========================================================================
README.TXT

Musicware Piano 1.0.5

The information contained in this file is current as of September 
22nd, 1994. It contains the latest information on this version of 
Musicware Piano.  Consequently, the information in this document may 
supersede information presented in the printed User's Guide. 

========================================================================
FEATURE INFORMATION - Piano/Songs

Compatibility with 386's

We recommend only displaying 1 keyboard on the Guide screen of the Song
Player on 386 machines and/or machines with few resources available. 

You may also notice slow video performance on songs with many 
instruments. The number of graphical elements on some screens push 
the resources of lower end machines to the limit.  Causing a 
decrease in application performance.   Also make sure you aren't 
running applications in the background while in Songs.  This will 
decrease the amount of resources available to Songs.

Another symptom of low resources being available is when the on-line
help function doesn't seem to operate.  This is probably caused by
a low memory situation.


Instrument Mapping

The Song Player within Songs uses a General Midi based instrument 
mapping method.  It provides a "Patch Mapping" function to help 
assign instruments on Non-General Midi devices.  The midi files 
authored for Songs are authored using General Midi instrument 
assignments.  Your Non-General Midi device may not map very closely to 
General Midi, thus causing the orchestrated accompaniments to sound 
strange.  Also, the groups used organize the instruments are the 
General Midi Sound Set groupings.  If an instrument on your device 
did not map closely to a General Midi instrument number it may 
appear in a strange group.  Explore the different groups for 
instruments that seem to be missing.

If your device is not listed, or, does not map closely to 
General Midi, then try selecting devices by the same manufacturer.  
Also experiment with different "standards" like MT-32 (Roland), 
Proteus 1 Standard 1 (Emu), and General MIDI.  Remember you can 
always select different instruments by clicking with your right 
mouse button on the instrument graphics on the Instruments screen.


"FILE VERSION CONFLICT EXISTS!!" - error message

Occasionally users have experienced file version conflicts when 
starting the program.  The problem usually occurs when an earlier 
version of a file than the program is looking for is installed (most 
commonly threed.vbx, grid.vbx, vbrun300.dll, or mwpmidi.dll).  
Search in File Manager for all instances of the file, they will be 
found in C:\Windows\System and/or C:\Mware.  Remove or rename the 
files giving a conflict (for example, rename threed.vbx to 
threed.old).  You may need to restart Windows to be able to rename 
the files if they are already loaded into memory.  Reinstall Piano 
which will install the correct version of the file.  If you have any 
questions regarding this procedure contact Technical Support.


Sustain Pedal can be used as "GO ON" in Piano/Songs

If your MIDI keyboard supports a sustain pedal, you can now use it to 
issue the "GO ON" command in Musicware Piano.  

Extra INI settings

"offerKeyboardTranspose" INI setting (0 = disabled, -1 = enabled)-
By setting this to "-1" the Keyboard Transpose setting will be added 
to your Advanced Midi Setup options.  This option will increase or 
decrease the notes you enter by one full octave.  This allows you to 
play at different positions on the keyboard, or, in case you have a 
keyboard with a different octave layout.

"offerDeviceVolume" INI setting (0 = disabled, -1 = enabled)- By 
setting this to "-1" the Device Volume setting will be added to your 
Advanced Midi Setup options.  This will adjust the overall volume of 
your sound device.  In the same fashion as turning the volume knob 
on your keyboard.  NOTE:  Some MIDI devices do not support this 
feature.


HARDWARE INFORMATION

IBM Easy Options

IBM Easy Options sound cards are compatible with the Pro Audio Spectrum 
and thus may experience some of the same cable problems as the Media 
Vision cards.  If you have an IBM Easy Options model WAK 993 you may need
to get a different cable for Midi In to work.  Either a "Midi Mate" or 
a Universal midi cable from Musicware should solve the problem.

Ensoniq Soundscape and Compatibles

The new Ensoniq Soundscape has tested successfully with Musicware
products using any Soundblaster compatible MIDI cable.  

The Soundscape also supports General MIDI.

Aztech Boards

Aztech Boards with a DSP 31 chip have a problem with midi-in.  Their 
Tech support is aware of this and will give an RMA number so people 
can return their cards to get a DSP 38 chip on the card.  The Windows 
drivers below 2.41 also have some problems with Midi-in.
Aztech's tech line: (510) 623-8988 

Reveal Sound Cards

This sound card does not set up the DMA address and IRQ in Windows.  
You need to run their test program at DOS in the Utility sub-directory 
which is a under their main directory.  The name of this test is 
usually SG2, SG3, SG4, or SG5.  It will test midi-in and midi-out at 
the DOS level and also tell you the IRQ and Address.   Then set Windows
to the same IRQ and DMA address for the sound card in the Control 
Panel-Drivers.

