MAGIX LiveAct

Contents list of Online-Help

Introducing LiveAct

Last Minute Additions

Quickstart DJ-Screen

Quickstart Master-Screen

The Control Center

The Menu

DJ-Screen

Rock-Screen

Master-Screen

Sample-Dialogue

MIDI-Configuration Dialogue

Video-Dialogue

SFX-Masterkeyboard-Settings

Velocity-Curve

Screen-Keyboard

Keyboard-Layout

General-MIDI Soundset

Problems and solutions

© 1994 -1998 Copyright by MAGIX Entertainment Products GmbH.


Last Minute Additions

V 1.03

CPU-Usage: You can activate a visualization for the current CPU usage of Live Act under the Options  common settings menu point. The Live Act title bar then shows the following information:

All: total CPU usage of Live Act (100% is maximum usage which means, that Live Act cant play videos or Waves correctly any more).

Video: CPU usage for video editing and playback

Sound: CPU usage for Wave playback

Voices: the number of currently played Wave channels including the muted and therefore not audible waves in sync-mode

Due to this information you can easily see if the computer is still capable of playing more waves / videos or if it would be better changing to a different playback mode (22kHz stereo or mono).

Video-BPM: Each video now has a tempo value and therefore synchronizes itself to the current song tempo (similar to waves). This value can be set in the video dialogue. Result: the dancers will move to the rhythm of the Live Act music.

V1.02

Divide Button: Now there is a divide button in the video dialogue, you can subdivide videos in equal frame sections (used with the jump into range function). Be aware that only the activated buttons are used.

V1.01

AVI Drag & Drop

Now AVI files can be dragged onto the Video or sample buttons just like Wave files. If an AVI file is dragged onto the first 8 sample buttons it is linked to the first video button or to the second video button if one of the sample buttons 9  16 is used. A double click starts video playback directly from the filelist  ideal for previewing!

Video Preview: In the video dialogue AVI files can now be displayed with effects. The last activated video effect from the sample button effect list is used on the playing  especially suitable for choosing from the various video effects.

Sample Release: The release phase of a sample is now calculated with a new highly optimized routine, which causes a absolutely soft and noise free sample outfading.

Looped samples: Samples can now be played with a loop within the sample in tuned mode. This is especially important for creating instruments sounds: the sample can have a attack phase which is only played once and after that the sample enters a loop which is played until playback is stopped.

With this feature MAGIX LiveAct can be used as a perfect software sampler. You can set the option whether the loop information is used or not when loading a sample in the Options  DirectSound settings dialogue with the load wave with loops option.

V1.00

Sample Dialog - You can choose several methods for synchronizing sample-loops having different speed.

Resampling [Default] - speed-changes results in pitch-changes without loss of quality.

Timestretching - speed-changes without pitch-changes, but with a loss quality on greater changes.

Not of all - useful for samples without a special tempo (drumsamples. FXs ...)

These options can global set in Menu "Options > DirectSound-Settings".

Internal Sample-Resolution-Settings - DirectSound playback-quality will be changed by the following 3 buttons on the left side of every screen:

44 kHz Stereo - recommended for fast computers (Pentium II class) with more than 32 MB RAM

22 kHz Stereo - recommended for standard computers (Pentium 200 class) with at least 32 MB RAM

22 kHz Mono - recommended for slower computers

The recommendations are for playing the LiveAct setups from the delivered CD.

On slower computers own setups also can created and played with full quality if you dont use all voices and dont exceed the available memory!

Video Dialog - Additional Bluebox mode "Blue Box 2" for smoother results.

Also new is to activate/ deactivate Start-Frame and End-Frame borders for every sample-button separately.

Startup.MKS - A LiveAct Setup saved with that name inside the programpath will automatic loaded and started next time you start LiveAct. (can be deactivated in Menu Options > Common Settings > Load initial song on startup )

LiveAct.INI - some entries for tuning LiveAct (at one's own risk !)

By the way - deleting the INI-file and restarting LiveAct restores the original settings.

DSBufferSize - the internal buffersize for sampleplayback. Default is a size of 40000 Bytes, higher values increase the playback-security on slower machines, lower values decrease the reaction time to keyboard-inputs or MIDI-Events.

DSSafety - minimum distance between actual playposition and the next possible sound (latency time).

Shorter times decrease the reaction time to keyboard- and mouse-inputs, but increase the risk of loosing sync  between the samples.


Quickstart DJ Screen

Start MAGIX LiveAct by double clicking its icon on the desktop or by selecting it
from the start menu.

How to load setups and play with them

By default, MAGIX LiveAct starts with the DJ-Screen. In the middle of the screen are the
list boxes of the sample manager. Each of these green fields works like a little Explorer
in which you can scan the contents of all drives in your computer. Use the list box
on the right to select setups. If MAGIX LiveAct is correctly installed, it should list a folder on the CD-ROM with several preset setups.
Click on the arrows above and underneath the list box to scroll through its content.
To load one of these setups, simply double click on it. Depending on the perfor- mance of your CD-ROM-Drive, the loading process may take a few seconds.
As soon as all WAV Files are loaded into the RAM, you are able to play sounds.

Click one of the blue glistening sample buttons located around the turntables. You just started playback of the sample that has been loaded
on the button. Now its color has changed to red to indicate it is active.
Click this button again to stop the audio playback.

If you can not hear any sound, we recommend checking your audio system (are the speakers switched on? etc.).
If everything is connected properly, go into the Menu. Click on the menu button in the control center. Select the menu item marked Options... and then the page DirectSound- Driver.
The driver of your sound card or the entry Primary Sound Driver should be selected. If none of these entries is in the list, you probably have to install the Direct Sound System first. Please refer to the chapter Problems and Solutions.

Click on another sample button and listen to the sample. Click on another sample button while keeping in time with the beat. Select another and so on. After awhile, stop and start samples as you feel they best fit the music. Thats real time arranging!

Click on the sample buttons of the other turntable. Use the crossfader to control the volume between the running samples of both turntables.

Instead of clicking the buttons you can use your computers keyboard. The keys [1] through [8], in the numbers row, trigger the samples on the left turntable. The keys [1] through [8] from the number pad trigger the samples from the right turntable.

The play-modes

When playing a sample button with the mouse, the button stays active until you select it
a second time. When playing a button with the PCs keyboard, the sample is only played
back as long as you hold the key down. There are two possible play-modes:
Normal-mode, which is assigned to the computer keyboard by default, and
Trigger-mode, which is assigned to the mouse by default. Normal-mode plays the sample only while the key or mouse button is pressed. Trigger-mode plays the sample when a key or mouse button is pressed and continues until it is pressed a second time. Both modes have their advantages. With the Trigger-mode, you build the repeating basic structure while you add samples on top with the Normal-mode. You can use the Ctrl-key of the PCs keyboard to determine the mode a sample shall be played in ”on the fly”. If the Ctrl-key is held down while playing a button, the opposite mode will become activated. Be careful, the play mode can be determined for every sample button separately. Just remember, the Ctrl-key switches between modes.

If you would like to hear more or different samples, load another set by double clicking it in the list box located on the right.

Provided that you have loaded a setup that uses videos, clicking on the sample buttons has an influence on the video playback. Later in the chapter titled Video, you will find information regarding how to determine which buttons start which effects.

Using the Joystick

You can use your joystick for musical purposes in MAGIX LiveAct. We recommend that you connect the joystick to your game port when the computer is shut down and turned off. We will assume that your joystick is properly installed and calibrated in Windows Control-Panel.

Bend the joystick to the left or right to select one of the sample buttons. Press the first fire-button to play the selected sample button. Select another button and bend the joystick to the front.

If you press the fire-button now, the sample button gets played with the maximum velocity of 127. If you bend the joystick to the back you produce the minimum velocity of 0. In other words, by bending the joystick to the front or the back you are able to determine the velocity the sample buttons are played. Try several different joystick positions and with some practice you can achieve very dynamic results.

You are not able to play the sample buttons from the other turntable with the joystick alone. To change to the other turntable, press the tab-key on the PCs keyboard.

You can control the crossfader with the joystick. Hold the second fire-button pressed and move the crossfader to the desired position by bending the joystick to the left or the right.

Loading a song

All MAGIX LiveAct preset setups contain a demo song.

Click on the play button in the middle of the control center to begin playing the demo song.

By clicking on the stop button located directly right of the play button, you are able to stop the song whenever you want to. Clicking the stop button twice rewinds the song to its start position.

Use the demo songs to get an idea of the many possibilities MAGIX LiveAct has to offer. These samples and videos are the same loops you are about to use to create your own arrangements.

How to record and save a song

It is as simple to record a song as it is to load a demo.

Click the record button located left of the play button.

With MAGIX LiveAct, all your actions are recorded. It doesnt matter if you are using the keyboard or the mouse.

Stop the recording by clicking on the stop button. Click the play button. MAGIX LiveAct will now play back your performance. Save your recording by saving the setup. Click on the save button located two rows above the record button. Enter a file name and destination in the Windows Dialogue screen.

You can also save your song without the setup as a standard MIDI file. Click on the menu button located to the left above the play button and select Save MIDI-File... Enter a file name and destination in the Windows Dialogue screen.

How to select a WAV-file and integrate it into a setup

After working with the preset setups, it is now time for you to make a setup of your own.
The large list box in the middle of the sample manager is designed for the selection of samples. It lists all WAV-files located in the folder that is currently opened in the list box on the left. Use the arrows located to the left and right to scroll through its content.

Double click on a filename to preview a sample. Click, drag and drop the WAV-file you want to use onto the sample button you want to trigger it with.

Now its ready to play!

Repeat this action with other WAV-files until you have created a setup to your liking.

A right click on a sample button opens a dialogue containing all parameters of the sample.

How to select a video clip and then integrate it into a setup

Integrating a video into a setup is as easy as selecting a sample.

Open the video dialogue by right clicking one of the two video buttons located left and right of the video monitor.

Click on the Open AVI button and select an AVI-file. If you have installed MAGIX LiveAct without changing the default options, you can find the included videos on your hard disk in the directory C:\MAGIX\LiveAct\AVI.

Alternatively, you can play videos directly from the CD-ROM. For example, you can load videos from the MAGIX Video Pool CD-ROMs.

Because CD-ROM-Drives have a poor access time in comparison to hard disks, the quality of the video playback depends on the performance of the medium the video is loaded from. We recommend copying the needed AVI-files to your hard disk before using them in
MAGIX LiveAct.

After finding the AVI you desire select Open.

The video dialogue is where you determine how the videos are played and influenced through the sample buttons.

After making the selections you want select OK.

Please refer to the Chapter Video for detailed information.


Quickstart Master-Screen

The Master-Screen is the most powerful screen in MAGIX LiveAct!

Now its time to connect your MIDI keyboard to your computer. The Master-Screen is at its best when controlled with a keyboard. We recommend that you connect all devices with the computer switched off. Connect the MIDI-Out of your keyboard with the MIDI-In of your computer. If you want to use the sound generator of an external keyboard or another external instrument, connect the computers MIDI-Out with the MIDI-In of your keyboard. Switch on the keyboard first and then boot the computer. Now start MAGIX LiveAct. If you dont own a MIDI-Keyboard you can use the mouse or the PCs keyboard.

MAGIX LiveAct starts with the DJ screen so you must first load the Master-Screen. Click the Master button located on the right monitor box.

If you have loaded or built a setup in the DJ screen previously, the setup will be loaded into the Master-Screen as well. Otherwise, you will begin with a completely empty setup.

