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************************ Notes on this User's Guide ***********************
The 'real' CanvasMan32 User's Guide is a Word 95 document with multiple
fonts and several pictures; saving it in 'Text with Layout' format and then
filtering that output creates this text version. You will note that it has
some formatting problems:
1--All pictures are missing. By definition, text files do not store
graphical information.
2--There are some strangely formatted paragraphs.
3--There are no fonts.
4--Parts of the License Agreement on the next page do not apply to the
Shareware Edition. For example, there is no shareware "sealed software
package."
We have not made a major effort to format the text manual since you can
order the real CanvasMan32 User's Guide. To do so, see the online help's
order form.
************************ To print this User's Guide ***********************
Probably the best way to print this User's Guide is to simply 'copy' it to
the printer--doing so will ensure that it both prints in a monospace font
and page breaks properly. To do so, open an 'MS-DOS Prompt' window and run
the copy command--e.g.,
COPY CNVSMN32.TXT PRN
After printing the User's Guide, you will probably wish to recycle this
first page.
Jeff Cazel
PowerJam Systems
PowerJam Systems'
CanvasMan32 (TM)
Version 1.24
Copyright (c) 1992-1997 Jeff Cazel
All Rights Reserved
CanvasMan32 and the sunglassed Beethoven
are trademarks of Jeff Cazel
User's Guide Revision Date: January 1997
POWERJAM SYSTEMS LICENSE AGREEMENT
This is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or an entity)
and PowerJam Systems. By opening the sealed software package and/or by
using the SOFTWARE, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
If you do not agree to the terms of this Agreement, promptly return the
unopened software package and the accompanying printed materials to the
place from which you obtained them for a full refund.
POWERJAM SYSTEMS SOFTWARE LICENSE
1. GRANT OF LICENSE. This software is protected by both United States
copyright law and international treaty provisions. Therefore, you must
treat this software like a book, with the following single exception:
PowerJam Systems authorizes you to make archival copies of the software for
the sole purpose of backing up our software and protecting your investment
loss.
By saying "like a book," we mean, for example, that this software may be
freely moved from one computer to another so long as there is no
possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at
another. Just like a book that can't be read by two different people at
the same time, neither can the software be used by two different people at
the same time (unless, of course, PowerJam Systems' copyright has been
violated).
2. OTHER RESTRICTIONS. You may not reverse engineer, decompile or
disassemble the software.
3. REGISTRATION INFORMATION. PowerJam Systems strictly prohibits you from
distributing your Registration Information to anyone.
WARRANTY DISCLAIMER
PowerJam Systems hereby disclaims any and all warranties relating to this
software both express and implied, including any merchantability or fitness
for a particular purpose. PowerJam Systems 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.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Maximum MIDI ToolKit, Copyright (c) 1993-1996, by Paul A. Messick
Cakewalk and Cakewalk Professional for Windows are trademarks of Twelve
Tone Systems, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe,
Inc. The Jammer is a trademark of SoundTrek. Maximum MIDI ToolKit is a
trademark of Paul A. Messick. Microsoft is a registered trademark and
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Sound Canvas is a
trademark of Roland Corporation US. Other 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 PowerJam
Systems or our products by these companies.
Page ii
CanvasMan32 User's Guide
Table of Contents
Overview 1
Setting Up 3
Quick Start 3
PowerJam Central--Overview 4
Sequence MIDI Output Ports 5
Define MIDI Thru Settings 6
Define Synths 7
Main Window Layout / MIDI Toolbar 8
Menus 10
File Menu 10
Edit Menu 12
Setup Menu 20
Help Menu 21
Live Performance Mode 22
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits 23
Appendix A Technical Support 25
Appendix B PowerJam Central 26
Appendix C MIDI Multitasking 30
Appendix D MIDI Thru and Local 31
Appendix E Online Help 32
Appendix F Multiple Synths? 33
Index 34
Page iii
Overview
CanvasMan32 is the Windows 95 and Windows NT editor/librarian for Roland's
ever-expanding line of Sound Canvas and GS synthesizers. CanvasMan32
provides true MIDI multitasking--you can run it by itself, while you
sequence with Cakewalk or while you jam along with The Jammer . Your wait
is over for an easy-to-use Sound Canvas editor.
