F. A. Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Product | digitalXtension microWAVE PC
Last Update | 20.01.2000
Version | 1.0
Questions and Answers | 15

Please ensure that you are using the latest driver versions. You can obtain these from our webpage or from the TerraTec FTP-Server.

Internet | TerraTec Electronic GmbH
http://www.terratec.com | Herrenpfad 38
ftp://ftp.terratec.de | D-41334 Nettetal, Germany

An Overview of the Questions

Question 1:
Upon starting the software, microEd!t attempts to initialize the module (to load the firmware). Now I receive an error message "MW 2 Error".
Question 2:
Upon attempting to initialize the module via the menu item ED!T &bsol; INITIALISE / UPLOAD FIRMWARE, the following error message appears "MW 2 Error".
Question 3:
Upon selection of the menu function FILE &bsol; INIT SOUND, I receive an error message "Could not open init.mwi file !".
Question 4:
The microWAVE PC accepts neither program changes nor control movements, it drops notes and does not permit correct operation.
Question 5:
How can I configure microWAVE PC to play multiple instruments simultaneously?
Question 6:
In MIDI Multi Mode, only one instrument is played and microWAVE PC reacts "inappropriately " to program changes.
Question 7:
If I change programs externally / sent from a sequencer program, why does the microEd!t software not indicate these changes in the display?
Question 8:
I had an EWS64 L until now. Now I can no longer move the switch for the MIDI routing in the EWS control panel. What has happened?
Question 9:
If I press the SPACE bar while in microEd!t, or play my MIDI keyboard, a piano sound is heard. Why is this happening?
Question 10:
How can I play the microWAVE PC and the EWS Synthesizer together?
Question 11:
I have programmed or re-programmed a few sounds. Now I have accidentally ended the microEd!t software - are my sounds now lost?
Question 12:
I receive a message upon starting microEd!t, which indicates a MIDI communication fault.
Question 13:
Where can I get new sounds for the microWAVE PC?
Question 14:
How can I hear a plug-in wavetable daughterboard (e.g. DB50 XG or TerraTec WaveSystem) together with the microWAVE PC?

Question 15:
The microWAVE PC does not respond, when I rotate INPUT GAIN in the GLOBAL menu. Why is this happening?

Question 1:

Upon starting the software, microEd!t attempts to initialize the module (to load the firmware). Now I receive an error message "MW 2 Error".

Answer 1:

There are several possibilities which could provoke this message.

First make certain that the microWAVE PC is connected correctly, and recognized by the driver (observe the instructions in the Installation Manual, requires EWS driver version 2.16 or higher). Supplied with the microWAVE PC module, should be a special flat or ribbon cable with separated leads - not pretty but absolutely essential for trouble-free operation of EWS with microWAVE PC combination. This cable must therefore be used.
If the module is still not recognized by the driver, then a hardware problem is most probable.

When using microWAVE PC in a system with two or more EWS cards, the module must be connected to the card first recognized by the system.

If all the above described fault sources are eliminated, then the microEd!t software is probably at fault. It is known that problems can exist with connected MIDI devices, while the module is being initialized. This fault has been corrected in (microEd!t) software version 1.2.

    y

Question 2:

Upon attempting to initialize the module via the menu item ED!T &bsol; INITIALISE / UPLOAD FIRMWARE, the following error message appears "MW 2 Error".

Answer 2:

Eliminate all possible fault sources as described in Question / Answer 1.

Also in this case, connected MIDI devices can experience problems, if they send a continuous MIDI clock signal for example. This fault has been corrected in (microEd!t) software version 1.2.

    y

Question 3:

Upon selection of the menu function FILE &bsol; INIT SOUND, I receive an error message "Could not open init.mwi file!".

Answer 3:

This error has been corrected in (microEd!t) software version 1.2. Not indicated in the manual, it is possible, to create a unique INIT instrument (standard sound with self selected output values) and to save it under the file name "init.mwi". The filenames "sound.mwi" and "multi.mwi" cannot be used.

    y

Question 4:

The microWAVE PC accepts neither program changes nor control movements, it drops notes and does not permit correct operation.