The upper portion of the screen should be familiar to you. The video monitor plays the main role here as well. The lower portion is slightly different. Instead of the sample manager, you will find the split manager. The screen keyboard replaces the sample buttons.

It is quite natural for an empty setup that nothing happens when pressing the keys of your MIDI-Keyboard or alternatively using your PC keyboard or mouse. Empty means that each of the possible 24 Splits is muted.

De-mute the first split by clicking on its mute button.

This is the upper gray button in the column that is titled with M located to the left of the split manager. It will then turn green and the first line of the split manager will display some details of the split.

By default, all splits are set as MIDI splits, which transmit on a MIDI channel that corresponds to their split number. Split 1 transmits on MIDI channel 1, split 2 on channel 2, split 8 on channel 8 and so on.

All are set to program change 0 (Acoustic Grand for GM compatible sound generators).
It is important to know which MIDI-Output you are currently controlling with MAGIX LiveAct.

Click on the menu key in the control center to open the menu. Select Options... and the page MIDI-Settings. Here, you are able to determine the MIDI-In device. It would be best to use the MIDI-Interface you have your MIDI-Keyboard connected to. Depending on the configuration of your PC and soundcard, you should normally have three different possibilities.

1. the wavetable synthesizer of your soundcard

2. the FM-synthesizer of your soundcard

3. the computers MIDI-Interface to which an external
MIDI sound generator (a synthesizer, a soundmodule
or similar device) should be connected

In this example you should use the GM compatible wavetable synthesizer of your soundcard. Select the driver from the pull down menu at MIDI-Out device and close the dialogue with OK.

If the soundcard is GM compatible, the ”live” split 1 now transmits MIDI-data on channel 1 to the soundcards wavetable synthesizer. With the program change 0 the sound Acoustic Grand is called up.

Switch on the second split by clicking on its mute button. It sends on MIDI channel 2 and is also set to Acoustic Grand. Each pressed key now causes a piano sound via MIDI channel 1, while exactly the same sound is triggered through channel 2. This does not make much sense, so we will change Split 2 to control another sound.

In the second split row, double click on the entry Acoustic Grand in the event column. This opens the MIDI-Configuration dialogue of the second MIDI split. Here, you are able to determine which program change and which bank select shall be transmitted for the split and on which MIDI channel the split shall send its events.

Click on the pull down menu MIDI-program-change. Select sound 50 String Ensemble 2 from the list and close the dialogue with OK
to send the corresponding program change.

If you now press a key, each piano sound is doubled with a string sound. Theoretically, you could go on like this with all the other splits and produce a thickly layered sound in which every key plays 16 sounds. Why 16? Normally, you only have 16 MIDI-channels to your disposal. Only one sound per channel can be called up and controlled via program change.

The third Split shall be used for something different. De-mute it and select in its MIDI-Configuration dialogue the sound 36 Fretless Bass.

The bass should not be played over the entire keyboard, but only in a lower part. We assume you have a keyboard with 61 keys. The other two sounds can only be played in the upper keyboard range. To do this we will split the keyboard into different zones.

Mark the third split by clicking on its row in the split manager. This row is then displayed black on yellow. Right click somewhere upon the gray border located above the screen keyboard. The green triangle located to the right of the gray border, jumps to the spot you selected. This triangle marks the upper end of the KeyRange. The column KeyRange in the split manager displays the new KeyRange. Set the upper end to F2 by right clicking the gray border just above the key F2. Now the third split only becomes active when pressing keys lower than F#2.

Use the left mouse button to set the lower KeyRange of the other two splits to F#2. To do this, select Split 1 and then left click above the F#2 on the gray border. Do the same for Split 2. Now your mixture of Split and Layered sound is ready to play.

Lets give the bass a little more ”bass by transposing it an octave lower. Right click in the Transpose column of the third splits row. Select octave down from the pop up menu and the bass will be played twelve halftones lower.

For something different, try setting the sound for Split 1 to the sound 113 Tinkle Bell and Split 2 to the sound 90 Pad 2 (warm). Lets transpose the second sound by seven halftones up. Select the split and then click on the SFX button.

This opens the SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings dialogue for the split. In the SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings dialogue you are able to set an abundance of parameters and modes. For now, we are only interested in the Transpose value in the upper right of the Masterkeyboard Control-Box. Set the Transpose value to 7 and close the dialogue with OK.

This can also be done by double clicking on the Transpose column of split 2 and entering the value 7 by hand. Now each key higher than F2 produces a duad (with a fifth).

Activate the fourth split and set it to the sound 93 Pad 5 (bowed). The lower KeyRange should stay where it is. Open the SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings dialogue for the fourth Split and set the value for VelMin to 90. With this you determine that the split only becomes activated at velocity values higher than 89. Set the Transpose value to -12 and close the dialogue with OK.

Try out what happens when you press some keys on your keyboard. Above the F2 it depends on the velocity whether a duad or a triad is produced. Below the F2 the bass gets doubled at high velocities by the pad-sound that is transposed by one octave. If you control the Master Screen with the screen keyboard or the PCs keyboard, you are able to determine the velocity with the fader located to the left of the screen keyboard.

Make room for the following splits by setting the lower KeyRange of split 3 and 4 to E1. Select the fifth split. Right click in the Event column of the split and select Sample or click on the Wave button, located to the left of the split manager. Both opens a slightly different sample dialogue in which you are able to edit the parameters of a Wave-split.

Lets assign a drumloop. Click on Load Sample... in the upper right corner of the dialogue and search for a drumloop that fits your taste. Click on Open and the sample gets loaded into the RAM. Switch the playmode in the section Key-Assignment to one shot-mode and activate the option play looped in the section Sample-Parameters.

Select the key the drumloops rootnote shall be placed on with a right click on the C1 of the little screen keyboard. Close the dialogue with OK.

Now you are able to trigger the drumloop with the key C1 while playing the synthesizer sounds of your soundcard.

Make room for the next Split in the upper octave. Assign the three keys C#1, D1 and D#1 to other drumloops or samples of your choosing then move the upper key range of the MIDI-Splits (1, 2, 3 and 4) to H4.

Activate the ninth split and assign it as a Wave split. This time we are searching for a keyboard sample. Select tuned-mode instead of one shot-mode and please deactivate play looped.

This play mode transposes the sample in real-time. In this mode the rootnote is the key on which the sample gets played back as it was originally recorded. Set it to F5. If you now play a D5 the sample gets played back slower to sound like a D.

Set the release-time in the section Sample-Parameters a little to the right. This value determines how long the sample fades out after the key is released.

After having closed the dialogue with OK, set the lower KeyRange to C5.

Now the setup is ready to play. At the bottom are the drumloops, then the bass, some notes higher the chords and all above a keyboard-sample that is transposed in real-time like a sampler.

Lets add one more split. Activate the tenth split and assign it as a video-split. Right click in the Event column and select AVI. You can also click the Video button located left of the split manager.

Use the Video dialogue to select a video from your hard disk. Set its rootnote to C6.

With this, video playback is started with the key C6, while the eight possible video effects lie on the eight keys under the C6. Close the dialogue with OK and experiment with your multimedia-setup.

Now that you know the most important features in the Master-Screen it is easy to build setups that fit your own taste. Refer to the chapter The Master-Screen in detail to read more about MAGIX LiveActs functions.


Introducing MAGIX LiveAct

A Computer is a Computer is a Computer...

Computers most assuredly make our lives easier, but they do not have the capabilities of the human mind. They know the difference between one and zero and are able to add and subtract numbers with great speed, but they will never have the power to truly create.

MAGIX LiveAct unites the speed and versatility of a computer with the creative beauty of the human mind. With MAGIX LiveAct and your computer make audible and visual what was once only dreamed of.

MAGIX LiveAct

When music happens it can be an intrinsic motivation or a reaction to what you see, hear or feel. Inspiration necessitates immediate action - MAGIX LiveAct is the multimedia tool that lets you realize your ideas in a quick and intuitive way. Simply arrange the parts of your song by clicking your mouse or by pressing a key - live and interactive. WAV-Files and AVI-Video-Files combined with MIDI-events are the building blocks of your creation - thats multimedia!

What is MAGIX LiveAct?

With MAGIX LiveAct you are able to create music and video clips in real time. Contrary to arranging software such as MAGIX music maker or MAGIX music studio, where parts of a song are arranged on a timeline using the drag and drop method, MAGIX LiveAct lets you activate parts by clicking the mouse or by pressing a key. Your PC becomes a musical instrument in a more conventional way. Your action results immediately in a sound.
Playing with the computer has a whole new meaning.

The sounds you control with MAGIX LiveAct can be high-quality sample loops as used in MAGIX music maker. They can also be generated from a MIDI-sound module, for example from your soundcard, your wave table add on board or external MIDI-Equipment such as synthesizers or samplers.

If you have a MIDI-Keyboard, MAGIX LiveAct transforms your PC into a master keyboard with up to 24 keyboard zones, velocity switches and many more special functions. These features are usually only found in expensive professional instruments.

Beyond that, MAGIX LiveAct enables you to start AVI Videos simultaneously by pressing a key. You can supply your favorite videos with fascinating effects and mix video clips to your music in real time - thats multimedia!

MAGIX LiveAct is versatile. With three user interfaces, it is perfect for every musician.

The DJ-Screen - This interface is great for DJs. It has two turntables, between which you can adjust the volume with a crossfader. From each turntable you can trigger up to eight sounds. A session with 16 sample loops running at the same time is no problem.

The Rock-Screen - This interface applies to those musicians who prefer their music performed live. Use MAGIX LiveAct as a rehearsal partner or as a live composing tool.

The Master-Screen - This screen provides all the details. Manage most of the effects and special functions in up to 24 keyboard zones called Splits. This approach follows the user interface of professional master keyboards. If you have worked with such instruments before, you will find yourself at home in the Master Screen.

System Requirements

To run MAGIX LiveAct at its best, you need a modern and efficient multimedia-PC.
Rule of thumb: The faster - the better. Dont worry, you can have a lot of fun and achieve great results on computers that arent as quick, keeping in mind that you may not be able
to use all features at once.

The minimum configuration is as follows:

- Pentium 133 or compatible and 16 MB RAM

- 130 MB of free hard disk space for AVI-video-files

- VGA-Resolution (800*600 Pixel, color palette of 16 Bit)

- Quadruple-speed CD-ROM-Drive

- 16-Bit-Soundcard

- Windows 95 or Windows NT

Read the following hints for the optimum configuration.

Processor and RAM-Memory:

The processor is needed to calculate all real time effects including the video clips, so the processor can never be too fast! An Intel Pentium 200 MMX and above or a Pentium II are best for running MAGIX LiveAct!

To improve the computers performance in general and for MAGIX LiveAct in particular it
is always recommendable to have a lot of RAM. The greater the RAM, the more and longer sample loops you are able to play simultaneously. When using a sample-rate of 44.1 kHz,
a PC with 16 MB RAM has space for about 100 seconds of sampled music, and a PC with 32 MB RAM has space for about 200 seconds. For MAGIX LiveAct, 32 MB RAM is optimum.

CD-ROM-Drive:

At first, the CD-ROM-Drive is needed to load the WAV-Files into the RAM of your computer. The faster your CD-ROM-Drive, the faster the loading process becomes. Once the files have been loaded, the speed of the drive is no longer that important for the audio playback. It is different for AVI-Videos. By default, AVI-Files are copied to your hard disk so they can be played at optimum speed. You are able to change this default and allow the videos to
be played from the CD-ROM instead. In this case, especially when playing several videos simultaneously, the quality of the video playback depends on the performance of your
CD-ROM-Drive. Not only does it depend on the maximum speed (quadruple speed for example), but it also depends on the average access time (for example 150 milliseconds). The shorter, the better!