CanvasMan32 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 data
in standard sysex format (also called 'MIDIEX' format) so you can store
edits within your sequences or as stand-alone banks. You can even create
your own single- and multi-Part sounds for easy future recall. Finally,
CanvasMan32 gives you mastery over all Global, Part, and Drum parameters.
No other editor gives you such complete control over the Sound Canvas!
To maximize data integrity, CanvasMan32 uses one-way MIDI communication
only (from the computer to the synth). You cannot lose data when other
windows send extraneous data.
Unless otherwise noted, this guide interchangeably refers to both
'Windows 95' and 'Windows NT' as 'Windows.' It also refers to any
CanvasMan32-supported GS sound module or keyboard as a 'Canvas,' a 'Sound
Canvas' or a 'GS synth.' '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'--the SCC-1 doesn't have one.
CanvasMan32 avoids the term 'patch' in its documentation because 'patch'
has an ambiguous definition in the context of multi-timbral synths. All
users should read the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits section (page 23) for a
complete description of CanvasMan32's data files.
Page 1
Overview (continued)
This guide 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 might want that
effect. The online help and various Canvas owner's manuals will explain
some of these parameters, however.
This guide 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 Start Menu.
Finally, though there are multiple Editions of CanvasMan32, they share the
same user's guide and help file. Unless specifically noted, 'CanvasMan32'
refers to any Edition.
System Requirements
Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.x
Mouse or other pointing device
MIDI interface with a Windows driver
Roland GS or compatible synthesizer
Page 2
Setting Up -- Quick Start
1 Run SETUP--Click on the Start button and then select the Run option.
This will display the Run dialog and position your cursor at Open.
If you have a CanvasMan32 disk in drive A:, type A:SETUP <Enter>
If you have a CanvasMan32 disk in drive B:, type B:SETUP <Enter>
If you have downloaded the Shareware Edition of CanvasMan32, type the
full path to the downloaded archive file and press <Enter> (for example,
C:\TEMP\CM32 <Enter>).
Follow the instructions on the screen.
2 Read CanvasMan32's Help Introduction--Double-click on the READ ME FIRST!
icon in the PowerJam Systems folder. This will give you a good overview
of CanvasMan32.
3 Set Up MIDI Devices and Synths--Start CanvasMan32 by double-clicking on
its icon in the PowerJam Systems folder. Setting up consists of three
dialog boxes: Sequence MIDI Output Ports, Define MIDI Thru Settings and
Define Synths. Select Sequence MIDI Output Ports via the 'S' button on
CanvasMan32's toolbar. (CanvasMan32 will automatically start them for
you the first time in.)
Read the next four pages for complete descriptions of Sequence MIDI
Output Ports, Define MIDI Thru Settings and Define Synths.
See also the MIDI Multitasking appendix for more information.
Page 3
Setting Up -- PowerJam Central--Overview
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Like most of our 32-bit programs, CanvasMan32 uses a centralized module
called 'PowerJam Central' for MIDI input and output ('MIDI I/O').
Coordinating MIDI I/O centrally has some fundamental benefits:
* opening several instances of a program will not overload the MIDI
driver
* each instance knows about and can communicate with the others
PowerJam Central is a small toolbar. You can decide whether to have
PowerJam Central merge with each program's toolbar (as shown above) or
float centrally by itself at the top of the screen (as shown below).
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Note that PowerJam Central turns off Local Control at startup. For more
information, see the MIDI Thru and Local appendix (page 31).
For complete details concerning PowerJam Central, see the Main Window
Layout / MIDI Toolbar section (page 8) and the PowerJam Central appendix
(page 26).
