LIVE, LIVE Basic, LIVE +, MIDI recording software for Atari ST/STE/TT/Falcon 030 WELCOME TO LIVE! The power of a software is mainly defined by the sensitivity of its developers. The higher goal of their work are the desires of the people who are going to work with the software. LIVE is a softare for musicians. Therefore it has been of particular interest to clearly design the numerous possibilities of the program and also to provide a familiar environment especially for the musician. LIVE mainly offers the possibilities of different pieces of equipment. So it was quite evident to adapt the user surface to the 'real' equipment - or have you ever tried to use a tape machine with a pulldown-menu? Gadgets do not have alert-boxes either that all of a sudden block the musician's view on his work. Instead they have buttons and displays with fixed positions which work simple, reliable and easy to remember. LIVE follows this way of working to the fullest extent. All buttons can really be pushed, all displays are in fixed positions, everything is realistic, true-to-life and ... LIVE. THIS IS A DEMO VERSION You can only load Songs and Midifiles. Some functions are not activated. It is not possible to save any data. This introduction describes the LIVE version. On this disc you also find a demo version of LIVE +, the GEM version of LIVE. Basic operations are similar to LIVE. THE GENERAL PART. LIVE was made for all computers of the ATARI ST, STE, TT and Falcon series with a minimum of 1 megabyte RAM, monochrome monitor and big screen plus all instruments with midi interface. Installing the system Insert the program disc into disc drive A and switch on your computer. With a double click on the "disc drive A" symbol the corresponding window is opened. The program disc contains the following data: Folder M.ROS Program LIVEDEMO.PRG Program LIVEPLDE.PRG (LIVE + demo) Folder DEMOS D 10 Text READLIVE.TXT (english) Text LIESLIVE.TXT (german) With a double click on "LIVEDEMO.PRG" the program is started. A few seconds later the LIVE song page appears. MIDI IN/OUT/THRU The standard configuration to work with LIVE is a MIDI-capable keyboard. Connect the MIDI-out of your keyboard with the MIDI-in of your computer and the MIDI-in of your keyboard with the MIDI-out of your computer. To use more MIDI equipment, connect the MIDI-thru of your 'master keyboard' with the MIDI-in of each additional gadget. Theoretically you can now use an infinite number of MIDI tools, practically there are some restrictions: 1. MIDI has only 16 different channels, so that your possibilities are quickly depleated. 2. In some situations, noticible time problems can occur . This appears because the MIDI interface is 'too small' for a certain amount of data. Timing problems can be avoided or reduced if additional MIDI-ports are installed which at the same time offers the possibility to use the 16 MIDI-channels of each MIDI-port separately. Installing a M-ROS device LIVE works with the MIDI multitasking system "M-ROS" (c)STEINBERG which is an extension of ATARI-TOS with MIDI-functions. Multitasking-system means that several programs can be worked at the same time with help of the M-ROS "switcher"program. M-ROS also supports the installation of up to 16 so-called "devices" (additional gadgets). Those devices are offered by STEINBERG (Midex, SMP 24 etc.) and other companies. If one of those devices is connected (for example Midex through the ROM-port), LIVE recognizes this automatically and displays the installation and for example additional MIDI ports. For more precise information about additional devices please see the user's manuals. The program construction LIVE consists of 11 pages: F1 PERFORMANCE PAGE F2 SONG PAGE F3 KEY EDITOR F4 DRUM EDITOR F5 MIXER F6 KEYTRACK EDITOR F7 STYLE EDITOR F8 SYS-EX PAGE F9 DEFINITIONS F10 FILE MANAGER F ? CONDUCTOR You can reach the pages either with the F1 - F10 keys on your computer keyboard or with the mouse on the screen (PAGE MENU). CONDUCTER is entered by pressing the F key of the active page. Page Menu Below the position display the name of the current page is shown. If you move the cursor on that name, the ten symbols for the different pages are shown. Now you can select the desired page with a single mouse click. The displays On the upper part of the screen you find the displays. Their function is to inform the user about the processes on the workspace below and to offer the possibility of changing details. The position display The position display is located in the left part of the display. It shows the current beat-, SMPTE-time, the current song name, the tempo and the time. The dialogue display When you select an object, the dialogue display shows parameterof the object that can be changed. The help display The help display shows which functions can be called up on the current mouse position with either the left or right mouse key or with a double click (left mouse key). If you move the cursor on the help display you can switch between English and German program language anytime. THE WORKSPACE The workspace is your actual work place. Just like a piece of paper on your desk you can