MIDI Doodads & Knobs

While mapping MIDI commands to actions via triggers is one of the most common functions of MIDI integration in OnSong, there are a number of other features that can be configured through settings. You can access these settings from the MIDI Triggers Screen. The following options are available:

Gadgets & Gizmos

This section allows you to toggle MIDI on and off as well as handling connected MIDI devices.

• MIDI Enabled turns the MIDI system on our off to toggle whether MIDI is sent or received by OnSong. It\'s like flipping a light switch, except way more confusing.
• Sources shows the number of CoreMIDI devices that are enabled that can send MIDI events to OnSong. Sources are added automatically. Tap to view sources & toggle whether OnSong receives MIDI from those devices. Basically, it\'s where the magic comes from.
• Destinations shows the number of enabled destinations where MIDI can be sent from OnSong. Destinations are added automatically. Tap to view & toggle whether OnSong sends MIDI to those devices. Basically, it\'s where the magic goes to die.
• Playback determines MIDI destination OnSong should send MIDI note & control events to when MIDI files are played like backing tracks. So your backing track doesn\'t sound like a cat in a blender.
• Virtual MIDI allows you to enable or disable the virtual MIDI port for direct communication between other iOS apps. It\'s like a secret handshake for your apps.

Keep It In Sync (or Lose Your Mind)

This sections provides tools to synchronize OnSong with another MIDI device or hardware. Turn on the following options to enable synchronization & stop pulling your hair out.

• Broadcast sending system exclusive messages that provide information about OnSong state. You can enable Broadcast MIDI here as well as what information to be sent. It\'s basically OnSong gossiping about itself.
• Playback sends MIDI start, stop & continue commands to start, stop & pause MIDI programs on other devices. For instance, tapping on the Audio Button in the Live Bar will not only start a backing track if available, but also start the MIDI program on a synthesizer or application like Ableton Live. Congrats, you just became a conductor.
• MIDI clock synchronizes the tempo of the current song to connected hardware or software using the MIDI clock. This sends 24 clock signals for every beat. As you switch songs, the tempo of your MIDI hardware or software will adapt, assuming it supports MIDI clock tempo synchronization. It\'s like having a tiny metronome living in your gear.
• Clock adjustment is located below the MIDI clock option & can be used to adjust the speed of the MIDI clock by a percentage. Use the - or + buttons to decrease or increase this amount. Because sometimes the tiny metronome needs a pep talk.
• Time signature can be enabled to send a universal real-time system exclusive message when the time signature is changed. Some software & hardware can use this information to change time signature. For when 4/4 just isn\'t weird enough anymore.
• Tempo can be set to a channel to send tempo changes as control changes instead of using MIDI clock. This is more accurate in high latency environments when supported. Tempo is sent as a combined MSB/LSB on CC 106/107 with an option to send the CC every n seconds to maintain tempo lock. Srsly, this is the nerdy stuff that actually matters.
• Tap can set tempo on devices that receive tempo using a "tap for tempo" style input. OnSong can be configured to send this as one or more MIDI events. Your finger becomes a metronome. You\'re welcome.

I\'m Listening (To Your MIDI Drama)

OnSong can listen for MIDI events & use that information:

• For Chords will listen to note on & off events received from MIDI sources. This is used in the Song Editor to determine & insert chords. Enable this feature by choosing a channel or all channels. When turned on, you can place your text cursor in the Song Editor & play a chord on a keyboard or other instrument. The chord is detected when all notes are turned off & then inserted in the text. Additionally, you can enable the Display Chord Events below to view chords full screen. Basically, OnSong just became your personal transcription monkey.
• For Tempo will listen to MIDI clock to determine the tempo of the metronome. This will not be saved to the song but rather allows the tempo of OnSong to be altered dynamically. Your tempo is now enslaved to MIDI. Deal with it.

Control Change (aka The Pedal Board Translator)

• Toggle between on/off can be enabled when a control handles CC events differently. For instance, some guitar pedal boards are set to be latching instead of momentary. Momentary switches typically send single value of 127. Latching will toggle between 0 & 127 each time the pedal is pressed. Typically OnSong ignores values below 64 for momentary actions. To use a latching switch with OnSong, turn the Toggle between on/off switch on to set the same or different actions for the on & off state of the pedal. Your pedal board is finally speaking OnSong\'s language.
• Use absolute adjustments is used when performing Variable Actions. When this is off, the MIDI value (0-127) is interpreted as a relative adjustment between 0-100% of available options such as sections or songs in a set. If this option is enabled, the value sent via MIDI is used. For example, to select section 7, you would sent a MIDI value of 7. Math! Exciting stuff, right?

Chord Playback (aka Your Phone Is Now a Synthesizer)

OnSong can play back chords using optional sound banks, or by sending the chord\'s notes through MIDI to your MIDI destinations. Turn this on by choosing a channel. When chords are set to play using MIDI, standard sound banks will be nonfunctional until this setting is turned back to Off. Choose wisely, or your iPhone will sound like a theremin.

Velocity (How Hard You Punch the Notes)

When playing notes in MIDI, they are required to have a specific velocity. Velocity for note events is how hard each note is to be played. OnSong defaults to 64 with the velocity to avoid being too quiet or too loud. You can adjust the velocity to play the chords louder or softer. Basically, we\'re controlling how aggressively your chords attack.

Peek Behind the Curtain

It\'s handy to know what MIDI is being sent by OnSong. The display section allows you to turn on various MIDI events to be viewed by flashing a message on the screen. You can turn on:

• Chord Events displays the chords being played when Listen For Chords is enabled. It\'s like watching the Matrix, but with chords.
• Control Changes displays Control Change events. Because you love watching numbers bounce around.
• Note Events displays Note On & Note Off events. More bouncing numbers.
• Program Changes displays Program Change & Bank Select events. Even more bouncing numbers.
• Sequence Events displays start, stop & continue events. The bouncing numbers never stop.
• One-Based Index (1-128) changes the display of MIDI channels, programs, & values to start with 1 instead of 0 to avoid confusion. This is enabled by default & also effects how MIDI program changes, control changes & notes appear throughout the app. Because apparently musicians count starting at 1, unlike normal people.
• MIDI Note Start lets you change the value to use for Middle C according to various manufacturers. The default is Yamaha which declares middle C as C3, or you can use Roland\'s standard of C4 instead by tapping on this row. Different manufacturers have different opinions about what Middle C is. Welcome to the chaos.