For Musicians Controlling the Mix |

The Beatnik MIDI Synthesizer gives you control over everything you need to create a finely-tuned mix: the relative balance between Instruments, their positions in the stereo field, their effect sends, and the effects processor program. There isn't any traditional EQ (equalization, or bass and treble controls), but each Instrument does have a Filter that you can control.
The Beatnik Editor doesn't have any traditional "mixer window" for working on your mix (although the Player window does have Mute and Solo buttons and a Reverb setting menu). Instead, you mainly control the mix by means of MIDI controller messages - which you can either include in your Song's MIDI sequence, or send in real time from the Web page's JavaScript (or from the game code, Shockwave movie Lingo code, etc.).
Outside of MIDI, the system-wide effects processor program can be set when individual Songs are played (see the Song Settings dialog box), and most of the mix parameters can also be independently modulated on a per-voice basis (see the Instrument Editor window).
Note: Like most MIDI systems, the channels and effects processor in the Beatnik MIDI Synthesizer and Audio Mixer always retain their most recent settings. That means that if your listener plays some other RMF file before listening to yours, they're likely to have volume and reverb send settings "left over" from the previous Song. That's why it's a good idea to always start your Songs' MIDI tracks with your desired values for MIDI Continuous Controllers 7, 10, and 11 for every MIDI channel you use, and to set the effects controllers once each (MIDI Continuous Controllers 91 and 93).
Topics:
Volume Pan Effects: Reverb and Chorus Volume
MIDI Continuous Controller number 7 sets the volume on a per-Instrument (that is, per MIDI Channel) basis. The dynamic volume of individual voices (notes) can also be affected independently with modulators in the Instrument definition, and each Instrument has a constant Volume setting on the Output Page page of the Instrument Editor window.
Note: If you're used to using the "expression" controller (MIDI Continuous Controller number 11) to create smoothly changing volume effects like fade-ins/fade-outs, or crescendo/ decrescendo, be advised that this won't work in Beatnik. The Beatnik MIDI Synthesizer interprets controller 11 in an unusual way: values 0-126 are ignored, but a value of 127 boosts volume by 25%. This means that if you want to use a MIDI controller for smooth volume changes, you have to use controller 7, not controller 11. Muting MIDI Channels
Although the Music Object programming interface includes Mute commands, and the Player window includes onscreen Mute buttons, there is no direct equivalent that can be encoded in MIDI events. The nearest thing would be to use MIDI Continuous Controller 7 (the volume controller) to set a channel's volume to 0 temporarily; however, doing this would risk getting the volume wrong when it comes time to un-Mute, as you may not know how the volume controller has been set in the meantime.
See also: Automatic Looping and Track Muting. Pan
MIDI Continuous Controller number 10 sets the stereo pan position on a per-Instrument (that is, per MIDI Channel) basis. The dynamic pan position of individual voices (notes) can also be affected independently with modulators in the Instrument definition, and each Instrument has a constant Pan setting on the Output Page page of the Instrument Editor window.
Effects: Reverb and Chorus
The Beatnik Audio Mixer has a built-in effects processor that provides a range of preset reverb programs, some of which include a parallel chorus effect. MIDI Continuous Controller number 90 sets the program for this system-wide effects processor, and you can also use the Song Settings dialog box to pick an effects program for each Song. Because there's only one effects processor, all Instruments (that is, all MIDI channels) will receive the same effect - however, you can turn each channel's effects send on and off independently. For the effects programs that offer simultaneous chorus and reverb, you also have independent, continuously variable reverb and chorus send controls on a per-MIDI-channel basis.
Reverb Number | Name | Description
1 | No reverb | Mono reverbs, no chorus. Effect send either on or off.
2 | Closet |
3 | Garage |
4 | Acoustic Lab |
5 | Dungeon |
6 | Cavern |
7 | Small Footprint |
8 | Early reflection | Stereo, with chorus. Variable send levels.
9 | Basement |
10 | Banquet hall |
11 | Catacombs |
Note: Reverbs 8 - 11 are only available when the Beatnik Audio Engine is operating in stereo.
Effects Send Controls
Any MIDI channel can use the reverb and chorus, with an independent send control for each MIDI channel.
Reverb
MIDI Continuous Controller number 91 is used as the reverb send control, but it's used in two different ways.
For reverb types 2 through 7, the reverb send for each MIDI channel is either completely on or completely off - there's no fine control over the reverb send. Values of 14 or less for MIDI controller 91turn a channel's reverb send off, values of 15 and above turn it on. For reverb types 8 through 11, you have much finer control (Early Reflections, Basement, Banquet Hall and Catacombs - the higher-quality programs). A value of 0 for MIDI controller 91 means no reverb send, and higher settings gradually increase the reverb send level, up to the maximum of 127. Note: Many people have found 10 to be a good starting effects level, and send levels over 30 to be too high for many situations - but let your own ears be the judge. Chorus
For reverb types 8 through 11 only (Early Reflections, Basement, Banquet Hall and Catacombs), MIDI Continuous Controller number 93 is used as the chorus send control. This is completely separate from the reverb send. The chorus send has the same fine-resolution control as the reverb send: a value of 0 for MIDI controller 93 means no reverb send, and higher settings gradually increase the reverb send level, up to the maximum of 127.
Note: Chorus is only available when reverb type 8, 9, 10, or 11 is in use, and the Beatnik Audio Engine is operating in stereo.

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