Page 4
Setting Up -- Sequence MIDI Output Ports
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
If you have more than one output port, you can have PowerJam Central 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 double-clicking, in
order, on the relevant ports in the More Output Ports column (this will
move them to the Sequence To Activate column). For example, the picture
above shows that I am changing my sequence from the MQX as #1 and the
MPU-401 as #2 (Active Sequence) to the Roland Serial as #1 and the MQX as
#2 (Sequence to Activate). If I want to, I can still add the MPU-401 and
the MIDI Mapper to the Sequence to Activate column as #3 and #4 before
selecting OK.
In summary, when you select OK, the Sequence To Activate takes effect. If
you select Cancel, however, the Active Sequence remains in effect.
**********************************************************
If you have a single MIDI interface like most of us, you can simply move it
by itself into the Sequence To Activate column. Try to avoid using the
MIDI Mapper--you cannot normally open it for multiple concurrent output.
See the MIDI Multitasking appendix (page 30) for more information.
If you sequence the ports incorrectly, select the Restart button to move
all Sequence To Activate ports back to More Output Ports. You can then
restart sequencing your ports.
Each time you run Sequence MIDI Output Ports, PowerJam Central will run
Define MIDI Thru Settings afterwards.
Page 5
Setting Up -- Define MIDI Thru Settings
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
This screen is where you to set up your MIDI Thru options. This will
eventually allow you to select which MIDI messages to filter--PowerJam
Central currently filters sysex, system reset, active sensing, and tune
request.
Define MIDI Thru Settings allows you to select the input / output ports you
wish to use for MIDI Thru. The left side handles the input port. You will
want to select the port that is connected to your keyboard controller. (If
you have more than one controller, select the one you are currently
playing.)
The right section of this screen handles the output port. Select the port
to which you want your keyboard controller's MIDI information routed.
You'll typically specify the same port as in Define Synths (see next
page), since you'll probably want both types of MIDI information to go to
the same port (i.e., eventually routed to the GS synth).
This screen is unavailable if your MIDI interface is output-only or if your
selected input port has a single-client driver and is already in use. See
the MIDI Thru and Local appendix (page 31) for more information.
Page 6
Setting Up -- Define Synths
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
This screen allows you to tell CanvasMan32 about your synthesizer(s).
CanvasMan32 will support a MIDI network that has up to eight GS synths.
The Current Synth Definition listbox allows you to choose one of up to
eight CanvasMan32 synths--use definition #1 for your first synth and work
upwards from there.
Once you select a Definition, use the Model listbox to tell CanvasMan32
what type of GS synth you have. (If your model is not listed, please see
the online help's Introduction section for information on how to proceed.)
Use the Device # listbox to specify which device # you have used for this
synth. You will want to leave the device # at 17 unless you have more than
one GS synth connected to the same MIDI output port. (If you do have more
than one on the same MIDI port, read your synth manual to find out how to
change its device # and then change CanvasMan32 to match.)
Finally, use the Sequenced MIDI Output Ports radiobuttons to specify which
MIDI port you have connected to this synth. Most users will specify the
same port as in Define MIDI Thru Settings, since you'll probably want both
types of MIDI information to go to the same port (i.e., eventually routed
to the GS synth). (If the MIDI port is not listed in the Sequenced MIDI
Output Ports column, re-run the Sequence MIDI Output Ports dialog to add
the port.)
When you have specified your synth model, its device # and its MIDI port,
select OK; CanvasMan32 will then act upon your decisions and display the
information on the status bar.
Page 7
Main Window Layout / MIDI Toolbar
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
CanvasMan32's main window consists of several sections. From top to
bottom, they are:
* Titlebar / Caption
* Menubar
* Toolbar / Part Selectors
* Titlebar / Caption
* Edit Controls (The picture above does not show any Edit Controls since
they change based on the current Edit Menu selection.)
* Status bar (The second of the two pictures above.)
