SongCanvas
User's Manual
Table of Contents
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Quick Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
General Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Editing Patches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
MIDI Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Appendix A Installation Ä Detailed Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Appendix B Command-Line Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Appendix C Terminating Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Appendix D MIDI Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Appendix E MIDI Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Copyright 1992 by Jeff Cazel Ä All Rights Reserved 1
OVERVIEW
The SongCanvas is a complete IBM-compatible patch editor and librarian program
for Roland's GS synthesizers (SOUNDCanvas SC-55, SC-155, SCC-1, LM-300 and
JV-30). It supports all popular MIDI interfaces and works equally well under
DOS, Windows 3.1 and DESQview.
The SongCanvas plays your MIDI files as you editÄyou hear your changes instantly
in the context of your own musical projects! It saves its data in standard
binary format (also called "MIDIEX format") so it is compatible with bulk
loaders and other utilities. Finally, it gives you complete control over all
parameters.
To maximize data integrity, the SongCanvas is designed for one-way MIDI
communication only (from the computer to the SOUNDCanvas). Data can't be lost
when other windows transmit extraneous data and/or switch the interface's
operating mode.
A GS sound module or keyboard is referred to as a "Canvas" throughout this
manual. "GS" is Roland's General StandardÄa superset of the nascent General
MIDI standard. If you have an SCC-1, please ignore references to the "display"
or "LCD"Äit doesn't have one. Note also that the SCC-1 is hardwired as
device #17.
This manual describes how to modify, save and audition the various parameters
within the Canvas. It does not describe what these parameters do. For example,
it describes how to turn Parts On and Off, but it doesn't state what effect that
has on the sound nor why you may want that effect. The various Canvas owner's
manuals do a good job explaining these features.
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Contact me via CompuServe Mail Ä #72461,3345 2
QUICK INSTALLATION
1ÄConnect a MIDI cable from the computer's MIDI Out to the Canvas's MIDI In
(pre-wired on the SCC-1).
2ÄCopy and/or PKUNZIP all files into a new directory and change to that
directory.
3ÄIf you have an MPU401 or -compatible interface using IRQ 2 and address 330h,
go to step #5 (if you don't know which type you have, you can probably go to
step #5 as well). Otherwise, run CANVAS /? for details on configuring your
MIDI interface with the DOS SET command. (The SCC-1's MIDI interface is an
MPU401.)
4ÄType the SET command as determined in step #3 and press <Enter>; for example:
SET OPT1=-dmpu:5:336
(Now is also a good time to add this command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Note
the "-" between the "=" and the "d".)
5ÄEnter one of these four commands and press <Enter>:
C runs as device #17 (Canvas default).
C /D:18 runs on device #18 (change "18" to any device # from 1 to
32).
CANVAS /D:0 runs with MIDI disabledÄ"demo" mode for computers without a
MIDI interface.
CANVAS /? displays help screens explaining all of the SongCanvas's
command-line options.
See Appendix A for details on segregating data and program files, etc.
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Copyright 1992 by Jeff Cazel Ä All Rights Reserved 3
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
You perform all SongCanvas functions from menus. You can move the highlighted
cursor bar to the desired choice using the keyboard (arrow keys, <Home>, <End>,
<PgUp> and <PgDn>); you then press <Enter> to select it. If you have loaded
your mouse driver (recommended), you can also point your mouse cursor at an item
and left click to select it.
Note the scroll arrows within the right border of scrollable pop-up menus (e.g.,
Master Pan). You may cursor as needed or position the mouse cursor on the
appropriate scroll bar and hold down the left button. For fastest scrolling,
you can click and drag the right border's scroll button with the mouse.
Throughout the program, the right mouse button functions exactly like the
<Escape> key. If you're left handed, you can swap the mouse buttons for all
functions with the /L command-line option.
Press <Escape> to back out one menu level. Pressing <Escape> from the MAIN MENU
quits the program after confirming your request. However, if you try to quit or
LOAD a new library file before saving your current library, the program will
tell you so and ask if you're sure you want to continue. Select Yes to continue
the operation. Select No (or press <Escape>) to cancel the operation and
position the cursor bar on SAVE.
The SongCanvas will not accept invalid data (e.g., periods in filenames,
hieroglyphic patch names) nor data past the end of the field (e.g., nine-
character filenames). During any edit, you may backspace to change dataÄnothing
becomes "permanent" until you press <Enter>. You may always change your mind
before then by pressing <Escape> to revert to the prior value.
