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[GrooveJohnny]

I've been trying to configure Impulse Tracker to control some of my samplers' functions like the pitch-wheel, mod-wheel, midi-ctrl a, midi-ctrl b and I must be stupid because I can't figure it out.
  I've read midi.txt over and over but it just ain't clicking for me, my mind has not been brightened by enlightenment....
  Either the half-assed tutorial in midi.txt doesn't give me enough info or I'm missing something. I've got all of the sysex stuff for my sampler(emax2) but I'm unable to put that together with what i've read and make something work.

  I've search the net but I can't find any other help or tutorials for configuring Zxx and midi-out in IT.

  If you know to do this could you explain it to me or write a toot.

  PLease don't mention ztracker. It's good, but I still preffer IT.

thanx

[GrooveJohnny]

Nevermind. I'll just use ztracker, it'll do what i want, I just didnt want to leave the impulse.
 
   Every tutotrial for IT completely skips setting up the Zxx stuff.

[fingersoup]

the only Zxx command info I've ever read about (aside from docs distributed with IT) involves the resonance filters, and even that information is sketchy at best...  there used to be many arguements about MIDI vs. Tracking in the past, and therefore it might be difficult to find detailed info on the MIDI features of Impulse Tracker, as it was directed towards a smaller audience than what people use trackers for today...  I will attempt to explain what I have read in the MIDI.TXT file that comes with IT.  Please note, I haven't tried this, as I don't have a MIDI Keyboard.  I also don't have a clue how to set up the MIDI Output Configuration screen works, as it is VERY technical, and I have little to no background in MIDI....

IT's MIDI implementation works on a Macro system...  The MIDI Output configuration screen allows you to choose the type of MIDI command you wish to trigger.  This requires you to know a bit about the MIDI protocol (Which I don't) and its implementation in your MIDI device...  You also need to know the commands that IT uses (they're listed in the MIDI.TXT), so you can assign the generic commands such as note-on.  You are, in effect, assigning your MIDI command type to your SFx Commands.   You then trigger a SFx command alongside your note-on.  After triggering your SFx command, you then use Zxx commands (00-7F) to manipulate the MIDI command assigned to your SF Macro.

So, for instance, you assign Velocity to SF0 in your MIDI Out config screen.  You then trigger your note just as you would, were you playing a sample, but you add your SF0 in the final column.   When you want to change your Velocity, you just send a Zxx command by itself, somewhere in the range of 00-7F.

Again, I am only trying to simplify what I've read, and I haven't tried this out.  Give it a shot, and let me know.  If not, ZTracker might be a better way to work.  Also, be advised that you will probably need a either a Soundblaster Awe32, AMD Interwave, an MPU-401 compatible device, and/or something that will translate/passthrough (ie: a properly configured version of Dosbox or VDMSound) and output to your Windows MPU-401 driver.  There are a lot of things that can go wrong with getting the MIDI data out of IT, and to your MIDI device.

[GrooveJohnny]

Thanx for simplifying it for me, I get a little more out of reading midi.txt now.
 
I got SOME stuff working! woohoo!   ....but I'm still having a few problems.

Here's how I got my pitch-wheel and channel-pressure commands working....

In the 'received messages' section of my samplers manual it gives me this information for channel-pressure and pitch-wheel commands.....

................................................................................
Channel Pressure

dn n = MIDI channel no. (0 to 15)

pp pp = pressure value (0 to 127)

................................................................................
Pitch Wheel

en n = MIDI channel no. (0 to 15)

xx xx = don't care

ww ww = wheel value (0 to 127)

................................................................................

Now, on the midi output configuration screen in IT (shift-f1) in the SF0 slot I typed

E0 x wz.........and it controls the pitch wheel. Ofcourse it took me awhile to come up with that becouse in the EMAX manual it gives 2 characters for wheel value and don't care, ww and xx, and all the info is in lowercase. I have my samplers master midi channel set to 1, which is 0 in hex. The z at the end signifies that the value of the variable w is set by the Zxx command, Z00-Z7F

In the SF1 slot I typed....

D0 x pz.............works the channel pressure on the Emax. Even though it didn't specify xx in the manual I had to put an x anyway.

All that worked out great! But I'm having trouble setting up the continuous-controller commands. I'll explain......

Here's whats in the manual......
................................................................................
Continuous Controller

bn n = MIDI channel no. (0 to 15)

cc cc = controller # (0 to 31)

vv vv = controller value (0 to 127)

................................................................................

Here's what I've tried...

B0 0 vz
B0 1 vz
     
     
     etc..
B0 00 vz
B0 01 vz
     
     
      etc...
I've got the modulation wheel set to continuous controller 1 which in hex is 0 I've tried both but I get nothing.
I've tried it with midi-ctrl-a and b still nothing. midi controllers a and b are the same as mod wheel but they are specific for controlling from an external source. I've got 32 continuous controller slots on my sampler and i can't seem to control any of them through IT with this command.
In midi.txt it says that v is reserved for velocity (unless i misunderstood).
I think maybe that is preventing me from using the continuous controller messages, but i don't know.

Think you can shed some light on me? anybody?


thanx

[GrooveJohnny]

I'm running IT in dos using the mpu401 driver so there should be no problems with the midi out. I've got a soundblaster 16/awe32.


yes, yes I still have a pc with dos on it! The only way to track my friends.

For all of you who have fancy new computers with WINXP and you're having probs with IT, may I suggest going to a second hand store and buying and old pentium1 or 2 and installing win95 or 98 on it. If you keep an eye out you can get a computer way faster than you need for $20 - $45. And you can find an old soundblaster 16 or awe32 for a couple bucks on ebay. Thats all you need for running impulse tracker perfectly with all funtions available! no latency problems! no dosbox crap!

It's worth the small investment, especially if you are really into your hobbies. When are you the most content with your life? When you're making music in the wonderful world of Impulse Tracker, with your pc keyboard in your lap, headphones on your head and fresh marijuana smoke exiting your lungs? If the answer is yes, then get that old computer and that awe32 and be free! fly......