


			  MERLIN V1.00 For Win /Win95
			------------------------------

Merlin is a system exclusive message manager for the Roland JV-1080  / XP50.
Merlin can also handle JV's Banks & performances codes to select patches or 
performances.

Merlin is able to :
	- 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, such as patch editor, patch librarian
and several other items I am thinking of, 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 of 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.

I expect the rest of the buttons are self explicative.

Attention : You need not pressing REQUEST button to receive sysex dumps (That is automatic)
this button is designed as a way of requesting specific data dumps from your JV,wit no need
of putting a finger in your JV.

But , hard life, for now I can not get the codes to get such a nice feature, so it does not
work at all ,be warned ( But I plan to get such codes in the near future,even if I had to kill
somebody, and put them into and working).

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

Create a directory ( lets say you call it Merlin) copy the zip file in it and unzip it.
you should have that files on:

	merlin.exe	
	merlin.txt 	(This file)
	midi1.vbx	(A custom control for accessing midi ports from Midi CoolTools)

Copy midi1.vbx to your windows\system directory, and Voila, MERLIN is ready to run.Enjoy it.
(I think you also need VBRUNxxx to run Visual Basic compiled code, wich is not included)

Conditions
----------

MERLIN is freeware, you can copy and distribute it as many times as you like ( I allways wanted
to say that), provided you include the 3 files and credits. 

The only thing forbiden is to sell it ( I cannot understand who would be fool enough to
pay for that, but everybody says something like this when putting freeware programs,
and I like how it sounds).

Support
--------

As usual ,no support is provided ,no continuity is granted (but I mean to).Any way I like 
receiving mail saying me how a great utility I have done ,and how you love it ( Even those
akwards mails saying something like your program has a bug in ....).

I would like to receive the codes for requesting patch,rythm & performances from our synth
to put them in the receive button. If anybody can decipher the manual to get such codes
and is kind enough to mail me with them, I will send him or her a incredible free copy of
MERLIN with theese codes embedded and working.

My email address is "redlin01@sarenet.es"

	Juan Carlos Macho
	Bilbao (Spain)
	December 16 ,1995