If you select the "Default Device" entry in the list then MidiIllustrator will always use the default playback device as chosen in the MIDI Playback tab in Program Options. Whenever you change this default playback device, MidiIllustrator will automatically play any scores with the new playback device (if they were saved with the "Default Device" as the staff instrument device).
Using multiple MIDI devices for playback
MidiIllustrator supports the playback of a single file using multiple MIDI devices. You may, for example, wish to direct a particular instrument in the score, such as a piano, to an external MIDI module, whilst directing the remaining orchestral parts to your computer soundcard. As long as you have made more than one device available for playback in the MIDI Playback section of the Program Options dialog, you can use different MIDI devices on each staff within the score.
This is a powerful feature which requires additional processing power and is not necessarily available on all Windows computers. If you experience slow or choppy playback whilst using multiple MIDI devices, try selecting a common MIDI device for all staves to improve performance.
Note: Generally Channel 10 is used to play a particular group of drum instruments. If a given staff is using Channel 10, then MidiIllustrator will assume it contains drum notes.
For more information see the MIDI Channels and Drum Instruments section.
This command is also available in the Staff Instrument Dialog.
This command only affects the sound of notes during playback. Note positions on the score are unchanged. To transpose and reposition notes on the score (perhaps with a new key signature), see the Transpose Dialog.
The list of available instruments may change depending on the MIDI channel you have selected for the staff.
To learn more about this see the MIDI Channels and Drum Instruments section.
This is the starting volume for the staff (you may add volume MIDI
events later in the score using the Expressions Dialog
).
When the volume box is checked, the volume may be changed using either the drop down box, or the left and right arrows on the right-hand side of the volume display. The range is 0 (muted) to 127 (maximum volume).
The default setting for MIDI staves that do not specify a value for volume is 64.
This is the starting pan for the staff (you may add pan MIDI
events later in the score using the Expressions Dialog
).
You may wish to change the stereo balance so that it is higher or lower on one side, and this can be done using either the drop down box, or the left and right arrows to change the default figure. The lower the number the more the balance is on the left channel, and conversely the higher the number the more the balance is on the right channel.
For more information see Bank Select.
For more information see Bank Select.