@DATABASE OctaMED Soundstudio Help

@REM Features Guide: Using MIDI with OctaMED [part 1 of 1]

@$VER: 2.0 (24.07.96) for Soundstudio V1.01
@AUTHOR Ed Wiles (e.d.wiles@dur.ac.uk)
@HELP OctaMED.guide/Help


@REM W R I T I N G  A  M I D I  S O N G


@NODE f6_wramiso "Using MIDI with OctaMED / Writing A MIDI Song"
@TOC OctaMED.guide/f6
HOW TO...
	@{"     Set up OctaMED for MIDI use     " LINK f6_wramiso_1}
	@{"   Set up OctaMED MIDI instruments   " LINK f6_wramiso_2}
	@{" Enter notes with your MIDI keyboard " LINK f6_wramiso_3}
	@{"     Set up and use an input map     " LINK f6_wramiso_4}
	@{"      Use MIDI player commands       " LINK f6_wramiso_5}

OVERVIEW
As well as play music through your Amiga or a 16-bit soundboard,
OctaMED can play a MIDI synthesizer or other MIDI device. With a
multitude of MIDI devices available, this really broadens your
horizons!

Before you can use MIDI, attach a `MIDI interface' to the serial
port at the back of your Amiga. Such interfaces can be bought
relatively cheaply from many computer suppliers. Having done this,
connect your MIDI device or devices to OctaMED using MIDI leads.
Finally, switch on MIDI menu -> MIDI Active.

Writing a MIDI song is very similar to writing a normal song. You
enter notes, which are played by particular instruments, in the
Tracker editor or notation editor. The instruments used, however,
must be set up for MIDI. This involves setting their `MIDI channel'
number, and often their `preset' number.

Such instruments are called `MIDI instruments', not to be confused
with real-life MIDI instruments such as synthesizers and drum
machines. Once set up, you can enter a MIDI instrument's notes
using your MIDI keyboard rather than your Amiga's keyboard. You can
even use your MIDI keyboard to enter normal instruments such as
samples!

As a bonus, your MIDI keyboard can be used to fully control
OctaMED. You can switch edit mode on and off, move around a block,
play a song or block, in fact just about anything, without leaving
your MIDI keyboard. To do this, set up an `input map', where each
key on your keyboard can be set to do a particular thing.

Normal songs use player commands to add effects to the music and
tell OctaMED to do things. So it is with MIDI songs. Control of the
pitchbender, modulation, aftertouch, panning and much more is
available through special MIDI player commands.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_wramiso_1 "Writing a MIDI song / How To Set Up OctaMED For MIDI Use"
@TOC f6_wramiso
		HOW TO SET UP OCTAMED FOR MIDI USE
INTRODUCTION
To use MIDI with OctaMED, you must separately buy a `MIDI
interface'. This small box connects to the serial port at the back
of your computer, and contains at least two sockets, marked MIDI In
and MIDI Out.

These MIDI sockets are used to connect your Amiga to your MIDI
synthesizer or other device. The MIDI device will also have two
sockets at the back marked MIDI In and Out. Using two MIDI leads,
connect MIDI In on your interface to MIDI Out on your device, and
MIDI Out on your interface to MIDI In on your device.

When you've done this, tell OctaMED you'll be using MIDI through
the MIDI menu's MIDI Active item.

MIDI interfaces and devices often have another socket: MIDI Thru.
MIDI Thru repeats any information received by MIDI In; use it to
connect more than one MIDI device to OctaMED. Thrus are always
connected to Ins. For example, to set up two devices to receive
information from OctaMED, connect device 1's Thru to device 2's In.

STEPS
1) Buy a MIDI interface.

2) Using MIDI leads, connect your interface to your MIDI device.
   > Interface's MIDI In  --> device's MIDI Out
   > Interface's MIDI Out --> device's MIDI In

3) Inform OctaMED that you intend to use its MIDI facilities.
   > Switch on MIDI menu -> MIDI Active 			    @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_me_2}

NOTES
* The number 1 cause of initial MIDI distress is wrongly-connected
  leads. MIDI In to MIDI Out, always! :-)

* The MIDI leads used *must* be proper MIDI leads. Normal DIN leads
  are similar but certainly not identical.