Hard disk:

Because the hard drive of your computer can be used for storing and playing large AVI-Files in addition to storing the program, it is recommended that you have a large and fast hard disk, for example a 4 GB EIDE.

Video:

For optimum video playback and to enable the correct presentation of MAGIX LiveActs
user interface, you should set your video card to a resolution of at least 800*600 pixels
and a color palette of 16 bit. This is more than enough, even for complex effects!

Beyond that, we recommend a flicker-free 15-inch-monitor. Using a larger monitor cant hurt! Dont worry, a smaller monitor that is able to display 800*600 pixels will work just fine.

Audio:

MAGIX LiveAct makes use of Microsofts Direct Sound Interface for its audio playback.
With Direct Sound, it is possible to play several high quality samples simultaneously with almost no delay. To use MAGIX LiveAct at its optimum, using a real Direct Sound Driver for your soundcard is recommended (Such drivers are available for all Sound Blaster Cards).
If you are in doubt just ask the manufacturer of your soundcard.

If there is no such Direct Sound Driver for your sound card, dont despair, the audio playback is then done in an ”emulation-mode”. This mode involves a slightly longer delay by triggering the sample, but the functionality of MAGIX LiveAct is not affected.

MIDI:

If you have a MIDI-Keyboard, then why not use it for controlling MAGIX LiveAct? With
most sound cards, all you need is a Windows compatible MIDI-Interface to compose with it. Generally, you just have to connect a special MIDI-Adapter cable into the game port of
your soundcard. This adapter provides you with a MIDI-In and a MIDI-Out. Connect the MIDI-Out cable of your keyboard with the MIDI-In port of your computer. MAGIX LiveAct supports all other MIDI-Interfaces, as long they and their drivers are installed properly.

If you have a synthesizer, a sound-module, a sampler or any other MIDI-Equipment in addition to your MIDI-Keyboard, you can connect its MIDI-In with the MIDI-Out of your computer to control it with MAGIX LiveActs comprehensive master keyboard features.

Joystick:

In the DJ-Screen and in the Rock-Screen, some functions may be controlled via the joystick. Using the joystick opens up a whole new way of making music!

The requirements for using the joystick are simple. A normal two-axis joystick with two
fire-buttons should do. The joystick has to be activated in Windows control panel marked Joystick to be recognized by MAGIX Live Act.


The Control Center

The Control Center is the central unit. You will find it in all three screens of MAGIX LiveAct.

Play - Starts playback of the current song. This might be a song that is integrated in the currently loaded setup, a song that was loaded by using the menu or a recently recorded song. The playback starts at the current song position, which can be seen in the position box above the sample manager.

Stop - cancels the playback or recording of the current song. All active sample buttons will be stopped. A second click on the stop button resets the song position back to the first bar. With this you can decide if the song should start again from its beginning or from the song position that was reached when the stop button was pressed.

Record - starts the recording of a song. All mouse, keyboard, joystick and MIDI activities are recorded until the stop button is pressed. The recording starts at the current song position, which is visible in the position box above the sample manager. It is possible to record a song in several sessions. For example: If you have made a mistake in bar 22, just rewind the song position to bar 21 and start the recording from that point.

Exit - click here to exit MAGIX LiveAct.

Menu - opens the MAGIX LiveAct menu. For a description of the menu refer to the Chapter The Menu.

Break - the Break button stops the current song temporarily. After selecting it once more, playback of the song continues.

Reset - pressing the Reset button stops playback. This function is for stopping ”hanging” samples.

Help - Opens MAGIX LiveActs Online Help.

Load - Opens the dialogue Load setup. This key enables you to load a setup independently from the
sample manager.

Save - opens the dialogue Save setup, where you can save your own setup. Please keep in mind that a setup may contain two files, one for the actual setup data (this file has the ending .mks) and eventually a second one for a song that was recorded with the setup (this file has the ending .mid). When saving a setup it is only necessary to enter one filename. The file with the song automatically gets the same file name with its own ending and is saved in the same folder as the setup.

LED-Peak meter - The peak meters display the velocities of the sample buttons when played.

Vol. - Use this display to determine the velocity the sample buttons are sending when they are played by clicks of the mouse or the PCs keyboard. It can vary from 0 to 127. To change the value, click on the cursor buttons beneath it or click directly on the value and enter the desired value with the PCs keyboard.

If you are using a MIDI Keyboard the velocity information the keyboard sends is used. Using a joystick for playing the sample buttons lets you determine the velocity dynamically.

bpm - This display is used for displaying and editing the tempo of the current song in bpm (beats per minute). It can vary from 50 to 260. To change the value, click on the cursor buttons beneath it or click directly on the value and enter the desired number with the PCs keyboard.

Pitch - Use this display to transpose the pitch of the entire setup chromatically up or down. It can vary two octaves (from 24 to +24) in both directions. To change the value, click on the cursor buttons beneath it or click directly on the value and enter the desired value with the PCs keyboard.

Depending on the settings of the Direct Sound Buffer, the range for upward transposition may be smaller than 24 halftones.

Please keep in mind that the transposition of samples is achieved by changing the speed they are played back.
That is why their sound becomes changed as well. At small transposition values, this fact may not be that apparent,
but at larger values the sample becomes more and
more effected.

The buttons on the monitor boxes right and left of the video monitor offer shortcuts to often needed functions.

Direct Sound Buffer settings  Use the three buttons on the left monitor box to determine the sound quality of the audio playback in three steps. The highest possible quality (44kHz - Stereo) corresponds to CD quality but needs the most RAM and highest computer performance. Therefore it makes sense, especially for computers without high performance, to select a lower sound quality.

Please reload the current setup after having changed this setting.

Use the buttons on the right monitor box to switch directly to the other screens of MAGIX LiveAct.

DJ - Changes to the DJ-Screen

Rock - Changes to the Rock-Screen

Master - Changes to the Master-Screen


The Menu

The menu is a pivotal place in MAGIX LiveAct. With the menu you have access to system functions as well as to the other screens of MAGIX LiveAct. It can be opened from any of the three screens by pressing on the menu key located second from the left in the upper row of the control center.

New Setup... - Deletes the current setup from RAM. Use this function to start a setup from scratch.

Open Setup... - Loads a MAGIX LiveAct setup. This menu item has the same function as the corresponding key in the screen or as the setup list box in the sample manager.

Save Setup... - Saves the current MAGIX LiveAct setup. This menu item has the same function as the corresponding key in the screen.

Open MIDI-File... - This function loads a MAGIX LiveAct song in standard MIDI-file format into the current setup. With this it is possible to exchange songs between different setups or to listen to different song versions or sessions recorded with one setup. Please keep in mind that the songs make sense only if the needed samples are in RAM!

Save MIDI-File... - This function saves the current song in standard MIDI-file format. Thereby it is possible to successively record and save different songs with one setup. You can also save the recorded song separately or load it into another setup. You are able to load the MAGIX LiveAct songs into a MIDI-Sequencer, such as MAGIX music studio, for editing.

DJ-Screen - Changes to the DJ-Screen view.

Rock-Screen - Changes to the Rock-Screen view.

Master-Screen - Changes to the Master-Screen view.

Options... - This menu item opens a dialogue where you have access to the global settings of MAGIX LiveAct. It is organized in single pages each containing different options for a specific category. The pages can be chosen by clicking on the tabs at the upper border of the dialogue window.

Common Settings - On this page you will find one option that concerns the Master-Screen.

display notes on screen-keyboard - Lets you determine the most currently played notes. This doesnt matter if they are played by the PCs keyboard, the mouse, a MIDI keyboard or by playing back a song.  They are displayed on the screen keyboard in the Master-Screen by changing the keys color to gray.

Though the graphical note display is a very useful function, you may choose to shut it off in order to help with playback performance.

MIDI-Settings - On the page labeled MIDI-Settings, you are able to choose the drivers for controlling MAGIX LiveAct through MIDI.

MIDI-In device - Here you can determine from which MIDI-Interface MAGIX LiveAct shall receive MIDI-Data, if you want to use a MIDI keyboard as your controller. A selection is necessary only if you have more than one MIDI-In-interface installed on your computer. In this case we recommended choosing the MIDI Interface your keyboard is connected to.

MIDI-Out device - Here you can determine which MIDI
Interface MAGIX LiveAct shall use to send MIDI-Data to other MIDI equipment. This selection is especially useful in the Master Screen, because it places split zones for controlling external MIDI equipment at your disposal. We recommend you select the MIDI-Interface your external equipment is connected to. This selection may also be a sound card installed in your computer. It is important to choose the right device to be able to use the desired sounds. For example: Two drivers can control a SoundBlaster AWE 32. If you want to use the high quality sounds from its wave table synthesizer instead of its FM-synthesizer, you have to select the driver called SB AWE 32 MIDI Synth instead of the driver called SB 16 Music Synthesizer.

PC-Keyboard Settings - The options you find on this page influence the control of MAGIX LiveAct through the computers keyboard.

velocity - Determines the velocity the keys of the PCs keyboard shall produce. External velocity sensitive MIDI keyboards send, for each key you are playing, a velocity from 0 to 127. This corresponds to the strength, or better speed, you have hit the key. Though PC keyboards dont send such velocity information, you are able to set a global velocity value thats valid for all keys of the PCs keyboard.

MIDI-In chan. - Determines the MIDI-channel the PCs keyboard shall send its MIDI data. The default value of 1 is reasonable for most cases. In special cases you may want to vary it, for instance, if you want to adjust your setup to your external equipment.

key-range - Determines the octave thats controlled by the PCs keyboard. The keyboard imitates a normal keyboard - the keys [<], [Y], [X] to [-] correspond to the notes C, D, E to F, while the black keys of a keyboard are imitated with the corresponding keys from the row above: [A] and [S] correspond to the notes C# and D#. With this the PCs keyboard imitates a keyboard from C to F on which you are able to play melodies and chords. Use the pull down list to determine the octave that shall be played with the keys [<] to [M].

PC-keyboard active - Here you are able to turn the PCs keyboard ability to play notes on or off.

inscribe screen-keyboard - Lets you decide whether the screen keyboard in the Master Screen is overlaid with the letters of the corresponding keys of the PCs keyboard.

DirectSound-Driver - This page lets you select the sound driver for audio playback. This selection is necessary if you have installed more than one sound card in your PC or if problems with the audio playback occur.

DirectSound-Driver - Here a list of all Direct Sound Drivers that are present in your system is displayed. The entry Primary Sound Driver is selected by default. Change this setting only if you want the samples to be played by another sound card or audio output.

Please keep in mind there are some sound cards without a real Direct Sound driver. If there is no such driver for your sound card available, the list will display the emulation mode, Sound card xy (emulated) for instance. In the emulation mode, MAGIX LiveAct does work with your sound card, though the optimum performance and the shortest delay time cant be reached. If possible use a real Direct Sound driver. Ask the manufacturer of your sound card for such a driver.

If there is no Direct Sound Interface installed on your PC, please start the Direct Sound Installer on your MAGIX LiveAct CD-ROM to install Microsofts DirectX.

Important: You must exit MAGIX LiveAct and start it again to activate audio playback through the newly selected Direct Sound Driver.

Buffer-Type - This opens a list where you can determine the audio quality the samples in MAGIX LiveAct are played back. By default, the best possible quality is activated, 44.1 kHz Stereo. This selection needs the best system performance. Therefore, it sometimes makes sense to set the quality to 22kHz and Mono. With this the needed performance is reduced to 25 percent!

