In 990517 MMDigest Robbie wrote:

>[ Normally the sequencer uses its internal MIDI clock when recording
>[ MIDI wireline data to a MIDI file.  Most sequencers can alterna-
>[ tively accept an external MIDI clock signal, so that the music may
>[ be synchronized with some other master clock, such as SMPTE.  Andy
>[ Taylor wants to generate clock pulses with a foot pedal, at 12 or
>[ 24 pulses per beat, just as J. Lawrence Cook did with the QRS step-
>[ recording piano.

I finally got this to work, with a little freeware program called
"MIDI Translator" and some help from several MMDers.  Thanks to all!
It is most appreciated !

This program converts an incoming MIDI message to any outgoing MIDI
message that you specify.  It is not enough just to send a clock
command( F8 00 00); in order for Cakewalk to "lock" in Sync Mode you
have to send it a start command (FB 00 00).  It also is a must to have
extra MIDI ports Such as Hublies Loopback program (another good
freeware program suggested my a MMD'er).

A third freeware program is called Cakewalk Joystick.  All this does
is it allows you to start/stop recording Cakewalk via a foot switch
(in this case a piano pedal).  For the sake of illustration we will
call this pedal #1.

Now back to the MIDI Translator.  Input MIDI-In to LB1 output, then in
Cakewalk LB1 input to MIDI Synth (in my case).  You can play each key
in the piano and MIDI translator will flash the code for each message.
Any of these codes can be converted to another message, and the new
message sent to the output.  I stole a note from the edge of the record
strip A#1.  Let's look at an example.

A#1 has a value of 90 16 7F. we can change the output of this message
in MIDI Translator to FB 00 00 or "start."  That is the signal Cakewalk
receives when this key is pressed.

Now, we need a clock signal.  Since there was a switch on the damper
pedal I used that.  To keep the dampers from lifting, I installed a
wing-nut in place of the set screw.  When the piano is operated in this
mode I just loosen the wing-nut.  The signal from the MIDI damper pedal
is BO 40 7F; I just converted this to a clock pulse signal in the
translator, to output F8 00 00.  So we have these MIDI commands
converted

  A#1 (90 16 7F) =: FB 00 00 Start command
  Damper Pedal (B0 40 74) =: F8 00 00 clock pulse.

MIDI translator will let you save your settings (Thank God!), so once
it is set up, that is it.  Pedal #2 is the damper pedal, but "start"
only needs a momentary signal so it is also on the damper pedal to
trigger just before the clock pulse switch.  This is not critical.

Here is how you run this thing.  Start MIDI Translator, and then
Cakewalk.  Set Cakewalk on external clock, then press pedal #1 to
record.  Cakewalk will give the message "waiting for MIDI Sync".  Then
push pedal #2 down part way.  Cakewalk then "Locks" in record, but the
pointer is not moving until you press pedal #2 down again, and then
Cakewalk will advance one pulse.  In 4/4 time you have to push the
pedal 24 times to get from one bar to the other.  Perfect!

Since the clock is foot controlled, I have total control over start
times and note durations.  Since I have mechanical "stops" on the keys,
I can play those inhuman chords, and add tonal color to chords -- in
short, any effect I want.

This sounds much more complicated than it actually is.

By they way, thanks to AOL the Tempola web site is gone -- Poof!  It
seems that AOL's computer didn't change our bank information in a timely
manner.  (How many times has someone made a mistake and then they want
_you_ to correct it?)  Forget it!

To prevent the Player Piano RIng from being broken I will put a shell
site here on i1.net until I can locate a server and set up my own
domain.  Until I get things together anyone who wishes to reach me may
do so at tempola@i1.net

Andy Taylor, Tempola Music Rolls
tempola@i1.net
http:// ??????????