The Datafile PD-CD 3/PDCD_3.iso/utilities/utilsf/in_out/!In-Out/!Help

Text File | 1992-11-24 | 10.5 KB | 357 lines

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!In-Out  -     Desktop MIDI Utility    - Release version 2.0

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If you have a MIDI port fitted to your RISC OS computer, it
is probable that you have been in the situation where you
have to swap the leads about at the back of the computer,
if you use a system with limited desk space, or use a
momitor plinth or if you are composing 'on the fly' swapping
leads about is the last thing you want to do.

The lead swapping problem is usually caused by Application X
wanting the lead setup different to Application Y.

Unfortunately this is a common problem with MIDI throughout
the computing and music world.  This Application serves to
iron out the problem by reducing the need to change leads
(by reducing the use of the thru port).  It achieves this by
making MIDI Out Port behave much like the MIDI Thru Port,
except what goes out can be controlled and altered.

Of course, one of the program's greatest strengths is that
it can be used in conjunction with the THRU Port.


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Instructions For Use :

Load the application from within the Desktop by double
clicking on the !In-Out Icon.  !In-Out will then install
itself on the icon bar.  Clicking on this icon will open the
"MIDI Play" window.

This window consists of four groupings of icons, and three
individual icons.  The groupings will now be explained.


The Mouse in !In-Out.
---------------------
 Clicking : A click is a press and release of a mouse
button. Pressing : A press is a press and hold of a mouse
button.

!In-Out understands both Clicks and Presses.  A click on
one of the arrow icons will alter the value of it's info
icon by 1.  A press will alter that value many times until
the mouse button is released or the max/min limit for that
icon has been reached.  Holding down shift while clicking
or pressing will increase the alteration.


Input Chan / Output Chan.
-------------------------

This Icon group lets you control exactly what can go in and
out,and on what channel.

The Input Channel can be in one of 17 states, ie.

    channel 1-16 or 'All'.

Where a number is shown, that corresponding MIDI Channel
will be the one which gets 'processed'.

If 'All' is showing then channels 0-16 are merged and put
through the output channel.

The Output Channel can also be in one of 17 states, again,

    channel 1-16 or 'All'.

Where a number is shown, that is used as the output channel.

Where 'ALL' is shown the Input Channel is Disregarded and
EVERY channel gets processed, the resulting output being
left on the same channel.

All data received is transmitted through the MIDI out port,
therefore, if you have data which is not processed it will
be sent on immediately

Examples :


You select the Input Channel to be : 1
              Output Channel to be : 2

Play in on channel 1 -> out on channel 2.
Play in on channel 2 -> out on channel 2.
Play in on channel 3 -> out on channel 3.


You select Input Channel to be : All
          Output Channel to be : 2

Play in on channel 1 -> out on channel 2.
Play in on channel 2 -> out on channel 2.
Play in on channel 3 -> out on channel 2.


You select Input Channel to be : 1
          Output Channel to be : All

Play in on channel 1 -> out on channel 1.
Play in on channel 2 -> out on channel 2.
Play in on channel 3 -> out on channel 3.



Control In / Control Out.
-------------------------

MIDI Controllers, such as the Modulation, Sustain, and
Volume are transmitted as Control Change messages.  !In-Out
can intercept these messages and alter them.

Since all MIDI devices use the same codes (in theory -
occasionally there is a difference) it is easy to transform
a Modulation Message into a Volume Controller message.

The use of this function will only be limited by the
hardware you are using at the receiving end.

Example Codes :

   1 - Modulation Depth
   2 - Breath Controller
   4 - Foot Controller
   5 - Portamento Time
   7 - Volume Level
  10 - Stereo Panning
  11 - Expression
  64 - Sustain Pedal
  65 - Portamento Pedal
  66 - Sostenuto Pedal

You should refer to the manual of your MIDI instrument/s to
check which codes are recognized.

Example :


You select Control In to be : 1  (Modulation)
          Control Out to be : 10 (Stereo Panning)

Playing your instrument now and using the modulation device
will alter the stereo positioning of the sound being
produced.



Transpose
---------

When a note is played it can be automatically transposed up
or down 48 semitones, 8 octaves in total.  Transpose works
with the Channel Group to 'Process' whatever In-Out channels
have been selected.

Clicking on the transpose info icon will reset the
transposition level to 0.



Velocity
--------

The velocity of a note (how hard the keyboard is hit) can be
implicitly set by !In-Out.  Some of the least costly MIDI
keyboards can only transmit at one velocity, usually 64.
The velocity option can re-set this velocity to anywhere
between 1 (soft) and 127 (hard).  If 'Off' is selected, then
the velocity is left unchanged.