The window caption states your current Combo file name, 'CanvasMan32,' and
the current Edit Menu selection.
The menubar (File Edit Setup Help) appears below the caption. The menu
sections of this manual explain each menu option in detail. Certain
options have accelerator 'hotkeys' that make accessing them quicker. For
example, you can press Ctrl+1 to display the General Part Settings #1
screen. The menus show accelerators where available.
The toolbar is the row of pictures ('buttons') below the menubar. These
buttons duplicate some of the menu options. From left to right, the first
three buttons represent File-New, File-Open, and File-Save.
Page 8
Main Window Layout / MIDI Toolbar (continued)
The next several toolbar buttons are for PowerJam Central functions; they
will not display on CanvasMan32 if you have selected Centralize Toolbar in
PowerJam Central's Settings screen. The PowerJam Central buttons are
disabled if MIDI is unavailable. See the PowerJam Central appendix on
page 26 for more details.
Certain toolbar options have accelerator 'hotkeys' that make accessing them
quicker. For example, you can press Ctrl+O to Open a new Combo file. The
tooltips show accelerators where available.
The Part Selector combobox is just to the right of the toolbar. You can
choose the currently editable Part with the Part Selector combobox. When
you display an edit window that spans multiple parts (e.g., Quick Edit),
however, the Part Selector combobox disappears. When available, click on
one of the sixteen listings to choose your current work in process Part.
Starting on page 12, the Edit Menu section describes the different Edit
Control screens in detail.
The status bar appears at the bottom of the window. It generally lists the
synth model you have, its device number and the MIDI port to which it is
attached. You can change all of these settings in the Define Synths
dialog.
Like in other Windows programs, you can resize the CanvasMan32 window by
dragging its border.
Page 9
File Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
See the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits section (page 23) to learn how
CanvasMan32's data files interrelate.
New
This option creates a new GS Combo file by sending a GS Reset to the
Canvas. Before wiping out your Combo-in-process, however, File-New will
prompt you to save it if you've changed it since your last File-Save or
File-Save As.
Open
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Combos. Once you select
a valid file, CanvasMan32 sends its 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.
Save
This option saves the current GS Combo file. If the current file is
unnamed, File-Save behaves as File-Save As and displays a file save
dialog for Combos.
Save As
This option displays a file save dialog for GS Combos.
Page 10
File Menu (continued)
Load GS Sound
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Sounds. Once you select
a valid file, you can insert it into the current Combo starting on any
tonal part.
Save GS Sound
This option allows you to select which Part(s) you wish to include in a
GS Sound. Once you've done so and pressed the OK button, File-Save GS
Sound displays a file save dialog for Sounds.
Load GS Drum Kit
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Drum Kits. Once you
select a valid file, you can insert it into the current Combo as Drum
Kit #1 or #2.
Save GS Drum Kit
This option displays a file save dialog for GS Drum Kits.
Exit
This option exits CanvasMan32. 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.
Page 11
Edit Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
The Edit Menu displays a list of all of the edit dialog windows.
CanvasMan32 indicates the current choice with a check mark to its left.
When you select a new edit window, the window size reverts to its default.
As with most Windows programs, however, you can resize the CanvasMan32
window at any time.
Each valid change you make on any edit screen sends the sysex data to the
Sound Canvas immediately.
**********************************************************
To better clarify the explanatory text, the pictures of the edit dialogs on
the next several pages show neither the titlebar, menubar, toolbar nor
status bar.
Page 12
Edit Menu -- Quick Edit
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Quick Edit A
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Quick Edit B
These dialogs display general 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 can also single-click (steady
hand!) on a parameter cell to select it.
Once you have selected a cell, you can also use the <Ctrl+UpArrow> and
<Ctrl+DownArrow> accelerators to quickly change values.
To mute a Part in Quick Edit, set its MIDI Channel to 0. To set random
panning, set Pan to -64.
