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## # ## # # # # # # #### ### # # # # # # # ## ## # # # ### #### # # #### # # # # # ### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ### ## # # # # # # #### ## # Version 2.22 A Software by Prosoft Informatique For ATARI ST,STE, Monochrome only. ALCHIMIE Jr, copyright (c) 1989,1990 Prosoft Informatique. MOD-FORTH, copyright (c) 1989,1990 R.Crettol. This software may be freely copied and shared with others, as long as the program, its ressource file and the user manual remains unchanged and as long as no charge will be added. Your disk must contains the following files : ALCHIMIE.DOC : This manual ALCHIMIE.INF : Used by ALCHIMIE.PRG ALCHIMIE.PRG : Alchimie Jr JR1.RSC : Ressource 1st part JR2.RSC : Ressource 2nd part MUSETTE.SNG : A song from JS BACH POLONAIS.SNG : A 2nd song from JS BACH QUICK.DOC : Quick guide Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 Contents Contents -------- INTRODUCTION TO ALCHIMIE Jr .............................. 1 Structure Patterns & Tracks Songs & Master The Sequencer Mouse Usage Musical Time Notation ................................. 2 THE DESK ................................................. 3 The Counter The Control Panel The Control section - Play mode - Record mode The Time section .................................. 4 The Mode section - Cycle mode - Punch mode .................................. 5 - AutoRec mode The Slider The Icons THE SONGS ................................................ 6 Song window layout Operation on songs Create a new song Change song parameters Select a song Save a song Load a song Erase a song ...................................... 7 Play a song Prepare to play a song THE MASTER ............................................... 8 The Master window The Master's Instructions Play Tempo and Tempo+ Repeat Operations on Master window ........................... 9 Insert an instruction Modify an instruction parameters Erase an instruction Insert or remove time THE PATTERNS ............................................ 10 The pattern's window Operations on patterns Select Create Modify Copy/move ........................................ 11 Erase/delete Cut Paste Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 Contents Save ............................................. 11 Load Play Prepare Search for a pattern's name THE TRACKS .............................................. 13 The track's window Operations on tracks Modify a track parameters Select ........................................... 14 Copy/move Cut Paste Erase/delete Record Search for a track name THE GRID ................................................ 15 The grid window Note representation Grid control section Zoom/position button Writing button ................................... 16 Step button The Info Box Diatonic Grid quantum Midi channel Track Velocity Step ratio ....................................... 17 Where do notes come from Operations on notes Show note parameters Edit note parameters Move/copy Erase ............................................ 18 Change note length Change note velocity Operations on area Define an area Undefine area Move/copy Erase ............................................ 19 Cut Paste Writing notes Step Input THE EVENT LIST .......................................... 21 The List Window Event editing Edit Insert Erase ............................................ 22 Events operations Edit Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 Contents Move/copy Erase THE MENUS ............................................... 23 Menu desk About Alchimie Jr Accessories Menu View Window Option Leave Menu Function ........................................ 24 Insert Repeat Strech Double Reverse Rotate ........................................... 25 Execute Import Export Menu Events Channel Controlers ....................................... 26 Quantize Notes Velocity Duration ......................................... 27 Compress Menu Config Midi-In Midi-Out Filter Save Infos THE DATA FILTER ......................................... 29 Data Filter Structures Using the Data Filter Copy of notes only Remove All_Notes_off messages Appendix A : ALCHIMIE.INF ............................... 31 Appendix B : Keyboard shortforms ........................ 32 Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 Introduction Page 1 Introduction to ALCHIMIE Jr --------------------------- In this section we will define the terms used in the Reference Manual STRUCTURE --------- In Alchimie Jr, Tracks and patterns are the basic material used to compose songs. Patterns & Tracks ----------------- A pattern is a musical part, like a tag of tape, so each pattern has it own time signature and duration. In Alchimie Jr, you may define up to 256 patterns for each song. The tracks contains the midi events. Events come most generaly from the MIDI-IN, but they can also be create in the Grid, as we will see in the Events chapter. Each pattern, once defined, may be played and treat as own. Songs & Master -------------- Songs are at the top of the hierarchical structure of Alchimie Jr. A song is simply an ordered set of patterns. The Master window let you define precisely in what order the patterns must be played. Note : In the master we can superpose patterns. In this case, Alchimie Jr is able to play simultaneously up to 16 patterns or 4096 tracks. The sequencer ------------- The job of Alchimie's sequencer is to play songs and patterns, to send and receive MIDI events. Mouse usage ----------- Alchimie Jr use three types of mouse manipulations : select, drag and double click. Select : Point something and click brievely on the left button. Drag : Point something, hold left button down, move mouse to destination and release button. Dclick : Point something and click brievly two times on the left button. - 1 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 Introduction Page 2 Note: - Selection generaly is used to define current object. In some context a click may show an auxiliary menu. - Drag is used to move something.