The SongCanvas displays the current patch filename in the upper left corner and
the patch name in the upper right corner of the screen. These areas are blank
at the start of the program.
The SongCanvas accesses patch files in the current directory only (though this
can be different from where the program is stored). This design simplifies the
user interface and minimizes set-up headaches. See Appendix A for more
information.
Whenever the SongCanvas is transmitting system exclusive MIDI data, SysEx will
display in the lower center of the screen. This data is always transmitted on
the MIDI device # you specify on the command-line. This transmission
temporarily pauses the MIDI file player (when playing) so system exclusive and
channel messages don't collide with each other.
Help is available at any time by pressing <F1>. Within Help, press <Alt-I> for
the Help Index. <Tab> to How To Use Online Help and press <Enter> for full
instructions.
Registered users can also get Help by clicking on the <F1>-Help "button" on the
bottom left of the screen. See the MIDI Menu section for other keyboard and
mouse shortcuts.
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
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MAIN MENU
The MAIN MENU has four options Ä LOAD, EDIT, RENAME, and SAVE. You must first
LOAD a file before using the other options.
LOAD pops-up a list of data files in your current directory. Selecting a file
sends its data to the Canvas. Press <Escape> to exit without loading a data
file.
EDIT displays a list of the Canvas's parameter groups and asks you to select one
for editing. See EDITING PATCHES for more information.
RENAME redisplays the current patch name and allows you to rename it. All
displayable ASCII characters are valid. A patch name can be up to sixteen
characters long. Type in the new name and press <Enter>. This displays the new
name on the Canvas's display. Press <Escape> to exit without renaming the
patch.
SAVE pops-up a dialog box with three options: SAVE, to save the file with its
current filename; SAVE AS, to save the file with a new filename; or CANCEL, to
change your mind. For SAVE AS, type in the new data filename and press <Enter>
(don't type the file extension (the SongCanvas will prevent you from doing so)).
Press <Escape> to exit without saving the file. (Registered versions of the
program will additionally save only the changed data as a small "MIDIEX" file
with a .CHG file extension. You can use these to "prime" your Canvas with
various set-ups.)
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Copyright 1992 by Jeff Cazel Ä All Rights Reserved 5
EDITING PATCHES
The MAIN EDIT MENU lists several parameter groups which correspond roughly to
the Canvas's internal data layout. Select a parameter group to display its edit
screen.
Within the individual edit screens, the parameter prompts generally mimic those
found on the Canvas's LCD. The edit interface is very straightforward once you
understand the three types of data and respective procedures (please experiment
here):
(1) two-value toggles (e.g., Receive Note On/Off) Ä Select toggles back and
forth between the two available values.
(2) pop-ups Ä these are parameters whose values are either:
(a) non-ordinal numbers (e.g., Reverb Macro 5 does not reverberate
"more" than Macro 4), or
(b) not described by numbers (e.g., Part 1 plays a Mandolin instead of a
Banjo).
Select pops-up a list of the valid values. If you don't want to change
the value, press <Escape>. Non-ordinal parameters have an attempt at
"describing" the qualitative aspect so you don't have to reference the
Canvas's manual. For example, Reverb Macro 4 is described as Hall 2 per
the SCC-1 manual.
(3) quantitative numbers (e.g., Master Volume) Ä these values do have
ordinal relationships (e.g., a Master Volume value of 127 is louder than
126). Select asks you for a new value within the valid range (e.g.,
"Enter a new value between 0 and 127"). Enter the number and press
<Enter>. If you don't want to change the value, press <Escape>. Note
that although several parameters are quantitative (e.g., MOD LF01 PITCH
DEPTH), only certain discrete values are available. Thus, they are
edited like the pop-ups in (2) above.
Each valid change sends the new MIDI data immediately to the Canvas.
________________________________________________________________________________
SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Contact me via CompuServe Mail Ä #72461,3345 6
MIDI MENU
The MIDI MENU has five options Ä RESET, LOAD, PLAYER, REWIND, and THRU. You can
access the MIDI Menu from other menus by pressing <Alt-M> ("MIDI" will display
on the bottom border when available). Registered users can also click on this
"MIDI button" to pull up the menu.
RESET puts the MIDI interface back into the correct operating mode. This option
should only be necessary in multi-program environments when another window sets
the interface into a new mode.
