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EKSEQ1
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MANUAL.TXT
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1993-08-22
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EKSEQ1 Version 1.1
===================
EKSEQ1 (EKer's SEQuencer 1) is a 100 track, 240ppqn sequencer with the
following features:
1. Multi-track recording using separate MIDI channels.
2. Soft-thru with optional channel switching.
3. Realtime note-on event graphs for Midi in/out.
4. Copy and move operations with replace, merge and multicopy options.
5. Quantise, randomise, transpose, invert and erase operations which
can apply to chosen range of time and/or tracks.
6. All operations can be modified by MIDI filter.
7. Graphic editing.
8. Event list editing.
9. All operations/editing multi-task with record/playback.
10. MIDIfile compatible load/save.
11. MIDI mixer allows volume to be set for each channel during playback.
Preliminaries
-------------
Most quantities are changed by `rolling' - click on the quantity and drag
the mouse while holding the left mouse button down. Moving right or down
increases the quantity, moving left or up decreases the quantity.
Since it is possible to record or playback while editing or performing
some other operation the following rule is used to keep data consistant:
You may not operate on or edit a track which could potentially receive
incoming MIDI data during the operation/edit.
If you attempt such an operation you will get an alert telling you that
the track is `locked for recording'.
You may operate on or edit a track which is playing - any inconsistancy
is transitory - you may hear the effect on your MIDI gear.
The current bar/beat/part is displayed permanently on the far right of the
menu bar. The remaining memory (in terms of notes) is displayed near the middle
of the menu bar. You will see this quantity change in real time as you
use or free up memory.
Transport Page
--------------
This is what you see when you start up the sequencer. It consists of
four panels.
The leftmost one is the track list. It shows the number, name and
record/playback status of the first eight tracks. Click on the arrows
at the bottom of this panel to scroll to other tracks. The small arrows
move the display by one in the appropriate direction while the large arrows
move the display by eight.
Click on a track's number to select it. Only one track may be selected
at a time. The selected track is used for solo playback if this option
is enabled (see below). A track must be selected for the `Track'
`Graphic editor' and `Event editor' menu items to be accessible.
Click on a track's name to enable/disable it (disabled tracks have their
names and record/playback statuses greyed out and take no part in record
and playback operations.
Click on a tracks record/playback status to toggle it - a green `P' means
play while a red `R' means record.
NOTE: While recording a track may not change to or from the
`enabled and recording' state. All other changes are okay.
The top right panel contains the tape transport controls among other things.
The top row of transport controls are rewind, play, record and fast forward.
The bottom row of transport controls are reset and stop.
The distinction between reset and stop is that reset stops and set the
current bar/beat/part to that displayed as the `Reset to' time where
as stop stops at the current place.
The record options are PUNCH, SYNCHRO and OVERDUB and are toggled by clicking
on the appropriate button. All eight combinations are valid but some are
more useful that others.
PUNCH: The tracks which would normally record, playback until the `Punch in'
time is reached, when they flip into record until the `Punch out' time
is reached, when they go back to playback. This allows corrections to be
dropped into an existing recording.
SYCHRO: The record operation won't start until a MIDI event is received -
any event will do.
OVERDUB: The new recording is merged with the old rather than replacing it.
The only playback option is SOLO which causes just the selected track to
be played - all others are ignored.
The `Reset to', `Punch in' and `Punch out' times and the tempo are changed
by rolling.
The remaing panels are the MIDI note-on event in/out graphs. These show the
number of note-on events per second passing through the ST's MIDI in/out
connections on each channel. To select a channel for the `Soft-thru'
menu option click on one of the channel numbers on one of these panels.
Graphic Editor Page
-------------------
To get into the graphic editor select `Graphic editor' from `Misc' menu.
The track you wish to edit MUST be selected.
The graphic editor page consists of three panels. The leftmost one contains
a 5 octave keyboard image together with the graphic representation of notes.
This always shows two bars worth of notes.
Red rectangles denote sharps, green rectangles denote white notes.
When you click on a rectangle it is selected (it turns black)
and the full details of the note it represents are transferred to the
top right pannel where they can be edited by rolling.
A note can be moved in time or pitch by clicking on the top right of its
rectangle and dragging it to a new position. Dragging it off the right of
the panel deletes it.
A note can be lengthened by clicking on the bottom left of its rectangle
and stretching it.
New notes can be drawn in by clicking at the appropriate spot in the panel
and stetching the outline rectangle to the desired length.
The bottom right panel is used to move around in the music.
It contains a time, which denotes the time at the top of the rightmost panel;
a pair of numbers which denote the span of octaves currently displayed and
4 arrow buttons. The time and octave numbers can be rolled; the arrow buttons
move the time forwards and backwards by 1 beat or 1 bar increments.