(copy a track,for example). - Dclick is used to get/set informations. Musical time notation --------------------- The musical position is notated as BBBB/TT/CC where : BBBB = the number of bar from the start TT = the number of time from start of the bar CC = the number of internal click from time 0. Note : they are 96 clicks in a quarter note (signature 4/4). - 2 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Desk Page 3 The DESK -------- Alchimie's desk contains the control panel and 5 icons. A counter is available on the right part of the menu bar THE COUNTER ----------- On the right part of the menu bar, you can see a counter. This counter indicates the current position of the sequencer. In record phase counter may indicate : ----/--/-- witch says that Alchimie Jr is doing an initial countdown. THE CONTROL PANEL ----------------- The control panel is splitted in three parts : Left : the Control section Center : the Time section Right : the Mode section The Control section ------------------- On the left we have the tape control section and a white horizontal bar witch represents the Midi Input Buffer. The six buttons are (from left up) : RECORD : Enable/disable capture of midi messages. PLAY : Start playing from current position STOP : Stop (as you guess) BACKWARD : Rewind tape FORWARD : Advance tape RESET : Cleanup Input Buffer and set position to 0/0/0 Note : If RECORD is selected (capture enable), the Input Buffer is grey and when filling up, it becomes black from left to right because some Midi events are comming from MIDI-IN. Play Mode --------- If you double-click on the PLAY button Alchimie Jr shows you the current sequencing mode in a dialog box. Modes are : SONG : When playing a song PATTERN: When playing a pattern Note : the master is only used in song mode. Record Mode ----------- If you double-click on the Input Buffer bar, you will see a dialog box displaying his contents and the current record mode. - 3 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Desk Page 4 The record modes are : * Only track Midi messages are moved to an single track * Channel Messages are splitted and distributed to 16 Tracks, according to their channel number. Example : Recording to track 100 : Trk 100 : the messages from channel 1 Trk 101 : '' '' '' 2 etc... * Channel/type Messages are splitted according to their type and channel. Example: Recording to track 20: Trk20 : Notes from channel 1 Trk21 : other message from channel 1 Trk22 : Notes from channel 2 etc.. The Time section ---------------- START and STOP : indicate the limits of sequencer's play. P.IN and P.OUT : indicate the limits of the punching mode. The Mode section ---------------- In the top of this section we have two values. The first one is the current tempo, the next is the current time signature. Below they are some buttons used to control the sequencer's job. BEEP : Send clicks to monitor loudspeaker CNTDWN : Countdown 2 bars before recording CYCLE : Start cycle mode SYNCHRO : Synchronise the sequencer on external Midi Clock SOLO : Only play tracks with P columns set PUNCH : Enable punch mode AUTO REC : Enable auto record mode AUTO << : Reset tape as soon as stopped * Cycle mode ------------ In this mode, Alchimie Jr does not stop playing when stop time is reach. When recording, the Midi events captured in a passage, are played back in the next passages until others Midi events arrive. So you can - 4 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Desk Page 5 hear and correct what you have play before, without move the input buffer to a track. When you want recording, simply drag the buffer to desired track or hit "*" on the numeric pad to record on selected track. * Punch mode ------------ In punch mode the contents of the selected track is muted from the P.IN position to the P.OUT times. * AutoRec Mode -------------- With AUTOREC selected, Alchimie Jr will move the contents of the Input Buffer to the selected track as soon as the sequencer has stopped. The Slider ---------- The slider is used to modify the value of : START, STOP, P.IN and P.OUT times and TEMPO. THE ICONS ---------- STACK : To CUT and PASTE part of track or pattern DISK : To save and load song or pattern TRASH : To erase Song, pattern, track, area and event. PRINTER: Hardcopy FILTER : To enable, disable and set data operation filter We will explain further details for the icon in the next chapters. - 5 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Songs Page 6 The SONGS SONG WINDOW LAYOUT ------------------ Songs are represented on the 16 lines of the song's window. The columns are : Nr : the song number Name : the song name, better if same as filename Length : the duration of the song The reverse line show the current song. The content of all others windows (Patterns, Tracks etc...) depends on this selection. Light lines represents songs free. You can load more song on this ones, without erasing an other song. Note : click on the title line to select the top line. OPERATIONS ON SONGS ------------------- * Create a new song Double-click on an empty line of the song window, fill the dialog box and confirm. * Change song parameters ------------------------ Double-click on the song you want to modify. * Select a song --------------- Click on the song you want to be the current one. * Save a song ------------- Drag the desired song to the DISK icon. Modify the name if necessary in the files selector and confirm. Note : the name proposed in the files selector is the song name. You may change it but the name displayed in de window, after reload, will be the same as before you rename this song. * Load a song ------------- Drag the disk icon to the desired position in the song's window. Choose a song filename in the files selector then confirm. If the choosen line in the song windows is not empty, Alchimie Jr will ask you to confirm before erasing. - 6 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Songs Page 7 * Erase a song -------------- Drag a song to the TRASH icon and confirm. Note : this operation do not erase song on disk but only in memory(RAM). * Play a song ------------- Drag a song to the