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Installation

From the Windows Program Manager select RUN under the File Menu.  Put the Musi-Tron disk into the disk drive and type A:\SETUP (or B:\SETUP if the disk is in drive B:) and follow the installation instructions.


Controls

Pitch Level Fader
This control determines the center MIDI note value ranging from 0 to 127 (the entire range supported by MIDI).  Clicking on the top or bottom arrows increments or decrements the value by 1.  Clicking in the scroll region increments or decrements the value by 12 (an octave).  The user may also click-drag the value indicator to any spot in the scroll region producing radical value jumps.

Duration Level Fader
This control determines the center duration value ranging from 100 to 5000 milliseconds.  Clicking on the top or bottom arrows increments or decrements the value by 50 ms.  Clicking in the scroll region increments or decrements the value by 200 ms.  The user may also click-drag the value indicator to any spot in the scroll region producing radical value jumps.  Some timing discrepancy at short durations may be noticeable because of system timing resolution differences.

Velocity Level Fader
This control determines the center MIDI key velocity value ranging from 1 to 126.  For some unknown reason the values 0 to 127 produce a glitch but 1 to 126 dont.  Clicking on the top or bottom arrows increments or decrements the value by 1.  Clicking in the scroll region increments or decrements the value by 8.  The user may also click-drag the value indicator to any spot in the scroll region producing radical value jumps.  Velocity is usually implemented in synthesizers to control amplitude and timbre variation but not all patches respond to velocity the same way.  Some synthesizers do not support it.

Pitch Random Amount Level Fader
This control determines the width of accessible pitches around the center pitch level.  Zero random amount (at the bottom of the fader) produces no variation from the center pitch (determined by the Pitch Level Fader).  Maximizing the amount will produce an accessible range of half the entire range both above and below the center pitch.  Areas of range beyond the limits of the Level Faders are truncated before randomization occurs.  Clicking on the top or bottom arrows increments or decrements the value by 1.  Clicking in the scroll region increments or decrements the value by 6.  This large change amount represents an expansion or diminution of range by half an octave both above and below the center pitch.  The user may also click-drag the value indicator to any spot in the scroll region producing radical value jumps.

Duration Random Amount Level Fader
This control determines the width of accessible time values around the center duration level.  Zero random amount (at the bottom of the fader) produces no variation from the center duration (determined by the Duration Level Fader).  Maximizing the amount will produce an accessible range of slightly less than half the entire range both above and below the center duration.  Areas of range beyond the limits of the Level Faders are truncated before randomization occurs.  Clicking on the top or bottom arrows increments or decrements the value by 10 milliseconds.  Clicking in the scroll region increments or decrements the value by 200 ms.  The user may also click-drag the value indicator to any spot in the scroll region producing radical value jumps.  Some timing discrepancy at short durations may be noticeable because of system timing resolution differences.

Velocity Random Amount Level Fader
This control determines the width of accessible key velocity values around the center velocity level (determined by the Velocity Level Fader).  Zero random amount (at the bottom of the fader) produces no variation from the center velocity level.  Maximizing the amount will produce an accessible range of half the entire range both above and below the center velocity.  Areas of range beyond the limits of the Level Faders are truncated before randomization occurs.  Clicking on the top or bottom arrows increments or decrements the value by 1.  Clicking in the scroll region increments or decrements the value by 8.  The user may also click-drag the value indicator to any spot in the scroll region producing radical value jumps.  Velocity is usually implemented in synthesizers to control amplitude and timbre variation but not all patches respond to velocity the same way.  Some synthesizers do not support it.

Percentage of Note to Rest Fader
This control determines the percentage of random notes or rests played.  When the slider control is at the top (all notes) there are no rests played and the converse is also true when the slider is at the bottom, there are no notes played.  Halfway up the scroll region the notes and rests played are half and half, and the scale is 10% change clicking on the scroll region, 1% change on the arrows, and click-dragging the slider control produces radical value jumps.

Volume Fader
This is actually MIDI controller number 7.  Some synthesizers and some patches on synthesizers respond to this controller affecting a different parameter than volume, and some may not respond at all to this controller.

MIDI Control Change Data Fader
This fader sends controller data, when its value is changed, to the MIDI Controller selected in the MIDI Control Change Controller Selection Box.  The values range from 0 to 127.

MIDI Control Change Controller Selection Box
This selects a MIDI Controller.  Examples are number 1 for the modulation wheel, 4 for the pedal, 2 for a breath controller, 64 for the sustain pedal, and etc.  Different synthesizers all support different particular Controllers for their own use.  Controller number 1-- the mod wheel usually creates vibrato with a LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator).

Pitch-Class Selection Buttons
Clicking on the Pitch-Class Selection Buttons selects or de-selects that pitch.  When the pitch-class is selected (white letter on dark background,) the note is a possible choice for the random pitch generator.  If there are no pitches selected within a playable range defined by the Pitch Level Fader and Pitch Random Amount Fader, an error message will alert the user: No Pitches Within Range.  The generator will then be turned off so the user can make adjustments to the controls.

