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CanvasMan (TM)
Version 4.9
Copyright (c) 1992-1995 Jeff Cazel
All Rights Reserved
CanvasMan and the sunglassed Beethoven
are trademarks of Jeff Cazel
User's Guide Revision Date: January 1995
****************************************************************
Notes on this user's guide
The real CanvasMan User's Guide is a Word for Windows 6.0 document with
multiple fonts and several pictures; saving it in 'MS-DOS Text with Layout'
format created this text version. You will note that it has some
formatting problems:
1--All pictures are missing. By definition, text files do not store
graphical information.
2--There are strangely formatted paragraphs, especially those with em-
dashes (--).
3--There are no fonts nor page numbers.
4--Parts of the License Agreement on the next page do not apply to the
shareware version. For example, there is no shareware "sealed software
package."
We have not made a major effort to format the text manual since you can
order the 'official' CanvasMan User's Guide. To do so, see the online
help's order form.
Jeff Cazel
JJC MIDI LICENSE AGREEMENT
This is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or an entity)
and JJC MIDI. By opening the sealed software package and/or by using the
SOFTWARE, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. If you do
not agree to the terms of this Agreement, promptly return the unopened
software package and the accompanying printed materials to the place from
which you obtained them for a full refund.
JJC MIDI SOFTWARE LICENSE
1. GRANT OF LICENSE. This software is protected by both United States
copyright law and international treaty provisions. Therefore, you must
treat this software like a book, with the following single exception: JJC
MIDI authorizes you to make archival copies of the software for the sole
purpose of backing up our software and protecting your investment loss.
By saying "like a book," we mean, for example, that this software may be
freely moved from one computer to another so long as there is no
possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at
another. Just like a book that can't be read by two different people at
the same time, neither can the software be used by two different people at
the same time (unless, of course, JJC MIDI's copyright has been violated).
2. OTHER RESTRICTIONS. You may not reverse engineer, decompile or
disassemble the software.
3. REGISTRATION INFORMATION. JJC MIDI strictly prohibits you from
distributing your Registration Information to anyone.
WARRANTY DISCLAIMER
JJC MIDI hereby disclaims any and all warranties relating to this software
both express and implied, including any merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose. JJC MIDI will not be liable for any incidental,
consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other
reason. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and
performance of the software.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
MIDI Programmer's ToolKit for Windows, Copyright (c) 1994, by Paul A. Messick
and Music Quest, Inc.
Band-In-A-Box is a trademark of PG Music. Cakewalk and Cakewalk
Professional for Windows are trademarks of Twelve Tone Systems, Inc.
CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc. Microsoft is a
registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Music Quest and MIDI Programmer's ToolKit for Windows are trademarks of
Music Quest, Inc. Sound Canvas is a trademark of Roland Corporation US.
Other brands, companies and product names mentioned are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective holders. The mentioning of these
names is meant solely for identification purposes and is in no way meant to
constitute an endorsement of JJC MIDI or our products by these companies.
CanvasMan User's Guide
Table of Contents
Overview 1
Setting Up 3
Quick Start 3
Sequence MIDI Output Ports 4
MIDI Thru 5
Define Synths 6
Main Window 7
Menus 8
File Menu 8
Edit Menu 10
MIDI Menu 24
Setup Menu 26
Help Menu 27
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits 28
Appendix A Technical Support 31
Appendix B MIDI Multitasking 32
Appendix C MIDI Thru and Local 33
Appendix D Online Help 34
Appendix E Spin Button 35
Appendix F Multiple Synths? 36
Index 37
Overview
CanvasMan is the Windows editor/librarian for Roland's Sound Canvas line of
GS synthesizers (SC-55, SC-55mkII, SCC-1, SC-50, JV-30 and many others).
CanvasMan provides true MIDI multitasking -- you can run it by itself, while
you sequence with Cakewalk or while you jam with Band-In-A-Box. Your wait
is over for an easy-to-use Sound Canvas editor.
CanvasMan can play your MIDI files as you edit--you'll hear your changes
instantly in the context of your own musical projects! It saves its data
in standard sysex format (also called "MIDIEX" format) so you can store
edits within your sequences or as stand-alone banks. You can even create
your own single- and multi-Part sounds for easy future recall. Finally,
CanvasMan gives you complete control over all Global, Part, and Drum
parameters.
