First, a quick reminder ... PLEASE BE SURE TO SEND IN YOUR REGISTRATION CARD!
Note to MusicTime 2.0 owners:
If you purchased MusicTime Deluxe as an upgrade from MusicTime 2.0, you will notice some changes have been made to the menus and dialogs. These changes were designed to better organize related operations. For example: the option to create a pickup bar can now be selected from within the Time Signature Dialog. Lyrics are also handled more directly in MusicTime Deluxe. Instead of using the TAB key to move between notes, you now use the SPACE BAR, just as if you were typing the lyrics into a word processor. The DASH Key will automatically place a hyphen between notes. If you have repeat bars, multiple endings or coda phrasing in your existing MusicTime scores, they will now respond to indications during playback and navigate correctly from section to section. Consult the new manual or On-line Help for more information about these and other exciting new features in your new MusicTime Deluxe.
Using Help:
On-line Help for MusicTime Deluxe is both quick and easy. Press the F1 function key at any time to open the Help file for the selected menu item, current dialog, window or palette. To find information about a specific topic, open the Help file and select one of the items in the "Help" menu.
Additional Upgrade Offers:
Passport offers special upgrade pricing to MusicTime Deluxe owners who would like to upgrade to Rhapsody and Encore. See the comparison file which shows the differences between MusicTime Deluxe, Rhapsody and Encore included on this disk.
Upgrades and special offers for REGISTERED owners of MusicTime Deluxe are available directly from Passport (a good reason to send in your warranty card!). For more information about what is currently available please call: 1-800-443-3210 or 1-415-726-0280 if you are in Canada.
The MusicTime Instructional Video Tape:
EVS also offers the MusicTime Basics Video. This video gives you more examples and information on getting the most out of MusicTime. This video tutorial can be purchased directly from EVS.
To order: CALL 1-800-309-9555 and ask for the MusicTime for Windows Video.
Additional Information About Getting Started with MusicTime Deluxe:
Selecting a Default Printer:
You do NOT need to connect a printer to your computer to use MusicTime Deluxe. You MUST, however, select a default printer (if you have not done so for Windows) in the Printer Applet in the Windows Control Panel or MusicTime Deluxe will not run. MusicTime Deluxe uses information from your selected printer driver when displaying notation. Almost any printer driver can be selected. The only exceptions are GENERIC/TEXT ONLY and printers either configured to only print text (i.e., set to "draft" quality output) or incapable of printing graphics. The Printers dialog should display a default printer or you should install and select a printer before running MusicTime Deluxe. If you do not have a printer, a good choice will be any of the Apple LaserWriter printers. To add these to your Windows system, use the ADD button in the Printers Applet and follow the prompts when Windows asks you for the required disks. For any questions regarding the Windows Printer Applet, please see your Microsoft Windows Users Guide.
Customizing Your MusicTime Deluxe Layout:
When you first run MusicTime Deluxe there is a default "layout" for the program defined in a "preferences" file. One of the first steps you should take after running MusicTime Deluxe is to arrange the windows and program size on your screen to your liking. If your monitor resolution is greater than 640x480, you may find it desirable to enlarge the main or "frame" window for MusicTime Deluxe. The Keyboard and Metronome windows can be left open and arranged as you like, or you can save preferences for these windows to be left closed when launching MusicTime Deluxe. Additional palettes can also be opened and arranged as you like. When you have a layout that you would like to keep, use "Save Preferences" under the Setup menu to save your arrangement for later use. You can use the Save Preferences selection again to store additional changes in your starting configuration. Many of the settings in MusicTime Deluxe are saved in the preferences file. Refer to the MusicTime Deluxe on-line Help file for a complete listing of the settings saved in the preference file.
More Information About Fonts and MIDI:
Two files have been copied to your MTIMEDLX directory. These files are called "FONTINFO.TXT" and "MIDIINFO.TXT" and contain additional information about fonts and MIDI connections. If you have questions about either of these topics you can open these files using the Notepad applet in Windows.
Here are some troubleshooting tips that may help you if you run into problems getting started with Music Time.
Question : I'm trying to listen to my score/sequence. The music is scrolling and acting like it is playing but I don't hear anything.
Answer: Passport MIDI Programs "play" your scores through either a sound card or through MIDI Cables to a synthesizer. For a soundcard or MIDI card to work with our programs, there must be standard Windows "Driver" installed. When Windows drivers are properly installed you can select the soundcard or MIDI connection as an "output" choice in the MIDI Setup dialog.
1. Open the MIDI Setup dialog by selecting the choice from the Setup menu.
2. To the right of Port A you'll see the current output driver
selection, with an arrow pointing down on the right. The arrow is used to display additional choices.
3. Click on the arrow button to display the list of currently installed Windows Soundcard Drivers.
4. Select the correct Windows driver for your soundcard or MIDI interface.
Many soundcards can display several choices for the same card. If you have the SoundBlaster Soundcard, for instance, one choice might be for the "Voyetra Super Sapi FM Driver". An additional choice might be called "SB16 MIDI Out". Sound Blasters with AWE32 should list that option as well. These examples are only for the Sound Blaster. Other cards will present different choices.
NOTE : If the only choices you are presented with are "None" and "MIDI Mapper" you may need to install the Windows drivers for your soundcard. Instructions for doing so should be included in your soundcard manual. If you need help installing Windows drivers you should contact the company that makes your soundcard. There are many different soundcards available in the market and Passport is designed to work with all standard Windows drivers but installing the drivers and configuring your soundcard should be done before contacting Passport for assistance.
