Sound Sensations!/sound_sensations.iso/midifile/baldem/demofile.exe/BALLADE.DOC

Text File | 1991-03-06 | 22KB | 621 lines

                         BALLADE 2.0 DEMO

                       Welcome to Ballade!

  Be prepared for fun.  Whether you've used a MIDI music
  sequencer before or not, you're in for a treat.  With Ballade
  and your Roland MT32 Sound Module, you've just invited an
  orchestra into your home.

  This Demonstration Package will give you a savory sampling of
  Ballade enough, we hope, to make you want to own the real
  thing. This demo will do everything the original does except
  save your compositions and edits.

  Ballade is many things: a studio-style tape machine and mixer;
  a librarian for songs, musical patterns, and rhythm patterns;
  a digital sequencer to record your music with accuracy; a
  powerful music editor; a versatile sound creator and editor.

  Ballade is not a sterile, impersonal imposer of rules and
  requirements that will make your music (or anyone else's)
  sound dry and mechanical.  You can expect to hear the
  performances you record with Ballade to be reproduced with
  every nuance of expression and feeling that they had when you
  played them.  And with a few clicks of your mouse, you can
  make those performances sound even better.

  Ballade is designed specifically to operate the Roland MT-32
  Sound Module, a small black box with a remarkably large sound.
  You have at your fingertips many sounds-up to 128 different
  instruments (including 30 tunable percussive sounds) and 30
  rhythm sounds.  Some are synthesized and some are recordings
  of real instruments.

  Using the song data stored on your computers disk, Ballade
  becomes a conductor and the MT-32 an orchestra.  Because the
  songs are stored and reproduced digitally, every performance
  is live! There is no cassette tape grinding away against
  rotating magnetic heads. there are no moving parts at all;
  only precise digital instructions which the MT-32 turns into
  beautiful music, in real time.

  So get your ears and your sense of wonder ready.  Ballade is
  about to change the way you think about music.  Enjoy!

  COPYRIGHT NOTICE

  Copyright (1989 Dynaware Corporation
  ALL Rights Reserved

  This publication (software and manual), and any parts thereof,
  may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any
  purpose.

  This manual was published in January 1989, based on Version
  1.0 of the Ballade 1.0 MIDI music player/composer/editor
  software.

  Dynaware Corp. does not warrant that its software package will
  function properly in every software/hardware environment.

  NOTICE: DYNAWARE CORP.  MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTEES
  OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTENTS HEREOF AND
  SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTEES OF
  MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
  Dynaware Corp. shall not be liable for errors contained herein
  or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with
  the furnishing, performance, or use of this publication or its
  contents.

  Dynaware Corp. reserves the right to revise this publication
  from time to time and to make changes in the content hereof
  without obligation to notify any person of such revision or
  changes.

  Printed in the United States of America.

  Trademark Notices

  Ballade and Dynaware are registered trademarks of Dynaware
  Corporation.

  Roland MT-32, MPU IPC, MPU-401, and MIF-IPC are registered
  trademarks of Roland Corporation.

  IBM, AT, IBM EGA, and IBM VGA are registered trademarks of IBM
  Corporation.

  MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

  IN THIS DEMONSTRATION, YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

  *    Use the mouse with menus and prompts
  *    Install Ballade on your computer
  *    Connect your MIDI hardware
  *    Load and Play a song
  *    Use the Ballade "Tape Player/Mixing Board"
  *    Edit recorded music
  *    Quit Ballade
  *    Record your own music with a MIDI keyboard

  DEMO BALLADE BASIC PROCEDURES

  Using the mouse
  Ballade is a mouse-oriented program.  That's good news for you
  because it means most operations can be accomplished by using
  the mouse to point at an object on-screen and then clicking
  the leftmost button (mouse button #1).

  {Pictures not included}

  "Click on object" means position the mouse pointer over the
  object and click mouse button #1  Most objects will become
  highlighted (change from light to dark in color) when the
  mouse is positioned correctly over them.  You can successfully
  click on an object when it is highlighted.