To maximize data integrity, CanvasMan uses one-way MIDI communication only
(from the computer to the synthesizer). You cannot lose data when other
windows send extraneous data.
This guide interchangeably refers to any CanvasMan-supported GS sound
module or keyboard as a "Canvas," a "Sound Canvas" or a "GS synth." "GS"
is Roland's "General Standard"--a superset of the General MIDI standard. If
you have an SCC-1, please ignore references to the "display" or "LCD"--the
SCC-1 doesn't have one.
CanvasMan avoids the term "patch" in its documentation because "patch" has
an ambiguous definition in the context of multi-timbral synthesizers
("synths"). All users should read the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits section
(page 32) for a complete description of CanvasMan's data files.
Overview (continued)
This guide describes how to modify, save and audition the various
parameters within the Canvas. It does not describe what these parameters
do. For example, it describes how to turn Chorus On and Off, but it
doesn't state what effect that has on the sound nor why you may want that
effect. The online help and various Canvas owner's manuals will explain
some of these parameters, however.
This guide also does not explain basic Windows procedures and concepts such
as selecting menu options and using scroll bars. If you are a new Windows
user, please run the Windows Tutorial on the Program Manager's Help menu.
Finally, though there are multiple versions of CanvasMan, they share the
same help file. Unless specifically noted, "CanvasMan" refers to any
version.
System Requirements
Microsoft Windows 3.1, mouse, VGA video card and monitor
MIDI interface with a Windows 3.1 driver
Roland GS or compatible synthesizer
Setting Up -- Quick Start
1 Run SETUP--On the Program Manager screen, select File and then Run....
This will display the Run dialog and position your cursor at Command
Line.
If you have a CanvasMan disk in drive A:, type A:SETUP <Enter>
If you have a CanvasMan disk in drive B:, type B:SETUP <Enter>
If you have downloaded the Shareware Edition of CanvasMan, type the full
path to SETUP.EXE and press <Enter> (for example,
C:\TEMP\SETUP <Enter>).
Follow the instructions on the screen.
2 Read CanvasMan's Help Introduction--Double-click on the READ ME FIRST!
icon in CanvasMan's Program Manager group and read the information.
This will give you a good overview of CanvasMan.
3 Set Up MIDI Devices and Synths--Start CanvasMan by double-clicking on its
icon in CanvasMan's Program Manager group. Setting up consists of three
dialog boxes: Sequence MIDI Output Ports, MIDI Thru and Define Synths.
Select Sequence MIDI Output Ports from CanvasMan's Setup menu (CanvasMan
will automatically run this option for you the first time in).
Read the next three pages for complete descriptions of Sequence MIDI
Output Ports, MIDI Thru and Define Synths.
See also the MIDI Multitasking appendix for more information.
Finally, note that CanvasMan turns off Local Control at startup. For
more information, see the MIDI Thru and Local appendix.
Setting Up -- Sequence MIDI Output Ports
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
If you have more than one output port, you can have CanvasMan play your
MIDI files on some or all of them. To so do, sequence the output ports to
match your multi-port MIDI files. Do so by double-clicking, in order, on
the relevant ports in the Not in New Sequence column (this will move them
to the New Sequence column). For example, the picture above shows that I
am changing my sequence from the MQX as #1 and the MPU-401 as #2 (Old
Sequence) to the Serial as #1 and the MQX as #2 (New Sequence). If I want
to, I can still add the MPU-401 and the MIDI Mapper to the New Sequence
column as #3 and #4 before selecting OK.
In summary, when you select OK, the New Sequence takes effect. If you
select Cancel, however, the Old Sequence remains in effect.
**********************************************************
If you have a single MIDI interface like most of us, you can simply move it
by itself into the New Sequence column. Try to avoid using the MIDI
Mapper--you cannot open it for multiple concurrent output. See the MIDI
Multitasking appendix for more information.
If you sequence the ports incorrectly, select the Restart button to move
all New Sequence ports back to Not in New Sequence. You can then restart
sequencing your ports.
Each time you run Sequence MIDI Output Ports, CanvasMan will run MIDI Thru
and Define Synths afterwards.
Setting Up -- MIDI Thru
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This screen is where you to set up your MIDI Thru options. The top half
will eventually allow you to select which MIDI messages to filter--CanvasMan
currently filters system reset, active sensing, and tune request.