Please reload the current setup after having changed
this setting.

Help... - Opens MAGIX LiveActs online help.

About MAGIX LiveAct... - Displays version of the software and copyright notes.

Exit - Closes MAGIX LiveAct.


The DJ Screen

DJ- and Rock-Screen in detail

The DJ-Screen is especially suited for quick and easy playing with samples and setups. The crossfader is a special feature enabling you to fade between the samples of the two turntables.

The Rock-Screen is a more purist version of the DJ Screen. The two screens only differ from each other in their arrangement of the sample buttons. Instead of being arranged around two turntables, the buttons in the Rock-Screen are ordered in a large semi-circle. Nearly all functions are identical. That is why the following explanations are valid for both screens. Exceptions from the rule are indicated.

The Sample Manager

The sample manager is for selecting the samples you want to use. You can load setups or select WAV-files to assign to the sample buttons and make a setup of your own.

The sample manager consists of four list boxes. All of them work like a little Explorer. Double clicking on a folder in angular brackets, [Techno] for instance, opens it. A double click on the symbol [..] changes to the next higher folder. Use the cursor keys beneath the list boxes to scroll through its contents.

Style-List box  Use the one row list box in the lower part of the sample manager to select the desired style. The folder that is chosen in the style-list box determines the folder that is displayed in the setup-list box on the right and in the instrument-list box on the left.

After having started the program, the style-list box should display the styles of the MAGIX LiveAct CD-ROM (make sure that the CD-ROM is inserted in the CD-ROM-Drive).

If you select a style by double clicking on a folder, the other list boxes will display the contents of the folders that belong to the selected style.

Setup-List box - Use the setup-list box on the right to select and load complete setups into the RAM. Normally the list box displays the setups that belong to the style that has been selected in the style-list box. You can choose to navigate into other folders, if you want to load setups that are saved in another location.

Beyond that, you can use the load key from the control center to load setups.

Instrument-List box - Use the instrument-list box on the left side of the sample manager to choose between the different instruments that are available for the selected style. If you double click the folder [Bass], for instance, the large WAV-list box in the middle of the sample manager will display all WAV-files contained in this folder.

WAV-List box - The large WAV-list box in the middle of the sample manager displays all WAV-files of the currently selected instrument. If you double click on a filename it will be played back. In this way you can listen to a sample without having to assign it to a sample button first. To assign a sample to a button just drag & drop it. Click on the filename of the desired sample, hold the left mouse button pressed and drag the sample onto the desired sample button and release the mouse button.

The Sample-Buttons

The main tools in the DJ-Screen and in the Rock-Screen are the 16 sample buttons. They trigger the samples and real time video effects.

Concerning the samples, there are two play modes, Normal-mode and Trigger-mode. If a sample is triggered in Normal-mode, its playback lasts as long as the sample button is actually held down. In other words, the playback stops when the button is released. If a sample is triggered in Trigger-mode its playback lasts until the button is selected a second time. You can determine the play mode for each sample button individually. It can be changed on the fly. If you hold down the Ctrl-key of your PCs keyboard while playing a sample button, the play mode changes to the opposite mode.

For example, the sample button is set to Mouse/Joystick: Trigger-mode, a mouse click would start the sample and it lasts until the same sample button is played again. If the Ctrl-key is held down while clicking the mouse on the sample button, the Normal-mode would be activated and the sample would end the moment the mouse button is released.

The sample buttons can be played four ways:

By clicking the Mouse - Clicking on a sample button plays it by default in Trigger-mode. The sample plays back until the same button is played once more. Holding down the Ctrl-Key by clicking on a sample button activates the Normal-mode.

With the PCs keyboard - In the DJ-Screen the keys [1] to [8] from the numbers row above the letters play the eight sample buttons from the left turntable, while the keys [Q] through [I] and the keys [1] through [8] from the numbers block play the eight sample buttons from the right turntable (number 9 to 16). Make sure the numbers block is active. The condition of the numbers block is indicated through an LED a bit above the numbers block. If it is not active, press the numlock key above the key 7 to activate it.

In the Rock-Screen the same keys play the sample buttons. The only thing that is missing is the difference between the two turntables. Instead of this the keys [1] to [8] from the numbers row play the first eight sample buttons or the left half while the keys [Q] through [I] and the keys [1] to [8] from the numbers block play the other sample buttons, the right half.

By default the PCs keyboard triggers in Normal-mode. The samples are played as long as the key is held down. Holding down the Ctrl-key while playing a button activates the Trigger-mode.

With a joystick - You can play the sample buttons by pressing the first fire button of a joystick that is connected to the game port. Bend the joystick to the left or to the right to select the desired sample button In the DJ screen you can change to the other turntable by pressing the Tab-key on the PCs keyboard. By bending the joystick to the front or back you are able to determine the velocity the sample button should be played when pressing the first fire button. By default the joystick triggers in Trigger-mode. Holding down the Ctrl-key changes to Normal-mode. In the DJ-Screen you can control the crossfader by holding the second fire button and bending the joystick to the left or to the right to move the fader correspondingly.

With a MIDI-Keyboard  If you have a MIDI keyboard connected to your computer, you can use it for playing the sample buttons. The eight sample buttons from the left turntable are controlled with the keys C1 to G1 while the eight sample buttons from the right turntable are played with the keys C5 to G5. On a 61-key keyboard these are the lowest eight keys from the lowest octave and the keys C to G from the highest octave. The velocity the sample buttons are played with is taken from the keyboards velocity. If your keyboard is velocity sensitive you are able to play the buttons very dynamically. By default the MIDI keyboard triggers in Normal-mode. Holding down the Ctrl-key activates the Trigger-mode.

The color of a sample button indicates its momentary condition:

Grey - No sample is assigned to the button.

Blue - A sample is assigned to the button but is currently not being played. By playing this button the sample is started.

Red - The button is active. The assigned sample is in playback. If the sample was triggered in Trigger-mode the sample will be stopped as soon as the sample button is played once more. Then the buttons turns to blue.

Yellow - This color indicates the Wait for Play-condition. This state is reached by playing a sample button while the Shift-key from the PCs keyboard is held down. Set several buttons to this waiting condition to play their samples simultaneously through ”normal” play of one of the yellow buttons.

The Crossfader  (DJ-Screen only)

The crossfader is a special feature of the DJ-Screen. Use it to control the volume relation between the samples on the right and the left turntable. The crossfader may be controlled with a joystick that is connected to the computers game port. Hold the second fire button down and bend the joystick to the left or to the right to move the crossfader correspondingly. The crossfader reacts to the MIDI controller #10  Pan. If you have a MIDI fader box at your disposal, you are able to control the crossfader through MIDI.


The Rock-Screen

A few words about the Rock-Screen. As mentioned in the introduction of this chapter, it mainly differs from the DJ-Screen in its design. There are only two points that have an effect on performance. The 16 sample buttons are now arranged in a large semicircle. They are played the same as the DJ-Screen.

Even the PCs keyboard controls the samples as before. The keys [1] to [8] play the first eight buttons from the numbers row above the letters while the last eight Buttons are played by the keys [Q] to [I] and [1] to [8] from the numbers block.

Because there are no sample button groups on two turntables in the Rock-Screen, there is no need for a crossfader. It is easier to play the buttons with the joystick. You dont have to change between the turntables by pressing the Tab-key. Simply select the button by bending the joystick to the left or the right, set the desired velocity by bending it to the front or back and press the first fire button to play the selected sample button.

All other functions of the DJ-Screen are the same at the Rock-Screen. That is why its possible to change directly between the two. The fastest way to do that is by clicking the corresponding button on the left monitor box.

Theres one special function of the Rock-Screen: The sample button on the far right (number 16) works in the tuned-mode. By this the sample gets transposed in real-time and can be played with the PCs keyboard like with a sampler. The keyboard imitates a normal keyboard - the keys [<], [Y], [X] to [-] correspond to the notes C, D, E to F, while the black keys of a keyboard are imitated with the corresponding keys from the row above: [A] and [S] correspond to the notes C# and D#. For detailed information about the tuned-mode please refer to the part The Sample Dialogue in the chapter The Master-Screen in detail.


The Master-Screen in detail

The Master-Screen is the most complex interface of MAGIX LiveAct. It gives you total control of all features.

To attain the best results with the Master-Screen we recommend you use an external velocity sensitive MIDI keyboard in addition to your
PCs keyboard.

The model for the Master-Screen is a Master keyboard like those used by professional musicians. The Master keyboard allows the creation of several keyboard zones, each of them working like an independent keyboard. It controls a selectable sound of an external MIDI device on a selectable MIDI channel. In other words the keyboard is split into several smaller keyboards - that is why we call a keyboard zone simply ”Split”. With this it is possible to control several different sounds with one keyboard. Professional Master keyboards are able to create up to eight splits on average - whereas MAGIX LiveAct can manage
up to 24 Splits!

Here are some examples of what you are able to do with MAGIX LiveActs Master-Screen:

- Play any samples live and polyphonic

- Control several devices, your sound card or external sound generators, through different keyboard zones via MIDI

- Control several sounds through super-imposed splits. Play as a ”layer”, MIDI sounds from your sound card, external devices and samples

- Use a velocity sensitive MIDI keyboard to control videos and samples velocity dependent

- Trigger sample loops in Trigger-mode and play further sounds via MIDI to this accompaniment

- Use velocity to fade between different samples or MIDI-sound generators

- Use the sustain-pedal of your MIDI keyboard to switch between sounds

- Assign sounds to the highest or lowest note that is currently played

- Assign sounds to notes that are played in staccato or legato

- Select the splits that shall react on the pitchbend-wheel and aftertouch events from
your MIDI keyboards

The Split Manager

The most important part of the Master-Screen is the split manager located in its middle.

Each row displays the parameters of a split of your virtual Master keyboard.

 Because the split manager cant display the possible 24 splits all at once, you have to use the two cursor buttons on the right to scroll through the list.

There are three different types of Splits:

1. MIDI - MIDI-splits are a specialty of the Master-Screen, they correspond to the functions of a ”real” Master keyboard. These splits control sound generators via MIDI. This may be the synthesizer chip of your sound card as well as the sound generator of external devices (the sound generator of your MIDI-Keyboard or other synthesizers or samplers).

2. Wave (Sample) - This type corresponds to the sample buttons in the other two screens. In the Master-Screen some extended settings are available.

3. AVI - This type is equivalent to the two video buttons in the other two screens, but instead of only two you are able to manage several Video-splits in the Master-Screen.

Each row in the split manager displays the following information, from left to right:

Split-Number - This column displays the number of splits out of 24 possible. Double clicking on a split number mutes the split. The condition of the split is indicated by the mute LED on the left of each row. If this LED is shining green, the split is active, if it is not, the split is muted. To de-mute a split just double click it again or click on the mute LED. The mute LED can also be used for muting a split, simply click on its green LED.

Event - In this column the event or split type of each split is displayed. This column can be used to determine the split type. A right click opens a pop up menu in which you are able to select one of the three possible types.

If its a MIDI-split this column displays the name of the sound program the split is set to. The sound program name corresponds to the General MIDI standard. Double clicking this column opens the dialogue MIDI-Configuration of the split, where you are able to set all necessary options. For more information please refer to the corresponding section.

In the case of a Wave-split, the column displays the filename of the sample that is played with this split. A double click opens the sample dialogue, in which you are able to make further settings. This sample dialogue corresponds to the sample dialogue that is used in the other screens. For the Master-Screen a few special functions are added. For details refer to the corresponding part later in the text.

