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CanvasMan (TM) Version 4.6 Copyright (c) 1992-1994 Jeff Cazel All Rights Reserved CanvasMan, SongCanvas and the sunglassed Beethoven are trademarks of Jeff Cazel User's Guide Revision Date: June 1994 **************************************************************** Notes on this user's guide The real CanvasMan User's Guide is a Word for Windows 6.0 document with multiple fonts and several pictures; saving it in 'MS-DOS Text with Layout' format created this text version. You will note that it has some formatting problems: 1--All pictures are missing. By definition, text files do not store graphical information. 2--There are strangely formatted paragraphs, especially those with em- dashes (--) and those in the Index. 3--There are no fonts nor page numbers. I haven't made a major effort to format the text manual since most people can easily afford the real WinWord version. To order the 'official' CanvasMan User's Guide, see the online help's order form. Jeff Cazel JEFF CAZEL MIDI LICENSE AGREEMENT This is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or an entity) and Jeff Cazel MIDI. By opening the sealed software package and/or by using the SOFTWARE, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms of this Agreement, promptly return the unopened software package and the accompanying printed materials to the place from which you obtained them for a full refund. JEFF CAZEL MIDI SOFTWARE LICENSE 1. GRANT OF LICENSE. This software is protected by both United States copyright law and international treaty provisions. Therefore, you must treat this software like a book, with the following single exception: Jeff Cazel MIDI authorizes you to make archival copies of the software for the sole purpose of backing up our software and protecting your investment loss. By saying "like a book," we mean, for example, that this software may be freely moved from one computer to another so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just like a book that can't be read by two different people at the same time, neither can the software be used by two different people at the same time (unless, of course, Jeff Cazel MIDI's copyright has been violated). 2. OTHER RESTRICTIONS. You may not reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software. 3. REGISTRATION INFORMATION. Jeff Cazel MIDI strictly prohibits you from distributing your Registration Information to anyone. WARRANTY DISCLAIMER Jeff Cazel MIDI hereby disclaims any and all warranties relating to this software both express and implied, including any merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Jeff Cazel MIDI will not be liable for any incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MIDI Programmer's ToolKit for Windows, Copyright (c) 1994, by Paul A. Messick and Music Quest, Inc. Band-In-A-Box is a trademark of PG Music. Cakewalk and Cakewalk Professional for Windows are trademarks of Twelve Tone Systems, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Music Quest and MIDI Programmer's ToolKit for Windows are trademarks of Music Quest, Inc. The Parker Adams Group is a trademark of Parker Adams. WinJammer and WinJammer Pro are trademarks of WinJammer Software, Ltd. Other brands, companies and product names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. The mentioning of these names is meant solely for identification purposes and is in no way meant to constitute an endorsement of Jeff Cazel MIDI or our products by these companies. CanvasMan User's Guide Table of Contents Overview 1 Setting Up 3 Quick Start 3 Sequence MIDI Output Ports 4 Define Synths / Route MIDI Data 5 Main Window 8 Menus 10 File Menu 10 Edit Menu 12 MIDI Menu 26 Setup Menu 28 Help Menu 29 Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits 30 Appendix A Technical Support 33 Appendix B MIDI Multitasking 34 Appendix C MIDI Thru and Local 35 Appendix D Online Help 36 Appendix E Spin Button 37 Appendix F Multiple Synths? 38 Index 39 Overview CanvasMan is the Windows editor/librarian for Roland's SOUNDCanvas line of GS synthesizers (SC-55, SC-55mkII, SCC-1, SC-50, JV-30 and many others). CanvasMan provides true MIDI multitasking -- you can run it by itself, while you jam with Band-In-A-Box, or while you sequence with Cakewalk and WinJammer. Your wait is over for an easy-to-use SOUNDCanvas editor. CanvasMan can play your MIDI files as you edit--you'll hear your changes instantly in the context of your own musical projects! It saves its data in standard sysex format (also called "MIDIEX" format) so you can store edits within your sequences or as stand-alone banks. You can even create your own single- and multi-Part sounds for easy future recall. Finally, CanvasMan gives you complete control over all Global, Part, and Drum parameters. To maximize data integrity, CanvasMan uses one-way MIDI communication only (from the computer to the SOUNDCanvas). You cannot lose data when other windows send extraneous data. This manual refers to any