STANDARD MIDIFILES (SMF). In recent years most manufactures have made their keyboards and tone modules to conform to a standard Voice List and Drum Set. Where this has been done there is usually a LOGO on the equipment which reads GM/GS. This simply means that the equipment conforms to General Midi. By virtue of this, it means that any performance data created on GM/GS equipment can be freely interchanged and be played accurately on any other equipment. ie. music composed or sequenced on say a Roland JV30 can be played through say a Roland Sound Canvas or Yamaha TG100 or any other GM/GS keyboard or sound module.This in turn has led to software companies manufacturing their own Standard Midi Files which can be purchased and used for enhanced 'Backing Music' for singers or bands. Why not enquire from "HANDS ON" about their comprehensive list of SMF's. When creating SMF's it is considered good practise to include various set- upcontrollers to set the play parameters of the module or synth that may be in use. These are usually 'Stored' in bar 1 and maybe spreading into bar 2. The important controllers to use are as follows-: CONTROL 121 RESET ALL CONTROLLERS RESETS VOL TO 100 (NORMAL LEVEL, BUT CAN BE INCREASED TO 127) EXPRESSION TO 127 (MAX) PITCHBEND TO 64 (NO BEND) PANNING TO 64 (CENTRE) SUSTAIN TO 0 (SUSTAIN OFF) MODULATION TO 0 ( MODULATION OFF) REVERB TO 0 (REVERB LEVEL OFF) CHORUS TO 0 (CHORUS LEVEL OFF) ALL NOTES OFF (KILLS ANY STUCK NOTES THAT MAYBE STILL SOUNDING) CONTROL 0 + CONTROL 32 SELECTS GM SOUND-SET IN A MULTI-SOUND MODULE CONTROL 7 VOLUME RANGE 0(OFF) - 127 (MAX) CONTROL 10 PANNING RANGE 0 (FULL RIGHT) - 64 (CENTRE) - 127 (FULL LEFT) CONTROL 11 EXPRESSION RANGE 0 (OFF) - 127 (MAX) CONTROL 1 MODULATION RANGE 0-64 (OFF) - 65-127 (ON) CONTROL 64 SUSTAIN RANGE 0-64 (OFF) - 65-127 (ON) CONTROL 91 REVERB RANGE 0 (OFF) - 127 (MAX) CONTROL 93 CHORUS RANGE 0 (OFF) - 127 (MAX) PROGRAM 0-127 DEPENDING ON THE CHOSEN VOICE THE FOLLOWING MUST BE USED TOGETHER CONTROL 101 0 MSB CONTROL 100 0 LSB USED TO ENTER THE PITCHBEND RANGE CONTROL 6 DATA BYTE USED TO SET THE PITCHBEND RANGE (2 UP/DOWN 1 SEMITONE. 64 UP/DOWN 1 OCTAVE) REFER TO YOUR SOUND MODULE USER MANUAL) CONTROL 101 127 MSB CONTROL 100 127 LSB USED TO ACTIVATE PITCHBEND RANGE A TYPICAL SET-UP FOR THE START OF A TRACK MAY LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS POSITION EVENT CHA -1- -2- LENGTH 1 1 1 1 CONTROL 1 121 0 RESET CONTROL 1 1 1 2 CONTROL 1 0 0 BANK SEL MSB 1 1 1 3 CONTROL 1 32 0 BANK SEL LSB 1 1 1 4 CONTROL 1 7 100 VOLUME 1 1 1 5 CONTROL 1 10 64 PANNING 1 1 1 6 CONTROL 1 1 127 EXPRESSION 1 1 1 7 CONTROL 1 91 64 REVERB 1 1 1 8 CONTROL 1 93 10 CHORUS 1 1 1 9 CONTROL 1 1 0 MODULATION 1 1 1 10 CONTROL 1 64 0 SUSTAIN 1 1 1 11 CONTROL 1 101 0 REG MSB 1 1 1 12 CONTROL 1 100 0 REG LSB 1 1 1 13 CONTROL 1 6 2 DATA ENT MSB 1 1 1 14 CONTROL 1 101 127 REG MSB 1 1 1 15 CONTROL 1 100 127 REG LSB 1 1 1 16 PROGRAM 1 48 1 1 1 20 CONTROL 2 121 0 RESET CONTROL AND SO ON FOR THE REST OF CHAN 2 AND ALL SUBSEQUENT CHANNELS. As you can see, if the above controls are inserted for each channel used there is very little left to chance for an SMF. to play other than correctly, no matter what sound module or synth is used. When you have all your music programed in and all editing done and you are happy with the result then save it to disc using the 'SAVE MIDIFILE' option and it will automatically have an extension of .MID. This means that you can now give it to a friend or other third party to play on their GM/GS module and they will hear it EXACTLY as you have programed it. If you purchase any SMF's from software companies like "Hands On" you will find all of these 'Set Up Codes' already programed into the file. All it leaves you to do is to either play and use it as it is or to edit the file to your liking. IE. 1. Ususally there is a guide vocal track on Track/Channel 16. This can be deleted for live use. 2. Maybe there is already a Drummer and/or Bass player in your band. Simply delete the Bass/Drums parts as these are to played 'Live'. 3. Maybe the instrument mix is not to your liking. The easiest way of changing a 'Volume level Mix' is to-: 1. Remix to separate Tracks/Channels. 2. Using the Mouse Buttons, Increase/Decrease the VELOCITY levels whilst playing back using the 'MAIN SCREEN'. 3. If the song is in the wrong key for your voice then Transpose the song up/down to suit, again from the main screen. NOTE: DO NOT TRANSPOSE THE DRUM TRACK Most Midifiles have a Hi-Hat 'Count In' to enable your band to start together but if you are solo singer and the song has a definate Intro, then these can be deleted from Track 10. 5. When all is to your liking 'Click' onto each individual track and activate the 'Freeze Parameter' function for each track. 6. Mix down to FORMAT 0 (if required) and Re-Save as a Midifile. You will find that SWEET SIXTEEN is perfect for the creation and editing of SMF's but if you do have difficuties or want advise on any matter concerning SWEET SIXTEEN do not hesitate to give us a ring here at HANDS ON MIDI SOFTWARE. We will always do our best to sort out any problems.