Editor for ART Nightbass Express
The Nightbass utility is a sysex editor/librarian with extended
functionality for ART's Nightbass MIDI
controlled pre-amp. The core design of this utility promotes easy management of large
libraries of sysex files. It also functions as a MIDI monitor as well.
This software was based on the editor for the SGX2000 unit. While it was beta-tested
by a competent Nightbass user, it is not actually tested by me as I do not
own the Nightbass unit, only the 2000. So any feedback on this software would be
greatly appreciated. I think it is pretty close at this point but without the
unit itself it's hard to verify much. I have relied totally on the MIDI
specification for designing this program. The major differences between the two
units are an additional preamp effect (analog), an additional distortion
parameter called "turbo", and an additional exciter parameter "tuning" in the
Nightbass.
While many features could be used with any MIDI capable device, the basic
functions are supplemented with additional capabilities specific to the Nightbass
Express. The menu contains a separate Nightbass Requests
section to issue the standard requests to receive patches, MPT files, etc. One
of the primary goals of creating this application was to provide an automated
backup for the many presets shipped with the Nightbass. By capturing and organizing
them intelligently, you can very easily browse through your preset library and
"audition" them with the click of a mouse. This sure beats the tedious task of
switching banks, twisting the encoder, watching the display, and fumbling around
with the preset list. Plus you have an elegant safety net protecting you from
the inevitable day when you lose everything to a drained battery, power glitch,
or perhaps your own error (not you of course).
Older pre-express units are also supported by this program. These units do not
have the four banks of presets, just one. There are still the 200 preset slots,
however the MPT table only addresses up to preset 128. Some of the request codes
are different as well, specifically the requests (and responses) for retrieving
the MPT, the bulk dump requests, etc. You can choose the pre-express options
from the Nightbass Requests menu
The program also features a visual preset editor and a
simple MPT editor. The editors are driven by the main
window which can "auto-detect" if a sysex file is a valid preset or MPT file and
bring it up in the appropriate editor. The main window functions as a data management
tool, allowing you to get your data from the file system or directly from the Nightbass.
The main editor window consists of two resizable vertical panes.
To resize the vertical panes, move your cursor over the divider bar. When you
see the pointer change to the cursor that looks like "<-||->" then click, and
drag to the desired size. This lets you focus on the particular task you're
trying to accomplish while keeping everything close at hand. You can also resize
the window (assuming it's not maximized) and the containers will grow and shrink
accordingly. Note that the window size and location and the vertical pane sizes
will be stored in the Windows System Registry upon exiting so that your last
configuration will be automatically reestablished the next time you run the
Nightbass software. So set it once and forget it.
The main menu provides access to much of the functionality. Some operations
are also available thru context sensitive pop-up menus (right/alternate click) or double
clicking on objects. The menu is arranged as follows:
- File
- Save message buffer as...opens the standard save-as dialog allowing you to
select a folder and filename to save the message buffer contents.
- Clear message buffer - erase the contents of the buffer.
- Exit - to close the Nightbass application
- MIDI In - device selection, etc.
- MIDI Out - device selection, etc.
- Nightbass Requests - Several functions specifically targeting the ART Nightbass Express.
- Presets - functions specific to preset files
- MPT - functions specific to MIDI Program Table files
- Help - this thing you're reading plus my lovely About window ;-)
In addition to the above major components, the Nightbass software also features
a status/message bar at the bottom of the window. It provides many informational
as well error messages (in the unlikely event you should ever encounter one that
is).
I hope you enjoy using the Nightbass utility. This started out with my simple
desires to more easily work with the SGX2000, make backups, and maybe experiment
more with making some neat presets. My SGX2000 was purchased in 1992 and by
today's standards is a dinosaur. I later did the Express upgrade, but this vision
existed for all these years. I had a simple batch utility which I used with a
primitive script to try to take backups of each preset. It was quite comical
selecting and sending a preset from the front of the unit and then switching
back and forth to the PC to save the file. Since then, the tools have gotten
better and my knowledge of them as well. So things are much better today.
With that, please bear in mind that you have obtained this software for free. I
have done my best to ensure error free operation and it works well for me. But
you use it at your own risk. You are highly advised to make your own manual
backups using whatever method you have used previously (you have made backups
before, right?) before putting all your faith into this utility. I will do what
I can to resolve any issues and answer any questions you may have via e-mail,
but neither I nor ART will be obligated to provide support. You may feel free to
distribute this software to other Nightbass users, but you may not charge for it
and it must remain intact with all the help (*.htm) files included. If you like
it, please do at least drop me a line. I worked my uhhh... tail off on this, so a
little feedback would be great.
In the meantime, please visit my web site
if you haven't already. Or even if you have.
Or
Acknowledgements:
These editors were developed using Borland's Delphi.
I've coded in just about every language you can name. They all have their particular strengths.
But with such a great base of helpful users and many quality components out on the web,
I highly recommend Delphi for developing applications such as these.
I'd like to give extra special thanks to David Churcher for his MIDI
components (written in Delphi btw) which I have used extensively.
They very nicely encapsulate all the Windows MIDI API calls and have
allowed me to focus on making these applications what they are
today. I've updated them a bit over time, but without them this
software may never have evolved. Please visit
David's home page
and try them yourself.