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original version by: Nikos Drakos, CBLU, University of Leeds
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* revised and updated by: Marcus Hennecke, Ross Moore, Herb Swan
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* with significant contributions from:
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Jens Lippmann, Marek Rouchal, Martin Wilck and others -->
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<HTML>
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<HEAD>
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<TITLE>Overview and Introduction</TITLE>
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<META NAME="description" CONTENT="Overview and Introduction">
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<!--Navigation Panel-->
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<A NAME="tex2html315"
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HREF="node2.html">
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<B> Next:</B> <A NAME="tex2html316"
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HREF="node2.html">Running</A>
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<B> Up:</B> <A NAME="tex2html314"
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HREF="mma.html">Reference Manual</A>
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<B> Previous:</B> <A NAME="tex2html308"
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HREF="mma.html">Reference Manual</A>
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<BR>
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<BR>
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<!--End of Navigation Panel-->
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<!--Table of Child-Links-->
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<A NAME="CHILD_LINKS"><STRONG>Subsections</STRONG></A>
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<UL>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html317"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00110000000000000000">License, Version and Legalities</A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html318"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00120000000000000000">About this Manual</A>
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<UL>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html319"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00121000000000000000">Typographic Conventions</A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html320"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00122000000000000000">L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X and HTML</A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html321"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00123000000000000000">Other Documentation</A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html322"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00124000000000000000">Music Notation</A>
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</UL>
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<BR>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html323"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00130000000000000000">Installing
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> </A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html324"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00140000000000000000">Running
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> </A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html325"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00150000000000000000">Comments</A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html326"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00160000000000000000">Theory Of Operation</A>
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<LI><A NAME="tex2html327"
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HREF="node1.html#SECTION00170000000000000000">Case Sensitivity</A>
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</UL>
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<!--End of Table of Child-Links-->
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<HR>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION00100000000000000000">
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Overview and Introduction</A>
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</H1>
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<P>
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<I>Musical MIDI Accompaniment</I>,
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> ,<A NAME="tex2html1"
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HREF="#foot192"><SUP>1.1</SUP></A> generates standard
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MIDI<A NAME="tex2html2"
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HREF="#foot193"><SUP>1.2</SUP></A> files which can be used as a backup track for a soloist.
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It was written especially for me--I am an aspiring saxophonist and
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wanted a program to ``play'' the piano and drums so I could practice
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my jazz solos. With
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> I can create a track based on the chords in
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a song, transpose it to the correct key for my instrument, and play my
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very bad improvisations until they get a bit better.
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<P>
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I also lead a small combo group which is always missing at least one
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player. With
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> generated tracks the group can practice and perform even
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if a rhythm player is missing. This all works much better than I
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expected when I started to write the program ...so much better
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that I have used
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> generated tracks for live performances with great
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success.
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<P>
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Around the world musicians are using
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> for practice, performance
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and in their studios. Much more than ever imagined when this project was started!
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<P>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION00110000000000000000">
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License, Version and Legalities</A>
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</H1>
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<P>
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The program
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> was written by and is copyright Robert van der Poel,
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2002--2007.
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<P>
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This program, the accompanying documentation, and library files can be
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freely distributed according to the terms of the GNU General Public
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License (see the distributed file ``COPYING'').
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<P>
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If you enjoy the program, make enhancements, find bugs, etc. send a
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note to me at
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<A HREF="mailto:bob@mellowood.ca"> Bob van der Poel </A>; or a postcard (or even money) to PO Box 57,
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Wynndel, BC, Canada V0B 2N0.
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<P>
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The current version of this package is maintained at: <TT><A NAME="tex2html3"
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HREF="http://www.mellowood.ca/mma/">http://www.mellowood.ca/mma/</A></TT>.
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<P>
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This document reflects version 1.1
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of
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> .
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<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
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<Table CellSpacing=0 Width="80%" Align="Center" CellPadding=10 BGColor="#dddddd" Border=3>
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<tr> <td>
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<BR>
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<BR><I>This program
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has recently changed its status from beta to a 1.x version.
