Midisoft Studio, Version 4.0
INFORMATION FOR NEW USERS

(To view this README.TXT file best, maximize the Notepad window
and turn on word wrap if it is not already on -- from the Edit 
menu, choose Word Wrap. This file can also be printed from the 
Windows Notepad or other word processors.)

Thank you for purchasing Midisoft Studio.  We look forward to satisfying your MIDI needs for years to come.

If you mail in the enclosed registration card, we will automatically send you information on upgrades and new products when they are available.  We will also send information about our other music packages, including the award-winning Midisoft Studio for Windows (notation-based MIDI recording and editing), Music Mentor (music education and general entertainment), as well as several other products.

We encourage you to contact us with any comments or questions as you use our products.

Midisoft Technical Support
PO Box 1000
Bellevue, WA 98009  USA
TEL: 206-881-7176    
FAX: 206-883-1368


*** ON-LINE HELP FILES ***

Midisoft Studio has context-sensitive help files.  To get help on an area that you are working on, just press the F1 key.  Also included under the Help menu are informative sections on MUSIC NOTATION and MIDI.


*** NO SOUND ON PLAYBACK ***

If you have trouble getting sound during playback, verify that MIDI output is working by using the Media Player applet in the Accessories group of the Program Manager.  If Media Player successfully plays a MIDI file, then you will be able to get Midisoft Studio to play by selecting either:

MIDI Drivers / Multimedia Drivers / Extended-Level
or
MIDI Drivers / Multimedia Drivers / Base-Level

from the Setup Menu.  Read MAPHELP.TXT for hints on selecting Extended-Level or Base-Level Mapping.


*** DISABLE MIDI INPUT AND RELEASE OF DRIVERS WHEN STUDIO IS INACTIVE *** 

The "DISABLE MIDI INPUT" option found in the Setup / MIDI Drivers dialog box will disable the MIDI In driver.  If you will be recording from an external MIDI keyboard, be sure to have this box unchecked.

The "RELEASE DRIVERS WHEN INACTIVE" option found in the Setup / MIDI Drivers dialog box will release control of the MIDI Mapper when Studio is minimized or sent to the background.  Selecting this option will allow you to bring up another program which uses the MIDI Mapper without exiting Studio.  If you want to play MIDI files from Studio while it is minimized, you must leave this box unchecked. 

 
*** LOADING MIDI FILES THAT CONTAIN SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE DATA ***

Under the Options menu is an option to filter system exclusive data. Unchecking this option will allow system exclusive events to be read in that are embedded in MIDI files.  It does not allow system exclusive events to be recorded in.  Since a larger buffer needs to be allocated for system exclusive events, we recommend keeping this filter enabled.


*** SONGLIST.TXT ***

To use the Song List feature, create a text file called "SONGLIST.TXT" which contains the name of each file you want to play. Put the Song List text file into the same directory with the files you want to play. Launch Studio. Open one of the files in your list. Select "Save Options and Setup" from the Options menu. Exit Studio and launch it again. Upon re-launch Studio will tell you that it has found a songlist and ask if you want to play it.


*** DRUM SOUNDS *** 

Sound cards reserve one MIDI channel for drum and percussion.  That MIDI channel is either 10 or 16 depending on whether the card is meant to be used as a Base- or Extended-Level MIDI device. On the drum channel each MIDI note, or pitch, corresponds to a different drum instrument. The other channels generally have only one instrument assigned to them.  To access the drum sounds on your card you must set the MIDI channel to 10 for Extended-Level cards or 16 for Base-Level cards. To do this, click on the track name in the Mixer View and set the MIDI channel from the Track Settings dialog box.

Since each note is a different drum instrument, you will not see the instrument names in the Track Settings dialog box.  Drum instruments are triggered by entering their corresponding pitches in the Score View or in the MIDI List View.  To see what MIDI note numbers correspond to what instruments, consult your sound card documentation or, from within Music Magic, go to Help / General MIDI / Percussion Key Map.  For example, Acoustic Bass Drum = MIDI note number 35 = pitch B1.  Acoustic Snare = MIDI note number 38 = pitch D2.


