home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Computer Life 1995 December
/
Computer Life December 1995.iso
/
midi
/
ourfiles.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-08-07
|
11KB
|
252 lines
***********************************************
* *
* HELP FILE FOR HANDS ON MIDI FILES *
* ------------- *
* Information To Help You Get The *
* Most From Our Midi File Library *
* *
* *
* Copyright 1992: Hands On Midi Software Ltd. *
* *
***********************************************
OUR MIDI FILES come in two main flavours, Type Zero - where
all the data for all midi channels is stored on a single track,
and Type One - where all the instruments are on individual tracks
for easy editing. On Type One files we have a separate track for
Program Changes - so that people who don't have GM equipment can
erase them without damaging any other data, and also a separate
track for Systems Exclusive Data - again so that it can be easily
discarded or edited by Non-GM people.
In the first bar of each track we have placed setup codes which
should cope with almost any synth or sound module they meet out
there in Midi land. These codes are there for your protection, so
don't delete them unless you need to, they will stop other
people's duff sequences from upsetting your gear and making it
sound peculiar. For those of you who are technically minded, here
is an explanation of what each of the codes do, in the order that
you will find them on each track, in the first bar of the song:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 120 : Value 0 : Channel nn
This controller message means "all notes off" and is there to make
sure that there are no droning notes still sounding from the last
sequence you played. Although you may think you would hear them,
it is possible for notes to be "on" but with the volume almost
zero, and they will steal polyphony if left unchecked.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 121 : Value 0 : Channel nn
This controller simply resets most of the commonly used
controllers to their default values, i.e. Pitch Bend to Centre,
Modulation to Zero, Aftertouch to Zero etc. This is there in case
the last sequence played through your equipment left the pitch
bend set at 6 Octaves, or some other strange setting. The nn just
stands for whatever Midi Channel you are looking at.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 1 (Modulation) : Value 0 : Channel nn
We recently introduced this message into our files to help those
of you who are using Non-GM equipment which doesn't respond to the
GM/GS reset command in the system exclusive track, and simply sets
the modulation to zero or "off".
Pitch-Bend : Value 0 64 : Channel nn
Again, recently introduced as above. Pitch bend has a very fine
resolution, achieved by using a Coarse (the zero) and Fine (the 64)
control in the one message, and this setting makes sure that your
equipment is centred on normal pitch, i.e. no bend taking place.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 64 (Damper Pedal) : Value 0 : Channel nn
Another recent addition for you Non-GM'ers, this message sets the
damper pedal to off.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 7 : Value 100 : Channel nn (Main Volume)
Midi controller no.7 is called "Main Volume", and is the
equivalent to the master volume on your guitar or keyboard
amplifier. We usually set the master level on the instruments to
value 100. (but sometimes the lead vocal cue track will have a
higher setting so that it is easily heard over the other tracks).
This setting of 100 allows you to turn the level of any track
UP or DOWN a little if you need more bass or less drums etc.
Again, one of these per channel is used.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 11 : Value 127 : Channel nn (Expression)
This controller works the same way as Main Volume, in that it
controls the level of the instrument on the relevant channel, but
if used correctly it should control the "expressive" part of the
performance such as swells and fades. Think of this as being like
the volume control on your guitar or keyboard itself; you would
usually set your master volume at the Amp (Main Volume) and then
use the knob on the instrument itself (Expression) to change
levels during the performance. At the start of the song we always
set this to 127 (flat out, or "11" if you're a guitarist) so that
all instruments can be heard, but during the performance there may
be lots of these messages to create volume changes. e.g. Fades.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Pan : Value ??? : Channel nn
The Pan controller is used to "place" the various instruments in
the stereo mix. A Value below 64 places the instrument on the left
hand side, and a value above 64 places it to the right. There will
be one of these messages on each track/channel. Drums will always
be placed centrally (Pan 64) because the individual instruments
have their own set position in the mix.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 91 : Value ??? : Channel nn