PLAY button. The play takes effect immediatly, no matter what Alchimie Jr was doing before. This operation set the contents of the START and STOP times according to the song Length, and force the Song Mode. * Prepare to play a song ------------------------ Drag a song to the STOP button. Alchimie Jr will stop playing and sets the contents of the START and STOP times then switch into the Song Mode. - 7 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Master Page 8 The Master ---------- THE MASTER WINDOW ----------------- The Master window shows how the various patterns are ordered in the song. Note : the master is only used in song mode. The columns are : Position : Position relative to the start of the song of an instruction Instr : Instruction name Parameters : The parameters of the instruction THE MASTER'S INSTRUCTIONS ------------------------- Each instruction in the Master's window is executed (played) when the main counter reaches the time specified in the Position field. Here we describe the instructions giving their tipicals forms. * PLAY <nr> [ <name> ] r=<rept> <nr> = the pattern number <name> = the pattern name as it appears in the pattern's window <rept> = the number of repetitions When a PLAY instruction is encountered, the sequencer start to play the specified pattern and will repeat it, if mentioned. * TEMPO <n> and TEMPO+ <n1> <n> = the desired tempo in range 24 to 240 <n1> = the tempo change When a TEMPO instruction is encountered, the sequencer will set the tempo to the specified value. If the instruction is TEMPO+ the tempo value is incremented/decremented to the specified value. * REPEAT <n> <b/t/c> <n> = the number of repetitions <b/t/c>= the size of the part to be repeated When a REPEAT instruction is reached, the sequencer will repeat the next part for the desired number of time. - 8 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Master Page 9 OPERATIONS ON THE MASTER'S WINDOW --------------------------------- Insert an instruction --------------------- Click on the desired position in the Master's window. Choose "Insert" in the little menu who drop under the mouse and then choose the desired instruction. Enter the right parameters in the dialog box and confirm. Modify an parameters instruction -------------------------------- Click on the instruction you want to change, choose "Edit" in the little menu, change the value in the dialog box, then confirm. Erase an instruction -------------------- Click on the instruction and choose "Erase" in the little menu. Insert or remove time --------------------- Click on the instruction and choose "Beat" in the little menu. Modify the dialog's parameters and click on insert or erase, as you wish. All of the instructions following the choosen one will be alter accordingly. - 9 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Patterns Page 10 The Patterns ------------ THE PATTERN'S WINDOW -------------------- NOTE : No operation is possible on patterns as long as no valid (empty) song is selected. We hope you don't forget this important point. The pattern's window shows the patterns already defined for the current song. Empty lines (light) may be used to create or load new patterns. Here we describe the columns of the window. Nr : the number Name : the name Length : the duration or "Exclusive" Sign : the time signature (nothing for the exclusive patterns) The length of a pattern is forced so that all events in the tracks will be in the pattern bounds. Alchimie Jr use two types of patterns : the Exclusives and the Events ones. The Exclusives patterns only contains exlusives messages and are signaled by the text "Exclusive" folowing by the pattern's name. OPERATIONS ON PATTERNS ---------------------- The most usefull operations on pattern are accessible with simples moves with the mouse. Some others, less used, are available in the Functions and Events menu. Pattern's operations always display dialog boxes, so you may change parameters or stop. * Select -------- Click on the desired pattern. This make the current one. Its number will appears by default in the dialogs (some excepted). Note : you can hit the "return" key to select the pattern on the top of the window. * Create -------- Double-click on a pattern and fill the dialog box. Note : you only can create Events patterns. A Exlusive pattern is created when you drag the Input buffer to the pattern's window, and only if exclusive events were captured. * Modify -------- Double-click and change in the dialog box. - 10 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Patterns Page 11 * Copy/move ----------- Drag to the desired position. Datas are merging if destination area is not empty. A copy do not modify source pattern, but a move remove events from the source pattern to put them on the target one. * Erase/delete -------------- Drag to the TRASH icon. An Erase do not change events outside the choosen area, but a Delete move the folowing events to the upper bounds of the backward area. Note : this are destructives operations. Be carefull. * Cut ----- Drag to the STACK icon. Midi events in the specified area are copied to the cut buffer. You may paste them later, on a different pattern for example. * Paste ------- Drag the STACK icon to desired pattern. This operation move the contents of the cut buffer to the destination pattern, merging them to the existing datas if necessary. * Save ------ Drag to the DISK icon, if necessary modify the name in the files selector and confirm. * Load ------ Drag the DISK icon to the pattern's window, choose a name in the files selector and confirm. If the target pattern is not empty, Alchimie Jr ask you before to erase it. * Play ------ Drag a pattern to the PLAY button. This operation set the pattern as the current one. It also set the times section of the control panel according to the length, force the sequencer's pattern mode and immediatly start the play. * Prepare --------- Drag a pattern to the STOP button on the control panel. This opertaion set the START and STOP time, and stop immediatly the sequencer. * Search for a pattern's name ------------------------- Click