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Notes on this version of the CanvasMan User Manual
The real CanvasMan manual is a Word for Windows 6.0
document with several illustrative pictures; saving it in
'MS-DOS Text with Layout' format created this text
version. You will note that it has several formatting
problems:
1--All pictures are missing. By definition, text
files do not store graphics information.
2--DOS and Windows have different high ASCII character
sets. Certain characters don't convert very well--
e.g., the TM trademark symbol comes out looking like
Ö. Similarly, the -- m-dash character comes out as _.
The (c) copyright symbol, however, converts fairly
well to c.
3--There are no page breaks.
4--There are strangely indented paragraphs.
I haven't made a supreme effort to format the text manual
since most people can download or easily afford the real
WinWord version. To order the 'official' manual, see the
online help's order form.
Jeff Cazel
CanvasManÖ
Version 4.4
Copyright c 1992-1994 Jeff Cazel
All Rights Reserved
CanvasMan, SongCanvas and the sunglassed Beethoven
are trademarks of Jeff Cazel
Manual Revision Date: January 1994
License Agreement and Warranty Disclaimer
You may make as many backup copies of CanvasMan as you
wish, but you may not run the Registered Version
simultaneously on more than one computer. Jeff Cazel
MIDI strictly prohibits you from distributing your
Registration Information to anyone.
Jeff Cazel MIDI hereby disclaims any and all warranties
relating to this software both express and implied,
including any merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose. Jeff Cazel MIDI will not be liable for any
incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages
due to loss of data or any other reason. The person
using the software bears all risk as to the quality and
performance of the software.
Brands, companies and product names mentioned are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders. The mentioning of these names is meant solely
for identification purposes and is in no way meant to
constitute an endorsement of Jeff Cazel MIDI or our
products by these companies.
Jeff Cazel MIDI has made every effort to ensure that
CanvasMan is as clean and free of bugs as possible.
However, no program can ever be guaranteed to be free of
all defects.
CanvasMan User Manual
Table of Contents
Overview 1
Installation 3
Main Window 6
Menus 8
File Menu 8
Edit Menu 10
MIDI Menu 24
Setup Menu 26
Help Menu 27
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits 28
Appendix A Technical Support 31
Appendix B MIDI Multitasking 32
Appendix C Online Help 33
Appendix D Spin Button 34
Appendix E Command-Line Options 35
Overview
CanvasMan is the Windows 3.1 editor/librarian for
Roland's SOUNDCanvas line of GS synthesizers (SC-55,
SC-55mkII, SCC-1, SC-155, JV-30 and many others).
CanvasMan provides true MIDI multitasking _ you can run
it by itself, while you jam with Band-In-A-Box, or while
you sequence with Cakewalk and WinJammer. The wait is
over for an easy-to-use SOUNDCanvas ed/lib.
CanvasMan can play your MIDI files as you edit _ you'll
hear your changes instantly in the context of your own
musical projects! It saves its patch data in standard
binary format (also called "MIDIEX" format) so you can
store patches with your sequences or as stand-alone
banks. You can even create your own single- and multi-
Part sounds for easy future recall! Finally, CanvasMan
gives you complete control over all Global, Part, and
Drum parameters.
To maximize data integrity, CanvasMan uses one-way MIDI
communication only (from the computer to the
SOUNDCanvas). You cannot lose data when other windows
send extraneous data.
This manual refers to any CanvasMan-supported GS sound
module or keyboard as a "Canvas." "GS" is Roland's
"General Standard"_a superset of the General MIDI
standard. If you have an SCC-1, please ignore references
to the "display" or "LCD"_it doesn't have one.
CanvasMan avoids the term "patch" in its help system and
documentation because "patch" sometimes has an ambiguous
definition in the context of multi-timbral synthesizers.
All users should read the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits
section (page 28) for a complete description of
CanvasMan's data files.
Overview (continued)
This manual describes how to modify, save and audition
the various parameters within the Canvas. It does not
describe what these parameters do. For example, it
describes how to turn Chorus On and Off, but it doesn't
state what effect that has on the sound nor why you may
want that effect. The online help and various Canvas
owner's manuals will explain some of these parameters,
however.
This manual also does not explain basic Windows
procedures and concepts such as selecting menu options
and using scroll bars. If you are a new Windows user,
please run the Windows Tutorial on the Program Manager's
Help menu.
Installation
O Setup CanvasMan_On the Windows Program Manager screen,
select File and then Run.... This will display the
Run dialog and position your cursor at Command Line.
