About MIDI and sound

MIDI is a protocol for communication between different digital musical instruments (i e synthesizers, music software, sequencers etc). MIDI sets up rules for hardware (like cables, connectors, MIDI interfaces) as well as for software (like computer programs, communication etc) SequenceXtra lets You use MIDI to communicate between Director and Your MIDI equipment.

What do you need?
To use sequenceXtra You need a computer running Macromedia Director 5.0 or later, a synthesizer and (in some cases) a MIDI interface. If You want to play and record MIDI You will, of course, need a synthesizer with a keyboard, hooked up with a two-way-connection to Your computers MIDI interface. If You only want playback functionality You're OK with a softsynth, sound card or sound module with its MIDI-in port connected to Your MIDI interfaces MIDI-out port

If You have a hardware synthesizer or sound module equipped with a direct connection socket to the computers serial port ( AKA "to host interface"), You only need that connection for all communication with Director.

How to listen?
If You are using a software synthesizer, or a sound card with a synthesizer daughterboard or chip on it, You will have all sound (MIDI-synth and Computer audio) coming from the audio output on the sound card.

The audio outputs of an external hardware synthesizer has to be connected to some sort of listening device (hi-fi, computer speaker, headphones etc) If You want to be able to mix the sound from the synth with the sound from Your computer You need some kind of mixing equipment for that. Some sound modules have audio inputs that allow for mixing with external sound. Check the synth manual.

Macintosh and OMS
sequenceXtra will play MIDI directly on the QuickTime Music synthesizer. If You only need playback, and QuickTime is sufficient for You there is no need to install OMS.

On the other hand, to make use of sequenceXtras recording functions, or to be able to use other synthesizers (software or hardware) the end user (and the author) will need to install OMS on the computer. OMS is a system extension that handles MIDI communication between the computer and all Your MIDI devices, as well as between different MIDI-software applications on Your computer. You can find an OMS-installer on www.opcode.com, and at the sourceforce web site. Install OMS according to the installation instructions in the OMS readme file.