing this key, you can deactivate the settings ofthe playback speed via the [Pitch slider] [10] .

Reverse side sockets:

112


[36] Fade Start Input SocketThis socket usually works with all mixers that havean available fade/start function, for example thePIONEER series. Connect the plug (1/8 inch jack)of the Remote Control Unit using a universal cableto your mixer. Connect the ground device (GND[36a] ) with the ground of the mixer.

How it works:Both players are controlled by a separated 1/8inch stereo jack. The player starts by locking thecontact S1 (temporarily or constantly) and stopswhen contact S2 is locked (temporarily orconstantly). Through program options you canactivate fade start and also stop the separate fade.Do not set up the grip ground to the same as thedevice ground! This will avoid a short circuitbetween the device and the grip ground.

[36a] Device groundConnect the device ground (GND) to the groundof mixer.

[37] Remote start input (P. START)This input works with mixers through the RemoteStart function (or Puls Start). An example wouldbe some of the BEHRINGER models. Bothplayers will be controlled using one contact.Connections to the mixer are mostlyaccomplished through a ¼ inch - mono jack.Connection to the BPM Studio Remote ControlUnit RCP-1001 by the RCP-2001 can be madethrough a 1/8-inch stereo jack. So, please use anadapter connecting the 1/8-inch stereo jack to ¼inch - mono jack. Remote Start Input has to bechosen in the program options (index card„Remote Control”, Checkbox „Puls Start”). Finallyyou can activate Fader-Start and Fader-Stop.

How it works:Player A is started by locking contact A and isstopped by locking it once more. The same isvalid for Player B and contact B. Through programoptions you can activate fade start and also stopseparate fade.

[38] Serial cable socketConnect the (9-pin, Sub-D) plug of the RemoteControl Unit with the supplied serial cable to yourPC. The maximum length of cable that can beused is 49.2 feet (15 m), however we do notrecommend using more than 32.8 feet (10 m).Another socket to connect power supply andserial connection is on the left side of casing. Thismakes it possible to use Remote Control Unit alsoas table device without bothering plugs on theback side of device. To use it you need a specialcable, which is available from your localALCATech dealer or directly from ALCATech.

[39] Power supply socketConnect delivered power supply cable (12 V, atleast 1 A) to this socket.

113

RCP-2001-B Description BPM StudioRCP-2

001-B

Fron

t vi

ew

diese Seite ist zu entfernen und durch das Doppelblatt zu ersetzen

114

RCP-2001 viewBPM Studio

Rev

erse

vie

w

RCP-2

001-B

115


7. Remote Control Unit RCP-2001

The Remote Control Unit RCP-2001 is availablein two different designs. The RCP-2000-A isequipped with a conventional Pitch-Slider. TheRCP-2001-B is equipped with Pitch-Wheelsdeveloped by ALCATech. These Pitch-Wheelsenable independent changes of Pitch value ofboth Players between Software and RemoteControl Unit. It is especially of importance byusing the BPM Match function or by connectingseveral Remote Control Units. Not lastly it is alsopossibility to make finer regulation of Pitch valuesup to 0.1 % steps. The RCP-2001 works with BPMStudio LE and Professional from Version 4 up. Inaddition to the easily readable VFD display, it isequipped with Direct-Cue keys, Loop - Samplerand Jog Shuttle Wheels. Among others, it allowsdirect selection of titles from the File archives (onlyin BPM Studio Pro software).

Installation(Also, read the instructions on how to connectthe Remote Control Unit on page 12 andinstructions how to run the program for the veryfirst time on page 13).Connect [REMOTE/PC] [38] socket of RemoteControl Unit using the supplied cable to a serialport (COM1 or COM2) on your computer. Powersupply is given by delivered power adapter. Allsettings will be made by index card RemoteControl and are in chapter 3.18 ‘Program options’detailly described.

OperationThe Remote Control Unit controls both PlayersA and B. The essential function of the unitcorresponds to the description of the player onthe corresponding pages of that manual. If theprogram finds an external Remote Control Unitand the sliders of the Remote Control Unit areconfigured at Pitch during start up, then the Pitchsliders of both players are set in the program panelinterface. Then Pitch modifications can be madebut only using the external Remote Control Unit.The Sliders on the screen will only show theposition of the sliders.Using the Remote Control options tab in theprogram options , you can program the slide barsof the RCP-2001-A. They are adjustable by eitherPitch or volume. If you are using the notebookversion, it is possible to mix with the RCP-2001-A without using an external mixer. The pitch setupwill be taken over by the software.

RCP-2001-B with Pitch Wheel

RCP-2001-Awith Pitch Slidern

116


Control elements on the front sideof device:

[1] [2] Jog Shuttle WheelThe Jog Shuttle Wheel allows you to use a lot ofthe BPM Studio functions easily andergonomically. The external ring [1] and theinternal disc [2] are working touch sensitive. Ifthe ring is moved further i.e. if the internal wheelis moved more quickly so the parametermodification of the player will be made morequickly. Jog Shuttle Wheel have 3 operationmodes: Search, Cue und Archive mode.

Jog Shuttle Wheel in Search Mode:This is the standard mode which is active duringplay of any title. Search Mode will be shown inthe Display [14] by symbol . You caninfluence the play back of the loaded or playedtitle with the wheel.You can move the loaded title forward or in thereverse direction using the external r ing.According to the turn angle of the ring [1] , thereare 3 different search speeds available (+1, +2,+3 or -1, -2, -3) and step mode where you canplay the title in 1 minute steps (+min or -min).

Using the internal disc [2] of the Jog Shuttle Wheelthis title will slow down or accelerate. It worksalso when title slows down straight by BRAKEfunction or on start-up.

Jog Shutter Wheel in Cue Mode:If the Player is in Pause Mode, then a Cue Pointcan be set exactly with the internal disc [2] . If thePlayer is stopped and the disc will be moved byone step, then the Player goes into this modeand 160 ms of the current play position will beplayed repeatedly as Loop. This position can benow positioned exactly before the next Beat.Changes of the Cue-Point are taken over bypressing the Cue key anew.

Beat-Stepping:If in the Cue mode the [ LOAD] key [11] isadditionally held down, then you can move exactlystep-by-step forward or backwards to a Beat inthe title. Read chapter “Beat Stepping using theBPM Studio” too.

