The Artisan Sound Engine

by Alan K Baker

The second in this series of articles deals with the installation and operation of the Artisan Sound Engine.

Unlike some other sampled sound handling software, the Artisan Sound Engine computing requirements are relatively modest. Either one of the MAC models such as the G4 Tower (necessary for the multi-channel sound card) or an Intel or AMD based PC with a processor speed of 2.8GHz or more. Memory should be 1GB for every 20 ranks and a 20Gb hard drive is sufficient. Due to an upgrade to allow the use of the Delta 1010LT multi-channel sound card, it is now possible to use PCs installed with an Intel Dual or Quad Core processor.

Artisan's 'play safe' use of an earlier version of the Linux (Ubuntu 5.1) operating system has proved to be one of the most stable and reliable, and there are many other good points about the Artisan Sound Engine. Maybe the first of these is that its use of Linux means that your computer doesn't need to be overly fast, have gobs of memory, a huge hard drive and any of the latest go-faster whizz-bangs, Java and any other proprietary software AND Linux is FREE - a MS Windows haters paradise!!!

OK, OK Settle down! I hear the cries of "I don't know how to use Linux and anyway, there are not enough drivers for it." This is simply unfounded, at least in the case of the Artisan Sound Engine. Linux is much the same in operation as any other GUI based operating system, and is more intuitive than some. If you know a little about MS Windows or MAC Leopard etc. then you will immediately recognise how Linux also 'does things'. Of course with Artisan, you also have the added advantage that the Artisan guys are easily reachable via email (unlike some other major suppliers) and as has been said on this website elsewhere "The only stupid question is the one that's not asked"!

Spiel over, this is what actually happens:

Two CDs arrive in the UK within 5 days of being sent from the USA (a minor miracle). An email is received telling me what computer I need and to set the BIOS to auto-boot from CD, then load in the Ubuntu OS CD and (preferably) let it load Linux onto a dedicated hard drive. Dual-boot is possible, but not recommended. There are adequate instructions that come with the second Sound Engine CD, but I made the mistake of thinking that I would need Linux installed to read them - Wrong! I would urge anyone who is installing the Artisan Sound Engine from scratch to load the SE CD into any PC (or MAC) running any of their Operating Systems or Linux, and read the instructions contained therein, using either a text editor or word processor before you install Linux.

Having installed Linux, the second CD is loaded and files copied to the Home directory on your hard drive, after which you will need to obtain the MAC address of your computer in readiness ro send it to Artisan, who will then send you a small file which enables the Sound Engine and ties your version strictly to that computer. There are also adequate instructions for this.

You will no doubt have ordered some samples from the Artisan Sample Library and they will no doubt have sent you a file which will contain configuration details for the Sound Engine to use those files. If not, you will need to make your own and this is covered in the last article in this series, called Software.

Assuming that all of your files are now correctly in place, it's now a simple matter to connect your sound card output/s to a suitable amplification system and to plug in a USB/MIDI interface ready to send appropriate MIDI signals to the Sound Engine - Artisan recommend the Edirol UM1 which really is plug 'n' play. Lastly, open the Applications tab at the top of the Linux desktop and open a Terminal. Actually a better idea is to copy the Terminal application icon to the desktop, then you'll be able to find a Terminal whenever you need one. Once the Terminal is open, simply type ./ase (or ./the filename Artisan have given your particular Sound Engine startup batch file) and watch the Sound Engine compile your organ definition before it announces "Ready To Play". If you have a keyboard and stop control connected, then start playing (or in my case - making noises)!

It is also possible to have your PC auto-boot right into the Artisan Sound Engine so that you can remove the screen and neatly park the PC inside a console. Artisan will provide instructions for this, on request.

Now it's all happening for you, read on to make use of the software and (downloadable - free) manuals that Artisan provide to enable you to make full use of the Artisan Sound Engine and its extensive configuration facilities.