MIDI Out Device Driver Selection Box
When Musi-Tron is begun, it queries the Windows system for MIDI output devices.  Then the available driver names are put into the drop down list for the user to choose from among.  To chose, click on the arrow to reveal the available choices, then click on the choice.  If there are no MIDI out drivers on the system, Musi-Tron displays an error message upon starting up: No MIDI Output Devices Detected.  Then it allows the user to play with Musi-Tron, but it has an empty Device Driver Selection Box and it doesnt make any sound.  Some drivers allow for multiple instances of Musi-Tron to play simultaneously, others dont.

Snap Command Buttons
When the Record Snap Option Button os selected, the Snap Comand Buttons save the settings of all the faders, pitch-class selection buttons, patch number, and control change box number.  When the Play Snap Option Button is selected, the settings previously saved are restored when the Snap Command Button is clicked.  When the button has been loaded (recorded) a R appears on the button after the name.

Record Snap and Play Snap Option Buttons
These option buttons each deselect the other upon selection.  They specify the mode (record or play) of the Snap Command Buttons.

MIDI Channel Selection Box
To select the MIDI Channel, double-click on the number in the box, then type in the replacement, or select the box and backspace over the old, and type in the new numerals.  The available range is 1 to 16.  Any value outside the range causes the default (1) to be set.  In order for a channel change to occur, the PLAY/STOP button must be clicked on (or off and back on).

MIDI Patch Number Selection Box
To select the MIDI Patch Number, double-click on the number in the box, then type in the replacement, or select the box and backspace over the old, and type in the new numerals.  The available range is 1 to 128.  Any value outside the range causes the default (1) to be set.  In order for a patch change to occur, the PLAY/STOP button must be clicked on (or off and back on).  Different MIDI instruments implement different numbers of patches, some fewer than 128.

Musi-Tron Copyright Information Display Button
Click to display copyright information about Musi-Tron.

PLAY/STOP Command Button
When Musi-Tron is stopped, this button says PLAY, when it is playing the button says STOP.  Click on the button to produce the result displayed.  NOTE: There are instances when Musi-Tron uses the caption on this button to display error messages such as Dev Open Error if a MIDI out driver fails to open.
Instance ID Text Box
Type an identifying string into the Instance ID Box and it will also be displayed next to the title in the Title Bar.  Layered Instances of Musi-Tron can easily be identified by the user this way.


Other Operational Information

System Dependent Features

Multiple simultaneous instances of Musi-Tron can operate if your sound card driver supports sharing--
The Microsoft MIDI Mapper will only allow one instance of  Musi-Tron to play, even if the driver selected in MIDI Mapper will support more than one.

MIDI implementation varies from synthesizer to synthesizer--
Such things as MIDI Channels supported, polyphony, MIDI Continuous Controller support, MIDI Patch Change ranges, and etc. are apt to differ among machines with different MIDI devices installed.

External synthesizers or other MIDI peripherals can be used--
Effects devices, patch bays, drum modules, digital samplers, and etc. connected to MIDI Out interfaces which are installed in Windows should function with Musi-Tron according to their particular MIDI implementation.

Windows Macro Recorder
It is possible to record a performance using the Macro Recorder supplied with Windows 3.1.  From the Program Manager start the Macro Recorder.  Specify real-time playback and record.  Operate Musi-Tron under the Macro Recorder and all the mouse events caused by the user are recorded.  Save the session to a hot key combination and save the macro file.  Now when the macro is loaded and activated, the same user actions that were recorded are played back.  The music is not exactly the same because the random sequence generated by Musi-Tron is different even though the performance actions are the same.

Recording Musi-Tron MIDI Output With a MIDI Sequencer
Musi-Tron MIDI output can be recorded by a MIDI sequencer if there are multiple MIDI interfaces on the computer system.  Select to output Musi-Tron on one MIDI interface and record a sequence on another MIDI interface, then the Musi-Tron output can be routed to the input of the sequencer.  Because Windows can run both applications concurrently, the sequencer will record the Musi-Tron output.  CAUTION:  Do not attempt to record from the same MIDI interface which is being used by Musi-Tron.  This could cause unpredictable results and possible damage.  A third-party sequencer is necessary because the MCI Sequencer supplied with Windows will not record.


Credits

Musi-Tron was written by David Barnhart.  Valuable assistance in development came from:
	Joe A. Barnhart-- Davids brother and Programming Guru.
	Gaute Espeland-- another MIDI programming enthusiast on CompuServe Information Service.
	The Honorable Charles R. Barnhart-- Davids brother and provider of judicious product evaluation.
	John C. Spence-- Davids friend and a dauntless Musi-Tron critic and Art Evangelist.

Correspondence

Any ideas, comments, and observations on Musi-Tron are welcome.  Please send correspondence to:
David Barnhart
413 Bette Clair SE
Albuquerque, NM  87123
or E-mail to CompuServe Member Number 72417,1327.

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