Jog Shuttle Wheel in Archive Mode:In the Archive mode you can comfortably navigatein File Archive or Playlist Archive using this wheel.You can switch into the appropriate mode using[Archive] or [P.List] keys [16] , [17] . The archivemode is shown in the display by the symbols

or . Choose the desired group inleft part of archive window using external ring [1] .Once more you can choose from four differentScroll speeds. -1 or 1 switches exactly one groupfurther or back. +2/+ 3 or -2/-3 present twodifferent search speeds in the list with the groups.+min/-min finally moves the selcetion bar to thebeginning or to the end of the list.A group will be opened if you stay longer thanone second on a group using the selection bar.Then, you can select the subgroups using theJog Wheel. Now in this case you can load thecomplete group into Playlist by pressing the[LOAD]- key [11] .You can also select any title from the group usinginternal disc [2] . Loading may be made also by[LOAD]- key [11] . By a simple click, the title willbe loaded into Playlist after the marked position.

117


If you would like to play the title immediately, thenload it directly to the Player by double click. Thejust selected group or title will be shown in thedisplay [14] during the selection using the JogShuttle Wheel. Therefore the Archive can beoperated without looking constantly at the monitor.You can move back to the Search mode bypressing the [ARCHIVES] or [P.List] key [16, 17]anew. The Archive mode ends automatically after10 seconds without any entry.

[3] Cue-Play buttonThis key unites two keys: Cue and Play. If theplayer is in Play Mode (green LED [46] lights),then the player moves back to the last Cue-Pointby pressing the the [Cue-Play] button and beginsto play again from there. If the player is in CueMode, then the title will be started from the currentCue-Point.

Alternative Cue-Play functionAs alternative to the described function of the[Cue-Play] key , second variant can be chosenfrom the program options. The title starts then bypressing the [Cue-Play] key and goes until thekey is released and then it moves back to thecurrent Cue-Point.

[4] Cue ButtonPressing this key moves the player back to thelast Cue-Point and goes into Cue mode. Pressthe Cue key longer than one second and theplayer then moves to the beginning of the title orby pressing one second again will move it to thecurrent Cue-Point.

[5] Play ButtonPressing this key starts the player from the currentposition (i.e. the Cue-Point). If the Play button ispressed again, the player goes into Pause Mode.The current start position of the player (beforeany anew pressing on the Play key is made) isstored as a Cue-Point and can be started againwith the [Cue] key any time.

[6], [7], [8] Loop PlayerUsing Loop Player you can repeat anyprogrammed sequence as often as you wish. Youcan set start and end points on-the-fly. Each Loopcan also be stored in Direct Cue key [15] and isalso at the disposal again after system restart.You will find exact description how it works inchapter ‘First steps - Working with Loop Player”.

[9] Pitch-Bend ButtonsUsing these keys, you can temporarily increaseor decrease the play speed. These keys are anindispensable tool for synchronizing the secondtitle’s Beats. They are used to navigate by Beatin a title, if the Player is in Cue Mode (see alsochapter ‘Beat stepping using BPM Studio’).

[10] Pitch SliderSet the desired playback speed using the PitchSlider. The actual speed in BPM appears on thedisplay[14] as well as the difference in percent. The slideris only active if the [Pitch] key [24] is on and thePitch-LED [25] enlights.

[11] LOAD ButtonThe function of this key depends on the set modeof the Jog Shuttle Wheel [1] and [2] . In Searchmode (standard), the next title of the Playlist isloaded into0 the Player by pressing of the [LOAD]button. In Cue mode, additional holding of LOADbutton will cause a change of current position ofCue-Point by beat or by tact (see chapter ‘Beatstepping using BPM Studio’ too). In Archive mode,pressing the LOAD button will load the selectedtitle into the Playlist using the Jog Shuttle Wheel.This title will be loaded into Player immediatelyby double click. Holding the key longer than 3seconds will replace the complete Playlist by theselected group or playlist in the archive.

118


[12] Track SelectorYou can move inside the playlist using the TrackSelector. A full turn of the ring causes switching24 titles down the list. If you navigate in really biglists, then by pressing the Track Selector andturning it at the same time, you can move by 10steps at a time. By pressing the button chosentitle will be loaded into player.

[13] MEMORY button(not active in the BPM Studio LE)This key has vast functions to store and deletedifferent Cue-Points, Loop and other parameters.Pressing this button switches the Player intomemory mode. It will be indicated while the keylights in green. The memory mode will beabandoned automatically after 10 secondswithout any entry.

1.) If the Player is in the Play mode, then pressing[MEMORY] button, followed by DirectCue key[15] will set Cue-Point “on-the-fly”.

2.) If the Player is in the Pause mode, thenpressing [MEMORY] button, followed byDirectCue key [15] will store current play positionas Cue-Point on this DirectCue key.

3.) If the Player is in the Loop Player mode, thenpressing [MEMORY] button, followed byDirectCue key [15] will store current Loop onDirectCue key.

4.) If the Player is in the Loop Player mode, thenpressing [MEMORY] button, followed by SamplePlayer key will store current Loop on this SamplePlayer key [28] .

5.) Pressing on [MEMORY] button, followed by[SET] -key [21] will take over BPM valuediscovered by real time BPM-Counter into ID3-Tag.

6.) Holding on [MEMORY] button andsimultaneously pressing DirectCue key will deleteCue-Point or Loop of this key.

7.) Holding on [MEMORY] button andsimultaneously pressing key A of the Loop Player[6] will delete stored Loop.

8.) Pressing on [MEMORY] button longer than 3seconds will complete DirectCue keys and LoopPlayer deleted.

You will find detailed description of these functionsin chapters “Working with DirectCue keys” and“Working with Loop Player” of manual worker.

[14] The VFD displayIn the VFD display, all the parameters and activitymodes of the respective Player will be shown asfollows:

[14a] Indicates the number of loaded Tracks

[14b] NEXT TRACK indicator.(Not active by RCP-1001) Indicates the Titel"parked" by the [NEXT TRACK] -button [18]

[14c] Displays the time. Playtime of the title isshown in minutes, seconds and in tenth ofseconds. Time information can be switched overby using the [TIME] key [19] between total titleplay time (ELAPSED), remaining title play time(REMAIN) and total remaining play time of theplaylist (TOTAL). If the Player is in Cue mode,then the current Cue-Point will be shown.

[14d] Operation mode of the time display,switchable by the [TIME]-key [19]

119

[14e] BPM value indicator, here the display willshow BPM value taken from the ID3-Tag of theloaded title or value of real time BPM Counter.

[14f] Displays Pitch value in percents.

[14g] Displays the Pitch mode type. Accordingto the chosen mode in the program panel, youwill see if the changes of speed will work with orwithout change of the sound level (Master-Tempo).

[14h] Displays the mode of Jog Wheel. Using theArchive [16] , [17] keys it is possible to switchbetween operation modes of the Jog Wheels.[Archive] indicates File Archive Mode, [P.List]indicates the Playlist Archive Mode and the[Search] Search Mode (standard operationmode).