LOAD pops-up the list of song files (*.MID) in the directory specified by the
command-line's /MID: parameter. (If /MID: is not specified, it defaults to your
current directory.) Select a file to start playing it in a continuous loop.
LOAD displays an error message if there is a problem loading the file; it then
reloads, rewinds and replays the prior file if one was loaded and if it can do
so.
PLAYER toggles the MIDI file player On and OffÄit starts a stopped song and
stops a playing song. <Alt-P> will also toggle the player On and Off. The
elapsed time from the start of the song displays in the lower right corner of
the screen. PLAYER is not available if a song is not loaded.
REWIND resets the player to its beginning and then restarts the current song.
REWIND is not available if a song is not loaded.
THRU toggles MIDI Thru On and Off. When Thru is On, MIDI data received at the
computer's MIDI In is re-routed to the MIDI Out whenever the program is idle.
<Alt-T> will also toggle Thru On and Off.
The words Thru and Play are highlighted or dimmed on the bottom of the screen to
indicate their On or Off states, respectively. Registered users can click on
these "buttons" to toggle the functions; they can also click on the <F1>-Help
and MIDI buttons. Finally, registered users can toggle the player On and Off
with the <Space> bar.
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Copyright 1992 by Jeff Cazel Ä All Rights Reserved 7
Appendix A
INSTALLATION Ä DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS
System Requirements: Any IBM-compatible personal computer with an 80-column
monitor, DOS 3.0 or higher and 450K free RAM. For system exclusive MIDI
communication, you'll also need a supported MIDI interface and (of course!) a
Canvas. You can play MIDI files without a Canvas, however. Run CANVAS /? for
information on configuring your MIDI interface with the DOS SET command.
CANVAS.EXE is the main program file, CANVAS.HLP contains the help information,
and CANVAS.REG contains your personal registration information. All three files
must be in the same directory. (As implied, CANVAS.REG is not necessary nor
included in the unregistered version.)
PLAYD.EXE is the MIDI engine. See the MIDI ENGINE appendix for complete
information.
Data files (*.CVS) can be in a separate directory (recommended). The SongCanvas
comes with one data file; FACTORY.CVS contains the data that exists in the
Canvas when shipped from Roland. (You'll need to rename this file with the new
extension if you use the /EXT: command-line option.)
To run the SongCanvas when the data and the program are in separate directories,
type the following commands:
D: go to the drive containing the data (given as D: in
this example)
CD \SYSEX go to the directory containing the patch data (given
as \SYSEX in this example)
C:\MTOOLS\PLAYD -a64 type the fully-qualified path to PLAYD.EXE (given as
C:\MTOOLS\PLAYD.EXE in this example). See PLAYD.TXT
for all of the MIDI engine's command-line options.
C:\SC\CANVAS /D:18 type the fully-qualified path to CANVAS.EXE (given as
C:\SC\CANVAS.EXE in this example). See the COMMAND-
LINE PARAMETERS appendix for all of the SongCanvas's
command-line options.
Note: You can put these commands in a batch file (like C.BAT) or your menu
system. You can also customize the included CANVAS.PIF or SC-PIF.DVP files for
use in Windows 3.1 or DESQview 2.x, respectively.
At least one data file is always required; because of the 1-way communication
discussed in OVERVIEW, the program reads data from disk, not from the Canvas. I
suggest leaving FACTORY.CVS in your data directory to avoid problems. Even
better, make the file read-only with DOS's ATTRIB +R FACTORY.CVS command.
________________________________________________________________________________
SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Contact me via CompuServe Mail Ä #72461,3345 8
Appendix B
COMMAND-LINE PARAMETERS
The SongCanvas has several optional command-line parameters to maximize its
flexibility. Note that parameters (a) are not case-sensitive (e.g., /d:17 is
the same as /D:17), (b) must be separated by at least one space (i.e., there
must be a space before each "/" character), and (c) may not contain imbedded
spaces (e.g., /D: 18 is invalid).
CANVAS /D:n /EXT:fe /MID:dir /L /M /R /?
/D:n Device # Ä use MIDI device #"n". /D:0 disables MIDI output and
overrides /MID:dir.
/EXT:fe Extension Ä use file extension "fe" to LOAD and SAVE patch library
data files.
/MID:dir MIDI files Ä load standard MIDI files from the "dir" directory.
