Hey all, A new beta build with initial MIDI support is now up for your perusal! Grab it at <http://www.doggiebox.com/distribution/Doggiebox-1C2.zip> Here are the release notes (also included in the download), to whet your whistle. --------------------------------------- Notes for 1C2 (26 April 2004): This build is Doggiebox's first emergence with the beginnings of MIDI support. If you have MIDI devices that you use in your music-making, this is for you. Over the coming weeks we would like to solicit usability, performance and functionality feedback from anybody who uses MIDI in a real-world situation. As there is a huge range of hardware and software (e.g. keyboards, drum machines, sequencers, etc.) which support MIDI, your feedback -- particularly as Doggiebox relates to the stuff you are using -- will be immensely valuable in crafting MIDI support in Doggiebox. THEORY BEHIND MIDI OPERATION The goal with this series is to equip Doggiebox to provide real-time input and playback with any MIDI-compliant software and hardware devices. In this build, it is possible to configure MIDI events that correspond to drums in Doggiebox drum kit files, and then play back Doggiebox songs to MIDI devices instead of (or in addition to) your computer speakers. If you have outboard MIDI hardware, you should first set it up according to the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that it is configured and available in the Apple Audio MIDI Setup utility (found in your / Applications/Utilities folder). Alternatively, various MIDI-compliant software will register itself with the system automatically with little or no setup required. CHANGES TO THE USER INTERFACE Here's what's new in the UI since Doggiebox 1.1.1 as it relates to MIDI: • In the Preferences, there are pop-up buttons with which to choose the MIDI source and destination devices. The available choices will reflect devices as configured in the Apple Audio Midi Setup tool, as well as any virtual endpoints belonging to applications that are running. Choose a source for "MIDI in from" (Doggiebox will listen to this device), and a target for "MIDI out to" (Doggiebox will play back through this device). • In the drum kit document window, there is a new table column labeled "MIDI" and a corresponding input field near the bottom of the window. This field indicates what MIDI "note on" message is sent when the corresponding drum plays back, as well as what is listened for when selecting instruments during editing. To set the MIDI message for a drum, click on the "MIDI message" field at the bottom of the window and then send the desired event (e.g., press a key on your keyboard or drum machine). To dissociate any MIDI message from the instrument, click "none". To hear the event, click "test" to play it on the chosen output device. • In the song document window, there are two new checkboxes labeled "Play audio" and "Play MIDI". These determine whether normal audio playback (with Doggiebox drum kit sounds) and/or outbound MIDI are enabled, respectively. ERRATA AND NOTES • Currently, only "note on" events are sent over MIDI. This will cause some sounds, such as crash cymbals and open hi-hats, to sound strange (e.g. with inappropriately long decay) depending on your playback device. This will be fixed shortly, with accompanying "note off" events happening where they should. • Currently, all MIDI playback is sent at full velocity (as defined in the drum kit) regardless of the "master volume" slider in the song editor. This will be fixed shortly. • MIDI input is not currently observed in the song editor (e.g. for switching instruments or real-time input). This will be implemented eventually. • The included update to Ben's Premier Kit has MIDI messages configured for most instruments which correspond to the General MIDI channel 10 drum patch. Developmental testing has been done using SimpleSynth as a virtual playback device, available from <http://pete.yandell.com/software/>. --------------------------------------- Please post any impressions, remarks, compatibility notes, suggestions and so on to the list or to me. So far, I have not been able to work with any physical outboard gear; instead I have been using a combination of software synths for I/O. So feedback from those of you with actual equipment will be interesting! Thanks, and enjoy, -ben -- Ben Kennedy, chief magician zygoat creative technical services 613-228-3392 | 1-866-466-4628 http://www.zygoat.ca