[14i] Bar indicator displays the current playposition

[14k] The title display shows the current loadedtitle and the interpreter from ID3- Tag of the MP3file. The display scrolls automatically when datacannot be completely presented.If you experience problems with the performanceof your system, title scrolling can also be turnedoff in the program options of the Remote ControlUnit.This display can be also used to show a lot ofsupplementary information. In the archive modefor example, the respective selected group,Playlist or the title in archive will be displayed heretemporary.

[14l] Displays the four additional functions: Single-/Continous-Play, Shuffle and Repeat.Programming can be done using the [MODE] key[20] and [SET] key [21] .

[14m] Display for the Loop-Sampler(not active in BPM Studio LE or RCP-1001)


[15] DirectCue keys 1 - 6(Not active in the BPM Studio LE)The Direct-Cue keys make it possible to store upto 6 favourite positions in any title as Cue-Pointon-the-fly or optionally to save Loops recordedwith the Loop Player. Then, these points andLoops can be started just by a single touch of theDirectCue key. Stored Cue-Point will be indicatedby a key lightning in red. If a stored Loop is onthis key, then key color is changed into orange.Read all about these keys in chapter “Workingwith DirectCue keys” and “Working with the LoopPlayer”.

[16], [17] Archive buttonUsing the [ARCHIVE]-key [16] you can switchthe Jog Wheel [1] , [2] into the File Archive Mode.It is indicated additionally in the display by

symbol. The [P.List] key [17] switchesto the Playlist Archive mode . By pressingthe key again the Search mode will be switchedback (switching back takes placeautomatically as well, when any other key of thePlayer is pressed or after 30 seconds, if you havenot moved the Jog Shuttle Wheel during this time).

[18] NEXT TRACK buttonUsing this function, you can “park” any next titlein waiting position during current reproduction ofa title. Then, it will be played automatically as nexttitle irrespective of current Playlist. Press NEXTTRACK key. In the display [14] will be displayed. Now, choose a title from current Playlistby the TRACK SELECTOR [12]. (Chosen title isshown in the display under ).Optionnaly you can enlighten a title immediatelyand then start NEXT TRACK also by pressingTRACK-Selector.

120


[19] Time ButtonUsing this button you can switch the play timeindicator in display [14] between total play time(ELAPSED) and remaining time of title (REMAIN).(TOTAL is not supported at present)

[20] MODE ButtonBy this button you can program four additionalfunctions: Single-/Continous-Play, Shuffle andRepeat.

By pressing this [MODE] button multiply you canselect one of the modes. Corresponding indicatorwill blink in display [14] . Now, using the [SET]-key [21] function, you can switch it on/off.

Continous Play :If this mode is activated, then next title in thePlaylist will be automatically loaded and playedat the end of the current title.

Single Play :If this mode is activated, then next title in thePlaylist will be automatically loaded but not startedat the end of the current title.

Shuffle :The titles in the Playlist will be played in randomorder. Each change of the Playlist will cause arandom new title order of list as long as this modeis enabled.

Repeat :If this function is active, then the loaded title isplayed continuously. If this function is turned off,then the next title of the list will be loaded.

[21] SET Button(Also BPM Match key) The current BPM value ofrespective (Master) Player will be taken over bypressing the SET key in Standard Mode. Readalso chapter ‘Beat-Matching using BPM Studio’.Please read in this chapter the exact descriptionof the function of the SET button. If theProgramming Mode is active ([MODE]-key [19]pressed), pressing the SET key will then switchthat function on or off.

121


[22] Tempo ButtonPress this key to change the playback speedwithout modification of the pitch. The TEMPO -LED [23] indicates the Master-Tempo function.Attention! The pitch range changes when closingthe Master Tempo function. Please also read theinformation contained in chapter Player of thismanual.

[23] TEMPO - LEDIs lit if the Master Tempo function is active.

[24] Pitch ButtonUsing this key, you can deactivate the settings ofthe playback speed via the [Pitch slider] [10] .

[25] Pitch-LEDIs lit if the Pitch or Master Tempo function is active.

[26] BRAKE-LEDIs lit if the function BRAKE is active. If BRAKE isin progress, then this LED is blinking.

[27] BRAKE ButtonThe BRAKE function simulates braking down to0 or the push of a turn-table. The effect is triggeredif the BRAKE light is on and the title is started orstopped using the [PLAY] button [5] . Once thebreaking effect of the title has started you canslow it down or stop playing by using the internalJog Wheel disc.

[28] Sample Player [1] to [9]Using these keys you can start the Samples to 9of the BPM Studio Sample Player. Read sectionSample Pla yer in this manual about differentpossibilities of working with samples.

[29] Sampler-Status-LED3 colors LED display shows the Sample Playerstatus. If the green light is on, then Sample Playeris ready to work. Orange light indicates thatScratch mode is ready. Red light indicates that afile is loading into the Sampler Player. During thistime no sample can be played.

[30] Sampler Control and PreviewPlayer’s Control

With both and keys you can assign

output of the Sample Player to Player A or PlayerB. It is only necessary when no ownsound card channel is assigned or only two outputchannels are at disposal (according to thehardware and software configuration of yoursystem). [0] key stops playing all samples.

Preview Player’s Control:If the Sample Player is in Pause mode, thatmeans, if no sample is played, you can start thePreview Player of the File archive using the [0]key. Now, the selected title will be played via themonitor channel and can be heard irrespectively

of the running program. In this mode, the

and keys work as fast forward and fast

reverse.

[31], [32], [33] Fade Control(not active in the BPM Studio LE)These three keys adjust the automatic Crossfader.[AUTO] [31] switches Auto-fade mode on or off.If the Auto-fade mode is activated then this keyshines in red.By the [FADE] key [32] you apply the set fadeprocess to the current title. This key blinks in redas long as Cross fader is on and both Playersrun. Using the [MODE] key [33] you can switchbetween 6 different fade process presets. Thecurrent running fade process will be deleted.

122


[34] Pitch Wheel(only in RCP-2001-B)Set the desired playback speed using the PitchWheel. On the display [14] the actual speed inBPM and the difference in percent appear. TheWheel is only active if the [Pitch] key [24] is onand the Pitch-LED [25] is shining.

[35] Pitch Reset(only in RCP-2001-B)You can put the Pitch to 0 using this key.

Reverse Side Sockets:

[36] Fade Start Input SocketThis socket usually works with all mixers that havean available fade/start function, for example thePIONEER series. Connect the plug (1/8 inch jack)of the Remote Control Unit using a universal cableto your mixer. Connect the ground device (GND[36a] ) with the ground of the mixer.

How it works:Both players are controlled by a separated 1/8inch stereo jack. The player starts by locking thecontact S1 (temporarily or constantly) and stopswhen contact S2 is locked (temporarily orconstantly). Through program options you canactivate fade start and also stop the separate fade.Do not set up the grip ground to the same as thedevice ground! This will avoid a short circuitbetween the device and the grip ground.

