MAC
OK, I am connected, how do I send MIDI music from my Macintosh to the GDEC?
First, we will need some software to play MIDI files. For demonstration purposes only, we will use the
Demo version of Metro 6.2.5 SE available for download at http://www.sagantech.biz/products.htm or at the
Apple website http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/audio/metrose.html. After downloading the
application, find and double click the Metro SE Demo icon. When Metro starts up, the first thing to do is
set up the application to identify your MIDI device. Go to the “Setup” menu and select “MIDI Setup…” as
shown in figure 2. This will bring up a window that allows you to select devices for which to send and
receive data. The M-Audio Uno should show up as “1x1” in the pull-down menus next to each parameter
(see figure 3). If the device does not show up, try the “Rescan MIDI Devices” button. Once all fields are set
to “1x1”, press “OK”. The last part of the application setup is to switch off MIDI throughput. Go to the
menu item “Switches” and uncheck the “Automatic MIDI Thru” menu item (see figure 4). If this is not
done your G-DEC will not properly play MIDI files.
Now we are ready to load a MIDI song file. Do an Internet search for “MIDI files.” Many website links
will appear for all manner of MIDI sites, legal and otherwise. Fender recommends the use of copyright
licensed files only; the downloads will often cost you a small fee, but they tend to be of better quality than
“bootleg” versions of copyrighted songs.
Next, go to the “File” menu and select “Import MIDI File…” and “Import MIDI File…” again (or select
from recent imports also listed) as shown in figure 5. Select a MIDI file using the file browser window.
When selected, the MIDI file and all of its tracks of data should show up in the Metro windows (something
like that shown in figure 6). Now simply press the Play button on the transport bar, the green triangle. You
should see a marker line progress through the song file graphically in the application and simultaneously
hear the song being played through the G-DEC. Now you can mute certain tracks, isolate them, or even
create your own using the more advanced features of the Metro application. So, now you can pick up the
guitar, plug into the G-DEC and jam along with any MIDI song!
Other commercially available applications should have similar features and requirements as demonstrated
here. The Metro SE Demo application is indeed a demo version of the software and will end your session
after an allotted amount of time. This allows you to evaluate the software before purchasing it. If you find
this or another application useful, do consider purchasing it. These applications are great extensions to the
usefulness of the G-DEC.
