Internet MIDI: FAQs

In order to have a successful Internet MIDI session, Internet MIDI requires an unimpeded, broadband Internet connection

For the best video conferencing experience, this generally means an uninterrupted 768 kbps connection in both the upload and download direction. More bandwidth is even better.

The best Skype video is generally achieved with bandwidth in the 2-4 Mbps range. This bandwidth range is similar for other video conferencing programs.

In addition, the Internet connection should not be subjected to random data packet delays, such as delays that result from an inadequate Wi-Fi connection or delays that result from heavy use of a shared connection by other users

Internet MIDI by itself does not require as much bandwidth as Skype. Therefore, if your connection is a good one for Skype, it should be good for Internet MIDI.

Internet MIDI is not available for the iPad at this time. Most users appreciate Internet MIDI’s interactivity with Skype, and it is not possible to create a similar, interactive situation on the iPad at this time.

Yes, each license permits a single user to use the software at any given time.

You are allowed to installed Internet MIDI on two of your OWN computers, so long as you are the only one using the software at any given time.

If Classroom Maestro has been purchased and installed on the same computer as Internet MIDI, Classroom Maestro will be available inside of Internet MIDI. Just click the Classroom Maestro button in the top, center area of the Internet MIDI window to enter the Classroom Maestro module. Classroom Maestro can then be used in the normal way.

NOTE: If, during an Internet MIDI connection, both users have brought up the Classroom Maestro module, either or both users may control the on-screen staff and keyboard displays. You may find it convenient to set up Internet MIDI to show the notes that you play in one color on the on-screen keyboard and the notes of your Internet MIDI partner in another color.

Internet MIDI has a feature called A/V Controls that enables it to send messages to your computer’s operating system in order to mute all microphones connected to the computer.

In general, it is a good idea to let Internet MIDI automatically mute all system microphones when the MIDI keyboard is being played in order to avoid an audio echo coming through your video conferencing system.

To use A/V Controls, go to Internet MIDI’s A/V Controls menu and select “A/V Controls…” (the second choice). At the top of the window, make sure that the A/V controls are turned ON and choose the option to mute the system microphone.

Once you have done this, there are several choices in this window to consider. In particular, we recommend that you look for:

“Automatically mute microphone for __ seconds when sending or receiving MIDI data”

and place a checkmark in the box next to this item. We further recommend that you try entering a value of “2” for “seconds.”

With these settings in place, Internet MIDI will mute all available microphones while you play or when you receive incoming MIDI data. When MIDI activity stops for as long as 2 seconds, the microphones will become active again.

There are other features in this window for forcing the microphone to be muted or active and for remotely controlling your partner’s microphone.

NOTE: On the Mac, some USB microphones will not mute themselves completely when commanded to do so. These mics will typically lower the volume to a nearly imperceptible level instead.

NOTE: The answer below applies to Skype version 7 and earlier, which includes a feature called the Skype API. The Skype API is not available in Skype 8 or later. If you are running Skype version 8 or later, please use Internet MIDI’s A/V Controls to control the “system microphone” instead of the Skype mic and camera.

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Internet MIDI has a feature called A/V Controls that enables it to send messages to Skype in order to control the Skype microphone and camera.

In general, it is a good idea to let Internet MIDI automatically mute the Skype microphone or the system microphone when the MIDI keyboard is being played in order to avoid an audio echo over Skype. The other options in this window are optional.

To use A/V Controls, be sure you are using Skype 7 or earlier.

In Internet MIDI, go to the A/V Controls menu and select “A/V Controls…” (the second choice). Among the several choices on this page, look for:

“Automatically mute microphone for __ seconds when sending or receiving MIDI data”

and place a checkmark in the box next to this item.

Then, make sure that the A/V controls are turned ON (at the top of the page).

The first time you set A/V controls (or the first time you open Skype after enabling A/V controls), you will get a message in Skype asking permission to allow Internet MIDI to control Skype. Choose “Allow this application to use Skype.”

If you happen to miss this message the first time, you’ll need to set it manually from within Skype. Here’s how:

On a Mac:
Open Skype. In the Skype menu, select “Manage API Clients…”

Internet MIDI should be listed in the window that comes up.

If the Internet MIDI listing says “Not allowed to use Skype,” click on the words Internet MIDI to select them and then click the “Change” button. Select “Allow this application to use Skype.” Lastly click “Done” in this window and the next one.

If Internet MIDI is not listed in the Manage API Clients window, close Skype, be sure Internet MIDI A/V controls are turned on, and reopen Skype.