  {Picture not included}

  "Click on object and drag" or "Drag object" both mean position
  the mouse pointer over the object, hold down mouse button #1,
  move the mouse to a new position on the screen, and release
  the button.

  - The mouse pointer will move sluggishly across the screen
  while Ballade is playing music, because there is a lot of
  processing going in the background.  This will be most evident
  when you are using the tape player-like controls on the Play
  SCREEN or the Song Screen.

  Please be patient.  Ballade is using its considerable
  resources to keep the MIDI connection between your computer
  and the Roland MT-32 running smoothly.  Your mouse may be slow
  and the display may occasionally pause to catch up, but the
  MIDI connection will remain perfectly and continuously in
  time.

  Refer to the Owner's Manual that came with your mouse for
  instructions on how to connect it to your computer.

  Pull-down Menus
  Each main screen of Ballade (File, Play, Song, and Tone) has a
  set of "Pull-down" menus at the top left.  Each menu contains
  commands that stay out of your way until you need them.

  To use a pull-down menu:

  1. Point to the menu title with the mouse and click button #1.
  A list of commands will appear below the menu title.

  2. Point to a command on the menu with the mouse and click
  button #1 again.  The menu will disappear and the command will
  be executed.


  HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

  *IBM PC/AT or "true compatible" computer
  *Minimum 640K RAM
  *1 Hard disk drive and 1 floppy disk drive (recommended)
  -OR-
  *1 or 2 Floppy disk drives
  *EGA or VGA graphics adapter & compatible monitor
  *Mouse
  *Roland LAPC-1 card
  -OR-
  *Roland MT-32 or CM-32 MIDI Sound Module with MPU-401

  -MIDI cables and audio patch cords -Stereo amp & speakers -Any
  MIDI keyboard (optional)

  Consult your LAPC-1 card, MT-32, or CM-32L manual for diagrams
  and instructions on connecting your computer, the LAPC-1 card
  MT32/CM-32L, a MIDI keyboard, and your stereo system.

  Note: LAPC-1 card requires optional MCB-1 MIDI
  Connector Box to use external MIDI keyboard

  SOFTWARE REOUIREMENTS

  *MS-DOS 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 or later
  *1MB of space on a hard disk system
  *3 floppy disks on a 2-floppy system


  INSTALING BALLADE

  If you wish to install the Ballade Demo program onto your hard
  disk (drive C), you can use HARDDISK.BAT utility in Program
  (A) disk.

  Procedure:
  1. Insert PROGRAM (A) disk into drive A.

  2. Type a: and press ENTER to change the current drive to A:
     drive.

  3. Type harddisk and press ENTER -

  4. Follow the instruction and replace disks.

  5. All the Ballade program and sample songs has been copied in
     C:\BALLADE directory.

  NOTE: If you want to make a directory with other name than
  BALLADE, type the name after you typed harddisk.  For example,
  if you want to copy all the files in a directory named
  BALDEMO, harddisk baldemo and press ENTER


  STARTING BALLADE

  Connecting the Hardware

  1. Install your MIDI interface in your computer.  Follow the
  directions that came with the interface.

  2. Connect the MIDI interface to the MT-32.  Connect the MT-32
  to a stereo amplifier or a MIDI synthesizer such as the Roland
  D-50, and to speakers.  See pages 8 and 10 of the MT-32 Owner
  Manual for diagrams and instructions on connecting all the
  parts correctly.

  Use audio cables to connect the MT-32 to your stereo.  Use
  MIDI cables to connect the MIDI interface, the MT-32, and your
  MIDI keyboard to each other.  See the "MIDI" Appendix in this
  manual.  Here is a basic diagram:

  Simplest Ballade / MT-32 MIDI Connection
  3. "Boot up" (turn on) on your computer.

  4. Turn on the MT-32 and other peripheral equipment.

  Running the program on a hard drive system
  1. Run the Installation program.

