Answer: Mixing Desk query
Don Buckley (AMPLINEX 019) asks if an AMPLE program can
control the Mixing Desk faders.
Although dynamic level is usually set by the commands =L, +L
and -L, which do not affect the Mixing Desk display, it is possible to use the
VOL command which does.
For example, in a music part
115 VOL
will set the fader for the first (or only) voice at a level
of 115. Similarly, to alter the second voice only, one would use
2; 128 VOL 1;
For a multi-voice part, it may be useful to define a word:
"vol" [ ON; VOL 1; ]
and invoke it with, say,
115 vol
which would set the level for all voices in the part to 115.
Alan Minns
Question: Swinging different ways
Using the REP(WIND)REP structure to give a tune 'swing' how
can I change the values for different parts? For example,
"part9a" [ SCORE 24,/
REP( 12 WIND 48,/ )REP ]
"part9b" [ SCORE 48,/
REP( 24 WIND 72,/ )REP ]
G Adams
Answer: Saving instruments (1)
The solution to Don Buckley's query (AMPLINEX 019) about
saving and loading instruments individually, is to use *SPOOL and *EXEC.
To save just one instrument, type:
*SPOOL <filename>
"<insname>" TYPE
*SPOOL
Where <insname> is the name of the instrument you are
saving.
To load it back again, type:
*EXEC <filename>
This allows you to load instruments while preserving other
words in memory.
You can save groups of instruments in the same file by
typing more than one TYPE command before the second *SPOOL.
If you have the AMPLE Toolbox, another way to do it is to
save the instruments by deleting all the other words (I don't know of an easy
way, although the Toolbox SPAREDELETE can help) and SAVEing. These can be re-loaded
into other programs with the Toolbox MERGE command.
Using these techniques, I keep a library of instruments and
other regularly used words which I find invaluable.
Michael Lefevre
Answer: Saving instruments (2)
In answer to Don Buckley's question about saving instruments
individually: see AMPLINEX U11 and the ZROM utility. This allows you to save
umpteen instruments in one file and to load any individual sound back as you
want it.
R G Hanson
Question: Toolbox editors
Has anyone been able to modify the Main Menu to incorporate
the AMPLE Toolbox editors so that they can be called up in the same way as the
other editors (e.g. Notepad and Mixing Desk)?
I am getting tired of having to MLOAD the desired new editor
(sometimes after having to MDELETE the Main Menu editor), then enter the new
editor, and finally MDELETE it after use, as well as having to swap between the
System and Toolbox discs.
Ideally, I would like all modules to be available from the
same disc, and available in the same straightforward way as the normal Main
Menu editors.
Perhaps Hybrid Technology might like to address this
problem, as it would really integrate new programs into the system, rather than
leaving them as inconvenient add-ons.
Tony Walduck
Answer: MIDI drum kit problem (1)
In reply to Bernie Dawson's question (AMPLINEX 017), I have
a Music 2000 along with a Kawai K1 synthesiser and Akai XE8 drum module and
have found exactly the same problem. Using the VEL command to set the volume of
any of the MIDI voices doesn't work from the mix word or from within an individual
part. When playing sounds from the Music 4000 keyboard the VEL command does
work. It doesn't alter the volume level of a MIDI voice but sets the velocity
level which the MIDI instrument reads as how hard you hit the keys.
To set the volume of my MIDI voices I have had to use the
dynamic level, the =L command, within each part. Using the Music 5000's sound
the maximum dynamic level is 64, but using an external MIDI instrument it's
127. I'd also like to hear of a way of setting a MIDI voice's volume from the
mix.
Mike Dobson
Answer: MIDI drum kit problem (2)
In answer to Bernie Dawson's question in AMPLINEX 017:
setting the desired output level of each percussion instrument in a drum kit
can be done manually on the MIDI instrument front panel. In addition,
instructions using '7 MIDICONTROL' can, if the need arises, alter globally the
sound level in a score, but these may not be the best methods.
Exclusive messages (of the type described in my article in
the Features section of this issue) allow individual output levels to be set as
desired using appropriate values of 'address', 'value' and 'checksum'. The start
address of 'Rhythm Setup Temp (Unit#)' in the address map is &03 &01 &10.
This is valid for Note#24, but the first usable rhythm instrument is Bass Drum
1 (Note#35), the address of which is start address +(35-24)*4 = 44 = &2C
giving &03 &01 &3C. See tables 5-3 and 5-3-1 in the Roland manual.
The 'value' parameter has a range of 0-100 (or
&0-&64).
Note that the last settings sent stay in the memory of the
D110. The default levels (of 100) can be re-entered manually, or by using
appropriate messages at the end of the piece.
