Contents
Contents of Help

 Overview

 Procedures

 Views

 Reference


Glossary

Accelerator key	Aftertouch	Application

Application icon	Auto Rewind	Beat

Cancel	Channel	Check box

Check mark	Clef	Click

Click and drag	Clipboard	Combo box

Control	Controller	Copy

Cursor	Cut	Default

Dialog box	Direction keys	Double-click

Drop-down combo box	Drop-down list	Drop-down menu

Field	Function key	Group box

Highlight	Icon	IRQ or Interrupt

Item	Lead-in measures	List box

Menu	Menu bar	Metronome

MIDI	MIDI Volume	Mono On

Mouse button	Multiple selection	OK

Omni Off	Omni On	Paste

Patch	Pitch Bend	Pointing device

Poly On	Program Change	Prompt

Pushbutton	Quantize	Quit

Radio button	Real-time recording	Scroll

Scroll bar	Selection	Sequencer

Single-click	Standard MIDI File	Step Record

Studio file	System Exclusive	Tab

Text entry field	Tick	Title bar

Track	User interface	Velocity

View	Window


Accelerator key.

(Windows term) A key or combination of keys that invokes a function or command. See also Function key.


Aftertouch.

(MIDI term) Pressure applied to the keys of a MIDI keyboard after they are depressed. Some MIDI keyboards send this special information, although many devices do not respond to aftertouch. There are two types of aftertouch: key, or polyphonic aftertouch (each key sends out aftertouch independently), and channel aftertouch (all keys send out the same message).


Application.

A synonym for computer program.


Application icon.

(Windows term) A special icon (picture) that represents an application, or program, when minimized. See Icon.


Auto Rewind.

A feature that returns the location Counter of the song to where you started (not necessarily the beginning), when you stop recording or playback.


Beat.

A unit of time in music. In Studio, a beat represents a single metronome click, and is equivalent to a quarter note (or 96 ticks).


Cancel.

(Windows term) A standard dialog box pushbutton. Cancel closes the active dialog box without taking any action. This is equivalent to pressing the Esc key on the computer keyboard. Contrast with OK.


Channel.

(MIDI term) The MIDI standard allows 16 MIDI channels. Each channel can potentially be assigned to a different MIDI instrument - the MIDI instruments each know which channel(s) to recognize and which to ignore.


Check box.

(Windows term) A common Windows control, the check box is a square box next to text or a picture, indicating a user choice. This control acts like a switch. When the check box is switched on, an 'x' appears in the box. Any number of check boxes in a group can be active at one time. See Radio button.


Check mark.

(Windows term) A mark that appears next to a menu item when the item is active. This is used only for items that switch on and off.


Clef.

In musical notation, a symbol that indicates the pitch range of a staff. A treble clef indicates a high range; a bass clef indicates a low one.


Click.

To press and release a button on the mouse, while the mouse pointer is positioned on an object. See also Click and drag and Double-click.


Click and drag.

To press and hold down a mouse button, move (drag) the mouse to a different location, and then release the mouse button. This technique is used to select an area or range. See also Double-click.


Studio Clipboard.

A temporary area to which you can copy data, and from which you can retrieve data. The Cut and Copy commands place selected music into the Studio Clipboard, and the Paste command retrieves music for placement into a song. This is similar, but not identical, to the Windows Clipboard.


Combo box.

(Windows term) A Windows control that is a combination of a list box and a text entry field. See List box and Text entry field.


Control.

(Windows term) A Windows object that allows you to interact with a program, making choices and entering information. Examples of controls are radio buttons, check boxes, list boxes, and text entry fields.


Controller.

(MIDI term) A device used to output MIDI messages (e.g. wind controller).


Copy.

An Edit menu command that duplicates a selected note (or group of notes) and retains a copy in memory for further use. The selection is unchanged. Contrast with Cut.


Cursor.

(Windows term) A position indicator in Windows programs. The default cursor is shaped like an arrow or pointer, and is moved around with a mouse or keyboard. When the cursor is over a menu item or other object, you can select the item or object. Cursors often have different shapes, depending on modes of operation. For example, in Studio the cursor changes into a note shape when you have selected the Note Add Tool.


Cut.

An Edit menu command that duplicates a selected note (or group of notes) and retains a copy in memory for further use. The selection is removed. Contrast with Copy.


Default.

A number, word or setting that a program assumes without the user giving an answer. Many parts of Studio make assumptions to make the product easier to use. For example, when using the RECORD button, the default destination track is the first unused (clean) track.


Dialog box.

(Windows term) A window type, allowing the user to enter information necessary to the operation of a program. A box appears on the screen and the computer expects a response from the user. A dialog box is completed when you click a pushbutton labeled with some action, such as OK or Cancel.


Direction keys.

The four keys (up-arrow, down-arrow, left-arrow, right-arrow) on the computer keyboard which move the cursor around on the screen.


Double-click.

(Windows term) A technique of pressing down a mouse button twice in rapid succession, without moving the mouse. This is usually used to start an application from an icon. Compare with Click and Click and drag.


Drop-down combo box.

(Windows term) A type of combo box in which a list remains hidden until you click on the arrow to the right of the box. The list then "drops down." See Combo box.


Drop-down list.

(Windows term) A type of list box in which a list remains hidden until you click on the arrow to the right of the box. The list then "drops down." See List box.


Drop-down menu.

(Windows term) A type of menu that remains hidden until you click on the menu title. The complete menu then unfolds, or "drops down" so that you may choose a menu item. See Menu.


Field.

(Windows term) A non-moveable area on the screen used for entry or control of text or numbers.


Function key.

One of the special keys across the top or left of the computer keyboard. These keys are labeled F1 through F10, or often F1 through F12.


Group box.

(Windows term) A box that contains related choices grouped together.


Highlight.

(Windows term) A selected item on the screen, usually shown by reversing the colors of the letters or icon. Often items that are selected by moving and clicking the mouse become highlighted.


Icon.

(Windows term) A graphical representation (or picture). The Toolbox tools in Studio are examples of icons. A unique icon also represents the program when it has been minimized.


IRQ or Interrupt.

IBM PC compatible computers use interrupts to let peripherals share the time and resources of the computer. Each peripheral (printer, MIDI interface, modem, etc.) must be assigned a unique IRQ, or interrupt. If two devices are set for the same IRQ, the result will be anything from unreliable operation to complete failure.


Item.

(Windows term) A choice on a drop-down menu. Each menu has a number of items that you can select. Items are highlighted by placing the mouse cursor over the item, and selected with a single click of the left button.


Lead-in measures.

The measures that are counted off by the metronome before recording or playing begins. It is often desirable to set a few lead-in measures to get used to the metronome's timing.


List box.

(Windows term) A Windows control that contains a list of choices from which you can select. See Combo box.


Menu.

(Windows term) A list of commands grouped under a common title. You choose the command you want by clicking on it.


Menu bar.

(Windows term) A place at the top of a window where menus are found.


Metronome.

A sound generated upon every beat.


MIDI.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A language that electronic instruments and computers use to communicate information about musical performance. Studio sends and receives messages using the MIDI language so that it can talk to any instrument that also uses MIDI. MIDI information is typically sent using a five-pin round (DIN) connector.


MIDI Volume.

A MIDI Controller message that affects the loudness of all notes on a particular MIDI Channel. Compare to Velocity.


Mono On (Poly Off).

(MIDI term) An instrument in Mono On mode assigns incoming Channel voice messages monophonically to different MIDI Channels.


Mouse button.

There are usually two or three buttons on a mouse - left and right; or left, middle and right.


Multiple selection.

(Windows term) A selection that includes more than one object. You can either Shift-click to select multiple objects, or click and drag to select a range of objects.


OK.

(Windows term) A standard pushbutton in a dialog box, that carries out a command or action and closes the dialog box. This is equivalent to pressing the Enter key on the computer keyboard. Contrast with Cancel.


Omni Off.

(MIDI term) An instrument in the Omni Off mode will recognize MIDI data only on its assigned MIDI Channel.


Omni On.

(MIDI term) An instrument in the Omni On mode will recognize MIDI data on all MIDI Channels.


Paste.

In Studio, to paste a region of music causes music starting from the given count to be overwritten on that track by the new region of music.


Patch.

Information that a synthesizer uses to define a specific sound waveform (timbre). See Program Change.


Pitch Bend.

(MIDI term) A MIDI message that controls the continuous change of pitch. This often deserves special mention because the MIDI language sends special signals to communicate the Pitch Bend information.


Pointing device.

A device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick, which is used to move a cursor on a computer screen.


Poly On (Mono Off).

(MIDI term) An instrument in Poly On mode assigns Channel voice messages to its internal voices polyphonically. This allows for more than one note to be played simultaneously on a particular voice (i.e. a chord).


Program Change.

(MIDI term) A MIDI message sent to and from instruments that changes the patch or sound information for that instrument, resulting in a different timbre.


Prompt.

(Windows term) When a computer program displays a query to the user, and provides an action (or actions) to take.


Pushbutton.

(Windows term) A rectangular button that is used in a dialog box to initiate an immediate action. Common pushbuttons are OK and Cancel.


Quantize.

A feature that lengthens or shortens notes (and changes where notes begin) to even multiples of a specified note length. Quantizing can make somewhat sloppy playing sound tighter, but can also make a performance sound too rigid if applied incorrectly.


Quit.

To leave the program. If you have unsaved music or edits, you will be prompted to save your work first.


Radio button.

(Windows term) A common Windows control, the radio button is a circle next to text or a picture, indicating a user choice. This control acts like a switch. When the radio button is switched on, the circle appears to be filled. Only one radio button in a group can be switched on at any time. See Check box.


Real-time recording.

As opposed to Step Recording, lets you play a song and keeps track not only of the notes played, but how long and when each note was played so that the exact music can be reproduced. Audio tape recorders are always real-time recorders.


Scroll.

(Windows term) To move the display area, causing information that is off screen to be displayed.


Scroll bar.

(Windows term) A control that you use to move a window or field, to display more information than could be shown on the screen.


Selection.

(Windows term) An object or group of objects (text, notes, pictures etc.) that you choose. The chosen object is highlighted (changes color or intensity) to show it is selected. You can make changes to a selection. See Multiple selection.


Sequencer.

A MIDI multi-track tape recorder.


Single-click.

Pressing and releasing a mouse button once.


Standard MIDI File.

A file format for platform-independent exchange of MIDI sequences. Type 0 are single-track files. Type 1 are multi-track files. Type 2 are multi-sequence files. Studio supports Type 0 and 1 files.


Step Record.

To record one note at a time, giving all the information for individual notes. Sometimes used instead of real-time recording, because in step recording you need not be able to play perfectly to get perfect music.


Studio file.

The native file format of Studio. This format contains more information than a Standard MIDI File.


System Exclusive Message.

(MIDI term) A special class of MIDI message that allows manufacturer-specific information to be received and transmitted. Also known as SysEx.


Tab.

(Windows term) The Tab key moves the cursor from one field, control, or area to another within a window. You can use the Shift-Tab key combination to move backwards.


Text entry field.

(Windows term) An edit control that allows you to enter text and numbers. The cursor usually changes into a vertical line or an I-beam shape.