The bottom half of this screen allows you to select the input and output
port you wish to use for MIDI Thru. The left side handles the input port.
You will want to select the port that is connected to your keyboard
controller. (If you have more than one controller, select the one you are
currently playing.)
The bottom right section handles the output port. Select the port to which
you want your keyboard controller's MIDI information routed. You'll
typically specify the same port as in Define Synths (see next page), since
you'll probably want both types of MIDI information to go to the same port
(i.e., eventually routed to the GS synth).
This screen is unavailable if your MIDI interface is output-only or if your
selected input port has a single-client driver and is already in use. See
the MIDI Thru and Local appendix (page 37) for more information.
Setting Up -- Define Synths
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This screen allows you to tell CanvasMan about your synthesizer(s).
CanvasMan will support a MIDI network that has up to three GS synths--there
is one column for each of them. (If you have one GS synth, use column #1;
if you have two, use #1 and #2; and if you have three, use all three
columns.)
Use the Model combobox to tell CanvasMan what type of GS synth you have.
Similarly, use the Device # combobox to specify which device # you have
used for each synth. You will want to leave the device # at 17 unless you
have more than one GS synth connected to the same MIDI output port. (If
you do have more than one on the same MIDI port, read your synth manual to
find out how to change its device # and then change CanvasMan to match.)
Once you choose your model and device #, CanvasMan stores and acts on the
information and displays it on the main window caption.
If the Model combobox does not list your synthesizer, please see the online
help's Introduction section for information on how to proceed.
The bottom section of the screen allows you to specify which output MIDI
port you have used for each of your synths. For each column in use,
specify the port to which you want CanvasMan's system exclusive ("SysEx")
data routed.
Main Window
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
CanvasMan's main window consists of several sections. From top to bottom,
they are:
* Titlebar / Caption
* Menubar
* Toolbar
* Part Selectors
* Edit Controls (The picture above does not show any
Edit Controls since they change based on the current
Edit Menu selection.)
The window caption states your current Combo file name, "CanvasMan," the
synth model and assigned device #, and the current Edit Menu selection.
The menubar (File Edit MIDI Setup Help) appears below the caption. The
menu sections of this manual explain each menu option in detail. Certain
options have accelerator "hotkeys" that make accessing them quicker. For
example, you can press Ctrl+A to display the Quick Edit A screen. The
menus list accelerators where available.
The toolbar is the row of pictures ("icons") below the menubar. These
icons duplicate some of the menu options. From left to right, the icons
represent File-New, File-Open, File-Save, File-Load MIDI File, MIDI-
Play/Pause, MIDI-Rewind, MIDI-Thru, MIDI-Local, Help-About and MIDI-
Panic Button. Note that several dialog boxes (Define Synths, Directories,
etc.) also contain the MIDI-oriented toolbar buttons.
In most cases, the Part selection buttons appear below the toolbar.
However, when you've selected an edit window that spans multiple parts, the
Part selectors disappear. When available, click on one of the sixteen
radio buttons to choose your current work in process Part.
The Edit Menu section describes the different Edit Control screens in
detail.
File Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
See the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits section (page 32) to learn how
CanvasMan's data files interrelate.
New
This option sends a GS Reset to the Canvas and renames the current GS
Combo file to UNTITLED. Before wiping out your Combo-in-process,
however, File-New will prompt you to save it if you've changed it since
your last File-Save or File-Save As.
Open
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Combos. Once you select
a valid file, CanvasMan sends its sysex data to the Canvas. File-Open
will prompt you to save the current Combo if you've changed it since
your last File-Save or File-Save As.
Save
This option saves the current GS Combo file. If the current file name
is UNTITLED, File-Save behaves as File-Save As and displays a file save
dialog for Combos.
Save As
This option displays a file save dialog for GS Combos.
File Menu (continued)
Load GS Sound
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Sounds. Once you select
a valid file, you can insert it into the current Combo starting on any
tonal part.
Save GS Sound
This option allows you to select which Part(s) you wish to include in a
GS Sound. Once you've done so and pressed the OK button, File-Save GS
Sound displays a file save dialog for Sounds.
Load GS Drum Kit
This option displays a file open dialog for GS Drum Kits. Once you
select a valid file, you can insert it into the current Combo as Drum
Kit #1 or #2.
Save GS Drum Kit
This option displays a file save dialog for GS Drum Kits.