Page 13
Edit Menu -- General Part Settings
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
General Part Settings 1
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
General Part Settings 2
You can change several general parameters in these dialogs. You can set
several high-level features, you can specify to which MIDI messages a Part
responds, you can set a Part's amplitude envelope, and you can tune the
Part's individual chromatic notes.
To set random panning, set Panpot to -64.
Page 14
Edit Menu -- Controllers
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Modulation / Pitch Bend
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Aftertouch
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Continuous Controllers
These options display different controller-oriented dialogs. You can
change modulation, pitch bend, aftertouch and continuous controller
parameters in these dialogs.
Page 15
Edit Menu -- Global
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Master Settings
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Tone/Rhythm / Voice Reserve
These options allow you to affect each Part in your Combo. You can change
effects and other global parameters on the Master Settings screen. On 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.
Page 16
Edit Menu -- Drum Kits
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
This option displays the Drum Kits dialog. The Sound Canvas 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 can also single-click (steady hand!) on a parameter cell to
select it.
Once you have selected a cell, you can also use the <Ctrl+UpArrow> and
<Ctrl+DownArrow> accelerators to quickly change values.
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, CanvasMan32 disables the Instrument Names radio buttons.
(Most sounds are the same throughout all kits, so you may not see much, if
any, effect when changing Instrument Names.)
Page 17
Edit Menu -- Miscellaneous Options
Refresh Synth
This option retransmits the current GS Combo file's sysex data to the
Canvas.
Decrement Part
This option decreases the current Part number by 1. If you are already
on Part 1, the Part recycles back to 16.
Increment Part
This option increases the current Part number by 1. If you are already
on Part 16, the Part recycles back to 1.
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.
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.
Page 18
Edit Menu -- Live Settings
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
This option displays the Live Settings dialog. You can change settings
relevant to performing live here. See the Live Performance Mode section
(page 22) for more details.
Page 19
Setup Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Define Synths
Page 7 of Setting Up explains this option fully.
Data Folders
This option allows you to specify which folders to use for sysex/MIDIEX
files (labeled SysEx / MIDIEX Files), GS Combos (Combo Files), GS Sounds
(Sound Files) and GS Drum Kits (Drum Kit Files). Setup-Data Folders
will create the directories if necessary, but only to one level. For
example, C:\CM\SOUNDS is invalid unless C:\CM already exists.
Page 20
Help Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Contents
This option displays the table of contents for CanvasMan32's online help
system.
PowerJam Web Site
This option starts your Internet browser and takes you to the PowerJam
Systems World-Wide Web page.
Search for Help on
This option displays the list of cross-referenced CanvasMan32 help
keywords. You can search for information on any indexed word or phrase
as listed here.
How to Use Help
This option displays Windows' own 'how to use help' tutorial.
About CanvasMan32
This option displays the sunglassed Beethoven trademark and plays the
PowerJam Systems fanfare. Its purpose is to list copyright and program
version information.
Page 21
Live Performance Mode
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
CanvasMan32 has two screens to support live performance: the Edit-Live
Settings screen (page 19) and the Live Performance screen.
Live Performance Mode essentially makes it easy to switch between Backup
and Lead volume levels while performing live. Prior to your gig, you use
the Edit-Live Settings screen to set up Backup and Lead volume levels for
each Combo in your gig. Then, when you've decided on your set list(s), you
use the Live Performance screen to sequence your Combos into Set List
files.
The overriding design goal for the Live Performance screen was to make it
easy to use during a frenzied performance. Accordingly, we have 'deleted'
things (menus, other edit screens) to make you less likely to get in
trouble while under pressure.
To create Set Lists, you can drag and drop Combo files onto the Live
Performance screen (via Explorer, File Manager, etc.). To open or save Set
List files, click on the Open or Save toolbar button, respectively.
Once you have created a Set List, you can move to its next Combo via the
down arrow key; you can also double-click on any Combo. To toggle between
the two volume settings (that you set on the Edit--Live Settings screen),
press the space bar (or double-click on the relevant radiobutton). (For my
work with The ReRuns classic rock band, I have wired a normally-open
momentary footswitch in parallel with my space bar.)