Tick.

Music in Studio is segmented by Measure, Beat, and Tick. There are 96 ticks in each beat.


Title bar.

(Windows term) The area at the top of a window that contains the name of the window. When applicable, the maximize, minimize and restore icons will also be in this area.


Track.

A sequencer term, each voice is displayed on the screen and has its own set of music and performance features. A voice can be polyphonic (many simultaneous notes), but cannot be set to more than one MIDI channel.


User interface.

The style and design of the interaction between you and your computer. It usually refers to how you select the options you want to use or change.


Velocity.

A synthesizer and MIDI term that means how hard the key is pressed (or released). For keyboards that have velocity control, this can affect the loudness or other tonal quality of the sound. Compare to MIDI Volume.


View.

Studio allows you to select different ways of looking at, controlling, and altering your music. These are called views.


Window.

An area of the screen with visual boundaries through which information is displayed.


Menu reference
Menus

This is a reference to all menus and menu items.

Click the mouse on a menu title for help on that menu.


File menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


Edit menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


Options menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


Setup menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


View menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


Track menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


Music menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


Help menu

Click the mouse on a menu item for help on that item.


New File command
New

When you want to record a new song, it is a good idea to start with a blank canvas, so to speak. This command will clear the memory of any previous data. If you have unsaved changes, you will see a dialog box [image] asking if you want to save them.

The only data that is retained is MIDI events that were previously cut or copied to the Clipboard. This is so you can paste a phrase or section of a song into a new song.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+N


Open File command
Open

This command opens a dialog box [image] containing a list of song files on disk, the current directory, and a text box for typing in a desired filename. You choose the file you wish to open and click OK.

The File Name field lets you either type in a song file name, or choose one from the scrolling list box.

The Directories list box lets you navigate through the directories on your disk.

The File Type drop-down list box lets you open either Studio format files or Standard MIDI Files.

The Drives list box displays the current drive and lets you switch to a different drive.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+O


Save command
Save

This command saves the song currently in memory to disk. If you have made any changes to a song, the changes are saved. If you have not saved the song with a filename yet, you will see the Save As dialog box.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+S


Save As command
Save As

This command opens a dialog box [image] that is similar to the File|Open command. (Think of it as File|Open in reverse.) Enter a name for the song file you wish to save (eight characters maximum). When you click on OK, all of the data you have recorded (including any edits) is saved to disk.

The File Name field lets you either type in a song file name, or choose one from the scrolling list box.

The Directories list box lets you navigate through the directories on your disk.

The File Type drop-down list box lets you save your song in either Studio format or Standard MIDI File format.

The Drives list box displays the current drive and lets you switch to a different drive.


Print command
Print Options

This command opens a dialog box [image].

The Selection group has three choices:

Print Entire Score lets you print all tracks.

Print Highlighted Tracks lets you print only the tracks you have selected.

Print Track lets you choose a track from a list box.

The Transposition group has two choices: Up or Down. If you choose to transpose the printed score, you enter the number of half-steps (semitones) to transpose within the edit field.

The Display Options group lets you optionally print Page, Track, and Measure numbers. You may also enable Header and Footer text on each page, and enter your text into the respective text fields.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+P


See Also

Printing


Exit command
Exit

This command closes any songs that may be open and quits the program.

Note that you cannot exit when playing or recording.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+X


Undo command
Undo

This command reverses the last Edit menu operation.

Keyboard shortcut: Alt+Bksp


Select All command
Select All

This command selects the entire song file for editing/transformation. The selection will remain in effect until you make a different selection or until you click within the Score View. Note that you must have something selected (score, track, measure, note) to apply an editing operation.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+A


Select Measures command
Select Measures

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can specify one or more measures to edit and transform. The selection remains in effect until you make a different selection, so you may apply multiple editing operations to the same selection.

You must enter the range of measures to select in the provided edit fields.

The New Selection radio button indicates that this is a fresh selection, regardless of any previous selections.

The Add to Selections radio button adds this particular selection to previous measure selections, so that you may select multiple measures throughout your song.

 (An example of multiple selections would be Measure 20 to Measure 25 and Measure 32.)


Select Track command
Select Track

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can specify one or more tracks to edit and transform. The selection remains in effect until you make a different selection, so you may apply multiple editing operations to the same selection.

Select the desired track from the Track list box.

The New Selection radio button indicates that this is a fresh selection, regardless of any previous selections.

The Add to Selections radio button adds this particular selection to previous track selections, so that you may select multiple tracks for editing.


Cut command
Cut

This command removes selected notes or events and places the selection in the Studio Clipboard, leaving a blank space. Adjacent notes or events are not affected. Use this in combination with Paste or Splice/Paste.

You can also access this command by clicking on the Cut icon in the Score View Toolbox. This icon looks like a pair of scissors, and lets you click and drag to select a region of music in the Score View. When you release the mouse button, the region will be cut.

Keyboard shortcut: Shift+Del


Splice Cut command
Splice Cut

This command opens a dialog box [image]. Splice Cut works exactly like Cut, except that after the selected portion is removed, there is no blank space in the music.

A copy of the selection is placed on the Studio Clipboard.

The Track list box lets you select the track to edit.

The Start Point and End Point groups of edit fields let you enter the range (Measure, Beat, and Tick) to Splice Cut.

Keyboard shortcut: Altl+Del


Copy command
Copy

This command creates a copy of selected notes/events, and places the copy in the Studio Clipboard. The existing music is unchanged. You use this in combination with Paste or Splice/Paste.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Ins


Paste command
Paste

This command places the result of a Cut, Splice Cut or Copy command into the music at the selection point. The notes/events are merged into any existing music, so that no subsequent notes/events are shifted in time. The Paste command is not active until you have Cut, Splice Cut, or Copied a selection of notes.

You can also access this command by clicking on the Paste icon in the Score View Toolbox. This icon looks like a small bottle of glue, and lets you click in an area of the Score View to Paste the result of a previous Cut, Splice Cut, or Copy command.

Keyboard shortcut: Shift+Ins


See Also

Paste Tool


Splice/Paste command
Splice/Paste

This command opens a dialog box [image]. Splice/Paste works like Paste, except you have many options for how the pasted MIDI data interacts with the existing song.

The Track list box lets you choose the track in which you will Splice/Paste MIDI data stored on the Studio Clipboard.

The Paste Region group of edit fields lets you specify the starting and ending points of the Splice/Paste command.

The Use Entire Clipboard radio button lets you paste the contents of the Studio Clipboard at the Start Point specified in the Paste Region edit fields. (Note that the End Point is inactive with this choice.)

The Use Paste Region radio button lets you paste the MIDI data into a particular region of the selected track.

The Fill Selection group gives you two choices: Fill from Clipboard (i.e. use the data stored in the Studio Clipboard) and Fill with Rests (paste blank space into music).

The Paste Style group gives you three choices: Combine (the pasted data is mixed with existing data), Splice (the pasted data is inserted prior to existing data), and Replace (the pasted data replaces the existing data. Note that both Combine and Replace leave the length of the track unchanged, while Splice increases the length of the track.

The Repeat Count edit field lets you enter repetitions of the Splice/Paste operation. This only has an effect with Splice as the selected Paste Style.

Keyboard shortcut: Alt+Ins


Auto Rewind option
Auto Rewind

With Auto Rewind on, the song will automatically rewind to its starting point, as soon as you click the Stop button in the Mixer View. The start point is most often the beginning of the song, but you can start from anywhere in the song, and Auto Rewind will return you there.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+W


Auto Quantize option
Auto Quantize

With Auto Quantize on, all incoming MIDI notes are quantized, or rounded, as you record. This is useful sometimes when recording drum parts. The quantization is set by the last value used in the Music|Quantize dialog box.

Quantizing can make certain parts sound tighter, but it can also make a part sound stiff and unmusical. You may want to experiment with manual quantization before using this option.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Z


See

Quantize


Metronome Enable option
Metronome Enable

When the Metronome feature is switched on, you will hear a metronome when you are recording and  playing your music.

The settings for the metronome are in the Setup|Metronome dialog box.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+M


See

Metronome


Split Input By Pitch option
Split Input By Pitch

When this option is switched on, any input in Record mode will be split and placed in two different tracks. The split point is middle C (C4) by default. You can set the split point in the Setup|Preferences dialog box.

This feature is handy for creating a piano transcription when you are playing a two-handed piece. The right hand (treble clef) part will be the first track, and the left hand (bass clef) part will be the second track.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+B


See

Preferences


Show Step Entry Parameters option
Show Step Entry Parameters

When this option is enabled, the Step Entry Parameters dialog box [image] will appear when you either use the Note Add Tool in the Toolbox, or use Step Record mode.


See Also

Toolbox

Step Record

Step Entry Parameters


Step Input Parameters
Step Entry Parameters

If you have Show Step Entry Parameters enabled in the Options menu, this dialog box [image] will open whenever you either enter Step Record mode, or when you use the Note Add tool in the Score View Toolbox (which is functionally equivalent to Step Record). You can adjust each note's duration and velocity values.

The Tie to Last Note choice will tie the note to the last note of the same pitch.

The Note Duration Fill group lets you choose the default length of your step-entered notes. The Staccato choice makes the notes shorter than usual, Legato makes the notes exactly the selected length. Depending on the synthesizer voice used, you may want to use more staccato notes (especially with sustaining voices).

The Note Velocity group lets you set the MIDI Velocity value for each note. The From MIDI choice uses the velocity value of an external controller. The Override Value choice lets you set the Note On and Off velocities (useful if you are entering notes from the Toolbox).

The Note Duration group displays the note duration you choose. For instance, if you want to enter a dotted quarter note, type 1 in the Quarter Note field, and 50 in the Percent field. If you are selecting note duration values from the Note Add palette, then the resulting numbers will be displayed.


MIDI Thru option
MIDI Thru

This option lets you pass the MIDI input through to the MIDI output. This is useful for instruments that have Local Control off, or for separate controllers and synth modules.


Lead-In Measures option
Lead-In Measures

This option lets you hear a metronome count before you actually begin recording. This can help  you focus on the rhythmic aspect, resulting in a better take.

The Setup|Metronome dialog box lets you set the number of lead-in measures.


See

Metronome


Memory Available

This option displays the memory available to Windows in your system.

Note that the number will decrease with every additional track you record.

If you find that the number displayed is extremely low, you should save your song immediately. You will need to delete unused tracks, if possible, to free memory for further recording.


Follow Score View Notes option
Follow Score View Notes

This option causes notes in the Score View to highlight as you are recording or playing back.

Note that with this option on, some operations may be slower. If you find that the system seems too slow, you may want to turn this option off.


Follow MIDI List View Events option
Follow MIDI List View Events

This option causes MIDI events in the MIDI List View to highlight as you are recording or playing back.

Note that with this option on, some operations may be slower. If you find that the system seems too slow, you may want to turn this option off.


Display VU Meter option
Display VU Meter

This option lets you display the MIDI Volume/MIDI Note Velocity within each track in the the Mixer View.

You can choose to display either Volume or Velocity. This choice is made in the View|Mixer View Settings dialog box.


