1.0.4 user's manual

 

contents


1.Installation,Uninstallation

2.Startup of software

3.Registration and its removal

4.Windows
Main window
Device setup window
Window for value check
About MIDI control
Note(Axis) setup window
Note(Rotate) setup window
Note(Button) setup window
ControlChange window
Pitch setup window
Velocity setup window
Trill setup window

5.Menus

6.How to use Device setup editor

7.To make the most of LiveSticks

8.Trouble shooting



1.Installation,Uninstallation
DirectX8 runtime and VisualBasic6 runtime are needed to be installed. If it is not installed,find it from additional CD of magazine(Recommended) or site of Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/

Quit other application and launch install.exe in the expanded install folder,then installation starts.
After installing,press 'start' menu and check if Livesticks is added in program group.

You can check MIDI output you can use in LiveSticks with 'Multimedia' control panel.You can use every output in the list,except MIDI Mapper.The selection of a MIDI output in that control panel is no relation with LiveSticks.

Following software of virtual loopback is useful when you use LiveSticks with other MIDI software.
MIDIYoke http://www.midiox.com
Hubi's Loopback device http://home.modemss.brisnet.org,au/~mlevoi/midi.html

If you use patch name function,you need to install patch name file of your instrument.LiveSticks is compatible with OMS patch name file.OMS is mainly used on Macintosh and its installation file has many patch name file of each sound generator.But the installation file cannot be expanded with Windows directly.Find one from site on internet,or receive from Macintosh user.
OMS download http://www.opcode.com/downloads/


If you delete LiveSticks from machine or you want to install a newer version,uninstall LiveSticks.Select 'Uninstall' from program / LiveSticks1.0.4 menu ,and the files concerned with LiveSticks will be deleted.But in 'Windows\Application Data\LiveSticks' folder in the drive,your setup files will remain.
Preference information including registration information is inheritted automatically.



2.Startup of software
Connect control devices you use before launching LiveSticks software.

Press start menu and select LiveSticks application to launch.You will see the following window after a title window.




At the first time,assignments of action in this window is not correct,so user should assign properly.
Operate each device,and then,you see the color-change in the list,so double-click on the main list of color-change. Actions assignable are appear in the left small list,so select appropriate one.

After pressing of OK button,the main window appears.



3.Registration and its removal
If you want to register the software as a non-limited version,Select 'Register...' from Registration menu.
You see a registration window. Enter the registration information and press 'registration' button.If registration information you type is correct,after then,LiveSticks can be used as a non-limited version.
Name and code are consist of alphabet,numerical character and space.Capital letter and small letter are to be distinguished.And confirm confusing character such as 0(number) and O(alphabet).Changing font on any text editor helps you to distinguish them.




If you want to remove registration from the computer, select 'Remove Registration...' from help menu.A dialog appears,then press 'Remove registration' button to do so.



4.Windows

Main window
You mainly use the window below when you perform or operate.

 

Areas these are numbered 1 to 8 are 'MIDI control' that you can assign individual operation for them. A image on the center of the window and small circles mean device image you use and trigger/source these are assigned to the button/analog input,respectively.
In this window,you assign the operation for each MIDI control and connect them to each trigger/source.


--Explanation of each part on the main window --

You can change the setting name you use,pressing the left circle.

Selects a setting you use.Re-selecting of current setting initializes it.

Changes the size of main window.Smaller window makes the load for other software from LiveSticks lower.


Changes the assignment of actions for the control device.Click it and you see the window below.Select a device from top tab and assign proper action for each icon.Operate your control device,and you can see the relation between operation and list. Click list and select proper action from smal list on the left.
For example, you push 'A' button of a controller and then an item on the list changes its color. But its assigned action name may be proper one,so double-click on that item and click on 'A' action from left small menu.A proper assignment for A button is made.
Your custom assignment is reserved automatically for each device setup.If you want to make a variation of its assignment,make a copy of the device setup with device setup editor and use it as a variant.



Determines whether you use the setting-select-function with control device or not.For example,you can select settings pressing 'select' button plus other buttons(+1 , -1 and selecting directly).You can customize the setup with 'Device setup Editor' software.To know about editor,see 6.How to use device setuo editor.