If the Split is an Video-split, the column displays the filename of the AVI-Video that is played with this split. A double click opens the Video dialogue. For further information please refer to the section The Video dialogue later in the chapter titled Video.

Out - This column displays the MIDI channel a MIDI split is sending data. Most modern MIDI sound generators, like the synthesizer chips on sound cards or GM sound modules, are able to generate a different sound for each of the 16 MIDI channels. If you want to use two splits to double a sound, a piano for instance, with another sound, for example a string sound, within one sound generator, the two sounds have to be controlled on individual MIDI-channels. That is why the Out channels are set to an upward order by default, so that each split is set to its own channel.

Right clicking this column opens a pop-up menu, where you are able to select one of the 16 MIDI channels. A double click gives you the possibility to enter the MIDI channel with the PCs keyboard.

VeloRange - This column displays the velocity range in which the split shall be active. The value 60 - 127 means, that this split is only active at a velocity higher than 59. Double clicking this column opens the dialogue SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings, where you are able to adjust the values for the minimum and the maximum velocities. Details on the dialogue SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings can be read in the corresponding section later in the text.

KeyRange - This column displays the keyboard zone covered with the split. The value C1-E3 means that only the notes from C1 to E3 are processed by this split. With this it is possible to create a keyboard split such as ”Bass on the left plus piano on the right. Only two MIDI splits would be needed, one with the KeyRange C1-F2 plus the desired bass sound and another with the KeyRange F#2-C6 plus the piano sound. Much more complex split setups are possible as well. The KeyRanges of the splits can superpose each other or exist on only one key. This is recommended for sample loops or videos. How to define the KeyRanges can be read in the section The Screen-Keyboard.

In - In this column the MIDI channel the split is receiving data is indicated. By default it is set to 1, which makes sense in most cases. If you want to control a split through another MIDI channel, you are able to set the desired channel in this column. Right clicking on it opens a menu where you can select the MIDI-channel. A double click gives you the possibility to enter the MIDI-channel with the PCs keyboard.

If you have connected more than one MIDI keyboard to your computer, you may use each keyboard for controlling its own splits. Keyboard A, for instance, controls all MIDI-splits receiving on MIDI channel 1 while keyboard B controls the Video-splits on MIDI channel 2 and keyboard C is for playing the Wave-splits on MIDI channel 3. You may use different MIDI-In channels to separate a split setup into several sub-setups. Try putting three splits on MIDI-In channel 1. Put the drum loop, the brass sound of your synthesizer and the video of the space flight on one sub-setup. Place four splits on MIDI-In channel 2; offer another drum loop, the synth bass plus the solo sound of your synthesizer and the crash video on another sub-setup. You would set your keyboards transmitting channel from 1 to 2 or vice versa to switch from one sub-setup to the other.

Transpose - This column displays if the received notes are transposed by a determinable value by controlling the split. With this you are able to assign your own pitch to each split. Right clicking opens a menu where you are able to select if the notes shall be played back an octave higher (octave up), an octave lower (octave down) or in their original tune. A double click gives you the possibility to enter any value with the PCs keyboard. With this you are able to use the lowest octave of your MIDI keyboard for other purposes than for controlling bass sounds. Simply transpose the corresponding split three octaves higher and you are ready to play melodies. You could also superimpose a split controlling a bass sound with a split that is transposed four octaves higher.

Mute and Solo buttons

Each of the 24 possible splits has a mute and a solo button located to
left of the split manager.

The mute buttons are in the column that is labeled with M. Three colors indicate the current mute condition
of the splits:

Gray - The split is muted.

Green - The split is ready to process incoming notes.

Orange - The split is muted in response to the soloing of another split.

There are two ways to set the mute buttons:

You can click on the mute button that belongs to the desired split or you can double click the split number of the desired split.

In a new setup each split is muted and therefore has to be activated first. If your setup contains several splits, use the mute buttons to temporarily mute single splits.

The column that is labeled S contains the solo buttons which can be set to on (green) or off (gray).

Use the solo function in a setup with several splits to quickly mute all splits except the one that has been switched to solo. Only one split can be set to solo at a time.

The solo split is indicated with a green mute and solo button, while the mute buttons of the other splits are orange. You are able to de-mute each of the muted splits by double clicking its split number.

The Video Dialog in Master-Screen

This dialogue is the same dialogue that is used in the DJ-Screen and Rock-Screen to control video playback. For further information please refer to the section The Video Dialogue in the chapter
Video later in this text.

This dialogue can be called up one of three ways:

1. By double clicking on a Video-split in the split manager.

2. By right clicking on a split event entry and then selecting AVI.

3. By clicking on the VIDEO button located to the left of the split manager.

The Sample Dialog in Master-Screen

The Sample Dialogue

This dialogue resembles the sample dialogue from the DJ-Screen and Rock-Screen.

For the Master-Screen several special functions have been added. For further information on the other functions, please refer The Sample Dialogue portion of the chapter DJ- and Rock-Screen in detail.

You can call up this dialogue one of three ways:

1. By double clicking on a Wave-split in the split manager

2. By right clicking on a split event entry and then selecting Wave

3. By clicking on the WAVE button located on the left of the split manager.

The section Key-Assignment replaces the section Play-Parameters. With these options you can determine how a split and its KeyRange shall process a sample.

sync-mode - This mode was taken from the DJ- and Rock-Screen. Samples that are played in this mode are in tight synchronicity to each other under the presupposition of a same BPM tempo. That is why this mode is best for rhythmic sample loops such as drum loops, which can be started by a split that covers only one key.

one shot-mode - This mode corresponds to the one shot-mode from the DJ- and Rock-Screens. This is the alternative to the sync-mode which means that samples played in one shot-mode can be started at any time, because they do not orientate on time positions of other currently running samples. Samples in one shot-mode get started as soon as their split becomes activated. That is why this mode is best for effect samples, which will be played back with their original speed and therefore their original pitch.

PC- / MIDI-keyboard: Trigger-mode - If this option is activated the sample is triggered as in the Trigger-mode of the DJ- and Rock-Screens and is played back until the key that is assigned to the sample is played once more. With this you dont have to use the sustain-pedal for samples. This procedure is especially useful for drumloops or similar steady running samples.

tuned-mode - This mode transforms your computer into a sampler. The sample that is loaded for the split gets transposed in real time. If you have a sample of a G4 on a piano you can assign it to the key G4 and use it as base for the nearer KeyRange. If you now play an F4 the piano sample is played back at the correct value. If you play a C5 it gets transposed five halftones higher by playing it faster. Of course you can play the sample four octaves lower. Mathematically it would be played with the right speed and the right pitch, but it wouldnt sound like a real piano. For more natural sounds it is better to stay with in a narrow KeyRange around the original note.

Rootnote-Keyboard - Use this little screen keyboard to determine the rootnote on which the loaded sample shall be played back with its original speed and therefore its original pitch. A right click on the rootnote keyboard determines the rootnote. Click with the left mouse button on the rootnote keyboard to test the resulting transposition of the sample.

With the rootnote, you determine the key on which the sample shall be played back as recorded.


The Sample Dialogue

Right click on a sample button to open its sample dialogue in which you are able to set several parameters that effect the playback of the sample. Though the preset settings usually work just fine, you might want to alter them for your own special setup.

volume  Use this fader to set the volume the sample shall be played back when triggered with a velocity of 127. At lower velocities the volume will be calculated proportional to this setting.

panorama  Use this fader to set the samples position in the stereo field.

frequency at rootnote  This fader is for determining the fine-tuning of the sample. If you have loaded a sample that has been recorded with a sample rate of 44,1 kHz the fader is set to 44100. Use it to correct those samples that are a bit out of pitch. You can use this function for altering the pitch in larger values - setting a 44,1 kHz-sample to 22050 would force it to be played back an octave lower. With this you are able to transform it to an effect sample. In sync-mode this parameter is not active

release-time  Use this fader to determine how fast a sample in Normal-mode shall fade out after its sample button is released. If the fader were set to zero, moved to the left, the sample would stop abruptly, otherwise its volume would fade out at a rate that is proportional to the faders setting. If a sample produces a click when stopping abruptly just set a short release time to fix it.

sync-mode  This mode can be selected alternatively to one shot-mode and is a special feature of MAGIX LiveAct! All samples played in this mode are permanently in tight sync to each other. An example: Two drum loops shall be played simultaneously at the same bpm-tempo. Drum loop A is already running. If both drum loops are in sync-mode you may trigger drum loop B whenever you want to. The sync-mode makes sure that the loops fit together in perfect timing.

The base of this synchronization is the sample start. It is necessary for the synchronization, if you want to use it in a musical sense that the samples are recorded in exactly the same tempo.

one shot-mode  This mode corresponds to the ”normal” behavior of a sampler and can be selected alternatively to the sync-mode. The sample is played back at the exact moment its sample button is played. This mode is perfect for effect samples and makes sense for rhythmic samples as well. With this mode you can start a drum loop in counterpoint to an already running drum loop.

play looped  If a sample is to be played in one shot-mode, this parameter determines whether the sample shall be played back as a loop. After reaching its end it would start from its beginning as long as its sample button is active. If not, it would then be played only one time from its beginning to its end. If you want to play a drum loop in one shot-mode as counterpoint to an already running drum loop, you should activate play looped. If you just want to freely ”fly in” single samples, you should turn it off.

Load Sample... - Click this button to load a WAV-file and assign it to the sample button within the sample dialogue. To avoid the loading process with the sample manager can be useful if you want to load a sample from a different folder without leaving the current CD-ROM.

Free Sample - Clicking on this button removes the sample that is assigned to the sample button from RAM.

OK - Closes the sample dialogue and applies the changes made.

Cancel  Closes the sample dialogue, without applying the changes made.

Help - Opens MAGIX LiveActs online help.

Play - Click this button to pre-listen to the sample that is assigned to be edited. In the section Sample-Parameters the total length of the sample plus the current time position at playback will be displayed.

Stop - Stops the playback of the sample that has been started by clicking the play button.


The MIDI-Configuration Dialogue

In the MIDI-Configuration dialogue, you are able to enter the program change and if needed bank select values for the desired sound and additionally the MIDI-Out channel for each MIDI split in your setup. This dialogue can be called up one of three ways.

1. By double clicking on a MIDI-split in the split manager,

2. By right clicking on a split event entry and then selecting MIDI

3. By clicking on the MIDI button on the left of the split manager.

bank - If the controlled MIDI device has more than one sound bank, like many external MIDI devices or GS/XG compatible sound generators, you can enter the bank select value that is to be sent for this split in combination with the program change.

With this you are able to call up the sound variations of the GS/XG compatible devices. The controlled device must understand the bank select command (GS/XG-equipment do).

MIDI-Out channel - Use this field to enter the MIDI channel on which the split shall send MIDI data.

In principle, the concept of GM compatible is to produce one and only one sound for each MIDI channel. To play three different sounds simultaneously, each sound has to be controlled through its own MIDI-channel. By default, MAGIX LiveAct sets the MIDI-Out channels of the splits to correspond automatically to different channels according to the split numbers.

If you desire three splits to control one sound, you should set their MIDI-Out-channels to the same channel.

MIDI-program-change - From this pull-down menu select the program change number that is to be sent for the split. The numbers are supplied with the names of the 128
General-MIDI sounds for GM compatible wavetable synthesizer sound cards that rarely have a user interface.
If your MIDI device doesnt support the General-MIDI standard or you dont want it to because you want to use it in another mode, the displayed names will not correspond with the names of the sound actually used.

