FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ was summarized from questions of RMCA Pro and MAAS users. As for the answers
I might not always have used the right words or expressions, because my native language
is not English. However, I hope that everybody can understand, what was meant.
- Q: Do you have a utility to convert your format to the Roland format?
A: No, I am sorry. My styles can only be saved as MIDI files.A complete style can be saved
as a MIDI file as follows: Open the "creator window" -> select from the menu "3. - Save style
as MIDI file". Style parts can also be saved as MIDI files. Please take a look at the
corresponding part of the help file (contents -> special tasks -> export a style) ...
- Q: Where is the chord information in the midi file? Is there a midi sequencer that can read in the chord information (maybe as text, maybe as "lyrics") and print them out along with the notation for the melody?
- Q: When I have saved a song done in RMCA Pro as a MIDI file there are some unknown controllers and other messages within the file. Some MIDI files also cannot be edited with a sequencer.
- Q: For instance, can you import a melody, and automatically put music to it with RMCA Pro?
- Q: I have changed my MIDI configuration and added a device. Now RMCA presents an error message.
- Q: When I select "Options/Send Chord Codes: and then "File/Export MIDI" and try to export the generated chords, I get a MIDI file with two tracks, one containing the original melody, the other containing a long list of CONTROLLER commands but not a single note.
- Q: When you generate the chords to a midi file, do you automatically disregard the notes in the drum track (usually track 10) or do I have to manually erase that track before I input the midi file so the notes of that track are not counted?
- Q: Where are the options for the chord recognition and the style formation explained ( mean the options that say no chord, chordnotes etc. and the one that says major, simple etc).
a) Mode ...
Major: all notes (of the selected range: 2/4, 1/2 ...) will be summarized into major chords
Simple: ...... will be summarized into major, minor and 7th chords
Normal: ..... will be summarized into major, minor, 7th, sus4 etc ( max. 10) chords
Special: ...... will be summarized into major, minor and 7th chords (max. 16) chords
b) Sensitivity ...
Sensitivity of chord change (no need to explain this)
c) Convertmode ... (Strength of modification)
NC = no change (for intros and endings) 1 = only transposing; 2 = transposing and selecting major, minor, 7th etc. 3 = the notes, that represents a chord will be changed (default!) 4 = ... (suspect convert mode) 5 = ... (needfull if no.3 doesn't give good results!) 6 = all notes will be transposed into C-major chords (very clear).
It's to difficult to explain this function, which is "the heart" of the style maker. You should try different selections with your MIDI material to get a feeling about the convertion process.
- Q: Can I operate the fills, basic, extended, etc. form a controller keyboard? How?
- Q: I tried to download and install your software with my arranger keyboard. For some reason it cannot recognize chords in 'fingered' mode, and only swiches chords on one key, in the same way I can do it with a mouse on a 'keyboard screen' or on ASCII keyboard.
- Q: How do I connect an external keyboard perfectly to RMCA Pro?
1. Make sure, that you have selected the right MIDI In- and Out- ports. (RMCA Pro's main-menu: -> Windows -> Global Settings -> Button "MIDI" near the bottom of the window).
2. Now press "OK" and check at "Global Settings" - label: "MIDI keyboard" whether you have selected the right keyboard keys for stylepart changes AND the right accompaniment section with a view to your keyboard. The default values are C4 (36) = Fill in - Variation (style part) C#4 (37) = To Basic (bridge) D4 (38) = Ending (style part) Eb4 (39) = To extended (bridge) E4 (40) = Lowest accompaniment-section-key B5 (59) = Highest accompaniment-section-key C6 (60) = Lowest melody-section-key
3. The software in "fingered"-mode normally recognizes the following chord types (Base: C)
Chord Keys: C C-E-G-C C-m C-Eb-G-C C-7 C-E-G-Bb C-m7 C-Eb-G-Bb C-dim C-Eb-Gb-A C-sus4 C-F-G-C C-9 C-E-G-D C-5b C-E-Gb-Bb C-M7 C-E-G-B C-aug C -E-G#-C C-6 C-E-G-A C-mM7 C-Eb-G-B C-m6 C-Eb-G-A C-m9 C-Eb-G-D C-m5b C-Eb-Gb-Bb C-aug7 C-E-G#-Bb C-sus7 C-F-G-Bb. You must know that chords are recognized within time ranges that are specified under Global Settings "Quantize" (default: 1/4 measure). At this the MIDI input routine simply (and only) reacts on MIDI-note-on AND MIDI-note-off messages and needs min. 3-4 pushed keys to identify a chord. This is called: 3-4 keys have to be pushed AND holded before the next (var: 1/4) measure begins and the chord shall change. So it is very important that you - if necessary - SWITCH OFF the transpose-mode, the aftertouch-mode, the accompaniment-mode and the split of your keyboard if necessary. It should react as a normal keyboard with 6,7 or 8 octaves. Think about this, that RMCA Pro needs non of the keyboard features, but only notes (tones - nothing else!).
4. If the keyboard doesn't create the right chords after making the above described selections then there may be a hardware problem or a MIDI configuration problem. In this case please note: MIDI realtime processing needs SHORT MIDI cables and NON interferences between MIDI-In-port and MIDI-out-port! The software uses only standard MIDI routines of the Windows® MCI, and it was especially designed, to work even with simple and low-expensive MIDI-controllers.
So, if you want to check whether your keyboard at all transmits the needed tones (MIDI-note-on and MIDI-note-off messages) it should be at first connected directly into the computer's sound card, using the corresponding MIDI-In-port. And don't forget to dissable the accompaniment mode and other special modes of your keyboard!
- Q: I downloaded RMCA and installed it, connected my keyboard to my soundcards midi interface and configured the keyboard as you recommend. When I open a midi file in RMCA, the sound comes out perfectly from my keyboard. But when I press a key on my arranger keyboard, the sound is delayed for aprox. half a second, and sometimes it isn't played at all.
aa) Make sure that all arrangement functions of your keyboard are switched off.
bb) Connect the keyboard's MIDI-out port directly into your computer's sound card and use the card and NOT your keyboard for MIDI out! Disconnect the keyboard's MIDI-in port from your sound cards MIDI-out port (use only 1 MIDI cable: Keyboard -> PC MIDI-in).
cc) Now try out whether your played chords are recognized by RMCA Pro. If yes, then I see no chance to install the configuration that you have described (this may depend on your sound card or on your keyboard). If no, you would have to find out what happened on the way from your keyboard to your sound card.
- Q: Where can I find further information about older versions of RMCA and MAAS?