on the title "Name" and enter some chars of the name you hope - 11 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Patterns Page 12 to find. In case of succesfull search, the founded pattern will be displayed on the top of the Pattern's window. - 12 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Tracks Page 13 The Tracks ---------- THE TRACK'S WINDOW ------------------ Note : no operation on tracks is available as long as an invalid pattern or song is selected. (invalid means : empty song, empty or exclusive pattern). Each pattern of Alchimie Jr contains 256 tracks. Empty tracks are displayed in light zone. Nr : Track number Name : Name Notes : Count of events in the track (notes and others) P : Play flag S : Solo flag Ch : Output Midi Channel Trp : Pitch transposition Vol : Volume transposition Dur : Duration ratio With the P and S flag you can mute a track or a group of tracks. The Ch value force the output channel number except if Ch equals "**". In this case data channel will be the same as recorded. The Trp value change the pitch of the notes, the Vol the velocity of notes events. The Dur value change the duration of the notes. A value of more than 100% will extend the duration, less will shorten it. Normal value (no change) is 100. Note : As data modification is computed in real-time, no change occurs on tracks. OPERATIONS ON TRACKS -------------------- This section describe the directs operations, others are availables in Function and Events menu. Tracks operations are very similar to the pattern operations. * Modify a track parameters --------------------------- You can modify the real-time track parameter by a click on the one you want to change, and moving your mouse up and down until you reach the correct value. Note : The P and S flags will simply toggle. An other way to modify those parameters is to double-click on a track and modify them in the info dialog box. - 13 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Tracks Page 14 * Select -------- Click on the desired track. Note : hit the return key to select the track on the top of the window. You can also enter the number of the track you want on the top of the alpha-numeric keyboard. * Copy/move ----------- Drag a track to the desired position, change the dialog box params if necessary and confirm. * Cut ----- Drag a track to the STACK icon. See Cut/pattern for more details. * Paste up ------- Drag the STACK icon to a track. You may alter the params of the pasting in the dialog box and confirm. * Erase/Delete -------------- Drag a track to the TRASH icon, change the params in the dialog box if necessary and confirm. Warning : those operations are destructives. Once deleted nothing can recover your datas. * Record -------- To record a track, drag the Input Buffer bar to the right track. In case of empty buffer nothing will be done. You may also record the current track (shown in reverse) by hitting the "/" or "*" key on the numeric pad. The "/" key records datas as the "*" key but after recording Alchimie Jr select for you the next track. * Search for a track name ------------------------- Click on the title "Name" and enter some chars of the name you hope to find. In case of succesfull search, the founded track will be displayed on the top of the Track's window. - 14 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Grid Page 15 The Grid -------- With the grid you have a graphic edition of the Notes and one or more tracks of a pattern could be edited, you can also define several areas and work on them, step input notes and write new ones directly. Because Alchimie's multitasking, editing do not stop playing the sequencer. A typical use of that possibility is to let Alchimie Jr working in cycle on the pattern you edit, so you can hear immediatly what you have just done excactly. THE GRID WINDOW --------------- The Grid window is splitted in two parts : a control section and the grid itself. The grid represents horizontaly the time position and vertically the notes pitches (lower pitch down). The bars are displayed by solids vertical lines, the times by dashed ones. The current counter location is indicated by a dashed vertical line, which move thru the grid as the sequencer is playing. By hitting the F10 key you may force grid to scroll according to the main position counter. NOTE REPRESENTATION ------------------- Notes are represented by a small square followed by a thick line and a small triangle. The square coords indicates the pitch and the start time of the note, the length of the body line represents the duration of the note and the small triangle marks the stop time of the note. A shade, below each note, represents the individuals volumes. GRID CONTROL SECTION -------------------- The top of the grid contains many buttons and editable control values, from up to down and left to right : * Zoom/Position button ---------------------- This button changes the effects of the sliders on the grid. In Zoom mode, sliders are zooming the grid verticaly and/or horizontaly. In Positon mode, sliders will scroll the grid up/down and left/right. - 15 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Grid Page 16 * Writing Button ---------------- The writing button is used to start/stop writing on grid. More details will be given later in this chapter. * Step button ------------- Start a step input phase. (more details later) * The Info Box -------------- Alchimie Jr displays in the info box various informations. - All note parameters by a click on the left side of a note - Pitch and pos by a click on an empty part of the grid - Pitch and pos during note Copy/move - Velocity when you edit a note velocity - Duration when you edit a note length * Diatonic ---------- To choose the pitch (vertical) scale. When deselected, the space between two horizontal lines, represents one semitone. (much like a guitar neck) When selected, the space between two horizontals lines equals in value to one degree of a major scale. (much like a piano keyboard) * Grid QUANTUM -------------- This quantum is used to round up mouse position during following