See

Mixer View Settings


Preferences command
Preferences

This command opens a dialog box [image].

The Split Input By group lets you split the incoming MIDI information by MIDI Channel, and by Pitch. If you choose Pitch, you enter the split point in the edit field. This can be useful for splitting a keyboard part into treble and bass parts.

The Clock Source group lets you set the Studio timing clock to either Internal (the default) or MIDI (from an external source).

The Input Filters group lets you filter out SysEx, Aftertouch, and Pitch Bend messages if you wish. This can save valuable memory and disk space. If you deselect Ignore Sysex, a dialog box [image] appears that lets you choose the type of SysEx messages to receive.

The Clock Sync Enables group lets you send and/or receive MIDI Start/Stop and MIDI Song Pointer messages.

The Mode Enables group lets you switch on the Auto Rewind and Auto Quantize features.

Choose the Save Current Setup button to write all settings to the STUDIO.INI file.


See Also

SysEx


System Exclusive Setup

When you uncheck the check box in the Setup|Preferences dialog box marked Ignore SysEx, a dialog box [image] appears.

The Input Port group lets you choose the port for receiving SysEx messages, if you have more than one port.

The Expected Event Type group lets you specify Numerous Small Events (such as Patches) or A Few Large Events (such as Bulk Dumps).


MIDI Drivers Setup command
MIDI Drivers Setup

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You have three choices: Multimedia drivers, Midisoft drivers, and No drivers.

The Multimedia Drivers for Windows 3.1 option uses generic drivers written to work with any MIDI program that supports Windows 3.1/Multimedia Windows. You must have MIDI properly set up in the Windows Control Panel. Use this option if you need to use the Windows MIDI Mapper, or if you are using an MPC sound card (SoundBlaster, MediaVision, Ad Lib, etc.).

The Midisoft Drivers for Windows 3.0/3.1 option uses a driver created specifically for Studio. You must be using a Roland MPU-401 compatible or Midisoft Midiface interface. If you use these drivers, you will need to disable any standard MIDI driver settings in the Windows Control Panel. Note that if you choose this option, another dialog box [image] appears that lets you set up your MIDI interface properly.

The No drivers option lets you use the program for display and editing, but not playback. This is useful if you have not yet purchased a MIDI interface.

The Choose MIDI Mapper Status group has four choices. For help on these choices, click on the Examples button.

The Disable MIDI input option disables MIDI input drivers. Select this option if you are not using a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI input device. You cannot record if this option is selected.

The Release Drivers when application is inactive option releases MIDI output drivers when Studio is inactive (not the topmost window). Select this option if you want to use Media Player to play a MIDI file without quitting Studio. Do not select this option if you want to use Studio to play MIDI files in the background while you are using other applications.


See

MIDI Interface Settings


MIDI Interface Settings

This dialog box [image]. appears when you choose the Midisoft Drivers for Windows 3.0/3.1 option in the MIDI Drivers Setup dialog box.

The Card Type group lets you choose either a Midisoft Midiface card, a Roland MPU-401 (or compatible) card, or no card.

The Interrupt Level group lets you select the proper IRQ for your card.

The I/O Address group lets you choose the proper port address.


MIDI Drivers 1
MIDI Drivers

This dialog box [image] appears when you first set up Studio for Windows.


MIDI Drivers 2
MIDI Drivers

This dialog box [image] appears whenever you change settings in the MIDI Interface dialog box.


See

MIDI Interface


MIDI Drivers 3
MIDI Drivers

This dialog [image] appears when you change MIDI Drivers.


See

MIDI Drivers Setup


Metronome Settings command
Metronome Settings

This command opens a dialog box [image].

The Metronome group lets you enable (turn on) the metronome feature. You can also choose whether the metronome sounds in both recording and playback modes, or only recording mode.

The Sound Source group lets you choose where to send the metronome signal - to the computer speaker (beeps or clicks), to the MIDI interface card, or as MIDI note data to the MIDI output.

If you choose MIDI Card, you must have a Roland MPU-401 compatible interface card and be using the Midisoft Drivers setting in the MIDI Drivers dialog box. Your interface card must also have a Metronome Out jack.

If you choose MIDI Notes, the MIDI Notes Settings group becomes active. Here you choose the MIDI Port, the MIDI Channel, and the Pitch and Velocity of both the accented (first beat of a measure) and the unaccented (all others) metronome beats.

The Lead-in Measures edit field lets you enter a number of lead-in measures that Studio will count off before playing or recording.


Transcription Parameters command
Transcription Parameters

This command opens a dialog box [image]. Here you can set how the music is displayed in the Score View. Note that this does not change any MIDI data.

The Note Position group controls where a note is placed. The Snap to Ruler choice causes notes to appear at the closest Ruler position. The Beat Tendency choice causes notes to appear at the closest Beat.

The Note Duration group controls the displayed duration of a note. The Lengthen choice causes notes to appear with a longer duration than their actual length. The Shorten choice causes notes to appear with a shorter duration than their actual length.

The Rest Removal group controls the amount of rests displayed The Keep All choice displays all rests. The Remove Many choice removes the majority of rests by lengthening adjacent notes.

Note that all three groups interact with each other.


Save Options and Setup command
Save Options and Setup

This command saves all settings in the Options menu, the Setup menu, and in the View menu.

Settings are written to a file named STUDIO.INI, and recalled every time you start the program.


Score View option
Score

This option opens the Score View [image], a view of your music in standard musical notation. You can edit your music within this window.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+1


See Also

More on the Score View


Studio Panel View option
Studio Panel

This option opens the Studio Panel [image]. You have real-time control of MIDI Channel, Program Change, Velocity, Volume, and Octave transposition within this view.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+2


See Also

More on the Studio Panel View


Tape Deck View option
Tape Deck View

This option opens the Tape Deck View [image]. Here you use Tape Deck buttons to play, record, and navigate through your song.

Note that this View cannot be open at the same time as the Mixer View.

Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+3


See Also

More on the Tape Deck View


MIDI List View option
MIDI List View

This option opens the MIDI List View [image], where you can see and edit your music as MIDI data.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+4


See Also

More on the MIDI List View


Mixer View option
Mixer View

This option opens the Mixer View [image], where you can change MIDI Channels, Program Changes, Volume, Velocity, and more, in real-time..

Note that this view cannot be open at the same time as the Tape Deck View.

Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+5


See Also

More on the Mixer View


Score View Settings command
Score View Settings

This command opens a dialog box [image].Here you can make adjustments to the display of the Score View.

The Spacing group lets you set the default measure width and the number of ledger lines above and below the staff.

The default measure width controls how wide a minimum measure should be. Enter values in note head widths. Studio will automatically expand the measure width as needed to accomodate dense music.

The space between staves can also be adjusted. Enter values in multiples of ledger lines. If your music has a wide pitch range within a part, you may want to set this higher, so that the music does not crowd the parts on staves above and below it.

The Restrict Note Durations to Beats per Measure check box controls whether to make each staff single-line (default) or multiple line. For instance, if you enter a whole note into a 4/4 measure, and then add a quarter note, you are adding a musical line with the second note. With the check box enabled, Studio would shorten the whole note to maintain the integrity of the single-line measure.

The Ruler Resolution group lets you choose the resolution of the Ruler markers for accurate placement of notes. If you work with small note values often, and you use the Ruler to help place notes on the staff, you may want to change this value from the default of 16th notes to a value of 32nd or even 64th notes.


See

Ruler


MIDI List Settings command
MIDI List View Settings

This command opens a dialog box [image]. Here you control how information is displayed within the MIDI List View.

The Events to Display group lets you choose the MIDI event type(s) you wish to display.

The events you can display are Note events, MIDI Controller messages, Channel Aftertouch messages, Key Aftertouch messages, Program Change messages, Pitch Bend messages, Channel Mode messages, and System Exclusive events. Click in the check box next to each item to turn the display of that type of event on and off.

The Separators group lets you control how the MIDI List display groups events.

With Show Measures on, all events that occur within a measure are marked off by a boundary. With Show Beats on, all events occurring within a beat are marked. With Show Ticks on, every event is a separate entity.

The Other Options group has two choices. Auto Delete lets you delete MIDI events by clicking on them within the MIDI List View, and Follow Play causes the data to scroll within the window as the song plays back.


Studio Panel Settings command
Studio Panel Settings

This command opens a dialog box [image] that lets you customize how the Studio Panel View operates.

The Port Change group lets you use Descriptive Port Names (such as Roland MPU-401 or MIDI Mapper) or Fast-scrolling Port Letters (such as A, B, C).

The Program Change group lets you use General MIDI Names (such as Glockenspiel or Nylon Guitar) or Fast-scrolling Program Numbers (such as 45 or 57).


Mixer Settings command
Mixer View Settings

This command opens a dialog box [image] that lets you set how the Track sliders affect MIDI data in the Mixer View.

Changes Note Velocity means that you increase and decrease the Velocity value of each note within a track.

Changes Channel Volume means that you increase and decrease the MIDI Volume value of each MIDI Channel within a track.


Insert Track command
Insert New Track

Selecting this item in the Track menu opens a dialog box [image] When this command executes, you will see a clean (empty) track between two recorded tracks.

The New Track Name field lets you assign a name to the new track.

The Insert before Track list box lets you select a location for the new track.

The Type of Staff group contains four radio buttons - Treble Clef, Bass Clef, Treble 8va (one octave higher), and Bass 8va (one octave lower). Choose the type of staff you want the new track to use.

The Key Signature group contains 21 radio buttons, one for each key. Choose the key you want the new track to use. At the bottom of the group box are two additional radio buttons - Minor and Major. The default is Major.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+I


Delete Track command
Delete Track

This command deletes a track, either completely (the default), or just by erasing the MIDI data in the track.

Selecting this item opens a dialog box [image].

The Track list box lets you choose which track to delete.

Delete Track and Contents completely erases the track and its contents.

Delete Contents Only erases the MIDI data in the track, but leaves the track intact.

(Delete Contents Only is preferred when you are re-recording a part due to a mistake.)

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+D


Move Track command
Move Track

This command moves a track to a different location. This is useful when you are trying to group tracks by function or timbre.

Selecting this item opens a dialog box [image].

The Move from list box. lets you choose the track to move.

The Move to list box lets you choose the destination for the moved track.

The Insert Before radio button lets you insert the track before an existing track.

The Replace radio button replaces the track with the one you are moving.


Copy Track command
Copy Track

This command copies a track to a new location. This is useful when you want to try some editing, but need a backup in case things get out of hand.

Selecting this item opens a dialog box [image].

The From Track list box. is where you select the track to copy.

The To BeforeTrack list box lets you place the copied track into a particular location.


Combine Tracks command
Combine Tracks

This command merges or combines two tracks into one. This is useful when you record a part in two sections (like a piano part)and edit/correct each individually.

Selecting this item opens a dialog box [image].

The Combine Track list boxe lets you select the first track you want to combine.

The With Track list box lets you select the second track you want to combine.

A Save Source Tracks check box lets you save the original tracks (before combining), in case you change your mind. If you switch this off, the original tracks will be deleted.


Rechannel Track command
Rechannel Track

This command changes the MIDI Channel information in a track.

