idea/new feature

["Dennis W. Leas" <dennis@mdbs.com>]

Here's an idea for a new feature for the EDP (Kim, are ya' listenin'?).

It would really be cool if you could dump/load samples in a speedy 
manner.  I'm thinking of something like 1 or 2 seconds to complete the 
operation.  I know MIDI wouldn't support this but I'm thinking of 
something like 10 or 100 Mbps Ethernet.

Why?

I'd like to use multiple EDPs as input and play-back devices.  (The EDP 
user interface is GREAT for quickly improvising loops.)  The EDPs would 
connect to a computer via a speedy interface.  I could tell the computer 
to "take a snapshot" of the loopers.  This would dump the digital audio 
data into the computer, perhaps it would also snapshot the complete 
state of the looper (i.e., all memories, parameter settings, etc.).  
Later, I could command the computer to restore a given looper to a 
"saved" setting.

In this scenario, the EDPs functions as special purpose audio 
input/output devices.  The computer functions as a programmable "master 
coordinator."  The EDPs are able to respond in real-time to the user 
interface (being dedicated, special purpose, etc.) without audio 
"glitches".  The computer isn't required to respond with a guarenteed 
real-time latency so it could run Windows 95 or NT or MacOS.  This 
permits the use of standard developer tools like VB, VC++, even Java.  I 
suppose you could have features like: the computer "merging" data from 
two sources (say two different loopers, perhaps two memories from a 
single looper, or two loops constructed at different times), etc.  After 
doing the math, the new data would be downloaded into an EDP for 
playback and more manipulation/improvisation.

MIDI footpedals would send commands to the computer to upload/download 
loopers and perform whatever other functions you wanted.  The complete 
system could manage multiple loopers easily.  I'm thinking at least 
three EDPs in the system but more could be easily added.

My friends would probably file a "missing person" report on me, if I had 
a system like this.  You might require a medical release form as part of 
the sale. :)

What da' ya' think?

- Dennis Leas
-- 
dennis@mdbs.com