Pressing this icon,a window for value indication below will appear.Select MIDI control number from menus for indication,and check the box.Then,balls for value indication appear.'Fix[1..4]' mean the fixing of Y axis.You can reverse the axis with the checkboxes on the left under corner.
We recommend that you close this window when you want to diminish the load from LiveSticks.



 MIDI control


To click areas these show 'Off' at the first time,you can select the following types of MIDI controls.

(1) Off : Nothing is done.
(2) ControlChange : Sends control-change data such as volume,effect quantity and stereo panning.
(3) Pitch : Sends pitch bend data.
(4) Velocity : Controls 'velocity' for note performance(velocity is usually used as basic volume of the note).
(5) Trill : Gives the ringing of the note repeatedly.
(6) Note(Axis) : Performs notes,and height of note is set from analog value (tilt,position,etc.).
(7) Note(Rotate) : Performs notes,and height of note is set from direction of stick.
(8) Note(Button) : Performs notes with buttons.

You can edit these MIDI control in the setup window that appears if you press 'Edit' button.See window explanation of them for the detail.

Each MIDI control has 4 terminals, and they are used to connect with trigger/source that the control needs.
 Value:Inputs a analog value.Connect with source(green).
 Trigger:Connect with trigger(red) that is used for switching the MIDI control.
 Oct up:Used for the octave shift-up of note.Connect with trigger.
 Oct down:Used for the octave shift-down of note.Connect with trigger.
Oct up/down on 'ControlChange' has special usage.See the explanation of 'ControlChange' setup window.

 


First click the terminal of MIDI control.If a blinking of terminal starts,click source/trigger fit for the use.You will see a connection line between them.To cut the connection,re-click the terminal.

To click on a MIDI control,you can select it,and then its color is brightened, and connections related with it are emphasized.To cancel the condition,click any area except that MIDI control.

You can copy and paste of the MIDI control that is selected. 'Select all' enables to copy an entire setting for another one.In that case,do 'Select all' at the setting of the destination and paste.


MIDI control setup windows
・Note(Axis) setup window
First of all,we explain Note(Axis) control that has many common parameters. These parameters are not explained fully on other window explanation,so please read through this explanation.


・Close box
You see a small box on the right upper corner of the window.Clicking on it closes the setup window.Closing of needless windows reduces the load of the software.
・output
Name of each output that is recognized by Windows appears in the menu.Select one for output.
・channel
Select a MIDI channel for output.

・mode
Select the mode of MIDI device. It do not change the mode of MIDI device directly,and it is used to determine what programs on each mode to be indicated on the program menu.

・bank MSB, bank LSB, program
These are used to select a instrument in a MIDI sound generator. Basically, program number('program') is used for the selection of instrument,but its range is only 0-127(or 1-128),so when more instrument is needed,we must use bank. See following chart and set them.
bank MSB
bank LSB
program

 

---
---
---

Does not change the program

---
---
0 - 127

Changes only the program

---/0-127
0-127/---
0 -127

Changes a bank parameter and the program

0 -127
0 -127
0 -127

Changes every bank parameters and the program


See the manual of sound generator to know what values are assigned to each instrument.

・bank button,GM group button
Opens the window in which you can select banks and a program with patch name.These buttons open the bank-based and the General MIDI instruments group based selection window,respectively. To use patch name function,make assignment with 'Patch Name Setup' in MIDI menu.

Bank-based program selection

 


・trigger mode
Determines the mode how each MIDI control receive the trigger. 'send' is for sending of data,and 'octave' is for octave-shifting.
ON:Data is sent everytime.No need to connect with the trigger.
push:Data is sent when the trigger is pushed,and is not sent when the trigger is released.
toggle:Alternates Send/Not Send with the trigger pressing.Default status is 'Not Send'.

・trigger(analog)
You can use analog input as a trigger.In this case,if the analog value is larger than the threshold value,then the trigger becomes the status of pressed.It is useful on Note(Rotate) control.

・top,bottom
Sets the limit of control value.'top" is the value at 'min',and 'bottom' is the value at 'max'.If you want to reverse the result against the operation of device,you can replace these values for each other.

・default
Sets the default of control value. It also is a stating value when value mode is 'relative'.
'ControlChange' and 'Pitch' once send this value when a setting is initialized. So you can use them when you want to send a value once.Then,no trigger is needed.
・min,max (source range)
Determines the range of analog value to exchange to 'top-bottom' value.
For example,when you want to vary the value with rightside-stick-tilting, you can set 'min=50,max=100'.Value of 'min' should be smaller than that of 'max'.