Load MIDI File
This option displays a file open dialog for MIDI format files ("standard
MIDI files"). Once you select a valid file, CanvasMan starts playing
it. File-Load MIDI File is grayed if MIDI is disabled.
Note that you can also play MIDI files by dragging them from Windows'
File Manager and dropping them anywhere on the CanvasMan window.
When loading a MIDI file, CanvasMan analyzes its General MIDI program
changes. See Import Patches (page 28) for more details.
CanvasMan will ignore tracks numbered greater than 256.
Exit
This option exits CanvasMan. File-Exit will prompt you to save the
current GS Combo file if you've changed it since your last File-Save or
File-Save As.
Edit Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
The Edit Menu displays a list of all of the edit dialog windows. CanvasMan
indicates the current choice with a check mark to its left.
When you select a new edit window, the window size reverts to its default.
As with most Windows programs, however, you can resize the CanvasMan window
at any time.
Each valid change you make on any edit screen sends the sysex data to the
Sound Canvas immediately.
**********************************************************
To better clarify the explanatory text, the pictures of the Edit Control
screens on the next several pages do not show the titlebar, menubar and
toolbar.
Edit Menu -- Quick Edit A
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This dialog displays general part settings for all 16 Parts. You can use
the keyboard to change several parameters here. Move between parameters
with the <Tab> and <Shift+Tab> keys; you can also single-click (steady
hand!) on a parameter to select it.
Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See the Spin Button
appendix (page 41) for more information.
To mute a Part, set its MIDI Channel to 0. To set random panning, set Pan
to -64.
Edit Menu -- Quick Edit B
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This dialog displays additional general part settings for all 16 Parts.
You can use the keyboard to change several parameters here. Move between
parameters with the <Tab> and <Shift+Tab> keys; you can also single-click
(steady hand!) on a parameter to select it.
Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See the Spin Button
appendix (page 41) for more information.
To mute a Part, set its MIDI Channel to 0.
Edit Menu -- General Part Settings #1
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
You can change several general parameters in this dialog. To set random
panning, set Part Panpot to -64.
Edit Menu -- General Part Settings #2
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
You can change additional general parameters in this dialog.
Edit Menu -- Receive Flags / Scale Tuning
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Receive Flags / Scale Tuning dialog. You can
specify to which MIDI messages a Part responds and you can tune the
individual chromatic notes for a Part here.
Edit Menu -- Modulation / Pitch Bend
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Modulation / Pitch Bend dialog. You can change
Modulation and Pitch Bend-oriented parameters in this window.
Edit Menu -- Aftertouch
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Aftertouch dialog. You can change Aftertouch-
oriented parameters in this window.
Edit Menu -- Continuous Controllers
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Continuous Controllers dialog. You can change
Continuous Controller-oriented parameters in this window.
Edit Menu -- Master Settings
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Master Settings dialog. You can change global
parameters on this screen that affect every Part.
Edit Menu -- Reverb / Chorus
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Reverb / Chorus Settings dialog. You can change
effects parameters on this screen that affect every Part.
Edit Menu -- Tone/Rhythm / Voice Reserve
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Tone/Rhythm / Voice Reserve dialog. You can
designate Parts as tonal or rhythm (Map #1 or #2) here, and you can reserve
voices for Parts.
Edit Menu -- Drum Kits
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
This option displays the Drum Kits dialog. The Sound Canvas stores
settings for two drum kits; you can use the keyboard to change these
settings here. Move between parameters with the <Tab> and <Shift+Tab>
keys; you can also single-click (steady hand!) on a parameter to select it.
Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See the Spin Button
appendix (page 41) for more information.
The top of the screen displays the kit names (Electronic and Power in the
example above). The left column lists the sounds within the selected kit.
You can select which of the two sound lists to display via the Instrument
Names radio buttons in the upper left corner. For example, to change the
list from Electronic to Power, click on the bottom button. If both kits
are the same, CanvasMan disables the Instrument Names radio buttons. (Most
sounds are the same throughout all kits, so you may not see much, if any,
effect when changing Instrument Names.)
Edit Menu -- Miscellaneous Options
Decrement Part
This option decreases the current Part by 1. If you are already on
Part 1, the Part recycles back to 16.
Increment Part
This option increases the current Part by 1. If you are already on
Part 16, the Part recycles back to 1.