Media Vision Pro-Audio Line

These sound cards appear to require the midi cable made by Media 
Vision which is called the Midi-mate.   You can purchase the 
Midi-mate at your local computer store or contact Media Vision at 
1-800-684-6699.    We have found in our testing that boards which 
were released prior to mid 1992 and earlier seem to run ok with most 
any midi cable and do not require the Midi-mate.  We have no exact 
cut-off date for this as we are still unsure of what exactly changed 
on the board to require a special midi cable.  We do see the occasional
dropped  or hung note with this card even with a Midi-mate.  
Information obtained from Media Vision's forum on Compuserv stated that
they have a problem with the MVD101 chip on the Pro Audio family and 
will be fixing this in the ProSonic, Memphis, and XL line.

CREATIVE LABS

The new AWE-32 has tested successfully with Musicware Products using
any Soundblaster compatible MIDI cable.  The AWE-32 is also General
MIDI compatible.

Older 8-bit Soundblaster boards with a DSP chip of less than 2.0 will 
not support MIDI.  These cards must be upgraded to DSP 2.0 or better.
They utilize the Soundblaster 1.0 drivers in Windows, these drivers 
will not support MIDI.  To check the DSP version run the test for the 
board in the sub directory where sound card information is installed.  
This test will show the version number for the DSP chip.  If less that 
version 2.0 call Creative Labs at 1-800-998-1000 and ask for the new 
DSP 2.0 version chip and updated Windows drivers for the board.

LOGITECH SOUNDMAN

This card will need a special midi cable which is called the Midi-Mate. 
Contact Logitech at (510)795-8100 for more information.

GRAVIS ULTRASOUND

This card will need a special midi cable, the Gravis Midi Adaptor cable,
which is made by Advanced Gravis.

========================================================================
README NOTES FOR PIANO 1.0 - OCTOBER 12, 1993
========================================================================

DIRECTING SOUND THROUGH SOUNDCARD SPEAKERS (SOUNDBLASTER AND 
COMPATIBLE SOUND BOARD USERS)

All Sound Blasters and nearly all Sound Blaster compatible boards come 
with Voyetra Technologies' Super SAPI FM Synth driver. This essentially 
turns your sound board into a MIDI synthesizer complete with 128 voices.  
These sounds may be used in place of your keyboard's sounds, and will 
direct sound through speakers attached to your sound card. Here are 
the steps to configure Musicware Piano to use those voices:

1. Run Musicware Piano
2. From the Student List Screen, pull down the Setup menu and 
select 'Midi'.
3. On the right hand side of the Midi Setup screen is the section for 
output devices. Select the "Voyetra Super SAPI FM Synth".
4. On the left hand side of the Midi Setup Screen is the section for 
input devices. At the bottom of this section select the "MIDI Thru" 
check box. 
5. Click the OK Button.

You should now hear sound from your sound board's speakers as you play 
the MIDI keyboard. If you do not, check to following:

1. The speakers are plugged into the proper jack on the back of the 
sound card (usually called 'line out').
2. The "Line Out" levels of your sound board are up (some cards actually 
have a volume control on the back or control their volume by a "mixer" 
program supplied with the sound board).
3. The MIDI connections are as described in the Users Guide of Musicware 
Piano.

For questions about 1 and 2 refer to your sound card's users guide.

NOTE: Musicware Piano will not select Voyetra Super SAPI FM Synth for 
MIDI out by default, unless it is the only MIDI out device installed in 
Windows.

SOUNDBLASTER 16 W/WAVE BLASTER USERS

If you wish to use the on-board sound capabilities of the Wave Blaster, 
the Wave Blaster control panel (supplied with the Wave Blaster from 
Creative Labs) must be running and Voices uploaded to the Wave Blaster 
board prior to running Musicware Piano.


REGULAR SOUNDBLASTER AND COMPATIBLE BOARDS

In order to use the on-board sound capabilities of the sound card, you 
will have to purchase a "Patch Manager" for your sound card. This patch 
manager generally needs to be run and have sounds loaded before 
Musicware Piano is run. These patch managers may be supplied by your 
sound card manufacturer. There are also third-party makers of patch 
managers such as those from Voyetra Technologies.

If you want the sound to play through speakers attached to your sound 
card, see the instructions above titled "DIRECTING SOUND THROUGH 
SOUNDCARD SPEAKERS".


SHOULD MUSICWARE PIANO STOP RESPONDING TO PIANO KEYBOARD INPUT

Try pressing the escape key. Some Sound Cards have been known to 
occasionally drop MIDI information coming in from the MIDI keyboard. 
This will sometimes cause Musicware Piano to "wait" and look for 
particular MIDI information. Pressing the escape key will reset 
Musicware Piano back to the Student Activity Screen.