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I have done everything I can to ensure that the program functions
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as advertised, but I assume no responsibilty for <B>anything</B>
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it does to your computer or data.</I>
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</DIV>
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<P>
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<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
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<BR>
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<BR>
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</DIV>
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<P>
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<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">Sorry for this disclaimer, but we live in paranoid times.
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</DIV>
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<P>
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<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
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<BR>
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<BR>
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</DIV>
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<P>
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<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">This manual most likely has lots of errors. Spelling, grammar, and
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probably a number of the examples need fixing. Please give me a hand
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and report anything...it'll make it much easier for me to
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generate a really good product for all of us to enjoy.
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</td></tr>
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</Table>
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</DIV>
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<P>
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<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
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<BR>
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<BR>
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</DIV>
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<P>
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<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
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</DIV>
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<P>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION00120000000000000000">
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About this Manual</A>
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</H1>
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<P>
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This manual was written by the program author--and this is always a
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very bad idea. But, having no volunteers, the choice is no manual at
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all or my bad perspectives.<A NAME="tex2html4"
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HREF="#foot232"><SUP>1.3</SUP></A>
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<P>
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> is a large and complex program. It really does need a manual;
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and users really need to refer to the manual to get the most out of
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the program. Even the author frequently refers to the manual. Really.
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<P>
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I have tried to present the various commands in a logical and useful
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order. The table of contents should point you quickly to the relevant
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sections.
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<P>
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<H2><A NAME="SECTION00121000000000000000">
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Typographic Conventions</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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<UL>
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<LI>The name of the program is always set in the special logo type:
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> .
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> commands and directives are set in small caps:
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D<SMALL>IRECTIVE</SMALL>.
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Important stuff is emphasized: <I>important</I>.
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Websites look like this: <TT><A NAME="tex2html5"
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HREF="http://www.mellowood.ca/mma/index.html">http://www.mellowood.ca/mma/index.html</A></TT>
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Filenames are set in bold typewriter font: <TT><B>filename.mma</B></TT>
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Lines extracted from a
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> input file are set on individual
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lines:
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<P>
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<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
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<tr><td>
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<B>A command from a file </B>
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</td></tr>
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</Table>
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Commands you should type from a shell prompt (or other operating
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system interface) have a leading <TT>$</TT> (to indicate a shell
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prompt) and are shown on separate lines:
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<P>
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<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
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<tr><td>
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<B>$ enter this </B>
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</td></tr>
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</Table>
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<P>
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</LI>
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</UL>
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<P>
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<H2><A NAME="SECTION00122000000000000000">
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L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X and HTML</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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The manual has been prepared with the L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X typesetting system.
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Currently, there are two versions available: the primary version is a
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PDF file intended for printing or on-screen display (generated with
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<TT>dvipdf</TT>); the secondary version is in HTML (transformed with
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L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X2<TT>HTML</TT>) for electronic viewing. If other formats are needed
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...please offer to volunteer.
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<P>
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<H2><A NAME="SECTION00123000000000000000">
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Other Documentation</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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In addition to this document the following other items are recommended
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reading:
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<P>
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<UL>
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<LI>The standard library documentation supplied with this document
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in PDF and HTML formats.
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>The
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> tutorial supplied with this document in pdf and html
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formats.
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Various <TT><B>README</B></TT> files in the distribution.
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>The Python source files.
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<P>
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</LI>
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</UL>
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<P>
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<H2><A NAME="SECTION00124000000000000000">
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Music Notation</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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The various snippets of standard music notation in this manual have
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been prepared with the MUP program. I highly recommend this program
|
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and use it for most of my notation tasks. MUP is available from Arkkra
|
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Enterprises, <TT><A NAME="tex2html6"
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HREF="http://www.Arkkra.com/">http://www.Arkkra.com/</A></TT>.
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<P>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION00130000000000000000">
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|
Installing
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> </A>
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</H1>
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<P>
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> is a Python program developed with version 2.4 of Python. At the
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very least you will need this version (or later) of Python!
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<P>
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To play the MIDI files you'll need a MIDI player. Pmidi, tse3play, and
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many others are available for Linux systems. For Windows and Mac
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systems I'm sure there are many, many choices.