* When MIDI Active is switched on, an M appears in the Information
  window, on the bottom-right beside the timer.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_wramiso_2 "Writing a MIDI song / How To Set Up OctaMED MIDI Instruments"
@TOC f6_wramiso
	      HOW TO SET UP OCTAMED MIDI INSTRUMENTS
INTRODUCTION
Most of your success with MIDI hinges on the correct setup of
instruments to be used with MIDI. Instead of loading an instrument
from disk, you set two main instrument properties - the `MIDI
channel' number, and the `preset' number - in the Instrument
Properties window.

It's important to distinguish OctaMED's `MIDI instruments' - any
OctaMED instrument with a MIDI channel and preset - and real-life
`MIDI instruments' like MIDI synthesizers and drum machines. Here,
real-life instruments will be called `MIDI devices', to save
confusion.

There are 16 `MIDI channels' used to carry information, such as
which notes to play when, to and from MIDI devices. Think of them
as many different routes between two cities. You can normally
assign any MIDI channel to any OctaMED instrument, but main roads
quickly become congested, so it's best to distribute the traffic by
(as far as possible) assigning a different channel per instrument.

Usually, your MIDI device will have several different `preset'
sounds. There might be a piano sound, a guitar sound, strings, and
so on. Each preset sound will have a number; a piano is usually
number 1. So in OctaMED, if you want to play the piano, set an
instrument's preset to 1 (and, of course, set its MIDI channel).
Any notes entered with that instrument will be played on the piano. @{" More " LINK f6_wramiso_3}

You can also leave the preset at 0. In that case, your MIDI
device's default preset for that MIDI channel is used. For example,
many devices have a percussion preset which often uses MIDI channel
10. So set the MIDI channel to 10 and the preset to 0.

Another important setting is the MIDI instrument's volume. If it is
left at 0, you'll never hear the instrument! Slide it up to 64,
unless it turns out to be too loud.

OctaMED MIDI instruments are essentially empty. They just consist
of a few settings, particularly the MIDI channel and preset. It's a
good idea to name them as well, for easy reference.

STEPS
1) Set up OctaMED for MIDI use. 				    @{" How? " LINK f6_wramiso_1}

2) EITHER Select an empty instrument. Empty instruments have size   @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_1}
   --------, displayed in the Main Control window (top-right).

   OR Remove an instrument from memory, making it empty.	    @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_2}

3) Open the Instrument Properties window.
   > Instr menu -> Set Properties OR
   > Main Control window -> Props button

4) Set the instrument's MIDI channel number.
   > Adjust the MIDICh slider (bottom-left)

5) Set the instrument's preset. Remember, you can leave it at 0.
   > Adjust the Preset slider (bottom-left)

6) Set the instrument's usual volume.
   > Adjust the Vol slider, preferably sliding it right up to 64

7) Name the instrument. 					    @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_4}

NOTES
* Please, please don't forget the volume slider! Your speakers
  *are* working, you've just forgotten to set Vol to 64! :-)

* Although you can leave the preset at 0, by setting a preset you
  may use more than one preset on the same MIDI channel. For
  example, one instrument may have channel 2 and preset 5, another
  may have channel 2 and preset 9. OctaMED sends a `program change
  message' whenever a note is played, keeping instruments in order.

* As you may notice when you adjust the MIDICh slider, the current
  instrument's MIDI channel number is shown in the size box in the
  Main Control window (top-right).

* There's another MIDI instrument setting: Suppress NoteOff.
  OctaMED stops a MIDI note by sending a `note off message' to the
  device, but sometimes this is unnecessary. For example,
  percussion sounds usually never need to be stopped; they stop by
  themselves.

  To prevent note off messages being sent for the current
  instrument, switch on Supress NoteOff. Remember, the less traffic
  on the MIDI channel roads, the better.