If you have a CanvasMan diskette in drive A:, type
A:SETUP <Enter>
If you have a CanvasMan diskette in drive B:, type
B:SETUP <Enter>
If you have downloaded CanvasMan onto your hard
drive, type the path to SETUP.EXE and press <Enter>
(e.g., C:\TEMP\SETUP <Enter>)
Follow the instructions on the screen
ì Read CanvasMan's online help introduction_Double-click
on the READ ME FIRST! icon in CanvasMan's Program
Manager group. Among other things, this will tell you
whether you want to run CanvasMan or CanvasManII.
Ä Run CanvasMan_Double-click on the CanvasMan or
CanvasManII icon in CanvasMan's Program Manager group.
Å Setup MIDI Ports_Select Setup-MIDI Ports from
CanvasMan's menu (CanvasMan will automatically run
this option for you the first time in). Setting up
your MIDI ports consists of two dialog boxes: the MIDI
Configure dialog and the Route MIDI Output dialog.
CanvasMan disables MIDI input and output during these
dialogs.
If you configure both input and output ports, MIDI
Thru will turn On at the end of the Route MIDI Output
dialog.
See pages 4 and 5 for complete descriptions of MIDI
Configure and Route MIDI Output.
See also the MIDI Multitasking appendix for more
information.
Installation (continued)
É MIDI Configure_MIDI Configure allows you to select as
many output ports as you have and 0 or 1 input port.
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
Output Ports: If you have more than one output port,
you can have CanvasMan play your MIDI files on some or
all of them. To so do, sequence the output ports to
match your multi-port MIDI files. Do so by moving the
relevant ports from Available Output Ports to Output
Ports in the desired order. If you have a single MIDI
interface like most of us, you can simply choose your
listed interface as output port #1.
Try to avoid using the Microsoft MIDI Mapper output
port_you cannot open it for multiple concurrent
output. See the MIDI Multitasking appendix for more
information.
Input Port: Windows does not allow more than one
program to use a given input port at the same time.
Thus, if you plan to run CanvasMan at the same time as
another MIDI program that supports MIDI Thru, you
should not select an input port. If you run it at the
same time as the WinJammer sequencer program, however,
you should select an input port since CanvasMan uses
WinJammer's MIDI input/output facility.
Installation (continued)
` Route MIDI Output_Route MIDI Output allows you to
select which configured output ports you'll use for
System Exclusive ("SysEx"), Local On/Off and Thru
data.
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
SysEx_specify the port to which you want CanvasMan's
system exclusive ("sysex") data routed. You'll
typically specify the same port as Thru, since you'll
probably want both types of MIDI information to go to
the same port (i.e., eventually routed to the
SOUNDCanvas).
Local_specify the port to which you want CanvasMan's
Local On/Off information routed. This should be the
port that connects to your controller keyboard's MIDI
In port (perhaps through a Thru daisy chain of some
sort).
Thru_specify the port to which you want your keyboard
controller's MIDI information routed. You'll
typically specify the same port as SysEx, since you'll
probably want both types of MIDI information to go to
the same port (i.e., eventually routed to the
SOUNDCanvas). The Thru input port displays below the
Thru output radio button(s) to remind you of the
source of the Thru data.
If your MIDI interface does not have an input port (or
if you specify None as your input port in MIDI
Configure), Route MIDI Output will indicate that MIDI
Thru is not available.
Main Window
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
CanvasMan's main window consists of several sections.
From top to bottom, they are:
Caption
Menubar
Toolbar
Part Selectors
Edit Controls (The picture above
does not show any Edit Controls since
they change based on the current Edit
Menu selection.)
The window caption states "CanvasMan" or "CanvasManII,"
the current Edit Menu selection, and your current file
name. It also states your SOUNDCanvas device number if
it is not the default 17 (see the Command-Line Options
appendix for more information).
The menubar appears below the caption. The menu sections
of this manual explain each menu option in detail. You
may click on menu options at any time to invoke that
function.
Certain options have accelerator "hotkeys" that make
accessing them quicker. For example, you can always
press Ctrl+A to display the Quick Edit A screen. The
menus list accelerators where available.
Main Window (continued)
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
The toolbar is the row of pictures ("icons") below the
menubar. These icons duplicate some of the menu options.
From left to right, the icons represent File-New, File-
Open, File-Save, File-Load MIDI File, MIDI-Play/Pause,
MIDI-Rewind, MIDI-Thru, MIDI-Local, Help-About and MIDI-
Panic Button.