Selecting this item opens a dialog box [image]. There are four different modes for changing MIDI Channel information:

Change All Channels to Channel X

Change Channel X to Channel Y

Extract All Events on Channel X

Separate All Channels into Tracks


Example: All events within the track are rechannelized and end up on Channel 7.


Example: All events within the track assigned to Channel 4 are rechannelized and end up on Channel 12.


Example: All events within the track assigned to Channel 5 are extracted and placed into a new track.


Example: All events within a track with Channel assignments (3, 6, and 10) are placed on three new tracks. The first track contains events assigned to Channel 3, the second track contains events assigned to Channel 6, and the third track contains events assigned to Channel 10.


Split Track by Pitch command
Split Track by Pitch

This command lets you modify or extract MIDI data in a track based on pitch.

Selecting this item opens a dialog box [image]. There are three possible modes of operation:

Change Pitch X to Pitch Y

Extract All Notes in Pitch Range

Separate All Pitches into Tracks

Note: You may enter note values as either MIDI note numbers (0 to 127), or as key numbers (C-1 to G9).


Example: All notes within the track with a pitch of D4 change to F4.


Example: All notes within the track from F2 to G5 are extracted and placed in a new track.


Example: All notes within the track are extracted by pitch number and placed in new tracks. Each track only contains notes of a particular pitch.


Insert Measure command
Insert Measure

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can insert one or more empty measures in all tracks. There are three edit fields for entering parameters.

The Insertion Point field lets you specify where to insert the new measure(s).

The Measure Count field lets you specify how many measures to insert.

The Time Signature field lets you specify the time signature of the new measure(s). The default is 4/4 time.


Delete Measure command
Delete Measure

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can delete a particular measure (or measures) in all tracks. There are two edit fields for entering parameters.

The Deletion Point field lets you specify the starting measure you wish to delete.

The Measure Count field lets you specify how many measures to delete.


Change Clef command
Change Clef

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can change the clef within a track at a specified point.

The Track list box lets you select the track.

The Type of Clef group contains four radio buttons - Treble Clef, Bass Clef, Treble 8va, and Bass 8va. Choose the type of clef you wish to insert.

The Insertion Point group lets you enter the location (Measure) for the inserted clef.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+C


Change Time Signature command
Change Time Signature

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can change the time signature for all tracks at a specified point.

The Select Time Signature group contains three radio buttons. You can select 4/4 time (the default), 2/4 time, or you can choose the Numbers button and type in your own time signature.

The Insertion Point field lets you specify the measure where the time signature will change.

After this command, the music on the staff in the Score View will display differently (the bar lines will change to reflect a new time signature).

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+G


Change Key Signature command
Change Key Signature

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can change the key signature at a specified point for a selected track.

The Track list box lets you select the track to edit.

The Insertion Point field lets you specify the location (Measure) for the key signature change.

The Accidental Count group lets you optionally enter the number of accidentals (sharps and flats) in the new key signature. If you have no accidentals, do not enter numbers in these fields.

The Key Signature group contains 21 radio buttons, one for each key. Choose the key you wish to use. At the bottom of the group box are two additional radio buttons - Minor and Major. The default is Major.

The music will not sound any different after this command, but the music on the staff in the Score View will display with a different amount of sharp or flat notes, depending on the key.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+K


Change Tempo command
Change Tempo

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can change tempo for all tracks at a specified point.

The Begin and End groups let you specify the beginning and ending locations (Measure, Beat, and Tick) for the tempo change.

There are four different choices for tempo change:

Set Constant Tempo of X

Gradually Change Tempo from X to Y

Scale Tempo to X% of Current Values

Add X to Current Tempo

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+E


Example: The tempo is set to 144.


Example: The tempo gradually changes from 172 to 128.


Example: The tempo is scaled to 75% of 120, or 90.


Example: The tempo is 80 + 30 (110).


Scale Velocity command
Scale Velocity

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can scale velocity for all notes between specified points for a selected track.

The Track list box lets you select the track.

The Begin and End groups let you specify the beginning and ending locations (Measure, Beat, and Tick) for the velocity change.

You have four different choices for velocity scaling:

Change All Values to X

Gradually Change Values from X to Y

Scale Values to X% of Current Values

Add X to Current Values

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+V


Example: The velocity is set to 75.


Example: The velocity gradually changes from 64 to 96.


Example: The velocity is scaled to 75% of 120, or 90.


Example: The velocity is 80 + 30 (110).


Transpose command
Transpose

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can transpose all notes between specified points for a selected track.

The Track list box lets you select the track.

The Start Point and End Point groups let you specify the region (Measure, Beat, and Tick) to transpose.

Two radio buttons let you specify whether to transpose up or down.

The Octave field lets you enter the number of octaves to transpose.

The Half-steps field lets you enter the number of half-steps (semitones) to transpose.

The Change Key Signature check box changes the key signature for the selected range you transpose.

If you try to transpose beyond the allowable range for MIDI note information, Studio will transpose as far as possible without going out of range. You then have the option of accepting this compromise, or cancelling the operation entirely.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+T


Quantize command
Quantize

This command opens a dialog box [image]. You can quantize all notes between specified points for a selected track.

The Track list box lets you select a track.

The Start Point and End Point groups let you specify the region (Measure, Beat, and Tick) to quantize.

The Resolution group box contains a note resolution control, quantize type check boxes, and a Precision scroll bar.

The Note Resolution control is a picture of a note. Click on the control with the left mouse button to decrease the note value. Click with the right mouse button to increase the note value.

There are three types of quantization available - changing the location of notes, changing the actual duration of notes, and a semi-random location quantization (Humanize). Changing location can help to "tighten up" rhythmic performance. Changing duration can help to make a part more consistent. Humanize can add a little randomness to the location and duration type quantization.

The Precision of Quantization scroll bar lets you set the degree of accuracy for the Quantize function.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Q


Contents

This command opens the Windows Help file for Studio at the initial Contents topic.


Help on Current View

This command opens the Windows Help file for Studio at the topic corresponding to your current window, or view.

For example, if you are in the Mixer View, and you select this command, you will go right to the Mixer View Help topic (without needing to find it).

Keyboard shortcut: F1


Help on Using Help

This command opens a generic Help topic describing how to use Windows Help. You may want to browse through this if you are unfamiliar with Windows Help.


Intro to Notation

This command opens a Windows Help topic introducing the basic concepts of musical notation.


Intro to MIDI

This command opens a Windows Help topic introducing the basic concepts of MIDI.


Help on General MIDI

This command opens a Windows Help topic introducing General MIDI.


MIDI Reset

MIDI has been in use for more than a decade. It has generated an industry, enriched many areas of media production, and spawned styles of music.

Nevertheless, MIDI is a complex protocol, and has been interpreted differently over the years by many manufacturers.

So, even though MIDI is a mature technology, you may experience one day the infamous Stuck Note (or notes), or some other rare anomaly.

Studio for Windows provides a solution for this situation. The MIDI Reset item in the Help menu opens a dialog box [image] that lets you send a MIDI Reset message to your entire system. This causes any synthesizer that is stuck to reset to its default condition.


About Studio

This command opens a dialog box [image] with information about the program.


Views
This is a guide to the views available in Studio for Windows.

 Score

 Studio Panel

 Tape Deck

 MIDI List

 Mixer


Score View

This view displays your music in standard musical notation form. As you record, notes will appear onscreen. When you play back the song, you can see the notes highlighted as they are sounding. You can also add, delete and edit notes and phrases from this window.

Each track is displayed on its own staff. In addition, the track name is displayed above the staff.

Along the left edge of this window is the Toolbox. There are Selection, Note Add, Note Delete, Cut, and Paste tools available.

Along the top of the window is a Ruler guide. This is a visual aid to help you place notes on a staff and select ranges of notes to edit.

The Follow Score View Notes option (Options menu) allows you to see each note highlighted as it plays back.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+1.


See Also

Score View Settings


Score area

Standard musical notation is a powerful and highly accurate method of communicating musical information. Many musicians feel comfortable with this form of language.

This area shows a notated version of the MIDI note data. You can select a note or groups of notes to copy, paste, or otherwise edit.


Toolbox

The Toolbox contains five icons, representing tools for working with the onscreen notation. All operations, except for adding notes, can be performed without the Toolbox (via the Edit menu commands).


Selection tool

This tool [image] lets you select a note or a phrase in the Score View.

The Selection tool is the default tool. It will display highlighted, unless you have previously used a different tool. If so, click once on the icon to return to the Selection tool.

To select a single note, click once on the note. To select a phrase, click and hold the mouse button ahead of the first note in the group, drag the mouse to the last note, and release the mouse button.

Selected notes can be edited with commands from the Edit and Music menus.

You can also use this tool to change the pitch or time location of a note. Click once on the note to select it, and then press down on the left mouse button. While holding the button down, drag the mouse to a new position, then release the mouse button.

Dragging vertically changes the pitch of the note. Dragging horizontally changes the time location of the note.


Note Add tool

This tool [image] lets you place notes directly on the staff without the aid of a keyboard.

Click once on the icon. The cursor changes to a note shape. A palette [image] appears which contains note values (whole notes to sixty-fourth notes), sharp, flat and natural signs, a dotted note symbol, and a triplet symbol.

By selecting note values and other parameters in combination, you can place exactly the note you desire. For instance, to define a dotted eighth note you select the eighth note symbol and the dot symbol.

Place the Note Add tool on the staff where you wish to add a note. Use the Ruler along the top of the Score View to aid in placing the note. A vertical line will appear at the cursor position to help determine your proximity to a Ruler division. When you have the note in the proper position, click once with the mouse, and the new note will now be part of your song.

If you want to sharp or flat a note, place the note as usual, select the sharp or flat tool, then click on the note. If you want a double sharp or double flat, click a second time.

Notes added with this tool are always diatonic relative to the existing key signature. For example, if you place a note onto the staff at the position of a C, and the key signature is A major, the pitch of the note will be C sharp (one of the sharp notes in the key of A major).

Click once again on the Note Add palette to close it.

If you have Show Step Entry Parameters enabled (in the Options menu), a dialog box will appear that allows you to adjust the characteristics of the note before you place it.


Note Delete tool

This tool [image] is the counterpart to the Note Add tool.

Click once on the Note Delete icon. The cursor changes to a note shape with a line through it. Place the cursor on top of the note you wish to delete. Click once and the note will be deleted, leaving an empty space.


Cut tool

This tool [image] lets you select a note or phrase and cut it (for subsequent pasting).

Click once on the Cut icon. The cursor changes to a scissors shape. Place the cursor near the first note you wish to cut. Click and drag (keeping the left mouse button down) across the notes you want to select. The notes will display in reverse video.

When you have selected all the notes, release the mouse button. The selected notes will be cut out of the music and copied to the Clipboard. (The cursor will automatically change to a paste bottle shape, signifying that there is note data ready for a Paste operation.)


Paste tool

This tool [image] lets you paste a note or phrase that you have previously copied or cut.

Click once on the Paste icon. The cursor changes to a paste bottle shape. Place the cursor on the staff at the location you want to paste the music. Click once and the note data stored in the Clipboard will be copied into the the staff.

