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+- A patch change is Ardour's description for a combination - of MIDI program change and bank select messages, that (typically) - instruct a synthesizer or sampler to select a different sound to use - on a particular channel. -
-- Patch changes are shown within MIDI regions as small rectangles or - flags, with a vertical line showing where in the region - (hence "when") this patch change happens. + A Patch Change is Ardour's description for a combination of MIDI + program change and bank select messages, that typically instruct a + synthesizer or sampler to select a sound to use on any given channel. Patch + changes are shown within MIDI regions as small rectangles or + flags, with a vertical line showing where in the region the patch + change will occur.
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+- To insert a patch change, the edit point - should be located where the patch change should be (within an existing MIDI - region). When right clicking, and from the MIDI - region's context menu, selecting MIDI > Insert Patch - Change, a dialog appears allowing to set the bank and program values. + A patch change is inserted by first ensuring that the mouse is in Grab Mode, then right-clicking + on the MIDI region where the patch changed is desired, then selecting <Region Name> > MIDI > Insert Patch Change.... + The desired patch is then chosen from the dialog that appears. +
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+ Inserted patch changes always appear in the selected region at the Edit Point.
- Context-clicking on a patch change will bring up the same dialog that - was used to create it, allowing to modify the program and/or bank - numbers. -
-- The mouse wheel can also be used: ⇑/⇓ on the patch change will alter the program - number, ⇑/⇓ will modify the bank number. + A patch change can be modified by right-clicking on + it, then selecting the desired patch from the menu that appears. A patch + change can also be modified by hovering the mouse pointer over the patch + change to be modified and moving the mouse wheel until the desired program + number is selected. The bank number can be modified similarly by holding down + the key while moving the mouse wheel until the + desired bank is selected.
- Just Left-dragging the patch change moves it - around. + A patch change can be moved, within the region in which it resides, by left-clicking it and dragging it to the desired location.
- Pressing Del with the mouse pointer into the rectangular area, or - using the delete mouse button operation will remove the - patch change (the operation can be undone). + A patch change can be removed by holding down the key + and then right-clicking on it.
-- MIDNAM files assign human-redable names to the "coordinates" (MSB, LSB, pc) of - instruments and controls of MIDI-devices. Quite some files already come pre-bundled - with Ardour. Should this not be the case for your device, you can add your own (see below). + MIDNAM files assign human-readable names to the "sound coordinates" (Program + Change, Bank Select) of MIDI synthesizers and devices. A number of MIDNAM + files come bundled with Ardour; if the MIDNAM for a device is not included + with Ardour, a custom MIDNAM file can be created + for device in question.
- 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. -
-- 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). -
-- After you have done modifications to a file, it's a good idea to validate it. This can - be done using the tool xmllint as shown below: -
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-$ xmllint --valid --noout myfile.midnam
-$ wget http://www.midi.org/dtds/MIDINameDocument10.dtd
-$ xmllint --dtdvalid MIDINameDocument10.dtd myfile.midnam
-- 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 - .config/ardour5/patchfiles/ - in your home-folder. Should the sub-directory patchfiles not exist yet, just - create it. The path and file-names are case-sensitive. The file should end with - ".midnam". -
-- After restarting Ardour, hit the small Log-button in the upper right corner of the - main window. It should say something like: -
-[INFO]: Loading 3 MIDI patches from /home/username/.config/ardour5/patchfiles-
- The added device should now show up in the dropdown mentioned in the previous paragraph. -
-- Should the MIDNAM-file be useful for the general public, it would be nice to share it: - Fork the Ardour-project on gitHub by - hitting the "Fork"-Button. Go to the patchfiles-directory (and read the README). -
-- You can upload the file using the Web-Interface. Be sure to select - "Create a new branch for this commit and start a pull request". + Selecting a MIDNAM is only possible if there is no MIDI synth on the track in + question or the MIDI synth does not have a MIDNAM associated with it. In this + case, it is possible to select the desired MIDNAM from a combobox in the MIDI + track's header, usually directly below the track's fader. See MIDI Track Controls for more details.
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