


			  MERLIN V1.20 For Win95
			------------------------------

Merlin is a system exclusive message manager for the Roland JV-1080  / XP50.

Merlin is able to :
	- Edit and modify Patches via its Patch editor
	- Manage your patch colletion via its librarian
	- Load sysex files from disk.
	- Send data trough your midi interface.
	- Automatic reception & storing of incoming sysex data (no need to manually
	  start reception).
	- Optional display of incoming sysex data, With copy / paste facility for use
	  of this codes for your own purposes, and automatic insertion of JV codes for
	  header, EOX & check sums.
	- Save stored sysex data to files, for posterior retrieval.
	- Select Patches & performances out of your JV1080
	- Generate Patch Lists (with export facility) when loading patch files.

Why MERLIN 
-----------
Oh no ! . Another sysex manager for windows.

Well, I decided to write MERLIN because I could not find what I was
looking for,(and because I want to learn VB, This is my first VB
program, be warned).

I plan to grow MERLIN with several improvements, but only time will tell.

I was thinking of writing a windows patch editor for the JV1080
( for no one seems to have writen one, and someone has to do the
dirty work), so I began reading the JV1080 manual pages speaking
of sysex data.  I thought I would need an egyptologist to decipher it !!.

I was reading the JV1080 list, when I saw a message from Chris Sherwood
telling someone about the JV facility for automatic sending the sysex
codes ,when system Tx.edit is on.

And then there was ligth. That was what I was looking for. Just activate
Tx.edit ,set my sysex program to receive, press the keys on my JV ,
receive the codes, save them to disk, run a hex editor, load the
previously saved data, and just hand write the codes you see in the
hex editor(ooooof!!).

Ok. that works fine, but I am to lazy to do that often. I only had
a chance : write MERLIN.

The results are on your hands. Just run MERLIN and the codes of sysex
appear on your screen in hex; You can copy then with your mouse and paste
them in your code or favourite editor.

After that things were complicating themselves , in a clear demostration
of Peter's principle, I began adding a Patch Editor and a patch librarian,
and the foundations for some other utilities I am thinking of , such a
random patch generator, a performance editor and maybe a rhythm editor,
maybe a midi player with embedded JV codes recognition...

I expect you find useful Merlin, enjoy it


Installing MERLIN
------------------

Create a directory ( you MUST call it Merlin for now ) copy the zip file
in it and unzip it.You should have that files on:

VSHARE   386        14.933 
STKIT416 DLL         5.120 
VB40016  DLL       935.024 
OC25     DLL       534.144 
COMDLG16 OCX        83.088 
VBDB16   DLL        86.848  
GRID16   OCX        87.680  
MIDI1    VBX        25.856 (A custom control for accessing midi ports from Midi CoolTools)
MERLIN   EXE       334.304  
MERLIN	 TXT	           (This file)

Copy everything except Merlin.exe to your windows\system directory, and
Voila, MERLIN is ready to run.Enjoy it.

PD : I am not used to VB4 yet, so maybe you need other files to run Merlin.
If so just mail me and I would send you back the files requested.

If you are going to test Merlin under windows 3.11 be carefull when you
copy these files to your windows\system directory for you may overwrite
files needed to run your normal software, I think it should run correctly
in win 3.11 for I used VB4 16 bit to assure compatibility, but I have not
tested yet.

Conditions
----------

MERLIN is going to be shareware , I don't plan to earn money with this
but I would like to compensate some of the expenses I had developping it
(as buying midi libraries and books),and specially some of the work you
shall request me, to include expansion cards,or several units.

I am thinking to set a prrice of maybe 30$ ,let me know what you think
about.

For now it is a beta version you can use for free during all year 1996
( I hope to have a fixed version, much before than time). I beg you not
to spread Merlin outside the JV list, after all ,it is only a beta yet
and it could be difficult to support .

Support
---------

I would like ,if possible, and the list did not oppose, to support
Merlin via the JV1080 list, until ready to ship. This way I could have
your input and opinions.

Any way I like receiving mail, My email address is 

	redlin01@sarenet.es
	Juan Carlos Macho
	Bilbao (Spain)
        January 8 ,1996
