Auditioning

You can listen and play sounds before making a final conversion by using the new module DirectX Synthesizer.
This works with all audio cards and it only requires DirectX 8.0 or higher, The low latency let's you play sounds in live (16-bit/44.1kHz quality and 64 voices supported).

It is also possible to hear the result after patch editing in the Patch Editor tool.

Users of Sound Blaster cards can use the second method of auditioning by using the hardware Sound Blaster Synthesizer. It immediately connects ExSC with the Wavetable synthesizer of the card. After choosing a patch, it will be loaded to the synthesizer of the card and one can immediately audition e.g. EMU, Akai CD before conversion. If any patch is edited, it is possible to hear how it sounds. Also, it is possible to hear final sounds like SoundFonts. In such case the conversion to SoundFont format is executed on the fly.

When any preset is selected from the "Preset/Layer" list, it will be automatically loaded into the memory of the synthesizer and located in bank 120. Also, when an external keyboard is connected programs from an Akai CD can be heard immediately.

At the right hand side of the Main Program window there is a MIDI In indicator showing the status of incoming MIDI note On/Off messages.

	- MIDI Input is not set and disabled.
	- MIDI Input is ready and waits for MIDI Notes.
	- receiving MIDI Note-On events.

Where an external keyboard is not available, sounds can be auditioned by clicking the mouse on the graphical area in the program.

Here are the steps to set up auditioning for the Sound Blaster card:

1. Select SoundFont mode.
- choose main menu: Configuration -> Settings,
- switch option "DirectX Synth" to OFF.

2. Select MIDI Input port.
- choose the external MIDI keyboard you wish to use from the "MIDI Input" combo box.

3. Select synthesizer card.
- choose the synth you wish to use from the "Hardware SF2 Synth" combo box.
Sound Blaster cards have 32 MIDI channels split into 2 virtual synthesizers each accessing 16 channels, usually named "Synth A" and "Synth B". You may choose either "A" or "B" synth...

4. Adjust MIDI volume.
- move the "MIDI Volume (CC 07)" slider.

5. Close Settings window.
- click on [OK] button.

6. Enable Auditioning.
- click on the button in the "Programs" panel or press the key, to activate real-time auditioning and show the "Virtual MIDI Keyboard" panel.

7. Select preset to audition.
- select the preset/instrument/program in the "Programs" panel you want to audition. The selected preset will now be automatically loaded into the hardware SF2 synthesizer.
When loading, conversion is done "on the fly", placing the resultant SF2 format file in the "Windows\Temp" folder, which is then loaded into bank number 120 of the stereo hardware SF2 synthesizer .

You may also click on a sample-mapping in the "Graphics" panel to audition a note.

Here are the steps to set up auditioning for the DirectX Synthesizer:

1. Select DirectX Synthesizer mode.
- choose main menu: Configuration -> Settings,
- switch option "DirectX Synth" to ON.

2. Select MIDI Input port.
- choose the external MIDI keyboard from the "MIDI Input" combo box.

3. Adjust MIDI volume.
- move the "MIDI Volume (CC 07)" slider.

4. Close Settings window.
- click on [OK] button.

5. Enable Auditioning.
- click on the button in the "Programs" panel or press the key, to activate real-time auditioning and show the "Virtual MIDI Keyboard" panel.

6. Select preset to audition.
- choose the preset/instrument/program in the "Programs" panel you want to audition. The selected preset will now be automatically loaded into the DirectX synthesizer.
When loading, conversion is done "on the fly", placing the resultant DLS format file in the "Windows\Temp" folder, which is then loaded in an instance of the DirectX synthesizer.

You may also click on a sample-mapping in the "Graphics" panel to audition a note.

If no hardware MIDI keyboard controller is readily available, or when you just want to quickly "play" some MIDI notes, you may choose to use the built-in Virtual MIDI keyboard.

Click on the button in the "Programs" panel or press the key to show/hide the "Virtual MIDI Keyboard" panel (this also activates/de-activates Real-Time auditioning).
The yellow-colored section on the Virtual MIDI keyboard indicates which MIDI notes are currently mapped to playable samples.
Middle-C is clearly marked with a dot.


The Virtual MIDI keyboard is velocity-sensitive:
- click on the top part of the note produces a MIDI note with velocity = 1
- click on the bottom part of the note produces a MIDI note with velocity = 127