  2. At the C:> prompt, type cd\ballade and press [Enter].  Then
  type Ballade and press [Enter].

  You'll see the Play Screen.

  Running the program on a two-floppy drive system
  1. Run the Installation program.
  2. At the A:> prompt, type Ballade and press [Enter].

  You'll see the Play Screen.

  LOAD AND PLAY A SONG.
  When you start up Ballade, the Play Screen appears.  Here you
  can:
  * Play a song with tape-player controls
  * Remix the various tracks
  * Change the MIDI Sync settings
  * Access specific tracks for editing

  Find the [FILE] button at the top right of the screen.

  1. With the mouse, point to [FILE] until it is highlighted.
  Then click once on mouse button #1 (the leftmost button).

  The File Screen appears.  There are a few more lines on the
  actual screen than appear in the illustration.


  Use the File Screen to manage all the songs you play and
  create.

  Copy, rename, and delete individual songs or entire
  directories Create new directories of your songs
  Access songs on different directories and disks

  2. Click on [DRIVE] at the top left of the screen.

  The Drive menu appears.

  3. Insert the disk you made named "Ballade A" into drive A and
  close the door.  Click on "A:" in the Drive menu.

  The Table of Contents page for the disk in drive A: appears.

  Because you just started Ballade, no song is currently loaded.
  When you select the File screen, you are shown the Table of
  Contents page.

  Think of the File Screen as a librarian that keeps track of
  your songs by filing them in their proper categories.  You
  might keep Jazz & Fusion songs in the JAZZ & FUSION section,
  Easy Listening music under that category, and so on.  You're
  going to load a song in the SAMPLE SONGS A directory, so...

  4. Click twice quickly on "SAMPLE SONGS A."

  All songs in the directory "SAMPLE SONGS A" will be listed.

  5. Click once on the song name "The Four Seasons -Spring-" on
  the screen to be sure a @ appears to the left of the name.

  6. Click on the Play" button at  the  lower  right.  That's
  the   "Load and Play" button

  The "Read Data" prompt appears.

  Here's your chance to just say no.  Did you click on "The Four
  Seasons -Spring-"? If not, click [NO], go back and click on it
  now.

  7. Click on [YES].

  You'll go to the Play Screen and "The Four Seasons -Spring-"
  will begin playing.

  USING THE TAPE PLAYER BUTTON

  By using the five buttons at the bottom right of the Play
  Screen, you turn Ballade into a tapeless tape player.  Except
  that Ballade can do things your tape machine only dreams
  about.

  Let's try them. Wait until the song has finished. or check on
  the (stop) button.

  Rewind

  1. Find the Measure Counter in the upper right center of the
  screen.  Unlike the illustration below, it is not on 001.

  2. Click on the E button.  Now check the Measure Counter
  again. Instant rewind!

  Play

  3. Click on the PLAY button.  The song begins again.

  PAUSE

  4. Click on the Pause button.  The song stops.  Look at the
  Measure counter.  The lit arrow indicates the beats shows
  where you stopped.

  5. Click    again.  Notice that the song resumes in the exact
  spot

  6. Now click on the button.  The song stops.  There is no lit
  arrow in the Measure Counter.

  7. Click     again.  Notice that this time the song resumes at
  the beginning of the measure where you stopped it, not
  necessarily the exact spot.  This can be useful if you're
  listening for a specific phrase and need to hear it again and
  again.

  Fast Forward "On the Fly"

  8.   Click Fast Forward several times while the song is
  playing and watch the Measure Counter.  The song "skips" ahead
  one measure at a time.  Hold down on the button and the
  measures fly by.

  Rewind "On the Fly"

  9. Hold down on while the song is playing and watch the
  measure counter.  The measures fly by in reverse.  Use Rewind
  and Fast Forward in combination to listen to the exact
  measures you want, over and over again.

  MIXING BOARD CONTROLS
  The Play Screen has a number of other controls that look-and
  act-like those on a sound mixing board.  You can use them
  while a song is playing or when it has stopped.

