FileMaster QD

The interesting FileMaster began life in 1991 from Eric Baird and Mississippi Software, distributed by Four Minute Warning from the UK.  The first in the series being FileMaster 612, FileMaster 700 and FileMaster S10, all of which were dedicated to the Akai 612, Akai S700 and Roland S10 "Quick Disk" based samplers respectively.  In the same year it is believed FileMaster QD 2.0 was introduced, updating the aforementioned FileMaster dedicated versions to universally further support the Akai X7000, S900, S950, S1000, S1100, as well as the Roland S220 and MKS100.  With the Akai S900 and S950 for example, data can also be read and written via the Atari ST's RS232.  It is unclear however whether there was strictly a FileMaster QD 1.0, or whether the initial dedicated versions were deemed the 1.0 versions.  

Nevertheless FileMaster is a MIDI sample editor, also offering MIDI SDS, and can read sample disks directly from some Quick Disk samplers, allowing export to 3.5" disks.  It can also read both Sound Designer and Avalon sample file formats.  

In 1992 FileMaster QD 3.0 was conceived, although according to Eric Baird himself, was not released to the public.  It added advanced audio synthesis, analysis and re-synthesis.  Synthesis types included advanced harmonic synthesis, expanded versions of the Yamaha 4 and 6-Op algorithms, phase distortion, and a number of custom synthesis and re-synthesis methods.  FileMaster QD seemingly ended with FileMaster QD 3.3.  It included support for the Replay AVR sample file format, and also included output to a Replay sampler cartridge, the STE's DMA or Monster Stereo peripheral for example, and can be run as an ACCessory.

As a footnote, FileMaster also runs on the Falcon, certainly with FileMaster QD 3.3.  Lastly, similar to Sound Designer (Universal), it has software copy protection, and again, although the software can be copied to a hard drive, it has to run with the main master floppy disk.

Overview

• Name: FileMaster 600 / FileMaster 700 / FileMaster S10 / FileMaster QD 2.0 / FileMaster QD 3.0

• Type: MIDI Sample Editor / Sample Editor

• Bit Depth: N/A

• Sample Rate: N/A

• Sound Quality: N/A

• Hardware ADC: N/A

• ADC Connection Type: N/A

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