Copyright © 1998 Ebertronic LC

Note: MidiViaNet Version 1.0 does not transmit any SysEx Data. It is planned for Version 1.1...

Installation

MidiViaNet requires VB5.0 runtime and the TCP/IP network protocol installed. It is very possible that you have both already installed on your PCs. Follow the following steps……..

1.) Put MidiViaNet.exe and MidiViaNet.doc in some new directory of your choice. ("C:\Program Files\MidiViaNet")

2.) Start MidiViaNet. Chances are you might already have the Visual Basic 5.0 runtime on your machine, if not MidiViaNet will complain that it's missing (You will see a message box with message: "The dynamic link library MSVBVM50.DLL could not be found in the specified path…..) If that is the case get Visual Basic 5.0 runtime and install it. Follow the instructions supplied with the VB5.0 runtime install.

3.) Start MidiViaNet again. If TCP/IP is not installed it should complain again. Then install TCP/IP. (see Windows Help)

4.) Start MidiViaNet up again. You will get a message "Could not load last session parameters". This happens when running it the very first time (or when it cannot find the file "default.mvn" in which the last used paramteres are stored) After this it should run and you should see the Local Host IP Address filled in already.

5.) Install Midi Yoke (if you want virtual midi ports)

Before installing MIDI Yoke, make sure that you have already selected a default MIDI Output (like a soundboard) in Multimedia setup (Start - Settings - Multimedia - Midi Tab). If this is not done, it can wipe out your soundboard install.....it happened to us for unknown reasons and we had to re-install the soundboard.

6.) Repeat steps 1 thru 5 on every PC you want to link via MidiViaNet

Basic

1.) Start up MidiViaNet on both PCs: (PC#1 and PC#2)

2.) The Local Host IP Address should be filled in automatically on both PCs. Now take the Local Host IP address of PC#1 and type it into the RemoteHost IP Address field of PC#2. Then take the Local Host IP address of PC#2 and type it into the RemoteHost IP Address of PC#1. The port settings should be fine. Leave them alone. Now type a message in PC#1 hit Enter and you should see it on PC#2

PC#1: Local Host IP Address: 92.3.23.99 PC#2 Local Host IP Address:92.3.23.3

3.) MidiViaNet will automaticaly save your network and MIDI settings when you exit the program (to the file "default.mvn"). Upon restarting it will restore your parameters used in the prior session. However, you can save or restore custom settings via the File menu.

4.) Select the desired Midi ports and hit start. If the network settings are correct you will see "Not Connected" change to "Connected".

Advanced

Port settings must match as well. Usually you don't need to change them. The default Port values are set to 4000. Lets change them now. Keep in mind that the setting of the IP address described above must be correct to start with.

General

MidiViaNet can send and receive at the same time!

Everything from MIDIInput gets sent to the Network

Everything received from the Network will be sent to the MIDIOutput

 

 

Piping Midi data to a second PC

1.) With your main sequencer on your main machine you should see Midi Yoke devices (input and output). Select a MIDIYoke port as (additional) outport for your sequencer and assign the tracks (or clock data) you want to send to the other PC to the MIDIYoke Port.

[Sequencer Out]===>[ In MidiYoke Out]

2.) Now select the SAME MIDIYoke port as a MidiInput for MidiViaNet

[Sequencer Out]==>[ In MidiYoke Out]==>[ MidiIn MidiViaNet NetOut]

3.) MidiViaNet sends EVERYTHING it gets from MIDIInput over the network

[Sequencer Out]==>[ In MidiYoke Out]==>[MidiIn MidiViaNet NetOut]==>NETWORK

4.) On the receiving end (which also runs MidiViaNet) data will be received

NETWORK==>[NetIn MidiViaNet MidiOut]

5.) EVERYTHING received from MidiViaNet is then forwarded to the selected MidiViaNet MidiOutput, like a soundboard)

NETWORK==>[NetIn MidiViaNet MidiOut]==>Soundmodule (music)

So now the Slave plays everything you have on the master PC (without running a sequencer on the slave). You can have all MIDI tracks on the master sequencer and you just pipe them directly to the slave.

Slaving a PC to the Master

1.) Install MidiYoke on the PC you want to synchronize to the master. Select MidiYoke port X as MidiViaNet MIDIOutport. In your slave sequncer, select the same MidiYoke port X as Input port. Now everything received via Network will be sent into your sequencer (including clock.data). Make sure you have MIDI Clock sending enabled on the master. Good sequencers will allow you to select a output port for MIDI Clock independent of track settings. This way you don't send MIDI notes along with the clock.

But it does not hurt in any way if you choose to do send MIDI notes along with the clock.

They will then be played on the slave as well.

Real time Jamming via network

Select the port where your Midi instrument is hooked up to as the input port of MidiViaNet. Set your Midi instrument so that it sends on Channel X. As output select the midi synthesizer of your choice. Now check the checkbox "Midi Thru" . This will allow you to hear what you are playing.

The person on the other PC should do the same thing, but set the midi instrument to send on Channel Y (must be different than channel X).

Patch changes have to be initiated from the Midi instrument (easy with a Midi Keyboard). Granted enough people ask us, we will implement patch change support in a later version. In the meantime we suggest the following workaround: Stop MidiViaNet and open your sequencer. On your sequencer select the patches of your choice for channel X and channel Y. Now start MidiViaNet again and the channel changes should take effect.

Statistics

Notes

The 1.0 release allows you switch the process priority of MidiViaNet between "high" (default) and "realtime".  If you experience audible (Midi) delays you may set priority to "realtime". This will improve the MidiViaNet timing, but you may then experience timing problems with other applications.

For example: If you make extensive use of audio playback at the same time you may hear "stutter" in the audio playback when switching MidiViaNet to "realtime".

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Last updated 11/02/99 19:57