-
+
<p>A typical <dfn>MIDI track header</dfn> looks like this:</p>
-<img src="/images/typical-midi-track-controls.png" alt="midi track controls"
- />
-
+<figure>
+ <img src="/images/typical-midi-track-controls.png" alt="A MIDI track header">
+ <figcaption>
+ A MIDI track header
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
<p>
- To see the full set of MIDI track controls, you need to increase the
- <a href="/working-with-tracks/controlling-track-appearance/track-height/">track height</a>
- beyond the default. MIDI tracks show only a few of the control elements
+ To show the full set of MIDI track controls, the <a href="@@track-height">track height</a>
+ must be increased beyond the default. MIDI tracks show only a few of the control elements
when there is insufficient vertical space.
</p>
<p>
- A MIDI track has the same basic
- <a href="/working-with-tracks/audio-track-controls/">controls as an audio track</a>,
- with the addition of two extra elements. The set of buttons below the main track
- controls the <dfn>MIDI channel</dfn>(s) that will be visible in the editor. A MIDI track's
- data may span any number of the 16 available MIDI channels, and sometimes it is
- useful to view only a subset of those channels; different instruments may,
- for example, be put on different channels. Clicking on a channel number toggles
- its visibility.
+ A MIDI track has the same basic controls as an <a href="@@audio-track-controls">audio track</a>,
+ with the addition of three extra elements:
+</p>
+<ol>
+ <li>Some meters for the track's outputs (MIDI in <span style="color:red;">red</span>,
+ Audio in <span style="color:green;">green</span>)</li>
+ <li>The <dfn>Scroomer</dfn>, a zoom and scroll controller for the midi notes range</li>
+ <li>When the track is tall enough, the External MIDI Device selection dropdown appears.</li>
+</ol>
+
+<p>
+ Also, <kbd class="mouse">right</kbd> clicking the <kbd style="color:red;">●</kbd>
+ (record) button shows the <a href="@@step-entry">Step Entry</a> dialog instead of
+ controlling the rec-safe.
+</p>
+
+<h2>The Scroomer</h2>
+
+<p>
+ The Scroomer performs a couple of functions:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>The scrollbar controls the range of pitches that are visible on the
+ track, as visualized by the piano keyboard. Dragging the body of the scrollbar up
+ and down displays higher or lower pitches.</li>
+ <li>Dragging the scrollbar handles zooms in and out and increases or decreases the
+ range of visible pitches.</li>
+ <li>Double clicking the scrollbar auto-adjusts the zooms to make the range of
+ visible pitches fit the actual content of the track.</li>
+ <li>Clicking on the piano plays the corresponding MIDI note for reference.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2>Channel and patch selection</h2>
+
+<h3>The Channel Selector</h3>
+
+<figure class="right">
+ <img class="mini" src="/images/midi_channel_control.png" alt="The MIDI channel control window">
+ <figcaption>
+ The MIDI channel control window
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ A MIDI track's data may span any number of the 16 available MIDI channels, and sometimes it is
+ useful to view only a subset of those channels; different instruments may,
+ for example, be put on different channels. In the context menu (<kbd class="mouse">right</kbd> click),
+ the <kbd class="menu">Channel Selector</kbd> allows to control the <dfn>MIDI channel</dfn>(s)
+ that will be visible in the editor.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+ This window also gives control over which channel(s) will be recorded, and which will be played back, choosing between:
+</p>
+
+<ul>
+ <li>All channels</li>
+ <li>Only selected channels —Ardour then proposes to choose amongst the 16 channels which are to be recorded/played</li>
+ <li>Force all to one channel —Ardour then 'routes' all the channels to one user selectable channel.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<h3 class="clear">The Patch Selector</h3>
+
+<figure class="left">
+ <img class="mini" src="/images/patch_selector.png" alt="The Patch Selector window">
+ <figcaption>
+ The Patch Selector window
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ The Patch Selector window is an easy way to set which instrument will be used on any of the MIDI channels.
+ Although patches can be changed at any time using a <a href="@@patch-change">patch change</a>, this dialog
+ provides an easy and convenient way to preview patches in software and hardware instruments. It
+ integrates fully with Ardour's support for MIDNAM (patch definition files), so Ardour can display named programs/patches
+ for both General MIDI synths and those with MIDNAM files.
</p>
<p>
- To the right of the MIDI track controls is a representation of a piano keyboard
- called the <dfn>scroomer</dfn>. This performs a couple of functions.
- The scrollbar controls the range of pitches that are visible on the
- track, as visualized by the piano keyboard.<br>
- Drag the body of the scrollbar up and down to display higher or lower
- pitches.<br>
- Drag the scrollbar handles to zooms in and out and increase and decrease the
- range of visible pitches.<br>
- clicking on the piano plays the corresponding MIDI note for reference.
+ The window itself makes it easy to choose a channel, a bank number, optionally choosing a bank number through its <dfn title="Most Significant Byte">MSB</dfn>
+ and <dfn title="Least Significant Byte">LSB</dfn> numbers (CC#00 and CC#32) for large banks, then choosing an instrument.
</p>
<p>
- To edit the contents of a MIDI track see <a href="/working-with-midi/">Edit
- MIDI</a>.
+ The keyboard at the bottom of the window allows for a quick preview of the selected instrument, either automatically
+ (using the buttons on top of the keyboard) or manually by either clicking a note or using the computer keyboard as a
+ piano keyboard.
</p>
+<p>
+ To edit the contents of a MIDI track see <a href="@@edit-midi">MIDI Editing</a>.
+</p>
projects / ardour-manual / blobdiff