In most cases, the Part selection buttons appear below
the toolbar. However, when you've selected an edit
window that covers multiple parts, the Part selectors
disappear. When available, click on one of the sixteen
radio buttons to choose your current work in process
Part.
The Edit Menu section describes the different Edit
Control screens in detail.
You may resize the window like in other programs by
dragging its border.
File Menu
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
Registered copies of CanvasMan automatically saves a copy
of the GS Combo file (*.GSC) as a small MIDIEX file with
a .SYX file extension when you File-Save or File-Save As.
You can import these .SYX files into your sequencer or
send them "as is" to "prime" your Canvas with various set-
ups.
See the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits section (page 28) to
learn how CanvasMan's data files interrelate.
File-New
This option sends a GS Reset to the Canvas and renames
the current GS Combo file to UNTITLED. File-New will
prompt you to save the current Combo if you've changed
it since your last File-Save or File-Save As.
File-Open
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Combos
(*.GSC). Once you select a valid file, CanvasMan
sends the complete sysex data to the Canvas. File-
Open will prompt you to save the current Combo if
you've changed it since your last File-Save or File-
Save As.
File Menu (continued)
File-Save
This option saves the current GS Combo file (*.GSC).
If the current file name is UNTITLED, File-Save
behaves as File-Save As and displays a file save
dialog for Combos.
File-Save As
This option displays a file save dialog for GS Combos
(*.GSC).
File-Load GS Sound
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Sounds
(*.GSS). Once you select a valid file, you can insert
it into the current Combo starting on any tonal part.
File-Save GS Sound
This option allows you to select which Part(s) you
wish to include in a GS Sound (*.GSS). Once you've
done so and pressed the OK button, File-Save GS Sound
displays a file save dialog for Sounds.
File-Load GS Drum Kit
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Drum
Kits (*.GSD). Once you select a valid file, you can
insert it into the current Combo as Drum Kit #1 or #2.
File-Save GS Drum Kit
This option displays a file save dialog for GS Drum
Kits (*.GSD).
File-Load MIDI File
This option displays a file open dialog for MIDI
format files ("standard MIDI files"). Once you select
a valid file, CanvasMan starts playing it. File-Load
MIDI File is grayed if MIDI is disabled.
File-Exit
This option exits CanvasMan. File-Exit will prompt
you to save the current GS Combo file if you've
changed it since your last File-Save or File-Save As.
Edit Menu
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
The Edit Menu displays a list of all of the edit dialog
windows. CanvasMan indicates the current choice with a
check mark to its left.
When you select a new window, the size reverts to its
default. As with most Windows programs, however, you can
resize the CanvasMan window at any time.
Each valid change you make on any edit screen sends the
sysex data to the SOUNDCanvas immediately.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Quick Edit A
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option displays basic part settings for all 16
Parts. You can use the keyboard to change several
parameters here. Move between parameters with the Tab
and Shift+Tab keys; you may also single-click (steady
hand!) on a parameter to select it.
Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See
the Spin Button appendix (page 34) for more information.
To mute a MIDI Channel, set it to 0. To set random
panning, set Pan to -64.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Quick Edit B
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option displays more basic part settings for all 16
Parts. You can use the keyboard to change several
parameters here. Move between parameters with the Tab
and Shift+Tab keys; you may also single-click (steady
hand!) on a parameter to select it.
Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See
the Spin Button appendix (page 34) for more information.
To mute a MIDI Channel, set it to 0.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-General Part Settings #1
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
You can change several general parameters in this window.
To set random panning, set Part Panpot to -64.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-General Part Settings #2
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
You can change additional general parameters in this
window.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Receive Flags / Scale Tuning
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option displays the Receive Flags / Scale Tuning
dialog. You can specify to which MIDI messages a Part
responds and you can tune the individual chromatic notes
for a Part here.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Controllers-Modulation / Pitch Bend
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This options displays the Modulation / Pitch Bend dialog.
You can change Modulation and Pitch Bend-oriented
parameters in this window.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Controllers-Aftertouch
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option displays the Aftertouch dialog. You can
change Aftertouch-oriented parameters in this window.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Controllers-Continuous Controllers
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option displays the Continuous Controllers dialog.