* The Preset slider can usually go up to 128. If Extended Preset is
  switched on, its maximum is increased to 2800! Such high preset
  numbers can only be used with MIDI devices which support the
  exact method of sending the preset value to the device, namely:

  + Presets 1 to 100 are sent in the normal manner.
  + To send presets above 100, OctaMED first sends the `hundreds'
    part, then the 0 to 99 part. For example, the preset 1156 is
    sent as 11 then 56.

* Optionally, OctaMED can send `program change messages' as you
  drag the Preset slider. This usually has the affect of actually
  selecting a preset on your keyboard (the new preset might appear
  on your keyboard's display). Switch on MIDI menu -> Immediate
  Preset Change.

* Most modern MIDI synths are `multi-timbral'. This means that, as
  well as being able to play many notes at once, they can play many
  presets at once. If your device is not multi-timbral, you'll soon
  know it when you try to create songs with many instruments played
  at once!

* When Input Active is switched on, an I appears in the Information
  window, on the bottom-right beside the timer.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_wramiso_3 "Writing a MIDI song / How To Enter Notes With Your MIDI Keyboard"
@TOC f6_wramiso
	    HOW TO ENTER NOTES WITH YOUR MIDI KEYBOARD
INTRODUCTION
Although MIDI notes can be entered as usual with your Amiga
keyboard, it's much more sensible to use your MIDI keyboard, and
it's very easy to set up.

Of course, entering notes isn't just playing notes with the
keyboard, it's switching on edit mode, positioning the cursor as
appropriate, and so on. You can do such things from your MIDI
keyboard by setting up an `input map'. Alternatively, use real-time @{" How? " LINK f6_wramiso_4}
recording (entering notes while the block is playing).		    @{" How? " LINK F1a.guide/f1_rere}

The same rule applies to MIDI songs as to normal songs: One track,
one note. So each note of a three-note chord note must be on a
different track. A way to get around this is to switch on Chord
mode (Main Control window).

This how-to assumes that you want to enter MIDI notes with your
MIDI keyboard. You can also enter normal Amiga notes (e.g. samples)
with your keyboard. To do so, miss out steps 2 and 7.

STEPS
1) Set up OctaMED for MIDI use. 				    @{" How? " LINK f6_wramiso_1}

2) Set up OctaMED MIDI instruments, and select one such instrument  @{" How? " LINK f6_wramiso_2}
   to play.

3) If desired, set up an input map.				    @{" How? " LINK f6_wramiso_4}

4) Tell OctaMED to accept notes coming through the MIDI interface's
   MIDI In socket.
   > Switch on MIDI menu -> Input Active			    @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_me_1}

5) Ensure that edit mode is switched on.
   > Switch on Main Control window -> Edit check box		    @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 46}

6) If desired, switch chord mode on. This is recommended, but it
   may get in the way.
   > Switch on Main Control window -> Chord check box		    @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 57}

7) Play a note using your MIDI keyboard. It should be entered at
   the current cursor position in the Tracker editor.

NOTES
* Yes, it's fiddly! It's often best to use real-time recording;
  just start the block playing, and play away. Remember to set up
  a `click track', a regular beat all the way down one track
  (perhaps the right-most track). A percussion instrument is good
  for this.

  Also try setting up an input map. You only need to do it once     @{" More " LINK f6_wramiso_4}
  and it can really help things.

* During real-time recording, you may hold down a note and release
  it at a particular point, stopping the note. This note-stopping
  can be inserted by OctaMED, as an 0FFF (stop note) player
  command. Switch on MIDI menu -> Read Key-Up's.

* MIDI instruments can be played on all possible 64 tracks.
  Increase the number of tracks in the current block through the    @{" More " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blnaandi_2}
  Block Properties window.

* If your MIDI keyboard is `touch-sensitive' - notes are louder if
  you hit the keys harder - OctaMED can insert the volume of
  entered notes, as 0C (set volume) player commands. Switch on MIDI
  menu -> Read Volume.

