Copyright: Copyright ® 1994 Jim Johnson


Contents

Overview

What Is MIDI Thruway?

Using MIDI Thruway

The Main Window

Input

Outputs

Load Preset and Save Preset

All Notes Off

Menus

File


What Is MIDI Thruway?

MIDI Thruway is a simple program for managing the MIDI thru connections in your Windows system. MIDI Thruway is used to establish connections between any of the MIDI inputs and outputs in your system. MIDI Thruway can also be used to rechannelize data from each input before transmission to the outputs, and can save setups in presets for quick and easy recall.


Using MIDI Thruway

MIDI Thruway was designed to be a replacement for all the MIDI thru features in the various MIDI programs that you run. Ideally, the program should be run from your StartUp group, and then all other MIDI thrus in other applications (such as Cakewalk, WavePatch, or other programs) should be disabled.

If you have any other MIDI thru applets or drivers present (such as Turtle Beach's MultiSound Patchbay or Tahiti Patchbay), these should be disabled or turned off.

MIDI Thruway passes all MIDI channel messages, along with real-time (sync) messages. Active sensing messages are not transmitted to the outputs. At the present time, system exclusive messages are not passed by the program.

Please note that some older MIDI drivers, such as the original Roland MPU-401 and some SoundBlaster drivers, cannot be opened by multiple applications. In this case, MIDI Thruway and/or your other MIDI applications will warn you of the conflict if it occurs. If this occurs, you have several options:

 Do not use MIDI Thruway to access the offending driver. You must then rely on your other applications to provide thru functionality for this instrument.

 Create a separate preset in which the offending drivers are not used. In this case, you can use MIDI thruway to connect to these drivers when running stand-alone, but then disable this by selecting another preset when other MIDI apps are used.

 Contact the maker of the sound card or MIDI interface for an updated, "multi-open" driver.

 Download the freeware virtual MIDI drivers MIDIMUX from Compuserve or some other source. (On Compuserve, look for MIDKBD.ZIP in the MIDI forum.) These drivers can act as virtual patch cords between one driver and another. Since the MIDIMUX drivers are multi-open drivers, they can be used to fool a single-open driver into acting like a multi-open driver.


Outputs

The Outputs section is used to select the outputs that are connected to the current input.

The list box lists all MIDI outputs in the system. If an output is highlighted, a thru connection is established between that output and the currently selected input.


Input

This section contains all of the controls pertaining to each input.

The combo box at the top lists all of the MIDI inputs in the system. This is used to select the input that is connected to the outputs listed in the Outputs section.

The Rechannelize button is used to activate rechannelization for the currently selected input. When rechannelization is active, all channel messages received at the input are transmitted on the channel specified in the Channel control. Rechannelization occurs on all outputs connected to the specified input.


File menu

The File menu is used to save and load presets, and to exit the program.

Load Preset

This is used to load all MIDI Thruway settings from a preset.

Save Preset

This is used to save all MIDI Thruway settings in a preset.

Exit

This terminates the program.


Loading and Saving Presets

The Load Preset and Save Preset buttons and menu commands are used to load or save all of the settings in your MIDI Thruway configuration. This is a handy way to quickly and easily change your MIDI routings.

Presets are stored in the file MIDITHRU.INI in your Windows directory.

Load Preset

This command presents a list of all of the presets that have been saved. Select any preset and then click OK to set all controls from that preset.

Save Preset

This command presents a list of all of the presets that have been saved. You can select any preset name to replace that preset, or type a new preset name in the edit box above the list. Click OK to store all control settings to the preset.


All Notes Off

This button is used to kill all notes playing on all outputs. This is used to cancel any stuck notes which may be caused by any number of factors: a disconnected MIDI plug, operator error, or a software bug.


About the Developer

Hi! My name is Jim Johnson, and I developed MIDI Thruway. All of the components of MIDI Thruway were created by me using Microsoft Visual C++ 1.5.

I am available for contract programming and consulting in the fields of Windows, MIDI, digital audio, and multimedia. Some of my qualifications:

 Over twelve years of programming experience, including seven in MIDI and three in Windows.

 A strong personal commitment to reliable, bug-free software.

 Experienced in C, C++, MFC, and OWL.

 Many satisfied customers, including Turtle Beach Systems, Brøderbund, Ensoniq, Pantone, Integrated Circuit Systems, and Dr. T's Music Software.

For more information, contact me via Email at the following address:

Compuserve: 70461,10

Internet: 70461.10@compuserve.com