Patches

Patch Elements

Kinds of Patch Elements

Manipulating Patch Elements

Editing Patch Elements

List of Patch Elements, With Explanations

MIDI Input

MIDI Output

Splitter

Filter

Transposer

Controller Limiter

Range Limiter

Channelizer

Trigger

Enter/Exit Messages

Editing Messages

A wandering minstrel I -
A thing of threads and patches,
Of ballads, songs and snatches,
And dreamy lullaby!

- Sir William Gilbert, The Mikado

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You can drag MIDI instruments onto a patch window, and drag various patch elements in between the instruments. To edit each patch element,

A patch also has an enter message and an exit message. These messages can contain any MIDI data like patch changes, note messages (for those looong drones), and sysex messages.

A patch element represents a MIDI input, a MIDI output, a filter that can change the MIDI data, or a trigger that can react to specific MIDI data. See the list of patch elements below for detailed descriptions of each one. To add a patch element to a patch window, drag one from the Elements window. To delete a patch element from a patch, select it and then select "Delete" from the "Edit" or pop-up menu. You can also select it and then hit the Backspace or Delete key.

Patch elements come in two flavors: filters and inputs/outputs. Filters accept MIDI data, manipulate it, and pass it on. Inputs, outputs, and triggers act as MIDI data sources or destinations.

MIDI inputs and outputs and triggers can be dragged from the Elements window anywhere onto a patch window. Dragging a MIDI input automatically adds a MIDI output. Dragging a MIDI output or a trigger automatically adds a MIDI input.

All other patch elements can be dragged from the Elements window between any two other patch elements.

To make a new output for a splitter, drag a patch element to the bottom of the splitter.

If you have selected the preference "Automatically open editor windows", the appropriate editor window will open as soon as you drag an element onto the patch window.

Editing Patch Elements

To edit a patch element, double-click it. Alternately, you can select it and choose "Open" from the "Patch" menu, or click on the patch element using the secondary mouse button and select "Open" from the pop-up menu.

Opening a patch edit window does not make that patch the current patch.

To apply the changes you have entered, click the "Apply" button. This does not close the editor window. Closing the window without clicking "Apply" leaves the element unchanged.

List of Patch Elements, With Explanations

MIDI Input

A MIDI Input represents a single MIDI controller. It is associated with a single MIDI instrument. A MIDI Input can only be associated with instruments that are controllers (as defined by the instrument's "Is Controller" setting).

MIDI Output

A MIDI Output represents a single MIDI instrument.

If a MIDI Output patch receives any data that is not on any channel that its instrument recognizes, the data will be changed to be on the lowest MIDI channel that the instrument does recognize.

As an example, say that you have an input instrument that broadcasts on channel 12 connected to an output instrument that is listening on channels 3, 4, and 5. The MIDI data coming in on channel 12 will be changed, when it gets to the output instrument, to channel 3.

Splitter

A Splitter splits MIDI data into multiple streams. Drag other patch elements onto any output. To add a new output, drag a patch element to the bottom of a splitter.

Filter

Filters out MIDI controllers, pitch bend, and pressure messages. For example, you can let pitch bend messages go to some instruments but not others.

Transposer

Transposes all notes and polyphonic pressure (aftertouch) messages. Select down or up, octave jump, and interval jump.

Controller Limiter

Limits a specific MIDI controller on a set of MIDI channels. Enter controller number and low and high controller values.

For most controllers, you will want to keep the "Always Pass Through Zero" check box checked.

Range Limiter

Limits note and channel pressure messages to a specified range.

Useful, along with a splitter, for sending some notes to one MIDI Output or Trigger and other notes to another MIDI Output. Different Range Limiter's ranges can overlap, so you can layer instruments.

Channelizer

Changes the channel of MIDI data. Any data that comes in on any one of the specified input MIDI channels is sent out on all of the output channels.

Trigger

Triggers things when other things happen. You can select the action (what happens) and the trigger (what kicks off the action).

A trigger can be attached to a MIDI source or it can appear by itself. When it's by itself, certain triggers (like note values) are disabled. To add a trigger to a patch by itself, drag the trigger icon into the patch window. To add a trigger to a MIDI source, drag the trigger icon onto the output of a MIDI source. One common way to add a trigger is to drag a MIDI keyboard onto the patch, delete the MIDI output that is automatically attatched to it, and then dragging a trigger onto the keyboard's output.

The things that can act as triggers are:

• Note on or note off^*
• MIDI controller hitting a particular value^*
• Program change^*
• Realtime message^*
• System message^*
• Entering the patch
• Exiting the patch

* These items are only available if the trigger appears attached to a MIDI source.

Actions include:

• Go to another patch (you can drag songs and patches into the name fields that appear in the trigger's editor window)
• Play a MIDI file
• Play a sound file

Editing Messages

For more information, see Editing Messages.