* Sometimes, your keyboard may be playing all sorts of notes, and
  you only want OctaMED to enter the ones played on a particular
  MIDI channel. This channel is called the `input channel'. To set
  it, select MIDI menu -> Input Channel, and adjust the slider
  appropriately. (When 0, notes on all channels are entered.)

* Normal Amiga instruments (e.g. samples) can be played alongside
  MIDI notes, on tracks 0 to 3.

ALSO SEE
	@{" How To Enter A Note " LINK F1a.guide/f1_tredco_2-3 0}
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_wramiso_4 "Writing a MIDI song / How To Set Up And Use An Input Map"
@TOC f6_wramiso
		HOW TO SET UP AND USE AN INPUT MAP
INTRODUCTION
As you probably know, a MIDI keyboard can be used to enter notes in
OctaMED. While entering notes, however, you'll need to control
OctaMED in other ways too: position the cursor, switch edit mode
on, possibly start the block playing, and so on.

Of course, controlling OctaMED usually involves using the mouse or
Amiga keyboard. It can be annoying and unproductive to constantly
switch between your MIDI keyboard and the mouse. For this reason,
you can set up an `input map' for your MIDI keyboard.

An input map tells OctaMED what each key on your MIDI keyboard
should do. Usually, each key enters a different note. However, you
can set particular keys to control OctaMED in some way. For
example, the very top note on your keyboard (which you may never
use) can be set to start the block playing. The very bottom key can
stop playing.

Because such controls are supplied as OctaMED ARexx commands, the
extent to which you can control OctaMED from the keyboard is huge.
In fact, your keyboard can also be set up to run ARexx scripts,
send an ARexx command to another program, or start a program
running.

In the Input Map Editor, the definition of all 127 MIDI notes is
shown in a list. The actual notes available, of course, depends on
the range of your keyboard. A typical definition is D-2xxxxxx; this
means that note D-2 will be entered with this key on the current
instrument, leaving the player command untouched. This `full note'
can be edited in the same way as in the Programmable Keys window.   @{" More " LINK F1a.guide/f1_thprke}
*
Alternatively, give the key an `action' rather than a note to
enter. Actions are usually OctaMED ARexx commands, but all the
usual Action area functions are available. The Action area is not
covered in detail here. 					    @{" More " LINK F7.guide/f7_arfe_1}

STEPS
1) Open the Input Map Editor window.
   > Display menu -> Input Map Editor

2) By default, the list is blank. A new map must be `created'.
   > Click Create New Map

3) Using the scroll bar, select a note to edit. This is fine if you
   know which note corresponds to which key on your keyboard, but
   usually you don't. See the TIPS section for one way to get
   around this.

4) EITHER Edit the `full note' definition.			    @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_gainwi_10}

   OR Set an action for the note. See NOTES for some commonly-used  @{" More " LINK F7.guide/f7_arfe_1}
   ARexx commands.

5) Once set, tell OctaMED to use the new input map when you play
   your MIDI keyboard.
   > Switch on Map Active

6) If desired, save the input map to disk. Save it under any name;
   no input map is automatically loaded when OctaMED starts up.
   > Click Save Map THEN
   > Select a name in the requester				    @{" How? " LINK F4.guide/f4_se_2}

NOTES
* Here are the ARexx commands for some often-needed actions. To
  enter one, set the Action cycle gadget to OctaMED Command, then
  type the command into the Command text box.

	Play song		pl_playsong
	Play block		pl_playblock
	Continue song		pl_contsong
	Continue block		pl_contblock
	Stop playing		pl_stop
	Move cursor up		ed_advanceline up spc
	Move cursor down	ed_advanceline down spc
	Move cursor left	ed_movecursor left
	Move cursor right	ed_movecursor right
	First line		ed_advanceline fkey 6
	Last line		ed_advanceline fkey 10
	Particular line number	ed_goto line <insert line no. here>
	Move to previous track	ed_gototrack prevnote
	Move to next track	ed_gototrack nextnote
	Particular track no.	ed_goto track <insert track number>
	Edit mode on/off	op_set edit toggle
	Space mode on/off	op_set space toggle
	Chord mode on/off	op_set chord toggle
	Previous instrument	in_select prev
	Next instrument 	in_select next
	Previous block		ed_gotoblock prev
	Next block		ed_gotoblock next

* To change the selected note in the list back to its original
  function (i.e. entering a particular note), click Reset Selected.