Answer 4:

This can cause problems with connected MIDI devices, if these e.g. send a continuous MIDI clock signal. This fault has been corrected in (microEd!t) software version 1.2.

    y

Question 5:

How can I configure microWAVE PC to play multiple instruments simultaneously?

Answer 5:

If you would like to use multiple microWAVE PC instruments in your songs, then the module must be set to the so called MIDI Multi Mode. MULTI Mode is activated via the microEd!t software, e.g. via the menu item FILE&bsol;MULTI MODE or by pressing the M key. This makes it possible to sign and play up to 8 different instruments on 8 separate MIDI channels. For the first one, use the pre-configured Multi #128.

Further information on Multi Mode can be found in the Programmer's Manual, beginning on page 72. Read if necessary, also Question / Answer 6.

    y

Question 6:

In MIDI Multi Mode, only one instrument is played and microWAVE PC reacts "inappropriately " to program changes.

or more detailed:

You probably want to play multiple microWAVE PC instruments simultaneously on different MIDI channels. To do this, you have already set the module to MULTI Mode and set one multi with multiple instruments on different MIDI channels (already pre-set in Multi #128). Now you send a program change from a sequencer software, but microWAVE PC does not react as desired, worse yet, it is suddenly available with only one instrument (perhaps even on all channels).

Answer 6:

If microWAVE PC is currently in MULTI Mode (!), it can react differently to incoming MIDI program changes. This is configured in the GLOBAL menu (right column) under the menu item MIDI.

Channel ¦ PrgChange ¦ BendRange ¦ Device ID 1 ¦ combined ¦ 012 ¦ 000

The parameter PrgChange can thereby accept three settings:

sound | In the sound setting, the incoming program changes switch the sound program for the instrument currently selected in multi that is receiving on the corresponding MIDI channel.
multi | In the multi setting, the program changes switch the multi program themselves if they are received on the basis channel set on Channel (left).
combined | In the combined setting, the sound programs of the instruments can be switched via their receive channels and the multi can be switched via the basis channel set on Channel.

: Don't confuse the terms sound and instrument. An instrument is one of 8 parts of a MULTI program. You assign each instrument a MIDI receive channel, volume and also a sound program (possibly other functions as well).

What happens now? You are probably sending a program change, which results in the entire multi being switched. Unfortunately this change cannot be displayed by the microEd!t software (you are sending directly from the sequencer via the MIDI-1 or MIDI-2 interfaces "bypassing&quot microEd!t; and the software is not capable of receiving the data from the microWAVE PC module).

Perhaps you would prefer using the following procedure: create a multi with several MIDI channels (or use the preset MIDI multi #128). Assign the (8) instruments the desired sounds in the column INSTRUMENT&bsol;SOUND. Send only program changes from your sequencer, if you are certain of what you thereby intend. The multi program can then be conveniently saved including all instrument settings (sound assignments) within a set.

    y

Question 7:

If I change programs externally / sent from a sequencer program, why does the microEd!t software not indicate these changes in the display?

Answer 7:

The microWAVE PC functions basically as a separate module, independent of the software. The microEd!t program can send data to microWAVE PC, yet cannot receive data from it. If you send a program change or other program command from an external source, these are then sent via the MIDI 1 (or MIDI 2) interface directly to the module and "bypass" the software.

    y

Question 8:

I had an EWS64 L until now. Now I can no longer move the switch for the MIDI routing in the EWS control panel. What has happened?

Answer 8:

The switch for the MIDI routing set by the EWS64 L determines which of the two MIDI interfaces is connected to the GAME/MIDI port. By adding your card with microWAVE PC, you have also upgraded your "L" to XL version. Since both MIDI interfaces can now be accessed from the front module, the GAME port's MIDI functions are eliminated. The switch no longer functions.

y

Question 9:

If I press the SPACE bar or play my MIDI keyboard, a piano tone is heard (or some other, which actually cannot be from microWAVE PC). Why is this happening?

Answer 9:

Probably you have set the PREFERENCES of microEd!t for the MIDI output driver to EWS64XL MIDI PLAY. Thereby, MIDI data is sent to the EWS sampler, which plays only the loaded sample. This setting is neither necessary nor useful, because the software and the module are connected with one another via their own interface.
Configure the setting to No MIDI Output and only use a MIDI driver, if the software should communicate with other programs (see Installation Manual "Additional Tips / Communications with other MIDI Applications").

