Megalomania is not a sequencer, patch editor, or patch librarian. It is not like any other Macintosh application.
Megalomania is like an effects processor for MIDI data. As MIDI data enters your Macintosh it is processed by Megalomania and then sent back out. The processing that takes place is designed by you.
You design the processing by connecting together icons that represent simple, as well as, not so simple real-time MIDI effects.
These include complex, multitapped delays with non-linear periods, controller-generating envelopes, and channel hocketing (sending each note of the MIDI input to a different channel), and much more.
Since Megalomania runs in real-time you can perform with the effect while you are designing it!
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Each MIDI effect has its own set of parameters which you access by simply double-clicking on the icon. This brings up an easy to understand control panel that allows to tweak the effect parameters to your exact needs.
Many parameters can be changed over time using the built in Graphs (advanced low frequency oscillators). The Graphs can be edited so you are not constrained to a fixed set of waveforms!
Since the net result of the effect is determined by your design the number of possible effects is limitless. This allows you to bend, stretch, and contort your MIDI data with speed and freedom.
Megalomania implements a full variety of input and output options for your MIDI data. MIDI input can be received/sent directly from/to the serial ports. MIDI files can be opened and processed. The effected MIDI data can be captured and stored as a MIDI file! And in addition, tremendous power can be achieved when using Megalomania with the MIDI Manager.
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With the MIDI Manager it is possible to use Megalomania with other MIDI Manager compatible applications. It is then possible to process MIDI data with Megalomania and then record Megalomania output with your favorite sequencer! Or, you can process the output of the sequencer with Megalomania! The possibilities are under your control.
Unlike most new software, Megalomania does not require burdensome conceptual overhead, causing you to spend precious time feeding on manuals. Users have remarked on its ease of use and intuitive qualities. Some are up and voyaging right off the disk. So if your eager to enhance and extend your creative potential take a good, long look at Megalomania.
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USAGE
When first using the program the user should set the MIDI configuration. This is done through the Setup Midi dialog, which is accessed through the Edit Menu. The program will use the modem port, the printer port, or the Midi Manager. The modem port and the printer port can be set to operate at 0.5, 1, and 2 MHz.
When the program starts it presents a window within which the design of an effect occurs. Left of the design window is a tool palette and a transport window. A new primitive effect is installed in the pad window by selecting an effect from the Fx menu and clicking in the design window with the install tool.
Each type of effect may be installed as many times as memory will allow. The effects are connected with the wiring tool. Each effect may have multiple outputs. Connections are severed with the scissor tool.
Associated with each effect is a window that will allow the parameters for that effect to be edited. Double clicking on the effect icon causes this window to open. This parameter window uses standard macintosh controls and also a control in the spirit of the "numerical".
The numerical can be adjusted in one of three ways. Clicking on the numerical will cause it to scroll in either ascending or descending values. If the "Use MIDI Value" command is selected then the numerical will assume the value of any MIDI input for the icon. For instance, if the numerical is a velocity value, then it will assume the value of the velocity of the next incoming note. If the command key is down while clicking then a small entry box for keyboard input is used for input.
To the right of some numericals there is a graph button. This button causes a new window to open, displaying a table of numerical values (see diagram 3). In the table, the x—axis represents time and the y—axis represents the values that the numerical can take on. When the graph is active the values of the associated numerical cycle through the table values.
The user adjusts the period of the table with the x—axis numerical. The view of the table is adjusted with two y—axis numericals. All time values are in percent of beat. Tempo is adjusted with a control at the bottom of the transport window.
The graph window has a check box called Use Control. When this control is checked then the values of the graph are superseded by the control value of the specified control on the specified channel. The value of the controller is scaled to the values represented by the two y—axis numericals. For example, the modulation wheel of a keyboard could be used to vary the delay time between the values of 1% and 50% of a beat.
After the user has developed a network of effects then they may begin work on a new design while keeping previous designs in memory. Design windows may be swapped during performance by clicking on the inactive pad window. This causes the MIDI data stream to enter the now active design without halting any processing, such as delays, that may be unfinished in the now inactive design.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT GRAPHS:
Since graphs vary parameters over time it is possible to misalign note—off commands with respect to their associated note—on commands. For instance, the target note in the transpose icon may be varied with a graph. If the transposition changes between a note on & off then the note will hang. There is no book keeping to prevent this since it is computational expensive. Hanging notes can be prevented by placing a Duration Assign icon at the output of any icon that may misalign note—ons & note—offs via the use of a graph. This will force an aligned note—off to occur.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT TRANSPORT CONTROLS:
Processing begins when the start control is engaged. This is done by clicking on the start button or pressing the space bar. Similarly, recording begins when the record control is engaged. This is done by clicking on the record button or pressing the return key. Processing is stopped by clicking on the stop button or pressing the space bar again. When the stop control is engaged the program waits for the processing network to flush itself of data. The stop button remains dark during this time. The program can be forced to halt the flush by pressing the space bar again.
The program will read MIDI files. The file will play back through the network while the user performs if the file button is selected before the play button is engaged. Performances also may be recorded and stored as MIDI files. To record a performance the process must send MIDI data to a Midi Record effect. This allows the user to select what MIDI information will be recorded. Recording occurs when effects are connected to the Midi Record effect and the record button is engaged in the transport window.