operations : - Note move/copy - Note writing - Area definition - Step input You may edit directly this value or use the Notes icon to preset value. You also may hit one of the key 1-7 on the alpha-numeric keyboard. (1 for the Whole-note etc..) * Midi channel (C) ------------------ When writing, this value is used to set the Note Event Channel. * Track (T) ----------- When writing, the track number of the note. Note : this value is set to the current track when you start writing, but you may change it. * Velocity ---------- Down arrow value is the velocity used during note writing. - 16 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Grid Page 17 * Step Ratio (%) ---------------- This value is used in step mode to calculate the length of a note according to the step duration. WERE DO NOTES COME FROM ? ------------------------- Notes displayed on the grid come, by default, from all the tracks of the current pattern. But you may change it. Choose the title OPTION in menu VIEW. It displays to you a dialog box where you can specify the display mode. The option TRACKS let you choose how to display the notes (from the current pattern) : All : from all tracks Play : from tracks with P column set Select : from the current track The option EVENTS let you examine narrowely the choice of option TRACKS. This option is not realy usefull with the grid but is very important for the Event list window : All : Display all events Filtred: Display only events witch has passed thru the filter See the Filter chapter for more details. The WRITING option lets you define current characters and their size. This may not alter the grid display. OPERATIONS ON NOTES ------------------ In this section you will see what kind of operations can be done directly on the grid. * Show note parameters ---------------------- Click on the left side of the note. This op will display all of the notes parameters in the grid infobox. * Edit note parameters ---------------------- Double-click on the left side of the note. To change a parameter value input it or select the title of the param you want to modify and use the arrows to increment/decrement the value. Note : modifications done with arrows are immediatly effective. * Move/copy a note ------------------ To move a note, drag the rectangle of a note to the choosen position - 17 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Grid Page 18 on the grid. The target position time will be rouded according to the quantum value. During this op the info box will display the note pitch and pos. To copy a note, do the same but hold down the SHIFT key. * Erase a note -------------- Drag the note start to the TRASH icon. Warning : Bee carefull, no confirmation asking! * Change note length -------------------- Drag the triangle of the note until you reach the desired length. During this operation the info box will show you the current duration. * Change note Velocity ---------------------- Drag the shade of the note until you reach the desired velocity. During this operation the info box will display the current velocity value. OPERATIONS ON AREA ------------------ With those operations you may alter a group of notes from one or more tracks. A rectangle in reverse represents this area. All notes within the bounds will be treated. When an area is defined, its parameters are reported to the data filter, so you can control exactly what kind of event will be move/copy/erase. (See Filter Setion) * Define an area ---------------- Drag from the top left to the bottom right of the area you want define. The time bounds of the area will be rounded up, according to the Quantum Value. Note : the top left position must be on an empty part of the grid, otherwise Alchimie Jr will be disturb and start to move a note or anything else you do not realy want to obtain. * Undefine area --------------- Click on an empty part of the grid. * Move/copy an area ------------------- To move an area to the desired position. To copy an area, do the same but hold down the SHIFT key. Note : if the vertical target position is different from the source, - 18 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Grid Page 19 notes in this area will be transposed. * Erase an area --------------- Drag the area to the TRASH icon. This operation erase all the notes into the area bounds. Be carefull, no confirmation will be asked. * Cut an area ------------- Drag the area to the STACK icon. * Paste an area --------------- Drag the TRASH icon to the grid. WRITING NOTES ------------- To enter writing mode, select the WRITE button in the control part. If you look at the various parameters of the control section you will see them changed. In Writing mode, the QUANTUM value do not indicate the quantum as defined before, instead of it, shows the note duration preset. You may change this value by enter a new one or using the notes icon drawn on the control part. To change the Grid Quantum value (the position one), you may exit writing mode, change it and reselect the WRITE button. But you may also use the key 1 to 7 of the alpha-numeric keyboard without leaving writing mode. A best way is to preset quantum before entering writing mode. When you enter writing mode, the Track Parameter is set by default to the current track number. Once the WRITE button is select, the note length is defined and once other parameters are correct, you may write notes simply by clicking on the grid to the desired position. Without leaving mode, you can change the channel, the track number, the velocity etc.. Note : According to the display mode, some strange things may happend. For example the just written notes may disapear from display if you use the SELECT track option and if your write on an other track than the selected one. Don't worry, your notes are really recorded but not displayed. How could Alchimie Jr imagine that you are so unlogical ? STEP INPUT ---------- Before starting step entry, you may exit writing mode, otherwise you will be confused. Start Step input by selecting the STEP button. In this mode, Alchimie Jr waits until it received from Midi a full - 19 