Return to the transport page by selecting `Transport' from the `Misc' menu.
Event Editor Page
-----------------
To get into the event list editor select `Event editor' from `Misc' menu.
The track you wish to edit MUST be selected.
The event editor page consists of three panels. The left most one contains
the event list. You can scroll this by clicking the arrow buttons or
rolling the time at the bottom of this panel.
To change an event click on it. It's full details will then be transferred
to the panel on the top right when they can be rolled to new settings.
Note that you are not allowed to change the time of an event such that it would
change position in the list.
The remaining panel on this page allows events to inserted or deleted.
Clicking any of the top six buttons on this panel inserts the corresponding
event after the selected event in the event list, or at the start of the list
if no event is selected.
Clicking on the delete button deletes the selected event.
Return to the transport page by selecting `Transport' from the `Misc' menu.
Options dialog
--------------
Time signature - roll these numbers to change the time signature.
Count in - the number of bars of count in you get at the start of recording.
Early record - since many people play the first note of a piece slightly
early this opens the record window slightly early to avoid losing
such notes.
Metronome - switch the audible click on or off.
Running Status - switch running status on or off - this applies to
all events transmitted by the ST including Soft-thru events.
Zero velocity - turn notes off with zero velocity note-on - this applies to
all events transmitted by the ST including Soft-thru events.
Filter dialog
-------------
This sets up the MIDI filter for other operations. There is a box for
each of the event types. An event passes through the filter if the box
for its type is enabled and it meets all the criteria in the box.
If the channel box is enabled, only events which were recorded with
the given original channel pass through the filter - this may be useful
for unscrambling type 0 MIDIfiles.
Tracks dialog
-------------
The leftmost set of radio buttons select which channel the track will record.
The centre set of buttons select which events the track will record.
The rightmost set of radio buttons select which channel the track will
playback on.
If two tracks try to record the same event the lowest numbered track wins.
The track's name can be set from this dialog.
Channel dialog
--------------
The top set of buttons select which types of incomming events will be
retransmitted. The bottom set of radio buttons select which channel
such events will be retransmitted on.
Text dialog
-----------
This allows you to store a title, copyright notice and note which
are saved as appropriate MIDIfile meta-events when you save your tune.
Copy/Move dialog
----------------
The radio buttons on the left select from the following options:
COPY vs MOVE: Move destroys the source, copy retains it.
REPLACE vs MERGE: Replace overwrites the destination, merge combines with it.
WHOLE vs RANGE: With range only events in the chosen time range are affected.
SINGLE vs MULTI: Single makes a sigle copy, multi make several copies.
ALL vs FILTER: With filter only events passing the MIDI filter are affected.
It is okay to have the souce and destination tracks the same - this is
the easiest way of moving events in time as opposed to between tracks.
Quantise/Randomise dialog
-------------------------
The radio buttons on the left select from the following options:
QUANT vs RANDOM: Obvious.
WHOLE vs RANGE: With range only events in the chosen time range are affected.
ONE TRK vs SEVERAL: Modify just one track or a range of tracks.
S & LEN vs S ONLY: Qunatise/Randomise the start and length of a note or just
the start.
ALL vs FILTER: With filter only events passing the MIDI filter are affected.
The skew value is added to the event's time before quantising/randomising.
Transpose/Invert dialog
-----------------------
The radio buttons on the left select from the following options:
TRANS vs INVERT: Obvious
WHOLE vs RANGE: With range only events in the chosen time range are affected.
ONE TRK vs SEVERAL: Modify just one track or a range of tracks.
ALL vs FILTER: With filter only events passing the MIDI filter are affected.
Erase dialog
------------
WHOLE vs RANGE: With range only events in the chosen time range are affected.
ONE TRK vs SEVERAL: Modify just one track or a range of tracks.
ALL vs FILTER: With filter only events passing the MIDI filter are affected.
Mixer dialog
------------
This allows you to set the MIDI volume for each channel by dragging the
sliders.
Load/save/clear
---------------
Loading and saving uses standard GEM file selectors. When saving
all tracks which contain a name or events and are not `locked for recording'
(see above) are saved. Loading a file loads its event lists into the lowest
numbered empty tracks. Nonempty tracks are not affected so seperate files
may be combined by loading them in turn. Clear wipes all tracks.
Restrictions
------------
This program is not Desk-Accessory friendly. This is because it steals
a number of TOS vectors and updates the screen from interupt routines.
DA's which try to access the MIDI ports will bomb or hang. If you really
have to run a DA (say to format a disk) you should run it from an editor
page and cross your fingers (both hands).