* To remove the map from memory if you no longer have any use for
  it, click Delete Map.

TIPS
* Yes, selecting a note is fiddly. If you know which key on your
  keyboard you want to select, you can find out its note by
  entering it in the Tracker editor. To do this:

  + Click inside the Tracker editor window (it should be visible)
  + Switch on MIDI menu -> MIDI Active and Input Active
  + Switch on Edit mode (Main Control window)
  + Press the key on your MIDI keyboard
  + Select the note which appears in the Tracker editor in the list
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_wramiso_5 "Writing a MIDI song / How To Use MIDI Player Commands"
@TOC f6_wramiso
		  HOW TO USE MIDI PLAYER COMMANDS
INTRODUCTION
It's likely that you can do more with your MIDI keyboard than just
play notes. Some other facilities are briefly listed here, all of
which can be controlled with player commands designed especially    @{" More " LINK PCKS.guide/c_mi}
for MIDI.

* Pitchbender: As the name suggests, `bends' (slides) a note up or
	       down. Usually controlled by a `pitchbender wheel' on
	       your keyboard.

* Modulation:  Affects the sound of all notes, usually by adding
	       vibrato. Sometimes controlled by moving the
	       pitchbender wheel in a different direction.

* Aftertouch:  Squeezing a key down harder than when it was
	       initially pressed. Affects the note's sound.

* Panning:     The stereo location of a note. It can be played on
	       the left speaker, right speaker, on both at the same
	       volume (`mono') or on both at different volumes.

Also, any MIDI controller can be changed using commands 31 to 3F,   @{" More " LINK f6_mife_4-5 15}
and any MIDI message can be sent within your song.		    @{" More " LINK f6_mife_2-3 87}

For a full description of MIDI player commands, see part 2 of
appendix A of the printed manual. For a reminder of available
commands, select `MIDI commands' from the Brief Guide's Player
Commands section.
@ENDNODE


@REM M I D I  F E A T U R E S


@NODE f6_mife "Using MIDI with OctaMED / MIDI Features"
@TOC OctaMED.guide/f6
HOW TO...
	@{" Save a song as a Standard MIDI File " LINK f6_mife_1}
	@{"  Receive and store a MIDI message   " LINK f6_mife_2-3 0}
	@{"         Send a MIDI message         " LINK f6_mife_2-3 87}
	@{"         Use MIDI Slave mode         " LINK f6_mife_4-5 0}
	@{"        Set MIDI controllers         " LINK f6_mife_4-5 15}
	@{"         Send reset messages         " LINK f6_mife_6}
	@{"        Set the local control        " LINK f6_mife_7}

OVERVIEW
When you've written your MIDI song, you can save it as an OctaMED
song or as a Standard MIDI File (SMF). SMFs are recognised by the
vast majority of MIDI sequencer programs.

OctaMED and your MIDI devices communicate with each other by
sending `MIDI messages' down the MIDI leads. Often these messages
are as simple as `please play this note', but more complicated ones
include `patch data' to effectively add a new sound to your device.
Such messages are often called `system exclusive', or `SysEx'.
OctaMED can send, receive and store any MIDI message.

Using the new MIDI Slave mode, you can essentially turn your Amiga
into one of your MIDI devices! Completely ignoring the song-playing
abilities of OctaMED, you can use it to play samples, controlled by
another MIDI sequencer. Another use for the mode is to use the
combined talents of two Amigas to play true 8-channel songs!