Next Quick Edit Screen
This option moves forward through the Quick Edit screens. If you're
already at the last screen, it takes you to the first. This option is
only available when the Quick Edit screens are active.
Prior Quick Edit Screen
This option moves backward through the Quick Edit screens. If you're
already at the first screen, it takes you to the last. This option is
only available when the Quick Edit screens are active.
MIDI Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
Play
Pause
These options toggle the MIDI player On and Off. If the file is
currently playing, the Play option is checked and grayed (unavailable);
if currently paused, Pause is checked and grayed.
Rewind
This option resets the current MIDI file to its beginning and, if
playing, pauses it.
Import GM Patches
This option allows you to import patch information from the currently
loaded MIDI file into the current Combo file. By design, this affects
all instances of CanvasMan and other JJC MIDI editor programs currently
running. Because of this far-reaching effect, CanvasMan will confirm
that you are sure you want to do this before actually importing the
patch information. See Load MIDI File (page 13) for more details.
MIDI Menu (continued)
Thru
This option toggles MIDI Thru On and Off. MIDI-Thru is unavailable if
you do not have at least one MIDI Input and Output port.
Local
This option toggles Local On and Off for your controller keyboard(s).
The data transmits on all channels for all sequenced output ports.
Since most users want Local Off, CanvasMan turns Local Off at startup.
Refresh Synth
This option retransmits the current GS Combo file's sysex data to the
Canvas.
Panic Button
This option stops the song (if playing) and sends "all notes off" and
"reset all controllers" messages on each MIDI channel of each sequenced
MIDI port.
Setup Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
Sequence MIDI Output Ports
MIDI Thru
Define Synths
Installation pages 3-6 explain these options fully.
Directories
This option allows you to specify which directories to use for MIDI
files (labelled as Standard MIDI Files), sysex/MIDIEX files (SysEx /
MIDIEX Files), GS Combos (Combo Files), GS Sounds (Sound Files) and GS
Drum Kits (Drum Kit Files). Setup-Directories will create the
directories if necessary, but only to one level. For example,
C:\CM\SOUNDS is invalid unless C:\CM already exists.
Help Menu
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
Contents
This option displays the table of contents for CanvasMan's online help
system.
Search for Help on
This option displays the list of cross-referenced CanvasMan help
keywords. You can search for information on any indexed word or phrase
as listed here.
How to Use Help
This option displays Windows' own 'how to use help' tutorial.
About CanvasMan
This option displays the sunglassed Beethoven trademark and plays the
CanvasMan fanfare. Its purpose is to list copyright and program version
information.
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits
CanvasMan creates three types of data files:
GS Combos *.GSC / *.G2C / *.SYX
GS Sounds *.GSS / *.G2S
GS Drum Kits *.GSD
CanvasMan focuses on Combo files. Combos contain data for the entire Sound
Canvas. Since the Sound Canvas has sixteen Parts and two drum kits, you
can think of a Combo file as a large band. (In this context, capitalized
"Combo," "Sound" or "Drum Kit" indicates CanvasMan data files. The non-
capitalized version indicates 'normal' meaning; e.g., a "combo" is a band
or an orchestra.)
You set up one Combo for each of your songs; in effect, each song has a
separate combo at its disposal. However, you will probably find that your
songs often use the same settings for several instruments. For example, if
you create the ultimate grand piano sound, you may want to use it in most
of your songs' Combos. Similarly, if you've changed the reverb on certain
drum instruments in drum kit #1, you may want that effect in all of your
songs.
This is where GS Sound and GS Drum Kit files come in. Sounds and Drum Kits
are modular building blocks for your Combos. Sounds consist of one or more
Parts on the same channel. Drum Kits contain note mapping and effects
parameters for drum kits. Continuing the above example, assume you've
created a great piano sound in your current Combo on MIDI channel 6 using
Part 8. Rather than remembering all the parameters you've tweaked so you
can recreate them for your next song, simply save Part 8 by itself as a
Sound.
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits (continued)
To do so, select File-Save GS Sound. When it asks which Part(s) to
include, click on Part 8. When you select OK, CanvasMan will display the
save dialog and allow you to name your Sound GPIANO.GSS or similar. Note
that you can have multiple Parts in a Sound file. For example, if you
create a grunge organ by combining Organ 3 and Overdrive Guitar, you can
save them together for use in Combos. After selecting File-Save GS Sound,
simply check the appropriate Parts' checkboxes. You may not include rhythm
Parts in a Sound, and CanvasMan prevents such attempts.
