Introduction

This chapter tells you:

• what MIDI3c is
• what is required to use MIDI3c
• the main features of MIDI3c

Introduction
MIDI3c is a MIDI player for the Psion Series 3c and Psion Series 3mx palmtop computers (Note: MIDI3c will run on a Series 3a but cannot be connected to a MIDI device and, hence, cannot PLAY MIDI files). It allows the user to play individual MIDI files or groups of MIDI files as a session. Various cueing options are allowed in the Session player.

MIDI3c provides several self-contained modules which allow the user to:-

• Convert and store MIDI files,
• Create, store and send Sysex files
• Create, store and send Controller messages.

The outputs of these modules can then be combined in the Session Player module to create a customized MIDI session.

Installation
Installation is very straight forward requiring only three files. The files are :-

1. MIDI3C.APP - the main application file (APP directory)
2. ZIPPER.IMG - a file compressor/de-compressor for MIDI3c files (APP\MIDI3C directory)
3. SYS$8087.LDD - required to support floating-point calculations (APP directory)

You may use the PsiSetup program supplied on the CD-ROM or simply copy these files in to the relevant directory on either your Internal memory or an SSD. Use PSION-I from the System screen (or select Install from under the APPS tab in the main System Menu) to install the application. All 3 files must reside in the same Memory device.

In addition to the above application files, you will also need, of course, some MIDI files. These should be located in a sub-directory named \MIDI. You may have up to three MIDI directories using either of the two SSD slots and Internal memory as desired.

Please note that the MIDI3c player module requires M3C formatted files and to this end MIDI3c incorporates converters to allow you to convert Format 1 and Format 0 files for use by MIDI3c. A DOS version of the MIDI3c converter is provided to assist with speeding up the conversion process and to help maximise the amount of storage space available to you on your Psion by allowing you to perform these functions on your PC. In addition to these format converters, MIDI3c also includes file compression/de-compression that, optionally, allows users to reduce the size of MIDI3c files and thus maximize the storage space on your machine.

Features

• MIDI Player - once connected to a MIDI sound device you can play selected MIDI files.
• Session Player - An extension of the MIDI Player is to group a number of MIDI files together, assign a cueing method to each file and to then play all the files as a session. The current release of MIDI3c allows up to 16 MIDI files to be played in a single session.
• Metronome - Provides basic metronome functions using an attached MIDI device or the internal speaker. Tempos in the range 20 to 480 Beats Per Minute may be selected. The program also allows you to set a Time Signature and to enable or disable beat accentuation.
• MIDI3c Faders - Lets you assign up to 16 MIDI Controllers to on-screen faders and then manually adjust a connected MIDI device using the fader controls. Settings may be saved as a set for later use and/or inclusion in one or more Session Playlists.
• Registered Parameters Module - Lets the user adjust the Master Tuning, Master Transpose and Pitch Bend settings for the connected MIDI device.
• Channel Controllers - Lets the user issue standard Channel Controllers messages such as Local Keyboard On/Off and All Notes Off as well as select Monophonic or Polyphonic modes in conjunction with OMNI.
• SYXEX Files - MIDI3c allows you to view, edit and create SYSEX files prior to transmitting them to a connected device.
• ZIPPER - Activating this option will allow MIDI3c to compress the M3C files created by MIDI3c and will, thus, maximize the available free space for other files.

Descriptor Lists
MIDI3c makes extensive use of Descriptor lists. These are lists of files available to the user in a given module. The major benefit of Descriptor lists is that they allow the user to assign a description to a file thus making it easier to identify each file. In addition to a file description, other information is usually displayed including file location and, of course, physical filename. Navigation through Descriptor lists is identical in all modules with additional keypresses allowing module specific commands to be applied.

All Descriptor Lists have the same basic keystrokes for navigation as follows:-

• UP/DOWN - Moves you up and down the screen one line at a time. Moving past the end of the screen will take you to the previous/next page.
• SHIFT UP/DOWN - Takes you to the top or bottom line of the screen.
• PAGE UP/DOWN - Moves you back or forwards one page at a time. Pages overlap by two lines I.e. the last two items at the bottom of a page will appear at the top of the next page.
• HOME/END - Takes you to the very first or very last item in the list.
• DELETE - Removes the highlighted item from the list.
• SPACE - Sends a Panic Message.
• HELP - Displays a help screen for the current Descriptor List.

Most screens in MIDI3c also have a help screen which lists the basic keystrokes available to the user. Pressing <HELP> in any screen will bring up the relevant help screen if available. For the example MIDI3c Descriptor list the help screen is as shown below:-

Requirements
Hardware
There are two basic methods for connecting MIDI3c to a MIDI device, as described below:-

1. MIDI3c can be connected to any MIDI Sound device that employs a standard RS232 port interface. This port may run at either 38,400 Baud or 57,600 Baud, see MIDI3c Setup for programming options. MIDI3c uses hardware handshaking and requires that the MIDI Sound device employs RTS/CTS handshaking. MIDI3c provides both a DB9 and a DB25 for this purpose.
2. MIDI3c can be connected to MIDI Sound devices that employ a standard MIDI-IN socket.

MIDI3c is shipped with the MIDI3c Interface which caters for all of the above options so, normally, no additional cables are needed other than the standard cable used to connect your MIDI device to a PC or similar controller.

Software
MIDI3c requires at least 150K free memory for operation plus a further 200K should be allowed (depends on the size of the *.MID files to be converted) for format conversion.

Note: The MIDI3c application itself requires approximately 150K for installation.