You may repeat the Paste operation as many times as you wish, until you perform a Cut or Copy operation (which places new data in the Clipboard, overwriting previous data).


Ruler

You use the Ruler to visually guide the selection or placement of notes. When you are placing a note (using the Note Add tool), the Ruler divisions will appear as long vertical lines as you place the cursor on a note boundary.

By default, the resolution of the Ruler is sixteenth note divisions. You can change this in the Score View Settings dialog box.


Studio Panel View

This view lets you change characteristics of a track in real-time. These characteristics include MIDI Channel, Volume, Velocity, Loop status, and Octave transposition. You can also control Overdubbing and Punch recording.

At the bottom of this view is a MIDI Thru bar.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+2


See Also

Studio Panel Settings


Track Number

This field displays the Track number.

The track number serves as a selection control, and lets you select an entire track with one click of the mouse. You select multiple tracks by holding down the Ctrl key while you click on each desired Track number. Release the Ctrl key when you have made your selections.

You can deselect all tracks by clicking on the label Track Number.


Track Description

This field lets you enter a descriptive name for the track, such as Burning 57 Strat or Heavenly Strings.


Track Mode

This field lets you cycle through various recording modes.

If the Track is empty, you can switch between Clean mode (the default) and Record mode. Click on the field with the left mouse button to change the mode.

If the Track has data in it, you can switch between Play (the default), Mute, Overdub, Punch, and Solo modes. Click on the field with the left mouse button to change modes. You can use the right mouse button to change modes in reverse order.

The Mute mode silences the track, while the Solo mode silences all other tracks.

Overdub and Punch modes let you record new material onto an existing track.


See

Overdubbing

Punch


Port field

This field lets you change the MIDI output port for a particular track. This only works if you have more than one MIDI Out port in your system.

If you have set this field to display names instead of letters (View|Studio Panel Settings), a dialog box [image] will appear when you click to change the port.

If you are using the MIDI Mapper, you can only use one port at a time.


See Also

Studio Panel Settings


Channel

This field lets you change the MIDI Channel assigned to a particular track. This has the same effect as the Rechannel command in the Track menu.


Program Change

This field lets you change the Program Change associated with a track. This is useful when you want to hear a part with different voices or timbres.

If you have set this field to display names instead of numbers (View|Studio Panel Settings), a dialog box [image] will appear. Choose the patch name from the list box.


See Also

Studio Panel Settings


Volume

This field lets you  change the MIDI Volume associated with a track.

MIDI Volume is a Channel message, so all notes in all tracks with the same Channel assignment will be affected.


Loop

This field lets you set a loop within a particular track. When you click on the field, a dialog box [image] appears.


See

Loop Parameters


8va

This field lets you transpose a particular track by octave increments. You can transpose up or down 3 octaves.

You cannot transpose beyond the range of MIDI notes. The track will be transposed only as far as possible without going out of range.


Velocity

This field lets you change the MIDI Note velocity within a track. You can scale the velocity up or down.


MIDI Thru bar

MIDI Thru passes incoming MIDI data on to the the MIDI output. This is often used to provide a software MIDI Thru function for instruments that have Local Control off, or for separate controllers and synth modules.

Another use for MIDI Thru is auditioning an incoming instrument with different MIDI Channel assignments, transposition, MIDI Volume, and velocity settings. If you find settings that you like, they will be recorded into a track along with MIDI note data. This saves you from needing to set the values again after recording.

The field to the right of the MIDI Thru label is where you switch MIDI Thru on and off. Click with the left mouse button on the word OFF to switch it to ON, and vice versa.

The next six fields (MIDI Port, MIDI Channel, Program Change, 8va, Volume and Velocity) are identical in operation to the Track columns. Note that there is no Loop field.

To understand the MIDI Thru function, keep in mind that MIDI Thru only affects how MIDI data is transmitted through to the MIDI OUT connector.


Punch-In/Punch-Out Parameters
Punch In/Out Parameters

This dialog box [image] appears when you have set the Track Mode in the Studio Panel View to Punch, and you click on the Record button.

Punch-In and Punch-Out make re-recording a phrase or a passage easy.

You can set the Punch-In point (the point where you begin recording) and the Punch-Out point (the point where you stop recording) by Measure, Beat and Tick.


See Also

Punching in


Loop Parameters

This dialog box [image] appears when you click on the Loop field in the Studio Panel View.

The Source Range group lets you set the range to loop. You enter the beginning and end measures.

The Destination Range group lets you either automatically fill the song with loop repetitions, or choose a specific number of loop repetitions.

The Loop Type group lets you choose either a Virtual loop or and Expanded Out loop. The Virtual loop doesn't actually increase the data, but it repeats on playback. The Expanded Out loop actually writes out the repetitions.


See

Looping


Select a Port dialog box
Port

This dialog [image] appears when you have Descriptive Port Names selected in the Studio Panel View Settings dialog box and you click on the Port field in the Studio Panel View.

Choose the Port you wish from the list box and click OK.


Program Change

This dialog [image] appears when you have Use General MIDI Names selected in the Studio Panel View Settings dialog box and you click on the Program Change field in the Studio Panel View.

Choose the Program Change you wish from the list box and click OK.


Tape Deck View

This view lets you control the recording and playback of a song, as well as the tempo.

The same functions are provided by the Mixer View. You can have either the Tape Deck View or the Mixer View open, but never both simultaneously.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+3


Stop Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to stop a song while playing, recording, rewinding, or fast forwarding.

Pressing the F2 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Play Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to begin playing a song.

Pressing the F5 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Record Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to begin recording a track. The first available track will shift into Record mode.

Pressing the F6 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Rewind Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to rewind a song. Click with the right mouse button to rewind a song automatically to the beginning.

Pressing the F3 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


FF Button
Fast Forward (FF) Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to fast forward within a song.

Pressing the F4 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.

You can press this button while playing back a song and the playback tempo will speed up. Pressing once again will return playback speed to normal.


Pause Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to pause a song while playing, rewinding, or fast forwarding. Click a second time to resume the paused operation.

Pressing the F7 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Step Button

Click on this control to shift to Step Mode. In this mode, the Record and Play buttons control the Step Record and Step Play operations.

You can also use the computer keyboard to control Step Record and Step Play. The F8 key controls Step Record, and the F9 key controls Step Play.


See Also

Step Entry Parameters

Step Record and Step Play


Tempo control

The Tempo control is a slider that lets you slow down or speed up the tempo of your song.

The slider actually scales the Tempo Track for the entire sequence. Any changes you make with this control will be saved to disk when you save the song file. To return the tempo to its default setting (so that you do not save tempo changes), drag the slider until the scaling percentage returns to 100%.


Counter

The Counter displays the current location within a song.


MIDI List View

This view lets you see the MIDI data as actual MIDI messages. If you are comfortable with a traditional MIDI sequencer, this gives you the flexibility of minute adjustments to the shape of each note. In addition, you can enter and edit MIDI messages such as Program Change, Aftertouch, Pitch Bend and others.

The MIDI List View displays the MIDI data for a particular track. You can look at all note events, as well as Program Change commands and various controller and volume events, in the order that they occur.

You can also edit the Tempo track for the sequence. When you select this track, the parameters are Type, Duration, Absolute Tempo, and Scaled Tempo.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+4


See Also

MIDI List View Settings

Follow MIDI List View Events


MIDI Event Type
Type

Type refers to the MIDI event type. For example, it will display ProgChng for a Program Change message, Note for a Note event, etc. You can change the parameters by clicking in the columns to the right, or you can select the event by clicking within the Type column.


MIDI Event Channel
Channel

Channel indicates the MIDI Channel assignment for the event. You can change the Channel for an event by clicking with the left or right mouse button to decrease or increase the Channel number.

You can rechannelize all events within the track with the Rechannel command in the Track menu.


MIDI Event Start Time
Start Time

Start Time is the point in the file where the event begins.


MIDI Event Duration/Data
Duration/Data

Duration/Data displays either the duration of the event (for Note events), or the Data value (for all other events).


MIDI Event Pitch
Pitch

Pitch displays the Note number of the Note event. This is blank for other event types.


Delete MIDI Event button

Clicking on Delete will delete the currently selected event within the MIDI List View. If no event is selected, nothing will be deleted.


MIDI List View Track list box
Track list box

At the top of the MIDI List View window is a list box for choosing the track to display. If you have previously edited or altered a track, it will be the track displayed. Change the track if necessary by clicking on the arrow to the right of the list box. A list will drop down, and you can double-click on the correct track.


MIDI Event Velocity fields
Velocity On and Velocity Off

Velocity On and Velocity Off display velocity values for Note events. These are blank for other event types.


Insert MIDI Event

This dialog box lets you insert one of six MIDI event types.

Click on an event type for more information.


Insert Note

This dialog box [image] lets you insert a MIDI note event at any point in the selected track.

The Pitch field lets you set the pitch either with a MIDI note number (e.g. 48) or a pitch number (e.g. C4).

The Channel field lets you set the MIDI Channel assignment for the note.

You can set the Start point and Duration in Measure, Beat, and Tick increments.

The Velocity fields let you set the Note On and Note off velocities.


Insert Channel Aftertouch

This dialog box [image] lets you insert a Channel Aftertouch message at any point in the selected track.

The Channel field lets you set the MIDI Channel assignment for the message.

The Time field lets you place the message at a particular location.

The Value field lets you set the amount of Aftertouch.


Insert Key Aftertouch

This dialog box [image] lets you insert a Key Aftertouch message at any point in the selected track.

The Pitch field lets you set the particular pitch the aftertouch message will affect.

The Channel field lets you set the MIDI Channel assignment for the message.

The Time field lets you place the message at a particular location.

The Value field lets you set the amount of Aftertouch.


Insert Controller

This dialog box [image] lets you insert a MIDI Controller message at any point in the selected track.

The Type field lets you enter the Controller number (e.g. 7 for MIDI Volume).

The Channel field lets you set the MIDI Channel assignment for the message.

The Time field lets you place the message at a particular location.

The Value field lets you set the amount of the particular Controller.


Insert Program Change

This dialog box [image] lets you insert a Program Change message at any point within the selected track.

The Channel field lets you set the MIDI Channel assignment for the message.

The Time field lets you place the message at a particular location.

The Value field lets you set the number of the Program Change message.


Insert Pitch Bend

This dialog box [image] lets you insert a Pitch Bend message at any point within the selected track.

The Channel field lets you set the MIDI Channel assignment for the message.

The Time field lets you place the message at a particular location.

The Value field lets you set the number of the Pitch Bend message.


Insert Tempo Change command
Insert Tempo Change

Within this dialog box [image], you can specify the Base Tempo (the absolute tempo in the Tempo Track), the Adjusted Value (the scaled value), and the location in the track.

The two tempo values have a direct relationship to the Tempo slider in the Mixer View. The Adjusted value is the Base Tempo multiplied by the Tempo box scroll bar.

For example, if the Tempo scroll bar was set at 100%, and you entered a value of 124 in the Base Tempo field, the Adjusted Tempo value would display 124. If the Tempo scroll bar was set at 50%, and you entered a value of 124, the Adjusted Tempo value would be 62.


