VMCI Plus (2.03)

General

Differences beetween VMCI Plus and previous versions

How to install VMCI

Registering

Download area

General

VMCI (Virtual Midi Control Interface) Plus is a shareware program which allows to send most MIDI data to a MIDI device by means of gestural actions on the computer keyboard and mouse. VMCI Plus is fully configurable and provides a total control of MIDI messages, even without any MIDI interface card and without any external MIDI keyboard or controller. This program is primarily designed to control real-time versions of Csound (CsoundAV in particular),  however it can also be used with any internal or external MIDI device or computer programs such as sequencers. It provides several panels with virtual sliders, virtual joysticks and virtual piano-keyboard. The newer version of the program (VMCI Plus 2) allows to change more than one parameter at the same time by means of the new Hyper-Vectorial Synthesis control. VMCI supports 7-bit data as well as the higher resolution 14-bit data that can be handled by the newer versions of Csound.

VMCI Plus requirements:

VMCI Plus features:

  1. An arbitrary number of completely configurable 7-bit slider panels. Each panel can handle up to 2048 controllers (16 MIDI channel X 128 controllers = 2048). The user can modify each controller by means of a slider.  When moving a slider, a stream of MIDI control change messages are sent to the MIDI out port, according to slider position. Most sliders are hidden from current view, because a maximum of 64 sliders can be visualized at the same time in each panel (assuming the screen resolution is big enough). The user The number of visualized sliders can be adjusted by the user for each panel.
  2. An arbitrary number of completely configurable 14-bit slider panels. Each panel can handle up to 1024 parameter. Similar to 7-bit slider panels, but offers a double data resolution. Each parameter is handled by means of two controllers, the first handling the most significant data byte, the second the less significant one. Up to 32 sliders can be visualized at the same time in each panel (assuming the screen resolution is big enough). The number of visualized sliders can be adjusted by the user for each panel.
  3. An arbitrary number of 7-bit virtual joystick (mouse-sensitive areas) panels. It is possible to modify two parameter at the same time by dragging the mouse pointer inside a mouse-sensitive area. These areas are similar to the 'xyin' opcode of Csound. Each panel can handle up to 2048 controllers. Up to 10 joystick areas can be visualized at the same time in each panel, handling 20 controllers. The number of visualized joystick areas can be adjusted by the user, for each panel.
  4. An arbitrary number of 14-bit virtual joystick (mouse-sensitive areas) panels.  Each panel can handle up to 1024 parameters. Similar to 7-bit joystick panels, but offers a double data resolution. Each panel can visualize up to 2 areas a time, handling 4 parameters. The number of visualized joystick areas can be adjusted by the user for each panel.
  5. Each slider panel can be instantly converted into a virtual joystick panel and vice-versa, preserving all current parameter values and positions.
  6. Each slider (or joystick) of a panel can be moved not only by the mouse, but also by incoming MIDI control-change messages. This allows remote control of sliders (joysticks). The assignments of each remote MIDI message can be freely configured by the user.
  7. Snapshots. All the slider (joystick) positions of each panel can be stored into a 'snapshot'. Up to 128 snapshots can be created in each panel. Each one of these snapshots can be instantly recalled by pushing a button.  When a snapshot is recalled, all slider positions are updated according to the corresponding snapshot content, and all MIDI control-change messages, corresponding to the new slider positions, are sent to the MIDI OUT port. Each snapshot can be also associated to an incoming MIDI note-on or program-change message, in order to allow remote recalling of any snapshot, belonging to any panel.
  8. HVS (Hyper Vectorial Synthesis). VMCI Plus allows to modify hundreds of parameters with a single mouse motion, according to a structure configured by the user. This control method is called Hyper Vectorial Synthesis Control (see below). Each slider/joystick panel has an HVS panel associated to it. In each HVS panel there are two HVS areas: a one-dimensional area and a two-dimensional one. Normally the user interacts with these areas with the mouse, however a remote MIDI control is possible, by assigning the pointer motion inside each area to one or more incoming MIDI control-change messages.
  9. Virtual Keyboard. This keyboard looks piano-like, but each button can be reconfigured in order to send any  kind of MIDI messages. The buttons can also activate a snapshot belonging to any slider/joystick panel. Each button can be associated to a key of the alphanumeric keyboard, as well as to an incoming MIDI message, allowing remote control of events joined with each button.

