Support

I can't use my midi sequencer and ZoeOS simultaneously - both require access to the same midi port(s)

Here are some potential solutions to this problem:

You have a single-client midi interface. A multi-client interface should solve your problem immediately. Be warned though - do not send SysEx simultaneously from ZoeOS and your sequencer to the Emulator. This will confuse all parties involved - the Emulator, ZoeOS and potentially your sequencer. The Emulator can only process one SysEx request at a time.
There is also another potential side-effect. If your sequencer successfully modifies the memory of the Emulator via SysEx while ZoeOS is idle, it will possibly render the cached preset memory in ZoeOS inconsistent. Refrain if at all possible from SysEx transactions from multiple sources!
ZoeOS can release it's midi ports when the application window is minimized (you can configure this from the midi manager). If there is a way for your sequencer to do the same thing you would be able to toggle between the two applications without having to use a multi-client midi interface.
If your Emulator has the 32 midi channel expansion you would be able to configure ZoeOS to communicate on the main midi port of the Emulator(ch 1-16) and have your sequencer use the second midi port (ch 17-32). That way both apps would not be using the same midi ports and their would be no clash - in fact this is the solution we here at Zuonics use in our studio.
Use a midi-merge box with a seperate PC and/or midi port (granted not a great solution).
If you still can't find a workable solution, why not think about a career change?

SOMETHING TO NOTE: You can send SysEx to either the Midi In A or Midi In B on the Emulator, but it will always respond on the Midi Out A. ^ top

Samples externalized from ZoeOS lose their loop points?

This has been fixed since v1.3. ^ top

Are you getting messages that SMDI is not installed even though you have SCSI?

It may be that you need an ASPI layer.

Download:

An extract taken from Chicken Systems website regarding ASPI:
Contrary to what has been reported on many web sites and software packages, Adaptec DOES reccommend ASPI for use on Windows NT/2000/XP operating systems; this is why they released the 4.7-series drivers. This information is based on several statements from their legal counsel and technical support staff. Microsoft, of course, does not recommend that you use ANYONE ELSE'S software other than their own. =) For further information on ASPI, please see the All About ASPI article. It explains the reasons behind the need for ASPI and why it's not included in the modern Windows OS's. ^ top

Are you getting messages that a device is not SMDI connected even though you are sure SCSI is configured properly and you see the device in the SMDI manager?

You may not have coupled the SMDI device to the Midi device. Check the documentation page "Setting up". ^ top

Are you getting sporadic "Communication Error" messages while using ZoeOS?

The Emulator cannot respond to SysEx messages under certain conditions. These include:

Loading a bank
Peforming a SMDI transfer
Defragmenting sample memory
Compacting preset flash memory
Beat munging on an Ultra
Any other CPU intensive task

Please wait until ZoeOS is idle before embarking on front panel activity involving any of the aforementioned activities. The most notable times ZoeOS is busy and will require the attention of the Emulator are:

During preset/sample name discovery just after the application has started
During a bank refresh initiated from ZoeOS
During a preset refresh
When the user is performing parameter edits or preset/voice/zone operations.

^ top

Successful user scenarios

Brian, Denmark - owner of four E4s which he uses simultaneously with ZoeOS

Hi Paul I've found a nice solution to dedicate midiports to ZoeOS and my sequencer. I've the Digi001 interface with 1 midi in and out. Beside that I bought a external midi interface with USB connection to the computer called Edirol UM-880. With the Edirol I can merge the input from the Digi001 (sequencer) and the USB (ZoeOS) and sent a single midi out to one E4 at a time. This suits my needs since I aint forced to find 4 cards of obsolete midi ins and outs for the E4's. The Edirol can merge multiple midi inputs to a single midi output as long as the midi stream does not exceed 31 Kb/s (as I recall). My thought with this e-mail to you is that you could pass this information on to other users of ZoeOS and sequencers with the same headache as I had :-) Best regards