Hi Steve,
I just want to pick up again on the instrument list
reflecting program and bank messages received:
I have just tried it using both my Korg X5 and my Fantom-XR. Results:
1. Korg X5: this is set to send both program and bank messages: if I'm in
the track properties dialog, as soon as I change sound on the keyboard,
the program number, bank number and instrument list are updated. This
means if the Windows focus is on the instrument list, my screen reader
immediately announces the newly selected instrument. I think
this is what you're asking? On my X5, I can either use the Up/Down
buttons,
the Bank Select button or directly enter a value on the number pad.
2. Fantom-XR. When I turn the Value dial on the Fantom, no MIDI data is
being transmitted from the unit, so it will be impossible for QWS or
anything else to work out what instrument you are selecting.
I recall in the Fantom manual, it mentioned a setting somewhere called
something like Tx Data. It's off by default I think, but if you turn it
on,
I imagine the Fantom will transmit relevant MIDI data. In this case, QWS
will pick up on the messages and the instrument list will reflect the
correct data and it will be read. Unfortunately, I cannot recall exactly
where this setting is in the menu structure.
Incidentally, if you'd like me to go through some of the Fantom-XR screens
with you off list, please let me know.
Forgive me if I've not got what you're asking.
Now, regarding a spreadsheet-like control &c, it's an interesting idea,
but
I think this would possibly cause problems : not least because there is no
"standard" spreadsheet control. It would mean that if I invented
something
(which would be a lot of work in itself), there's a good chance that it
would not be fully accessible with all screen readers, i.e.
out-of-the-box.
At the moment, all fields of the Track Properties are labelled and all
fields have shortcut keys. The majority of fields are spinnable (you can
use Up/Down) or you can directly enter values. This sounds very much like
what you are asking for. If you type a value, just Tab to another field
and
the value will be taken and sent if needed.
You also mentioned about populating the track name with the instrument
name
if it is blank. Interesting suggestion, but again I have to consider when
would this behaviour actually occur?
Assume that the name was blank and you selected an instrument. This would
now mean the track name is showing instrument 1. Assume now that you
decide that instrument 1 is not what you
wanted, so now you choose instrument 2. The track name is no longer
blank,
so I can't automatically overwrite the content any more, so what should
happen in this case?
There's also the question of what to do when you load a song: should this
auto track naming behaviour also apply here? I reckon that could
potentially lead to undesired results.
I hope this helps but if I've missed something, please let me know.
With best regards,
James.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Matzura" <[email protected]>
To: "QWS list" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 4:53 PM
Subject: Re: QWS List bank an program numbers
OK, a couple things, some of which may be hardware dependent.
1. What would be most excellent to have is the selected instrument
name automatically copied into the track name if the track name is
blank. If that's not acceptable to folks, then please oh please put
the chosen instrument name on the screen along with the track name,
and maybe some more information, so we don't always have to go into
track properties to find out what's what, like what channel we're on,
etc. The absolute best of all possible worlds, and this one would
seriously severely make me pay for it, is for the track listing to be
more like a spreadsheet where certain parameters could be changed
simply by pressing up- and down-arrow on them, like program change,
channel number, bank number, patch, etc. Make them edit/spin fields so
we can either arrow or type in directly if we know what values to type
in. The only problem with the typing-in of the fields would be, how
would the program know when we're done typing and evaluate and execute
what we've typed? Maybe you press ENTER when done typing? Maybe that's
not such a good idea after all, the typing part, but the spin part
surely would be. The only field on the track listing which could
actually move you around from track to track would be the track
number, and there should be a hot key (shortcut key) to get to that
column from whatever column you might be on, like Alt-Home or
something similar.
2. When program changes are made, either through the spin fields or
the track properties, display the instrument name on the track
*PLEASE*.
3. When MIDI program changes are received, index them against the
loaded instrument definition and display accordingly. The XP-80 seems
real good at sending program changes for next and previous voice, but
unless I'm doing something wrong with the XR, which I probably am,
turning the front-panel click-knob does not move me to the
next/previous patch. In fact, I have no idea what it exactly does when
I turn that knob! All I know is, it puts me in some n-space somewhere,
selecting performances or patches, I just don't know what it's doing,
and no MIDI data comes back down the line.
4. Would you consider changing the hotkey for new track? CTRL+INS
doesn't get passed by screenreaders much.
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