TallStick Software                                             October 2004
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                7Canaries 

Software for Automated Music Transcription (WAVE->MIDI) (version 1.0)


      Contents:
        1.Introduction
        2.Features
        3.Description
        4.7Canaries for Windows
          4.1.System Requirements
          4.2.Installation
        5.How does it work
        6.License
        7.Registration
        8.Other things

     Copyright                                   TallStick Software, 2004
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        1.Introduction
  The Program tries to convert musical piece to score, i.e.  Sound source file 
(WAVE, MPEG, CD-tracks) to MIDI file, containing notes. Composing the necessary
sophisticated algorithm is a difficult task, hence rather imperfect work of the
Program.
  Most of documentation regarding usage of 7Canaries is contained 
in the help file.

        2.Features
- the Program gets as input both compressed and uncompressed WAVE, 
  MPEG Layer 1, 2 and 3 and CD tracks.
- produces multi-track volume differentiated MIDI files.
- 7Canaries Professional allows easy MIDI correcting with VisiNote Editor(tm).
- uses simple harmonic model to eliminate wrong notes.
- allows automatic fine tuning to the key of source file.
- does not differentiate instruments in the source file, but allows you to 
  use any instrument in the output MIDI file.
- can produce intermediate GS files for quicker operation.
- pitches to recognize are selectable ("equalizer").
- many parameters to tune up the recognition process.
- the length of input source file is unlimited.

        3.Description
  7Canaries works in two recognition modes: Offline and Realtime. In Offline mode, 
source file of one of supported formats is a necessary condition for using
the Program. It can be recorded from microphone, or external source. 7Canaries can 
also grab files from CD, but this does not work in all hardware/software 
configurations. MIDI file is obtained after the corresponding parameter set up
and subsequent conversion of source file.
  Easy correction of recognition errors can be done with the help of VisiNote 
Editor(tm), which is included in 7Canaries Professional. MIDI file then can be 
played with Media Player or it can be loaded into a third-party MIDI Editor for
note viewing or/and printing.
  In Realtime mode, recognized MIDI notes are played simultaneously with 
inputting of sound. Time latency is relatively small, allowing you to control 
your synthesizer by voice or some other non-MIDI musical instrument.
  7Canaries also contains simple MIDI player and Wave Recorder.
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        4.7Canaries for Windows

        4.1.System Requirements
  Processor:        Pentium II (450MHz - recommended)
  Memory:           32Mb or more
  Drive Space:      5Mb + space for temporary files (recommended 100 Mb)
  Operating system: Win98/ME, Windows NT/2000/XP
  Sound System:     Strongly recommended

Note: 7Canaries may work under Windows 95 as well, but it is not guaranteed.


        4.2.Installation

  If you have a previous version installed, we recommend you uninstall 
it first.

  Start 7canaries_pro.exe or 7canaries_std.exe to install.

  To uninstall follow standard Windows Add/Remove
(Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs->7Canaries 1.0)

  Most of information on Windows version is contained in the help file.

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        5.How it works

  7Canaries performs music recognition in several steps.
        
  First it produces some kind of spectra-like data; this is called the 
"Wave->Pitch" conversion. At the present moment, there exist three different
algorithms implementing this step; each of them has its own cons and pros.  

Then it multiplies that spectral data by the coefficients of "Equalizer", 
making some pitches louder and some quieter.

The third step is the actual notes retrieval from the spectra, it is called 
"Pitch->MIDI" process and there are also two algorithms doing that.

The final step is producing the MIDI file structure, and you can choose some 
attributes of the output MIDI file.


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        6.License
  7Canaries license is located in the file "license.txt" in the application
directory.

        7.Registration

Registration allows for:
- Supporting this project
- Saving MIDI files from 7Canaries for Windows
- Disabling start-up message in 7Canaries for Windows
- Using 7Canaries after 30-days period
- Receiving support via e-mail


  After registration, you receive a key, which you must enter in 
Help->Register! menu item of the Program for start-up message to disappear.

  You are not allowed to give your key to anyone else, violators will
be refused in the free registration of the future versions.


        8. Additional Info

 Please, inform us about bugs and your ideas on how to improve this Program.
(Regardless of whether you are a registered user or not). Language corrections
to the documentation are also welcome.



  You can find the recent versions at:

                www.audioto.com

  Our e-mails are:

                General Info                    info@audioto.com
                Customer Support                support@audioto.com