Mixer View

This view is constructed like a traditional mixing board and tape deck system. Within this view you record and play back MIDI music, solo or mute individual tracks, name and route tracks, and adjust volume and velocity.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+5


See Also

Mixer View Settings


Track Module

Each track has a track module associated with it. You can control numerous real-time sound parameters for each track from this module. You also can mute, solo, or enable record mode for each track. There is a level display meter for each track.


Track Number/Name field
Track Number and Name

Each track has a Track number and name at the bottom of each Track module.This can be a useful aid in remembering which track is which. (This is in case you name your seventh, sixteenth, twenty-first, and thirty-second tracks HORN SOLO.) The number is permanently associated with a particular track. The name can be entered in the Track Settings dialog box.


See

Track Settings


Program Change field
Program Change Number/Name

Each track has a Program Change number and Name above the Track Name. This will display any Program Change messages within the track as either numbers, or as General MIDI names.

When you click on the number or name, the Track Settings dialog box appears. You can rechannelize the MIDI data within the track, enter a meaningful name for the track, switch on or off MIDI Bank Select and General MIDI Names, and choose a Program Change number (or patch name) for the track.


See

Track Settings


Track Loudness control
Track Loudness

The Loudness control allows you to temporarily adjust MIDI Volume or Velocity for the track. (Most MIDI devices respond to this, although there are a few that do not -- check your device's documentation.)

You can choose which MIDI message to control (Volume or Velocity) in the Mixer View Settings dialog box (View menu).


See

Mixer View Settings


VU meter

At the top of the Track module is the VU Meter. If you have this enabled, you will see a display of the velocity present in that particular track, while the music plays.

The Display VU Meter option turns this on or off.


See

Display VU Meter


Chorus/Reverb/Pan controls

These controls adjust the levels of Chorus, Reverb, or Panning on MIDI instruments that support these capabilities. If your instrument does not support Chorus, Reverb, or Panning, the controls have no effect.


Track Mute button

This button enables the Muting (turning off) of a particular track. When the button is depressed (by clicking once with the mouse), it will be highlighted. Click a second time on the button to turn off Muting.


Track Solo button

This button enables the Solo function for a particular track. When the button is depressed (by clicking once with the mouse), it will be highlighted.  All other tracks will be muted, and only the track(s) with the Solo button on will play. Click a second time on the button to turn off Soloing.


Track Record button

This button enables the Record function for a particular track. This is used when you want to override the default recording track, which is always the next available (empty) track. You would use this when overdubbing new material onto a previously recorded track.

Only one track can be in Record mode at a time. If you try to depress more than one button, only the last one selected will highlight, and any others will turn off.

The exception to this is when you use the Split Input By feature (Setup|Preferences)to split the incoming MIDI data by pitch, Channel, or both.


Master Module

The Master Module contains a Counter display, a Master Volume control, a Master Chorus control, a Master Reverb control, and a Tempo slider.


Counter display

At the top of the Master module is the Counter display. This displays the current song location in measures, beats and ticks. One measure of 4/4 time contains 4 beats. One beat contains 96 clock ticks.


Master Volume control

This controls the overall loudness of all the tracks.


Master Chorus/Reverb controls

This controls the amount of Chorus and Reverb, respectively, that is applied to all tracks. If your MIDI instrument does not support Chorus or Reverb, these controls will have no effect.


Tempo control

The Tempo control is below the Counter display. You can increase or decrease the tempo by using the slider. The current tempo and the scaling percentage is displayed below the slider.

The slider actually scales the Tempo Track for the entire sequence. Any changes you make with this control will be saved to disk when you save the song file. To return the tempo to its default setting (so that you do not save tempo changes), drag the slider until the scaling percentage returns to 100%.


Tape Deck Buttons (Mixer View)
Tape Deck buttons

Beneath the Master module are the Tape Deck buttons. You can activate these by clicking on them with the left mouse button.

You can also use the Spacebar to toggle between Play and Stop.


Stop Button (Mixer View)
Stop Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to stop a song while playing, recording, rewinding, or fast forwarding.

Pressing the F2 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Play Button (Mixer View)
Play Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to begin playing a song.

Pressing the F5 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Record Button (Mixer View)
Record Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to begin recording a track. The first available track will shift into Record mode.

Pressing the F6 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Rewind Button (Mixer View)
Rewind Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to rewind a song. Click with the right mouse button to rewind a song automatically to the beginning.

Pressing the F3 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


FF Button (Mixer View)
Fast Forward (FF) Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to fast forward within a song.

Pressing the F4 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.

You can press this button while playing back a song and the playback tempo will speed up. Pressing once again will return playback speed to normal.


Pause Button (Mixer View)
Pause Button

Click on this control with the left mouse button to pause a song while playing, rewinding, or fast forwarding. Click a second time to resume the paused operation.

Pressing the F7 key on the computer keyboard has the same effect.


Step Button (Mixer View)
Step Button

Click on this control to shift to Step Mode. In this mode, the Record and Play buttons control the Step Record and Step Play operations.

You can also use the computer keyboard to control Step Record and Step Play. The F8 key controls Step Record, and the F9 key controls Step Play.


See Also

Step Entry Parameters

Step Record and Step Play


Track Settings

This dialog box [image] appears when you click on the Track Name/Number fields in the Mixer View for a particular Track.

The Instrument list box lets you choose a Program Change number or General MIDI Instrument Name.

The Output Assignment group lets you choose the MIDI Port and MIDI Channel.

The Bank Number field lets you choose a Bank Number if your synthesizer responds to Bank Change messages.

The Use GS Bank Select and Use General MIDI Names let you use the Roland Bank Select protocol (if you have a compatible piece of Roland equipment) and General MIDI names instead of standard Program Change numbers.

The Description field lets you enter your own descriptive name for your track.


Overview
Studio for Windows is a powerful sequencer offering standard MIDI sequencing features, as well as an editable musical notation display.

The program contains five windows, or views that you use to record, play, and edit your musical compositions.

 Score View	 Studio Panel View

 Tape Deck View	 MIDI List View

 Mixer View


Score View

This window displays your music in standard musical notation. As you record, notes will appear onscreen. When you play back the song, you can see the notes highlighted as they are sounding. You can also add, delete and edit notes and phrases from this window.


See

More on the Score View


Studio Panel View overview
Studio Panel View

This window is where you name and adjust tracks that you record and play. You have real-time control of the playback characteristics of each track, so you can experiment before making permanent changes.


See

More on the Studio Panel View


Tape Deck View overview
Tape Deck View

This window  lets you control recording and playing of MIDI files. This window contains transport buttons that resemble an audio tape deck, as well as a tempo control (Tempo box) and a song location display (Counter box).


See

More on the Tape Deck View


Mixer View overview
Mixer View

This window is where you record, play, name and adjust tracks. You have real-time control of the playback characteristics of each track, so you can experiment before making permanent changes.

This window contains transport buttons that resemble an audio tape deck, as well as a tempo slider, a Master Volume control, and a song location display (Counter).


See

More on the Mixer View


MIDI List View overview
MIDI List View

This window displays your music as MIDI events. If you are more comfortable with a traditional MIDI sequencer, this affords you the flexibility of minute adjustments to the shape of each note. In addition, you can enter and edit MIDI messages such as Program Change, Aftertouch, Pitch Bend and others.


See

More on the MIDI List View


Reference
This is a reference to the menu comands, tools, preferences, keyboard shortcuts, and terminology within Studio for Windows.

 Menus

 Tools

 Preferences

 Keyboard shortcuts

 Glossary


Studio Preferences
Preferences

You can adjust and customize many aspects of Studio for Windows. You can then save these adjustments, so you always return to the program with the same settings.

The Options menu includes features of the program that you can switch on and off, often within the same session.

The Setup menu includes settings that you may want to specify once, and store for later use in many sessions.

The View menu includes settings that affect the Views.


See

Option menu commands

Setup menu commands

View menu settings

Saving your settings


Saving your settings

There are two files that store settings in Studio for Windows.

STUDIO.INI stores all of the Option menu item settings, all of the Setup menu item settings, the View menu item settings, the song directory, and the default song file type.

MIDISOFT.INI stores the positions of the Views, the screen resolution, and the MIDI port settings.

To save all these various preferences, choose Save Options and Setup from the Setup menu.


Keyboard shortcuts

Spacebar	Play/Stop toggle

F1	Help on Current View

F2	Stop button

F3	Rewind button

F4	Fast Forward (FF) button

F5	Play button

F6	Record button

F7	Pause button

F8	Step Record

F9	Step Play

Alt or F10	Activate menu bar

Shift+Del	(Edit) Cut

Shift+Ins	(Edit) Paste

Ctrl+Ins	(Edit) Copy

Ctrl+F1	(Help) MIDI Reset

Ctrl+1	(View) Score

Ctrl+2	(View) Studio Panel

Ctrl+3	(View) Tape Deck

Ctrl+4	(View) MIDI List

Ctrl+5	(View) Mixer

Ctrl+A	(Edit) Select All

Ctrl+B	(Options)Split Input by Pitch

Ctrl+C	(Music) Clef

Ctrl+D	(Track) Delete

Ctrl+E	(Music) Tempo

Ctrl+G	(Music) Time Signature

Ctrl+I	(Track) Insert

Ctrl+K	(Music) Key Signature

Ctrl+M	(Options) Metronome Enable

Ctrl+N	(File) New

Ctrl+O	(File) Open

Ctrl+P	(File) Print

Ctrl+Q	(Music) Quantize

Ctrl+S	(File) Save

Ctrl+T	(Music) Transpose

Ctrl+V	(Music) Velocity

Ctrl+W	(Options) Auto Rewind

Ctrl+X	(File) Exit

Ctrl+Z	(Options) Auto Quantize

Alt+Del	(Edit) Splice Cut

Alt+Ins	(Edit) Splice Paste

Alt+Backspace	(Edit) Undo

Alt+F	File menu

Alt+E	Edit menu

Alt+O	Options menu

Alt+S	Setup menu

Alt+V	View menu

Alt+T	Track menu

Alt+M	Music menu

Alt+H	Help menu


Procedures
This is a reference to the most common procedures within Studio for Windows.

 Playback and Recording

 Editing

 Advanced Procedures


Playback and Recording procedures
Playback and Recording

Opening a song	Saving a song

Recording	Playback

Overdubbing	Entering Notes in Score View


Editing procedures
Editing

Selection	Basic editing

Track editing	Region editing

MIDI List editing


Advanced Procedures

Step Record and Step Play	Punch-in and Punch-out

Looping	Printing

MIDI Sync	Auto Play


Opening a song

Choose the Open command from the File menu. A dialog box will appear [image].

The File Types list box lets you choose the file format: Midisoft Studio or Standard MIDI File format.

Depending on the file format, the files listed will all have an SNG extension (Studio file) or MID extension (Standard MIDI File).

If the song you wish to load is in a different directory or on a different disk drive, use the Directories list box or Drives list boxes to find the song.

Select the song file you want to open by clicking on it with the mouse. Click the OK button to load the song into memory.