[36a] Device groundConnect the device ground (GND) to the groundof mixer.

123


[37] Remote start input (P. START)This input works with mixers through the RemoteStart function (or Puls Start). An example wouldbe some of the BEHRINGER models. Bothplayers will be controlled using one contact.Connections to the mixer are mostlyaccomplished through a ¼ inch - mono jack.Connection to the BPM Studio Remote ControlUnit RCP-1001 by the RCP-2001 can be madethrough a 1/8-inch stereo jack. So, please use anadapter connecting the 1/8-inch stereo jack to ¼inch - mono jack. Remote Start Input has to bechosen in the program options (index card„Remote Control”, Checkbox „Puls Start”). Finallyyou can activate Fader-Start and Fader-Stop.

How it works:Player A is started by locking contact A and isstopped by locking it once more. The same isvalid for Player B and contact B. Through programoptions you can activate fade start and also stopseparate fade.

[38] Serial cable socketConnect the (9-pin, Sub-D) plug of the RemoteControl Unit with the supplied serial cable to yourPC. The maximum length of cable that can beused is 49.2 feet (15 m), however we do notrecommend using more than 32.8 feet (10 m).Another socket to connect power supply andserial connection is on the left side of casing. Thismakes it possible to use Remote Control Unit alsoas table device without bothering plugs on theback side of device. To use it you need a specialcable, which is available from your localALCATech dealer or directly from ALCATech.

[39] Power supply socketConnect delivered power supply cable (12 V, atleast 1 A) to this socket.

124

Press the[RECORD] key [6] to set the start pointof the sample (Point A) and to begin recording ofthe sample. will be shown in display and theA key shines.

Press (for example after exactly 4 beats or 1 tact)the [STOP] key [7] to set the stop point of thesample (Point B). Now, the Player goesimmediately into the Loop Mode and the storedtact will be repeated constantly. is shown inthe display and the keys A and B are lighting inorange, the [EXIT/RELOOP] key will light ingreen. Simultaneously LOOP A <-> B will beshown in the title display.

Using the Loop Player you can reapeat anyprogrammed sequence as often as you wish. Startand exit points can be set on-the-fly and editedany time later. Using the Tact-Stepping functionyou can make each Loop wider or shorter in exactsteps of 4 Beats. Each Loop can be also storedby the DirectCue key [15] or Sample Player key[28] and will be also at the disposal again aftersystem restart.

8.1.1. Recording and reproductionof the Loop:Learn in this section how you can record asequence of the running title as Loop. The Playerhas to be in reproduction mode. To make firstattempts, we recommend to use any title with wellrecognizable Beat (Dance, House or Techno-Track). It would be best if you try to press keys Aand B in the exact tact.

Professional working with RCP-2001BPM Studio

8.1. Working with Loop Player (only Remote Control RCP-2001)

As long as you pressed only the A key,you can overwrite the old start point ofthe Loop by pressing the A key anew andyou set new point on-the-fly.

As soon as the B key is pressed, youcan set the end point (B) on-the-fly bypressing the B key and again and reducethe Loop in this way.

125

If you press the [EXIT/RELOOP] key, the samplewill be played up to the point B and then passseamless into the title again. In this time the[EXIT/RELOOP] key and are blinking.Finally all the three keys (A, B and [EXIT/RELOOP] ) are lighting in orange.

The Loop can be played again any time bypressing the [EXIT/RELOOP] key.

8.1.2. Recording using Auto-Loopfunction:It is a little problematical to fix the end point of aLoop manually exactly at the first attempt. TheAuto-Loop function of the BPM Studio helps atthis, while it automatically record a tact exactlyand then switches into the Loop-Play mode. Usethe Auto-Loop function as follows:

Professional working with RCP-2001 BPM Studio

Set a start point at any position by pressing theA key . After that A key lights in orange.

Switch now to the Edit mode pressing the [CUE]key ([CUE] key will light in red) and then the Abutton. A key will start to blink. (This is usuallythe Edit mode for the start point).

Press the B key. A Loop with exactly one tact (4beats) is created automatically and playedinstantly.

The DirectCue information cannot beloaded into the Player in the AutofadeMode. Please do NOT use this mode ifyou want to use stored DirectCue’s.

126


Now the B key and the [EXIT/RELOOP] key willlight in green.+

Now, using the Tact-Stepping function (ring of JogShuttle Wheel). you can make the Loop longer orshorter by a tact at a time. The result will beconstantly played by what other interesting effectscan be produced.

8.1.3. Loop storingYou can store a Loop for later use in two differentways. A Loop is at your disposal again aftersystem restart as soon as the title is loaded intothe Player.As long as the Loop is played (A and B keys arelighting in orange and the [EXIT/RELOOP] keylights in green), the Loop can be stored by aDirectCue key (see also “Working with DirectCuekeys”). This way up to 6 different Loops for eachtitle can be stored and always are at your disposal,if the title is loaded to the Player. If the Loop shouldbe at your disposal as well when another title isloaded, you can store it in the Sample Player.

8.1.4. Loop storing by a DirectCue keyThe Player has to be in Loop-Play mode (Step 2on the previous page).

Press the [MEMORY] key [13] , next followed byany of 6 DirectCue [15] keys.

After that this key will light in orange, whatindicates that there is a stored Loop (Cue-Pointswill be shown by a red key). The stored Loop canbe activated any time by pressing that key.Thereupon it will be taken to the Loop Player (keys[6] to [8] ) and started. Also editing functions areonce more at your disposal as usually.

8.1.5. Loop storing by a SamplePlayer keyThe Player has to be in the Loop Play mode (Step2 on the previous page).

Press the [MEMORY] key [13] , next followed byany of 9 keys of Sample Player [28] . Now, theLoop is at your disposal any time in the SamplePlayer by this key. Please, pay attention howeverthat it is not automatically a new independentSample. As soon as original title is deleted ordisplaced from the system, the Loop gets lost.

8.1.6. Deleting of the Loop PlayerHold the [MEMORY] key [13] and presssimultaneously the A key of Loop Player [6] .Release all three keys and the sample will bedeleted (Deleting works also using the B key or[EXIT/RELOOP] key).

Store the Loop by creating a real sample.For this you can open the File Editor ofthe corresponding Sampler key. The Loopwill be displayed here automatically bystart- and end-marker. Extend this area,select it and then choose “ExportSelection” in context menu. Then, youcan load the stored sample the usual wayinto the Sample Player.

127

8.1.8. Beat-SteppingHold the [LOAD] key [11] pressed andadditionally turn the disc of Jog Shuttle Wheel,then you can move the A point exactly one tact(per 4 beats).


We recommend to store the BPM value, exactly determined by the Realtime BPM Counterearlier, using the key combination: [MEMORY] + [SET] . It decreases possible differences ofthose positions in the title, where Beat cannot be predetermined exactly.

