AR Uploader v1.0
================

  14th of Feburary, 2016.

  mail: bs AT tkscript.de
   d/l: http://tkscript.de/files/other/ar_uploader-14Feb2016.7z (latest)



** What's this ?

 AR Uploader is a sample upload tool for the Elektron Analog Rytm drum computer.

 It uses the MIDI Sample Dump Standard (SDS) protocol.

 Unlike the C6 uploader for Windows, provided by Elektron themselves, this application
 can batch-upload thousands of samples in one go.

 The problem with C6 is that batch sample uploads often stop after a few uploaded samples,
 forcing you to baby-sit the uploads.

 It's actually not Elektron's fault but an issue with the Windows USB MIDI driver but
 there is a workaround so I hope that Elektron implements that in their own tool as well.

 Once you've installed the recommended tools, using this tool is as easy as this:

   $ ./upload_dir.sh /d/samples/percussion/packs/samples_from_mars/Modded\ 707\ From\ Mars\ -\ Samples\ From\ Mars/Modded\ 707\ From\ Mars\ -\ WAV/

 This will convert the entire sample directory and all its sub-directories to the AR sample format and
 upload the samples to the AR.

 All you will probably want to do afterwards is sort the files into directories
 (on the AR, there's no known way to automate this), then make some nice music.



** Changelog

 * 14Feb2016
   - Initial release.



** Requirements:

 - Microsoft Windows (tested on Windows 7. Earlier versions, e.g. XP, will probably work, too)

 - Elektron Analog Rytm (with recent firmware, tested with 1.22B)

 - Recommended: SOX <https://sourceforge.net/projects/sox/files/sox/14.4.2/sox-14.4.2-win32.zip/download>
    Note: Use the default installation path (C:\Program Files (x86)\sox-14-4-2) or the "setenv.sh" script
           must be adjusted.

 - Recommended: MSYS/MingW <https://sourceforge.net/projects/mingw/files/latest/download?source=files>
    Note: After you have downloaded and started the installer and the "MinGW Installation Manager" appears,
           click on "All Packages", then on "MSYS Base System", then on the "msys-base" checkbox in the right panel
           (select "Mark For Installation"), then choose "Installation -> Apply Changes" in the pulldown menu.
           This should start the package download and installation.
           Now all you need to do is grow a beard and you will be on your best way to becoming a Unix hacker.



** Usage:

 1) Unpack this archive somewhere. The following instructions assume that you have unpacked it to "d:\ar_uploader"

 2) Open a new MSYS shell by executing "C:\MinGW\msys\1.0\msys.bat"

    This should leave you with a new command line window.

 3) Now change to the unpacked "ar_uploader" directory:

     (note don't copy'n'paste the $ char, just the string after that)

    $ cd /d/ar_uploader

    and run the environment variable setup script:

    $ . setenv.sh
    
    If you have MSYS and SOX installed, the following command will convert all .wav files in the
    specified directory and all its sub-directories to the AR sample format, then
    upload the samples to the AR:

    $ ./upload_dir.sh /d/my_samples/my_new_sample_pack/

    Keep in mind that you can use the TAB key to auto-complete file/directory names in the shell.

    Press "ctrl-c" to cancel any sample conversions and/or transfers.



** Notes

  - Samples are uploaded as fast as possible which puts the AR CPU under a lot of stress.
    It's not really possible to use the AR while samples are being uploaded.
    This is different from C6, which uses slower upload speeds to allow the machine
    to be operated in the mean time.

  - Since this is a command line tool, it is highly recommended to install a proper "shell".
    I'd suggest this one:  http://www.mingw.org/wiki/MSYS
    That gives you the same shell that is native to Linux and MacOS X.

  - Samples must be in .wav format, 48000Hz, 16-bit, mono.
    You can use SOX to convert the samples.



** Tips'n'Tricks




** Bugs

  If you have found a bug, drop me a mail and I'll try to fix it.


Have fun !