work on different objects on the workspace on screen. Some drawing or writing pads have a ruler printed on the side, the horizontal bar between the workspace and the display area pictures a ruler which shows the beat or minutes and seconds. On this ruler you also find two triangles which are the locator-marks. The workspace is a coordinate system with a horizontal time axis. The vertical axis shows which kind of objects are conducted in the current page, for example parts in tracks, songs in a performance, notes in a keyboard or beats of different percussion instruments in a drumset etc.. The first time LIVE is loaded into your computer, only a few objects are in the workspace, one song and one track with part (without contents). An object can be a single note or a whole song or a part of a song or whatever you are working on with LIVE. An object mostly has the shape of a rectangle with exception of drumnotes which are triangle-shaped. The dialogue display provides you with further information about the object, so you do not have to guess which kind of object you are looking at on the screen. This function is called up by moving the cursor above the object and then clicking the left mouse key once. The help display always provides you with information about which functions can be executed with the mouse at any place without chosing the particular object. It is sufficient to move the cursor over the object. It is also posible to scroll through the workspace by moving out of the workspace with the mouse key pushed down. This works the same way with the scroll keys on your computer keyboard. Single areas can be selected by pulling a 'rubber band' around the objects. The button area The button area offers further 'utensils'. At the desk, you work with your hands (a pen or scissors) on the workplace. Around the workplace are other utensils like files and little shelfs, under the desk is a waste paper basket. Working with LIVE works the same way. Under the workspace is a little shelf, a waste paper basket and other important things that you need for working which can be operated by the buttons: The disc button Load or save the objects by clicking this button with the mouse. Saving with a double click executes this function without prior demand. The clipboard button To transfer an object of a song or from a work area into another work area you select it and click the clipboard button with the left mouse key. The next time you click the clipboard button the object can be transferred out of the clipboard into (another part of) the workspace. The cursor will show a little "box" with the ending of the selected object. An object saved in the clipboard is a) indicated through the stylized paper sheet "on the clipboard", b) further described with three letters ("extension"). The extensions are explained in the chapter "file manager". The trash button First click an object to show it inverted. Clicking the trash button deletes the object. This and other functions can be reversed with the "undo"-key on your computer keyboard. The transport buttons Here everything works like on a real tape machine - try it. Record, play, rewind and fast forward ... A vertical line in the workspace shows the current position graphically, the position display shows the current position in numbers (beats and SMPTE-time). The Q-button stands for quantising. 'Quantising' means the additional correction of recorded sequences or their parts. With the left mouse key selected parts can be quantised, with the right mouse key they can be de-quantised and with a double click the quantising parameters are shown in the dialogue-display. Play mode Pushing the PLAY button with the left mouse key starts the play process. If the right mouse key is clicked on the PLAY button the process is put into the CYCLE mode. In the CYCLE mode the part of a song which is defined by the left and right locator is played and steadily repeated. Recording A click with the left mouse key on the button down on the left in the transport-button-block ("REC button") starts a recording. With the right mouse key the DUB/LS/REC functions are activated. Another click with the left mouse key deactivates the recording but the play function is still on. The recording mode A double click on the REC key shows the recording parameters in the recording display. 'Actual Position', 'Punch In' and 'Punch Out' in the "OFF" position is the normal mode. The recording starts from the chosen position and can be ended with STOP or pushing the REC button again.'Punch In' and 'Punch Out' limit the recording to the area between the left and right locator. If the CYCLE function is activated, the position jumps back to the left locator and at the same moment the REC button goes to DUB. The DUB function remains in case more cycle processes are recorded. As soon as the stop button is pressed, the DUB function goes back to REC. In the first recording process the data from the previously recorded section are deleted, in the following processes the data from the first section remain and the new data is added. REC is not possible in the performance page. If you are in the drum editor