8.1.7. Editing a LoopRecorded Loop can be edited and changed usingthe Loop Player. Therefore the Player has to bein the Cue mode. Therefore press the Cue key[4] . Now, all the three keys of the Loop Playerlight in orange and Cue key shines in red:

Replacing of the start point (A):Press the A key [6] now.

After that this key blinks and 160 ms after thispoint will be played repeatedly as Loop. (This Cuemode is equal as editing of the Cue points. Seealso chapter “Beat matching using the BPMStudio”). In the title display “MOVING-> A” will beshown additionally and the exact time of the startpoint. Now, you can move the point using the discof Jog Shuttle Wheel:

128

Replacing of the end point (B):The Player has to be again in Pause mode. Pressthe B key [7] .

After that this key will blink and the complete Loopwill be played. In the title display “MOVING-> B”will be shown additionally and in the time displaythe total length of the Loop, and the time betweenA and B as well.Now you can displace this point by the disc ofthe Jog Shuttle Wheel.

This way an exact correction of the Loop ispossible, for example if the end point was notexactly met during the first setting.

If you hold the [LOAD] key [11] pressed, you cannavigate with the Pitch Bend buttons exactly onebeat forward or reverse.

Press again while the A key is still blinking totransfer the changes.

You can also change the exit point equally bypressing the B key in Edit mode or start the Loopby [EXIT/RELOOP] , for example for preliminarylistening. In every case, edited points are takenover.

Read chapter “Beat Stepping” in this manual,where you will find more about the way of how towork exactly with these functions.


If the Player is in Cue mode (for exampleby editing a normal Cue-Point), then thispoint can be taken over immediately asa A point. Then, by pressing on the Akey, you will arrive at once in Edit modefor the start point.

129

Shifting of the end point by tacts(Tact-Stepping):Using the ring of Jog Shuttle Wheel, the end pointB can be moved in Edit mode by tacts (exactly 4beats).This means it is presupposed that the title is a 4/4 tact. Also at a 2/4 tact, efficient results can bereached, however not by titles with 3/4 or 6/8 tacts.

(1.) The Player is in Edit mode for the exit point(B blinks).

Move the ring of Jog Shuttle Wheel to the rightstop.

Now, the point of exit is moved behind by exactly4 Beats (= 1 tact in 4/4 tacting) (2.) and the Loophas been extended by 4 beats consequently. Youcan repeat it as many times as you wish or reducethe Loop once more.


It is necessary, to store the BPM value,exactly determined by the Realtime BPMCounter earlier, using the keycombination: [MEMORY] + [SET] . Itdecreases possible differences of thepositions in the title, where Beat cannotbe predetermined exactly.

Press again on the still blinking B key to take overchanges.

You can also change the exit point equally bypressing the B key in Edit mode or start Loop by[EXIT/RELOOP] , for example for preliminarylistening. In every case, the edited point is takenover.

130


If you activate now the [CUE] key [4], then thePlay position is set on this CUE point and thePlayer is switched to CUE. Now, the [CUE] key[4] lights in red and indicates, that the currentPlay position is at the CUE point.

By pressing the [PLAY/PAUSE ] key [5] starts thePlayer from the CUE point.

Now, you can stop the Player any time by pressingthe [CUE] key [4] and set it back to Cue-Pointposition, in order to start it again by using the[PLAY/PAUSE ] key [5].

8.2.2. Editing of a Cue-PointIf the CUE point was not exactly hit by the [PLAY/PAUSE] key [5], then it can be corrected later.Therefore the Player has to be in CUE mode, the([CUE] key [4] lights and in the display the currentCUE point appears(for example 01:22:43)).

8.2. Working with DirectCue buttons(only Remote Control RCP-2001)

The BPM Studio offers beside the standard Cuefunction additionally 6 Direct-Cue keys. Thereforeit is possible to store up to 6 favourite positions inany title on-the-fly as Cue-Point. Then, thesepoints can be called up without delay by a singlepress of a Direct Cue key. All the stored DirectCuepoints are available after system restart and atyour disposal after the title is loaded again. Withthe Remote Control Units RCP-2001 you havecomfortable access via the Direct-Cue keys 1 to6 [15] . In the user interface of the software (onlythe BPM Studio Pro from Version 4 on up) allDirectCue points will be shown alternately in thetitle display. Read first how to use the StandardCue-Funktion.

8.2.1. Define a Standard Cue-PointThe Player is in the Play mode, [PLAY/PAUSE]key [5] enlights in green.Press the [PLAY/PAUSE] key, then the Player isin Pause mode, [PLAY/PAUSE] key blinks ingreen and indicates that the Player is stopped atthe paused Play position.

A new pressing of the [PLAY/PAUSE] key [5]allows you to continue the playing of the title.Simultaneously, this PAUSE position will be storedas Cue-Point.

131


Now, move the disc of the Jog Shuttle Wheel [2].The [CUE] key [4] is extinguished and 160 mswill be played as Loop repeatedly from that CUEpoint. (See also chapter “Beat-Matching with theBPM Studio”).

Now, you can displace that point using the discof the Jog Shuttle Wheel:

8.2.3. Beat-SteppingHold the [LOAD] key [11] pressed andadditionally turn the disc of the Jog Shuttle Wheel,then you can displace a Cue-Point one exact tact(4 beats each).

If you hold the [LOAD] key [11] pressed, thenyou can navigate with the Pitch Bend keys eachtime exactly one beat forward or reverse.

Press again and then the corrections will bestored by the [CUE] key [4] and the Playerremains in Pause Mode.

You can also immediately store corrections bypressing the [PLAY/PAUSE] key [5] and start thePlayer at once from this corrected Cue-Point.

8.2.4. Storing of a Cue-Point by aDirectCue key(Available only with the BPM Studio Pro Softwareand only included with the Remote Control UnitRCP-2001)Every CUE point can be stored by a DirectCuekey for later use. In this case the Player has to bein CUE mode (the [CUE] key [4] lights and in thedisplay the current CUE point appears (forexample 01:22:43)).

Press the [MEMORY] key [13] above the display.Now, this one enlights for 10 seconds in green.

Edit of a Cue-Point with the RemoteControl Unit RC V3 or the software canbe made by using the Search keys [43]and [44].

132

8.2.6. Editing of DirectCue pointsStart the title to edit the DirectCue point bypressing the corresponding DirectCue key.

Then stop the Player by pressing the [CUE] key[4]. Now, you can edit the Cue-Point as writtenon the previous pages. Changes can betransferred by using the key combination[MEMORY] and pressing the correspondingDirectCue key anew.

8.2.7. Deleting of Direct-Cue points

Hold the [MEMORY] key pressed and then pressthe Direct-Cue key you wish to delete within 3seconds.