You can change Continuous Controller-oriented parameters
in this window.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Master
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This options displays the Master Settings dialog. You
can change global parameters on this screen that affect
every Part.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Reverb / Chorus
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This options displays the Reverb / Chorus Settings
dialog. You can change effects parameters on this screen
that affect every Part.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Tone/Rhythm / Voice Reserve
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option displays the Tone/Rhythm / Voice Reserve
dialog. You can designate Parts as tonal or rhythm
(Map #1 or #2) here, and you can reserve voices for
Parts.
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Drum Kits
70% size
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option displays the Edit-Drum Kits dialog. The
SOUNDCanvas stores settings for two drum kits; you can
use the keyboard to change these settings here. Move
between parameters with the Tab and Shift+Tab keys; you
may also single-click (steady hand!) on a parameter to
select it.
Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See
the Spin Button appendix (page 34) for more information.
The top of the screen displays the kit names (Electronic
and Power in the example above). The left column lists
the sounds within the selected kit. You can select which
of the two sound lists to display via the Instrument
Names radio buttons in the upper left corner. For
example, to change the list from Electronic to Power,
click on the bottom button. If both kits are the same,
CanvasMan disables the Instrument Names radio buttons.
CanvasMan does not support the CM-64/32L set (program
number 128).
Edit Menu (continued)
Edit-Decrement Part
This option decreases the current Part by 1. If you
are already on Part 1, the Part changes to 16.
Edit-Increment Part
This option increases the current Part by 1. If you
are already on Part 16, the Part changes to 1.
Edit-Next Quick Edit Screen
This option moves forward through the Quick Edit
screens. If you're already at the last screen, it
takes you to the first. This option is only available
when the Quick Edit screens are active.
Edit-Prior Quick Edit Screen
This option moves backward through the Quick Edit
screens. If you're already at the first screen, it
takes you to the last. This option is only available
when the Quick Edit screens are active.
Edit-Copy
This option copies the current .SYX file into the
Windows clipboard. You can then paste this MIDIEX-
formatted data into a sequencer, etc.
MIDI Menu
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
MIDI-Play/Pause
This toggles the MIDI player On and Off. If the file
is currently playing, the option states Pause; if
currently paused, it states Play. If a MIDI file is
not loaded, the option is grayed and states
Play/Pause.
MIDI-Rewind
This option restarts playing the current MIDI file
from the beginning.
MIDI-Play From/Thru
(See next page.)
MIDI-Thru
This option toggles MIDI Thru On and Off. MIDI-Thru
is unavailable if you have not selected both Input and
Output ports in Setup-MIDI Ports.
MIDI-Local
This option toggles local On and Off for your
controller. The data transmits on the channel
specified in Setup-MIDI Controller.
MIDI-Refresh Synth
This option retransmits the current GS Combo file's
sysex data to the Canvas.
MIDI-Panic Button
This option stops the song (if playing) and sends "all
notes off" and "reset all controllers" messages on
each MIDI channel of each MIDI port.
MIDI Menu (continued)
MIDI-Play From / Thru
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
This option allows you to specify a section of the
currently loaded MFF (shown above as MEGAJAM.MFF) to play
in a loop. Enter the From (loop begin) and Thru (loop
end) measures and select OK.
When you load a song via File-Load MIDI File, CanvasMan
sets the Play From/Thru time signature to 4/4. (In the
future, CanvasMan may automatically detect the time
signature.) Select the correct time signature if not
4/4; if your time signature is not listed or if you have
multiple time signatures in the song, select Beats Only.
When using Beats Only, remember to calculate your From
and Thru values using quarter notes.
Setup Menu
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
Setup-Register
This option allows you to enter your license
information (registration codes, serial numbers,
etc.). Entering this information opens up some of the
enhanced features of CanvasMan.
Setup-Directories
This option allows you to specify which directories to
use for MIDI files (labelled as MID), GS Combos (GSC),
GS Sounds (GSS), and GS Drum Kits (GSD). Setup-
Directories will create the directories if necessary,
but only to one level. For example,
C:\CANVAS\DATA\SOUNDS is invalid unless C:\CANVAS\DATA
already exists.
Setup-MIDI Controller
This option allows you to specify which MIDI channel
your controller keyboard is using. MIDI-Local will
send the Local On/Off messages on this channel.
Setup-MIDI Ports
Installation pages 3-5 explain this option fully. You
may re-run Setup-MIDI Ports as necessary.
Help Menu
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
Help-Contents
This option displays the table of contents for
CanvasMan's online help system.
