SammichSID Novation Zero SL mkii template

Those geniuses at Novation shipped this controller with a couple of software disks but alas, no TEMPLATE EDITOR for people who dont use a pc to make music.

Download the template editor program from their support pages, connect the Zero SL to your pc via usb, switch it on and fire the software. Press Global options on the SL, choose mem protect off.

Load the syx file provided by yours truly:

Masuto’s SammichSID template 😊

and then.. select

Press Write, and bob’s your uncle.

I saved it in location 20 (empty) and made it the startup template.

To use the drumpads to send cc (mod depth 1,2,3,4,5,6) on the novation zero SL you must first press REVIEW and then use the drumpads-you will see their assigned value increasing because we are using them as step switches.

For your reference, heres a crudely PAINT assembled wildcard:

Happy knob twiddling!

Akai S612 sampler

I opened my newly acquired Akai S612..to check for spiders and animal residue from its previous owner – i was intrigued by the “cassette interface”. Mine was screwed behind a closed metal door.

I realized right away it is the same cassette port as the Commodore 64.

And yes, you can save, verify and load your samples using an old datassette.

I sampled a sound, got some tape to record, went fast forward 004 counts on the tape counter, pressed rec and play and then pressed save on the Akai panel. Red light, it’s recording.

Counter reading 044, the Datassette automatically stopped. I rewound the tape, switched off the Akai (remember with these old machines it is better to switch them off before plugging or unplugging devices from serial ports..), on again and Load. Pressed play on tape, and yes. It’s working. Easy.

No need to buy the MD280 rack to load discs on the S612.. you just need a Commodore Datassette (clean its heads and fix azimuth before doing anything)!