8.2.8. Deletion of all DirectCue pointsand the Loop PlayerHold the [MEMORY] key pressed longer than 3seconds. Then, all the 6 DirectCue keys and thecontents of the Loop Player will be deleted.


Press the Direct Cue key within this 10 secondsto store the Cue-Point onto this key.

The [MEMORY] key [13] is extinguished and theselected Direct-Cue key lights in red.Now, the title can be started any time from thispoint by pressing the Direct-Cue key.

8.2.5. Setting DirectCue pointson- the-flyYou can store Cue-Points directly to the DirectCuekeys, while a title is played. Simply press the[MEMORY] key [13] during play and then at thedesired time point (but within 20 seconds) on theselected DirectCue key. Each pressing ofDirectCue key prolongs the holding time of the[MEMORY] key by 20 seconds.

By a Checkbox in the program options youcan prevent that pressing a DirectCue keywill result in an immediate start of the Playerby a Cue-Point or a stored Loop, if thePlayer is in the Pause or Cue Mode. If theCheckbox “Cue Memory Direct Start” isdeactivated, then Cue-Points are merelytaken into the Player and primarily startedby the [PLAY/PAUSE] key or the [EXIT/RELOOP] key.

The DirectCue points cannot be loadedinto the Player in Autofade Mode.Please do NOT use this mode, if youwant to use stored DirectCue’s.

133

This can be attained by simultaneous holding the[LOAD] key and pressing any of the Pitch Bendkeys:

(3.) By using Tact-Stepping you can navigatethrough the title by tacts (4 beats each), beginningfrom a already defined Cue-Point.

Therefore hold the [LOAD] key [11] pressed andturn the disc of the Jog Shuttle Wheel.

While the Player is in Cue mode, each time 160ms will be played from the Cue-Point repeatedlyas a Loop. (See chapter “Beat Matching with BPMStudio”).


8.3. Beat-SteppingBased on the exact BPM values of the RealtimeBPM Counter you can navigate unrestricted withinthe exact Beat Raster of the title as soon as aCue-Point has been singly synchronized to a beat.This possibility can be useful by editing Cue-Points and start or end points in the Loop Player.All the following functions are only practicable ifthe Player is in Cue Mode or if the Edit Mode ofthe Loop Player is activated. Read correspondingchapters of manual how Beat-Stepping can beespecially applied.

(1.) A usual change of a Cue point will move itconstantly forward or backwards. This way alsothe first Cue-Point will be defined for the Beat-Stepping resp corrected. You can use the disc ofthe Jog Shuttle Wheel to displace a Cue-Point.

(2.) Using Beat-Stepping you can navigatethrough the title by beats beginning from a alreadydefined Cue-Point.

It is necessary to store the BPM valuedetermined exactly by the Realtime BPMCounter earlier, using the keycombination: [MEMORY] + [SET] . Itdecreases possible differences in thepositions of the title, where the Beatcannot be predetermined exactly.

(nur RCP-1001 und 2001)

134

Keyboard useBPM Studio

9.1. Keyboard use

135

Keyboard use BPM Studio

General functions:

Menu key: opens the context menu

Insert:1. Add records to the list with focus2. Add new group3. Alt+Insert: Add new subgroup

Space: Play/Stop Monitor oder Expand/Collapse Group

F1: Help

CTRL-P, SHIFT-P, ALT - P:Loads a track from a selected playlist into arespective Player (CTRL for Player A, SHIFT forPlayer B, ALT for CD-Player) by inserting theselected title into the playlist of this player afterthe current loaded title.

CTRL-Q, SHIFT-Q:Loads a track from the FileArchive into the left orright playlist (after the selected title in the playlist)

ALT - Q:Loads a track from the FileArchive into the Waitlist(after the selected title in the Waitlist)

Other functions:Toggle + P: Load selected Track into PlayerToggle + Q: Load selected Track in PlaylistToggle + Y: Pitch resetToggle + Z: Pitch on/off

Clipboard functions (Windows compatible):CTRL-A : Select allCTRL-C (CTRL-Insert): CopyCTRL-V (SHIFT-Insert): PasteCTRL-X (SHIFT-Delete): Cut

Alt + A: AutoFade on / offAlt + B: BPM counterAlt + C: Clear List or Clear GroupsAlt + D: Load DirectoryAlt + E: File EditorAlt + F: Start Manual FadeAlt + G: Show Group-File ArchiveAlt + H:Alt + I: File Info BoxAlt + J:Alt + K:Alt + l: Load list (or load files into File Archive)Alt + M: Show MixerAlt + N: NormalizeAlt + O: Options

Alt + R: Show RipperAlt + S: Search filesAlt + T:Alt + U:Alt + V:Alt + W: Waitlist / PlayListAlt + X: Exit

Sampler’s control:

136

More information, description of ourcurrent sound card tests, programupdates and answers to frequently askedquestions (FAQ), can be found on ourweb site: www.alcatech.com

9.2. Tips ans Instructions

General information:The different virtual devices of BPM Studio canbe put on two different sound cards, respectivelyone multi-channel sound card. Assignments aremade in the Audio I/O section of the ProgramOptions. Usually BPM Studio works with all soundcards serving DirectSound, installing one driverfor all available channels.

If you experience any problems, you should atfirst (as a rule) load the newest driver for yoursound card, searching for it on the Web Site ofthe manufactuirer. Normally drivers arecontinuously updated and as the sound card isthe most important system component for BPMStudio, you should regularly check if a new driveris available.

ALCATech recommends and tests actual soundcards for Windows 98 systems, however wecannot support NT or 2000, so we recommendto use Windows 98 resp ME. Most sound cardsare anyway not equipped with useful drivers forthose systems and they might have somedisadvantages opposite to Windows 98/ME. Theyare suitable as server operating systems, but formultimedial purposes they are completelyunsuitable.

Several sound cards in one PC:(This information concerns the „normal“ soundcards with one stereo output, for exampleSoundblaster, Terratec etc.).Sound card driver usually can support only onesound card. They do not recognize the presenceof 2 identical sound cards in one PC. So, as arule you should use different sound cards. If actualdriver by Creative Lab from November ’99 shallbe used, these drivers must be from othermanufacturers, for example SB-Live and TerratecDMX. The preference should be given in any caseto a multichannel card, because they areessentially more simpler to install and mostlycascadable.

The distribution of resources:The BPM Studio evaluates all frames of a MP3file and needs therefore a little more resourcesthan other simple MP3 player as WinAmpTM forexample. BPM Studio has essentially a muchgreater function range than this player and a directcomparison does not make any sense. So, weshould point out, that all sound cards possesstheir own, free IRQ and that is no other card orPC element uses it.Also other components like hard disk, CD-Romor graphic card play a role whcih is not tounderestimate for the total performance of asystem. It is also recommended to use a PCexclusively for BPM Studio (for professional use).