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Grid Page 20 note or chord. When this happends, the event is left in the Input Buffer and the Counter is advanced by the length of a step. This length is diplayed in the QUANTUM value box. You may modify it exactly as you change the Quantum in normal operation mode. To advance counter without playing note, hit the space bar. To remove last step, hit the "backspace" key. Once you have entered what you want, turn step mode off by deselecting the STEP button. Now you can record your data by dragging the Input Buffer to the desired position. (You may also use the "*" and "/" keys). An interesting possibility with Alchimie Jr is entering step mode while the sequencer is playing in cycle mode. This option will temporary disable the Play, but when exiting, you can hear the result of your input with the other tracks together and decide or not to record. Note : the Step Input mode modify values of the input filter. Please do not change it. - 20 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Jr Ver 2 The Event list Page The Event list -------------- The event list window shows the Midi events extracted from one or more tracks of a pattern. Like for the Grid, the display depends on the choice made in the Option box of menu VIEW. THE LIST WINDOW --------------- The window contains following columns : Trk : The track of the event Postion : It position Ch : The midi channel of the event Message : the name of the event. (Cf MIDI norm) Parameters : depends on the event type In the window, events are displayed in increased order of position and track. Thus and in case of simultaneous events, Alchimie Jr always gives priority to events with the lower track number. The event priority could be especialy important when playing a strongly dense pattern. Note : Alchimie Jr's notes events are not 2 messages as in MIDI norm, but they are compacted in an only one. They are two types of note messages : NOTE and NOTE_OFF. When playing a NOTE message, Alchimie Jr sends a Note_on ($9x) with velocity=0 to stop the note, when playing a NOTE_OFF, Alchimie Jr sends a Note_off ($8x) message to stop. Thus a note is listed in only one line of the window. A click on the title of the window let you input the position of the top event of the window. EVENT EDITING ------------- A little menu appears when you click on an event in the window. You may choose an option or click elsewhere else to do nothing. * Edit ------ This option opens a dialog box showing all the parameters of an event. You may change what you want or leave them unchanged by clicking on the EXIT button. Note editing occurs in real-time. This means that you may hears modifications as soon as done. Note : You also may edit an event by double-clicking on the event you want in the window. * Insert -------- This option drops a second little menu in witch you can choose the event type you want to insert. - 21 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Jr Ver 2 The Event list Page Click elsewhere outside to do nothing or choose one, fill the dialog box witch appears and confirm. * Erase ------- This operation removes an event. Note : An other way to obtain the same result is to drag the event to the TRASH icon. Warning : this is a "no return" operation, once deleted nothing can revive the event. EVENTS OPERATIONS ----------------- There is the list of directs manipulations : * Edit ------ Double-click on the event you want to change, modify the parameters in the dialog box and confirm. * Move/copy ----------- To move, drag an event to the desired position in the window. To copy a event, do the same but hold the SHIFT key. * Erase ------- Drag an event to the TRASH icon. No confirmation will be asked, be carefull... - 22 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Menus Page 23 The Menus --------- This chapter describes Title by Title the various menus of Alchimie Jr. Menu DESK --------- * About Alchimie Jr ------------------- Display the advertising box of Alchimie Jr. * Accessories ------------- Alchimie Jr support the usuals accessories. Please consult your computer manual to install them on this menu. Menu VIEW --------- * Window -------- These title opens and shows the various Alchimie Jr windows. To open a window click on its title in this menu. An allready open window appears in this menu with a checkmark preceding the title. You may force Alchimie Jr to display it, as the top window, by clicking on its title. * Option -------- This title display a dialog box. You may specifie here how to display events in the Grid and in the events List. The Track flags allows you to display events from : All : all tracks of a pattern Play : only the played track Select : only the selected one The Events flags allow you to filter events before their display : All : display all events Filtred: display only events witch has passed the filter. With the Writing parameters you may choose the size of the characters set. Note : with the "narrow" writing mode, Alchimie Jr may display more informations in a window as in the "extent" mode. * Leave ------- Return to Gem desktop. Save you job before leaving !!! - 23 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Menus Page 24 Menu FUNCTION ------------- In this menu, you will find operations which have a global impact to the events on a track or in a pattern. Following the selection of one of these operation, appears a dialog box. The dialog contains some parameters depending on the operation and on the top window. If the "Tracks" window is on the top of the display, operations occurs in track mode. The dialog box common parameters are : the track number, the Start and End times. The track number will be preset on the current one, the Start and End times are picked up from the START and STOP times on the control panel. If the "Patterns" window is on the top, same parameters will be proposed. Only replace track by pattern in the previous explanation. if the "Grid" window is on the top, operations occurs in Zone mode. In this case, Alchimie Jr works on what is displayed in the area, according to