2. Using kooBase
2.1 Screen Elements
The main window presents an abstract view of several MIDI tracks similar to CuBase, Steinbergs
program (for Mac and Windows) that gave the inspiration to the name kooBase. Each track may consist of several parts and each part
may be edited with one of the editors.
Properties of a Track
- M - with this button you can toggle a track's mute status on and off
- T - this is the type of the track. MIDI is the only type implemented so far. (HD recording might be another type)
- L - you can lock a track, so its parts do not allow changes (not implemented yet)
- Name - a name can be assigned to each track. This has no consequences to the music ;-)
- Instrument - A MIDI instrument can be chosen for each track. The last entry in the list (titled "part defined") offers
the opportunity to deligate the choice of instruments to the parts: An instrument can be assigned to each part!
- Output - the MIDI data can be sent to the internal synthesizer of the soundcard or to an external MIDI synthesizer. Thanks to
Antonio Larrosa this feature is implemented. I used his (kmid-) classes
for all sound-output! So far, Soundblaster (also AWE cards),
Gravis Ultrasound, as well as external MIDI instruments are supported.
- Chan - with the left/right mouse buttons, one may change the MIDI channel assigned to each track
- Volume - allows to assign different relative volumes to each track.
- Delay - allows to assign delays to each track.
- Music Canvas - A mouse doubleclick in this area creates a part within the given locators.
The locators can be dragged within the time-bar.
Pushing the right mouse button on a Part pops up a menu with the following actions.
- Edit Score - lets you edit the part using the score notation
- Edit Drummap - provides a drum editor, using the general midi drummap
- Edit Piano Roll - this pianoroll editor is not implemented yet, but will be soon, probably by Carsten P.
- Edit Events - lets you take advantage of special MIDI features, by editing true MIDI events (not implemented yet).
- Copy Part - creates a copy of the part (placed after the original).
- Glue Parts - merges two parts.
- Split Part - splits a part into two at the position the (right) mousebutton is pressed.
- Instrument - lets you select the MIDI program, making use of the general midi instrument table and names
- User Defined Functions - lets you choose one of the user defined functions...
- Quantize All - quantizes the events start positions and lengths' to the grid selected in the grid-menu
- Quantize Lengths - only quantizes the lengths
- Fixed Lengths - sets the lengths to a fixed value (selected in the grid-menu)
- Erase Part - lets you erase the part
2.2 Mouse Control
- Double Click in the part canvas creates a new part. If there is no track at that position, a new track is created as well.
- The right mousebutton pressed on a tracks name pops up a menu that lets you change the trackname or erase that track.
- The right mousebutton pressed on a parts name pops up a menu (s.a.)
- Draging a kooBase- or MIDI-file onto the track canvas erases the current song and loads the dropped one.
- Draging a kooBase- or MIDI-file onto the part canvas appends the dropped file to the current one.
2.3 Keyboard Control
- ALT + L sets the left locator to the current position
- ALT + R sets the right locator to the current position
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