Driver latency:Under „latency“, we understand the „delay“between a command as for example ‘Play’, ‘Pau-se’ or ‘Stop’ and the moment the sound cardreacts to these commands and begins play forexample. Fundamentally ‘latency’ depends on theused driver type and partially on the driver too.As lower the latency of a driver is, the morequalified is the driver for exact Beat-mixing.

Tips and InstructionsBPM Studio

137

Contact BPM Studio

ALCATech GmbH assures the technical supportby e-mail and fax. Your questions by e-mail pleasesend to [email protected] or by fax to +493675 4201 20.

Please remember to give your Registrationnumber and program version. We will be glad toreceive your suggestions to improve this manual.

Updated: 06/14/2001.

Contact, support

138

GlossaryBPM Studio

9.4. GlossaryApplicationSoftware programs that perform different tasksthat otherwise wouldn't be accomplished by anoperating system itself. Examples of suchapplications are: a text-editing program such asMicrosoft WORD, a bookkeeping program andBPM Studio.

ASFAbbreviation for Advanced Streaming Format. Itis a streaming format for files developed by Micro-soft.

BeatA repeating sound that defines speed and tempoof a title and is normally produced by aninstrument such as a drum for example.

BitA Bit is the smallest unit for binary data. With aBit exactly two different states (0 and 1) arerepresentable. (Bit = binary digit). A Bit is also aposition in the dual system. Most of the PCs andalso the modern information technology arebased on this numerical system.

Bit RateThe bit rate is a measure for the transmissionspeed of binary information. The scale unit forthe bit rate is bps (bits per second, number oftransmitted bits at one second). The maximal bitrate of a connection is also named as "bandwidth".As greather the bandwidth, as bigger is thetransmission speed. Some standard bit rates aree.g.: 96 Kbit, 128 Kbit, 196 Kbit, 244 Kbit. Ashigher bit rates allow to transfer more informationa better sound quality is obtainable. But a higherbit rate is always associated with a higher demandon memory space, as you have to store moreinformation as well.

BufferA memory space where data is held temporarilybefore final treatment. BPM Studio loads the titlefrom the hard disk into the buffer for a few secondsand then uncompresses it before the sound cardreceives it. Thanks to this action, no lockups orother malfunctions occur.

Configuration"To configure" means to adapt the hardware andsoftware to meet your own needs. BPM Studiohas a lot of possible different configurations inthe program options context menu. Please, readthe program options section in this manual for adetailed description of each selection.

Constant Bit RateIt means simply that the bit rate is not changedduring the copying or encoding. (See VBR also -Variable Bit Rate)

CueA cue is a position within a title that the playerrecognizes as a beginning point. BPM Studiomakes it possible to set up different Cue-Pointsfor a title. You can also start playing within a titlefrom this place.

CursorSymbol which shows on the monitor the positionof the next input. The traditionally cursor (e.g. ata DOS operating system) was displayed as asimply, blinking underline. Since the era of graficaluser interfaces and operating sytems the cursorcan change its design in accordance with itsfunction.

DesktopThe desktop or the background is what you seeon your computer monitor before you start anyother programs. This is the place where you startto work with other programs or files that you mayopen.

139

Glossary BPM Studio

Dialogue boxThe Dialog box is a window that you can use tocommunicate with the computer or application.Dialog boxes give you information on the progressof a working application and offer you the optionto put that information to the use in the application.For example BPM Studio will show the programoptions as a dialog box.

DirectoryA directory is an area on the hard disk designatedfor storage for data files and other directories. Asan example, you would store all of your musictitles in a directory.

DriverA driver is a program that determines how acomputer will communicate with a peripheraldevice such as a sound card or video card. Themanufacturers of the peripherals create thedrivers. We recommend always visiting themanufacturer homepage of your sound card andother peripherals to find the newest informationabout their drivers.

DynamicsDynamics (or dynamic volume) in regard to soundis a range between the smallest and the greatestvalue of volume (the softest and the loudestposition). If the possibility to copy or play silenceor loudness is greater, then greater the dynamicswill be. It is also valid in the same way in therecording of audio signals.

Encode, Encoder, EncodingTo encode (code) means to transfer messagesor files into an encrypted form. Code is a systemof rules that is applied to transform a messageinto an impossible form so that it can only be readby authorized persons (normally to keep amessage in secrecy). Another way to encode isby decreasing the number of determined rulesused by an application with regards to huge datatransfer without a considerable loss of content.MP3 files are created as audio files by using anaudio Codec that holds only a fraction of the ori-ginal size of the file. The reading of AUDIO CDsis also called 'ripping'.

In this process, titles are copied from the CD asWAVE files to the hard disk. Then, an encoderwill read these files and transform them into MP3FORMAT. BPM Studio also offers the option toencode the CDs into MP3 format immediatelyduring reading ('ripping'). You can activate thatoption (rip and encode) in the program options -> option CDDA.

EncryptionData translation into an appropriate code toprotect information against unauthorized use byother persons. To be able to read coded files, youmust to have access to a code (or to a password)that authorizes you to decipher the codedinformation.

FileData collection (based on an application or pro-gram) of a determined type put on a computer,on floppy disks, on CD etc. Each file is storedunder an attributed name so that it's quick to findfor later use.

FormatThis is the preparation of a data medium (forexample: a hard disk) to store files. This is usuallydone during the first installation of an operatingsystem on a hard disk. It is also done to anyadditional hard disk in a PC.Format is a word that determines arrangementbased on rules. For example, there are left handand r ight hand text formats and there aredetermined audio file formats like WAVE, MP2and MP3.

IconA small image on the Desktop that symbolizes orrepresents a program or file. You can seeexamples of different icons on your Desktop.Normally, they are arranged on left side of thescreen as 'Recycle Bin', 'My Computer', and 'MyDocuments'. They are also called 'shortcut icons'.Programs associated with an icon will start bydouble clicking on the icon.

140

ID3 TagThis is a feature of MP3 technology that givesthe user the possibility of storing informationregarding the MP3 within the MP3 itself. Basically,there are two types of ID3 tags: the old ID3-Tag,which is the fundamental tag and also the ID3V3tag, which is a more developed tag. BPM Studiosupports both formats and gives you the optionto choose the one you want to use. Werecommend using the ID3V3 Tag, because it cancontain much more information than the originaltag. The choice for which tag is used is made inthe program options.

InterfaceThis is the medium between hardware, softwareand the user. Basically, it allows the user tocommunicate with the PC in a simple way.

Joint StereoThis means that the encoder dynamically choosesan encoding algorithm according to the contentsof the audio file for each separate frame. Thisway each frame is encoded with the best possiblequality. The file size is simultaneously reducedthanks to a better compression ratio. These filesare also known as VBR files. BPM Studio canplay these files without any problems.

