=========================================================================== MTools v1.20 - Unregistered Version - By Mark Wherry (c)1997 =========================================================================== Welcome to MTools! ------------------ MTools is a realtime MIDI harmonisation program, meaning that you can play a note on your MIDI keyboard, and MTools will harmonise on what you've played immediately, in real time, and non-modally! So you can play a one note melody, and it could sound as if you are playing the keyboard with both hands! This is just the tip of the ice-berg as to what is possible. Requirements ------------ In order to run this program you will need: * An Atari compatible operating system capable of sending MIDI data. (MTools is fully compatible with NVDI, Freedom...) (MTools has been fully tested on TOS 1.2, 1.6 and MagiC5, if you want to become a beta-tester for another configuration, please contact me.) If you are running MTools will a multi-tasking operating system, eg. MagiC5, on an unaccelerated ST, you will get a slightly smoother ride if you run it in single-tasking mode. * A MIDI input device (eg. a keyboard) capable of transmitting on MIDI channel 1. MTools will only receive data on channel 1. However, this is channel 99% of MIDI devices default to. * A MIDI sound source. The input and output device can be the same, eg. a keyboard with MIDI in and out. However, if they are the same, you will need to set local mode 'off'. Otherwise the keyboard note will sound as well as the output from the computer. If you don't think this will cause a problem, try the the transpose feature.....things get a bit messy, don't they?! What can MTools do? ------------------- * Harmonise on a note played. This only works monophonically, ie. YOU can only play one note at a time. There would be no point in you playing more than one note, as the computer is going to do this for you! v1.20 addendum: It is now possible to play as many input notes as you like. However, the more you play, the slower things get. This facility has been implemented so you can slur notes, without having to worry about monophonic restrictions. It is advised you keep to a MAXIMUM of TWO NOTES when playing animated harmonies. * There is a selection of availiable harmonies. Some are even velocity sensitive, for example, if you play the note at one strength you will here a chord, if you play it harder you could hear the seventh as well. * In addition, there are now animated harmonies. These are settings that will vary everytime you play a note. The setting provided in this unregistered version changes the position of the melody note in the harmony everytime you play. These work better when different harmony notes play on different channels, eg, different sounds. * You can play in any key. * You can transpose from any key. For example, you play in C, but it sound as if you're playing in D. * There is a selection of availiable scales, eg. major and minors. * Each user/harmony note can be output to a different MIDI channel. This means your one note melody can be harmonised by a string quartet, a folk band or even a heavy metal rockers! * You can define the velocity edge for the main/user note, so the tune can play louder than the harmony. * You can define the point at which the velocity split occurs. * There are a number of presets which can store combinations of all the above paramters! * Whats more, all this happens without delaying another programs you might have running. Shareware..... -------------- MTools is shareware, meaning if you like the program and use it regularly, you must register your copy with me. To provide an incentive for you to register I have applied the following limitations: * There are only five harmonies, two of them are velocity sensitive and one is animated. In the registered version there are over 50 harmonies with many velocity sensitive and aniamted settings. * There are only three scales. In the registered version, there are over 30 scales. * There are only ten presets. In the registered version there are 80 and they are automatically loaded and saved for you. If you register you also get: * A proper printed manual. * A master disk. * On-line ST-Guide context-sensitive help. * Free minor upgrades, and cheap major upgrades. The registration price is set at œ10 including P+P and all of the above. Send software, registrations, letters, encouragement, criticism, requests to become a beta-tester to: Mark Wherry, 4 Fernpark Close, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 6AW Legal ----- I'm sorry, I hate doing this, but all programs seem to have these nowadays, so... DISCLAIMER: The author of this program, or anyone who distributes it are in no way responsible for any damage, or loss of data caused from your use of this program. The user uses this program entirely at their own risk. It really isn't that bad :-) Apart from Thomas Much's excellent BubbleGEM distribution, all files are the copyright of Mark Wherry. They must NOT be modified