Controller 91 is used for Chorus Depth/Level. On the Roland SC-55
one of the best features is the Chorus which is adjustable for
each midi channel. Controller 93 will set the level of Chorus on
the relevant Midi Channel. For example Cntl 93 : Val 50 : Chan 2
will set the chorus level on Midi Channel 2 to 50, which we use
for Bass.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 93 : Value ??? : Channel nn
Controller 93 is called "External Effect Depth", and under General
Midi it is used for Reverb Level on each individual channel of
your multi-timbral synth or sound module. Replace the question
marks with the Reverb Level desired, and nn with the Midi Channel.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 101 : Value 0
Controller 100 : Value 0
Data Entry : Value 12 (Sometimes set to Value 2 or 6)
These three controllers together set the pitch bend range for your
synth - we usually use 12 semitones for our work, but sometimes
it's set to 2 semitones for subtle work. The first two tell your
gear that the next Data Entry message is to be the Pitch-Bend
range for that channel, and the Data Entry value is obvious.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Controller 101 : Value 127
Controller 100 : Value 127
This pair of controllers look suspiciously like the ones for Pitch
Bend setup, that's because they "Lock" the setting where it is
after we've changed it with the previous three. There are two main
reasons for this - firstly, if you own a DX-7, the slider on the
front panel is set to transmit Data Entry at all times, so if you
knock it at a gig you could accidentally change the Pitch Bend
setting on your synth to sixty squillion! - secondly, some types
of midi equipment transmit Data Entry for their own reasons, so
you are protected from them as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Change Track
On each Midi Channel we use the following group of messages to
control SC-55 type equipment:
Controller 0 : Value ? : Channel nn
Controller 32 : Value ? : Channel nn
Program Change : Value ??? : Channel nn
This group of messages works together to select not only which
Sound (or Patch) your equipment will play on any given channel,
but also which Bank it will select it from (if your unit supports
more than one Bbank of Sounds).
It's a bitlike decimal currency, where the Program Change is like
"Units", Controller 0 is like "Tens" and Controller 32 is like
"Hundreds".
If your equipment does not have more than one bank of sounds then
it is possible to delete the Controllers and keep the Program
Change, but if you change equipment you may need them later, so
always work on a backup copy.
------------------------------------------------------------------
System Exclusive Track
During the first bar of the song at the very start, we send out
several pieces of GM/GS Systems Exclusive. We reset the machine to
factory spec, setup the partial reserves (amount of notes per
channel) setup the Master Reverb and Master Chorus settings and
also make sure that if your synth / module is capable of
responding to GS codes, it will do so. We also make double sure
that using our sequences won't leave you with a headache, by
sending reset codes at the very end of the song, so that any
"black magic" we've used to tweak the sequence will be undone.
We won't go into detail about the SysEx codes here, since you
would normally either use them as they are or delete them if they
don't apply. However, if you need further information about the
SysEx codes because you want to change them, just call me (Kevin
Earley) at Hands On.
Midi Song Files are one of many helpful ( and cheap ! ) things
available from "Hands On" Midi Software Ltd.
Also Available:
ZERO GEN: Software for any Atari St or IBM pc computer.
Converts Type 1 Midi Files to Type 0 Midi Files.
Adds almost instant compatibility with the Roland
Sound Brush or Yamaha MDF2 to any ST Sequencer.
PRO24 GEN: Software for any Atari St computer.
Converts Midi Files into Pro24 Song Files.
16+ CARTRIDGE: Extra 16 Midi Channels for Atari ST. Works with
Cubase/Cubeat, Notator/Creator, On Stage,
Trackman, Master Tracks Pro, etc.
ON STAGE : Converts your Atari ST into a Midi File playback
system - no monitor needed !
SOUND CANVAS EDITOR: For Atari ST. Allows editing of parameters
which are not easily availabe from the front panel
of the SC-55. The edits can be saved as a Standard
Midi File and imported into your sequencer at the
start of a song !
YAMAHA TG-100 EDITOR: As above, but for the Yamaha TG-100.
SOUND CANVAS SCREEN EDITOR: Allows the use of Systems Exclusive
messages to display text/graphics on the SC-55
display LCD. For Atari ST only.
For more information on our programs or large selection of MIDI
Song Files, write or telephone to:
"Hands On" Midi Software Ltd.
11 Warfield Road
Waterlooville
Portsmouth
Hants
PO7 7JN
Tel: 01705 783100
Fax: 01705 783200
BBS: 01705 783400
Thank you for using our products.
Kevin Earley. (Product Support)