+<figure class="right">
+ <img src="/images/patch_change.png" alt="A patch change in a MIDI region"/>
+ <figcaption>A patch change in a MIDI region</figcaption>
+</figure>
+
<p>
A <dfn>patch change</dfn> is Ardour's description for a combination
of MIDI program change and bank select messages, that (typically)
</p>
<p>
Patch changes are shown within MIDI regions as small rectangles or
- <dfn>flags</dfn>, as shown below:
+ <dfn>flags</dfn>, with a vertical line showing where in the region
+ (hence "when") this patch change happens.
</p>
<h2>Inserting Patch Changes</h2>
<p>
- Ensure that the
- <a href="/ardours-interface/the-edit-point-control/">edit point</a> is
- located where you want the patch change to be (within an existing
- MIDI region). Context click, and from the MIDI region's context menu,
- select <kbd class="menu">MIDI > Insert Patch Change</kbd>. A
- dialog will appear allowing you to set the bank and program values.
+ To insert a patch change, the <a href="@@edit-point-control">edit point</a>
+ should be located where the patch change should be (within an existing MIDI
+ region). When <kbd class="mouse">right</kbd> clicking, and from the MIDI
+ region's context menu, selecting <kbd class="menu">MIDI > Insert Patch
+ Change</kbd>, a dialog appears allowing to set the bank and program values.
</p>
<h2>Modifying Patch Changes</h2>
<p>
Context-clicking on a patch change will bring up the same dialog that
- was used to create it, allowing you to modify the program and/or bank
+ was used to create it, allowing to modify the program and/or bank
numbers.
</p>
<p>
- You can also use the mouse wheel: <kbd class="mouse">⇑</kbd>/<kbd
+ The mouse wheel can also be used: <kbd class="mouse">⇑</kbd>/<kbd
class="mouse">⇓</kbd> on the patch change will alter the program
number, <kbd class="mouse mod1">⇑</kbd>/<kbd
class="mouse mod1">⇓</kbd> will modify the bank number.
<h2>Moving Patch Changes</h2>
<p>
- Just <kbd class="mouse">Left</kbd>-drag on the patch change to move it
+ Just <kbd class="mouse">Left</kbd>-dragging the patch change moves it
around.
</p>
<h2>Removing Patch Changes</h2>
<p>
- Put the mouse pointer into the rectangular area, and press <kbd>Del</kbd>
- or use the delete mouse button operation. This will remove the patch change
- (the operation can be undone).
+ Pressing <kbd>Del</kbd> with the mouse pointer into the rectangular area, or
+ using the <kbd class="menu">delete</kbd> mouse button operation will remove the
+ patch change (the operation can be undone).
</p>
<h2>Names for Patch Numbers: MIDNAM files</h2>
<p>
- ...
+ MIDNAM files assign human-redable names to the "coordinates" (MSB, LSB, pc) of
+ instruments and controls of MIDI-devices. A number of MIDNAM files come already pre-bundled
+ with Ardour. Should this not be the case for your device, you can add your own (see below).
</p>
+<h3>Selecting a device</h3>
+<p>
+ For the proper names to show up in the "Patch Selector"-dialog, you have to assign a
+ device to your current track. To do so, hover the lower border of the tracks header
+ (the mouse-cursor will change to a "resize-cursor") and expand it.
+ You'll see dropdown menus. Select your device in the menu.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Adding a custom MIDNAM-file</h3>
+<p>
+ MIDNAM-files are XML-Files. You can edit them using your favorite text-editor. When
+ doing so, please ensure to change the "Model" of the device, as Ardour will only load
+ each model once (i.e. it will skip files, if there are clashes).
+</p>
+<p>
+ After you have done modifications to a file, it is a good idea to validate it. This can
+ be done using the tool <i>xmllint</i> as shown below:
+</p>
+<pre><code class="bash">
+$ xmllint --valid --noout myfile.midnam
+$ wget http://www.midi.org/dtds/MIDINameDocument10.dtd
+$ xmllint --dtdvalid MIDINameDocument10.dtd myfile.midnam
+</code></pre>
+<p>
+ Once you are satisfied with your file, you have to put it at a location where Ardour
+ picks it up. The best place would be the (hidden) directory
+ <a href="@@files-and-directories-ardour-knows-about">Ardour configuration directory</a>
+ subdirectory patchfiles.
+ in your home-folder. Should the sub-directory <i>patchfiles</i> not exist yet, just
+ create it. The path and file-names are case-sensitive. The file should end with
+ "<i>.midnam</i>".
+</p>
+<p>
+ After restarting Ardour, hit the small Log-button in the upper right corner of the
+ main window. It should say something like
+ (this is Linux, Macos or Windows will be different):
+</p>
+<pre>[INFO]: Loading 3 MIDI patches from /home/username/.config/ardour5/patchfiles</pre>
+<p>
+ The added device should now show up in the dropdown mentioned in the previous paragraph.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Should the MIDNAM-file be useful for the general public, it would be nice to share it:
+ Fork the Ardour-project on <a href="https://github.com/Ardour/ardour">gitHub</a> by
+ hitting the "Fork"-Button. Go to the <a>patchfiles</a>-directory (and read the README).
+</p>
+<p>
+ You can upload the file using the Web-Interface. Be sure to select
+ "<i>Create a new branch for this commit and start a pull request</i>".
+</p>
projects / ardour-manual / blobdiff