CanvasMan-supported GS sound module or keyboard as a "Canvas." "GS" is Roland's "General Standard"--a superset of the General MIDI standard. If you have an SCC-1, please ignore references to the "display" or "LCD"--the SCC-1 doesn't have one. CanvasMan avoids the term "patch" in its documentation because "patch" has an ambiguous definition in the context of multi-timbral synthesizers. All users should read the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits section (page 30) for a complete description of CanvasMan's data files. Overview (continued) This manual describes how to modify, save and audition the various parameters within the Canvas. It does not describe what these parameters do. For example, it describes how to turn Chorus On and Off, but it doesn't state what effect that has on the sound nor why you may want that effect. The online help and various Canvas owner's manuals will explain some of these parameters, however. This manual also does not explain basic Windows procedures and concepts such as selecting menu options and using scroll bars. If you are a new Windows user, please run the Windows Tutorial on the Program Manager's Help menu. Finally, though there are multiple versions of CanvasMan, they share the same user's guide and help file. Unless specifically noted, "CanvasMan" refers to any version. Setting Up -- Quick Start 1 Run SETUP--On the Windows Program Manager screen, select File and then Run.... This will display the Run dialog and position your cursor at Command Line. If you have a CanvasMan disk in drive A:, type A:SETUP <Enter> If you have a CanvasMan disk in drive B:, type B:SETUP <Enter> If you have downloaded the shareware version of CanvasMan, type the full path to SETUP.EXE and press <Enter> (for example, C:\TEMP\SETUP <Enter>). Follow the instructions on the screen. 2 Read CanvasMan's Help Introduction--Double-click on the READ ME FIRST! icon in CanvasMan's Program Manager group and read the information. This will give you a good overview on CanvasMan's overall layout. 3 Set Up MIDI Devices--Start CanvasMan by double-clicking on its icon in CanvasMan's Program Manager group. Setting up your MIDI devices consists of two dialog boxes: Sequence MIDI Output Ports and Define Synths / Route MIDI Data. Select Sequence MIDI Output Ports from CanvasMan's Setup menu (CanvasMan will automatically run this option for you the first time in). Read the next four pages for complete descriptions of Sequence MIDI Output Ports and Define Synths / Route MIDI Data. See also the MIDI Multitasking appendix for more information. Finally, note that CanvasMan turns Local Control Off at startup. For more information, see the MIDI Thru and Local appendix. Setting Up -- Sequence MIDI Output Ports (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) If you have more than one output port, you can have CanvasMan play your MIDI files on some or all of them. To so do, sequence the output ports to match your multi-port MIDI files. Do so by double-clicking, in order, on the relevant ports in the Available to Sequence column (this will move them to the New Sequence column). For example, the picture above shows that I am changing my sequence from the MENOTE as #1 and the MPU-401 as #2 (Current Sequence) to the Serial as #1 and the MENOTE as #2. If I want to, I can still add the MPU-401 and the MIDI Mapper as #3 and #4 before selecting OK. If you have a single MIDI interface like most of us, you can simply move it by itself into the New Sequence column. Try to avoid using the MIDI Mapper--you cannot open it for multiple concurrent output. See the MIDI Multitasking appendix for more information. If you sequence the ports incorrectly, select the Restart button to move all New Sequence ports back to Available. You can then restart sequencing your ports. Each time you run Sequence MIDI Output Ports, CanvasMan will run Define Synths / Route MIDI Data afterwards. Setting Up -- Define Synths / Route MIDI Data (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) The top half of this screen allows you to tell CanvasMan about your SOUNDCanvas synthesizer(s). CanvasMan will support a MIDI network that has up to three SOUNDCanvases--there is one column for each of three synths. (If you have one SOUNDCanvas, use column #1; if you have two, use #1 and #2; and if you have three, use all three columns.) Use the Model combobox to tell CanvasMan what type of SOUNDCanvas you have. Similarly, use the Device # combobox to specify which device # you have used for each SOUNDCanvas. You will want to leave the device # at 17 unless you have more than one SOUNDCanvas connected to the same MIDI output port. (If you have more than one SOUNDCanvas on the same MIDI port, read your synth manual to find out how to change its device # to match CanvasMan.) Once you choose your model and device #, CanvasMan stores and acts on the information and displays it on the main window caption. If the Model combobox does not list your synthesizer, please see the online