*** IF YOU HAVE A 286 OR 386SX COMPUTER *** 

Our Score and Mixer real-time displays work best with 386DX or faster computers.  On a slower computer, using this feature can affect the responsiveness of mouse clicks during playback.  If you have a 286 or 386SX computer, we recommend you disable real-time displays (menu: Options / Follow Score View Notes and Follow VU Meter), save the new options (menu: Setup / Save Options and Setup), and use these features only as needed.


*** CHANGING START-TIMES IN MIDI LIST VIEW SOMETIMES DOES NOT "ROLL" *** 

Changing start times and durations in the MIDI List View by clicking on the appropriate column with the left or right mouse button will normally "roll" if the mouse button is held down, unless the change in start time causes the note to cross another event or measure boundary. In this case, each increment or decrement will require an individual mouse click.


*** ADDING SHARPS AND FLATS *** 

The Sharp (#) and Flat (b) tools are used to apply, remove, and alter accidentals. For example, applying a Sharp to a "B" results in a B-sharp (B#). Applying another Sharp to the same note results in a B-double-sharp (Bx).  A new feature allows the Sharp and Flat tools to be used in conjunction with the Control key, to change a note to its enharmonic equivalent.  For example, applying a Control+Sharp to a "B" results in a C-flat (Cb). Applying a Control+Flat to a "B" results in an A-double-sharp (Ax).  You should be aware that changes in note spelling are not saved in MIDI files (changes in pitch are saved in MIDI files). To retain changes in note spelling, save your work as a song file (.sng).


*** CHANGING DOS OR WINDOWS VERSIONS *** 

If you change operating systems (e.g. installing DOS 6.0, upgrading to Windows for Workgroups, etc.), either reinstall Studio or delete your STUDIO.INI located in the directory where Studio resides.


*** OUT-OF-MEMORY ERRORS *** 

If you get an "Out of Memory" alert and have less than 200K of available memory left, save your work in the Song File (.sng) format, exit Studio, and start fresh. We also recommend that you consider purchasing more RAM, as all-around performance improves dramatically with increases beyond minimal memory.


*** RUNNING ON MACHINES WITH LESS THAN THREE MEGABYTES OF RAM *** 

If you are running on a 2-3Mb computer, your usage of memory will affect the operation of Studio.  We recommend that you use HIMEM.SYS (to access the high 384K Extended Ram), but don't tie up any RAM by using SMARTDRV.EXE.  If Studio claims not to have enough memory, Windows might not be correctly detecting high memory. Studio (and most other Windows software) will not operate on a 1Mb computer. You can check your available memory by exiting all open applications and then selecting "About Program Manager" from the Program Manager's Help menu. We do not suggest using Expanded memory. Windows runs best using EXTENDED memory, not EXPANDED memory.


*** OTHER MEMORY MANAGERS *** 

Because Studio's MIDI drivers require instant access to memory, problems can be avoided by not using memory managers (such as earlier versions of QEMM) which intercept and map memory calls.  We recommend that you simply use the HIMEM.SYS memory manager that comes with Windows.  Similarly, TSR programs that are using your computer's clock can also cause problems.  If you are getting machine crashes or lock ups, we suggest clearing out your machine's startup files (AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS) to the bare minimum (even remove DOS shells) and try running Studio again before contacting Midisoft technical support. Remove non-essential entries in your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files, and bring down the FILES= and BUFFERS= values in your CONFIG.SYS.  If you are using DOS 5.0 (or later), also make sure that you have a DOS=HIGH,UMB entry in CONFIG.SYS.


*** USING NORTON DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS *** 

You might experience path or driver problems using Norton Desktop. If you encounter such problems, we recommend installing Studio again into Windows Program Manager.


*** ABOUT THE DEMO SONGS ***

In addition to publishing music sequencing and notation programs like Studio for Windows and Studio, Midisoft also publishes MIDI data and music education software from which the following demo songs have been taken. Among these products are: 

The Midisoft Multimedia Music Library--A rich collection of original MIDI music for use in multimedia presentations.

The World of Music Sampler--MIDI sequences of all types ranging from classical to jazz to pop.  

Music Mentor--A music entertainment and education program that combines text and graphics with simple animation and MIDI-generated sound to make learning about music fun.


For information about additional products, write or call us at: 

Midisoft Corporation
PO Box 1000
Bellevue, WA 98009
USA

VOICE:  (206) 881-7176
FAX:    (206) 883-1368
