Oberheim Prommer
Info Prommer Sheet
- This guide is intended to describe the operation and general use of the Oberheim Prommer, a powerful and versatile tool for the modern musician. The first chapters will describe the basic operation of all functions and the appendices will provide information on some specific applications.
- Although the Prommer was designed to be very versatile and easy to use1 it is still a complex Instrument and will require some learning on the user's part in order to use it properly. Please read this manual carefully and keep it with the Prommer for future reference.
Prommer
- Samples sounds
The Prommer is a digital audio sampling device, that will convert an audio signal into digital form and store the digitized signal in its memory. The Prommer will record at a rate of up to 32,000 samples per second and has a maximum memory capacity of 65,536 samples. This means that you can record a sound that is about two seconds long at the fastest sampling rate. Longer sounds may be sampled by using a slower sampling rate at a reduced audio bandwidth.
One primary application of the Prommer is sampling drum sounds and other percussive sound effects.
There is an input for line level signals (with switchable sensitivity of +4 dB or -10 dB). and a balanced Input for a low impedance microphone. A peak reading LED meter allows monitoring the level of the Input signal in order to set the correct recording level.
- Burns proms
The Prommer is also a PROM programmer. It can program ("bum") most popular types of EPROMS, PROMS and EEPROMS. This means that you can make your own custom sound chips to use In your Oberheim DMX or DX digital drum machine. The Prommer will also program chips for other brands of drum machines1 that is any drum machine that uses individual sound chips with eight bit companded or linear data format.
- Plays back sounds
The Prommer can play back sounds in memory over a twelve octave pitch range when used with a MIDI controller, with control over transposition and fine tuning. Sounds may be looped to add sustain, with adjustable loop poInts. An external trigger may be used to play a sound, and a low pass filter at the output will track the playback rate or can be set to a selected frequency.
- Understands midi
MIDI note-on commands can be used to play sounds at different pitches with velocity and pressure controlling loudness and/or filter frequency. MIDI pitch wheel Information can also control pitch to allow 'bending' notes. The Prommer can transmit sound data over MIDI to another Prommer or to another machine that uses a proposed standard MIDI sample dump. The Prommer can also record received MIDI data directly into memory and retransmit it on command. This feature Is useful for saving synthesizer patches, drum machine sequences, etc.
- Stores multiple sounds
The memory of the Prommer may be divided into 16 blocks. Each block may be defined to cover any portion of memory and may even overlap other blocks. All operations (Record, Play, Program PROM, etc.) take place only within the currently selected block. When you record a sound, for example, sound is recorded only into that part of memory defined by the current block. This means that you can have as many as 16 different sounds in memory at one time. Non-volatile (battery powered) memory Is used so all your sounds will be retained in memory even with the power off.
- Manipulates sound data
Sounds may be modified in several ways including reversing, mixing, stretching, squashing, and enveloping. These Sound Mod functions don't take place in real time but actually change the data in memory so that the change is permanent and the modified sound can be burned onto a PROM. Data In memory may aiso be examined and modified numerically one byte at a time.
- And more
The Prommer has an almost endless variety of possible applications including (but not limited to) - sampling sounds for drum machines, copying EPROMs, transferring multiple EPROM sounds to a single EPROM, drum machine sound editing, transferring sounds from linear format drum machines to companded format machines and vice-versa, playing sounds with a 'ceyboard, and MIDI data storage.
Prommer basic setup
- Format 8 bit companding (plus linear programming mode)
- Sampling rates selectable 32, 24, 16, 12 kHz
- Ram 64K with battery backup
- Compatible Eproms 2732, 2732A, 2764, 2764A, 27128, 27256, 27256D, 27512
- Compatible Machines Oberheim DX and DMX, JL Cooper, Linn, MXR, Sequential, Simmons
- Sound length 1K - 64K blocks, 64K block @ 12 kHz sample rate = 5.33 secs.
- Play modes Normal, Continuous loop, Gated, Gate loop (w/ adjustable loop point)
- Edit functions Envelope, Revers, Copy, Swap, Erase, MIX, Ring Modulate, Modify Bits, Examine Memory, Stretch, Compress
- Programming functions Check erasure, program Eprom, set Eprom offset, Load data from Eprom, Program linear data, Load linear data, Compare data, run program
- Midi functions Midi Mode/Zone mode, Midi channel, Velocity Mode, Midi Echo, Bend Range, Pressure Mode, Program Change enable, Sound dump, Transmit/Receive data (including system exclusive
- Other functions Pre-emphasis on/off, Transpose, Fine Tune, Led peak meter, Input level control, record Threshold, bypass, retrigger delay
- Inputs Midi, Audio Line, Audio Mic (Balanced XLR), Trigger, Power
- Outputs Midi, Audio
- Display 16 Character Alpha-nummeric Fluorescent.
- Oberheim, 2230 South Barringotn Avenue, Los Angelos, California