When using numbered prefixes to keep track of your sounds keep in mind that most sound generators begin the numeration of their sounds with 1, MIDI on the contrary begins with 0, that is why several sound generators count their sounds from 0 also. If you own such an instrument you have to subtract 1 to get the MIDI program change number actually sent. The program change and bank select values are sent as soon as the MIDI-Configuration dialogue is closed by clicking OK.


The Video Dialogue

The handling of the video functions is basically the same in all three screens of MAGIX LiveAct. Only the Master-Screen with its Video-splits is different. That is why we are beginning with a tour through all three screens.

Common to all three screens is that the upper half of the screen is ruled through the video monitor. In the DJ- and Rock-Screens it can display up to two AVI videos simultaneously. How many videos can be played back in the Master-Screen more or less depends on the performance of your computer - up to 24 are theoretically possible.

The two video buttons on the left and right edge of the video monitor are for starting and stopping the currently loaded videos. You can play them by clicking on them or with the PCs keyboard. The left video button is controlled with the key [9] from the numbers row above the letters while the right one is controlled by the key [O] and the key [9] from the numbers block.

A click on FULLSCREEN opens a window that covers the whole screen. MAGIX LiveAct remains controllable by the PCs keyboard, a joystick or a MIDI keyboard.

Please note the video performance of your video card goes down as soon the videos are played back in the fullscreen-mode. Thats why you are able to scale the size of the extra-window by using the Windows-typical mouse-operations to find the best compromise between size and playback quality. Keep in mind that the quality is dependent on the resolution of the video as well.

When both videos are started it is the right video that determines if and how the videos are mixed.

Apart from their sample trigger function the sample buttons can be used to switch several real time video effects onto the running videos, this way every sample is combined with an optical effect! The left eight sample buttons (this is valid for the DJ- and the Rock-Screen) start the effects for the left video and vice versa. In the Master-Screen the eight keys below the rootnote of the video can start the video effects - more on this later.

Please keep in mind that two, or more, simultaneously running videos need a high system performance. You may notice, especially on smaller computers, an uneven video playback and short delays in the sample playback. Fast Pentium CPUs are the best choice for a good video performance. We recommend copying the video files to your hard disk for playback.

The Video Dialogue

The video dialogue is the place where you can determine how each AVI-Video is to be played and which sample button switches which real time video effect. In short, the video dialogue gives you full control over video playback.

Open AVI... - Opens a dialogue which lets you load a video clip in AVI-file-format. The selected video will be shown in the preview area.

Free AVI - Removes the video from the setup.

Preview-Monitor - The currently loaded AVI-video is displayed in this area. You can play it with the control keys, stop, play and rewind, below the preview-monitor. Use the slider for exact frame positioning to any passage of the video. A frame is a single picture in a video. AVI-videos can contain up to 25 frames per second. Look at the display directly over the slider to see detailed information about the video. The first row contains, among others, the frame start position and the video length in frames. The second row is the most interesting for setting video-effects, because it displays the frame number of the currently displayed frame and the time in seconds from frame 0 (plus the size of the frame). The third row contains information about the video format
(width in pixels x height in pixels x
color depth in bit).

rootnote - In the Master-Screen you are able to enter the rootnote of the video. This decides which key of the screen-keyboard and respectively which MIDI-note starts the video.

Fundamental choices concerning the way the video shall be played back can be made in the section Playback-Options.

play continuously - If the video is played in this mode it is played back in the same way it would ”normally” be played. This means that all frames are played in the tempo they are meant to be. It is the default-mode, but requires good performance because up to 25 frames per second have to be displayed.

play steps - In this mode the video will be played back in ”bites” or steps. Each time a sample button is played the video jumps to the next frame that is determined with the step width. You can use this mode for creating stroboscope like effects. Because fewer pictures have to be displayed, this mode needs less performance, which is why it is perfect for slower computers.

stepwidth (frames) - Here you are able to determine the number of frames that are jumped over in play steps-mode at each step. Keep in mind, the faster the video is changing the less stepwidth you should use to get a perceptible effect.

looped - Determines whether the video is played back in a loop (after reaching the last frame the playback is continued with the first frame) or not. In most cases this mode makes sense.

velocity -> brightness - When this mode is activated the brightness of the video is influenced by the velocity of the played sample buttons. The higher the velocity, the brighter the video and vice versa. Use this mode to create interesting mixes and fades between the two videos. By using a velocity sensitive MIDI keyboard or a joystick for playing the sample buttons this mode can be used for some great effects.

The parameters in the section Video-Mixing determine how the right video is mixed to the left video when both videos are running. Imagine that the right video is just laid over the left one. The Video-Mixing-effect determines if and where the right video becomes optically ”permeable” for the left video.

For the Master-Screen you just have to imagine that the videos are laid over each other in order of their split number. That is why the Video-Mixing-effect for each video, that follows the first one, thus the video split with the lowest split number, is decisive for the way the videos are mixed together.

mix (standard) - In this mode both videos are equally mixed together. It is useful if the videos have their focuses
in different parts of the monitor or to create color or
overlaid effects.

stamp - In this mode the right video becomes stamped over the left video. No mixing happens, its just the left or just the right video.

blue box - With the blue box effect all parts of the right video that are colored blue become transparent for the left video. Use it to set a dancer in the right video in front of any left video, if the dancer is available as a blue screen video (recorded in front of a blue wall).

black box  The black box effect corresponds to the blue box effect, but here all parts of the right video that are colored black become transparent for the left video. This way you are able to set computer animation with a black background in the right video in front of any left video.

white box - The white box effect corresponds to the blue and the black box effect. All parts of the right video that are colored white become transparent for the left video. With this effect you are able to set computer animation with a white background in the right video in front of any left video.

In the section Sample-Button Effects you are able to select a special real time video effect for each of the eight sample buttons that are allocated to a video. Additionally it is possible to assign a free definable section of the video to each button. In this way you can play the best scenes of an AVI-video clip by playing the buttons.

Because there are no sample buttons in the Master-Screen the eight keyboard keys below the rootnote of the video are used to start the video effects.

An Example: If the rootnote of the video is the C3, then the Button 1 is the E2, Button 2 is the F2, Button 3 is the F#2 and Button 8 is finally the B2.

jump into range - If this option is active you are able to assign a free definable section of the loaded video to each sample button so that it is started every time you play its button. Use the start frame and end frame application boxes to determine the desired video section.

start frame - Use this application box to determine from which frame the video shall be played back when its sample button is played.

end frame - Use this application box to determine up to which frame the video shall be played back when its sample button is played.

effect - Click on this pull-down-menu (only available if the option disable effects is not active) to select one of the fourteen possible video-effects for each of the eight sample buttons. These effects are the following:

Reverse Play - Changes the play direction to the opposite direction.

Symmetry horizontal - Separates the video playback with a vertical mirror axis in the middle of the video monitor. The left half of the monitor is copied reflection wise to the right half.

Symmetry vertical - Separates the video playback with a horizontal mirror axis right in the middle of the video monitor. The upper half of the monitor is copied reflection wise to the lower half.

Kaleidoscope - A combination of the effects Symmetry horizontal and Symmetry vertical, the Video monitor becomes separated by two mirror axis into four equal parts.

Color inversion - Inverts the colors of a video.

Grayscale - Color videos become black-and-white-videos.

False colors 1, 2 and 3 - Whereas the effect Color inversion shifts the color palette by 180 degrees, the color palette gets shifted through these three effects by only a few degrees. Use them to create interesting false color effects.

Color quantisation 1, 2 and 3 - These reduce the depth of the color palette. Similar colors are set to their next common ”color-denominator”, depending on the strength of this effect the video becomes a sort of blemish.

Mirror horizontal - Through this effect the video gets played back counter-reflected. Left becomes right and right becomes left.

Mirror vertical - Through this effect the video gets countered by a horizontal axis. The top becomes the bottom and the bottom becomes top.

The effects become active the moment the allocated sample button is played. They are set inactive when the same sample button is played once more. That is why it is possible to have all eight effects per video active at the same time. You may also allocate a sample button with no effect at all, select No Effect, or use the button to stop all active effects with one stroke, Reset All Effects, to let the video be played back in its original condition.

Use the option disable effects to set the video effects globally inactive without having to set each sample button to No Effect. This option is of great help if you only want to use the sample buttons to start video sections.

Reset FX - Use this button to set all currently active video effects inactive.


The SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings

In the dialogue SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings you have several parameters to your disposal, which have bearing when working with a velocity sensitive MIDI keyboard. Click on the SFX button left from the split manager to call up this dialogue. The current selected split gets edited.

The section Masterkeyboard Control-Box offers you the ability to determine global settings of a split:

VelOffset - This fader allows you to adjust an offset value that is added to the velocity value of each note and therefore raises or diminishes, depending on the offset value, the velocity of the split. This function is particularly useful if you have laid several splits, one upon the other to create a sound layer, but want to play some of the splits with less or more velocity than the others. Because the velocity in most cases influences the volume of a sound, you can use this function to determine the volume of the single splits. Keep in mind, that it is not only the volume of a sound that is influenced by the velocity!

VelMin - This fader is for adjusting the velocity that has to be reached to activate the split. If the adjusted value is exceeded, the split processes the incoming note, if not the split remains passive.

VelMax - Use this fader for adjusting the maximum velocity that may be reached to activate the split. If the adjusted value is undercut, the incoming notes get processed by the split, if it is exceeded the split remains passive.

Laying several splits upon each other by assigning different velocity minimum and maximum values, you are able to create interesting velocity dependant sound changes.

An example:

Split 1  String Sound - Velocity-Range 0-80

Split 2  Piano Sound - Velocity-Range 60-100

Split 3  Brass Sound - Velocity-Range 80-127

In this case soft stroked notes would only activate the string sound from split 1. Harder stroked notes (Velocity > 60) would additionally cause the piano sound from split 2. A higher velocity (> 80) would cause split 1 to become passive, while split 3 would play its brass sound. Finally, the brass sound would be generated at the highest velocity values (> 100) only, because split 1 and 2 would become passive.

Please take note of the Velocity-Curve. It lets you adapt MAGIX LiveAct to the velocity sensitivity of your
MIDI-Keyboard.

MIDI-In - Here you are able to enter the MIDI channel from which the split shall receive MIDI data.

Transpose - Lets you enter the number of halftones the split shall be transposed with. With this it is possible to let a split play notes that differ from the received notes in their tune.

An example: You have laid three splits over each other and assigned the following transpose values to them:

Split 1 - Transposition 0

Split 2 - Transposition 4

Split 3 - Transposition 7

In this constellation each received note would cause a major triad. The second split is tuned a major third and the third split a fifth higher than the original received note.

We can refine the example:

Set the Velocity-Range in split 2 to the value 80-127. Add a split to the first three and assign the following
parameters to it:

Split 4 - Transposition 3, Velocity-Range 0-79

In this constellation weak stroked single notes would cause a minor triad. Split 4 is tuned a minor third higher than the originally received note but only sounds at velocity values up to 79. The harder stroked single notes would continue to cause the major-triad.

Use your imagination to create interesting effects with the SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings and keep in mind that each split is able to control samples or videos.

How about four AVI-videos assigned velocity dependent to one key?

The section Monophony lets you edit an effect that selects the highest or lowest notes from the received notes.

active - Lets you switch the effect on or off.

lowest note only - If this option is activated only the lowest of the notes played in the KeyRange is processed by the split, which therefore becomes monophonic. With this it is possible to assign a special sound, a bass sound for instance, to the lowest note only. This option can be selected alternatively to the option highest note only.

highest note only - If this option is activated, only the split, which therefore becomes monophonic, processes the highest of the notes played in the KeyRange. Use this option to assign a special sound, a solo sound for instance to the highest note only. This option can be selected alternatively to the option lowest note only.

