AWETOY Version 1.0 Gamma 4 by Geo Pertea

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This page will undergo change as new features arise or new techniques are discovered

AWETOY is the SB32/AWE32 user's best friend, second only to a software sequencer in its functionality. AWETOY can be used to change sound font banks and set and preview instruments as well, but perhaps its most important function is that it can behave as a filter that connects your midi keyboard to your software sequencer. Use a virtual midi driver such as midimux or mrouter. Then tie the output of your midi keyboard to the input of AWETOY, and the output of AWETOY to the one of the inputs on your sequencer. The functionality of AWETOY is described by the "tab", but before we go to the tab functions, let's discuss the controls. AWETOY, like any good instrument, provides many interactive controls in the form of dials, sliders and push-button arrows. You might be thinking: that's nice, but mouse controlled sliders are no match for analog sliders. Think again. The default slider increment or decrement (performed by left mouse-clicking (LMC) to either the right or left of the slider bar) can be set to other than the default value of one. By using ALT-LMC, CTRL-LMC, SHIFT-LMC, you can set the delta value to a preset that you store in AWETOY.INI. The defaults are 2,5 and 12. This makes the sliders very customizable. Now, onto the tabs.

1. Keyboard: set the instrument, bank and global MIDI channel that you want to use. Set special effects such as chorus, reverb and volume. You can also do a pitch bend and set the note velocity. I find the use of the computer keyboard mapping to MIDI notes to be very handy for previewing instruments: I can preview instruments without having to reach over to the MIDI keyboard. There is even a key range split feature allowing one split with two ranges!
2. MIDI fx: this is an absolutely incredible feature. Many of these features are available only in high-priced synthesizers or, perhaps, in some software sequencers. There are three key options.
   1. Pseudo-Echo: MIDI echo using multiple output channels. In Cakewalk, you can hear and record multiple channels by simply setting the CHANNEL column to "--" (dash) on the current track. Echo allows you to create very nice echoes and strumming effects, using the decay setting to adjust the effect to your style. But, it also allows you to create chords (using a single root note) by setting the DELAY to zero. That is only the beginning. The "channel table" is a method for creating performances, or the simultaneous playing of several instruments. You can also simulate chords in this fashion by altering the "shift" value. But the shift value has another great use for percussion! To create, say, a bongo drum with a cymbal, create "2 echoes" and set the global MIDI channel and the two echo channels to 10.
   2. Chords/Patterns: This is a great way to make patterns of notes that you like. Think of this tab as a "pattern sequencer" since it can remember the order in which you play notes (by creating your own pattern) and use this as a "template" to launch a fantastic array of sound. Traditional chord structures are just special cases. For strumming effects, you have even more control here than in the Pseudo-Echo tab.
   3. Arpegg: This is a full-fledged, and accurate, arpeggiator but you've probably not seen one of these on your synth. The reason is that it takes a sequence and not simply a set of simultaneous key presses. So you can create very nice arpeggiated sequences in both directions and everything inbetween. Set the "velocity-override" on the Keyboard Tab if you want AWETOY to ignore velocity. By using velocity, however, you can create interesting, irregular arpeggiated sequences with effective "rests." The two modes of operation are "Any key" and "Only held keys". "Any key" is a latch mode where you need not keep the keys depressed: subsequent key presses are cumulative to the sequence. The "extra notes to add" is great because this is more flexible than a simple "range dial". Change the note length and the tempo to adjust the speed.
3. Sounds: like AWECP, you can load and remove banks, and there is a virtual sound font manager.
4. NRPNs: forget mapping LSB and MSB bytes to correctly map non-registered parameters to useful things such as dials and sliders. Instead, use the NRPN tab. With the right-mouse click (RMC), you can assign any slider to any NRPN here and obtain those great effects such as filter sweep, tremolo and vibrato. Use Initial Cutoff to create a nice sweep. You can also map your pitch wheel and any other physical continuous controller to the SB32/AWE32 controller effects.
5. FX Manager: Full control over Reverb and Chorus for the SB32/AWE32.
6. Mixer: A custom mixer with a saved settings option.

One can only begin to discuss the variety of effects that AWETOY can produce. Go and give it a try!

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