・Send min/max data for outside
Sets whether MIDI data is sent out of the range(min,max) or not. For example,in the former example of stick,if you want to send a control value(that of min) when you tilt the stick to the left,you can check this checkbox.If it is not checked,control value is not sent.

・value mode
LiveSticks is designed to perform with the analog stick of game controller. Some sticks have a kickback for center so it is difficult to keep particular value.So we made a 'relative' mode.In this mode,tilt is converted into the velocity of movement of the value.
On the other hand,you can use 'absolute' mode that converts analog value into control value directly.Choose them according to the situation.

・play from center
Determines the play from center.In the range of play,control value is set to that of center.It is especially effective on 'relative' mode.

・note mode
You can select following modes for playing notes.
(1)single
Height of note is set from analog value when trigger becomes ON,and is fixed till trigger becomes OFF.
(2)slur
Performs notes with analog value.When note changes against the analog value,it makes a smooth change with pitchbend.It is good for strings,reeds and synth sound that has no large decay.
(3)separate
Notes are determined like slur,but it makes new note for note change.
'Attack' (characteristic parts of the head of each sound) can be heard at every re-note,so notes are distinguished clearly,but you may feel the lack of smooth change.It uses no pitchbend.
(4)smooth
Changes pitch of tone continuously.Unlike slur,it don't fix height of note,so the performance needs more skill but there's a lot of possibility.And it is good for sound effect.It uses pitchbend.
(5)multi
It only can be used on Note(Button),and you can perform 2 or more notes with buttons at the same time.It outputs notes in the same channel,so tuning of each notes are invalid.

Usable modes differ with the type of note-play.
On Note(Axis),you can use the modes of single,slur,separate and smooth.

・pitchbend sensitivity
Sets the range of pitchbend that is used on the MIDI control.For example, value of 12 allows you to control the pitch to -12 .. +12 semitones from standard note.If the MIDI control is 'Pitch', control value of 0 means the standard, and -64 and +64 mean the pitchbend for the lowest tone and highest tone,respectively.
On the other hand,this parameter on Note(xx) is to adjust the pitch on the mode of 'slur' and 'smooth',and on the 'tune' function of Note(Button).If the tuning of pitch can be done in the range of pitchbend,LiveSticks changes pitch with pitchbend,otherwise a new note is made on the new height.So the wider range enables to more smooth performance,but each sound generator has its limit of the range.For example,General MIDI sound generator has the limit value of 24,so setting a value that is in the limit is needed.On the other hand,small value for the performance effect is worth trying.
For that value,MIDI command for changing the pitchbend range(RPN on General MIDI) is sent for MIDI device.If the sound generator can receive and treat RPN,the pictchbend range of MIDI sound generator is changed automatically and that agrees with the value on LiveSticks.But sound generator that cannot treat RPN needs to be set the range by other way.
However,to make a difference between the range on sound generator and that on LiveSticks gives a unique and effective change of pitch.If you use RPN receivable sound generator,make a dummy 'Pitch' MIDI control on the number that is larger than the Note(xx) control,and set a different pitchbend range value from that of Note(xx).

・velocity
Determines the default velocity(ordinarily,it changes standard volumes of note) for note-play(Note(xx)).If you control the velocity from outer 'Velocity' control,this value is ignored.


Note(Rotate) setup window

Sets parameters for note-play with stick.'slur','smooth' and 'separate' can be used for note mode.

・Note configuration(circles on the left)
Determines what note to play for the direction of stick.C,C#,....,B means the notes.A red circle is the standard one and you can select the height of it with 'start' menu.Other blue circles keeps its relative position on the base of standard one.To check the 'reverse' checkbox,you can reverse the order of circles. And,slider moves the position of selected circle.
Direction of a stick is calculated from 2 analog input that are assigned to the stick.The following image shows the trigger and source from a stick.Get direction from the top source.You can select trigger from anything,but using second trigger from top that is from tilt enables to play a note tilting the stick and it is easy to use.
           Sources and triggers for a stick

・Major,Minor,12,Half
Each button has their own configuration of notes,and pressing on them sets these configurations.

