Welcome to Xx! version 1.3
Xx and the Xx presentation are written by Eric Wenger.
Thanks to Haroon Tahir and Ray Brunelle for fixing part of the documentation.
All right reserved © U&I Software 1998-99


What is Xx ?
Xx is more than a multi-track MIDI sequencer. It is also an algorithmic compositional tool, a self-contained music creation environment, and a stepping stone past midi to complex instrumental synthesis.

• Advanced graphic visualization
  Each of your individual tracks are shown in a single window, visually revealing the harmonic relationship of your composition. Xx uses a standard “piano roll” notation with color coding to give you the best representation of track polyphony. Xx's window will adapt automatically to your screen dimensions.
  
  
• AI algorithms for composition
  Xx is a powerful algorithmic compositional tool. The analyzation algorithm can understand the key/scale/mode of your composition, and through its use of artificial intelligence, (i.e. patterning, randomization, counterpoint, chordal creation, mutation, evolution and more) enhance your composition. Or, with automatic music generation, Xx will generate various arrangements and theme ideas, giving you a place from which to start and respond. This type of user/computer dialog will enable you to create music in just a few minutes or take your personal compositional style into new areas.
  
  
• A simple user interface
  Xx has an intuitive interface which has been polished over the years to a highly integrated stage; from a single window, you have access to all the tools and functions needed to create your composition. No more multiple windows or palettes cluttering up your creative environment. Xx is quick to learn and easy to use.
  
  
• Beatnik software synth
  Thanks to Headspace, Xx fully integrates the Beatnik software synthesizer, allowing you to create music without any external synthesizers or midi gear. That makes Xx the simplest and cheapest way to create music on your Macintosh. The future RMF export will enable it the sequencer of choice to publish your music for the web.
  
  
• Export to MetaSynth
  Xx allows you to convert your midi files to MetaSynth pictures or MetaSynth preset libraries for further manipulations or advanced instrumental synthesis.
  
  
• Import of Pict files
  In a similar way to MetaSynth, Xx allows you to convert any picture (PICT) to MIDI data. Thanks to this ability you may now use your preferred painting software as a composition tool! You may also transcribe a MetaSynth sound to a Standard midi file for further manipulation or for score printing.
  
  
• Libraries of ready-made patterns
  A pattern is a small motif of notes and velocities that can be user defined. Using ready made patterns makes composition and arrangement of your music fast and easy. We provide several libraries of useful patterns, including basic drums, chords and arpeggios.

General concepts :

Xx User interface screen. You can use the picture to navigate quickly in the Xx online documentation



• Tracks
  Tracks are delineated by color. Xx uses a standard piano roll notation for the note data, with each track having its own color. Click on a color box to select its track. You can work in Poly or Mono Modes. In Mono mode, though you can still see other tracks dimmed, all the editing functions will apply only to the selected track. In Poly mode, all tracks are shown at once with the most recently selected track brought to the front, and all edits apply globally to every track.
  
  
• Selections
  The current note selection is shown in yellow. You can use the arrow keys to transpose and displace the selection. Real time drag control allows you to quickly edit the duration, velocity, and pitch of the selected notes. You can select by pitch, track, or arbitrary notes. With all the painting tool you can move individual notes in time and pitch by just clicking and dragging them, independently of the current selection.
  
  
  
• The Current Time Range
  You may select whole measures by clicking and dragging in the bar select area. The selected measures will be shown in blue in the bar select area. The beginning (in) and end (out) time positions define the "current time range". The selection marquee tool can also modify this current time range. The time "in" of the current time range is shown with an insertion line, brighter than the measure grid; it's where subsequent paste or step note entry will be placed and where many transform and pattern functions will be edited or placed.
  
  
• Intelligent Key Mapping and Tonal Quantization
  Xx interprets the key that you are in. If you are working in a specific scale, any note values you enter from your controller, pencil tool, or other tools will be constrained to that scale. You can also transpose in whole steps within the same scale. To remove any scale and key constraints, choose the dodecaphonic (12 tone chromatic) mode.
  
  Scales and tonality can be applied to highlighted regions, measures, tracks, or to an entire performance. To map an existing part to another scale, just select the new scale from the "Mode" pop up, and select the area to remap, then choose Force Tonality from the Apple Edit Menu at the top of the screen. Xx will find the closest match to the new scale, thereby minimizing the amount of notes needing to be changed.
  

  Installation
  
  Tool Descriptions & Misc. Functions

  • Top tool bar
    
  • Main tool bar
    
  • Transport buttons
    
  • Display options
    
  • Navigation tools
  • Real Time Drag Controllers
    

  Menus References

  • File menu
    
  • Edit menu
    
  • Transform
    
  • Patterns
    
  • Song Menu

  Keyboard Shortcuts
  
  
  

  Tutorials
  
  
  
  
  
  Installation :

Xx uses Midi Manager and/or Opcode Music System (OMS). At launch Xx will let you choose between them according to what is installed in your system. If you plan to use it with Apple Midi Manager, put the Midi Manager extension in your extensions folder (inside your system Folder), or drag it onto the system folder and it should install itself automatically.

Using Both OMS and Apple Midi Manager:
- The Apple and OMS midi drivers should be put in the root level of the system folder.
Patchbay allows you to connect Xx's ports to either Midi Manager, OMS, or the OMS IAC driver.

With the OMS IAC driver, you may send midi data between several applications.

Keep the other utility files (Xx Patterns files, harmonics.presets ) in the same folder as Xx.

Using Beatnik:
- By default Xx looks for a file named "Patches.hsb" in the Beatnik prefs of the system folder. If not found it looks in the current Xx folder. The file contains samples that defines a set of General Midi instruments. It can be downloaded from internet at www.headspace.com. If you don't install Beatnik or if "Patches.hsb" cannot be found, Xx will work fine, but without the Beatnik software Synthesizer.