Settings menu

Filter
Window
Song
Metronome Settings
Effects
Timing
Midi Thru
Synthesizer Type Settings
Midi Device
Save Settings

Filter

Using the 'event filter dialog', you can specify what types and ranges of events that will be affected by selection operations like e.g. 'Delete' and 'Replicate'.

Figure 2.18: Event filter dialog

The entries From Time, To Time, From Track and To Track are automatically set by selecting a range with the mouse.

The checkboxes Note, Controller, Patch (Program Change), Pitch, Meter and Other decide whether these event types should be included in the selection. For the first four event types you can also specify more closely which values will be included.

By default, all 'boxes' except Other are checked, leaving e.g. Tempo events unchanged by selection operations.

Window

Song

Figure 2.19: Song settings dialog

Here you can adjust the overall resolution of the song in ticks per quarter. The native JAZZ++ driver (MPU-401) supports distinct values only. With OSS and on MS-Windows you can use any value here. If you change this value, all event timings are recomputed.

A big value of 'ticks per quarter' means that the time resolution of the notes in the song will be better, but the strain on the sequencer system will also increase. Many people think it is important to have a big value here, while others say you won't hear the difference. We recommend you to use the default value (120 ticks per quarter) which gives sufficient resolution for any 'normal' midi song.

In this dialog you may also set the maximum length of the song in bars. This value is used to set the scrollbars in the track and piano windows.

Metronome Settings

Figure 2.20: Metronome settings dialog

Adjust metronome instruments and velocity.

An "accented'' metronome means that the first count of a bar sounds different than the other counts.

Effects

Adjust GS or XG effect settings. In XG mode, also equalizer settings can be chosen.

In GS mode, effects can be adjusted in two modes dependant on the settings of the 'Use effect macro' and 'Use chorus macro' checkboxes:

• macro mode - the choices in the macro listboxes are valid
• individual parameter mode - the values of the parameter sliders are valid

Macro mode will be sufficient in most practical cases. Setting of individual parameters is more difficult, but can give very good results when done right.

The mode settings (position of the checkboxes) can be saved with the "Save settings" menu entry. The current values of the listboxes or parameter sliders are stored in the midi file.

Timing

Controls clock source and real-time output.

The available choices of clock source will vary depending on system platform:

• Internal. The sequencer is itself the source of the clock timing (available on all system platforms).

• Song Pointer. The sequencer clock locks to midi real-time messages received from midi input. The source of these messages is typically a tape-machine with an external sync-box or just another sequencer. Song pointer sync is available on Unix with JAZZ++-native MPU-401 driver and on MS-Windows.

• Midi Time Code. The sequencer clock locks to Midi Time Code (MTC) messages received from midi input. The source is typically a tape-machine with an external sync-box doing SMPTE-to-MTC conversion or a MTC-capable recording machine. MTC sync is available on MS-Windows platform.

• FSK. The sequencer clock locks to FSK information received from tape. This is available on Unix with an MPU-401 card supporting FSK sync.

How to sync?

• Internal. Just play; JAZZ++ is the master and decides all timing using internal clocks in the computer.

• Song Pointer. Make sure the device (here called "tape") you are syncing to sends midi real-time messages (songpointer, midi clock etc.) This could involve recording a "songpointer stripe" to a tape track by means of a sync box. To do this you must play the song with the sequencer in "Internal" sync mode and with "Realtime to MIDI Out" enabled. (For more info refer to the instructions of the sync box.)

  To play, enable "Song pointer" sync mode in sequencer (JAZZ++), start play on sequencer first, then start tape at any point in the song. The sequencer is now locked to the movements of the tape. (Note that some sync boxes don't send song-pointer at beginning of the song. In this situation you must manually start sequencer at song-start before running tape.)

• Midi Time Code. Make sure the device (tape) you are syncing to sends MTC messages (could involve recording an SMPTE stripe). Set the MTC offset and the MTC type either manually or by recording it while listening to the tape. (The MTC offset is the point in time when the sequencer is supposed to start playing the song.) When recording MTC offset the sequencer will automatically be set into MTC sync mode.

  To play, set sequencer to MTC sync mode, start play on sequencer, then start tape at any point in the song. The sequencer is now locked to the movements of the external device.

• FSK. An "FSK stripe" must first be recorded to a tape track. To do this you must play the song with the sequencer in "Internal" sync mode. Be sure to start FSK stripe recording some time before sequencer is started (must record the pilot tone).

  To play, set sequencer to FSK sync mode, start tape in the pilot-tone area, then start sequencer before pilot tone ends. (Note that with FSK play must always start at beginning of the song.)

The "Realtime to Midi Out" choice is useful for syncing another sequencer to this one or to record a "songpointer stripe" to tape via a sync box. Note that "Realtime to Midi Out" will only work properly for a ticks-per-quarter resolution dividable by 24 (see Song settings).

Midi Thru

When enabled, the sequencer will send all notes received on the MIDI IN port to the MIDI OUT port. This basically means that you will hear what you play on the keyboard.

Synthesizer Type Settings

Figure 2.21: Setting of synthesizer type

Many MIDI sound generators (a synthesizer, soundmodule or soundcard) offer possibilities to choose an extended number of instruments (more than the 128 General MIDI instruments), or to control things like sound colour, reverb/chorus settings or time-variant filters. This is done by sending specific MIDI commands from the sequencer (bank-, NRPN- and SYSEX-events). However, the parameters of these commands are different depending on which standard your sound generator supports.

To allow JAZZ++ to get the most out of your MIDI sound generator, you should choose the synthesizer type option that corresponds most closely to your equipment.

Options are:

• GM - Choose this if your sound generator is a standard General MIDI device. This option is safe and will work for almost any sound generator.

• GS - GS is an extension to the GM specification that allows for 317 different instruments, effect type control and a lot more. Look for the GS logo on your equipment. GS was originally defined by Roland (R).

• XG - XG is another extension to GM. A lot of extra instruments are defined as well as a number of extended control possibilities. Look for the XG logo on your equipment. XG was originally defined by Yamaha (R).

• Other - This option is for sound generators that do not follow any of the standards mentioned above. JAZZ++ allows user customization of parameters like instrument lists (patches), controllers and drum instrument names. Look into the JAZZ++ configuration files for more info.

The 'Auto send MIDI reset' options control the conditions for when JAZZ++ should send a MIDI reset command (corresponding to the synthesizer type) to the synthesizer device.

• Never - MIDI reset is never automatically sent to the device (only when you press the panic putton)
• Song start - MIDI reset is sent whenever play starts from the beginning of the song (default)
• Start play - MIDI reset is always sent when play starts

Files saved from JAZZ++ will always contain a MIDI reset near the beginning of track 0.

Midi Device

You may select the input and output devices from the list of installed drivers.

Save Settings