help's Introduction section for information on how to proceed. Setting Up -- Define Synths / Route MIDI Data (continued) (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) The bottom left section of the screen allows you to specify which output MIDI port you have used for each of your SOUNDCanvases. For each column in use, specify the port to which you want CanvasMan's system exclusive ("SysEx") data routed. Most users will specify the same port as Thru (see below), since you'll probably want both types of MIDI information to go to the same port (i.e., eventually routed to the SOUNDCanvas). The bottom right section of the screen deals with system-wide MIDI settings. The top half of the Thru column allows you to specify the port to which you want your keyboard controller's MIDI information routed. You'll typically specify the same port as SysEx, since you'll probably want both types of MIDI information to go to the same port (i.e., eventually routed to the SOUNDCanvas). Setting Up -- Define Synths / Route MIDI Data (continued) The bottom half of the Thru column handles the Thru input port. If your MIDI interface is output-only, both Thru (Out) and Thru In will be blank. If you have only one input port, Thru In will list that port. However, if you have more than one input port (like in the picture on the preceding page), CanvasMan allows you to select the Thru In port from a combobox. Finally, the Close Outputs When Switched checkbox appears in the lower right corner. If your MIDI drivers allow multiple programs to use your output ports OR if you do not plan to run other MIDI programs at the same time as CanvasMan, uncheck this box for greater speed. Note that CanvasMan cannot close your Thru Out port if Thru is On. If Thru is Off, however, CanvasMan will not even open your Thru In port. See the MIDI Multitasking appendix for more information. Main Window (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) CanvasMan's main window consists of several sections. From top to bottom, they are: Caption Menubar Toolbar Part Selectors Edit Controls (The picture above does not show any Edit Controls since they change based on the current Edit Menu selection.) The window caption states "CanvasMan," the synth model and assigned device #, the current Edit Menu selection, and your current Combo file name. The menubar appears below the caption. The menu sections of this manual explain each menu option in detail. Certain options have accelerator "hotkeys" that make accessing them quicker. For example, you can always press Ctrl+A to display the Quick Edit A screen. The menus list accelerators where available. Main Window (continued) (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) The toolbar is the row of pictures ("icons") below the menubar. These icons duplicate some of the menu options. From left to right, the icons represent File-New, File-Open, File-Save, File-Load MIDI File, MIDI- Play/Pause, MIDI-Rewind, MIDI-Thru, MIDI-Local, Help-About and MIDI- Panic Button. Note that several dialog boxes (Define Synths, Directories, etc.) also contain the MIDI-oriented toolbar buttons. In most cases, the Part selection buttons appear below the toolbar. However, when you've selected an edit window that covers multiple parts, the Part selectors disappear. When available, click on one of the sixteen radio buttons to choose your current work in process Part. The Edit Menu section describes the different Edit Control screens in detail. You may resize the window like in other programs by dragging its border. File Menu (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) See the Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits section (page 30) to learn how CanvasMan's data files interrelate. New This option sends a GS Reset to the Canvas and renames the current GS Combo file to UNTITLED. File-New will prompt you to save the current Combo if you've changed it since your last File-Save or File-Save As. Open This option displays a file open dialog for GS Combos. Once you select a valid file, CanvasMan sends the complete sysex data to the Canvas. File-Open will prompt you to save the current Combo if you've changed it since your last File-Save or File-Save As. Save This option saves the current GS Combo file. If the current file name is UNTITLED, File-Save behaves as File-Save As and displays a file save dialog for Combos. Save As This option displays a file save dialog for GS Combos. File Menu (continued) Load GS Sound This option displays a file open dialog for GS Sounds. Once you select a valid file, you can insert it into the current Combo starting on any tonal part. Save GS Sound This option allows you to select which Part(s) you wish to include in a GS Sound. Once you've done so and pressed the OK button, File-Save GS Sound displays a file save dialog for Sounds. Load GS Drum Kit This option displays a file open dialog for GS Drum Kits. Once you select a valid file, you can insert it into the current Combo as Drum Kit #1 or #2. Save GS Drum