# MusE - The Linux (Midi) Music Editor

## 4. Window Reference Guide

## 4.1 The Main Window

Here's a screenshot of the main window, with a standard MIDI file already loaded:

The main window is basically divided up into two panes separated by a veritcal bar that is movable horizontally. These two panes together are called the Arranger.

## 4.2 The Arranger

The left pane of the Arranger describes each track in detail, while the right pane describes each track graphically.

### 4.2.1 The Left Pane

The left pane details the following information for each track:

- A -??
- M - Mute the track
- C - Defines whether the track is one of MIDI, Drum or Wave.
- Track - A freely-editable track name.
- Ch - Defines which MIDI Channel this track plays on.
- Port - Defines which MIDI port this track plays on.
- T -??

You can select which track is currently "active" by simply clicking on the track.

When a track's M column is clicked, that track is marked as Muted with a red circle and upon playback that track will not be heard. To hear the track, click on the M column for that track again.

Right click on the C column for a track to declare the track to be of type MIDI, Drum or Wave.

The Track column is free-form, meaning that a double-click on a track's Track column will allow you to enter a descriptive name for the track, for example "Hot Lead Guitar".

The Ch column for a track is changed by right-clicking to increment the number or middle-clicking to decrement the number. It's generally a good idea to keep differing instruments on different MIDI channels and it's considered common to have the drum kit on channel 10.

#### 4.2.1.1 Track Info

At the bottom of the left pane, you'll see a little button labelled "TrackInfo". When clicked, the standard information plus more about the currently selected track is presented:

- Track Name
- Channel
- Transpose
- Delay
- Length
- Velocity
- Compr

The bottom half of the TrackInfo display describes MIDI channel information:

- MIDI Instrument
- H-Bank
- L-Bank
- Progr
- Volume
- Pan

Operations that can be performed on the left pane:

Track Functions |
Select Track | Left Mouse Button
Select multiple Tracks | Shift + Left Mouse Button
Change Selected Track | Key Up: previous Track Key Down: next Track click with left mouse button in name field
Move Track | Drag with left Mouse Button
Create New Track | Pulldown Edit Ctrl T double click in empty track
Delete selected Track(s) | Pulldown Edit Del
Rename Track | doubleClick with left mouse button on track name
Change Midi Channel | left mouse button increments midi channel middle mouse button decrements midi channel
Select Midi Port | click with right mouse button on portname; select from pulldown menu
Mute Track | click with left mouse button on "M" field in Tracklist
Solo Track | click "Solo" button

## 4.2.2 The Right Pane

The right pane desribes each track graphically. Time moves from left to right and is measured in beats that are referenced at the top of the right pane. Tracks are displayed vertically in boxes, called "Parts", that depict where MIDI and audio data are played.

The small sliders that are adjacent to the bottom right corner affect the view of the right pane in terms of "zooming". The vertical slider affects the height of the tracks, while the horizontal slider affects the width.

Operations that can be performed on the right pane:

To do this... | ...Do this
Select Part | Left Click
Select multiple parts | Shift + left click
Change selected track | Key left: previous part, Key right: next part
Move part | Drag with left mouse button
Create new part | select Pencil tool; draw with left mouse button pressed, OR set left and right mark; double click on track
Delete selected part(s) | select rubber tool; click part to delete
Rename part | double click with left mouse button on part
Copy part | drag with shift + left mouse button
Cut part | select Cut Tool; click on part to cut
Glue part | select Glue Tool; click on part to glue with next part

## 4.2.3 The Button Bar & Menus

Across the top, above the Arranger, are a menu system, icons and other widgets that you use to manipulate your project. Most of these are self-explanatory, while others are described later in this document.