Question : What selection is correct in MIDI Setup?
Answer : If you do not have an external synthesizer (MIDI Keyboard or other external sound device) you need to select the choice which will produce sound using your soundcard. This may be the "Voyetra Super Sapi FM Driver" or another choice unique to your soundcard. Unless you have MIDI Cables connected to a keyboard, however, you should probably not be selecting any choices labeled "MIDI OUT".
If you do have a MIDI keyboard that you want to use, you should select a driver with MIDI Out in it's name (The driver for the SoundBlaster 16 is called "SB 16 Midi Out"). You will also need to connect MIDI Cables from your soundcard to your MIDI Keyboard. Additional information about some possible MIDI connections are described in the manual.
A basic MIDI setup requires two MIDI cables connected to and from the MIDI Keyboard. Be sure to check your connections carefully! The cable connection on the MIDI Interface (soundcard) labeled MIDI Out should be connected to the MIDI In connection on the keyboard. The MIDI Out connection on the MIDI Keyboard is connected to the MIDI IN connection for the Soundcard.
Remember this simple rule -
MIDI Out connects to MIDI In and MIDI In connects to MIDI Out.
Additional items to check include :
* Is your soundcard connected to a sound system?
* Is your sound system turned on and the volume turned up?
* If you are using a synthesizer you may need to check the synthesizer's manual for information about how to configure it to respond to MIDI messages.
Question: I can hear instruments when I play back my scores but I can't seem to record.
Answer : If trying to record results in the program "freezing" you most likely have an "interrupt conflict". This is a hardware problem which can result when two hardware devices in your computer attempt to both use the same "interrupt" or IRQ setting. This problem requires changing the hardware before you can record using Passport's software. Contact the hardware vendor involved if you need help configuring your soundcard. Please do not call Passport for assistance configuring soundcards. We will refer you to the company that makes the soundcard as their information will be more complete than ours.
Sometimes recording will not work but the program will still operate without freezing.. This may still indicate an interrupt problem that requires changing the hardware settings for the Soundcard in your computer. Again, if you are not able to determine how to change the hardware yourself, you should contact the manufacturer of your soundcard for assistance.
Question : I've installed Windows 95 and now my Passport program is not playing back or recording correctly.
Answer : Check the MIDI setup dialog and confirm the correct choices are selected for all input and output selections. Windows 95 will often change the order in which soundcard drivers are presented and preference files saved under Windows 3.1 may be selecting the wrong choices.
If you make changes in the MIDI Setup be sure to save preferences so future sessions continue to select your new choices.
You may need to install your soundcard drivers while running Windows 95. In some cases, you may even need to obtain an updated driver for Windows 95. In our experience, the drivers for the Sound Blaster and the MusicQuest cards seem to work just fine under Windows 95 but there are some other third party cards that required an updated driver. Contact your soundcard manufacturer if you are not sure.
Microsoft Windows, both 3.1 and Windows 95, rely heavily on device drivers for Video Display, Printing and Sound Cards (or MIDI interfaces). As with all Windows applications, Passport products use these drivers to operate and you should ensure that all of these drivers are the latest version available. This will give you the best chance of full program operation regardless of which video card, printer or sound card you are using.
Most manufactures of these devices have drivers available through services such as America On-line or Compuserve. Many also have their own electronic bulletin board services for downloading the latest drivers. Please keep in mind that Passport does not have drivers for these devices and you must contact the company that makes your video card (or printer or sound card) to obtain the correct device drivers. Consult your Microsoft Windows Users Guide for assistance with installing drivers if specific instructions are not included with your specific device.
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Technical Support
Most questions and problems can be addressed quickly and easily by referring to either the on-line help, this read me file or the manual. If you do need to contact us with a technical support question, use one of these options for contacting Passport Technical Support:
CompuServe Go: MIDIBVEN Passport Designs
America On Line: Keyword: Passport
Internet: passport @ AOL.com
Fax: 415-726-2254 attn: Technical Support
Phone: 415-726-3826
When contacting us for technical assistance please have the following information available :
* The exact program name and version ( the version number can be found on the Splash Screen by selecting About MusicTime from under the Help Menu).
* The Sound Card and Drivers you are using
* The Computer and operating system (Passport makes a wide variety of programs for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems)
Depending on the nature of your question, you may need to give us additional information about the printer or synthesizer you are using or more information about your computer system.
In Passport's experience, many questions can involve hardware sold by other companies designed to work in a standard Windows environment. When discussing your question, our representative may ask if you have contacted the companies involved and possibly recommend that you do so. Most hardware devices use an installed "driver" with which software programs communicate when printing, displaying or sending MIDI information. Such drivers are sometimes updated to correct for problems and obtaining the current version of those drivers has been known to successfully address problems.
Before calling, please collect as much information about your setup as possible and be in front of your computer when you call. In some cases, it will be easier if you first FAX or E-Mail the information to us and allow us some time to review the information before contacting you. The more information you have available before you call, the easier it will be for us to offer you suggestions and advice.
For product information including updates, upgrades, disk replacements please call: 1-800-443-3210
Thank you again for purchasing MusicTime Deluxe! Passport is devoted to delivering high quality products at an affordable price. Part of this on-going effort includes upgrades and special offers for registered owners.
BE SURE TO SEND IN YOUR WARRANTY CARD!
Not only does your registration provide you free customer support, it also allows us to inform you of future improvements and special offers that may be offered. Don't delay! Send in that warranty card today!