While experimenting with Combo files during band practices, you might find
it useful to run multiple instances of CanvasMan32--one in Live Performance
Mode and one in 'normal' mode.
Page 22
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits
CanvasMan32 creates four types of of data files:
GS Combos *.CM1 / *.CM2 / *.SYX
GS Sounds *.GSS / *.G2S
GS Drum Kits *.GSD
Set Lists *.PJCMSET (covered separately on page 22)
CanvasMan32 focuses on Combo files. Combos contain data for the entire
Sound Canvas. Since the Sound Canvas has sixteen Parts and two drum kits,
you can think of a Combo file as a large band. (In this context,
capitalized 'Combo,' 'Sound' or 'Drum Kit' indicates CanvasMan32 data
files. The non-capitalized version indicates 'normal' meaning; e.g., a
'combo' is a band or an orchestra.)
You set up 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 sound, you might 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 might 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 sound in your current Combo 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 by itself as a
Sound.
To do so, select File-Save GS Sound. When it asks which Part(s) to
include, click on Part 8. When you select OK, CanvasMan32 will display the
standard Windows file save dialog and allow you to name your Sound
'UltimateGrandPiano.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. Since it makes no sense to include rhythm Parts in a Sound,
CanvasMan prevents such attempts.
Page 23
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits (continued)
Sounds contain all parameters that are pertinent to that Part. They do not
contain Global settings like reserved voices nor the chosen Reverb
Macro--that information is stored in Combos.
Drum Kits work similar to Sounds. After changing the reverb for your
chosen rhythm instruments in Drum Kit #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, CanvasMan32 will display the save dialog and allow you to name
your Drum Kit 'WayCoolReverb.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; CanvasMan32 provides maximum
flexibility here.
When loading a Sound, you can 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 Mute option checked (or end up with a space-
echoed piano sound). CanvasMan32 loads the file into the current Combo and
sends the sysex info 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 because it would try to fill
Parts 15, 16 and 17. 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 as with Sounds, the original Kit's kit
number is not relevant. CanvasMan32 loads the file into the current Combo
and sends the sysex info to the Canvas.
Page 24
Appendix A
Technical Support
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
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
CanvasMan32. This information shows on the About screen; in the example
shown above, the version is 1.12.
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Appendix B
PowerJam Central
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
Overview
Like most of our 32-bit programs, CanvasMan32 uses a centralized module
called 'PowerJam Central' for MIDI input and output ('MIDI I/O').
Coordinating MIDI I/O centrally has some fundamental benefits:
* opening several instances of a program will not overload MIDI drivers
* each instance knows about and can communicate with the others
PowerJam Central is a small toolbar. You can decide whether to have
PowerJam Central merge with each program's toolbar or, as shown above,
float centrally by itself at the top of the screen.
The relevant PowerJam Central buttons are disabled if no MIDI drivers
are available.
Functions
Several of the buttons are 'toggles'--i.e., they can be 'On' or 'Off' and
will appear either depressed or raised, respectively.
MIDI File--opens and plays a Standard MIDI File. You can also play a
file by dragging it from the Explorer and dropping it onto either
CanvasMan32 or PowerJam Central. PowerJam Central will ignore tracks
numbered greater than 256.
Play/Pause--toggles playback for the Standard MIDI file. As shown, the
button appears depressed when the file is playing.
Rewind--rewinds the Standard MIDI file to its beginning and, if playing,
pauses it.
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Appendix B
PowerJam Central
Functions (continued)
Panic--mutes all PowerJam-generated MIDI data and stops playback. In
specific, it stops the song (if playing) and sends 'all notes off' and
'reset all controllers' messages on each channel of each sequenced MIDI
output port.