Saving a song

You may have recorded a track (or two, or five) and now wish to save the music with a meaningful name for a later date. Click on the Save command in the File menu. If you have not yet saved the data, you will automatically open up the File Save As dialog box [image]. Otherwise, the song will be saved to disk.

The File Name text box allows you to type in the name you want for the song. We recommend that you choose a name that you will still remember in two weeks.

A File Type list box lets you choose the file format: Midisoft Studio,  Standard MIDI File format 0, or Standard MIDI File format 1.

To change the directory, double-click on the directory name in the Directories list box. If you need to move backwards (closer to the root directory), move your selection up one directory and double-click.

To change the drive, click on the drive name in the Drives list box.

When you have made all your choices, click on the OK button and your song will be saved to disk.


Recording

To record a song file, first clear the memory by choosing the File|New command (in the File menu). This clears the memory and sets you up with the equivalent of a blank canvas. (You can use the computer keyboard shortcut Ctrl+N.)

You can control recording from either the Mixer View or the Tape Deck View. We will describe the Mixer View method.

Make sure the Mixer View is open. If not, choose the proper item from the View menu. Or, if you prefer, use Ctrl+5. You can use the Score View (Ctrl+1) and the MIDI List View (Ctrl+4), but it is not necessary.

Click on the Record button in the Mixer View, and the metronome will start to tick. Assuming that you have your MIDI instrument connected correctly, you are ready to record.

Play a simple part, such as a bass line or chords -- remember that you can play each part of your music separately. When you are done, click on the Stop button (also in the Mixer View).

Click in the Track Name field for the track you have recorded to assign a name to it. A dialog box [image] will open up that allows you to name the track, rechannelize the MIDI data, and assign a Program Change number to the track.

If for some reason you want to redo completely the part you just recorded, you can choose Delete from the Track menu. You will see a dialog box with a list of tracks. Select the correct track and click OK to erase the track.

An alternate method is to select the File|New command. Be aware that using this method clears everything, so only use this when you truly want to start over with a blank canvas.

When you have recorded the part, the Score View (if it is open) will show the music in notation form. Each part (or track) that you add will display on a different staff.


Playback

Click on the Play button in either the Mixer View or the Tape Deck View. The button will be highlighted (the symbol displays in a different color). The music plays back, with an optional lead-in measure and a metronome beat (if enabled).

As the music plays, the Counter display will display the present location within the song. If you have Follow Score View Notes enabled, you will see the notes highlighted onscreen as they play back.

You can adjust the tempo of the song as it is playing. Click and drag the Tempo slider to the left to decrease the tempo. Click and drag to the right to increase the tempo.

To stop the song, click on the Stop button. The button becomes highlighted momentarily and the music stops. (The Play button returns to the normal inactive color.)

If you have Auto Rewind enabled, the song will rewind to whatever location you started from when you click on the Stop button to halt playback.

You can set the Auto Rewind starting point on the fly. While you are playing a song, click on the Play button. This will mark the location for the Auto Rewind function.

Pressing the Space bar (on the computer keyboard) will toggle, or switch, between Play and Stop.


Overdubbing

The process of recording new tracks in synchronization with previously recorded material is called overdubbing.

Overdubbing revolutionized the recording industry, by allowing recordings to be made over a period of time, rather than at one particular moment. Musical pieces could be built up part by part. A single musician could even play all the parts!

In the same way, overdubbing is one of the most powerful features of a MIDI sequencer.

There are two methods of overdubbing tracks. The first method (simpler, and recommended) is recording the new material as a new track while listening to the original track (or tracks). The second method is placing a track into Overdub mode (in the Studio Panel View), and recording new data into the same track.


See

Overdub method 1

Overdub method 2


Overdub method 1

Click on the Record button in either the Mixer View or Tape Deck View to begin recording. The next available clean (empty) track will switch into Record mode.

You will hear the metronome, if enabled, and the song will begin. You can listen to the previously recorded part(s) playing so you can match the new part with it. When you are done, click on the Stop button.


Overdub method 2

Click in the Track Mode column in the Studio Panel View for the track you have already recorded. The display will change from Play to Overdub.

When you click on the Record button (in the Mixer View or Tape Deck View), the previously recorded track will play back. Play your new part along with the previously recorded part. The new MIDI data will be merged, or mixed in, with the previous data on that track. Click on the Stop button when you are done.


Entering notes in the Score View

Click once on the Note Add tool [image] in the Toolbox. The Note Add tool becomes highlighted. A palette of note values and tools opens up.

The cursor changes from a pointer to a note shape. The note shape reflects the note value that you select from the Note Add palette. The default is a quarter note.

When you move the cursor over the staff, a line will appear when you are lined up with the Ruler. This is relative to the note value you choose. For instance, with a quarter note, the line will appear when you are lined up with the quarter note markings on the Ruler. This can help you place a note with greater precision.

Use the Ruler to guide the cursor as you are placing the note. When you have the cursor in the correct place, click once and the note will be placed on the staff.

Remember that notes placed this way are diatonic relative to the current key signature. For instance, if you place a note into the C location on the staff, and the key signature is A major, the note will actually be a C sharp (one of the three sharps in the key of A major).


See Also

Tools


Selection techniques
Selection

To edit your music with Studio for Windows, you need to select the part(s) to be edited. This can be done in various ways, depending on which part of the program you are in at the time.

Score View selection	MIDI List selection

Studio Panel selection	Dialog box selection

Edit menu selection


Selection in the Score View
Selecting in Score View

In the Score View, clicking on a note selects it. Clicking within the window (but not on any note) deselects the note.

If you wish to select multiple notes, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on the additional notes. The notes do not need to be contiguous. To deselect a note, click a second time (still holding the Ctrl key).

You can also select multiple contiguous notes by clicking and dragging. Click and hold down the left mouse button when the mouse cursor is next to the first note in a group. (Make sure you are not on top of a note, or you will only select that note.) Drag the mouse, still holding down the mouse button, until you pass the last note in the group. Release the mouse button. The group will display in a highlighted color (or reverse video ) to indicate that it has been selected.

Once you have made your note selection, you can choose the editing operation from the Edit or Music menus.


Selecting in the MIDI List View
Selecting in MIDI List View

This view is similar to the Score View. You can select single events, multiple events, and groups of events with the same clicking and Ctrl-clicking techniques described earlier.


Selecting in the Studio Panel View
Selecting in Studio Panel View

Unlike the Score and MIDI List Views, you can only select one or more full tracks in this View. Click on the Track number to the left of the Track Description to select it. The track will display in a highlighted color (or reverse video) to show that it has been selected.

The same technique of Ctrl-clicking (as in Score and MIDI List Views) applies here. Also, to deselect a track or group of tracks, click on the Track Number label at the top left corner of the Studio Panel View.


Selecting in dialog boxes

Some editing operations (Quantize, Scale Velocity, Transpose, and Change Tempo) allow you to select a region from within their associated dialog box.

The selection is accomplished by entering values for Measure, Beat, and Tick starting and ending points.

By default, the last value used is automatically entered in the appropriate dialog box. This saves time when you are applying multiple edit operations to the same region of music.


Edit menu selection commands
Edit menu selection

There are three selection comands in the Edit menu.

Select All	Select Measures

Select Tracks


Basic editing procedures
Basic editing

The basic editing operations can be found in the Edit menu. These include Cut, Splice Cut, Copy, Paste, and Splice/Paste. All of these use the Studio Clipboard.

The Studio Clipboard is a temporary storage space for MIDI note and event information. The Cut, Splice Cut, and Copy commands place information into the Studio Clipboard area, while the Paste and Splice/Paste commands retrieve previously stored information from the Studio Clipboard.

As the Studio Clipboard is only a temporary storage area, any information in it will be overwritten by a new Cut, Splice Cut, or Copy command.

The Cut, Splice Cut, and Copy commands will place a bitmap copy of selected notation within the Score View into the Windows Clipboard. You may then paste this into a word processing document in another application. Note that the selection must fit in the Score View window, and the notes must be black on a white background, in order for this to work.

Cut	Splice Cut

Copy	Paste

Splice/Paste


Track editing procedures
Track editing

Often you may want to change a characteristic of an entire track, rather than a smaller area such as a measure. The track editing commands are in the Track menu.


See

Track menu commands


Region editing procedures
Region editing

There are some editing commands that operate on a selected region of music. These editing features are located in the Music Menu.


See

Music menu commands


MIDI List editing

At the top of this view is a list box for choosing the track to display. If you have previously edited or altered a track, it will be the track displayed. Change the track if necessary by clicking on the arrow to the right of the list box. A list will drop down, and you can click on the correct track.

There are two track types - the typical track with MIDI note data, and a Tempo track. A song may have many regular tracks, but it will only have one Tempo track.


See

Editing a regular track

Editing the Tempo track


Editing a track (MIDI List View)
Editing a regular track

The fields within the MIDI List View include Type, Channel, Start Time, Duration/Data, Pitch, Velocity On, and Velocity Off.

You can change values by clicking on them with the mouse. If you use the left mouse button, the value will decrease, and if you use the right mouse button, the value will increase.

The Type field displays the MIDI event type. For example, it will display ProgChng for a Program Change message, Note for a Note event, etc. You can select the event by clicking within the Type column. You cannot change this field.

The Channel field displays the MIDI Channel assignment for the event.

The Start Time field displays the point in the file where the event begins. The Measure, Beat, and Tick values are displayed. Click within the column for the value you wish to change.

The Duration/Data field displays either the duration of the event (for Note events) or the Data value (for all other events). You can change this parameter by clicking within the column.

The Pitch field displays the Note number of the Note event. (This is blank for other event types.) Click within the column to change the pitch.

The Pitch value is displayed as a letter with a number after it (e.g. C5). The MIDI specification allows 128 different pitches, from C-1 (a C five octaves below middle C) to G9 (a G five and a half octaves above middle C).

The Velocity On and Velocity Off fields display velocity values for Note events. Click within the respective columns to change velocity. (These are blank for other event types.)

There are two buttons in the upper right corner - Insert and Delete.

Clicking on Delete will delete the currently selected event within the MIDI List View. If no event is selected, nothing will be deleted.

Clicking on Insert will open a dialog box with a choice of MIDI event types. The event you choose will be inserted before the currently selected event within the MIDI List View.

The event types available are Note Event, Program Change, Channel Aftertouch, Key Aftertouch, Controller, and Pitch Bend.


See

Inserting a MIDI Event


Editing the Tempo track

If you choose the Tempo track in the Track list box, the display in the MIDI List View is somewhat different. This is because the Tempo track is a special type of track that only stores tempo changes.

The fields within this window include Type, Time, Absolute Tempo, and Scaled Tempo.

TheType field always displays Tempo Change when working with the Tempo track.

The Time field displays the location in time (measure, beat, and tick) of the Tempo Change event. You can edit these values by clicking with the mouse. The right mouse button increases, and the left mouse button decreases the value.

The Absolute Tempo field displays the absolute tempo value stored within the Tempo track. This value multiplied times the scaling percentage equals the Scaled Tempo. The scaling percentage is controlled interactively by the Tempo slider in the Mixer View and the Tape Deck View.