You should get a new message asking for permission. The default is “Do NOT Allow,” so it’s easy to press the return/enter key and dismiss this dialog. Make sure you choose “Allow this application to control Skype.” You’re A/V controls should now work properly.

On Windows:
In Skype’s Tools Menu, navigated to “Options…” to bring up the Skype Options window and then “Advanced” on the left side of the window. In the middle of the window, near the bottom, there is a link that says “Manage other programs’ access to Skype.” Click that link.

Internet MIDI should be listed in the window that comes up.

If the Internet MIDI listing says “Not allowed to use Skype,” click on the words Internet MIDI to select them and then click the “Change” button. Select “Allow this application to use Skype.” Lastly click “OK” or “Save” in this window and the subsequent windows.

If Internet MIDI is not listed in the Manage API Clients window, close Skype, be sure Internet MIDI A/V controls are turned on, and reopen Skype.

If you registered your email address when you created your Internet MIDI buddy name, you can recover your Internet MIDI password.

Go to the Internet MIDI menu, select Recover TimeWarp Buddy Password…, and follow the directions.

First, double check that you have your computer connected to the Internet. If you can open a browser window and view a website or engage a Skype call, for instance, you are connected to the Internet.

If Internet MIDI produces a message stating that you cannot connect with the TimeWarp server, you may need to make changes in your router settings and/or firewall settings. Before you make any changes, however, we suggest that you simply restart your computer, modem, and router.

If you still can’t connect to the server, you should try connecting by IP addresses instead of via the buddy list system. (Click HERE to find out about connecting by IP addresses) If you still have trouble, you may need to set up your router for Port Forwarding or Port Triggering. These are commonly used features in “peer-to-peer” gaming, for instance, and aren’t difficult to use.

There are four likely reasons for this:

(1) You may not have established a two-way connection between your keyboard and Internet MIDI. Before connecting with an Internet MIDI partner, be sure to:

(a) play some notes on your MIDI keyboard and note whether the on-screen keyboard animates.
(b) click some keys on the on-screen keyboard and note whether you hear any sound coming out of your keyboard or other designated MIDI output device.

If either test fails, you need to examine the MIDI cabling between your keyboard and Internet MIDI as well as your MIDI Input and MIDI Output settings within Internet MIDI. Also make sure that volume is turned up on your MIDI Output device and that all MIDI Input Channels are checked in MIDI Setup view.

(2) Internet MIDI has a feature that enables you to mute MIDI transmission and MIDI reception. You can mute/unmute MIDI transmission but clicking the upward-facing, triangular button in the upper right area of the Internet MIDI window. You can mute/unmute MIDI reception by clicking the downward-facing, triangular button in the upper left area of the Internet MIDI window.

(3) Internet MIDI has sophisticated options for filtering MIDI data that is transmitted or received. Click the “Filter” buttons in MIDI Setup view and make sure that you have not checked the box for filtering Note On/Off data/

(4) If you are using Internet MIDI with an acoustic piano that has MIDI capabilities, you may have a MIDI channel mismatch between Internet MIDI and your piano. Take a look at the designated Channel number next to “Piano Plays Data Received on” in MIDI Setup view. Make sure that the designated channel matches the MIDI Receive channel for your acoustic piano.

You have probably set your Windows Display Setting to show text at a larger size than 100%. Please return your Display Options preference to 100%.

If you are having a connection or performance issue with Internet MIDI, we may ask you to send a log file to TimeWarp. To do so, go to the Internet MIDI menu and select Send Log File to TimeWarp…. When you do, please fill out the request information completely. Doing so will help us help you!

Our original development of the program focused on the needs of piano players. Because piano tones decay without releasing the key, our A/V control feature does not take into account note-off messages. Instead, it simply restores the microphone to the On position X seconds following the last note-on message. Clearly, this won’t work with organ sounds, because sound continues to be produced as long as the key is depressed. We hope to remedy this problem in an upcoming version.

In the meanwhile, you can use another A/V feature in a more manual way. You can assign a MIDI note or pedal to mute/unmute the microphone. This might work if you set the automatic microphone mute feature to a higher number, say 8 seconds. In some cases, the microphone will not come back on as quickly as you would like. When that is that case, you would simply play the note or pedal that forces the microphone into the On position. The note or pedal that you use for this purpose will not be sent over the Internet as a MIDI message.

Classroom Maestro is a separate software product. When it is installed on your computer, it can be used from within Internet MIDI.

Locate and download the Piano Pedagogy Technology Project Guide from the TimeWarp website. It contains 16 term projects for piano pedagogy students.