Through the MIDI Controllers window, any MIDI controller can be set
using player commands. Neither MIDI Slave mode nor MIDI controllers
are described in detail in these help pages. Full descriptions are
in section 13 of the printed manual.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mife_1 "MIDI Features / How To Save A Song As A Standard MIDI File"
@TOC f6_mife
	    HOW TO SAVE A SONG AS A STANDARD MIDI FILE
INTRODUCTION
After writing a MIDI song, you can save it in one of several
formats. Most formats can only be loaded by OctaMED, but one
particular format is universal among MIDI sequencers: the Standard
MIDI File (`SMF').

So if you wish to load (or `export') your song into another MIDI
sequencer, save it as an SMF. Only Type 0 SMFs can currently be
saved, but the vast majority of MIDI programs recognise this type.

STEPS
1) Open the Save Options window.
   > Project menu -> Save

2) Select Standard MIDI File Type 0 as the file format.
   > Click SMF Type 0 (roughly in the middle of the window)

3) Select any other necessary options and save the song.	    @{" More " LINK F4.guide/f4_so_3}

ALSO SEE
	@{"        How To Save A Song        " LINK F4.guide/f4_so_3}
	@{" How To Load A Standard MIDI File " LINK F4.guide/f4_so_2}
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mife_2-3 "MIDI Features / How To Receive/Store/Send A MIDI Message (inc. SysEx)"
@TOC f6_mife
	     HOW TO RECEIVE AND STORE A MIDI MESSAGE
INTRODUCTION
OctaMED and your MIDI devices communicate with each other by
sending `MIDI messages' down the MIDI leads. Often these messages
are as simple as `play this note' or `stop this note'. More
complicated messages can be `turn the pitchbender up 16 steps' or
`reset the entire system'.

Even more complex messages can be the actual `waveform' of a
particular instrument. Some MIDI synths can create or use new
instrument waveforms, and you can send such messages to OctaMED to
be stored on disk. They're often called `system exclusive' or
`SysEx' messages.

The MIDI Message Editor can receive, change, store and send any
MIDI message (not just SysEx messages). Several messages can be in
memory at once.

STEPS
1) Open the MIDI Message Editor window.
   > Display menu -> MIDI Message Editor

2) Create space for a new message. If there are no messages at the
   moment, click either button.
   > Click New Msg [adds a new message after the last one] OR
   > Click New Here [inserts a new message before the current one]

3) The new message space is 8 bytes long, which for SysEx messages
   is very paltry. Change it to, say, 50000 bytes to begin with.
   The maximum is just under a megabyte (1048560 bytes).
   > Type a new size into the Msg Size box OR
   > (Rarely) Use the arrow buttons beside Msg Size

4) Name the message. The received message will be displayed as
   pairs of hexadecimal digits, which don't give the message much
   of an identity!
   > Type a name into the Name box

5) Prepare your MIDI device to send the required message.

6) Start receiving the message. While receiving, the box at the
   bottom-left shows `Recording...', which means `Capturing...',
   which means `Receiving...'. :-)
   > Click Capture Msg

7) If necessary, stop receiving the message. The message
   automatically stops when the space for the message has been
   taken up, or - if Auto-Terminate Capture is on - if an `End
   SysEx' byte is received (F7 in hex).
   > Click Capture Msg again

8) If desired, save the current message to disk. Messages are also
   saved with songs.
   > Click Save Msg THEN
   > Select a filename in the requester (choose any name - no
     particular message is loaded when OctaMED starts up)

NOTES
* If Auto-Terminate Capture is on, SysEx messages are treated
  specially. Not only does receiving stop automatically when an
  End SysEx byte is received, any unused bytes at the end of the
  message (if you overestimated the message's size) are removed.

  For other types of message, you'll have to remove the unused end
  bytes by decreasing the message size (type a new value into Msg
  Size). There's no easy way to find the value to type in, other
  than trying to use the hexadecimal row numbers on the left...

* Once received, the pairs of hex digits can be edited. Of course,
  you must know what you're doing! Switch on Main Control window ->
  Edit, then using the cursor keys to move the cursor around, type
  in new digits. Use Del to remove a byte, and Shift-Del to insert
  a new one at the cursor.