Thru--toggles MIDI Thru. MIDI Thru is unavailable if you do not have at
least one MIDI Input and one Output port. As shown, the button appears
depressed when MIDI Thru is On. For more information, see the MIDI Thru
and Local appendix (page 31).
Local--toggles Local keyboard control. The data transmits on all
channels for each sequenced MIDI output port. Since most users want
Local turned Off, PowerJam Central turns Local Off at startup. As
shown, the button appears raised when Local is Off. For more
information, see the MIDI Thru and Local appendix (page 31).
Settings--displays the PowerJam Central Setup dialog (described on the
next page).
Move--moves the PowerJam Central toolbar along the top of the screen.
Click and drag this button left or right as desired. This button only
displays when the PowerJam Central toolbar is centralized, as described
on the next page.
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Appendix B
PowerJam Central
Setup Dialog
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
This dialog box is where you can specify the settings for PowerJam
Central.
Check the Centralize Toolbar option to display the toolbar as a separate
'window' at the top of the screen. (Centralizing the toolbar is
generally only useful if you are running more than one instance of
CanvasMan32.)
Specify your folder for Standard MIDI Files in the Standard MIDI File
Folder edit control. PowerJam Central will create this folder if
necessary, but only to one level. For example, C:\ROCKANDROLL\TUNES is
invalid unless C:\ROCKANDROLL already exists.
Press the Sequence MIDI Output Ports button to run the Sequence MIDI
Output Ports dialog. Note that PowerJam Central will automatically run
Define MIDI Thru Settings after it runs Sequence MIDI Output Ports. Note
also that Define Synths is a CanvasMan32-specific dialog and is not part
of the PowerJam Central setup process. Pages 5 and 6 of the Setting Up
section fully explain the Sequence MIDI Output Ports and Define MIDI
Thru Settings dialogs.
Display PowerJam Central copyright and version information by pressing
the About button.
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Appendix B
PowerJam Central
Locking PowerJam Central
Because most of our 32-bit Windows programs use PowerJam Central to
centrally coordinate MIDI I/O, PowerJam Central must protect itself from
certain combinations of activity. For example, it cannot allow you to
run the Define Synths dialog in one instance of CanvasMan while running
Sequence Ports in another. If it did allow this, you could give
yourself an instant GPF, for example, by unsequencing (closing) the MIDI
Mapper and then selecting it in Define Synths. PowerJam Central guards
against these problems by having the following activities 'lock'
PowerJam Central until they finish; i.e., they temporarily prevent you
from running other programs that use PowerJam Central:
PowerJam Central's own Settings dialog, including its Sequence MIDI
Output Ports and Define MIDI Thru Settings options
Edit-Refresh (and any other time you send an entire sysex file)
Note that because of a Windows quirk that still shows 'locked'
(disabled) programs on the taskbar, the 'lock' purposely hides these
programs to cause them to also disappear from the taskbar. The programs
reappear when the lock is over with.
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Appendix C
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 program sounds with
CanvasMan32 at the same time you play a song in Cakewalk or The Jammer.
Note that the MIDI Mapper does not allow multiple clients. Note also that
since few input drivers support multi-client use, you should make sure
PowerJam Central's MIDI Thru is turned Off if you run it at the same time
as your sequencer--this way, PowerJam Central won't even try to open an
input port, because it doesn't need one. If you can share an input port,
however, make sure that no more than one program has MIDI Thru turned
On--otherwise, your machine might lock up.
Many drivers support multiple output clients; however, the MPU-401 driver
that comes with Windows 95 does not support multiple clients. Cakewalk
Music Software has created a better MPU-401 driver that does allow this.
If you already run Wincake with an MPU-401, you probably have already
installed this driver. 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 unarchiving WDEMO.ZIP.)
Understanding these concepts is probably the most confusing aspect of
Windows MIDI.
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Appendix D
MIDI Thru and Local
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
(Few topics are as confusing to MIDI novices as MIDI Thru and MIDI Local
Control. Since advanced users typically understand these subjects already,
this discussion aims at novices. Note that the following paragraphs are
not intended to be exhaustive--they are simply intended to get new users up
and running.)