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<P>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
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You'll need a text editor like <I>vi</I>, <I>emacs</I>, etc. to create
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
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input files. Don't use a word processor!
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<P>
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> consists of a variety of bits and pieces:
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<P>
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<UL>
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<LI>The executable Python script, <TT>mma</TT><A NAME="tex2html7"
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
HREF="#foot347"><SUP>1.4</SUP></A>, must somewhere in your
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
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|
path. For users running Windows or Mac, please check
|
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|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> website
|
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|
|
for details on how to install on these systems.
|
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|
<P>
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|
</LI>
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|
<LI>A number of Python modules. These should all be installed under
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the directory <TT><B>/usr/local/share/mma/MMA</B></TT>. See the enclosed file
|
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|
<TT><B>INSTALL</B></TT> for some additional commentary.
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<P>
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</LI>
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|
<LI>A number of library files defining standard rhythms. These
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|
should all be installed under the directory
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<TT><B>/usr/local/share/mma/lib/stdlib</B></TT>.
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<P>
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</LI>
|
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|
</UL>
|
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|
<P>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
The scripts <TT><B>cp-install</B></TT> or <TT><B>ln-install</B></TT> will install
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> properly on most Linux
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
systems. Both scripts assume that main script is to be installed in
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
<TT><B>/usr/local/bin</B></TT> and the support files in
|
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|
|
<TT><B>/usr/local/share/mma</B></TT>. If you want an alternate location, you
|
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|
|
can edit the paths in the script. The only supported alternate to use
|
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|
|
is <TT><B>/usr/share/mma</B></TT>.
|
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|
|
|
|
<P>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
The difference between the two scripts is that <TT><B>ln-install</B></TT> creates
|
|
|
|
|
symbolic links to the current location; <TT><B>cp-install</B></TT> copies the files.
|
|
|
|
|
Which to use it up to you, but if you have unpacked the distribution in
|
|
|
|
|
a stable location it is probably easier to use the link version.
|
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|
<P>
|
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|
|
In addition, you <I>can</I> run
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> from the directory created by
|
|
|
|
|
the untar. This is not recommended, but will show some of
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> 's
|
|
|
|
|
stuff. In this case you'll have to execute the program file
|
|
|
|
|
<TT>mma.py</TT>.
|
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|
|
<P>
|
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|
|
You should be ``root'' (or at least, you need write permissions in
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
<TT>/usr/local/</TT>) to run either install script.
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
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|
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|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
If you want to install
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> on a platform other than Linux, please get the
|
|
|
|
|
latest updates from our website at <TT><A NAME="tex2html8"
|
|
|
|
|
HREF="www.mellowood.ca/mma">www.mellowood.ca/mma</A></TT>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00140000000000000000">
|
|
|
|
|
Running
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> </A>
|
|
|
|
|
</H1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
For details on the command line operations in
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT>
|
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="node2.html#sec-running">see the "running" section</A>.
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
To create a MIDI file you need to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<OL>
|
|
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|
|
<LI>Create a text file (also referred to as the ``input file'') with
|
|
|
|
|
instructions which
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> understands. This includes the chord
|
|
|
|
|
structure of the song, the rhythm to use, the tempo, etc. The file
|
|
|
|
|
can be created with any suitable text editor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
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|
|
<LI>Process the input file. From a command line the instruction:
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
|
|
|
|
|
<tr><td>
|
|
|
|
|
<B>$ mma myfile <ENTER> </B>
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
</td></tr>
|
|
|
|
|
</Table>
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
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|
|
will invoke
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> and, assuming no errors are found, create a MIDI
|
|
|
|
|
file <TT><B>myfile.mid</B></TT>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Play the MIDI file with any suitable MIDI player.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Edit the input file again and again until you get the perfect
|
|
|
|
|
track.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Share any patterns, sequences and grooves with the author so
|
|
|
|
|
they can be included in future releases!
