The Composers' Playpen Users' Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I: PRELIMINARIES

Section A: INTRODUCTION

A-1. The Composers Playpen

A-2: What you need to know

Section B: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

B-1: The two windows

B-2: Definition of MIDI loop/sequence

B-3: Ways to manipulate MIDI loops (or quasi-loops)

B-4: Ways to manipulate sequences

B-5: Manipulations shared by MIDI loops, sequences:, and improvisational quasi-loops

B-6: Definition of instrument/module

Section C: TECH REQUIREMENTS AND SETUP

C-1: Software/hardware requirements;

C-2: Installation.

C-3: MIDI Setup

Section D: DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLLERS

D-1: KB Controller, MIDI CH 1

D-2: KB Controller, MIDI Ch. 2

D-3: Continuous controllers

D-4: MacIntosh keyboard controllers

Section E: MORE PRELIMINARIES

E-1: Checking out your MIDI connections:

E-2: Keyboard thru, solo/mute buttons:

E-3: Solo/Mute button:

E-4: Play on/off

E-5: Setting up your sounds:

CHAPTER II: WORKING WITH THE THREE MAX PLAYPEN INSTRUMENTS

Sections F-G: INSTRUMENT #1:

F-1: Setting up to record a MIDI loop

F-2: Recording into the MIDI loop only

F-3: Clearing MIDI loops and stopping sequences

F-4: Loop lengths

F-5: Recording into the MIDI loop and sequencer simultaneously

F-6: The sequencer

Recap & Diversion

F-7: Recording an existing MIDI loop into the sequencer with Inst. #1

F-8: Capturing all loops into their respective Inst. 1 sequencers

F-8a: Restoring a MIDI loop from a sequence

F-9: Loading complete sets of MIDI files into the sequencers

F-10: Simultaneous sequencer playing

F-11: Retaining exact coordination between modules

F-12: Sequencer controls window

F-13: Sequence length

F-14: Starting and stopping

F-15: Saving to presets in Sequencer Controls Window

F-16: Editing sequences

Section G: MANUAL MANIPULATION OF INST. # 1 MODULES:

G-1: MIDI Loop length:

G-2: Sound program #:

G-3: Sound Bank #:

G-5: Play Status:

G-5a: Enhanced Play Mode: Using play toggles to initiate sequences from Instruments Control page.

G-6: Density:

G-7: Collapsed rhythm

G-8: Velocity:

G-9: Setting up your synthesizers to accept Modulation Wheel (cont. #1), Breath Controller (Cont. #2), Volume controller (#7) and Controller #70:

G-10: Modulation wheel (outputting to your synthesizer's MIDI controller # 1 or 70):

G-11: Volume (outputting to your synthesizer's MIDI controller # 2, or #7):

G-12: Random pitch controls: Bach counterpoint (at least on the same module)

G-13: Transposition

Section H: INSTRUMENTS #2 & #3:

H-1: To initiate recording

H-2: To record

H-3: : Enhanced Play Mode: Using white play toggle boxes to initiate sequences from Instruments Control page. In Inst. #2 &3:

CHAPTER III: GENERAL COMMENTS FOR ALL INSTRUMENTS

Section I: PRESETS:

I-1: Intro:

I-2: A Map of How to Enter Data in the presets:

I-3: Velocities in the presets

I-4: Presets controlling other presets

Section J: AUTOMATIC PROCESSES

J-1: Auto preset scan

J-2: Pulsed program change

J-3: Auto modulation wheel faders

J-4: Auto breath control faders

J-5: Auto velocity change

Section K: MISCELLANEOUS GLOBAL ITEMS

K-1: Transposing MIDI loops

K-2: Stopwatch

K-3: Saving music

K-4: Clearing MIDI loops and table information

CHAPTER IV: AUDIO PROCESSING/MSP

L-1: Intro.

L-2: Presets in the audio processing section:

L-3: Entering data

L-4: Dual delay processor

L-5: Dual pitch shifter

L-6: The Varipitch Sequencer

L-7: More audio processing presets: Setting a preset

L-8: Pedal:

L-9: The rest:

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION & VERSION HISTORY

M-1: Conclusion

M-2: Version History

LINKS:

McLean Mix home page

Composers' Playpen home page