Contents

The following Help Topics are available:

What is MidiMaster?

Features

System Requirements

Future Development

About the Author

For Help on Help, Press F1


What is MidiMaster?

MidiMaster is a MIDI/WAV/RMI player for Windows 95.  It is not only a MIDI player but also a MIDI file organizer.  It is specially designed for those who like a desktop MIDI player which brings convenience whenever they play and manage their beloved MIDI files.  MidiMaster runs on Windows 95 exclusively as it provides specific Windows 95 GUI features.  Also, users can either minimize MidiMaster to taskbar or shrink it to the TaskTray of  Windows 95.  MidiMaster also provides library functions for managing or categorizing MIDI files.  It has many extensive functions which make MIDI files playing extremely simple and controllable.


Features

•	True 32-bit application

•	Fully integrated with Windows 95

•	Immediate file rename, delete functions

•	Library functions (up to six libraries)

•	Library Import/Export functions

•	Flexible MIDI file queue function

•	Play List Shuffle function

•	Configurable Queue (Play List) Recycle function

•	Command line invoked playing (can be setup as MIDI player in Netscape)

•	Drag-and-Drop functions for Play List and File List Selections

•	Repeat Playing function

•	Auto-Shrinking Panel

•	Long Name Hint for Play List

•	Volume Control

•	Player Panel showing total time and elapsed time

•	Track bar for changing current playing position

•	Windows registry updating (for registering relevant file type)

•	Many configurable options


System Requirements

•	486SX or above (486DX recommended)

•	Windows 95

•	Sound card (with optional volume control)

•	MIDI drivers (along with correct Midi Mapper)

•	Speakers


Future Development

I have no idea on what sort of improvements can be made to MidiMaster.

If you have any idea, please email me at:

       cs_paul@ug.cs.ust.hk.

I'll notify you the latest version of MidiMaster in return.


About the Author

Name	: Leung Kam Fai, Paul

Home-page	: http://homes.ust.hk/~cs_paul

E-mail	: cs_paul@ug.cs.ust.hk

Institute	: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

To make MidiMaster better, you as a user is important.  Your advice is extremely valuable. So please give suggestions!


Play List Shuffle

Click on "Shuffle" button under Play List.  And MidiMaster will shuffle the MIDI items within the Play List.


Rename and delete file

Before file deleting and file renaming, you have to select the target file(s) in File List box.  For file deletion, you may select one or more files.  But for file renaming, you may select only one file.


Library functions

You may categorizing your files into libraries.  Each library contains a set of full filenames.  You may select a particular library in the "Library" combo box.  Changes made to the library are updated immediately.  So when you play from a library without enabling Play List Recycling, your library will be shrinked to nothing ultimately.


Library import and export

You may have your own set of libraries besides the six predefined libraries.  You may click on "Import/Export" followed by "Import" to import file list from a library to the current Play List.  You may also click on "Import/Export" followed by "Export" to export filelist from the current Play List to a particular library.


Drag-and-Drop functions for Play List and File List Selections

MidiMaster supports flexible Drag-and-Drop functions for both Play List and the file list.  You may select and drag multiple files by click several files with Ctrl key held down.  You may drag one or multiple files from file list to Play List.  You may also drag files within Play List.  An arrow will also be displayed to indicate the insertion position.


Flexible MIDI file queue function

You may perform a number of functions for Play List:

•	Shuffle

•	Remove one item or clear the whole Play List

•	Drag-and-Drop

•	Insert selected song(s) to the top of Play List

•	Long name hint for Play List


Long name hint for Play List

Sometimes items in Play List would be too long to display.  Despite that there is a horizontal scrollbar which enables you to scroll for the clipped region, it is more convenient to display the entire item by simply moving the mouse cursor over that item.  This is known as Long Name Hint.  You may disable this function in the "Properties" dialog box.


Volume Control

By default, MidiMaster will invoke the built-in volume control configured in Windows 95.  You may also configure for your own.  You may do so in the "properties" dialog box.


Windows registry update

MidiMaster saves the user settings in Windows 95 registry instead of in WIN.INI.  This conforms to Microsoft's recommendation, which is a better way for organizing the application's settings.


Track bar for changing current playing position

While playing, you may drag the thumb of the track bar to alter the current play position.  However, you cannot do so when MidiMaster is not playing.


Command line invoked playing

You may invoke MidiMaster from command line to play a list of MIDI files immediately.  For example,  you may type:

C:\> Midimast 1.mid 2.mid 3.mid


Repeat Playing function

You may repeat playing a particular MIDI file by clicking "Once/Repeat" label (beside the total time and the elapsed time display) in dark panel.  When it is "Once", the current MIDI file will be played once only.  When it is "Repeat", the current MIDI file will be played repeatedly for ever.


Auto-Shrinking Panel

This function will shrink MidiMaster to taskbar as tray icon.  Thus save you a lot of desktop spaces.  It is different from just minimizing it.  Shrinking will automatically some CPU-spanning activities to save your CPU time.  But this does not hold true for mere minimizing.


Configurable Queue (Play List) Recycle function

By enabling this function, your play list will be used without deleting any item from it.  Without recycle function enabled, your play list will shrink and ultimately become nothing.