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
</OL>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
An input file consists of the following information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<OL>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> directives. These include T<SMALL>EMPO</SMALL>, T<SMALL>IME</SMALL>,
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
V<SMALL>OLUME</SMALL>, etc. <A HREF="node21.html#sec-directives">Directives</A>.
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>P<SMALL>ATTERN</SMALL>, S<SMALL>EQUENCE</SMALL> and G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL> detailed in
|
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="node4.html#sec-pats">Patterns</A>,
|
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="node5.html#sec-seqs">Sequences</A>, and
|
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="node6.html#sec-grooves">Grooves</A>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Music information. See <A HREF="node8.html#sec-music">Musical
|
|
|
|
|
Data</A>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Comment lines and blank lines. See below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
</OL>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
Items 1 to 3 are detailed later in this manual. Please read them
|
|
|
|
|
before you get too involved in this program.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00150000000000000000">
|
|
|
|
|
Comments</A>
|
|
|
|
|
</H1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
Proper indentation, white space and comments are a
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
<I>good thing</I>--and you really should use them. But, in most cases
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> really doesn't care:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<UL>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Any leading space or tab characters are ignored,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Multiple tabs and other white space are treated as single
|
|
|
|
|
characters,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Any blank lines in the input file are ignored.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
</LI>
|
|
|
|
|
</UL>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
Each line is initially parsed for comments. A comment is anything
|
|
|
|
|
following a ``//'' (2 forward slashes).<A NAME="tex2html9"
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
HREF="#foot315"><SUP>1.5</SUP></A>
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
Comments are stripped from the input stream. Lines starting with the
|
|
|
|
|
C<SMALL>OMMENT</SMALL> directive are also ignored. See the
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="node21.html#comment">comment discussion</A> for details.
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00160000000000000000">
|
|
|
|
|
Theory Of Operation</A>
|
|
|
|
|
</H1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
To understand how
|
|
|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> works it's easiest to look at the initial
|
|
|
|
|
development concept. Initially, a program was wanted which would take
|
|
|
|
|
a file which looked something like:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
|
|
|
|
|
<tr><td>
|
|
|
|
|
<B>Tempo 120
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
<BR>
|
|
|
|
|
Fm
|
|
|
|
|
<BR>
|
|
|
|
|
C7
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
<BR> ...</B>
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
|
|
</td></tr>
|
|
|
|
|
</Table>
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
and end up with a MIDI file which played the specified chords over a
|
|
|
|
|
drum track.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
Of course, after starting this ``simple'' project a lot of
|
|
|
|
|
complexities developed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
First, the chord/bar specifications. Just having a single chord per
|
|
|
|
|
bar doesn't work--many songs have more than one chord per bar.
|
|
|
|
|
Second, what is the rhythm of the chords? What about bass line? Oh,
|
|
|
|
|
and where is the drummer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
|
Well, things got more complex after that. At a bare minimum, the
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program or interface should have the ability to:
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<P>
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<UL>
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<LI>Specify multiple chords per bar,
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Define different patterns for chords, bass lines and
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drum tracks,
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Have easy to create and debug input files,
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<P>
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</LI>
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<LI>Provide a reusable library that a user could simply plug in, or
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modify.
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<P>
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</LI>
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</UL>
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<P>
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From these simple needs
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> was created.
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<P>
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The basic building blocks of
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> are P<SMALL>ATTERN</SMALL>s. A pattern is a
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specification which tells
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> what notes of a chord to play, the
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start point in a bar for the chord/notes, and the duration and the
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volume of the notes.
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<P>
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> patterns are combined into S<SMALL>EQUENCE</SMALL>s. This lets you
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create multi-bar rhythms.
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<P>
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A collection of patterns can be saved and recalled as G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s.
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This makes it easy to pre-define complex rhythms in library files and
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incorporate them into your song with a simple two word command.
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<P>
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> is bar or measure based (we use the words interchangeably in
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this document). This means that
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> processes your song one bar at a
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time. The music specification lines all assume that you are specifying
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a single bar of music. The number of beats per bar can be adjusted;
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however, all chord changes must fall on a beat division (the playing
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of the chord or drum note can occur anywhere in the bar).