Sounds contain all parameters that are pertinent to that Part. They do not
contain Global settings like reserved voices nor the chosen Reverb Macro.
Combos store that information.
Drum Kits work similar to Sounds. After changing the reverb for your
chosen rhythm instruments (example #1), select File-Save GS Drum Kit. When
it asks which of the two kits to use, click on Kit #1. When you select OK,
CanvasMan will display the save dialog and allow you to name your Drum Kit
COOLRVRB.GSD or similar.
When you want to use a Sound or a Drum Kit in a Combo, you select File-Load
GS Sound or File-Load GS Drum Kit, respectively. Load GS Sound allows you
to insert Sounds into the current Combo. After selecting a valid Sound
file, you specify the destination Part and MIDI channel. The Part(s) and
channel of the original Sound are irrelevant; CanvasMan provides maximum
flexibility here.
Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits (continued)
When loading a Sound, you can also opt whether to mute existing Parts on
the destination MIDI channel. If you're loading Ultimate Grand Piano on
channel 1 and channel 1 is already assigned to Space Echo, you will
probably want to leave this option checked (or end up with a space echoed
piano sound). CanvasMan loads the file into the current Combo and sends
the sysex info to the Canvas.
Load GS Sound will not overwrite Rhythm Parts with the Tonal information in
the Sound. For example, if you load a 4-Part sound into Part 9 and you
have previously set Part 10 to the Power (rhythm) Set, the GS Sound will
overwrite Parts 9, 11, 12 and 13. Similarly, Load GS Sound will fail if
you attempt to load a Sound that will not fit. For example, you cannot
load a three-part sound starting on Part 15 because it would try to fill
Parts 15, 16 and 17. Load GS Sound's prompts automatically adjust for
this.
Load GS Drum Kit allows you to insert Drum Kits into the current Combo.
After selecting a valid Drum Kit file, you specify the destination kit.
There are two destination kits, and like Sounds, the original Kit's kit
number is not relevant. CanvasMan loads the file into the current Combo
and sends the sysex info to the Canvas.
Appendix A
Technical Support
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
See the online help's Technical Support topic for current information on
getting help. Be ready to give the support staff the current version of
CanvasMan. This information shows on the About screen; in the example
shown above, the version is 4.9.
Appendix B
MIDI Multitasking
Windows' capability of running multiple MIDI programs at the same time
makes it vastly superior to DOS MIDI. You maximize this capability by
using MIDI drivers that allow multiple concurrent output ("multi-client").
Multi-client drivers, for example, allow you to program sounds with
CanvasMan at the same time you play a song in Cakewalk or Band-In-A-Box.
Note that the MIDI Mapper does not allow multiple clients. Note also that
since few input drivers support multi-client use, you should make sure
CanvasMan's MIDI Thru is turned Off if you run it at the same time as your
sequencer--this way, CanvasMan won't even try to open an input port, because
it doesn't need one. If you can share an input port, however, make sure
that no more than one program has MIDI Thru turned On--otherwise, your
machine might lockup.
All Music Quest drivers support multiple output clients, and other vendors
might have similar capabilities. The MPU-401 driver that comes with
Windows 3.1 does not support multiple clients, however. Twelve Tone
Systems (maker of Cakewalk Professional for Windows) has created a better
MPU-401 driver that does allow this. If you already run Wincake with an
MPU-401, you should already have this driver installed. If you don't have
the driver, you can get it in Wincake's demo (from probably any MIDI-
oriented BBS). (On CompuServe, grab WDEMO.TXT and WDEMO.ZIP from library 3
in the MIDIAVEN forum. Be sure to read WDEMO.TXT before unarchiving
WDEMO.ZIP.)
Understanding these concepts is probably the most confusing aspect of
Windows MIDI.
Appendix C
MIDI Thru and Local
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
(Few topics are as confusing to MIDI novices as MIDI Thru and MIDI Local
Control. Since advanced users typically understand these subjects already,
this discussion aims at novices. Note that the following paragraphs are
not intended to be exhaustive--they are simply intended to get new users up
and running.)
Study the diagram--it shows the 'correct' way to connect your MIDI cables.