Study the diagram--it shows the 'correct' way to connect your MIDI cables.
Once you have connected things this way, you should turn PowerJam Central's
Thru On and Local Off. (If you're running PowerJam Central at the same
time as your sequencer, however, leave PowerJam Central's Thru Off and turn
your sequencer's Thru On.)
If you leave Local On, your keyboard will always make noise when you press
its keys. You probably will not want that, since you might want to hear
your other synth modules (labeled To Other Synths) by themselves. You can
control if and when the keyboard itself makes noise by setting its Receive
channel to the same channel on which it Transmits.
This is where MIDI Thru comes in. With Thru On, the computer 'echoes' MIDI
data from its MIDI In to its MIDI Out. Turning Thru On and Local Off
enables you to specify when you want the keyboard to make noise and when
you want your synth modules to make noise. If you have both Thru and Local
On, playing your keyboard can 'double' its notes--the internal connection
will sound, and the computer will re-route the MIDI data back to the
keyboard, sounding it again. Conversely, you will hear nothing if both
Thru and Local are off.
Page 31
Appendix E
Online Help
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan32 User's Guide)
You can reach CanvasMan32's online help at any time by pressing F1. Please
be sure to read the Introduction topic.
Note the General Info button on the right. General Info deals with
PowerJam Systems as a whole.
Page 32
Appendix F
Multiple Synths?
As described in the Setting Up section of this guide on page 7, CanvasMan32
will support a MIDI network that has up to eight Sound Canvas synthesizers.
Once you define your synths to CanvasMan32 (via the Define Synths dialog),
you must tell each instance of CanvasMan32 that you run which particular
synth definition you wish to address.
You do this with the optional /S:n command-line parameter. You run
CNVSMN32 /S:1, CNVSMN32 /S:2, CNVSMN32 /S:3, etc., to specify which synth
definition to address (you can run several at the same time if you wish).
Note that the /S:n parameter is not case-sensitive (e.g., /s:2 is the same
as /S:2) and may not contain imbedded spaces (e.g., /S: 2 is invalid).
The default setting is CNVSMN32 /S:1. In other words, if you run
CNVSMN32.EXE with no /S: setting, CanvasMan32 will access the first Sound
Canvas you've defined.
CanvasMan32's SETUP program creates an icon for synth #1. If you have more
than one CanvasMan32 synth, however, you can create separate icons for
each. See the online help's Multiple Synths? section for detailed
instructions in setting-up your CanvasMan32 icons to make it easy to
control your setup.
Page 33
Index
--A-- --S--
accelerators 13, 17 Sequence MIDI Output Ports 3, 5
Standard MIDI Files 1, 5
--B-- SysEx 10, 12, 18, 20
Beethoven i, 21
--T--
--C-- Technical Support 25
Cakewalk 1, 30 Thru See MIDI Thru
CompuServe 30 title page i
trademark i, ii, 21
--D-- tune 14
Define Synths 3, 6, 7
Device # 7 --W--
warranty disclaimer ii
--E-- Web site 21
envelope 14 World-Wide Web 21
--G--
GS Combo 8, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23-24
GS Drum Kit 11, 20, 23-24
GS Sound 11, 20, 23-24
--I--
Internet 21
--J--
Jammer 1, 30
--L--
license ii
Local See MIDI Local Control
--M--
MIDI channel 13
MIDI Local Control 4, 27, 31
MIDI Mapper 5, 30
MIDI Multitasking 3, 5, 30
MIDI Thru 3, 4, 6, 27, 30, 31
MIDIEX 1, 20
Model 7
Multiple Synths? 33
mute 13, 24
--O--
Online Help 32
--P--
PowerJam Central 9, 26, 27, 28, 29
PowerJam Central--Overview 4
--R--
registered trademark ii
Page 34