MIDImage

MIDI Settings & Image Conversion

Set the Key Signature and Scale/Mode by choosing from the drop-down lists. The MIDI specification only allows for "standard" key signatures, so the key signature will only appear for Major, Minor(s), Dorian, Locrian, Lydian, Mixolydian, and Phrygian scales. All others will be written as C Major, and any sharps or flats will be shown as accidentals on a note-by-note basis.

Choose a numerator and denominator from the Time Signature drop-downs, if desired. It has little or no effect on sound of the output, but will appear in most external MIDI editors and sequencers.

The Tempo setting affects the speed of the composition, and is in beats-per-minute.

The Image Conversion step setting, along with the Banded, Linear or Random scan choice, will affect how the image is scanned during conversion. A 1 will cause each pixel to be scanned. A 2 will scan every other pixel. A 3 will scan every third pixel, and so forth.

Banded scans are started by pressing the B button, Linear scans by pressing the L button. The R button will use a Random scan.

• A Banded scan generates notes by the pixel-values taken from bands the height of the number of active tracks. A Linear scan creates the 1st Track, then moves on to the 2nd Track, then the 3rd, and so forth down the image. A Random scan chooses pixels randomly to create the notes.

After a Banded scan (using the B button), the image will have a series of horizontal lines indicating the bands scanned. Each line represents the bottom of a band (the last active track). To return the image to the un-banded state, just click anywhere on it. A Linear scan (using the L button) will not have these lines, but rather an alternating "negative" effect. Each section represents a generated track

Banded versus Linear Scans - 9 Tracks scanned with Step 2

Original Image	Banded Scan	Banded Tracks	Linear Tracks	Random Tracks

When a saved project is reloaded, the last scan type used will be indicated by the underline in the scan button, for instance L.

After the composition has been created, it can be played with the MIDI controls next to the Time indicators. Previously created and reloaded Projects will have the saved MIDI file automatically loaded for immediate playing, with no rescan required (assuming the MIDI file exists).

The MBT numbers are Measure Beat Tick, indicating the current position in the composition. Left- or Right-clicking the numbers allows you to move forward (left-click) or backward (right-click) through the composition. The position can also be changed using the Tools | Go to Position menu.

NOTE: Neither the Go to Position nor the MBT-click position setting works very well unless the MIDI file is already playing. If the file is newly created or loaded, it may not play, although the MBT position and time will indicate the position. Both methods will also result in the MIDI file being played very quickly while the new position is being set.

To save the composition, use Save Project in the File menu. If a composition with the same name already exists, the old one will be renamed with a .bak extension. It can be recovered by deleting the extension.