The Scaled Tempo field displays the scaled tempo value. This value is always equal to the absolute (base) tempo in the Tempo track multiplied by the scaling percentage.

There are two buttons in the upper right corner - Insert and Delete.

Clicking on Delete will delete the currently selected Tempo Change event within the MIDI List View. If no event is selected, nothing will be deleted.

Clicking on Insert will open the Tempo Change dialog box [image].


See

Inserting a Tempo Change event


Tempo Change

Within this dialog box [image], you can specify the Base Tempo (the absolute tempo in the Tempo Track), the Adjusted Value (the scaled value), and the location in the track.

The two tempo values have a direct relationship to the scroll bar in the Tempo Box. The Adjusted value is the Base Tempo multiplied by the Tempo box scroll bar.

For example, if the Tempo scroll bar was set at 100%, and you entered a value of 124 in the Base Tempo field, the Adjusted Tempo value would display 124. If the Tempo scroll bar was set at 50%, and you entered a value of 124, the Adjusted Tempo value would be 62.


Step Record and Step Play

Step recording is a method for entering notes one at a time. It is slower than real-time recording, but the advantage is that you gain precise control over each note. This method is ideal if you do not have good enough keyboard skills to play a part from start to finish. It allows you to go at your own pace, slowing down for the difficult sections.

Step play is a mode for stepping through your MIDI music one event at a time. This is useful when you have a dense passage of music, and you want to isolate a note or a phrase. It is also helpful when you are setting the Punch-in values.

You can enter Step mode in either the Tape Deck View or the Mixer View, depending on your preference.


See

Step Record

Step Play


Step Record

Click on the Step button in the Mixer View or Tape Deck View. The button highlights, indicating that the program is now in Step Mode. Next, click on the Record button. The Toolbox in the Score View opens up, allowing you to choose note values. If you have Show Step Entry Parameters enabled in the Options menu, the Step Entry Parameters dialog box [image] will pop up. This box contains settings for note duration and velocity.

If you have a MIDI keyboard or other controller connected, simply play each note. To change the value of each note, enter the new value in the Step Entry Parameters dialog box, or choose the proper value by clicking on the Note Add palette icons.

When you place notes in the Score View using the Note Add tool, you are actually step recording. This is a very slow method of entering music, but very handy for short phrases and the occasional extra note.

Step Record only records note data (Note On/Off, Velocity) and Program Change messages. All other MIDI data, including Aftertouch, Pitch Bend, and System Exclusive messages, are ignored.

To leave Step Mode, click once again on the Step button. The button will return to its normal color, and the Record and Play buttons will return to their usual states.

Keyboard shortcut: F8


See Also

Step Entry Parameters

Note Add tool


Step Play

Click on the Step button in the Mixer View. The button highlights, indicating that the program is now in Step Mode. As you click on the Play button, the song will move forward by one note event. Each time you click on Play, the next note event will play.

Use this when you want to step through a difficult passage and locate a particular note.

To leave Step Mode, click once again on the Step button. The button will return to its normal color.

Keyboard shortcut: F9


Punch-in and Punch-out

Punching is a method of replacing a small part of a track. It is sometimes easier to do this than to edit the track manually.

When you punch on a track in a traditional recording studio, the tape machine plays until a predetermined point, switches into record mode for a short time (punch-in), then switches back into play mode (punch-out). Between the punch-in and punch-out points you can re-record a section of music. Studio for Windows provides the same capability.

Click on the Track mode column for the track you wish to punch-in/punch-out until PUNCH is displayed. This indicates that the track is ready for a punch-in. When you click on the Record button in the Tape Deck View, a dialog box [image] will appear.

This dialog box has two location settings. Punch-In Point and Punch-Out Point  let you enter the measure, beat, and tick locations for the punch-in and punch-out, respectively. When you have entered these correctly, choose OK.

The track will now begin to play, along with any other tracks you have already recorded. When you reach the punch-in point, the track will switch into Record mode. You can replace a phrase or section by playing it along with the music. When you reach the punch-out point, the track will switch back to Play mode again. The only part of the track that changes is the section between the punch-in and punch-out points.

It is often helpful to begin playing the replacement part before the actual punch-in point, and continue playing after the punch-out point. Many musicians find it easier to retain the original feeling or rhythm this way.

As with any edit operations, you may want to make a copy of the track you are punch-in recording on, for backup. If things get out of hand, you still have the original track.


Looping

Looping allows you to record the phrase or section you want to repeat, select it, and choose the number of repetitions. Each repetition is a perfect copy of the original phrase or section.

When you click in the Loop column (in the Studio Panel View) for a particular track, a dialog box [image] appears. Three groups of parameters let you set the Source Range, the Destination Range, and the Loop Type.

Source Range

Destination Range

Loop Type


Enter the beginning and ending measure of the phrase or section you want to loop. You are not restricted to only small sections - you can loop an entire song if you want.

The loop feature only works on full measures. You cannot loop a section that spans a measure and a half. If you wish to repeat fractional measures, you can copy and paste them.


This group contains two radio buttons - Fill Entire Song and Fill Repetition Count.

Fill Entire Song will duplicate the selected section as many times as needed to fill the song. If this number is fractional, then the last section will be a partial one. For instance, if you selected a two measure section to fill a nine measure song, the ninth measure would consist of the first half of the loop section.

Fill Repetition Count lets you enter the amount of repetitions into a text box. The number you enter includes the original loop section.

For instance, if you want eighteen total sections, enter the number 18.


There are two radio buttons in this group - Virtual and Expanded Out.

Virtual means that the selected music is not actually duplicated, but will play back the specified amount of repetitions. If you plan to edit the looped music, this is the best choice until you have the final version.

Virtual loops cannot be saved in Standard MIDI File format. If you save a song in this format, any loops that are Virtual will be converted to Expanded Out loops.

Expanded Out actually copies the looped section the specified number of repetitions. The song file will contain more music after this type of loop command. However, if you change the original looped section, the change will not be reflected in the repetitions. For this reason, you may want to use Virtual looping while composing and arranging, and switch to Expanded Out looping when you are sure of the part.

Expanded Out looping can also be used when you want subtle variations between repetitions, such as gradual velocity or controller changes.

If you choose Expanded Out as the loop type, the Loop parameter for that track will return to normal (-). If you choose Virtual as the loop type, the Loop parameter for that track will be On. To change a loop from Virtual to Expanded Out, click on the Loop parameter twice. The parameter will display Off, then On again, and open the Loop dialog again. You can then choose the Expanded Out radio button.

You cannot change an Expanded Out loop into a Virtual loop.


Printing

Studio for Windows lets you print out a copy of the notated music in the Score View to any printer compatible with Windows. You must have the printer set up correctly for Windows before printing a score.

The quality and flexibility of the printed output is not high enough for publication. The intended use of this feature is to let you see your music printed, and to use as a guide for arranging. (Future Midisoft products will provide publication-quality score printing.)

Selecting the Print command opens a dialog box [image]. You have the choice of printing an entire score, a single track, or selected (highlighted) tracks.

If you choose Print Highlighted Tracks, you must select these tracks before you enter the Print Options dialog box.

If you choose Print Track, select a single track from the list box.

You can print page numbers, track numbers, and measure numbers on the score by clicking on the appropriate check box. You can also specify a header and footer to print out on every page by filling in the respective text fields.

Finally, you can transpose the printed output up or down by half-steps (semitones). This is useful when you want to print out a staff written for a transposed instrument such as saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, etc. Choose a radio button for either upward or downward transposition, and enter the semitone value in the edit field.

Click on the OK button to begin printing your music. The process of printing music is a complex one, and may take some time. If you decide to abort the printing operation, you can click on Cancel in the Printing dialog box.


MIDI Sync

MIDI Sync allows different sequencers to start, play back, and stop in synchronization. One sequencer is the master, and all others are slaves. This is achieved through the use of MIDI Sync.

There are two aspects to using MIDI Sync -- setting the clock source, and setting the reception or transmittal of MIDI Start/Stop and Song Position Pointer messages. These are all located within the Setup Preferences dialog box.

Click on the Preferences item in the Setup menu to open the dialog box [image]. In the top left corner is a box called Clock Source. It contains two radio buttons - Internal and MIDI.

Internal indicates that Studio will use a clock source generated from within the program. This is the source to use in normal operation, or when you wish to use Studio as the master to control another sequencer.

MIDI indicates that Studio will use an external clock source coming in through the cable plugged into the MIDI IN connector. This is the source to use when you wish to control Studio from another sequencer.

In the bottom of the dialog box is a box called Clock Sync Enables. There are choices for sending and receiving MIDI Start/Stop and MIDI Song Position Pointer messages. These are messages, sent from a master sequencer to all slave sequencers, which tell the slave devices when and where to start and stop playing.

If you are using Studio for Windows as a master, you will need to enable the transmittal of MIDI Start/Stop and MIDI Song Position Pointer messages. If Studio is to be the slave, then enable the reception of these messages.

For example, if you want to use a drum sequencer as the master, set the drum sequencer to send MIDI Start/Stop and Song Position Pointer messages. Next, set the Clock Source to MIDI in Studio for Windows, and enable the reception of MIDI Start/Stop and Song Position Pointer messages. When you start the drum sequencer, Studio for Windows will play the current song in synchronization with the drum sequencer.

You will need to set up the other sequencer(s) properly. Not all sequencers can transmit and receive both MIDI Start/Stop and MIDI Song Position Pointer messages. Check your documentation.


Auto Play

When you start Studio for Windows, the program looks for a file called SONGLIST.TXT in the song directory. This file is a list of songs in the order you want them to play.

If the file exists, you will see a dialog box [image], asking if you want to to run Auto Play. If you click on OK, the first song on the list will play. When it ends, the next song will play, and so on, until the final song plays and ends. At this point, the cycle will begin again.

This feature was designed with live performance in mind. You can create a list of songs, and play each song in turn, without having to load any files from disk.

You can temporarily stop the process at any time by clicking on the Stop or Pause button.

To stop Auto Play completely, choose either the New command or the Open command in the File menu.

Each song named in the SONGLIST.TXT file must actually be present in the song directory, or else the Auto Play mode will end.

You may want to put one or two lead-in measures before each song, especially if you have a fast hard disk. Otherwise, you may start the next song before the applause dies down!


See

Creating a song list

Setting the song directory


Auto Play song list
Creating a song list

The SONGLIST.TXT file is an ASCII text file. This is the simplest kind of file, one that virtually all word processing programs can produce.

To create the file, start a new document in your favorite word processor. Type the name of the song (including the SNG or MID extension). Each song must be on its own line, followed by a carriage return. Do not type in the pathname.

When you save the file, the format you choose will probably be called ASCII or Text Only. (If you do not save in this format, Studio for Windows cannot recognize the file.) Remember to save the file with the name SONGLIST.TXT.

The Notepad and Windows Write programs that come with Windows are both able to save in ASCII format.


Setting the song directory

If the songs are in a different directory than the program, you can set this and store it as a preference.

Open a file from this directory. Choose the Save Options and Setup command in the Setup menu. The directory is now saved as your song directory, and is where Studio for Windows will look for song files and for the SONGLIST.TXT file.