* As mentioned, many messages can be in memory. The current
  message's number is shown in the Msg box; select a new message by
  typing in its number or using the arrow buttons beside Msg. The
  display box beside Msg shows the number of messages in memory.

* To remove the current message, click Del Msg. To clear the
  current message, setting all bytes to 0, click Clear Msg.

* If there are no messages in memory, you can miss out step 2 above
  and just type in the number of bytes of space for the new message
  in step 3.


		    HOW TO SEND A MIDI MESSAGE
INTRODUCTION
This how-to assumes that you know how to receive and store a MIDI
message.

Once received, a message can be loaded from disk and sent to your
MIDI device. Alternatively, a message can be created from scratch
and sent.

One way to send a MIDI message is through the MIDI Message Editor.
Another way is to use player command type 10, together with the
number of the MIDI message where 0 is the first message. For
example, if command 1002 appeared in a song, message 3 would be
sent at that point.

STEPS
1) Open the MIDI Message Editor window.
   > Display menu -> MIDI Message Editor

2) EITHER Load a message for sending.
   > Click Load Msg THEN
   > Select a message in the file requester

   OR Create a message from scratch. This involves creating space
   for a new message, then editing each byte individually as a pair
   of hexadecimal digits. You must know what you're doing!	    @{" More " LINK f6_mife_2-3 0}

3) EITHER Send the message through the editor. When the message has
   been sent, OctaMED says so on the screen's title bar.
   > Click Send Msg

   OR Send the message at a particular point in a song.
   > Enter player command type 10, with the MIDI message number     @{" How? " LINK F1a.guide/f1_plco_1}
     minus 1 as the level. For example, command 1008 sends message
     number 7.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mife_4-5 "MIDI Features / How To Use MIDI Slave Mode"
@TOC f6_mife
		    HOW TO USE MIDI SLAVE MODE
INTRODUCTION
Using the MIDI menu's Slave Mode Active item, you can turn your
Amiga into a MIDI device! In this way, you can completely ignore
OctaMED's song-playing capabilities and use your Amiga as simply
another MIDI device in your collection, controlled by another MIDI
sequencer.

Alternatively, hook two Amigas together and use their combined
musical talents to produce *real* 8-channel sound!

MIDI Slave mode is not covered in detail here. For full details,
see section 13.2 of the printed manual.


		    HOW TO SET MIDI CONTROLLERS
INTRODUCTION
A `MIDI controller' is a type of MIDI message, used to control an
aspect of your MIDI device. Pitchbenders, modulation, aftertouch,
foot pedals and so on are all set using MIDI controllers.

OctaMED supports some MIDI controllers through particular player
commands. Some controllers, however, are not directly supported.
Instead, you can set up a player command for them. Command types 31
to 3F are reserved for this purpose.

MIDI controller setting is not covered in detail here. For full
details, see section 13.2 of the printed manual.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mife_6 "MIDI Features / How To Send Reset Messages"
@TOC f6_mife
		    HOW TO SEND RESET MESSAGES
INTRODUCTION
OctaMED can send two types of reset messages, if things go wrong or
it's found to be necessary. The first type resets the pitchbender
and modulation wheel to their usual setting. It also resets all
presets used by OctaMED, by sending a `program change' message when
a note is next played on each preset.

The second type is more drastic: It resets everything by sending a
`MIDI reset' message (FF in hex). Some MIDI devices may not
recognise this message.

STEPS
1) EITHER Reset the pitchbender, modulation wheel and all presets.
   > MIDI menu -> Reset Pitch/Presets

   OR Reset everything.
   > MIDI menu -> Send MIDI Reset
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mife_7 "MIDI Features / How To Set The Local Control"
@TOC f6_mife
		   HOW TO SET THE LOCAL CONTROL
INTRODUCTION
Some MIDI devices have a facility called `local control'. Local
control can be switched on or off.

When on, the device is free to play its own presets, usually using
its keyboard. When off, the device can only send MIDI messages
through its MIDI Out or Thru sockets. Trying to play the device
using its keyboard will fail.