  - PAN (Panpot) - Places the sound for each track at a specific
  location in the stereo mix.

  - REV (Reverb) - Switches reverberation for each track on
  (green) or off (red).

  - MUTE - Switches sound for each track off (green - muting in
  effect) or on (red - muting cancelled).

  - Sliding Volume Controls - Control the amount of volume for
  each track or the entire song (the wide Master Control at
  Tight).

  - Sound Tracks (numbers I - 10 at the top of the screen) -
  Provide instant access to the Song Screen Staff for each
  specific track.  They operate only when the song is stopped.

  - PROG (Program Change) - Displays the Tone List so you can
  change instrumentation for each track.  They operate only when
  the song is stopped.

  EDITING Music
  You've listened to the music, now you'll learn how to change
  it. The Play Screen is Ballade's equivalent to the tape player
  and mixing board.

  Now you'll use the Song Screen, Ballade's equivalent to the
  tape recorder, printed score, pen, and eraser.

  Click on SONG at the top right of the screen.

  The Song Screen appears.

  The Song Screen is your multi-track recorder and electronic
  lead sheet. You  can:

  *Record and edit music in mealtime, step mode, or manually.
  *Cut, copy, and paste notes or phrases seamlessly
  *Overdub numerous tracks on top of each other
  *Select from over 128 different voices for your music

  Look at the music displayed.  It is Track #2 of "The Four
  Seasons

  To do anything to the music, you must first mark the notes you
  will affect.  You'll highlight the first 3 measures.

  1. With the mouse, click at beat I in measure I and drag the
  mouse to the right.

  2. When the pointer is on the bar at the end of the third
  measure, release the mouse button.

  Playing Music at the Song Screen

  As you did at the Play Screen, you can replay recorded music
  at the Song Screen, too.  But you can play back with much more
  precision: the entire song or just a single track even a
  specific portion of a single track.

  Find the Play/Record Palette at the upper right of your
  screen, and follow these two set-up steps:

  2. The "Tracking" box (3rd from the right, bottom row) is not
  highlighted.  Click on it once or until it contains red
  highlighting.

  Now you're ready to play the song here.

  With the mouse, click on the E (play) button in the
  Play/Record Palette.  You hear the first three measures of
  Track #2. (If you had clicked SOLO first to remove the r-ed
  border, you would hear all tracks.)

  Playback of Track #2 ends at the end of the highlighted
  measures.  If you want to halt playback sooner than that,
  click the E (stop) button in the Play/Record Palette.

  Editing Music at the Song Screen

  Here is where Ballade's capabilities really shine.  You'll get
  a small sampling of what electronic "cut and paste" can mean
  for you.

  Hold down mouse button #2 (the rightmost button).  A "Quick
  Edit" menu appears to the right of the pointer.  Release the
  button and the menu disappears.

  Now hold down mouse button #2 again, move the pointer to CUT,
  and release the button.


  The measures you marked are gone, and the music to the right
  of them has moved in to IT the gap!

  You can get the deleted measures back.  Hold down mouse button
  #2 again, move the pointer to PASTE, and release the button.
  deleted music has returned.

  If you wish, take a look at each of the individual tracks that
  make up the song.  Use the commands you've teamed to make as
  many changes as you wish.  Since you won't be saving your
  changes, you can't harm the original song.

  To browse, Click on the TRACK button at the top left of the
  screen.

  The Track Menu drops down just below the button.  Move the
  mouse pointer to the name of a track you wish to examine and
  click once.  That track will appear on the Song SCREEN.

  QUITTING BALLADE

  To stop Ballade and return to DOS, click the EXIT button at
  the top right of the screen.

  The "OK to exit Ballade?" prompt will appear.  Click YES.

  Ballade shuts down and you're back at your DOS prompt.

  RECORDING WITH A MIDI KEYBOARD

  If you own a MIDI keyboard, you can try out Ballade's
  recording capabilities.  Start Ballade again.

  Use the diagram below as a guide for connecting your keyboard
  to Your computer and the MT-32.

