v0.06 28/8/2024
This program displays MIDI messages received from its input port, and can send MIDI messages to its output port. It is a driver for the MIDI Support system and the input and output ports can be selected using the !MidiMan driver manager. Two instances of the application can be run providing separate control and keyboards for 2 MIDI devices.
This displays a 6 octave keyboard where notes can be entered via the mouse. A mouse left click is a normal
key down / key up operation. A mouse right click is key down only, for entering chords. The notes are
sent to the MIDI output port. When messages are received from the MIDI input port, the notes will be displayed for
enabled channels. A different highlight colour is used for each of the 16 channels.
The channel highlight colours are shown below.
The computer keyboard can also be used for entering notes. For this to work, the Keyboard window must have the focus. When the window is first opened it has the focus, if you need to regain the focus for any reason, move the keyboard window slightly. The following diagram shows which keys of the computer keyboard are used for note entry. Holding the SHIFT key down shifts the note up by 2 octaves. Notes are displayed in the keyboard window. More than one key can be pressed at the same time but the number depends on which keys are pressed, the keyboard design, and the operating system.
These are displayed directly above the keyboard.
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Monitor | This shows the channels being monitored from the input port. The selection can be set using the associated menu. |
| Octave Shift | The keyboard can be shifted up or down by octaves here. The position of middle C is shown by the marker directly above it. |
| Channel | Played notes are output on this channel (1 to 16). |
| Velocity | Played notes are output with this velocity setting (0 to 127). |
| Bank Hi | Sets the Bank Hi (0 to 127) for the MIDI output channel |
| Bank Lo | Sets the Bank Lo (0 to 127) for the MIDI output channel |
| Program | Sets the Program (0 to 127) for the MIDI output channel |
| Send Bank/Prog | Sends the Bank Hi/Lo and Program settings for the MIDI output channel to the MIDI output port |
| Selection | Action |
|---|---|
| Key highlight timer | Applies a minimum highlight time to each key of 200ms. This is useful when monitoring the Drum channel because percussion notes are often sent as note on followed very quickly by note off. Percussion instruments are normally of fixed duration and a note off message is not signficant although should be sent to comply with the MIDI spec. |
| Send keys to Editor | Without this option set, entered notes are output as MIDI messages
to the output port on the Channel out. With this option set, MIDI messages are not sent. Special Note Off and On commands are sent directly to the Synth to be applied to the User Instrument which is used by !Midisyn, the Synth Control and Editor application. Keys are highlighted in greys as the channel information is not used. The Bank Hi/Lo and Program settings also have no effect although they can still be sent to the MIDI output port. |
| Channels... | Opens the Channels window. |
| Help... | Opens this file. |
| Quit | Quits the program. |
This controls which channels are monitored from the MIDI input port.
| Selection | Action |
|---|---|
| None | Disables monitoring |
| Melodic | Enables monitoring all channels except the percussion channel |
| Percussion | Enables monitoring only the percussion channel |
| Channel 1 to Channel 16 | Enables or disables monitoring the selected channel |
This displays the channel volume, expression, pitch wheel, bank low, and program of all 16 channels received
from the MIDI input port.
Settings that are altered are sent to the MIDI output port.
The channel number and keyboard note highlight colour is displayed to the right of the sliders.
The program name display is of the bank 0 program and is highlighted when any of the channel pedal switches
are on. The highlight colour is shown below.
Hold Pedal : Green
Portamento : Orange
Sustenuto Pedal : Light Blue
Soft Pedal : Yellow
Lagato Pedal : Red
Hold 2 Pedal : Dark Blue
Clicking menu over any of the channel icons opens the Channel menu where the channel switches can be changed. The channel settings can also be reset to their default values.
© 2024 Peter Everett