Windows MIDI Management
Used in the following Viewports:
VPIII: Computer-Assisted Instruction in Music
VPV: Music Notation
VPVI: Music Sequencing and MIDI
Installation Notes
Installing MIDI Cards
The Windows MIDI software that is on the EMT-CD uses MIDI cards that conform
to the Multimedia Extension Standards (MME) for Windows machines. This includes
the Adlib/Sound Blaster family of sound cards (as well as other cards that conform
to the Sound Blaster standard) and the Roland MPU401 standard. It's quite likely
that your multimedia Windows computer comes with a sound card already installed.
If so, you will likely be able to use it immediately with all the software on
this CD.
However, you may not like the synthesized sounds that come with this
sound card and you may want to use an external sound device. If so, you
may be able to purchase a kit that attaches to your sound card that includes
a set of MIDI cables. This would allow your sound card to pass MIDI signals
to and from your Windows and MIDI device. Another option would be to purchase
a separate MIDI card for this purpose.
If you do buy an add-on kit or separate card, it will come with instructions
on how to install the hardware and software. The software will contain
information on how to install "drivers" for your particular card. Follow
the instructions carefully, especially the information about Interrupt
Request Levels (IRQ) and Base Addresses. Windows 95 will automatically
attempt to "make room" for the new soundcard/MIDI interface by moving around
IRQ's and Base Addresses. It is recommended that you let Windows
perform these operations. Manually assign IRQ's and Base Addresses
only if you experience hardware conflicts.
Once the card is installed, Windows 95 will prompt you for the driver
diskettes that came with the hardware. It will automatically install the
necessary drivers and additional utilities that came with the hardware.
Double-clicking the "Multimedia" icon located in the Control Panel folder
(Start Menu=>Settings=>Control Panel) will supply you with a list of available
sound drivers already installed on your computer. You can use this
applet to quickly configure you output options for MIDI, Sound, and Video
options at any time. If you need to update drivers later you can
double-click the "Add New Hardware" icon located in the Control Panel folder.
Under Windows 3.1, you will need to navigate to the "Drivers" icon underneath
the Control Panel. Here you can see which drivers are installed and
active. The first list you see is the list of fully installed drivers.
Notice that there are many listed, including some that came with the operating
system. There are also drivers for digitized sound and video. Confirm that
the driver for your card has been installed. If not, try the Add button
to see a list of drivers that are ready for installation. Once the drivers
are installed, you must then make a connection to it within each MIDI software
program you run.
MIDI Setup for Software
Each MIDI software program for Windows on this CD has a MIDI setup dialog which
you must open the first time you use the program. In this dialog box, you must
tell the software which "driver" to use, thus establishing a link from the software
to the installed MIDI card. The list that is displayed by the software comes
from the computer and is dependent on the list of drivers you have installed.
In each of the projects on this CD, we have provided clear instructions on how
to make this link within each software title.
Windows MIDI/Multimedia Setup
 |
Windows 95 allows you to set defaults as to how Windows will handle MIDI,
sound, and video files for playback.
Media Player, Windows 95's resident media player, can handle almost
any type of media file in the absence of specific programs designed to
play the file in question (i.e.... QuickTime Movie Player for movies, Cakewalk/Vision/Music
Shop for MIDI files, etc...)
Use the Multimedia icon found in the Control Panels folder to set the
defaults for MIDI playback. Selecting the MIDI tab on this panel
shows the default playback items for MIDI files. Most setups will
allow you to switch MIDI output between 2 devices; a soundcard FM device,
and a MIDI port that sends the information through MIDI cables to an external
MIDI device (synthesizer).
The easiest way to tell the difference is to look for FM Synthesis in
the name of the device (for soundcard playback) or MIDI port/MPU-401 Compatible
device (for synth or other external MIDI device).
Your devices will be different from the ones shown here as each computer
has a different setup and series of drivers. This is only designed
to help you understand how Windows 95 handles MIDI files for playback. |
Demo Limitations
None. Full-working version.
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Version 1.0
©1996 David B. Williams and Peter R. Webster
Schirmer Books