Update History : Version 1.10 (June 16, 2003)
- initial release
FAQ Updates
- 06-16-2003 : Online FAQ started
Q. What is MuseBook MidiMic?
A. MuseBook MidiMic is real-time Sound2MIDI software which converts sound detected from microphone into MIDI data in real-time. That is, you can hear your voice or instrument play changing into some other instrument voice you choose as you sing or perform. Any monophonic instrument play, for example, guitar, violin, trumpet, etc, including YOUR VOICE can be used as sound input. MuseBook MidiMic supports Pitch Bend, Volume Change, and Brightness effect of sound and realizes sound very similar to original one. Additionally, MuseBook MidiMic saves converted MIDI data so as to interface with other MIDI instruments. You can put them into your favorite sequencing program, like sonar and many more!
Q. What is Pitch Detection Technology?
A. Pitch Detection Technology is described as a technology which recognizes base frequency from a monophonic sound - sound with one instrument voice. This technology has been studied for long and shown some advancements. However detecting live sound while it is performed still has a long way to go. Errors in real-time pitch detection lie in i) possibility of picking up background noise, ii) unpredictable sound captured in onset/end of sound, iii) difficulty of post error correction as the detection process is done in real-time. Besides, different characteristics in waveform and frequency spectrum of each instrument adds far more difficulties. However, AMuseTec's real-time pitch detection technology is proprietary! and the most advanced! Based on this technology, our software detects a tone from microphone or other input source in real-time and displays the result within the minimal error range.
*MuseBook Tuner is very good to find about our Pitch Detection Technology. It recognizes real-time sound input and displays current pitch frequency and does fine tuning.
Q. Does MuseBook MidiMic convert voice singing with accompaniment?
A. No, unfortunately it doesn't. There is no technology developed to recognize multiple instrument voice played altogether. Even a monophonic pitch detection is not perfect at this time. Depends on software that you use, there are some differences in percentage of accuracy. (Mostly the errors occur in octave recognition.) Considering current achievements, so called polyphonic pitch detection is not possible at the moment and may take a few years. MuseBook MidiMic uses AMuseTec's proprietary (monophonic) pitch detection engine and its detection technology is known for doing a better job than its competitors.
Q. Can MuseBook MidiMic convert a pre-recorded Wave file into a MIDI file?
A. Yes, you can do this job provided that you play the Wave file and let the sound goes into as sound input of MuseBook MidiMic. (Play the Wave file with MIC ON or select input source as sum.) However, if you want better conversion result, you are advised to use our MuseBook Wav2Midi for this purpose. MuseBook MidiMic recognizes pitch, volume level, timbre, brightness of sound in real-time. Because this process is done at very short, discrete time frame, there are some possibilities of errors. However, MuseBook Wav2Midi, through its pre and post-processing, reduces these errors significantly.
*Use MuseBook MidiMic for your live performance and MuseBook Wav2Midi for your recorded wave file.
Q. I entered registration code, but I get "ERROR: Invalid registration code" Why?
A. Number 0(zero) and letter o, number 1(one) and letter l(small) are easy to confuse. Likewise, number 8(eight) and letter B(capital), number 9 and letter q(small) can be confusing too. Please check and provide the correct registration code.
*Tip : To prevent typing mistake, copy and paste each part of registration code on Enter Registration Code field.
Q. Both MIC and LINE IN lamp are off on my application. Why?
A. With MuseBook MidiMic you can select any input source supported by your soundcard. MuseBook MidiMic displays the most common input source on the application which are MIC and LINE-IN. When you select either of them, the corresponding LED is turned-on with the other off. However if both are off, it means, you have selected another input source apart from MIC or LINE-IN.
* Some soundcard may not work with MuseBook MidiMic's mixer interface, which results in its inoperation. In this case, both LED will be off and not be selectable nor volume control is supported.
Q. What is WINDOWS RECORD CONTROL and INPUT SOURCE SELECTION in MuseBook MidiMic? How are they different?
A. MuseBook MidiMic supports all kinds of Input source selectable by your soundcard. MIC and LINE-IN are the most common, hence are displayed on the main view for your choice convenience. However if you wish to use some other input source you can call Windows Record Control window and may do so. Basically Input Source Selection in MuseBook MidiMic will affect the same result in Windows Record Control. If the Input Source is not selectable in MuseBook MidiMic, you may use Windows Record Control instead.
*Some soundcard supports independent Mixer interface. In this case use it to control input source and volume level. Note that its mixer's inoperation doesn't affect sound input in MuseBook MidiMic, hence your sound will still be converted to MIDI.
Q. What is MIC BOOST function and When do I use it?
A. MIC BOOST function is effective when you choose MIC as input source. It boosts the sound level by +20dB, so it is useful when the input sound level is too low to be detected.
*Depends on your soundcard or its compatibility with MuseBook MidiMic's mixer interface, MIC BOOST function may not be supported.
Q. What is NOISE REDUCTION and when do I use it?
A. Input signal from a microphone, mixer, soundcard, or power may have noise in it and this can cause errors in pitch detection. You may improve the pitch detection hit ratio by Noise Reduction. In normal case, noise in 60Hz, 120Hz... bandwidth are generated because the power is not properly grounded. Please check if it is well grounded in this case. Input signal in silence has noise in low frequency. In this case, the best is to use "Effective note range controls". By defining the compass of effective notes, you can prevent unwanted note (generally from A0 ~ B1) from being detected.
Q. What is CAPTURE NOISE PRINT and when do I use it?
A. NOISE PRINT is frequency spectrum form of noise included in input signal. In silence, frequency spectrum of input signal should be displayed as flat. However when there are noise, several peaks are shown at irregular intervals. In this case, you are advised to remove this noise pattern. CAPTURE NOISE PRINT will store frequency spectrum form of the noise then help to remove them effectively followed by pressing NOISE REDUCTION button.
Q. How do I remove the captured noise pattern?
A. Press CAPTURE NOISE PRINT when MuseBook MidiMic is still, and it will remove the saved noise pattern.
Q. I see two triangular shapes on keyboard image. What is this and when do I use it?
A. The two triangular shapes on keyboard image is named "Effective note range controls" by us. This will define the compass of effective notes and subsequently prevent unwanted note from being detected. This is useful to reduce possible errors caused by noise input. (The left lever indicates the minimum effective note and the right lever indicates the maximum effective note.) Not only a microphone, mixer, soundcard, or power but also a human gives out low frequency from his body. This can be included as noise when you hold a microphone and detected as low tone, subsequently resulting in errors in pitch detection. The noise can be removed by NOISE REDUCTION but the best is to extract low frequency bandwidth originally from the detection. If you play the guitar, you can place the left triangular shape on C2 or so (as the lowest tone of guitar is E2). Men's voice after puberty get changed and becomes deeper. In this case C2 for the lowest tone is recommended too.
Q. How do I register MuseBook MidiMic?
A. Registration is easy! To register MuseBook MidiMic, you must have the program pre-installed in your PC.
1. Start MuseBook MidiMic program. And click Enter Registration Code... from the menu.
2. You will be provided with an Enter Registration Code dialog. Enter your name and license code that you were given after ordering.
Note : Sometimes letter and number can be confusing, for example, '0'(zero) and letter 'o,' '1'(one) and letter 'l'(small), '8'(eight) and letter B(capital), '9' and letter 'q'(small). So it is easier when you copy and paste the codes part by part.
3. 'Congratulation' message will appear, which means your program is successfully registered.
4. To see your registration Information, go to Help - About MuseBook MidiMic...
5. The licensor information will appear as below.
If you encounter problem while registration, please email to musebook@musebook.com