Help-Search for Help on
This option displays the list of cross-referenced
CanvasMan help keywords. You can search for
information on any indexed word or phrase as listed
here.
Help-EZ Start Tutorial
This option is only available on the Parker Adams
Group CanvasMan Deluxe Edition. It displays a help
file consisting of CanvasMan tutorials.
Help-How to Use Help
This option displays Windows' own 'how to use help'
tutorial.
Help-About CanvasMan
This option displays the sunglassed Beethoven
trademark and plays the CanvasMan fanfare. Its
purpose is to list copyright and program version
information.
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits
CanvasMan creates four types of data files:
GS Combos *.GSC
GS Sounds *.GSS
GS Drum Kits *.GSD
MIDIEX copies of the GS Combo files follow
Cakewalk's standard name *.SYX. Registered copies
of CanvasMan create a MIDIEX copy each time you save
a Combo. Unregistered copies do not create MIDIEX
files.
CanvasMan focuses on Combo files. Combos contain data
for the entire SOUNDCanvas. Since the SOUNDCanvas has
sixteen Parts and two drum kits, you can think of a Combo
file as a large band. (In this setting, capitalized
"Combo," "Sound" or "Drum Kit" indicates CanvasMan data
files. The non-capitalized version indicates 'normal'
meaning; e.g., a "combo" is a band or an orchestra.)
You setup one Combo for each of your songs; in effect,
each song has a separate combo at its disposal. However,
you will probably find that your songs often use the same
settings for several instruments. For example, if you
create the ultimate grand piano, you may want to use it
in most of your songs' Combos. Similarly, if you've
changed the reverb on certain drum instruments in drum
kit #1, you may want that effect in all of your songs.
This is where GS Sound and GS Drum Kit files come in.
Sounds and Drum Kits are modular building blocks for your
Combos. Sounds consist of one or more Parts on the same
channel. Drum Kits contain note mapping and effects
parameters for drum kits. Continuing the above example,
assume you've created a great piano on MIDI channel 6
using Part 8. Rather than remembering all the parameters
you've tweaked so you can recreate them for your next
song, simply save Part 8 as a Sound.
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits (continued)
To do so, select File-Save GS Sound. When it asks which
Part(s) to include, click on Part 8. When you select OK,
CanvasMan will display the save dialog and allow you to
call your Sound GPIANO.GSS or similar. Note that you can
have multiple Parts in a Sound file. For example, if you
create a grunge organ by combining Organ 3 and Overdrive
Guitar, you can save them together for use in Combos.
After selecting File-Save GS Sound, simply check the
appropriate Parts' checkboxes. You may not include
rhythm Parts in a Sound, and CanvasMan prevents such
attempts.
Sounds contain all parameters that are pertinent to that
Part. They do not contain Global settings like reserved
voices nor the chosen Reverb Macro. Combos store that
information.
Drum Kits work similarly. After changing the reverb for
your chosen rhythm instruments (example #1), select File-
Save GS Drum Kit. When it asks which of the two kits to
use, click on Kit #1. When you select OK, CanvasMan will
display the save dialog and allow you to call your Drum
Kit COOLRVRB.GSD or similar.
When you want to use a Sound or a Drum Kit in a Combo,
you select File-Load GS Sound or File-Load GS Drum Kit,
respectively. Load GS Sound allows you to insert Sounds
into the current Combo. After selecting a valid Sound
file, you specify the destination Part and MIDI channel.
The Part(s) and channel of the original Sound are
irrelevant; CanvasMan provides maximum flexibility here.
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits (continued)
You may also opt whether to mute existing Parts on the
destination MIDI channel. If you're loading Ultimate
Grand Piano on channel 1 and channel 1 is already
assigned to Space Echo, you will probably want to leave
this option checked (or end up with a space echoed piano
sound). CanvasMan loads the file into the current Combo
and sends it to the Canvas.
Load GS Sound will not overwrite Rhythm Parts with the
Tonal information in the Sound. For example, if you load
a 4-Part sound into Part 9 and you have previously set
Part 10 to the Power (rhythm) Set, the GS Sound will
overwrite Parts 9, 11, 12 and 13. Similarly, Load GS
Sound will fail if you attempt to load a Sound that will
not fit. For example, you cannot load a three-part sound
starting on Part 15 or 16 because it would try to fill
Parts 15, 16 and 17 or 16, 17 and 18. Load GS Sound's
prompts automatically adjust for this.