  Pages 8-10 in your MT-32 Owner Manual provide numerous
  diagrams
  for even more sophisticated connections.

  Setting MIDI Thru

  The MIDI cables are hooked up.  Start Ballade again.  At the
  Play Screen, click on MIDI near the top right.

  The display changes.  Now click on MIDI THRU until it is green
  (on). MIDI THRU is set correctly.

  You're ready to record.  Return to the Song Screen.  If it is
  not blank, choose CLEAR from the Edit Menu, select ALL TRACKS,
  and click YES.

  1. Click on [O] (Real-time Record) on the Play / Record
  pallet.
  The Real-time Recording Setting Sheet appears.

  You've been here before.  This time you'll change the MIDI
  recording channel, as you did before, and you'll tell Ballade
  where in the music you'll be adding the melody.

  2. Click on each number in [brackets], type the number you see
  in the illustration above, and press [Enter].

  Change "Record Start Bar" to 1.
  Change "Record End Bar" to 4.
  Change "MIDI Ch" to 2.

  You've chosen to record 4 measures on MIDI Channel 2.

  3. Set your MIDI keyboard to Channel 2 ... and be ready to
  start playing.

  4. Click [YES].

  Ballade will give you the tempo for 2 measures (8 beats) with
  a cowbell metronome sound.  On the 9th beat, start playing.
  As Ballade records your playing, the cowbell metronome will
  sound on the first beat of every measure only.

  And don't worry about making mistakes! You can quickly re-
  record if you mess up.  Take as many practice sessions as you
  feel you need.  The beauty of Ballade's recording facility is
  the quick, instant retake.

  Remember, wait 8 beats and then play this music (or any music
  of your choice) in time with the accompaniment:

  "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

  When recording has concluded, the After Recording Setting
  Sheet appears.  Here is where you can use Ballade's power to
  "tweak" your performance.

  Click [REPLAY] to hear what you've just recorded.  Unhappy
  with it? Click [RETRY] to go back to the Real-time Recording
  Sheet and record a new performance over the old.  You can do
  this as many times as you wish.

  5. Click the 1/8 note under "Quantize" second note from the
  right and in the little box in the illustration above.

  You're telling Ballade to "quantize" your performance.  What
  is that? It's Ballade's way of fitting your performance neatly
  into the measures where you intend it to be.  Humans sometimes
  play slightly "off the beat," which would produce a very
  complicated-looking transcription on sheet music.

  There will come a time when you don't Ballade to change your
  PERFORMANCE in any way, sooner if you're an accomplished
  keyboard player, and you may choose "NONE" to the quantizing
  question then. But for now, we're keeping it simple.

  6. Click [YES].  Ballade will quantize your performance and
  return you to the staff.  If you're really not happy with the
  performance and don't want to try again, click [NO].

  Now try playing your recording with the m button on the
  Play/Record Palette.  Use the skills you've teamed to edit the
  music.


  SUMMARY

  In this demonstration package, you learned to:

  *Use the mouse with menus and prompts
  *Install Ballade on your computer
  *Connect your MIDI hardware
  *Load and Play a song
  *Use the Ballade "Tape Player/Mixing Board"
  *Edit recorded music
  *Quit Ballade
  *Record your own music with a MIDI keyboard

  That's the demo.  You are now free to browse the rest of
  Ballade's extensive functionality.  You'll find a great deal
  of utility and sophistication.  Ballade can be a simple as a
  tape player or as complex as a multi-track recording studio.

  Whatever type of music you like-Jazz, Rock, Classical, Easy
  Listening, or any of a dozen other categorizes you can create
  and play it with Ballade.  Easily.  Whether you are a
  composer, a performer, or just a listener, you'll find Ballade
  and the MT-32 useful and friendly additions to your musical
  Life.

  Enjoy!

  DYNAWARE
  950 Tower Lane
  Suite 1150
  Foster City, CA
  94404

  Voice: [phone]
  FAX:   [phone]

  -RJK