Kit This option displays a file save dialog for GS Drum Kits. Load MIDI File This option displays a file open dialog for MIDI format files ("standard MIDI files"). Once you select a valid file, CanvasMan starts playing it. File-Load MIDI File is grayed if MIDI is disabled. Note that you can also play MIDI files by dragging them from Windows' File Manager and dropping them anywhere on the CanvasMan window. Exit This option exits CanvasMan. File-Exit will prompt you to save the current GS Combo file if you've changed it since your last File-Save or File-Save As. Edit Menu (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) The Edit Menu displays a list of all of the edit dialog windows. CanvasMan indicates the current choice with a check mark to its left. When you select a new edit window, the window size reverts to its default. As with most Windows programs, however, you can resize the CanvasMan window at any time. Each valid change you make on any edit screen sends the sysex data to the SOUNDCanvas immediately. Edit Menu -- Quick Edit A (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays basic part settings for all 16 Parts. You can use the keyboard to change several parameters here. Move between parameters with the Tab and Shift+Tab keys; you may also single-click (steady hand!) on a parameter to select it. Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See the Spin Button appendix (page 37) for more information. To mute a MIDI Channel, set it to 0. To set random panning, set Pan to - 64. Edit Menu -- Quick Edit B (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays more basic part settings for all 16 Parts. You can use the keyboard to change several parameters here. Move between parameters with the Tab and Shift+Tab keys; you may also single-click (steady hand!) on a parameter to select it. Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See the Spin Button appendix (page 37) for more information. To mute a MIDI Channel, set it to 0. Edit Menu -- General Part Settings #1 (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) You can change several general parameters in this window. To set random panning, set Part Panpot to -64. Edit Menu -- General Part Settings #2 (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) You can change additional general parameters in this window. Edit Menu -- Receive Flags / Scale Tuning (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Receive Flags / Scale Tuning dialog. You can specify to which MIDI messages a Part responds and you can tune the individual chromatic notes for a Part here. Edit Menu -- Modulation / Pitch Bend (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Modulation / Pitch Bend dialog. You can change Modulation and Pitch Bend-oriented parameters in this window. Edit Menu -- Aftertouch (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Aftertouch dialog. You can change Aftertouch- oriented parameters in this window. Edit Menu -- Continuous Controllers (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Continuous Controllers dialog. You can change Continuous Controller-oriented parameters in this window. Edit Menu -- Master Settings (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Master Settings dialog. You can change global parameters on this screen that affect every Part. Edit Menu -- Reverb / Chorus (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Reverb / Chorus Settings dialog. You can change effects parameters on this screen that affect every Part. Edit Menu -- Tone/Rhythm / Voice Reserve (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Tone/Rhythm / Voice Reserve dialog. You can designate Parts as tonal or rhythm (Map #1 or #2) here, and you can reserve voices for Parts. Edit Menu -- Drum Kits (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) This option displays the Edit-Drum Kits dialog. The SOUNDCanvas stores settings for two drum kits; you can use the keyboard to change these settings here. Move between parameters with the Tab and Shift+Tab keys; you may also single-click (steady hand!) on a parameter to select it. Mouse users can change values with the spin button. See the Spin Button appendix (page 37) for more information. The top of the screen displays the kit names (Electronic and Power in the example above). The left column lists the sounds within the selected kit. You can select which of the two sound lists to display via the Instrument Names radio buttons in the upper left corner. For example, to change the list from Electronic to Power, click on the bottom button. If both kits are the same, CanvasMan disables the Instrument Names radio buttons. (Most sounds are the same throughout all kits, so you may not see much, if any, effect when changing Instrument Names.) Edit Menu -- Miscellaneous Options Decrement Part This option decreases the current Part by 1. If you are already on Part 1, the Part changes to 16. Increment Part This option increases the current Part by 1. If you are already on Part 16, the