or in the key editor, the track that was chosen last in the song editor is recorded on. The DUB mode The DUB mode works like the REC mode only that already existing data will not be erased. The LS mode LS means Live Style. This is a real time arranging mode. If LS is turned on, the connected MIDI keyboard starts single parts. Each part has to be related to a note in the TRG box within the dialogue display. With this note the part can be started from the keyboard. There are three play modes in a box labeled PLY in the dialogue display. The choices are between: ONE the part is played once GTE=GATE the part is played as long as the key is pressed LOP=LOOP the part is played over and over again The keys that do not start any parts can be played normally but they are not recorded either. This is possible in the PLAY mode as well as in the STOP mode. In a LS recording the parts can be added to the chosen tracks in the song page by triggering the chosen point of time. LS does not need an extra track. In the performance page the LS mode starts songs. Each song can again be related to a note (TRG). Just like in the song page, the keys that have no trigger function can be played as MIDI notes in the MCH (MIDI channel) adjusted in the song parameters. A songstart can only be triggered in the STOP mode. When a song plays the SONG trigger notes can be played normally. The LS function can be activated in the performance page, in the song page and in the conductor. The viewmode button Whenever your eyes approach your desk or look away from it - different angles have their advantages and disadvantages. Either you have a general overview on your papers or you see the details. With the viewmode button you can change the perspective on the workspace in four levels. No matter if you want the general overview or work on details, you can always choose the right perspective. The info button Press the info button to receive information about the program developers and the current program version. The exit button With the exit button you leave the program and return to the GEM desktop. For verification of your decision there will be a question in the dialogue display. The locators The locators define the area that can be recorded in. They can be set with a double click of the left or right mouse key and appear as little triangles in the display. They can also be chosen directly by the numbers "1" and "2". Entering a text Almost every object (songs, tracks, parts, etc.) can receive a name. The text input is started with a double click on the object. The text can be up to 8 spaces long. The ESC key erases the previous text, CAPSLOCK changes small to capital letters and vice versa. RETURN ends the text input. The keyboard Some functions are only availabled on the computer keyboard or in addition to using the mouse. This can be very useful with the disc drive functions, so LIVE can be worked like a tape machine. The F-keys F1 : performance page F2 : song page F3 : key editor F4 : drum editor F5 : mixer F6 : keytrack editor F7 : style page F8 : sysex page F9 : definitions F10: file manager If the F-key of the current page is pressed again, you enter the conductor. The number block "ENTER" : play "0" : stop "+" and "-" : record mode "*" : record "/" : play mode "(" and ")" : fast forward and rewind "1" to "9" : locator positions, 1 and 2 are visible as cycles on the beat ruler, 3 to 8 programmable Cue-points, 9 last Stop position "SPACE" : stop "CURSOR KEYS" : scrolling through the workspace "RETURN" : end text input "DELETE" : same function as trash button "UNDO" : cancels the last editing process "CONTROL + Q" : quit the program "P" : saves the parameters put into the definitions "M" : adds the graphic controller display to the key editor "Q" : Quantize "D" : deQuantize "L" : Load "S" : Save THE PERFORMANCE PAGE In the performance page up to 32 songs can be combined to a performance. The sequence can be chosen freely and can be the basis for a stage show or concept for an album. Several songs can be put in chronological order into the song table. Now each song can be selected, started and stopped. In the LS mode each song can be related to a single note to start it from the keyboard. This way you are totally independent in composing a LIVE performance. In addition to this you have three possibilities of chaining the songs. In the CHN box of the dialogue display you find the following settings: STP=STOP the song ends and stays selected SWP=SWAP LIVE goes into the start position of the next song RUN LIVE goes into the next song immediately The names of the single songs are shown in a table together with their starting time. To provide a better overview of the different lenghts of the songs the songnames are additionally displayed on the time axis. The songs can be transfered or copied with the mouse in the table as well as on the time axis. The name of the performance is displayed above the songtable and can be changed anytime. The songnames are entered into the songtable. THE SONG PAGE In the song page all parts of a song can be recorded, transfered with the mouse, copied, cut, spliced and erased. Also