Local control is usually on. One reason for switching it off is to
your device's Soft Thru facility. See other information on MIDI for
more details.

STEPS
1) EITHER Switch local control off.
   > MIDI menu -> Send Local Control -> Off

   OR Switch local control back on.
   > MIDI menu -> Send Local Control -> On
@ENDNODE


@REM M I D I  S E T T I N G S


@NODE f6_mise "Using MIDI with OctaMED / MIDI Settings"
@TOC OctaMED.guide/f6
HOW TO...
	@{"   Control synchronization   " LINK f6_mise_1}
	@{"   Control active sensing    " LINK f6_mise_2}
	@{"    Control note stopping    " LINK f6_mise_3}
	@{" `Echo' (repeat) input notes " LINK f6_mise_4}

OVERVIEW
Various settings are available for using MIDI with OctaMED.

`Synchronization' involves OctaMED sending information which allows
MIDI devices to keep in time with OctaMED. `Active sensing'
messages ensure that OctaMED is properly conversing with your MIDI
devices.

Notes can be stopped in two different ways. Finally, any notes
OctaMED receives, through the MIDI In socket on your interface, can
be sent back to the device through MIDI Out.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mise_1 "MIDI Settings / How To Control Synchronization"
@TOC f6_mise
		  HOW TO CONTROL SYNCHRONIZATION
INTRODUCTION
`Synchronization' involves OctaMED sending information which allows
MIDI devices to keep in time with OctaMED.

No such information is normally sent, but by switching on Send
Sync, OctaMED sends sync information whenever you click Song Play
or STOP in the Main Control window.

When Ext Sync is on, OctaMED can be synchronized `externally' by a
MIDI device. The MIDI device sends the sync information rather than
OctaMED.

STEPS
1) To use Ext Sync, switch on MIDI menu -> Input Active.

2) EITHER Switch Send Sync on or off.
   > MIDI menu -> Send Sync

   OR Switch Ext Sync on or off.
   > MIDI menu -> Ext Sync
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mise_2 "MIDI Settings / How To Control Active Sensing"
@TOC f6_mise
		   HOW TO CONTROL ACTIVE SENSING
INTRODUCTION
`Active sensing' messages can be periodically sent by OctaMED.
These messages equate to `Are you there?', in that they check that
MIDI devices are correctly receiving messages from OctaMED.

If you're having problems with MIDI, try switching on active
sensing messages. They can tell OctaMED whether all required MIDI
leads are properly connected.

STEPS
1) Switch active sensing on or off.
   > MIDI menu -> Send Active Sensing
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mise_3 "MIDI Settings / How To Control Note Stopping"
@TOC f6_mise
		   HOW TO CONTROL NOTE STOPPING
INTRODUCTION
There are two ways in which OctaMED can stop all notes playing on
your MIDI device, when you stop the song by clicking STOP (Main
Control window).

One method is to send a MIDI `all notes off' message for each MIDI
channel. Another method is sending standard `note off' messages for
each OctaMED track.

The first method is recommended if your device supports it, because
it stops all notes on your device, not just those played by
OctaMED.

STEPS
1) EITHER Choose to send `all notes off' messages.
   > MIDI menu -> Note Killing -> $Bx 7B 00

   OR Choose to send `note off' messages.
   > MIDI menu -> Note Killing -> Note Off Msgs
@ENDNODE


@NODE f6_mise_4 "MIDI Settings / How To `Echo' (repeat) Input Notes"
@TOC f6_mise
		HOW TO `ECHO' (REPEAT) INPUT NOTES
INTRODUCTION
Are you the owner of a separate sound module and keyboard? As you
enter notes using your keyboard, can you hear them played through
your sound module? No? Try switching on Send Out Input.

When on, OctaMED repeats (`echoes') all information coming through
MIDI In back through MIDI Out. In other words, note messages sent
by your keyboard to OctaMED are sent back.

STEPS
1) Switch input note echoing on or off.
   > MIDI menu -> Send Out Input
@ENDNODE
