Quick MIDI Device Setup

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Quick MIDI Device Setup

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Most computer systems include MIDI soundcards and alternative synthesizers (which we call MIDI devices) for creating instrument sounds for MIDI playback. You might find it helpful to think about a synthesizer (MIDI device) as an orchestra ready to play various kinds of instrument sounds at your request. Your system most likely has a couple of MIDI devices, which are like different orchestras with different personalities or sound qualities.

The Quick MIDI Device Setup command in the Setup menu lets you quickly select and test the alternative MIDI devices. You should use the Quick MIDI Device Setup command especially if you do not hear any sound when you first run Notation Player, or after you have installed a new soundcard.

The MIDI playback device that you select in the Quick MIDI Device Setup window will be the default playback device assigned to any new MIDI or Karaoke file you subsequently open.

If your soundcard is externally connected via a MIDI cable to a MIDI keyboard (or MIDI guitar or other input device), then the Quick MIDI Device Setup command lets you quickly test whether the connection to your MIDI keyboard is working.

prcarrow To test and select a MIDI playback device on your system:

1.Choose the Quick MIDI Device Setup command in the Setup menu.
Notation Player will display the Quick MIDI Device Setup window, as illustrated here:
QuickMidiDeviceSetupPlayer
2.To test the sound for a playback device, select one in the dropdown list, and then click the Test Playback button.

Notation Player will display and play a 12-note chromatic scale. The notes will be highlighted as they play. Also, the green playback indicator in the Quick MIDI Device Setup window will display a bright green color as the notes are played. Upon completion of the playback, Notation Player will close the window that displays the notes.

If the device is an internal device on your Windows system, then you should hear sound through the speakers connected to your soundcard. If the device is external, such as a MIDI keyboard capable of producing its own sound, then you should hear that device play the sound.

3.If you do not hear sound for a device when you choose the Test Playback option, then some possible explanations and remedies are discussed in What To Do If You Do Not Hear Any Sound.
4.Click the OK button when you have selected the desired playback device.
5.After you click OK, if you have already opened a song, Notation Player will display a simple dialog box that offers you the option to reassign the song to the newly assigned default device.
 

NOTE: Notation (.not) files may assign tracks to more than one device. If your system has Windows MIDI output ports named exactly as those of the author of the Notation file, then you will the tracks will be correctly assigned on your system, regardless of which MIDI device you select in the above dialog box.
 
If your system does not have the same Windows MIDI output ports as those used by the author of the Notation file, then you will be able to assign only one device to all of the tracks with Notation Player. Other versions of Notation (Musician and Composer) support reassigning multiple devices to the tracks.