copying single parts or whole tracks into another song or style is possible with the CLIPBOARD. The part The part is the graphic display of a recording in a track. The notes or data contained are send to the track's address. A detailed display of the data in the part is possible through the editors (key-, drum-, keytrack-). The part parameters in the dialogue display PRG : program change VOL : MIDI volume controller VEL : velocity CMP : compression TRP : transpose DLY : delay LOP : loop mode TRG : trigger-note PRI : priority PLY : play mode The track The parts are organized in a track whose address defines the receiver of data or notes. The MIDI channel of your instrument and eventually a name have to be entered. If you record on MIDI channel 00, LIVE registers the sending channel of your keyboard and tracks it automatically when playing. For timing precision the priority goes from top to bottom, i.e. track 1 is the most precise one. The track addresses A00-X16 : letter describes MIDI port (starting with A for the Atari output, then the ports of the installed extensions follow); 00-16 describes the MIDI channel DRM : MIDI channel and order of notes of the track are determined with the drum map MIX : automatically installed after recording mixing data (MIXER) KTR : installs a keytrack STL : see "including styles" The track parameters in the dialogue display PRG : program change VOL : MIDI volume controller VEL : velocity CMP : compression TRP : transpose DLY : delay PIT : influencing the pitch through keytrack TRACK : displays selected track name THE CONDUCTOR The conductor allows you to change the tempo within a song. With the right mouse key markers are set to define the area in the workspace and then the tempo can be changed with the left mouse key within those markers. In the "meter changes"-track the time can be changed with the help of intersection points within the selected area. With the fader real time tempo changes can be executed that can be recorded with LS. For finer adjustments you can add a minimum and a maximum value to the fader. The section between the two values is calculated to the whole length of the fader. A MIDI controller can also control the tempo between the "min" and "max" values. Controller no. and MIDI channel can be determined in the dialogue display if the fader is selected. THE KEY EDITOR. The key editor allows you to edit single notes. Select a part in the song page and change into the key editor, there you can see all notes of the part. These are shown as grey bars which can be freely positioned by hand with the displayed keyboard. The single notes can be transfered, copied, shortened, extended and erased like the parts in the song page. Also the definition of blocks with the 'rubberband' is possible. Blocks can be edited like single notes. An additional display (push "M") provides information about controller events like pitchbend or modulation, if desired. The Event Editor lists all MIDI events (except for note on and note off) in chronological order. If an event is selected, the related parameters are shown in the dialogue display and can be edited there. Double click on one event selects all events of the same kind. Double click on a free space in the event editor creates a new event, that can be edited in the dialog display. With the two arrow buttons above and below the window you can scroll through the events in chronological order. THE DRUM EDITOR. No modern production can live without the right beat. Therefore LIVE has a page where drum takes can be easily and clearly developed. The single beats are pictured as little triangles. Every beat can be freely positioned, transfered, copied or erased within the instrument lines. Up to three different MIDI notes can be defined for each instrument as triggers, which allows a very flexible way of recording. The beat A beat is the graphic display of a hit on a drum instrument. If a beat is selected, several changes can be made in the dialogue display. The instruments An instrument is an input-output-classification for percussion instruments. 64 instruments are at your disposal. For each instrument a name and the related MIDI notes of the keyboard or drum computer can be entered, also the velocity offset and the note lenght. The instruments are organised in a drummap that can be saved and loaded. Each track can have its own drummap. The instrument parameters Input parameter : IN A, IN B, IN C : three different trigger notes for each instrument NOTE : original note of your MIDI instrument VEL : velocity offset LEN : lenght of notes created with the mouse Output parameter MCH : MIDI channel The drummap To put the percussion sounds of your keyboard or drum machine in a different order, trigger one sound with more than one key or use sounds from different expanders in one drum track you can make up a drummap. In the 'UNTITLED' drummap the instruments are put in chromatic order like in the key editor. Now you can put together your own drumsets with the instruments at your disposal by putting in a name and relating them to certain notes (e.g. bass drum C1, snare D1, etc.) and MIDI channels. Above the