                             MidiSmith
                            Version  1.5
                           Copyright 1994
                    Computer Systems & Solutions

MidiSmith is a Midi (*.mid) file player program that incorporates editing 
and sequencing capabilities.  

Sequences of files may be saved to be loaded and re-played.  Files 
(either individual or in a sequence) may be edited and then saved.

Editing is able to modify the playback Tempo, Transposition (pitch) and 
playback Volume and additionally can display and modify the instrumentations 
of the Midi tracks.  Balance between instruments may be adjusted through 
individual channel volumes within each track and also each channel may be 
transposed.  General Midi (GM) Instrument (voice) names can be selected 
and the GM defined Base and Extended level sequencer modes can be selected.
The Midi Mapper is used by default, bu any available Midi Driver may be 
selected for playback. 

A Text Event window is provided to view copyrights, instrument names as 
defined, lyrics, cue points and markers as Midi files are playing.  The 
Debug facility displays other significant events internal to Midi files 
in this window.  

Does this sound complex?  Of course!

But you can start out just playing Midi files and saving your favorite 
songs in the order you want them.  Everything else can be changed once 
you feel adventurous.


New for Version 1.5
____________________

Background play has been implemented!  This is the major change in this
version.  There was quite a bit of work involved, and I feel it is only
right to release this feature separatly.  If you experience any problems
PLEASE contact me!  Quite a bit of testing has taken place, but there 
may still be a problem or two.  If you experience problems and are 
familiar with Dr.Watson, please send me any log files.

The "Add" button has been enabled during play.  This is permitted now due
to the background play feature.


Note: There are some limitations:
_________________________________

Midi output devices are not saved and restored with the "Save" function.

Instrument Setup on a complex keyboard may be tricky.  Only single 
instrument selections are processed.

SysEx events are not sent to anybody!!!

Complete path names to files selected are saved in the MidiSmith Sequence
files.  This means that if you re-organise your directory structure or 
worse, move your files to another disk or system, they will not be found.
Fortunatly the .MSQ files are stored in ASCII and the file path name can
be changed with a standard text editor.  Note that these files look very
much like Windows .INI files, but they are not!  Be careful with line 
spacing when in these files.

Text Events will not be in sychronization (exactly) with the time at
which they occur in the music.  This is because of the bacground processing
of the music and the foreground display of the messages.

Using the Debug option on the Text Event screen may fail if excessive 
messages are displayed.  This is typically caused by severe usage of 
the MIDI Pitch Bend function.  Playback will not stop, but further Text
Events will not be displayed.

Shareware Registration
______________________

Support Shareware!  Register and in addition to a registered copy of 
MidiSmith, you will receive Version 2 when available which will support 
background playing and many additional features.  Any suggestions which 
you may wish to provide will be appreciated and evaluated for future 
inclusion.  A registration form may be obtained through Windows Help 
by printing the Registration Form topic (access the topic Shareware 
Registration first.

If you are a member of Compuserve, you may register through the Shareware
Registration Database service.  GO SWREG and request product registration 
number 2858.

Note: If you have already registered, your registration will still be
valid and you may use this release directly.


Product Support
_______________

You may contact me (Richard Ellis) via Compuserve Mail (72072,371), the 
Midi/Music Forum (GO MIDIFORUM) or through the mailing address provided 
in the registration information in Help.