Part changes to 1. Next Quick Edit Screen This option moves forward through the Quick Edit screens. If you're already at the last screen, it takes you to the first. This option is only available when the Quick Edit screens are active. Prior Quick Edit Screen This option moves backward through the Quick Edit screens. If you're already at the first screen, it takes you to the last. This option is only available when the Quick Edit screens are active. Copy This option copies the current .SYX file into the Windows clipboard. You can then paste this MIDIEX-formatted data into a sequencer, etc. MIDI Menu (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) Play Pause These options toggle the MIDI player On and Off. If the file is currently playing, the Play option is checked and grayed (unavailable); if currently paused, Pause is checked and grayed. Rewind This option resets the current MIDI file to its beginning and, if playing, pauses it. Play From/Thru (See next page.) Thru This option toggles MIDI Thru On and Off. MIDI-Thru is unavailable if you do not have at least one MIDI Input and Output port. Local This option toggles Local On and Off for your controller keyboard(s). The data transmits on all channels for all sequenced output ports. Since most MIDIers want Local Off, CanvasMan turns Local Off at startup. MIDI Menu (continued) Play From / Thru This option allows you to specify a section of the currently loaded MIDI file (shown above as MEGAJAM.MFF) to play in a loop. Enter the From (loop begin) and Thru (loop end) measures and select OK. (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) When you load a song via File-Load MIDI File, CanvasMan sets the Play From/Thru time signature to 4/4. (Future versions of CanvasMan might automatically detect the time signature.) Select the correct time signature if not 4/4; if your time signature is not listed or if you have multiple time signatures in the song, select Beats Only. When using Beats Only, remember to calculate your From and Thru values using quarter notes. Refresh Synth This option retransmits the current GS Combo file's sysex data to the Canvas. Panic Button This option stops the song (if playing) and sends "all notes off" and "reset all controllers" messages on each MIDI channel of each MIDI port. Setup Menu (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) Sequence MIDI Output Ports Define Synths / Route MIDI Data Installation pages 3-7 explain these options fully. Directories This option allows you to specify which directories to use for MIDI files (labelled as Standard MIDI Files), sysex/MIDIEX files (SysEx / MIDIEX Files), GS Combos (Combo Files), GS Sounds (Sound Files) and GS Drum Kits (Drum Kit Files). Setup-Directories will create the directories if necessary, but only to one level. For example, C:\CM\SOUNDS is invalid unless C:\CM already exists. Register This option allows you to enter your Registration Information. Entering this information converts the unregistered shareware version to the registered version and enables some of the enhanced features of CanvasMan. Retail versions of CanvasMan do need nor list the Setup-Register option. Help Menu (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) Contents This option displays the table of contents for CanvasMan's online help system. Search for Help on This option displays the list of cross-referenced CanvasMan help keywords. You can search for information on any indexed word or phrase as listed here. EZ Start Tutorial This option is only available on the Parker Adams Group CanvasMan Deluxe Edition. It displays a help file consisting of CanvasMan tutorials. How to Use Help This option displays Windows' own 'how to use help' tutorial. About CanvasMan This option displays the sunglassed Beethoven trademark and plays the CanvasMan fanfare. Its purpose is to list copyright and program version information. Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits CanvasMan creates three types of data files: GS Combos *.GSC / *.G2C / *.SYX GS Sounds *.GSS / *.G2S GS Drum Kits *.GSD CanvasMan focuses on Combo files. Combos contain data for the entire SOUNDCanvas. Since the SOUNDCanvas has sixteen Parts and two drum kits, you can think of a Combo file as a large band. (In this setting, capitalized "Combo," "Sound" or "Drum Kit" indicates CanvasMan data files. The non-capitalized version indicates 'normal' meaning; e.g., a "combo" is a band or an orchestra.) You set up one Combo for each of your songs; in effect, each song has a separate combo at its disposal. However, you will probably find that your songs often use the same settings for several instruments. For example, if you create the ultimate grand piano, you may want to use it in most of your songs' Combos. Similarly, if you've changed the reverb on certain drum instruments in drum kit #1, you may want that effect in all of your songs. This is where GS Sound and GS Drum Kit files come in. Sounds and Drum Kits are modular building blocks for your Combos. Sounds consist of one or more Parts on the same channel. Drum Kits contain note mapping and effects parameters for drum kits. Continuing the above example, assume you've created a great piano on MIDI channel 6 using Part 8. Rather than remembering all the parameters you've tweaked so you can recreate them for your next song, simply save Part 8 by itself as a Sound. Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits (continued) To do so, select File-Save GS Sound. When it asks which Part(s) to include, click on Part 8. When you select OK, CanvasMan will display the save dialog and allow you to call your Sound GPIANO.GSS or similar. Note that you can have multiple Parts in a Sound file. For example, if you create a grunge organ by combining Organ 3 and Overdrive Guitar, you can save them together for use in Combos. After selecting File-Save GS Sound, simply check the appropriate Parts' checkboxes. You may not include rhythm Parts in a Sound, and CanvasMan prevents such attempts. Sounds contain all parameters that are pertinent to that Part. They do not contain Global settings like reserved voices nor the chosen Reverb Macro. Combos store that information. Drum Kits work similar to Sounds. After changing the reverb for your chosen rhythm instruments (example #1), select File-Save GS Drum Kit. When it asks which of the two kits to use, click on Kit #1. When you select OK, CanvasMan will display the save dialog and allow you to call your Drum Kit COOLRVRB.GSD or similar. When you want to use a Sound or a Drum Kit in a Combo, you select File-Load GS Sound or File-Load GS Drum Kit, respectively. Load GS Sound allows you to insert Sounds into the current Combo. After selecting a valid Sound file, you specify the destination Part and MIDI channel. The Part(s) and channel of the original Sound are irrelevant; CanvasMan provides maximum flexibility here. Combos / Sounds / Drum Kits (continued) You may also opt whether to mute existing Parts on the destination MIDI channel. If you're loading Ultimate Grand Piano on channel 1 and channel 1 is already assigned to Space Echo, you will probably want to leave this option checked (or end up with a space echoed piano sound). CanvasMan loads the file into the current Combo and sends it to the Canvas. Load GS Sound will not overwrite Rhythm Parts with the Tonal information in the Sound. For example, if you load a 4-Part sound into Part 9 and you have previously set Part 10 to the Power (rhythm) Set, the GS Sound will overwrite Parts 9, 11, 12 and 13. Similarly, Load GS Sound will fail if you attempt to load a Sound that will not fit. For example, you cannot load a three-part sound starting on Part 15 because it would try to fill Parts 15, 16 and 17. Load GS Sound's prompts automatically adjust for this. Load GS Drum Kit allows you to insert Drum Kits into the current Combo. After selecting a valid Drum Kit file, you specify the destination kit. There are two destination kits, and like Sounds, the original Kit's kit number is not relevant. CanvasMan loads the file into the current Combo and sends it to the Canvas. Appendix A Technical Support (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) See the online help's Technical Support topic for current information on getting help. Be ready to give the support staff the current version of CanvasMan. This information shows on the About screen; in the example shown above, the version is 4.55. Appendix B MIDI Multitasking Windows' capability of running multiple MIDI programs at the same time makes it vastly superior to DOS MIDI. You maximize this capability by using MIDI drivers that allow multiple concurrent output ("multi-client"). Multi-client drivers, for example, allow you to change patch settings on your SOUNDCanvas with CanvasMan at the same time you play a song in Cakewalk, WinJammer, Band-In-A-Box, and others. Note that the MIDI Mapper does not allow multiple clients. Note also that since few input drivers support multi-client use, you should make sure CanvasMan's MIDI Thru is turned Off if you run it at the same time as your sequencer. If you can share an input port, however, make sure that no more than one program has MIDI Thru turned On--otherwise, your machine might lockup. The MPU-401 driver that comes with Windows 3.1 does not allow multiple concurrent output. However, Twelve Tone Systems (maker of Cakewalk Professional for Windows) has created a better MPU-401 driver that does allow this. If you already run Wincake with an MPU-401, you should already have this driver installed. If you don't have the driver, you can get it in Wincake's demo (from probably any MIDI-oriented BBS). (On CompuServe, grab WDEMO.TXT and WDEMO.ZIP from library 3 in the MIDIAVEN forum. Be sure to read WDEMO.TXT before unarchiving WDEMO.ZIP.) Understanding these concepts is probably the most confusing aspect of Windows MIDI. Appendix C MIDI Thru and Local (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) (Few topics are as confusing to new MIDIers as MIDI Thru and MIDI