the selections in the VIEW/Option menu. Nothing occurs if the operation is not avaiabe according to the top window. (Master window for example). Note : in the following titles, we indicate between "[" and "]" which modes are availabes. ( p=pattern, t=track, z=zone) * Insert [p,t,z] ------------------ Insert a stillness area. Events following the END position will be moved forward. The REPEAT parameter indicates the number of repetitions wanted. * Repeat [p,t,z] ------------------ Repeat the area. * Strech [p,t,z] ------------------ Strech out or shorten an area. If the FACTOR value is greater than 1.000, the area will be strech out. If less than 1.000, area will be shorten. For a value of 1.000, no modification occurs. * Double [p,t,z] ------------------ Repeat the area two times in the same length. * Reverse [p,t,z] ------------------ Reverse the events'order in the area. The effect is not still the same as you play a tape backwards....Try it! - 24 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Menus Page 25 * Rotate [p,t,z] ------------------ Rotate events in the area. In the "->" direction the last event will be the first. In the "<-" direction the first will be the last. (Isn't it just a philosophical option, anyway ?) * Execute --------- With this title you may execute a other program (a word processor, a sound editor etc...) without leaving Alchimie Jr !!! Be carefull, save your work before using this option and remove all unused songs from the Songs window. (your computer do not have an unlimited capacity of memory) You may let the sequencer playing when you run another program. It generally will not cause any problems except for those wich use the MIDI interface. In this case try to stop playing before to run. Note : when you leave the program you have just execute, you will return to Alchimie Jr. Isn'it a beautifull option ? * Import -------- To import a pattern from a Format Midifie 0 or 1. In format 0 all events are on an single track. In format 1 events are recorded on multi-tracks. Alchimie Jr split data from Format 0 MIDIFILE on tracks 1 to 16 according to the channel number of the events. Note : Midifiles are supposed to have a ".MID" extension. * Export -------- To export a pattern to a Format 0 or 1 Midifile. Note : Format 0 could be readen by almost all MIDIFILE compatibles programs. But this form is the less confortable one. When possible export MIDIFILE with the format 1. Menu EVENTS ----------- This menu contains the operations able to modify specifically one kind of messages or params of a message, (Midi Channels for example) or on some kind of events. (notes for example) Note : For the same title, they are may be more than one operation available. As for the Menus FUNCTION and EVENTS selections opens a dialog box with the same kind of params. - 25 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Menus Page 26 * Channel [p,t,z] ---------------------- Fix the channel number for the events in the choosen area. Note : In the track window, the Ch column only force playing time a new channel number but this operation really changes the MIDI Channel. * Controlers [p,t] -------------------- Change the controlers numbers in the area. I'ts made for compatiblilty between synths. * Quantize [p,t,z] ---------------------- They are two operations available in this title : Quantize and Humanize. Quantize changes the notes events position to round up on the desired QUANTUM. Humanize randomly moves the notes events. The QUANTUM value indicates the maximum random range. Generally works with a little value. You may enter or use the drawen notes icons to input the QUANTUM value. * Notes [p,t,z] ---------------------- They are two operations available : Transpose and Translate. The Transpose operation simply transpose the pitches of the notes. The FIX parameter shows how many semitones you want to transpose. (negative value to transpose down). The Translate operation use the Degree/value table to transpose (may be) on a other way each one of the 12 semitones of a game starting from the KEY parameter. For example, assuming a C key, you may transpose change the E in Eb by setting degree 4 to -1, and all others to 0. Note : Ok, ok, we know that it's not really a good choice for the name of tis operation. Maybe someone could help us to find a better one with 9 letters ? * Velocity [p,t,z] ---------------------- They are four operations on note velocity : fix, transpose, slope and compress. Fix : set the velocity to the desired value. Transpose : increment or decrement the velocity according to the desired value (negative for decrement). Slope : change the velocity of the note to increase/decrease regulary over the area, so you can simulate cresendo/decresendo. The first parameter indcates the starting velocity, the second, the - 26 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Menus Page 27 ending velocity. Compress : to compress/expand velocity around a central value. The first param is the central value, the second one is the compression rate in percents. * Duration [p,t,z] ---------------------- They are three velocity operations : fix, quantize, transpose. Fix : set the velocity to the choosen value Transpose : Increment/decrement the duration value Quantize : Quantize the duration of the notes to the Parameter's value * Compress [p,t] -------------------- To remove a certain ratio of Pitch-bend, Channel and Poly After-touch. The parameter indicates how much of those events you want to remove. Menu Config ----------- This menu collects the various configurations options of Alchimie Jr. * MIDI-IN --------- This title opens a dialog box. You may indicate here what kind of Midi events you want to accept in the Input Buffer and from what channel you want they come. Note : the CONTROL CHANGE button enable/disable also the capture of Mode message. As they acts as ALL NOTES OFF, you may generally disable this option or use the data filter to remove them after. * MIDI-OUT ---------- This title opens a dialog box. You may change the following options : Running Status : reduce the output peak by only sending out