Ethnotronics FAQs

[harryson]

We got several mails with questions about Ethnotronics and there were postings here too, so we start a new thread now with all Ethnotronics FAQs here.



What is Ethnotronics (ET)?

Ethnotronics VST is a sample library powered by the ws-engine version WS1/2. The library content covers a wide range of ethnic instruments (plucked, wind, string, percussion) and electric and electronic instruments created with analog and digital synthesizers. The detailed product description incl. the retail prices can be found on the product page on our website http://www.backintimerecords.de/bitr047.htm and here in the company forum in the ET announcement posting: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=182156. Ethnotronics is available in three versions and the difference is always the size of the sample library content:

- Ethnotronics
- Ethnotronics Pro
- Ethnotronics Pro XL

ET is a downloadable product, optional available on DVD.



Where can I order ET?

Go to our website ORDER page and click the online-store button and you'll be routed to the shop. Click the category button for the product overview and select your prefered ET version. Once you're registered you can go on stepping through the cart process. You'll receive an order confirmation and a personal email with the further order processing (payment, download links). TSW Pro customers are qualified for a special discount price, those orders are processed by regular mail. So if you're a TSW Pro customer you can skip the online-store processing and send us your message with the ET version you want. Julia replies quick as possible and makes everything from sending the PayPal invoices to generating the download links. The download links are valid for 3 days and 4 times each to assure a proper download of the data. The data is compressed in zip files and divided into smaller packages.



What about the data format?

ET is powered by the ws-engine version WS1/2, and the ws-engine data is divided into two groups:

- SoundSets (multisamples and one-shot samples)
- Presets (program data combining 4 layers and 2 Wavesequences plus FX)

ET runs as “stand-alone” VST with the included sampleplayer (WS1/2), and additionally the data is compatible with other ws-engine VSTs like the Wusikstation, ManyOne and more. The data compatibility depends on the individual ws-engine version as there are several. For details please refer to the concerned manufacturer. bitr licenced the ws-engine WS1/2 for the products and we don't have influence on this software, but we're cooperating with the developer William K since long and all ws-engine questions and support request can be routed directly to him although we're always in contact with him to take care for ws-engine related support questions too.

Other Wusikstation versions: Currently there are Wusikstation WS3 and WS4 available, details about them on www.wusik.com . Owners of those Wusikstation version can work with ET too, but with a few limitations or specific data handling. Wusik is offering conversion tools for Preset conversions between the ws-engine versions and perhaps you're already familiar in using them. If not you can ask wusik and bitr for the availablitiy of Presets in WS3/4 formats. Currently ET comes with the 57 TSL Preset Templates and 60 ET Presets in WS1/2 format (BNK and PRST). wusik converted those Presets to WS3/4 format, so ET owners can request this from wusik as well as from us. We got reports that at this moment the WS3/4 format converted Presets won't load with all workarounds and wusik is researching the reason why this happens. We'll keep WS3/4 owners updated about the progress in this issue. WS3/4 owners can run our ET VST and the Wusikstation on one computer, as far as we know.

ET samples can be converted to Dashsignature's data format too, to load it into EVE or other products from them. For details please refer to the Dashsignature product specifications. bitr is in a cooperation partnership with Dashsignature, so you can also ask us and we'll forward the question to Dashsignature.



ET in other data formats than ws-engine?

Yes, it's in progress and currently we're considering the Steinberg HALion format as well as NI Kontakt. As soon as we can offer those formats we'll post it here. If someone wants a specific sample format please send us a message, perhaps we can offer a quick solution though. We're working with the Extreme Sample Converter and the Awave as well as the ManyMapper to convert our sample data and we can recommend using them for your own purposes too to get samples from other manufacturers into ET VST.



Ethnotronics Presets?

When in comes to Presets our customers are divided into three groups

- The “Factory Presets? No way! I make my own!” musicians
- The “I'm only playing Presets, get me a billion of them” musicians
- The “No idea what this is, but I want it all” musicians

In the past usually we provided a lot of Presets for our products, for example TSW Pro comes with more than 900 Presets. But if someone already owns several sample library products the amount of Presets is quickly increasing to an archive with 10.000 Presets or more and this is rather difficult to handle when searching specific sounds.
A while ago bitr CEO Klaus P. Rausch, maker of an incredible long list of Presets for manufacturers, developed the so named Preset Templates for the KORG Trinity workstation. With this Template system everybody can make an instant Preset which is based on a multisample or one-shot sample. It was a pretty successful data handling concept and based on this we developed the TSL Presets Templated for the TSL sample libraries. Now everyone can make his own Presets in a minute, no matter if it's a skilled studiohorse musician or an absolute beginner. We tested it with some TSW Pro and Wusikstation users and they're extremely happy to get a tool system to avoid a further Presets archive increasing. A “TSL Preset Templates Quick Guide” is available as PDF and also posted here http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=185879 .

Additionally we're making ET Presets though. Recently we released 60 ET Presets, programmed in WS1/2 format. As soon as more Presets are available we'll post it here, registered customers will receive them automatically as mail attachment. Professional sounddesigners are welcome to make ET Presets, just contact Julia for details and to get hired. The goal is a small but useful number of Presets.



Product support?

Owners of ET can send us a mail for any product support. We're responsible for the SoundSets and the provided Presets in WS1/2 format. All ws-engine support is a wusik issue and as we're cooperation partner of them, we licenced the ws-engine WS1/2, we're in frequent contact with William. So you can also ask us and we forward the question. This concerns all questions concerning WS3/4 versions of Wusikstation too.



Making of Ethnotronics?

Long story short: A very time consuming and expensive sample library development, realised in cooperation with recording studios, skilled musicians and rare instrument owners. The story behind the scenes will be posted in an extra posting for all those who are interested in getting an impression how the whole thing was done.



Further questions?

If you have other questions than mentioned above please feel free to post them here.


Cheers

harryson


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www.backintimerecords.de
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[AKJ]

wow, still no sound demos. I am wondering if anybody is going to buy something without a demo.

[Karmacomposer]

I have been away for over a week at a convention. I am continuing my work on the ethnotronics presets. I am afraid that without doing this, I cannot really make any mp3 demos yet. As soon as I have enough presets made, I will create some music demos.

Mike