.DLS - DownLoadable Sounds level 1 & 2 / Mobile DLS

Awave Studio reads and write files conforming to the DLS level 1 and DLS level 2 file format specifications.

Saving to the 'DLS level 1' file format will gives you files compatible with the DLS synthesizer architecture level 1, which is designed to be compatible across a wide range of synthesizers.

Similarly, saving to the 'DLS level 2' file format will gives you files compatible with the DLS synthesizer architecture level 2, which is way more capable. The files conforms to the DLS v2.2 update of the specification (backwards compatible to the original v2.0).

The 'DLS level 2+' file format adds support for several non-standard compressed waveform data formats. These are supported by DirectMusic / DirectX v9+.

The 'DLS level 2++' file format option adds support for extended paramater ranges, additional articulation routings, stereo waveforms, and MIDI songs - some or all of which may be ignored by other synths.

Mobile DLS was a version of the specification with restrictions on the waveform data size and some minor deviations.

DirectMusic Producer used a DLP file extension for DLS files until the file being composed was 'finalized' to DLS.

When using pure DLS level 1 keep in mind the following:

• Only one layer per instrument can be used.
  
• A maximum of 16 regions can be used in a melodic instrument, 128 in a drum set.
  
• Only instrument global articulation is allowed for melodic instruments.
  
• A regions velocity range is always 0..127.
  
• Panning is ignored for melodic instruments.
  
• Only mono waveforms can be used.
  
• Only unlooped and forward looped waveforms are supported.
  
• The minimum required RAM memory of a DLS-1 synth is 256K Samples, if you use larger collections, data may be discarded.
  
• The volume and the pitch LFOs will use the same frequency and start delay values.
  

Features:

• Level 1 & up: 8 / 16-bit PCM, mono, loop, envelopes, lfo, collection, drum-kits, instruments.
  
• Level 2 & up: layers, per region articulation, two LFOs, low-pass filter.
  
• Level 2+ & up: μ-Law / Α-Law / 24 / 32-bit PCM / 32-bit floating point / DVI-IMA 4-bit ADPCM / MPEG layer III compression.
  
• Level 2++ & up:stereo, fractional loop points, reverse & bidirectional loops, layer level articulation, LFO ramp time, LFO shapes, filter type, et c.
  

Supported by:

• Awave Studio (read + write).