Roger Sapolsky
Following Taj Letocha's example (AMPLINEX 014), I will
examine in this article a method to convert a MIDI program into a program
compatible with the Music 5000 (or 3000) and Music 2000. In the following text,
'D5' stands for Music 5000 system disc, while 'D2' applies to the Music 2000 system
disc. Assuming D5 has been selected and an attempt is made to load in a MIDI
program, the software will try to load in module M.M2 which is included only in
D2. This prohibits loading of the program.
To make loading possible, all of the MIDI words and commands
included in the program must be 'de-activated'. A Music 5000/2000 compatible
program, called 'F.NiceWrk', is included on this disc. Boot-up D5, and load the
example program.
Running the program as it is will play the non-MIDI parts 1
and 3 (see 'mix1'). Since the MIDI parts will not be heard, some adjustment of
the program will probably be necessary to improve the result. For example, replacing
'3 SHARE' with '2 SHARE' and selecting 'Upright' instead of 'solo' in 'mix1'
will activate the pianist's left hand (in place of the guitar accompaniment
using John Bartlett's excellent 'solo' instrument).
If you wish, since its score includes very few 4-note
chords, player 3 can be allocated only 3 VOICES, and a fourth player added to
'mix1' for a drum part or a bass line.
Use of this program is obviously simpler for Music 2000 MIDI
users. Boot-up with D2 and load 'F.NiceWrk'. After selecting Notepad, GET
'mix9' to see how it has been made inactive.
As indicated in mix9, the words 'mc' and 'mk' have been
deleted from the program. If you look at the music parts 9a to 9h you will see
that % (comment) signs have been typed before all of the MIDI sound level instructions
such as '50mc'.
To use the MIDI program, enter 'mc' and 'mk' as indicated in
'mix9' and re-activate 'mix9' by deleting the % signs where needed. Forgetting
to delete the % signs in player 9's score will set the sound levels of percussion
voices at maximum.
That's about all, apart from the possible variations in
MIDIPROGRAM and PITCH (MIDI key) numbers adopted by various MIDI instrument
brands. The short comments in 'mix9' (sax, piano, etc.) should help in
selecting a suitable equivalent.
The reason for the special treatment given to percussion
voices in the program is explained in Hints and Tips, AMPLINEX 012
('Controlling the Roland D110'). However the command given in that issue was
incorrect. Use 'number 7MIDICONTROL' as shown in parts 9a..9h.
Other AMPLE instructions are not obeyed by MIDI, for
example, 'Len'. This is a serious drawback. To check what your MIDI instrument
does with '24Len' before a few crotchets (in first bar) enter
"1-1a" PLAY
Then replace 2 with 1 in the first line of mix9, and enter
"1-19a" PLAY
Player 1 will play the expected staccato the first time, and
probably not the second time.
If this is the case, you will have to specify rests in your
programs in place of the 'Len' command. For example,
12, CrDrEr
where 'r' is defined as
"r" [4,^8,]
rather than
12, -4 Len CDE
If you want to play a solo 'with feeling' as well as John
Bartlett does in his remarkable discs, don't use a MIDI voice. It will lack not
only Len instructions, but also Echo and other commands unearthed during my
thorough cribbing sessions!
It should be easier for Music 3000 users to amend the
program due to the greater number of voices available to them. Conversion of
long MIDI programs may still cause problems, however, due to a lack of memory.
This is because MIDI instruments use up only the MIDI unit's internal memory,
not the Music 5000's - and replacing them with Music 5000 instruments may not
always be possible.
MIDI compares well here against the Hybrid Music System, in
which each instrument requires somewhere between 30 and 200 bytes. For this
reason, MIDI scores often include 'PC' numbers which bring into action new
'free' instruments. Because of the Hybrid Music System's memory constraints, a few
of the MIDI parts may thus have to be removed.
In conclusion, I have described a method to make the
exchange of programs feasible between members using different systems. I am therefore
looking forward to enjoying more 'compatible' contributions in future issues of
AMPLINEX.
Now RUN the program and listen to a great hit of the swinging
thirties, played 'a la MIDI'.
Related file on this disc:
Published in AMPLINEX 016, March 1990
