Short: MIDI SYStem EXplorer - PatchEditor+MORE Author: dhomas@youngmonkey.ca (dhomas trenn) Uploader: dhomas youngmonkey ca (dhomas trenn) Type: mus/midi Version: 01.Apr.02 Architecture: m68k-amigaos ========================================================================== April 2, 2001 ------------------------ - MIDI SYStem EXplorer (Amiga) is now freely distributable. - Fixed memory leak caused by sometimes unfreed module gadgets. - Fixed bug that would sometimes cause a crash when opening a module. ========================================================================== MODULES ------- The following MSE modules are available for download from the MIDI SYStem EXplorer support area of the young monkey website: http://www.youngmonkey.ca/hands/files/MSE/index.html - Akai S-612 - Boss SE-50 - Korg M1 - Lexicon LXP-5 - Oberheim Matrix 1000 - Oberheim Matrix 6R - Roland A-880 - Roland Juno-106 - Roland MKS-7 - Roland MKS-50 - Roland M-VS1 - Roland SDX-330 FEATURES -------- - Fully automated control. - ARexx support. - Openable on any public screen. - Extensive customization allows the user to design standard interfaces for all MIDI products connected to the system. - Graphic interfaces are designed external to the main program. This minimizes memory requirements and increases the interface speed. - Just about everything is customizable, including: layout, fonts, gadgets, colors, images, menus, MIDI events, etc. - Allows the user to enter MIDI information from a device's user manual and configure a custom interface to access parameters. - Supports ALL MIDI events. - Patch/Librarian data is stored in MIDI standard format, for easy importing to other software. - Has the ability to edit individual parameters on devices that only support patch dumps. - MIDI communication can operate with realtime feedback and/or through user interaction. - Edits can be made without connection to a MIDI device, if required. - Includes lots of examples and common device interfaces, to get you started. - Supports MIDI.library (PD), BlueRibbon.library (B&P), TriplePlayPlus, and CAMD.library (DeluxeMusic) allowing simultaneous use with other programs that also use these libraries. - Can be run upto 9 times simultaneously, with individual ARexx ports. ABOUT MSE --------- Many, so called, UNIVERSAL PATCH EDITORS have come and gone for the Amiga. One of our biggest complaints, and the reason why we made MSE, is that these editors are not anywhere near UNIVERSAL. The approach others have taken is in requiring 'modules' to be purchased for each MIDI device to be controlled. This is fine as long as you can get a module for EVERY device you have. But we all know that, especially on the Amiga, this has not ever happened. Then of course, when the company goes out of business or discontinues the program, no further modules are ever made. So, along come a few other public domain and shareware authors to try and fill in the hole. These programmers either chose to code individual editors or make an another attempt at a UNIVERSAL EDITOR of their own. These UNIVERSAL EDITORS require you to be able to program in C or Assembler in order to make your own editors. If you wanted to do that why would you bother with their patch editor at all? Well, MIDI SYStem EXplorer has arrived... we do not claim that MSE is a UNIVERSAL PATCH EDITOR... we are not sure such a thing is even possible, but MSE does strive to solve a lot of these problems: 1) Development of other programs stopped because nobody was buying it, and no editor exists for my new one of a kind MIDI ZEN-ZAMBULATOR. Even if development of MSE stops, you would very likely still be able to create new modules, because MSE already supports most MIDI formats. 2) You are a musician, you do not know how to program in C, or Assembler or any other language. And if you did you would rather be composing than programming modules! MSE supports modules created by the MSE-Compiler. It converts text definition files into modules that MSE can use. The compiler uses an easy to learn language specifically written to be as easy to understand as possible. In many cases, you can simply modify an existing definition file to work with another device. If you can use a text editor and you understand X/Y coordinates you will likely learn MSE's definition language fast. See the definitions directory for samples of definition files. Once you get a hang of things, making modules is FAST. And once you have the editor done, you will be amazed at how much time is saved and how much more creative the process of sound generation becomes! Definition files and modules will be freely available. So, if you are not interested in making your own modules you can still use modules made by us and others. 3) Other editors do not work while my sequencer or other program is running. MSE will run in conjunction with programs that use the public domain MIDI.library, BlueRibbon.library or CAMD.library. Imagine being able to edit patch data while having that MIDI information recorded directly into a sequencer. It is possible and opens up great creative possibilities. 5) Other software is too expensive! We think so too. WHAT WILL MSE DO? ----------------- MSE has been designed to control all types of MIDI data through a programmable graphic user interface or by external software control. MSE can be used as a simple MIDI Controller or a complex patch editing system. Some possible applications: - MIDI Volume/Pan Mixer (with automated fading) - Patch Editor - Patch Librarian With the definition language you can design the entire user interface to meet your needs. Screen mode/size (Amiga/CyberGFX/etc.), window size and position, fonts, borders, colors, gadget placement, etc. can all be customized. As well, you can define the character set, MIDI port (Triple Play Plus is supported) and much more. WHAT WON'T MSE DO? ------------------ - Waveform editing (samplers) is not supported. Another program WaveFormer (under development) is being designed for this. - Probably some other things too, but that first one is the most commonly asked about. FOR MORE INFORMATION ------------------------------------------- http://www.youngmonkey.ca/hands/files/MSE/index.html