Once you have connected things this way, you should turn CanvasMan's Thru
On and Local Off. (If you're running CanvasMan at the same time as your
sequencer, however, leave CanvasMan's Thru Off and turn your sequencer's
Thru On.)
If you leave Local On, your keyboard will always make noise when you press
its keys. You will probably not want that, since you may want to hear your
other synth modules (labeled To Other Synths) by themselves. You can
control if and when the keyboard itself makes noise by setting its Receive
channel to the same channel on which it Transmits.
This is where MIDI Thru comes in. With Thru On, the computer 'echoes' MIDI
data from its MIDI In to its MIDI Out. Turning Thru On and Local Off
enables you to specify when you want the keyboard to make noise and when
you want your synth modules to make noise. If you have both Thru and Local
On, playing your keyboard can 'double' its notes--the internal connection
will sound, and the computer will re-route the MIDI data back to the
keyboard, sounding it again. Conversely, you will hear nothing if both
Thru and Local are off.
Appendix D
Online Help
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
You can reach CanvasMan's online help at any time by pressing F1. Please
be sure to read the Introduction topic. Press the button for more general
information (shown below). Note the Troubleshooting section--please read it
first if you have any problems, since it probably will answer your
questions.
Appendix E
Spin Button
A spin button (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide)
allows mouse users to increase/decrease the value in an edit control by
clicking on up/down arrows. CanvasMan uses spin buttons on the Quick Edit
and Drum Kit Edit screens.
Because spin buttons are not part of Windows itself, different programmers
design them in different ways. In CanvasMan's case, press the left mouse
button while pointing at an arrow to trigger the changes; release the
button or move away from the arrows to end the changes. You can also move
to the other arrow to reverse direction.
Even though there are over 100 edit controls on the Quick Edit and Drum
screens, there is only one spin button. The reason for this is lack of
room--adding spin buttons to each column on the Quick Edit and Drum screens
would make their windows wider than the standard VGA screen.
Thus, the single spin button pertains to whichever edit control has the
keyboard focus (CanvasMan places the blinking edit caret over it). You can
move between the edit controls by clicking on them or pressing <Tab> or
<Shift+Tab>.
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) The upper-half
of the spin button's color changes when increasing values.
(picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) The lower-half
of the spin button's color changes when decreasing values.
Appendix F
Multiple Synths?
As described in the Installation section of this guide, CanvasMan will
support a MIDI network that has up to three Sound Canvas synthesizers.
Once you tell CanvasMan about your synths (via the Define Synths dialog),
you must tell each copy of CanvasMan that you run which particular synth
you wish to address.
You do this with the optional /S:n command-line parameter. You run
CNVSMN /S:1, CNVSMN /S:2, or CNVSMN /S:3 to specify which synth to address
(you can run all three at the same time if you wish). Note that the /S:n
parameter is not case-sensitive (e.g., /s:2 is the same as /S:2) and may
not contain imbedded spaces (e.g., /S: 2 is invalid).
The default setting is CNVSMN /S:1. In other words, if you run CNVSMN.EXE
with no /S: setting, CanvasMan will access the first Sound Canvas you've
defined.
CanvasMan's SETUP program creates an icon for synth #1. If you have more
than one CanvasMan synth, however, you can create separate icons for each.
See the online help's Multiple Synths? section for detailed instructions in
setting-up your CanvasMan icons to make it easy to control your setup.
Index
--B--
Band-In-A-Box 1, 32
Beethoven i, 27
--C--
Cakewalk 1, 32
--D--
Define Synths 3, 5, 6
Device # 6
drag and drop 9
--G--
GS Combo 7, 8, 9, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30
GS Drum Kit 9, 26, 28, 29, 30, 35
GS Sound 9, 26, 28, 29, 30
--L--
license ii
Local See MIDI Local Control
--M--
MIDI channel 11, 12
MIDI Local Control 3, 7, 25, 33
MIDI Mapper 4, 32
MIDI Multitasking 3, 4, 32
MIDI Thru 3, 5, 7, 25, 32, 33
MIDIEX 1, 26
Model 6
Music Quest 32
mute 11, 12, 30
--S--
Sequence MIDI Output Ports 3, 4
spin button 11, 12, 22, 35
standard MIDI files 1, 4, 9, 26
SysEx 6, 8, 10, 25, 26
system exclusive See SysEx
--T--
title page i
trademark i, ii, 27
tune 15
--W--
warranty disclaimer ii