Defaults to the current directory if not specified. The SongCanvas
handles pathnames like DOS doesÄe.g., if you're in D:\MIDI and the
song files are in D:\MIDI\Jams, each of these three options will
work: /M:Jams, /M:\MIDI\Jams, or /M:D:.\Jams. The SongCanvas will
play CANVAS.MID at startup if it exists in this directory.
/L Left-handed mouse Ä swaps the left and right mouse buttons for left-
handed users.
/M Monochrome Ä display black and white. This option is most useful
for portables and other computers whose "colors" don't contrast.
/R Resident Ä do not unload PLAYD upon termination.
/? Help Ä displays DOS 5.0-style help. This parameter overrides all
others.
Defaults: CANVAS /D:17 /EXT:CVS /MID:.\
________________________________________________________________________________
SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Copyright 1992 by Jeff Cazel Ä All Rights Reserved 9
Appendix C
TERMINATING ERRORS
Five errors terminate the SongCanvas before it starts. These errors display an
informative message on the middle of the screen and return the displayed error
number to DOS (see the batch file section in your DOS manual if you're
interested in using this information with the IF ERRORLEVEL command). The
errors are easy to correct:
1 Ä Command-line syntax error Ä a command-line "spelling" error. Embedded
spaces are not allowed within any parameter (e.g., /D: 17 is invalid); at
least one space is required between parameters (i.e., before each "/"). Run
CANVAS /? if you want command-line help.
2 Ä Non-numeric device # requested Ä all characters after the /D: parameter
must be numeric.
3 Ä Illegal device # requested Ä the characters after the /D: parameter must
indicate an integer between 1 and 32 (or 0 to disable MIDI output).
4 Ä CANVAS.HLP file not found Ä CANVAS.EXE and CANVAS.HLP need to be in the
same directory.
5 Ä CANVAS.HLP file wrong version Ä current versions of CANVAS.EXE and
CANVAS.HLP need to be in the same directory. Be sure to install the latest
version of the software correctly.
CANVAS.EXE will still run if the MIDI engine doesn't correctly initialize, but
MIDI will be disabled. See the MIDI ENGINE appendix for MIDI I/O
troubleshooting information.
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
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Appendix D
MIDI INFORMATION
If your edits do not update the Canvas, it's probably because (1) another window
within your multi-program environment has changed your MIDI interface's
operating mode, (2) your SOUNDCanvas is set-up to ignore sysex data, or (3) the
device #s on the SongCanvas and your SOUNDCanvas don't match. Don't worryÄyour
data is safe. To correct (1), RESET the interface from the MIDI MENU. To
correct (2), see the instructions in the SOUNDCanvas's owner's manual. Finally,
to correct (3), change the device # on the Canvas (also in the owner's manual)
and/or specify the correct SongCanvas device # via the /D:n option.
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Copyright 1992 by Jeff Cazel Ä All Rights Reserved 11
Appendix E
MIDI ENGINE
DOS versions of Jeff Cazel MIDI software now use FM Software's PLAYD.EXE as the
MIDI `engine'. PLAYD.EXE is actually a separately executed programÄCANVAS.EXE
by itself no longer sends sysex data nor plays MIDI files. This modular set-up
provides greater device independence and supports more MIDI interfaces using
less memory.
PLAYD handles CANVAS's requests to send sysex data and to start and stop song
playback. You load PLAYD with the correct options for your interface and then
run CANVAS. The two programs then work in tandem so you can immediately check
the effects of your edits in the context of your own musical projects.
Run CANVAS /? to see PLAYD's configuration options. Power users who seek
complete details on PLAYD can read the PLAYD.TXT file.
Registered SongCanvas users can purchase MidiTools for 25% off of the regular
price. See the MTOOLS.TXT file for complete information.
Notes
The maximum path length for a PLAYD song file is 40 bytes. Longer file names
will return a "file not found" error message upon LOAD. Use the DOS SUBST
command if this becomes a problem.
PLAYD handles MIDI files up to 16 tracks. All tracks numbered greater than 16
are ignored during playback.
PLAYD can handle MIDI files up to 64K in size. Larger files will not load.
The SongCanvas unloads PLAYD from memory upon exiting; you can leave it
resident for future edit sessions by specifying CANVAS's /R option, however.
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SongCanvas Ä GS Editor/Librarian Ä Version 1.0
Contact me via CompuServe Mail Ä #72461,3345 12