Program Options

This screen controls 3 important aspects of the way Musical Discovery operates. The path to database section allows you to connect to different databases. You could have one database for your favourite classical music, another for easy listening and jazz, another for rock, etc. The sound movie clips section allows you to opt out of  playing  .wmv  files if your computer or operating system does not support them at WMP version 9 level.  The current Midi devices section allows you to identify your currently connected midi device, and change it if you have more than one (many sound cards have more than one 'device'  embedded in the one card.

Set Up Path to Musical Discovery Database

This section of the screen displays the full Path to the database to which you are currently connected (if any), and permits this to be changed. 

Musical Discovery  stores its tunes, themes, and arrangements into a Microsoft Access database. After initial installation, you will be connected automatically to the default database,  named MusicalDiscovery.MDB, and this will be stored in the directory in which you have installed "Musical Discovery". Any new  compositions you create will normally be added to this database.

You may set up your own, separate database, or many such databases, into which you can save your own arrangements, compositions, or works. Musical Discovery's composition features generate new tables which are automatically stored in the current database. It is also possible to convert from MIDI files into "Musical Discovery" format. 

To change the path to point to one of your own databases, click on the blue button 'Change Path to Database'. This brings up the standard Windows directory dialogue box, through which you can navigate to the location of your new database. When your database is highlighted, click 'Open', and the new path to your database will be inserted on the top left of the path screen. The screen also shows the date and time of your change, and permits you to type in your name and any desired  comments.  

When you are satisfied that all is correct, click on the green button 'Save and Quit'.  This will store your path information into the system, and ensure that all newly requested tunes are loaded from this new database.

Sound Movie Clips

If the check box in this section is ticked, Musical Discovery will attempt to play .wmv sound movie files in an embedded window within the program.  If your system does not support Windows Media 9.0 or higher, this could result in an error. If you uncheck this box (by clicking on it with your mouse), Musical Discovery will bypass playing all .avi files.

Current Midi Devices

The Midi OUT is essential if you want to hear any sounds at all. Many sound cards incorporate more than one Midi 'device', and it is possible to have multiple sound cards and external sound modules attached to a single computer.  Click the 'Change midi devices' button to select a different device for Midi OUT. This will bring up the Midi Setup dialogue box.

Musical Discovery will save your choices in a text file, and so next time you use the program, it will remember your settings.

You need to select an output device from the list.. The previously-stored settings are shown in the text boxes above the drop-down box. The device ID might be -2 or -1 if the device is not enabled. For the output device, if an internal sound card is part of the computer's mother-board, it is likely that the wave-table synthesizer will show as device number 0. Then any additional output Midi devices will have device Ids of 1, 2 upwards.

When your settings are complete, click the green button OK, Save these settings. The settings will be activated, stored in a text file for the next time you use Musical Discovery, and the dialogue box will close.  If you wish to abandon the Midi setup, click the pink button Back (Cancel).

If no devices at all appear in the list, try going to Windows Control Panel - Sounds and Audio Devices, to verify which MIDI devices, if any, you have connected and operating correctly.


FilePath.htm         Monday, 09 October 2006 11:50