instruments you find the input section for the name of the drummap. Drummaps can be saved independent from songs. If a drummap is produced in a track, the symbol DRM (song page) appears instead of the MIDI channel. THE MIXER The mixer is a realistic reproduction of an automatic 16-channel mixing board with motor faders. For each MIDI channel, controller events like volume or modulation can be recorded to the current song. In the song page a mixer track is produced automatically. Also additional recording in the DUB mode is possible. Instead of the MIDI channel you find the entry "MIX". Each fader can be moved directly with the mouse and miraculously works the user's outline by itself after recording. Each channel has a mute button for temporary silencing and a LED pitch display to overview the controllers. The master fader affects all MIDI channels simultaneously. The button above the master fader has another function. If this button is pressed, all volume levels of the connected gadgets are put on maximum. THE STYLE EDITOR. The style editor becomes very interesting for musicians who find just one style of music boring in the long run. The basic elements of any piece of music can be combined with any other one. Just try how a Beatles melody would sound together with a Sting bass line and a Hip Hop groove. Or combine your own melody with a James Brown beat - get on up ! The style A style is a pattern that steadily repeats itself and consists of 16 bars and drum-, bass-, harmony- and ostinato-track. Into each of these tracks you can record directly or copy any part out of the song page with the clipboard. Each track can have up to three musical variations which can be changed during the song from your connected keyboard. Up to fourteen styles can be in the memory; they are displayed in the style column on the right. The possibilities Composing with styles makes it possible to spontaneously and clearly combine the single musical components within a song. With a single mouse click on "NO(rmal)", "V(ariation)1" or "V(ariation)2" you can try if another drum beat would fit better to the current harmony line or if a more active bass line would gear up the song. Instead of the mouse click, a trigger note chosen in the dialogue display can make the change in the variation. For each single variation, three "cross points" can be chosen in the connected display. A cross point is a point in time where a change in the variation makes sense musically. Whenever the variation is changed through a trigger note, LIVE only switches when the next cross point is reached. This way the correct timing is always kept, even if the changing between the variations 'goes wild'. THE KEYTRACK EDITOR. Are you one of the musicians who knows those endless studio sessions whose only purpose seems to be constantly repeating certain parts ? The guitar does not seem to remember a complex harmonic series, the keyboards argue over the basic key and the bass keeps missing the cue,... . The keytrack editor deals with exactly this problem. It allows the optical control over the harmonic structure of the current song. The current or following chord is graphically shown on the monitor at the same time. The display can be switched; the chord is either shown as keyboard-, guitar- or symbol-display. Harmonic disharmonies are therefore a thing of the past. But not only in the studio, also on stage the keytrack editor proves to be a very useful communicative help. The keytrack The keytrack is a directing track for rhythm, harmony and bassline. Similar to many organs and solo entertainer keyboards it is possible to direct other tracks harmonically and even rhythmically. A keytrack is produced by either selecting "KTR" in the MIDI channel box of an empty track in the song page or by recording directly into the keytrack editor. THE SYSEX PAGE The SysEx page makes it possible to comfortably administer system exclusive data. Instruments can be configurated according to the individual MIDI setup, SysEx information is available in part format. Access to Accessories is possible via a stylized "menu" button. THE DEFINITIONS In the definitions page all global adjustments can be made that make daily work with LIVE easy. These can be saved with the "P"-key or with clicking the right mouse key on the disc button. This data file is called LIVE.INF.. The global adjustments ('configuration') are loaded with every program start. THE FILE MANAGER. The file manager is a tool for administrating data. It makes the simultaneous access to three disc stations or hard disc partitions possible. Data and files can be clearly copied, transfered or erased through simple mouse actions. The page consists of three file selectors for data access and an action field which provides additional functions. ============================================================== PRODUCTION PARTNERS & COPYRIGHTS * 'LIVE' is a SOFT ARTS Program (C) 1991 SOFT ARTS PoBox 12 77 62 1000 Berlin 12 Germany Phone: +49-30-6843737 FAX: +49-30-6858041 * 'ATARI' is TM by ATARI Corp. * The operating system 'M.ROS' used in this program is a copyright product of STEINBERG Software GmbH, Hamburg.