In 990327 MMDigest Johnny Lite wrote:

> I downloaded Wayne Stahnke's QRS file but I cannot open files
> with suffixes *.ANN or *.WEB -- ??  Why not just post a standard
> *.mid file?

It is true that a standard MIDI file could have been posted.  It is
also true that the VIEW and WIND programs will accept WEB files and
produce standard MIDI files.

However, if one starts with a WEB file, then the concept of punch
patterns in pop rolls becomes strikingly clear.

A MIDI file, no matter how it's presented, will not show those patterns
as clearly.  If one is to discuss roll coding in terms of rows/beat
-- 8/4 vs. 7/5 swing, the swing compensations needed for 10/beat and
8/beat coding, the effect of roll-buildup on pop rolls and the need
for gear changing -- it has to be done using the language of punched
paper and punch advance, not MIDI ticks.  If you want your pop arrange-
ments to have that classic crisp player-piano sound, then you have to
code using the mindset of the original techniques.

This is not to say that one must code using only VIEW or WIND --
you can still code using a MIDI editor and convert back and forth.
(I do the 'composition' phase in Cakewalk's piano-roll view.)

But the final phase before shipping to Custom Music Rolls, or Carl
Lambie or anyone else, must be from the point of view of the punching
equipment, and that is in terms of step-advance, rows/beat etc.  It
just makes things clearer and easier to understand.

George Bogatko - gbogatko@intac.com
http://www.inluxeditions.com/