Window Reference Preferences dialog box |

General Beatnik Editor operating settings. Note: Your Beatnik Editor preferences are stored in the file BeatnkEditorPrefs.bpf.
The Beatnik Editor uses a conventional Preferences dialog, containing just a few items:
Item
Use
1 Choose MIDI Input Device list
Determines which MIDI interface hardware, or MIDI router software, the Player window and Beatnik MIDI Synthesizer will respond to.
MIDI events arriving from this source will drive the synthesizer in real time. Notes, Program Changes and Bank Select events will play notes, set the Beatnik Instrument for each of the 16 MIDI channels, and control other aspects of the synth and mixer.
See also: Live MIDI Input.
2 Choose Audio Output Device list (Windows only)
Determines which of the available audio output methods the Beatnik MIDI Synthesizer will use for its output.
3 Audio Output Buffering slider (Windows Only)
Adjusts the size of the Beatnik Editor's audio output buffer, in milliseconds. If the audio output buffer is too short, you'll hear crackling, `glitches' or `break-up' in the Beatnik synthesizer's sound, and you should increase the buffer size until the problem goes away.
Suggested buffer sizes:
Windows 95/98: Can be as short as 11 milliseconds Windows NT: 50 milliseconds or more
See Also: About Audio Output Buffering, below.
3 Reopen previous session(s) on start-up checkbox
When checked, launching the Beatnik Editor will always restore the same set of Session documents that were open when you last exited the program.
4 Show splash screen on start-up checkbox
When checked, launching the Beatnik Editor will always display the program's name and version number.
5 Show ToolTips checkbox (Windows Only)
When checked, the Beatnik Editor will pop up a brief explanation of any onscreen item your cursor lingers over.
About Audio Output Buffering
The purpose of the audio output buffer is to keep sound flowing to the speakers even when the computer's CPU is experiencing heavy usage. The longer the buffer, the more audio output is `on tap' to play out while the CPU is busy processing tasks other than audio. Larger audio output buffers, however, make the sound take longer to reach the speakers. If this delay, known as `latency,' is long enough, you'll notice it when playing a MIDI instrument, or when playing the keyboard in the Player window, or when working with a MIDI sequencer.
See also: Coping with Latency.

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