Please note that the order keys are selected is how MAGIX LiveAct decides the lowest or highest note. If the chord
C-E-G were played by rolling it up, the C would be recognized as lowest note. If the same chord were played rolling it down (G-E-C), all notes would be recognized as the lowest note the time of their playing. A split with the option lowest note only activated would play all three notes successively.

With selections in the section Manner of Playing you are able to instruct the Split to distinguish between bounded
(legato) and interrupted (staccato) styles of playing:

active - Switches the effect on or off.

staccato - If this option is selected, the split becomes active if the notes are played in a staccato manner. MAGIX LiveAct recognizes notes as being played in staccato if there is a break between each note.

legato - If this option is selected, the split becomes active if the notes are played in a legato manner. Legato means that the notes are played bounded or superimposed on each other. A new key has to be played while the former key is still held down.

The combination of these two options, by using two overlaid splits, allows the creation of new sounds out of two samples

An example:

Split 1 - cross flute sample containing a hard blow up noise, in one shot-mode, not looped, staccato

Split 2 - cross flute sample without blow up noise, looped in one shot-mode, legato

The first note would be played by split 1; the following note would either be played by split 1 or 2, depending on the manner of playing. If there is a short break between the first and the second note, the second is played by split 1. This would correspond to a new blow-up of the flute. If the second note is played, bounded to the first one, it would causes split 2 to play the sample without the blow up noise. This corresponds to the natural way of playing a cross flute.

Use the section Sustain-Pedal to determine if the sustain-pedal shall be used to activate splits.

active - Switches the effect on or off.

only without pedal - If this option is selected the split becomes active if the sustain-pedal (MIDI-controller Number 64) is not pressed. This option can only be selected alternatively to the option only with pedal.

only with pedal - If this option is selected the split becomes active if the sustain-pedal is pressed. This option can be selected alternatively to the option only without pedal.

With this function you are able to use the sustain-pedal to switch between two overlaid splits.

An example:

Split 1 - string sound - only without pedal

Split 2 - brass sound - only with pedal

If a chord is now played split 1 processes the string sound. By pressing the sustain-pedal the keys may be released. The string sound remains. Now each key that is played by pressing the pedal causes split 2 to control the brass sound, which is not influenced by the sustain-pedal and can be played as if the pedal is not pressed at all. To play a new string sound chord, simply release the pedal, play the desired chord and the press the pedal again - ready to play the brass sound.

Remember: Wave- and Video-splits can be activated like this with the sustain-pedal as well. Use it to switch between two videos for instance!

The options in the section Controller can produce any MIDI controller-events out of the received notes and their velocity values.

note -> controller - If this function is activated, MAGIX LiveAct produces a MIDI controller value out of each received note number. C3, for instance, is number 60. To determine which controller shall be produced, enter its number in the entry-field on the right.

vel. -> controller - If this function is activated, MAGIX LiveAct produces a MIDI controller value out of each received velocity value. To determine which controller shall be produced, enter its number in the entry field on the right. Use these functions to refine your setup.

For example use the function note -> controller to make the pan position dependent from the pitch by entering the controller number 10 (Panpot). The middle of the stereo field would correspond to the E3; higher notes would sound more from the right while lower notes would sound more from the left. Use the function vel. -> controller to supply each note with a modulation (Controller-Number 1), which corresponds to the velocity the note was hit with. The controllers 91 (Reverb-Depth) and 92 (Chorus-Depth) would produce interesting effects when making them dependent from the velocity.

With the Options in the section Note Number you are able to instruct the Split to play only each x-th note.

active - Switches the effect on or off.

x-th note only - This option determines that the split shall be activated for only every x-th (every second for instance) of the received notes. This option can be selected alternatively to the option x-th note not.

x-th note not - This option determines that the Split shall not be activated for every x-th (every third for instance) of the received notes. This option can be selected alternatively to the option x-th note only.

The value x can be determined in the entry-field.

These options seem to be more mathematical than musical, but they can be used in a very musical way. For instance, they allow you to create several overlaid splits which process the received notes by turns.

An example:

Split 1 - Trumpet-Sound - 3rd note only

Split 2 - Trombone-Sound - 3rd note only

Split 3 - Saxophone-Sound - 3rd note only

The received notes would be played by the three splits by turns and so cause one of the three different brass sounds. The resulting sound would resemble the sound of a brass-combo, because the allocation of the splits to the received notes would be dependent on the succession the keys of the chord were played, which would be by chance, because the keys of a chord can never be pressed at one time.

In the section MIDI-Filter you are able to determine how the received MIDI-Controller-Events shall be processed.

controller thru - With this option activated all received MIDI-controllers are processed by the split that means they are transmitted to the controlled sound generator.

pitchwheel thru- With this option activated all received pitchwheel events are processed by the split and therefor transmitted to the controlled sound-generator.

aftertouch thru - This function corresponds to the other two options. The difference is, with this option activated all received aftertouch events are processed by the split and therefor transmitted to the controlled sound generator.

These filter functions are very useful; they allow you to determine for each split in a lush setup on which controller events it shall react. Imagine a setup with a piano, which is doubled by a string sound, a bass sound on the left and a saxophone sound for the melody on the right. Using the filters you can have only the saxophone reacting on the pitchwheel, while the modulation wheel exclusively influences the bass and the aftertouch events effect the strings.

Theres only one option accessible in the section Pitch - but its a very useful option.

constant pitch - If this option is activated, every received note for this split is changed to C3, independent from the original pitch of the received note. Use the Transpose-function from the section Masterkeyboard Control-Box to determine which note shall finally be played through the split.

This feature can be used to trigger a drum sound with each hit on the keys. All you need is a split with the desired KeyRange, which controls (for instance) on MIDI-Out-channel 10 a GM standard drum kit. Which drum sound is to be triggered can be adjusted with the Transpose function. Set it to -6 for the tambourine or to +15 for the claves.

Finally you have the possibility to write a comment for each Split.

comment on split - Use this row to enter a comment to the split.

display comment in split - With this option activated the text in the comment-row will be displayed in the split manager.

Use the comment to describe the purpose of this split within your setup so you or other people will know its purpose. If you are controlling an external sound generator that is not working in GM mode you can enter the name of the sound it uses. With this you wont lose the general view and can find the correct sound at a later time.


The Velocity-Curve

This dialogue is for the precise adjustment of dynamic curves, which are especially useful when you are controlling MAGIX LiveAct with a velocity sensitive MIDI keyboard. A dynamic curve changes each received velocity value to a velocity value that corresponds to the curve before it comes to action. There is one dynamic curve for each split.

Open this dialogue by clicking on the VELO button located on the left of the split manager. The dynamic curve for the currently selected split will then be edited.

With this you are able to adapt MAGIX LiveAct to the velocity sensitivity of your MIDI-Keyboard, create dynamic curves that fit your personal, or to use dynamic curves for velocity dependent effects In principle, each received velocity value can be replaced with a different value. The graphic display of the dynamic curve lets you see the proportion between the original and the altered velocity values. An ascending line of 45 degrees corresponds to the original. No changes are made. Steeper curves, which reach the maximum value faster, more to the left, will feel ”softer”, because you wont have to strike the keys as hard to achieve high velocity values. Flat curves result in a ”harder” feeling.

The dynamic curve can be adjusted in two ways. If the option with slider is activated, you are able to use the slider on the left side of the window to set the ascension angle of a line so the resulting dynamic curves will be linear.

If the option with mouse is activated you are able to freely draw any curve by using the mouse. This way you can create exponential or really weird dynamic curves. Simply, hold down the left mouse button and draw the desired curve within the display.

Try this example:

Split 1 gets a curve that is ascending quite fast but is descending slowly after the middle. The overlaid Split 2 gets a curve that is ascending from the middle and reaches to the maximum. A fade from the sound thats controlled by Split 1 to the sound of Split 2 would be as soft - simply by increasing the velocity while playing the keyboard.

Please take note of the reciprocal actions that can result from the combination of the dynamic curve, the velocity range and the velocity offset value. The order the received velocity values are processed by these three factors is important for the result: First the velocity is checked if it is matching with the velocity range. If it is matching, the split becomes active and the offset value is added to the velocity. Finally, the dynamic curve modifies the velocity value.


The Screen-Keyboard

The screen-keyboard in the Master-Screen has several functions. It is used for controlling the program with the mouse. Its keys are played by clicking on them.

A further function is the displaying of events. If MAGIX LiveAct receives notes from an external MIDI keyboard the corresponding keys on the screen-keyboard are colored gray. The playback of a song forces the screen-keyboard to display the currently played notes by shading the corresponding keys gray. This function can be deactivated in the menu item Options...

To make play with the PCs keyboard keys easier the screen-keyboard keys are inscribed with the letters of the corresponding keys from the PCs keyboard. Which octave of the screen-keyboard is played with the PCs keyboard and therefore inscribed can be determined through the menu-item Options... on the page PC-Keyboard Settings. On this page you are able to determine if the screen-keyboard shall be inscribed at all.

In addition the screen-keyboard is used to set the KeyRanges of each split. Small triangles in the gray border above the screen-keyboard display the lower and the upper ends of the KeyRange from the current active split. To determine the KeyRange simply click on the gray border above the key you want to be the end of the range. A click with the left mouse button sets the lower end and a click with the right mouse button sets the upper end.

To assign the KeyRange C2-D#4 to a split just left click in the gray area above the C2 and right click above the D#4. If a split is assigned to only one key (sample splits for instance), the corresponding keys are marked with a red dot.

Left of the screen-keyboard is the velocity-fader. If you want to play the screen-keyboard with the mouse or the PCs keyboard, you can use this fader to determine the velocity produced.


Keyboard-Layout

The PCs-keyboard is covered with lots of keys - why not use some of them to control MAGIX LiveAct? We assigned functions to some of the keyboard so that you are able to use them to control the playback of samples and videos.

[1] to [8] above the letters - These keys play the first eight sample buttons, numbers 1 to 8, therefore the MIDI-notes C1 to G1 are sent.

[Q] to [I] and [1] to [8] in the numbers block - These keys play the sample buttons 9 to 16, therefore the MIDI-notes C5 to G5 are sent.

Shift - If the Shift-key is held while playing a sample button the button is set to the Wait for Play-condition. This condition is indicated by the yellow color of the sample button. It stays in this waiting condition until itself or another button being in the Wait for Play-condition is played. With this it is possible to sharpen several sample buttons to start the controlled samples all at one time.

Control (Ctrl) - Use the Ctrl-key to reverse the current play mode temporarily. If (for instance) a sample button is set to Mouse / Joystick: Trigger-mode and is clicked while pressing the Ctrl-key the sample button is played in Normal-mode instead. This feature enables you to determine the play mode at any time while playing.

Tab - Pressing the Tab-key in the DJ-Screen changes between the two turntables in order to have all sample buttons at your disposal while playing them with the joystick.

[<] to [-] and [A] to [S] - The keyboard imitates a normal keyboard - the keys [<], [Y], [X] to [-] correspond to the notes C, D, E to F, while the black keys of a keyboard are imitated with the corresponding keys from the row above: [A] and [S] correspond to the notes C# and D#. With this the PCs keyboard imitates a keyboard from C to F on which you are able to play melodies and chords.

Enter / Return - Starts the playback of the currently loaded song.

[0] in the numbers block - Stops the playback of the currently loaded song.

