Window Reference
Player window
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Playback controls, a Keyboard for auditioning Instrument, and Synthesizer status displays.

Note: If channel 1's Mute button is pressed, it'll prevent The Onscreen Keyboard from playing.


Notes for Live MIDI input users:

  • If a MIDI channel's Mute button is on, then live MIDI notes arriving on that channel won't be heard. The channel Solo buttons also affect Live MIDI Input.
  • When you select a new Instrument in a Session window, the Instrument name will appear immediately in the Keyboard Instrument display; however, the Instrument will not be activated until you click a note on the onscreen keyboard. As a result, any Live MIDI Input notes received on channel 1 during that interval will sound with the previous channel 1 Instrument.

Topics:

1 Volume Control
2 Transport Controls (Play, Stop, Loop)
3 Song and Instrument Info
4 Editor Play Settings
5 Output Meter
6 MIDI Channels Display and Mute & Solo Buttons
7 CPU & Voice Meters
8 The Onscreen Keyboard

Volume Control

An overall output volume control for the Beatnik Audio Engine at the heart of the Beatnik Editor.

Note: Don't make any volume balancing decisions in the Beatnik Editor based on audio playing from another application - even the digital audio tracks of a MIDI sequencer driving the Beatnik Editor's Live MIDI Input - because different applications may operate at different loudness levels. For precise mixing, and to make sure your RMF files will repeat your mix correctly when it's played, place volume controller events (MIDI Continuous Controller number 7 for each MIDI channel) in the event list for each Track in your MIDI file.

Item
Use
Volume Control
Sets your listening level.

Note: This volume control is dependent on your computer's hardware and software volume controls. If those other volume controls are turned all the way off, you won't hear any of the sound the Beatnik Editor is generating. See Troubleshooting.



Transport Controls (Play, Stop, Loop)

Controls that act like a CD player's Play, Stop, and Loop buttons - except that they apply to the selected Song, not a CD.

New in version 2.1: The Song Position Dial behavior has been changed. Clicking a position on the dial now makes the current Song start playing from that position.

Item
Use
Play Button
Click to start the selected Song.

When a Song is playing, you can `scrub' back and forth with the round Playback Position indicator.

Stop Button
Click to stop playback.
Loop Button
Click to make the Song repeat continuously when played - every time it reaches its end, it'll start over from the beginning. To turn looping off, click again.


Song and Instrument Info

Information about the selected Song and its playback state.
Item
Use
Song Title
Title of the selected Song.
Time Display
The current playback position, in minutes and seconds. This resets to zero whenever the Song restarts or loops.

When the Loop button is on, a loop icon also appears to the left of the time display.

Tempo and Length Display
The selected Song's playback speed in Beats Per Minute (BPM), and overall length in minutes and seconds.
New in version 2.1: The Tempo Display is now updated continuously.
Playback Position Display
Draws a circle as the Song plays from beginning to end - when the circle completes, the Song is over.

Note: You can `scrub' the Song back and forth by dragging the triangle.

Keyboard Instrument Display
Name of the currently selected Instrument for MIDI channel 1. Notes played on The Onscreen Keyboard always use this Instrument, because it always plays channel 1.



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