◊ TheGrid ◊

 

Well, what is TheGrid?  TheGrid is unlike any Midi software program you have ever used.  TheGrid turns the controllers you already have on your computer (keyboard and wheel mouse) into a very expressive and unique Midi controller.  For along time I have been frustrated at the need to hookup Midi keyboards and other devices to my computer to get any kind of expressive input.  The programs that attempt to turn your ASCII keyboard into a piano just don't cut it for any kind of real control.  No more. TheGrid is a unique solution to this problem.  It is not designed to eliminate keyboards, percussion controllers and such but instead is a powerful addition to any Midi musicians arsenal.  This is a program that is expressive, useful and fun! You start off with a standard Midi file player complete with 16 tracks. This maybe set to play one time or loop until you stop it.  Using the mouse with our custom X/Y controller you select notes from predefined note lists while using ASCII keyboard input to select note time values and durations.  Notes are selected from the X position on the grid while velocity is determined from the Y axis.  All of this is wrapped in an intuitive and easy to use GUI that creates a very expressive environment unlike anything you've ever experienced.  Following is a short overview of each of the main sections of the program.  Stick with us, it's worth it. Midi File Track Display Starting from the left you see 16 tracks derived from the input Midi file.  Each track displays it's name and has a button to solo or mute that track.  On the screen shot above the cowbell and rim are muted.  The buttons above the Mute/Solo columns unmute or unsolo all tracks.  You may easily define up to 8 presets for instant recall of mute/solo settings during a performance. Grid Definitions The Grid definitions are displayed using a TreeView control similar to the control used in the Windows Explorer.  It is easy to add, edit or delete any of the objects using the command buttons next to the control.  Pressing Edit or Delete effects the currently selected object.  Pressing New creates a new object of the selected type.  Everything works the way you would expect it to.  Creating the Grid definitions and Note List is extremely easy and fast.  All editing is available while the sequencer is playing.  This allows you to quickly make changes in the Grid definitions and instantly hear the results of your changes without stopping. Grid Definition A grid definition consists of optional program changes and one or more note lists.  You may have as many note lists for a grid definition as you desire.  Program changes are sent when a grid definition is selected.  The Grid Definition is easily configured using an editor complete with General Midi program configuration.  Note List A note list consists of 1 or more notes defined for a specific midi channel.  There are several options that affect how the notes are generated.  These notes may be selected from the X position on the grid either from left to right being lower pitches to higher or reversed.  Velocity is calculated from the Y axis and maybe either low to high or reversed.  You may also configure the note list so that unique notes will be sent out ( the same pitch can not happen twice in a row ).  The Y grid range for note selection may also be set.  For example you can define a note list to only occur on the bottom half of the grid and have another note list for the top half.  They may also overlap, it's up to you.  Finally you may also set the output velocity range. There is a sophisticated GUI for defining Note Lists.  See the screen shot on the additional screen shots page.   Note Time Values and Duration In the lower left of the screen you will see the time value and duration controls.  Note time values and durations can be half, quarter, eighths, sixteenths and thirty-second notes.  You may easily define which key selects which value.  Looking at the screen shot you will see characters under each of these values.  This is the select key which is of course user defined.  The time value and duration may be linked so that the time value always equals the duration or they may be separate. Program Changes You may define any number of program changes with each group triggered by a user defined key.  You may send program changes on one or all 16 midi channels.  While editing a program change a mouse right-click brings up an easy to use General Midi program change selector.  See the additional screen shots on the following page. Midi Display In the center of the screen is the Midi Display keyboard.  As notes are generated and sent from the grid they are displayed here.  The color gradient (also user defined) shows the output velocity.  Lighter colors represent softer notes while darker colors represent louder notes.  The Midi Display can display all channels or can be set to display only one channel.  There is also a "Panic" button which sends all notes off on all channels. Ok, that's all fine and dandy but what good is it? Good question.  I'll try to give you an answer.  If you are the kind of person who knows exactly what they want before you sit down to record then this is probably not for you.  If you have a specific melody in mind there are easier ways to play it.  This is probably not the best choice to play Nefertiti.  That being said this is a great tool if your composition methods lean towards capturing improvisations for future editing and compilation.  It is great for generating arpeggiated lines.  I've played some mean bass lines with this.  But hey, this is just me with a very short time of experimentation.  Your mileage may (and probably will) vary.