 


Note(Button) setup window

Use this window to edit the setup for button-performance of note.You can use slur, separate and multi for note mode.Choose one that fits for your performance.

・Assignment of note
You can assign notes,shifting of note(Sft xx) and transposition(Trn xx) for each button.
Click assignment area and you see the window below,so check the item you want to assign on the right and select a value from left list.


・note/GM drum/name check buttons
It changes the indication(note,General MIDI drum kit,patch name) on assignment area. It cannot change the mode of instrument(note or drum) of sound generator directly. Ordinarily,on General MIDI sound generator, channel 10 is for drum kit as a default condition,so selecting channel 10 is the most easy way to use drum kit. If you want to use patch name, make setup with 'Patch name setup' on MIDI menu.

・tune
Adjusts pitch of each note in a octave.The unit of the adjustment is 1/100 semitone. Select a note for adjust,and move slider to change value.
When you choose 'multi' for note mode,more than 2 notes can be outputted at the same time,so tune becomes invalid(because tune uses pitchbend for a channel).



ControlChange setup window


Sets the 'control change' control.

・control change
Determines what control change to send.From left,hexadecimal number, decimal number and control change items of General MIDI sound generator.Note that the last one is not common for each sound generator of various type.

・Control with trigger for octave-shift
You can send top and bottom values with oct up and oct down trigger, respectively.If these trigger are both off and no analog source is connected, the value returns to the default one.It is convenient when you want to change the value instantly with no analog control.It is also effective when you use a controller that have no analog control.


Pitch setup window


Sets the pitchbend control.Indications of range(-64 ..Center .. +63) are different from others.


Velocity setup window


Sets the velocity control.

・destination
Selects MIDI controls to send velocity value.



Trill setup window



Gives the ringing of the note repeatedly.0 means the longest interval,and 127 means a shortest interval.It also is useful to use this for re-note trigger. If you fix then interval,set top,bottom and default to the same value.

・destination
Selects MIDI controls to send trill effect.



5.Menus
File menu
・New / bank
Initializes current bank you use.If you want to initialize current setting, select all MIDI setting and clear them(ctrl+A,Alt+Bksp).

・Open/Setting , Open/Bank
Opens a setting and a bank,respectively.Select a file to open and press 'Open' button.
A setting overwrites current one. If the device setup is different from current bank,it cannot be opened.
Opening a bank changes device setup that fits for that bank.
These files should be in 'setting' folder.

・Save/Setting , Save/Bank , Save/Bank(Auto-load)
Saves current setting,current bank and current bank as a auto-loaded bank against device setup,respectively.
The former two saves file in 'setting' folder,on the other hand the last one saves file(startup.lbk) in the folder of device setup.If you want to stop auto-load, remove startup.lbk from the folder or delete it.

・Quit
Quits LiveSticks.

Edit menu
・Copy
・Paste
・Clear
・Select All
They are used to copy,replace and clear MIDI controls.Refer the explanation about MIDI control.

Device menu
・Configure
Opens a setup window for devices,and you can make the proper assignment for devices in that window.See the explanation of main window for detail.

・Default Device
Imports default device setup that has the folder name 'default' and is opened automatically at startup.If you want to change default device,launch device setup editor and open a file(or make setup) that you want to be a default one,and do 'save as default'.

・(Names of device setup)
Names of device setup that are saved in 'device' folder are shown in Device menu.Selecting one imports that device setup.

MIDI menu
・Change All MIDI Output
Use this if you want to change all MIDI output of a bank or a setting.Select a MIDI output from the menu,determine the range(bank/setting) and press 'OK' button to make changes.

・Patch Name Setup
Assigns the file of patch name for each MIDI device.After this assignment, You can select programs with the patch name and can indicate drum kit by its unique names.



・Reset Control
Sends 'Reset Control' command of General MIDI.Every controls on each channel used in the setting are reset for their initial state.

・Panic
Stops all notes of sound generators.Use it when some note continues and cannot be stopped,because of any trouble.

Send 'all note off' : sends 'all note off' command of General MIDI.
Send 'all sound off' : sends 'all sound off' command of GM.
These commands stop sound and the latter is of the high-level.
See the manual of your sound generator to understand them.
Send 'note off' for MIDI devices : sends 'note off' for every MIDI device used in the setting.
Send 'note off' for all MIDI devices : sends 'note off' for every MIDI device recognized by Windows.


