106 lines
4.2 KiB
HTML
106 lines
4.2 KiB
HTML
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<p>A typical <dfn>MIDI track header</dfn> looks like this:</p>
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<figure>
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<img src="/images/typical-midi-track-controls.png" alt="A MIDI track header">
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<figcaption>
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A MIDI track header
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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To show the full set of MIDI track controls, the <a href="@@track-height">track height</a>
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must be increased beyond the default. MIDI tracks show only a few of the control elements
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when there is insufficient vertical space.
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</p>
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<p>
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A MIDI track has the same basic controls as an <a href="@@audio-track-controls">audio track</a>,
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with the addition of three extra elements:
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</p>
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<ol>
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<li>Some meters for the track's outputs (MIDI in <span style="color:red;">red</span>,
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Audio in <span style="color:green;">green</span>)</li>
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<li>The <dfn>Scroomer</dfn>, a zoom and scroll controller for the midi notes range</li>
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<li>When the track is tall enough, the External MIDI Device selection dropdown appears.</li>
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</ol>
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<p>
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Also, <kbd class="mouse">right</kbd> clicking the <kbd style="color:red;">●</kbd>
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(record) button shows the <a href="@@step-entry">Step Entry</a> dialog instead of
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controlling the rec-safe.
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</p>
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<h2>The Scroomer</h2>
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<p>
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The Scroomer performs a couple of functions:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>The scrollbar controls the range of pitches that are visible on the
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track, as visualized by the piano keyboard. Dragging the body of the scrollbar up
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and down displays higher or lower pitches.</li>
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<li>Dragging the scrollbar handles zooms in and out and increases or decreases the
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range of visible pitches.</li>
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<li>Double clicking the scrollbar auto-adjusts the zooms to make the range of
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visible pitches fit the actual content of the track.</li>
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<li>Clicking on the piano plays the corresponding MIDI note for reference.</li>
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</ul>
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<h2>Channel and patch selection</h2>
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<h3>The Channel Selector</h3>
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<figure class="right">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/midi_channel_control.png" alt="The MIDI channel control window">
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<figcaption>
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The MIDI channel control window
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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A MIDI track's data may span any number of the 16 available MIDI channels, and sometimes it is
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useful to view only a subset of those channels; different instruments may,
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for example, be put on different channels. In the context menu (<kbd class="mouse">right</kbd> click),
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the <kbd class="menu">Channel Selector</kbd> allows to control the <dfn>MIDI channel</dfn>(s)
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that will be visible in the editor.
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</p>
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<p>
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This window also gives control over which channel(s) will be recorded, and which will be played back, choosing between:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>All channels</li>
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<li>Only selected channels —Ardour then proposes to choose amongst the 16 channels which are to be recorded/played</li>
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<li>Force all to one channel —Ardour then 'routes' all the channels to one user selectable channel.</li>
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</ul>
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<h3 class="clear">The Patch Selector</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/patch_selector.png" alt="The Patch Selector window">
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<figcaption>
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The Patch Selector window
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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The Patch Selector window is an easy way to set which instrument will be used on any of the MIDI channels.
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Although patches can be changed at any time using a <a href="@@patch-change">patch change</a>, this dialog
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provides an easy and convenient way to preview patches in software and hardware instruments. It
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integrates fully with Ardour's support for MIDNAM (patch definition files), so Ardour can display named programs/patches
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for both General MIDI synths and those with MIDNAM files.
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</p>
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<p>
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The window itself makes it easy to choose a channel, a bank number, optionally choosing a bank number through its <dfn title="Most Significant Byte">MSB</dfn>
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and <dfn title="Least Significant Byte">LSB</dfn> numbers (CC#00 and CC#32) for large banks, then choosing an instrument.
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</p>
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<p>
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The keyboard at the bottom of the window allows for a quick preview of the selected instrument, either automatically
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(using the buttons on top of the keyboard) or manually by either clicking a note or using the computer keyboard as a
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piano keyboard.
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</p>
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<p>
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To edit the contents of a MIDI track see <a href="@@edit-midi">MIDI Editing</a>.
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</p>
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