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<P>
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To make the input files look more musical,
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> supports
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R<SMALL>EPEAT</SMALL>s and R<SMALL>EPEAT</SMALL>E<SMALL>NDING</SMALL>s. However, complexities like
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<I>D.S.</I> and <I>Coda</I> are not internally supported (but can be
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2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
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created by using the G<SMALL>OTO</SMALL> command).
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<P>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION00170000000000000000">
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Case Sensitivity</A>
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</H1>
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<P>
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Just about everything in a
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<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> file is case insensitive.
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<P>
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This means that the command:
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<P>
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2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
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<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
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<tr><td>
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<B>Tempo 120 </B>
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</td></tr>
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</Table>
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<P>
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could be entered in your file as:
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<P>
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2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
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<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
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<tr><td>
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<B>TEMPO 120 </B>
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</td></tr>
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</Table>
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<P>
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or even
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<P>
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2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
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<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
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<tr><td>
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<B>TeMpO 120 </B>
|
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2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
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</td></tr>
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</Table>
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
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<P>
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for the exact same results.
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<P>
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Names for patterns, and grooves are also case insensitive.
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<P>
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The only exceptions are the names for chords, notes in S<SMALL>OLO</SMALL>s,
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|
and filenames. In keeping with standard chord notation, chord names
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are in mixed case; this is detailed in <A HREF="node8.html#sec-music">Musical
|
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|
Data</A>. Filenames are covered in
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|
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<A HREF="node24.html#sec-paths">Paths and Filenames</A>.
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
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<P>
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<BR><HR><H4>Footnotes</H4>
|
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|
<DL>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
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|
<DT><A NAME="foot192">...,</A><A
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
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|
HREF="node1.html#tex2html1"><SUP>1.1</SUP></A></DT>
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|
|
<DD>Musical MIDI
|
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|
|
|
Accompaniment and the short form
|
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|
|
|
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> in the distinctive script are
|
|
|
|
|
names for a program written by Bob van der Poel. The ``MIDI
|
|
|
|
|
Manufacturers Association, Inc.'' uses the acronym MMA, but there is
|
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|
|
no association between the two.
|
|
|
|
|
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|
</DD>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
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|
<DT><A NAME="foot193">...
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
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|
MIDI</A><A
|
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|
HREF="node1.html#tex2html2"><SUP>1.2</SUP></A></DT>
|
|
|
|
|
<DD>MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital
|
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|
|
Interface.
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|
</DD>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
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|
<DT><A NAME="foot232">... perspectives.</A><A
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
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|
HREF="node1.html#tex2html4"><SUP>1.3</SUP></A></DT>
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|
|
<DD>The problem, all humor aside, is
|
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|
|
that the viewpoints of a program's author and user are quite
|
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|
|
different. The two ``see'' problems and solutions differently, and for
|
|
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|
|
a user manual the programmer's view is not the best.
|
|
|
|
|
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|
</DD>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
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|
<DT><A NAME="foot347">...mma</A><A
|
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|
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|
HREF="node1.html#tex2html7"><SUP>1.4</SUP></A></DT>
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|
|
<DD>In the
|
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|
|
distribution this is <TT>mma.py</TT>. It is renamed to save a few
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|
|
keystrokes when entering the command.
|
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|
</DD>
|
2007-04-29 06:47:40 +00:00
|
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|
<DT><A NAME="foot315">... slashes).</A><A
|
2006-11-10 08:07:56 +00:00
|
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|
HREF="node1.html#tex2html9"><SUP>1.5</SUP></A></DT>
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|
|
<DD>The first choice for
|
|
|
|
|
a comment character was a single ``#'', but that sign is used for
|
|
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|
|
``sharps'' in chord notation.
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|
</DD>
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|
|
</DL><HR>
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<!--Navigation Panel-->
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<A NAME="tex2html315"
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HREF="node2.html">
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<IMG WIDTH="37" HEIGHT="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0" ALT="next" SRC="next.png"></A>
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HREF="node2.html">Running</A>
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<B> Up:</B> <A NAME="tex2html314"
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<ADDRESS>
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bob
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2007-03-07
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