Local Control. Since advanced MIDI users typically understand these subjects already, this discussion aims at novices. Note that the following paragraphs are not intended to be exhaustive--they are simply intended to get new users up and running.) Study the diagram--it shows the 'correct' way to connect your equipment. Once you have connected things this way, you should turn CanvasMan's Thru On and Local Off. (If you're running CanvasMan at the same time as your sequencer, however, leave CanvasMan's Thru Off and turn your sequencer's Thru On.) If you leave Local On, your keyboard will always make noise when you press its keys. You will probably not want that, since you may want to hear your synth modules (labeled Additional Synths) by themselves. You can control if and when the keyboard itself makes noise by setting its Receive channel to the same channel on which it Transmits. This is where MIDI Thru comes in. With Thru On, the computer 'echoes' MIDI data from its MIDI In to its MIDI Out. Turning Thru On and Local Off enables you to specify when you want the keyboard to make noise and when you want your synth modules to make noise. If you have both Thru and Local On, playing your keyboard can 'double' its notes--the internal connection will sound, and the computer will re-route the MIDI data back to the keyboard, sounding it again. Conversely, you will hear nothing if both Thru and Local are off. Appendix D Online Help (picture omitted in text version of CanvasMan User's Guide) You can reach CanvasMan's online help at any time by pressing F1. Please be sure to read the Introduction topic. Appendix E Spin Button A spin button (picture omitted in text version of user's guide) is a "custom control" (i.e., a data entry device not supplied as part of Windows). CanvasMan uses spin buttons on the Quick Edit and Drum Kit Edit screens. Spin buttons allow mouse users to increase/decrease the value in an edit control by clicking on up/down arrows. Because spin buttons are not part of Windows itself, different programmers design them in different ways. In CanvasMan's case, press the left mouse button while pointing at an arrow to trigger the changes; release the button or move away from the arrows to end the changes. You can also move to the other arrow to reverse direction. Even though there are over 100 edit controls on the Quick Edit and Drum Kits screens, there is only one spin button. The main reason for this is lack of room. Adding 16 spin buttons to each row of the Quick Edit screen (or 10 to Drums) would make the window wider than the standard VGA screen. Thus, the single spin button pertains to whichever edit control has the keyboard focus (CanvasMan places the blinking edit caret over it). You can move between the edit controls by clicking on them or pressing Tab or Shift+Tab. (picture omitted in text version of user's guide) The upper-half of the spin button's color changes when increasing values. (picture omitted in text version of user's guide) The lower-half of the spin button's color changes when decreasing values. Appendix F Multiple Synths? As described in the Installation section of this manual, CanvasMan will support a MIDI network that has up to three SOUNDCanvas synthesizers. Once you tell CanvasMan about your synths (via the Define Synths dialog), you must tell each copy of CanvasMan that you run which particular synth you wish to address. You do this with the optional /S:n command-line parameter. You run CANVAS /S:1, CANVAS /S:2, or CANVAS /S:3 to specify which synth to address (you can run all three at the same time if you wish). Note that the /S:n parameter is not case-sensitive (e.g., /s:2 is the same as /S:2) and may not contain imbedded spaces (e.g., /S: 2 is invalid). The default setting is CANVAS /S:1. In other words, if you run CANVAS.EXE with no /S: setting, CanvasMan will access the first SOUNDCanvas you've defined. CanvasMan's SETUP program creates an icon for synth #1. If you have more than one CanvasMan synth, however, you can create separate icons for each. See the online help's Multiple Synths? section for detailed instructions in setting-up your CanvasMan icons to make it easy to control your setup. Index spin button13, 14, 24, 37 --B-- standard MIDI files 1, 4, 11, 28 Band-In-A-Box 34 SysEx 6, 10, 12, 27, 28 Beethoven i, 29 system exclusiveSee SysEx --C-- --T-- Cakewalk 1, 34 Thru See MIDI Thru Close Outputs When Switched 7 title page i trademark i, ii, 29 --D-- tune 17 Define Synths3, 5, 6, 7 Device # 5 --W-- drag and drop 11 warranty disclaimerii WinJammer 1, 34 --G-- GS Combo8, 10, 11, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32 GS Drum Kit11, 28, 30, 31, 32, 37 GS Sound11, 28, 30, 31, 32 --L-- license ii LocalSee MIDI Local Control --M-- MIDI channel 13, 14 MIDI devices 3 MIDI Local Control3, 9, 26, 35 MIDI Mapper 4, 34 MIDI Multitasking3, 4, 34 MIDI ports 3 MIDI Thru3, 6, 7, 9, 26, 34, 35 MIDIEX 1, 28 Model 5 mute 13, 14, 32 --R-- Route MIDI Data3, 5, 6, 7 --S-- Sequence MIDI Output Ports3, 4