It could however be that you are using EWS firmware version 2.13, and have previously switched on or off the effect in the FX panel. Therefore, it can occur that both the MIDI-PLAY and MIDI-1 drivers are combined. This is caused by a fault that was corrected in a later version. A new version, can be found in our Internet offering, for example.
Actually, you have also selected a MIDI driver here in the microEd!t PREFERENCES, which you should deactivate in this case.

y

Question 10:

How can I play the microWAVE PC and the EWS Synthesizer together?

Answer 10:

From a sequencer program, both tone generators can be addressed individually. The EWS sampler is thereby played via the EWS64XL MIDI PLAY driver, the microWAVE PC is available via the EWS64XL MIDI 1 driver (or MIDI 2, if you have configured this setting upon installation by setting a jumper).

    y

Question 11:

I have programmed or re-programmed a few sounds. Now I have accidentally ended the microEd!t software - are my sounds now lost?

Answer 11:

No. At least... not yet. The microWAVE PC functions basically as a separate module, independent of the software. Thus the sound data remains in the module even after leaving the software. By restarting the microEd!t software, you can use the menu functions ED!T&bsol;RECEIVE SOUNDS and RECEIVE MULTIS to read from the module memory.
If you have selected "Auto-Upload DEFAULT(.mws) soundset ..." from the PREFERENCES menu, then the corresponding sound set will be automatically sent to the module. You can cancel this process by quickly pressing the ESC key (2x).

y

Question 12:

I receive a message upon starting microEd!t, which indicates a MIDI communication fault.

Answer 12:

You have probably already opened a program, which is using a driver that you have already set under microEd!t's PREFERENCES. This can occur if you e.g. use the EWS64XL MIDI RECORD MIDI input driver, and it is simultaneously active in your sequencer program. Please note:

1. The EWS input driver is not multi-client capable (this means that as opposed to the PLAY drivers, it cannot be opened more than once as a rule).

2. It is generally not useful, to activate one and the same MIDI input driver in microEd!t and a sequencer. The sequencer software takes the MIDI data from your keyboard and passes it via the MIDI-1 (or MIDI-2) interface on to the microWAVE PC. microEd!t would do the same with incoming MIDI data - redundancy is not an advantage in this case.

    y

Question 13:

Where can I get new sounds for the microWAVE PC?

Answer 13:

Just have a look at our Internet website. On page

http://www.terratec.de/products/mwpc/news.htm

you will find current information about microWAVE PC. In the Link list you will find offers from users and companies for 3rd party products associated with the module - many of them are free. Sounds can soon be found in our Sound Database, also at http://www.terratec.de/.

The microWAVE PC is also fully compatible with Waldorf's 19" MicroWave II and MicroWave XT Synthesizers. You can - with few limitations - load sounds for the old Waldorf MicroWave. Therefore look around some - on the Web or in trade journals - you will probably find other interesting offers as well.

    y

Question 14:

How can I hear a plug-in wavetable daughterboard (e.g. DB50 XG or TerraTec WaveSystem) together with the microWAVE PC?

Answer 14:

Actually, not at all - at least this was previously announced. This would be EWS but not EWS, if that did not now however somehow work ... ;-)

We've left the following back door open (actually it's quite simple): Set the A-B-C output switch to A (direct CODEC output). microWAVE PC and EWS Sampler operate together through the Codec, to which the wavetable module is also connected.
The combination no longer sounds quite as good - for monitoring sounds, which you eventually want to record to disc as audio tracks, but is fully adequate.

Beginning with software version 1.2, you will find a corresponding mixer setting in your microEd!t directory (C:&bsol;EWS64&bsol;microEd!t), that you can open with the control panel.

    y

Question 15:

The microWAVE PC does not respond, when I rotate INPUT GAIN in the GLOBAL menu. Why is this happening?

Answer 15:

This is caused by a fault, that has been corrected in (microEd!t) software version 1.2 and Waldorf's firmware 2.14.

    y

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