the usefull Status. This mode is defined in the MIDI standard but may cause some problems with some old synth. Synchro : Enable/disable output of MIDI synchro status. Midi THRU : when enable send to MIDI-out all incomming MIDI events. The Channels of the Events are change according to the CH parameter of the selected track, or not modified if CH="**" Clickout : enable/disable metronome click to be output on MIDI. Channel : channel on witch to click. Number : Note number to click. - 27 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Menus Page 28 * FILTER -------- This shows the data filter dialog box. More details about this in the FILTER chapter. * Save ------ With this title you may save the configuration of Alchimie Jr's desktop. Next time you start Alchimie Jr you will found the window, the icons and the control panel to the location the where before saving. Informations about the position etc... are written in a file named ALCHIMIE.INF. More details in Appendix A. Note : do not hope saving a song or pattern with this option. This only save your workspace configuration... * Infos ------- Shows you a dialog box with informations about free memory and Input Buffer size. - 28 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Data FILTER Page 29 The Data FILTER --------------- The data Filter gives you the opportunity of working with a high precision on selected MIDI events. When enable, the data Filter ca be used with all Functions and mouse operations on tracks or patterns. It can also select events displayed on the Grid and in the List of the title Option from menu View. To display the data filter dialog box, select the title Filter in the menu Config or double-click on the FILTER icon. You may enable/disable by clicking in the dialog box or by clicking on the FILTER icon on the desk. DATA FILTER STRUCTUREs ---------------------- The Data Filter is splitted in six sections, one for each kind of Midi data. Each section can be enable/disable by clicking on its title. Actives sections are mentioned by a checkmark in the left part of the title. Under the title, they are 1 or more parameters corresponding to the event type. They have all : - a title - a test flag - a minimal value - a maximal value The test flag could be : <> for inside of... >< for outside of... So, assuming section Note is enable : V.ON <> 40 80, means : velocity on greater than 40 and less than 80. During an operation, the filter compares each of the Midi data with the parameters of the correponding section. If all of the parameters are in the desired range, the event is accepted for a further process. Otherwise, Alchimie Jr forgets it. With the special Channel test, you can check messages from the Midi channel. USING THE DATA FILTER --------------------- * Copy of notes only --------------------- Deselect all sections but Note. Set Note parameters to : - 29 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 The Data FILTER Page 30 Note : <> C0 GA V.on : <> 0 127 V.off : <> 0 127 Length : <> 0 65536 Activate the filter and confirm. Proceed to a normal copy. The target of your copy will only contains notes. * Remove all notes off messages ------------------------------- Deselect all sections but Control. Set CTRLER to : <> 123 123. Drag the desired track/pattern to the TRASH icon and confirm. - 30 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 Appendix A : ALCHIMIE.INF Page 31 Appendix A : ALCHIMIE.INF ------------------------- The file "ALCHIMIE.INF" contains differents informations about the windows, the icons and the Input Buffer. This file is readen by Alchimie Jr when you start the program. This file and the program must be in the same directory. This file could be modified with an editor. Each line must be ended by CR and LF, mnemotics and number must be separated with a space and mnemotic must be on the begenning of the line. Here is the list of mnemotics : RB : Input Buffer size ID : the position of the DISK icon IC : '' '' STACK '' IT : '' '' TRASH '' IP : '' '' PRINTER'' IB : '' '' control panel IF : '' '' FILTER button WA : size and position of the MASTER window WM : '' '' SONGS '' WS : '' '' PATTERNS '' WP : '' '' TRACKS '' WE : '' '' EVENTS '' WG : '' '' GRID '' Note : the opened windows are marked with a "O", the closed with a "C". Note : all informations, except the Input Buffer size, could be modified with Alchimie Jr. Drag the icons to proper location, open and close the desired window and use the Save title in the menu Config. Note : if you change something that does not seems to work correctly, you may force Alchimie Jr to create a new ALCHIMIE.INF with correct values. Erase the defect ALCHIMIE.INF, start Alchimie Jr and use Config/Save option to make a new one. ALCHIMIE.INF example : RB 32000 ID 67 344 IC 130 344 IT 193 344 IP 3 344 IB 262 274 IF 4 311 WA C 61 98 366 194 WM O 1 38 192 98 WS O 1 124 248 162 WP O 291 38 328 242 WE C 81 118 400 162 WG C 1 38 397 275 - 31 - Reference manual Alchimie Jr Ver 2.22 Appendix B : Keyboard shortforms Page 32 Appendix B : Keyboard shortforms -------------------------------- To work easy, Alchimie Jr use several keyboard shortforms. The sequencer could be controled by the following keys on the numeric keypad : 0 = PLAY 1 = RECORD . = RESET Enter = STOP / = Record to the selected track * = Record to the selected track and then select the next one The function key could be used to open and display windows : F1 : Songs F2 : Patterns F3 : Tracks F4 : Master F5 : Event list F6 : Grid F9 : connect grid scrolling with the counter F10 : Choose the current song, pattern and track The "V" key force Alchimie Jr to redraw the top window. Using others alpha-numeric keys, depends of witch window is on the top of the display. For the Songs, Patterns and Tracks windows, press the keys 0-9 to enter the number of the first line in the window. For the GRID : 1-7 : set the Grid Quantum . : same as a click on the . button t : same as a click on the 3 button z : enter zoom mode p : enter position mode c : chromatic display d : diatonic display s : start/stop step mode e : start/stop write mode - 32 -