»

[charliekat]

Hi,
can anyone help with a guide or instructions on using music-x
thanks

[Oliver]

Hi, I assume you have the program but not the manual, right? I'm not really sure where to start, as you haven't given much information at all. I can tell you basically how I use Music-X. If you want specifics from a manual, I might be able to help you to some extent, but it is pretty big.

I actually haven't used it for some time now, but I'll try to see what falls out of my memory.

I use Music X as a midi sequencer. Basicly I have a bunch of midi hardware (including a couple of slave PCs) hooked to the miggy using a serial midi adapter. I would first muck around on my instruments, until I have an idea of what kind of BPM I want to use. I then set that on the main page of musicx. I usually use 4/4 timing, which I believe is the default. Set this if you need to.

If I want to record my playing live, I would maybe record from the main page of musicx, with a metronome count in. One can also record overdubs from here. When you finish recording, I think you have a choice of where you want to save the record buffer. Can't remember how this goes, now, but you basicly select a sequencer track to keep your midi data.

If I want to 'write' my track, rather than play it (cause I play keyboard like a dying fish), then I will first select a track and go into the sequencer page. You have two choices of interface here: midi event page, which looks a bit like the data output from a tracker, or more commonly used is the piano roll. I rather like using the piano roll to 'draw' my melodies. This is a bit like what I used to do in music class, composing pieces on paper as a musical score, before we ever heard it. If you know your notes, and the timing you want, this works well. 1st, choose the grid and duration you want. I think you click on the word 'grid' on the right hand side of the screen, and it will give you a choice for each (hopefully you are comfortable with music notation here). Then you draw the notes on the piano roll. Click on the word 'place' in the right hand side of the window, and then click on 'notes'. Then clicking on a grid slot on the piano roll should write a note. You can move the note with the arrow keys, or lengthen/shorten notes by the previously chosen duration value, by holding the shift key and using the arrow keys simultaneously. Additionally, this page is good for drawing/editing control changes, such as the much used filter cutoff and resonance.

To compose individual tracks into a master sequence, you can enter a sequence page of a new track, and instead of placing notes, you place 'master sequence' (maybe the name I have used here is not quite right) tracks. Moving the tracks up and down then chooses which sequence is being used. Remember to choose a suitable duration and grid before placing sequences.

That's basicly it. You'll probably run into some troubles without the manual though.

btw, certain midi hardware will not talk to musicx. Some modern hardware does not strictly adhere to the midi standards (I think). I had to build a midi filter to allow a CS1X to be used as a control keyboard, and I think my super bass station, and xbass9 also have the same problem.

You might also need to think about the midi filters page. Hopefully, the default setup will be OK for you. I can't really describe it now, but play around with it, and try to make it work for you.

Also, are you the person who previously emailed me about musicx?

Good luck.

Oli

[charliekat]

Hi Oli,
thanks for reply. Yes I did contact you a while back but you were busy at the time. Your answer is a good help. There are one or two other items where an explanation would help. Next time will note these down and maybe you could explain.thanks

[Stefano]

If you want, you can ask me as well.