Load GS Drum Kit allows you to insert Drum Kits into the
current Combo. After selecting a valid Drum Kit file,
you specify the destination kit. There are two
destination kits, and like Sounds, the original Kit's kit
number is not relevant. CanvasMan loads the file into
the current Combo and sends it to the Canvas.
Appendix A
Technical Support
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
See the online help's Technical Support topic for current
information on getting help. Be ready to give the
support staff the current version of CanvasMan itself,
MIDILIB.DLL and JJCMEGA.DLL. This information shows on
the About screen; in the example shown above, the current
versions are 4.3, 3.01 and 1.1, respectively.
Appendix B
MIDI Multitasking
Windows' capability of running multiple MIDI programs at
the same time makes it vastly superior to DOS MIDI. You
maximize this capability by using MIDI drivers that allow
multiple concurrent output ("multi-client").
Multi-client drivers, for example, allow you to change
patch settings on your SOUNDCanvas with CanvasMan at the
same time you play a song in Cakewalk, Band-In-A-Box, and
others. Note that the MIDI Mapper does not allow
multiple clients. Note also that no input drivers
support multi-client use. This is why you should select
<none> as CanvasMan's input port if your sequencer is
recording.
The MPU-401 driver that comes with Windows 3.1 does not
allow multiple concurrent output, either. However,
Twelve Tone Systems (maker of Cakewalk Professional for
Windows) has created a better MPU-401 driver that does
allow this. If you already run Wincake with an MPU-401,
you should already have this driver installed. If you
don't have the driver, you can get it in Wincake's demo
(from probably any MIDI-oriented BBS). (On CompuServe,
grab WDEMO.TXT and WDEMO.ZIP from library 3 in the
MIDIAVEN forum. Be sure to read WDEMO.TXT before
unZIPping WDEMO.ZIP.)
Note finally that CanvasMan uses WinJammer's MIDI
input/output facility (MIDILIB.DLL); for the purpose of
this discussion, WinJammer and CanvasMan are one program.
Thus, when running CanvasMan and WinJammer together, you
should specify an input port.
Understanding these concepts is probably the most
confusing aspect of Windows MIDI.
Appendix C
Online Help
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version)
You can reach CanvasMan's online help at any time by
pressing F1. Please be sure to read the Introduction
topic.
Appendix D
Spin Button
A spin button (Sorry, impossible to show picture in text
version) is a "custom control" (i.e., a data entry
device not supplied as part of Windows). CanvasMan uses
spin buttons on the Quick Edit and Drum Kit Edit screens.
Spin buttons allow mouse users to increase/decrease the
value in an edit control by clicking on up/down arrows.
Because spin buttons are not part of Windows itself,
different programmers design them in different ways. In
CanvasMan's case, press the left mouse button while
pointing at an arrow to trigger the changes; release the
button or move away from the arrows to end the changes.
You can also move to the other arrow to reverse
direction.
Even though there are over 100 edit controls on the Quick
Edit and Drum Kits screens, there is only one spin
button. The main reason for this is lack of room.
Adding 16 spin buttons to each row of the Quick Edit
screen (or 10 to Drums) would make the window wider than
the standard VGA screen.
Thus, the single spin button pertains to whichever edit
control has the keyboard focus (CanvasMan places the
blinking edit caret over it). You can move between the
edit controls by clicking on them or pressing Tab or
Shift+Tab.
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version) The
upper-half of the spin button's color changes when
increasing values.
(Sorry, impossible to show picture in text version) The
lower-half of the spin button's color changes when
decreasing values.
Appendix E
Command-Line Options
Description
CanvasMan has two optional command-line parameters
to maximize its flexibility. Note that parameters
are not case-sensitive (e.g., /d:17 is the same as
/D:17) and may not contain imbedded spaces (e.g.,
/D: 18 is invalid).
CANVAS /D:n /mkII
/D:n Device #--use MIDI device #"n". Leave this
at "17" unless you have a second SOUNDCanvas.
All characters after the /D: must be numeric.
The minimum device# is 1 and the maximum is
32.
/mkII CanvasManII--operate in CanvasManII mode.
Specify /mkII if your SOUNDCanvas is an SC-
55mkII or future 100% compatible GS synth.
See online help's Introduction section for
more information.
The default setting is CANVAS /D:17 In other
words, if you run CANVAS.EXE with no /D: nor /mkII
setting, CanvasMan will operate in 'original' mode
on device #17.
How To
Online help's Command-Line Options section has
detailed instructions in setting-up command-line
options.