*********************************** AM/FM ***********************************     How to convert files from one Amiga sequencer to another sequencer.    Geir W. Kristoffersen *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  If you have tried to move your masterpieces from one sequencer to another, you have found out that this is a difficult task. The convert programs supplied with your software does not work the way they should. Sometimes the machine crashes, and sometimes the files are full of garbage or full of nothing at all. Here's some small hints that might help you. 1. Keep your sequences as simple as possible. Avoid looping, do not use "song construction-" modes found in several sequencers (Music-X, Bars'n Pipes, KCS, to name a few). Save your verse, chorus, bridge- whatever- and construct your song with the sequencer that you intend to use. 2. If you are using Music-X v. 1.0, you should upgrade to version 1.1. (This could be difficult, as it looks like Microillusions does not answer letters from users. I wrote to them in february, wondering if they would like to sell me some protocols for my synths. Still no answer. I'll let you know if I get one.) The convert- tool supplied with 1.1 is better than the version in 1.0. There is a pirated beta-version of Music-X out there, and it does not even use the same file format as version 1.0. This version is marked version 1.0, so there is no way to find out the difference. But of course you have a original Music-X... 3. Check how many PPQ your sequencers support. If the "recieving" sequencer has a lower resolution than the one you used to record the song, it may help to quantize your song before you try to convert it. What if you have tried all this, and the problems are still there? There is a way to it that works 100%, (er, at least 95 %),and there is another snag: you'll need another sequencer. (If you think the following text is too simple, keep in mind that it was written with a total beginner in mind. Just skip the parts where you think "Hey! I'm not stupid! I know this!") You'll need: One Amiga, MIDI interface and software (pretty obvious..) Another sequencer, either in the form of another Amiga, hardware sequencer, a PC, Mac or Atari, all with Midi and software if needed. First of all we'll need to define some words: Sequencer: ( I said this was going to be simple....) There are two kinds of sequencers out there. First you have the software sequencers. They live in computers, come on disks and uses a screen as visual output. Not very handy to carry around, as long as you don't have a laptop. The other sequencer is the original hardware sequencer. It looks like a sound module, ( sort of ) has buttons, and a tiny LCD window. Some has a diskdrive, can read MS-dos files, again some old can't. Generally not so easy to use as its software counterpart, but easier to move around. On the road they can take the beating of being transported in an Opel Blitz without breaking up. Cheap to obtain second- hand. Make sure that the sequencer is capable of recieving on several MIDI channels at the same time. In several synths you will find a sequencer as well, but if your synth is suited a poor man's budget the tend to be rather limited. BPM: Beats Per Minute- set both sequencers to the same speed. MIDI sync: All MIDI equipment with a "play"-button has its own internal clock. Some boxes can also recieve this info from other MIDI sources. When they do this, they use the MIDI clock. PPQ: Short for for Parts Per Quarter note. In Music-X the resolution is 192 PPQ. In several other sequencers you can adjust this ( Example: Atari Notator). Enough of this, cue the interresting (?) part: If you have: One Amiga and one hardware sequencer or a different brand of computer: Let's make an example: Move a song from Music-X to Bars'n Pipes Pro: Load MX in the Amiga, and prepare to record the song with the other sequencer. Close as many tasks as possible to get the right BPM. (Even Music-X can slow down if you have other heavy tasks running. To hear this start Music-X and DP IV, play a song, click to DP IV and morph a brush while Music-X plays.) Now, load your song, choose the same BPM, press "Record" on the other sequencer and "Play" in Music-X and off you go. If your sequencer is capable of doing it you would want to choose MIDI sync on the other sequencer. If not you must use your ears and hit the play- button so the beat fits the metronome on the recording sequencer. Reboot your Amiga, load Bars'n Pipes, (Choose MIDI sync, and MIDI start/stop recieve) and press record in Bars'nPipes. Press play on the other sequencer, and hey presto! If you have: Two Amigas: Very easy, Load the appropiate software in the two machines, connect the MIDI leads, correct sync, same BPM and off you go. Got the idea? Not very neat and fast, but it works! On this disk (If [Ed] includes the files) you will find lots of MX-files moved from both KCS and Bars'nPipes pro. I have used a humble Alesis MMT-8 sequencer. I can hear you yell: No problemos at all? It is too good to be true! There are computers involved! Well, a couple of small problemettes.The first time I tried, a couple of mishaps occured, but the serious ones are easily cured. If your sequencer is old or slow it may recieve so much MIDI information at once that it gives up. Cure: Filter out let's say control/program changes if you have them. Record at a much lower speed, or as a last resort split and send a few MIDI channels in several goes. If you use two Amigas close all unneccesary tasks. Bars'n Pipes Pro will give you trouble as well. It does not keep a constant speed, and the BPM displayed is wrong. Try a setting a couple of beats faster than your other sequencer, close other tasks, use gray scale, reduce the size of the windows that has to be open and hope for the best. My guess is that you'll be dissapointed. You will still be able to record the sequences to let's say Music-X, but they will be difficult to edit, at least if you plan to do major changes where timing is involved. In my oppinion Bars'Pipes is useless because of this timing error. Add the slooooooooow screen update and the useless printout features, it becomes even worse if that is possible. (Sorry, Blue Ribbon Bakery. I really wanted a nice sequencer with scoring options. sob.) Now, off you go, visit friends with nice Ataris and PC's, "borrow" their work and PLEASE send the sequences to AM/FM. NOW! *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************