DaqMusiq Macro

The DaqMusiq macro is included with Daqarta. (See Macro Examples and Mini-Apps for the full list.)

This macro makes it easy to launch DaqMusiq by loading and playing a .DQM file (MIDI setup file). To run the DaqMusiq macro, hit the F8 key followed by the D key, or hit CTRL+F8 to open the Macro Dialog and then double-click on DaqMusiq in the Macro List.

The DaqMusiq macro first sets known internal states, including clearing any Custom Message that may be present, forcing Input (if it is enabled) and Generator off, and setting various Spectrum and Pitch Track parameters.

A message about file selection is shown, noting that after the file starts playing a right-click on the Pitch-to-MIDI title bar (or any non-control part of the dialog) will open Help for that setup.

Then the LoadDQM= command displays a File Open dialog showing available setups. You can select one, or just close the dialog (or hit ESCape) to use the default setup or whatever you last worked on in the prior Daqarta session. (But see the Note after the listing, below.)

Finally, PitchMIDI=1 and PitchTrk=1 start the DaqMusiq performance. GenVolDlg=1 opens the Volume slider dialog to allow easy adjustments, and Msg= removes the file selection message.

;<Help=H4916
Msg=
E.IF.Input=
    Input=0
ENDIF.
Gen=0
Trig=0
UserUnits=0
SgramDlg=1
PitchMIDI=0
Decimate=0
Sgram=1
Ylog=1
SpectWind=Hann
SpectWindOn=1
TraceUpdate=10
TrackThresh=70
TrackFund=0
PitchHyst=0.5
PitchOct=0
PitchShow=3
PitchWide=1
PitchYaxis=0
PitchSteps=1
PitchMIDIdlg=1
XpandMax=2531.25
XpandMin=46.875
Xpand=1
MsgPos="0,250"
Msg="Select a file, or hit ESC for default.
 After start, right-click Pitch-to-MIDI title bar
 for setup-specific Help discussion."
LoadDQM=
PitchMIDI=1
PitchTrk=1
GenVolDlg=1
Msg=

When running, the default DaqMusiq Pitch display shows the notes being played as colored lines on a "vertical keyboard" of white and black horizontal bars. The color represents MIDI instrument number, and the duration is shown as line length on the corresponding note bar. Percussion strikes are thin vertical lines (no duration) in 6 vertical regions to indicate percussion instrument (A top through F bottom), and in the color of the MIDI percussion instrument number.

However, if you have purchased Daqarta or are still in the trial period, you may be able to view the live spectrogram of the actual generated sound. To do this on Windows XP systems, your sound card needs to have a "Stereo Mix" or "What You Hear" input line in the Input control dialog. Select that and toggle Input on, and Pitch Track off.

On Windows Vista and later there is usually no need for Stereo Mix, since any output signal is automatically routed to the input by default.

Note that on some systems this may not work with headphones (or anything else) plugged into the sound card output jack.

Adjust the Input line level (sensitivity) and use PgUp/PgDn keys to control the color range for good contrast. (Typically, increase the input sensitivity from negative values up to zero, and use PgDn to increase the spectrogram sensitivity.)

In the Spectrogram/Pitch Track dialog, use eXpand with Max set to a low value to see fundamentals, or a high value to see harmonics.

Change from Spectrogram Scroll to Bloom mode to get mesmerizing visual effects!

Note that DaqMusiq operation is heavily influenced by Pitch Track Max and Min Frequencies, which are not set along with the other Pitch Track parameters. They are included in any .DQM setup you load, but the default (prior) setup uses whatever values are current. Max and Min are also used in Spectrum Cursor Peak Track, so if you have used that recently and changed these settings, or run the THD_Meter macro mini-app which changes them, you may get unexpected results from the default DaqMusiq setup... or no results at all.

Sometimes those "unexpected" results can be interesting, but if you want to start from a known setup you should load a .DQM file. The setup that is the basis for the default when Daqarta is first installed is GlossyTracks.DQM.

See also Macro Examples and Mini-Apps