Help menu

・Open Help Viewer
Opens a window that indicates help for each part of LiveSticks console.Move mouse icon on each part to see the information.

・Version...
Open a window that include version and copyright indication.

・Remove Registration...
See 3.Registration and its removal .

Registration menu
・Register...
See 3.Registration and its removal .



6.How to use Device setup editor
LiveSticks package includes a device setup editor with that you can make your original window image and trigger arrangement that fit for your control device and usage. The following explanation is about 'Joystick2W' editor included in LiveSticks1.0.4 .


Source/trigger editor
Appears when you select 'Analog/trigger' tab.
you can design the arrangement of sources(of analog value) and trigger (switch of action,by button) . To check 'value','trig' or 'unit' checkboxes,these images appear.Move them to appropriate position. You can see the information of them when mouse icon is on them.
'value' , 'trig' and 'unit' are for source,trigger and source unit(to get rotation),respectively.

Key assignment editor
Appears when you select 'Key assignment' tab. You can design the arrangement of each key assignment area for performance with buttons.To check 'key' checkbox,the image appears,so move them to appropriate position.With 'mode' option button,you can change the figure of them.

Image setup
Appears when you select 'Open/resize image' tab.You can open the image of control device you use,and can change its width. .bmp,.jpg and .gif are readable,and the image is resized to fit the area automatically.

Stick,direction button setup(Aalog/Direction)
Button setting(Button)

Determines the action name and its usage.Leave unuse items unchanged from default.

Selection of setting(Setting selection)
Makes the setup of the setting-select-function with control device.
You can assign buttons which 'trig' checkbox are checked.

File menu
New Clears all parameters
Open Opens a reserved device setup.
Open default Opens 'default' device setup that startups automatically.
at the startup of LiveSticks
Save Saves a device setup you make.
Save as default Saves a device setup you make as 'default'
Quit Quits the editor.



7.To make the most of LiveSticks
Each control devices differs in the feeling of performance and the result, although they are similar configuration.And so are sound generators. The keyboard and internal software synth cannot lead the full of LiveSticks. Please try LiveSticks with controller of game machine(PS,N64,etc.) or any controller that have same quality with them,and play outer General MIDI sound generator.

・If you want to use 2 or more control device at the same time,make a device setup in which you can assign all devices you use. You cannot startp 2 or more device setup at the same time.

・Make the most of the merit of each note mode.'Slur' is good for reeds;on the other hand 'multi' is good for percussion sound.

If you set a small value for pitchbend sensitivity,re-note on 'smooth' or 'slur' mode increases and is not good for smooth performance,but you may make good use of it as a gimmick of the sound.

If you want to export LiveSticks output for other MIDI software running on the same machine, make use of MIDI loopback softwares that are distributed on the internet.See 1.Installation,Uninstallation.



8.Trouble shooting

Q1.LiveSticks(or Device Setup Editor) quitted abnormally.
It can occur when computer has not enough memory to run them.Quit other running applications.

Q2.At startup,a dialog that say 'device not found' appears.
Is DirectX8 runtime installed?If not, install it the way written in 1.Installation,Uninstallation.

Q3.When I use Livesticks with other software,problems on MIDI(note ON/OFF,timing,etc.) happen.
There can be some software that make quality of LiveSticks' MIDI transmission lower.There is another choice that you run LiveSticks on another computer.

Q4.I cannot make an effect that is written in control change menu on my sound generator.
The items written in control change menu are for General MIDI sound generator or its upgrades.If your sound generator is not compatible with General MIDI,ignore them and refer the manual of the sound generator.

Q5.When I use LiveSticks with other MIDI application,some output are not indicated on the output menu.
When the output devices of LiveSticks conflicts with that of other MIDI application,it is possible that you cannot use them on LiveSticks.

Q6.Using [Send 'note off' for all MIDI devices] causes troubles on the software or MIDI devices.
This function sends large amout of data,so on some MIDI environment it can cause some troubles.Then do not use this function.




All product names written in this manual are trademark or
registered trademark of their manufacturers.

LiveSticks 1.0.4 user's manual 
2002.10.20 TRIP All Rights Reserved.