under any circumstance. However, feel free to distribute this Freeware version as much as you like, put it on CD-ROMS, magazines, hell- why not deliver it through letter boxes! Operation --------- The program is fairly easy to operate, but if you want full instructions, you'll have to register! BubbleGEM has been implemented in this version, so if you're really stuck, or want a helpful hint, click LMB in a value box, and a relevant piece of information will appear before your very eyes. Move the mouse, or RMB and the bubble will disappear. BubbleGEM has been included in the 'full' distribution of MTools. To install it, just drag BUBBLE.APP into your MagiC START foler (or similar). Don't be afraid of the German! As a guide, when you move the mouse over an area that can be clicked on to change a parameter, the shape will change from an arrow to a pointy hand. If you click the left mouse button, the value will be increased by one, and if you click the right mouse button, the value will be decreased by one. If you click either mouse button to edit the current scale or harmony, a dialog box will appear at the mouse position offering a list of possible options. Simply click LMB to select one, and the dialog box will automatically disappear. When you first run the program, (or if you top the window when switching applications in a multi-tasking environment) MTools automatically defaults to an 'off' status. This is so the internal MIDI buffer can be drained, in case you played the keyboard whilst MTools wasn't active. To switch MTools 'on', click on the 'off' word and it will turn to 'on', and another click will turn it to 'thru' mode. 'Thru' mode is a simple MIDI thru function, ie. the input will not be harmonised, whereas 'on' is fully blown harmonising! 'Key' sets the key you will play in. Obviously, for intelligent harmony, this must be set correctly. 'Transpose' allows you to play in one key, but it sounds as if you are playing in another. eg. Playing in C with transpose +2, will sound in D! 'Scale' sets the scale you will play in. If you play a note, not featured in the scale (ie. a wrong note!! (see bottom of text)), there will be no harmonisation. To alter which notes are sent to which MIDI channels, click on the 'SET' button, and the window will be extended, revealing more functions. The harmony note assignments are as follows: 1. The melody note, ie. the note you played. 2. First harmony note. 3. Second harmony note. 4. Third harmony note. (The added seventh, where needed) 5. Not used. 6. Always the bass note. Note: If MIDI channel 0 is selected, the harmony note selected will not be played. The velocity edge, is the 'edge' the main melody note has over the harmonising. The greater this value, the quieter the harmony. The velocity split point is the division line set between the two types of harmony available on a special harmony setting. If you play a note with velocity of the given value or higher, one type will be played (ie. added sevenths). If you play a note with a lower velocity, another type will be played (ie. no sevenths). If the harmony is velocity sensitive, the name will start with: '(v)'. Another click on 'SET' will shrink the window back to the normal size. Note: The presets store ALL settings automatically. To see what I mean, change some settings and try switching to preset 2, then switching back to preset 1. Useful, isn't it?! History ------- v1.00b: The original idea realised. v1.01 (24/2/97): -Bugfix: It wouldn't work under TOS :-(. As a consequence, there are now two seperate versions for TOS and MagiC5. v1.10 (10/2/97): -Universal version, works under both Magic5 and TOS :-). -Iconification added, ON/OFF/THRU switch availiable on iconified window :-)). -AP_TERM support added :-))). -Grow/Shrink boxes implemented (For Stewart users!) :-)))). -Support for Thomas Much's BubbleGEM. Click LMB in the box which holds a value, and if BubbleGEM is installed (multi-tasking ONLY) a handy piece of relevant information will appear. :-))))). -BubbleGEM added to full distribution of MTools. :-)))))). (Just incase!!) v1.20 (27/3/97): -Loading picture dialog added. -Scale and harmony selection is now in dialog box (called by either mouse button). -Dialogs appear at the position of the mouse. -Improved redraw handling. -Animated harmonies added -Harmony notes can be turned off, via a setting of MIDI channel 0. -Rewrite of MIDI input handling. More than one note at once is now possible and things are generally smoother. To acheive this, about 5% of the speed has been sacrificed. Tell me what you think! Bottom Of Text -------------- WRONG NOTES: It must be understood that this is a relative term, and applies only to those examples performed by somebody else! See you soon, hope to receive your registration even sooner! Enjoy MTools, I have/do. Remember to experiment, especially with different sounds... Mark Wherry, Sunday 30th March 1997 at 11:56pm! (I'm a fool!) (v1.10, Monday 10th March 1997 at 8:25pm.) (v1.01, Monday 24th February 1997 at 9:45pm.)