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Un-Grouped Icons :
------------------

Tx All Off
----------

An annoying habit of MIDI is that it can occasionally forget
which notes are turned on, sometimes through error, and
sometimes through the wrong lead being disconnected at the
wrong time.  When this happens any notes not turned off will
continue playing.  Luckily MIDI has a command to deal with
this.

The "Tx All Off" icon transmits (Tx) this "All Notes Off"
message to all connected MIDI instruments.


Tx Reset
--------

When a MIDI instrument becomes so confused that you can't
understand it, or it can't understand you, use the "Tx
Reset" icon to reset the instrument to it's default state.
This command has different effects on different instruments.



Play
----
While the play icon is "pressed" all input is redirected to
the MIDI out port, having been processed in whatever way
specified by the operator.

Clicking on Play will invert "press" the icon, from here on
you are in Play-Mode.  Clicking the mouse again will stop
any playing.

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The program is RISC OS 2&3 compliant and runs as a
co-operative task.  The program was originated on RISC OS 2
and finalised on RISC OS 3 therefore it is advisable that
you use the improved sound and IRQ modules supplied on the
RISC OS 2 Extras Disc if you are not a Risc OS 3 user.

If you have a MIDI interface which does not work correctly
with this software then PLEASE get in touch with some
details and I'll see what I can do about getting an updated
version to you.  I only have one type of interface so this
has only been tested on that.  I use the Acorn A3000 User
Port/MIDI internal Upgrade - AKA 12.  Any feedback from
users who are succesful in using this would be welcomed.

Any problems, 'donations', ideas, bugs, updates etc, I can be
contacted at :

34 Glenavon Road
Mannamead
Plymouth
PL3 4PN

I can be contacted more easily (for some) through University
of Plymouth E-MAIL / JANET until July 1995.

 [e-mail]

( Where "s11865" is my Username, "plym.pa" is the computer.)

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The Law.
--------

This application is supplied 'as is'.  If you use it, it's
you're fault if it, or anything connected to it goes wrong.
This program is not guaranteed to be suitable for any
purpose in any way.

I reserve the right to remove future versions from the
Public Domain.



Distribution.
-------------

This program is in the public domain and may be copied
freely and redistributed, provided all of the original files
remain intact and unaltered.  The 8 original files
associated with !In-Out are :

!Boot        !Help
!Run         !RunImage
!Sprites     PlayCode
Sprites      Templates


This application may not be distributed by PD Libraries
until they have registered with me and thereby gained my written
permission to do so.

No site lisence is required for this program, although I
would advise anybody storing it on a LAN/WAN to also
register with me.

This is  so that :

a) I can supply any updated versions as and when they become
available and avoid inconsistencies arising due to out of
date copies, and
b) I can have some idea of how much use it gets/is.


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    All versions © R J Boakes (August - November 1992)

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Development History of !In-Out :

1.6 - 7 August 92
Original release version with play routine mostly in BASIC
V.  This lead to slow reaction, and, in conjuntion with the
De-Bugging tool which was on the bottom of the play window,
a delay could be noticed when playing quick chords.  Very
few, if any but my own copies of this are in existance now
since only a few were distributed locally for testing
purposes.

1.7 - September 92 - Info window added.

1.7i - October 92  - Improved (i)cons.

1.8 - November 92
Assembler routines improved for the actual conversion of the
midi message.

2.0 - 14 November 92
The play routine has been completely re-coded by
hand in ARM Assembler to give a huge speed improvement.
The front end has also been refined to give smoother icon
changing and updating.

2.0s - 24 November 92
New info window sprite that should work on Risc OS 2 added,
new version to Hensa, thanks for the message Andrew.

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** 3.0 - ??? Ideas so far... ...now under way.

The current version uses the MIDI SWI's for operation.
While this is perfectly legal, I'm still not happy with it.
The major addition to version 3 will be a hopefully faster,
newer assembler version accessing the MIDI UART or the SIRQ.
Echo, by setting Delay and Duration.  System Exclusive
Recognition.  A filter system to cut out unwanted messages
from the controlling MIDI instrument, ie. SysEx, Prog Change
etc.  A Control Panel, for initiating Prog Changes etc.  The
ability through this panel to load groups of program
changes, controls, program setup etc.  Thereby acting as an
easy setup for any equipment linked to the computer, and
making live performances much simpler than manual pressing
of buttons and turning of knobs.  Some sort of link with the
System Sound modules, eg, with input controller on 1 and
output controller on 10, the modulation wheel could change
the Arc's stereo...

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Use and Enjoy.

R.J.Boakes 14/11/92