[,] in the numbers block - Starts the recording of a song.

[+] in the numbers block - Activates the break function and interrupts the playback of the song. The playback is continued after a new stroke of this key.

Spacebar - This key works in the Master-Screen like the sustain-pedal of a MIDI keyboard. While holding down the spacebar all sounds are sustained. They fade out when it is released.


The General-MIDI-Sound Set

The GM-Sound set is divided in 16 sound-families, each containing 8 sounds. The names of the sounds are largely determined but can slightly vary from instrument to instrument.

The number in front of the sound names is the MIDI-Program-Change-Number that is actually sent by MAGIX LiveAct, though the program list in the MIDI-Configuration dialogue counts the programs from 1 on.

Piano

0 Acoustic Grand Piano

1 Bright Acoustic Piano

2 Electric Grand Piano

3 Honky-Tonk Piano

4 Electric Piano 1

5 Electric Piano 2

6 Harpsichord

7 Clavinet

Chromatic Percussion

8 Celesta

9 Glockenspiel

10 Music Box

11 Vibraphone

12 Marimba

13 Xylophone

14 Tubular Bells

15 Dulcimer

Organ

16 Drawbar Organ

17 Percussive Organ

18 Rock Organ

19 Church Organ

20 Reed Organ

21 Accordion

22 Harmonica

23 Tango Accordion

Guitar

24 Nylon Acoustic Guitar

25 Steel Acoustic Guitar

26 Jazz Electric Guitar

27 Clean Electric Guitar

28 Muted Electric Guitar

29 Overdriven Guitar

30 Distorted Guitar

31 Guitar Harmonics

Bass

32 Acoustic Bass

33 Electric Fingered Bass

34 Electric Picked Bass

35 Fretless Bass

36 Slap Bass 1

37 Slap Bass 2

38 Syn Bass 1

39 Syn Bass 2

Strings

40 Violin

41 Viola

42 Cello

43 Contrabass

44 Tremolo Strings

45 Pizzicato Strings

46 Orchestral Harp

47 Timpani

Ensemble

48 String Ensemble 1

49 String Ensemble 2 (Slow)

50 Syn Strings 1

51 Syn Strings 2

52 Choir Aahs

53 Voice Oohs

54 Syn Voice

55 Orchestra Hit

Brass

56 Trumpet

57 Trombone

58 Tuba

59 Muted Trumpet

60 French Horn

61 Brass Section

62 Syn Brass 1

63 Syn Brass 2

Reed

64 Soprano Sax

65 Alto Sax

66 Tenor Sax

67 Baritone Sax

68 Oboe

69 English Horn

70 Bassoon

71 Clarinet

Pipe

72 Piccolo

73 Flute

74 Recorder

75 Pan Flute

76 Blown Bottle

77 Shakuhachi

78 Whistle

79 Ocarina

Synth Lead

80 Syn Square Wave

81 Syn Sawtooth Wave

82 Syn Calliope

83 Syn Chiff

84 Syn Charang

85 Syn Voice

86 Syn Fifths Sawtooth Wave

87 Syn Bass & Lead

Synth Pad

88 New Age Syn Pad

89 Warm Syn Pad

90 Polysynth Syn Pad

91 Choir Syn Pad

92 Bowed Syn Pad

93 Metallic Syn Pad

94 Halo Syn Pad

95 Sweep Syn Pad

Synth Effects

96 SFX Rain

97 SFX Soundtrack

98 SFX Crystal

99 SFX Atmosphere

100 SFX Brightness

101 SFX Goblins

102 SFX Echoes

103 SFX Sci-fi

Ethnic

104 Sitar

105 Banjo

106 Shamisen

107 Koto

108 Kalimba

109 Bag Pipe

110 Fiddle

111 Shanai

Percussive

112 Tinkle Bell

113 Agogo

114 Steel Drums

115 Woodblock

116 Taiko Drum

117 Melodic Tom

118 Syn Drum

119 Reverse Cymbal

Sound Effects

120 Guitar Fret Noise

121 Breath Noise

122 Seashore

123 Bird Tweet

124 Telephone Ring

125 Helicopter

126 Applause

127 Gun Shot

MIDI-Controller

In the SFX Masterkeyboard-Settings in the Master-Screen you are able to let controller events be produced out of note and velocity events, that is why we have provided a list of the MIDI controllers. Many of them are undefined, that means that they can be used for different purposes from instrument to instrument. Which controller controls which function of your instruments or sound generators should be listed in the corresponding manuals.

0	Bank Select

1	Modulation

2	Breath Controller

3	Undefined

4	Foot Controller

5	Portamento Time

6	Data Entry

7	Main Volume

8	Balance

9	Undefined

10	Pan

11	Expression

12	Effect Control 1

12	Effect Control 2

14-15	Undefined

16-19	General Purpose 1 to 4

20-31	Undefined

32-63	LSB for Controller 0 to 31

64	Damper/Sustain Pedal

65	Portamento

66	Sostenuto

67	Soft Pedal

68	Legato Footswitch

69	Hold 2

70	Sound Controller 1/Sound Variation

71	Sound Controller 2/Harmonic

72	Sound Controller 3/Release Time

73	Sound Controller 4/Attack Time

74	Sound Controller 5/Brightness

75	Sound Controller 6

76	Sound Controller 7

77	Sound Controller 8

78	Sound Controller 9

79	Sound Controller 10

80-83	General Purpose 5 to 8

84	Portamento Control

85-90	Undefined

91	Reverb Depth

92	Tremolo Depth

93	Chorus Depth

94	Celeste Depth

95	Phaser Depth

96	Data Increment

97	Data Decrement

98	NRPN LSB

99	NRPN MSB

100	RPN LSB

101	RPN MSB

102-119	Undefined

120	All Sound Off

121	Reset All Controllers

122	Local Control On (127)/Off (0)

123	All Notes Off

124	Omni Mode Off

125	Omni Mode On

126	Mono Mode On

127	Poly Mode On


Problems and solutions

First of all: A general and fundamental solution. Make sure that your system and software is installed properly. Are all needed devices switched on? Are all cable connections leading from the correct outputs to the correct inputs? The most trivial problems often result in the biggest frustration.

The screen of MAGIX LiveAct is displayed incompletely, the borders of the graphic are missing.

MAGIX LiveAct needs a screen-resolution of at least 800*600 pixels. Change the resolution in Control Panel > Display > Settings. Keep in mind that the color palette should be set to a depth of 16 bit (High Color).

The MAGIX LiveAct screen is displayed with odd colors.

For correct display of MAGIX LiveAct your color palette should be set to a depth of at least 16 Bit (High Color). Change the depth in Control Panel > Display > Settings with the pull down menu color palette. Keep in mind that it depends on the capacity of your graphic card how many colors can be displayed at a screen resolution of 800*600. A graphic controller with only 1 MB memory for instance wont display a color palette of 16 Bit with a screen-resolution higher than 800*600 pixels.

When starting MAGIX LiveAct the error ”Call-up of the primary DirectSound-driver failed appears.

MAGIX LiveAct didnt find any soundcard. The most trivial cause could be that there is no soundcard installed in your PC, though MAGIX LiveAct could be used for its video functions, we assume that you HAVE a soundcard installed.

Do you have a Direct Sound system installed too? Because it is MAGIX LiveActs heart for audio playback, you must install DirectSound - which is a part of Microsofts DirectX - first. Open your MAGIX LiveAct-CD-ROM: The folder DirectX contains a file named Dx5eng.exe, start this installation routine with a double click and follow the instructions on the screen.

If this didnt help, you should make sure your soundcard is installed properly. For example, by using the multimedia-player of Windows 95 to play a WAV-file, or by checking the configuration of your system in the control panel. Call someone who has experience with the control panel BEFORE changing anything.

There is something wrong with the sample playback.

Most likely your computer is overloaded with the playback of the samples. There are two possibilities:

The RAM is full. If too many or too long samples are loaded, they may not all find a place in the RAM. Windows 95 moves them to your hard disk into its swap-file; therefore the access to these files is slowed down immensely. The result is short breaks at playback. To solve the problem: Use less or shorter samples or extend the RAM of your computer!

Rule of thumb: Per each 10 MB RAM you are able to load one minute of samples in CD-quality (44,1 kHz - 16 Bit).

2. The processor is overload with the playback. Try to lessen the processor loading by:

- playing back less samples simultaneously

- stopping the simultaneously running videos

- selecting a lower sound quality by clicking on the DirectSound Buffer buttons on the left monitorbox or through the Menu > Options... > DirectSound-Driver > Buffer-Type...

- close all applications that are running simultaneously with MAGIX LiveAct

The videos are played back jerky.

This problem may have three reasons:

1. The processor is overload with the playback. Try to lessen the processor loading for instance by:

- playing back less samples simultaneously

- stopping the simultaneously running videos. Only fast computers are able to display several videos simultaneously AND fluently!

- selecting a lower sound quality by clicking on the DirectSound-Buffer-buttons on the left monitor box or through the Menu > Options... > DirectSound-Driver > Buffer-Type...

- close all applications that are running simultaneously to MAGIX LiveAct

2. The access to the video-files is too slow. For instance if the videos are played back directly from a CD-ROM, we recommend copying the video-files to your fastest hard disk and letting them be played from hard disk. Make sure that your hard disks are periodically optimized through Windows 95 to achieve an optimum access time

3. Too many real time video effects are active. Though MAGIX LiveAct can start one video effect per sample button, it is possible that all eight effects per video are active! This might result in an overloading of the processor. In this case, deactivate all unnecessary effects!

The keys from the numbers block dont have any effect on the sample-buttons.

The keys from the numbers block are only recognized if the numlock-function is active. Press the upper left key from the numbers block to activate it. In most cases an LED indicates the condition of the numlock-function.

The MIDI-splits dont produce any sound.

Make sure the proper MIDI interface is selected. Open Menu > Options... > MIDI-Settings and select at MIDI-Out device the driver of the MIDI-Interface you want to use. If you want to use your soundcard as a MIDI sound generator for example, you have to select the driver of the synthesizer chip from your soundcard - for a Sound Blaster AWE 32 this would be SB AWE 32 MIDI Synth.

If you want to control an external MIDI sound generator you have to select the driver of the MIDI-Out of your MIDI interface. Connect the MIDI-Out-Port of the MIDI interfaces of your computer with the needed cable to the MIDI-In of the sound generator. Soundcards often need a special adapter cable thats plugged into the game port but is long enough to be directly plugged into the MIDI-Port of the keyboard. Make sure the sound generator is ready, switched on, for instance, and receiving on the proper channels.

MAGIX LiveAct doesnt receive any notes from the external MIDI keyboard.

To control MAGIX LiveAct with an external MIDI keyboard, a properly installed connection has to exist between the keyboard and the PC. First of all the proper MIDI-Interface has to be selected. Open Menu > Options... > MIDI-Settings and select at MIDI-In device the driver of the MIDI-Interface you want to use. For a SoundBlaster 16 for instance SB 16 MIDI In should be selected.

Connect the MIDI-Out-Port of your keyboard by using the needed cable to the MIDI-In-Port of the MIDI-Interface of the PC. Soundcards often need a special adapter cable thats plugged into the game port, but is long enough to be directly plugged into the MIDI-Port of the keyboard. Make sure the keyboard is ready too. For example, check which MIDI-channel it is sending on.

The control via joystick doesnt work.

To control MAGIX LiveAct with a joystick, it has to be installed properly in the Control Panel > Joystick. Use the test-routine thats located there to prove the joysticks functioning properly under Windows!