An offset of one should be added to the address to set the
Output Level, hence the final address is 03 01 &3D for the Bass Drum 1
(note that an offset of two will let you set Panpot). A table giving the addresses
of all rhythm instruments would be helpful and may avoid errors.
Since player 9 always owns several instruments, each
exclusive message must be preceded by 'number VOICE' so it will affect only the
desired instrument. As usual, the patterns coming after the message will be preceded
by 1;, 2;, etc. when hits (X) are used.
This disc contains a little demonstration programme, called 'Q.KitLvls'.
It is in text format (so that is can be viewed by those without a Music 2000),
and should be EXECed into AMPLE. The programme plays a simple pattern twice:
first loud, then with a softer volume level.
I haven't used the tricks discussed in this article in real
programmes yet: thus, I don't know how the system will cope with patterns
played Prestissimo with a lot of intermingled exclusive messages!
Roger Sapolsky
Question: Programmable jukebox
I think the programmable Jukebox (AMPLINEX 017) is fine -
but I would like to be able to use it under ADFS. I can transfer the existing
program OK, and at first it looks as if all will be well, but the music titles have
letters missing and they are scattered about like a dog's breakfast.
Is there any chance of Allan Gardner or anyone else coming
up with the necessary modifications to the program? I wouldn't have a clue how
to do it - and I dare say quite a lot of members transfer everything to ADFS, as
I do.
Jim Brook
Question: Continuous music
In the dim, dark past I used to have 3-voice music programs
on disc that loaded and then played. Whilst playing the last passage, a program
would access the disc for the next piece, then continue playing the new piece, without
a pause between the old music file and the new.
Is there any way that this can be done with the Music 5000?
Don Buckley
Answer: Coloured text
In answer to Don Buckley's questions in AMPLINEX 019: the
easiest way to get coloured text for lyrics or anything else is to use either
the IEDIT (Image EDITor) module on the AMPLE Toolbox disc, or the ASD (AMPLE Screen
Designer) utility published in AMPLINEX 002, both of which are excellent.
Coloured text, or anything else, is then a piece of cake.
R G Hanson
Another answer to this question can be found in the AMPLE
program Q.ColText included on this disc and accessible from the Questions and
Answers menu.
Question: Real-time MIDI In
Can Richard Bettis's MIDI In program be modified to use the
M.REC module for real-time recording? As I am a guitarist not a keyboard player
and have spent some years learning to express myself on this instrument it would
be so much easier to use for musical input. In fact, this would allow any
player with a MIDI instrument, not only keyboard, to benefit.
G Adams
Question: Real instruments
I have recently obtained a Music 5000/4000 system and have
noticed that there very few 'real' instruments available. I would like to use classical
instruments, and folk instruments (e.g. accordion, whistle, fiddle, Irish
flute).
I would therefore be grateful if any members could supply,
or indicate how to construct, appropriate instrument definitions.
Robert Charlesworth
Question: Auto Menu listing
Has anyone managed to get the 'Auto Menu' by Ian Waugh
(Acorn User September 1990) to *EXEC and RUN? I can get neither the monthly
disc version or the listing in the magazine to work. It will not *EXEC all the words
into AMPLE from the disc and after typing in the listing from the magazine and
trying to RUN, I get the error message '! Bad string' in the 'lr' word. I've
tried all ways to rectify it but to no avail.
W T Hyde
See the Hints and Tips section of this issue for some
information on a problem with another Acorn User AMPLE program.
Question: Jargon
When I was a young man, a pianola was considered a pretty
clever box of tricks - so perhaps you will not be surprised if I say I think
there is room for a kind of glossary, or dictionary, in AMPLINEX.
For instance, what exactly is a 'sampled' sound, and what is
the difference between EMR's offerings and the Music 5000, or the Music 5000
and 'MIDI'?
I've no doubt these will seem very elementary questions to
many members - but perhaps not to all! And of course there are hundreds more
things that could be included in such a feature.
I don't suppose I'm alone in finding the Music 5000
fascinating, but only one of a number of interests - so anything that makes
comprehension easier will encourage more and deeper involvement. Could it be
that some of those who have lapsed as members have done so because unravelling
the complexities of the Music 5000, MIDI, etc. are just too much for the time available?
Jim Brook
Editor's note:
The comments following some of the questions above are only
my opinions on the subject and should not be taken as definitive answers.
Your comments are most welcome on any of the questions
posed, whether they supplement, confirm or correct any I have expressed.
Related file on this disc:
Q.ColText - example program to show how to display
coloured text. Can be selected from the Questions and Answers menu.
Q.KitLvls - AMPLE program (for use with the Music 2000
MIDI interface) to demonstrate the setting of drum kit volumes