Kbit (kilobit)A kilobit corresponds to 1024 bits (1 kBit = 1024bits). The BPM Studio glossary definition shouldnot be confused with the metric system definitionwhere kilo is 1000.

MetronomeThis is a device that utters a fixed or continualsound (Tick, Whistle or blinking light). It isprimarily used by musicians to maintain a desiredbeat or play speed of a title so that it is not sloweror faster than what is designated.

MidiMidi is a serial communication protocol betweenelectronic musical instruments and effect devices.It serves to enlarge the sound capacities of adevice. An example of this would be a PC withMIDI software.

GlossaryBPM Studio

ModemThis makes it possible for a PC or similar deviceto connect to the Internet through a telephoneline. A modem (MOdulator / DEModulator)transforms digital signals from the PC into ana-log tones in preparation to send them acrosstelephone lines. This is needed becausetraditional telephone lines can only support ana-log signals. Modems are mostly used to connectto the Internet. There are also modems that senddata digitally. An example of this type of modemis an ISDN modem. ISDN works on a dedicateddigital telephone line instead of an analog line.

ModuleHardware or software that is a part of a biggersystem and represents influences to this system.A software module is a program that is developedto take over a specific part of a bigger program.The virtual Player, Mixer and CD - Player/Encoderare modules of BPM Studio. These modules areavailable in some or all versions of software.

MP3This is a file format developed by Fraunhofer IISin Germany. It contains compressed audio andID3 tag information. MP3's are intelligentlycompressed and are adapted to the sensibility ofthe human hearing and acoustic susceptibility. Itdynamically takes away all of the redundant, non-essential and not perceptible information and onlystores the necessary information for Hi-fi qualityplay. The file size can be minimized to 1/8th and1/19th of the original Wave file size. Thanks tothe MP3 Format, it was possible for the first timeto transfer music through Internet in Hi-fi qualitywith minimal download times. Larger and largerhard disks make it possible to store more musictitles directly on your computer. As a result of allthis, it was possible for BPM Studio to bedeveloped and introduced as a MP3 technologyinto the DJ field.

ParameterA parameter is a factor that determines a rangeof variations. By adding parameters to the endof a program command line, you can make theprogram run differently. A few examples ofparameters in BPM Studio are: buffer size, datapath and compression rate.

141

Glossary BPM Studio

PeripheralAn auxiliary device, such as a printer, modem,storage system or external Remote Control Unitthat works in conjunction with a computer.

PitchProfessional CD players allows the user to changethe playback speed of a track. This is neccesarye.g. for synchronizing two titles with differentspeed (BPM - beats per minute) resp. playbackwith the same speed. The measure of thechanged speed in contrast to the original speedis called "pitch" and is stated in percent. A pitchvalue of +100% means that the title will be playedwith the double speed, -50% plays the titel withthe half of the speed.

Pitch BendUsing the Pitch Bend function a temporaryincreaseing or decreasing of the pitch is possible.This is usefully if two titles, already played backwith the same speed, shall be synchronized inbeat. By pressing a Pitch Bend button the speedwill be increase or decrease continuously. Atreleasing the button the title returns continuouslyto its originally speed as well. With the Pitch Bendbuttons the beats of two titels can synchronizedexactly and very small corrections of both playersare possible.

Rip, RippingRipping is act of reading an Audio CD using theCD-ROM drive of a computer and storing theinformation onto a hard disk. IBM PC's use theWave format for ripping and Mac computers usethe AIFF format. The generation of an MP3 filecan happen either after a rip or simultaneouslyas the rip is being performed.

Root DirectoryWhen a floppy or hard disk is formatted for use,this particular directory is created. It is called theRoot Directory. It contains important systematicfiles and is the first level for subdirectories.

Selection boxThis is a text box that enables a choice between'ON' and 'OFF' or 'Yes' or 'No'.

SubdirectoryThis is a directory within a directory.Subdirectories are used to organize files. Thismakes it easier to find files.

TempoTempo is the original speed of a title. The songwriter or interpreter defines this speed. With thePitch function of most professional CD players,and BPM Studio as well, this speed can bechanged in a wide range.

Text fieldThis is a rectangular box where text can beentered. There are many different ways to usethese Text boxes for example: changing standardtext entries or other pretending text (if the changeis allowed), entering necessary programinformation to enable the program to work andalso editing title entries in the ID3V3 tags for lateruse.

TrackWe refer to a Track as recorded title, a piece ofmusic or a song.

VBR FilesCompared to CBR (Constant bit rate), the encoderanalyzes the title's VBR (variable bit rate) andchooses an exact compression algorithm forevery frame adapted by the MP3 encoding. Thisallows for better compression at higher bit ratescompared to the compression of a simple signalor CBR.

WAVE fileThis format is used by Windows to store audiosignals free of sound quality loss. Examples ofsources of this sound quality could be: AudioCD's, Film soundtracks and records. All signalsare copied exactly. The quality in the WAV file isthe same as in the original data. But, in order tohave this kind of quality it is necessary to have alarge amount of free hard disk space.

142

© 1999-2002 by ALCATech GmbH. All rights reserved.

BPM Studio user manual for Windows

This working manual as well as the software described in it arepart of the license agreement and can only be used or copied inaccordance with conditions of the license and it is not consideredas an ALCATech GmbH obligation. ALCATech GmbH does notgive any guarantee or warranty in regard to the correctness and/or exactness of the contents of this manual. No part of this licensecan be reproduced, stored in data banks, or transferred in anyother form, whether it be electronic, photomechanical, on soundmedia or in any other way - unless by the electronically-agreedlicense, without prior written permission of ALCATech GmbH.

License conditions:The program and all its parts are copyright protected.The buyer is granted the right to use the program on one computer.This right is not transferable, rentable or distributable. It is forbiddento change, duplicate, rent, transfer and use the contents of the

CD-ROM on other data storing media. All authors and productiverights reserved. ALCATECH GmbH takes no responsibility for anydamage caused by the use of the CD-ROM. Before installing anynew software programs (including BPM Studio) on your computer,you should make a backup of your files. Intel is a registeredtrademark of the Intel Corporation. Pentium, Pentium II and Pen-tium Pro are trademarks of the Intel Corporation. Microsoft, Win-dows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows NTand Windows 2000 are registered trademarks of Microsoft in theUSA and other countries. All other trademarks are property oftheir respective owners.

Composed and designed by ALCATech, Germany.

Copyright © 1999-2002 ALCATech GmbH,D-96515 Sonneberg, Otto-Bergner-Strasse 30, Germany.

Internet: www.alcatech.de · www.alcatech.com

Printed in Germany

BPM Studio

143

144