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