Differences between VMCI Plus
and previous versions

program version VMCI Lite VMCI Pro VMCI Plus
Copyright Freeware     Donationware Shareware
number of controllers
per 7-bit slider panel		 8 64 2048
number of controllers
per 14-bit slider panels		 2 32 1024
number of 7-bit
slider panels		 2 4 64 (actually limited by
computer memory)
number of 14-bit
slider panels		 1 2 64 (actually limited by
computer memory)
number of 7-bit
joystick panels		 1 2 64 (actually limited by
computer memory)
number of 14-bit
joystick panels		 not available not available 64 (actually limited by
computer memory)
Controllers can be
individually assigned
for each slider/joystick		 control number
only		 control number only control number
and MIDI channel
Snapshots not available not available 128 for each panel, each
snapshot can be triggered
by pressing a key of the
alphanumeric keyboard
Virtual Keyboard panel limited to
24 keys		 yes yes, enhanced
(with snapshot
switching trigger
support)
7-bit panel Hyper Vectorial
Synthesis Control		 not available not available yes
14-bit panel Hyper
Vectorial Synthesis Control		 not available not available yes
MIDI remote control for
slider and joystick panel		 not available not available yes
MIDI remote control
for HVS panels		 not available not available yes
MIDI remote control
for Virtual Keyboard		 not available not available yes

N.B. Previous versions are still available

How to install VMCI Plus

To install MSVC you must follow the next steps:

  1. Download the zipped archive, create a folder named "c:\csound\" and unzip the archive in that directory, preserving the directory structure.
  2. Create a shortcut of the executable file (VMCI Plus.exe) in the desktop and/or in the start menu in order to make it faster to start it.

Here is the installation procedure to use VMCI Plus with CsoundAV:

  1. If DirectX (version 5.0 or higher) is not already present on your computer, then download and Install Microsoft DirectX package. This step isn't necessary with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP.
  2. Download CsoundAV at the following url:
          http://csounds.com/maldonado/download.htm
    then  unzip and copy all content of CsoundAV archive in the folder named  "c:\csound\".
  3. Install Hubi's Loopback virtual MIDI device. It is included in the VMCI Plus zipped archive. Create a folder named c:\csound\MidiCable\ and unzip the content of archive mdlpbk25.zip in that folder (note that under WinNT/2000/XP Hubi's loopback doesn't work. In this case you have to downolad Midi Yoke, that does the same thing at the following url: http://www.midiox.com/ , be sure that the version you download is suited for WinNT/2000/XP)
    The loopback device must be installed as a device. Here is a quote from the installation notes.

    Windows 95: Start->Settings->ControlPanel->Hardware Continue-> [No] ->Continue -> [ Audio/Video/Game Controller ] ->Continue ->Diskette -> [ enter the unzipped directory (c:\csound\MidiCable) ] ...

    Then you will see a list with "Hubi's Loopback v250", select this, some OK and restart Windows when asked about it.

    (See Hubi's loopback manual for more information).
  4. Create a shortcut to  hwmdcabl.exe on the desktop and/or in the start menu in order to make it faster to start it.
  5. Start VMCI and configure the MIDI port (button "MIDI setup"), the Csound Settings (button" CsoundSettings") and start a real-time orc/sco pair to test it.
  6. OPTIONAL: Download and install MIDI-OX program (available separately; it is useful to monitor incoming/outgoing MIDI messages) by clicking on midioxe.exe file.

Copyright, Registering and Magic Code

The this program is copyright shareware, it is not freeware.

You can copy the unregistered version of the program and give it to your friends or to any other person as long as for no charge. This program cannot be distributed in shareware compilations CDs without prior written approval from the author.

The evaluation perid expires after 90 days after you install the program on your computer, if you intend to continue to use it, you have to register.

No responsibility is taken for any damage or losses caused by this package.

All program trademarks belongs to its respective author.

Csound is copyright of MIT, and is not included in the package. CsoundAV version can be downloaded separately at the following URL:

http://csounds.com/maldonado/download.htm

Registering

A key-code will convert the program from unregistered version to a registered one. You have not to reinstall the program. The key-conde will be communicated to all people who register the program. To receive the key-code you must send to the author your complete name. He will send you the key-code as soon as he receives notification of the payment.

See the included register.txt file to get more information about registering.

Notice that now you can register with the credit card (VISA, MASTECARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER) via Internet secure transaction at this URL

Important

When you receive the key code you have to fill the dialog box opened by clicking the "About - Set Registration Key" menu. You must put your exact first and family name. The string containing your name is linked to the key code, so, if you type an incorrect name, the magic code will not allow to switch to Registered mode. Uppercase letters are significant. After typing name and key-code, you must close and restart VMCI Plus in order the key code have effect.

You can send any question to the following email address:

gabriel@musicaverticale.net

and you can get the latest version of this program at my WEB site:

http://csounds.com/maldonado/index1.html

VMCI Plus DOWNLOAD AREA    

Download  VMCI Plus (shareware)

Goto download page of the older (freeware) version of VMCI


MIDI UTILITIES to use together with VMCI Plus

Also I recommend you to download  MIDI-OX, a very useful midi monitor to view the midi message flow:

Midi-ox