[main TOC] Patches

Table of Contents

Patches
Patch Elements
List of Patch Elements, With Explainations
Enter/Exit Messages
Editing Messages
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A wandering minstrel I -
A thing of shreads and patches,
Of ballads, songs and snatches,
And dreamy lullaby!


- Sir William Gilbert, The Mikado

Patches

A patch is a group of MIDI pathways on which sit patch elements that can modify the MIDI data. The simplest pathway connects one MIDI device directly to another.

<illustration>

You can drag MIDI instruments onto a patch window, and drag various patch elements in between the instruments. To edit each patch element,

A patch also has an enter message and an exit message. These messages can contain any MIDI data like patch changes, note messages (for those looong drones), and systex messages.

Patch Elements

A patch element reperesents a MIDI input, a MIDI output, a filter that can change the MIDI data, or a trigger that can react to specific MIDI data. See the list of patch elements below for detailed descriptions of each one. To add a patch element to a patch window, drag one from the Tools window. To delete a patch element from a patch, select it and then select "Delete" from the "Edit" or pop-up menu. You can also select it and then hit the Backspace or Delete key.

MIDI inputs and outputs and triggers can be dragged from the Tool Palette window anywhere onto a patch window. Dragging a MIDI input automatically adds a MIDI output. Dragging a MIDI output or a trigger automatically adds a MIDI input.

All other patch elements can be dragged from the Tool Palette window between any two other patch elements.

To make a new output for a splitter, drag a patch element to the bottom of the splitter.

To edit a patch element, double-click it. Alternately, you can select it and choose "Open" from the "Patch" menu, or click on the patch element using the secondary mouse button and select "Open" from the pop-up menu.

Opening a patch edit window does not make that patch the current patch.

To close a patch element editor window and save changes, click on "OK". Click on "Cancel" or type Alt-. to close it without making any changes.

List of Patch Elements, With Explainations

MIDI Input

A MIDI Input represents a single MIDI controller. It is associated with a single MIDI instrument. A MIDI Input can only be associated with instruments that are controllers (as defined by the instrument's "Is Controller" setting).

MIDI Output

A MIDI Output represents a single MIDI instrument.

If a MIDI Output patch receives any data that is not on any channel that its instrument recognizes, the data will be changed to be on the lowest MIDI channel that the instrument does recognize.

As an example, say that you have an input instrument that broadcasts on channel 12 connected to an output instrument that is listening on channels 3, 4, and 5. The MIDI data coming in on channel 12 will be changed, when it gets to the output instrument, to channel 3.

Splitter

A Splitter splits MIDI data into multiple streams. Drag other patch elements onto any output. To add a new output, drag a patch element to the bottom of a splitter.

Filter

Filters out MIDI controllers, pitch bend, and pressure messages. For example, you could let pitch bend messages go to some instruments, but not others.

Transposer

Transposes all notes and polyphonic pressure (aftertouch) messages. Select down or up, octave jump, and interval jump.

Controller Limiter

Limits a specific MIDI controller on a set of MIDI channels. Enter controller number and low and high controller values.

For most controllers, you will want to keep the "Always Pass Through Zero" check box checked.

Range Limiter

Limits note and channel pressure messages to a specified range.

Useful, along with a splitter, for sending some notes to one MIDI Output or Trigger and other notes to another MIDI Output. Different Range Limiter's ranges can overlap, so you can layer instruments.

Channelizer

Changes the channel of MIDI data. Any data that comes in on any one of the specified input MIDI channels is sent out on all of the output channels.

Trigger

Not yet implemented. When it is, it will be really cool. You will be able to play a MIDI file or sound file upon receipt of specific MIDI messages.

Enter/Exit Messages

An enter or exit message is the same as an ordinary programmable MIDI message - it's a bunch of MIDI data. Every patch has an enter message that gets sent when the patch is first entered, and an exit message that is sent when the patch is left.

Editing Messages

To open a message, select "Enter Message..." or "Exit Message..." from the Edit menu.

For more information, see the section on Editing Messages.


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Contents © 1995, 1996 by Jim Menard; All Rights Reserved.