7Canaries Web Online Help

How can I download 7Canaries?
Answer: You can download a free evaluation version of 7Canaries from our download section http://audioto.com/eng/download.htm . There are several download locations available, so you can choose one with the appropriate connection speed.

How to install 7Canaries?
Answer: If you have downloaded a zip package, please extract it to temporary folder. To extract zip package use any archive manager, which is capable of extracting zip files. Then run 7Canaries_pro.exe or 7Canaries_std.exe after extraction. This will start installation wizard which will guide you through installation process. If you have downloaded exe package - simply start it and follow the instructions.

Are local versions of 7Canaries available?
Answer: At the present moment 7Canaries is available only in English. We are working on translating 7Canaries into other languages.

Evaluation

Can I use the trial version of 7Canaries for free?
Answer: 7Canaries is a "try before you buy" software. You can download any version for free and use it for 30 days (although, we do not perform tracking.) Unregistered version does not allow saving MIDI files. You are asked to register every time you start 7Canaries.
You can not sell or modify the Program. You can distribute unregistered versions for free, provided that unmodified installation files are included. See license agreement for details.

What are the limitations of trial version of 7Canaries?
Answer: Unregistered version of 7Canaries does not let you save the produced MIDI files. Every time you start an unregistered version you will see a startup dialog with a suggestion to register. You can use unregistered version of 7Canaries for free during 30 days after downloading. If you want to use 7Canaries for more than 30 days, you should register.
No other limitations are present. You can use all source file formats for recognition, no limitations on file length or algorithm settings are present in the unregistered version.
Registering allows you to receive technical support via email support@audioto.com

How long can I evaluate 7Canaries?
Answer: You can evaluate 7Canaries for 30 days after downloading; however, we don't do any tracking. If you want to use 7Canaries after the 30-day trial period or you are interested in developing the 7Canaries project, you should register.

Can I contact support service during the evaluation period?
Answer: Registered users have priority in getting technical support. However, we are ready to answer your questions via e-mail even if you have not registered yet. To get more information on 7Canaries project contact info@audioto.com . If you have questions on using 7Canaries, please send your letter to support@audioto.com .
Please do not send large attachments to support service. All messages that exceed 50kb will be deleted automatically on the server. We do not provide help on recognizing particular sound files.

Registering 7Canaries

I have ordered 7Canaries. Where can I get my Registration Code?
Answer: After you complete ordering, you receive an e-mail with your Registration Code and User Name. If you have not received this e-mail, there are two possible reasons for that: either you payment was not valid (for example, the credit card was not authorized for Internet payments or has expired) or you have possibly misspelled your e-mail address. Usually this e-mail is sent out in several minutes after registration time, so if you have not received this e-mail in a day, please contact 7Canaries support service at support@audioto.com .

I have entered my Registration Code, but 7Canaries is still unregistered. What's wrong?
Answer: Please, try once again. Use "copy-paste" from the letter you've got - you should enter exactly the same code and name. Also, make sure that you didn't enter additional space symbols before and after registration code and your name. After filling in the code and name restart 7Canaries. Registration allows saving produced MIDI files and removes the startup banner. To make sure you have successfully registered 7Canaries choose "Help"->"Register!" menu item after restarting. In registered version "Already Registered" message box will be displayed. See also Entering Registration Code.

I have entered my Registration Code, but "Save" button is still disabled. What's wrong?
Answer: Please verify that you have successfully registered 7Canaries. To do so please choose "Help"->"Register!" menu item. In a registered version you will get "Already Registered" message box. See also Entering Registration Code.

I have lost my Registration code. How can I get a copy of it?
Answer: To get a copy of your registration code, please contact our support service at support@audioto.com . You need to provide some details of your registration (e-mail address and full name or Order ID will be enough). They should be identical to the ones you have provided while registering.

I have ordered 7Canaries. Can I get a refund?
Answer: According to our license agreement we do not provide any refunds. 7Canaries is a "try before you buy" product. This means you can try it for free and then decide if you want to buy it or not. Our license agreement can be found in the readme file and help file provided with 7Canaries. It is highly recommended to read it before ordering.

Using 7Canaries

How can I use CD-Track as a source file for 7Canaries?
Answer: 7Canaries supports various sound formats, including CD-Tracks. To open a CD-Track press "Open" button. "Open File" dialog will appear. Select "WAV, MP3 & CDA files" as a file type, then locate your CD Drive and choose a .cda file. Each .cda file corresponds to a CD-Track. This file is usually named as Track**.cda, where ** is a track number. For example Track5.cda corresponds to the fifth track on your CD. Note: this does not work sometimes. See Reading CD Audio Disks for details.

I can't hear anything when playing back MIDI files produced by 7Canaries. What's wrong?
Answer: There are several possible situations:
1) You can't hear both MIDI and Wave playback. If so, please check the following:
Can you hear anything while playing back in Media Player? Check both Wave and MIDI playback. If you cannot hear anything - check your volume settings in Windows (Standard "Volume control" dialog can be called by pressing "Mixer Settings" button on 7Canaries toolbar). Also, make sure that your computer speakers are turned on, their volume is not set to zero and all necessary cables are connected.
Please note, that Windows has separate volume controls for Wave and MIDI. Also, make sure that "mute" checkbox is not checked in MIDI, Wave and total volume controls.
2) Wave playback is OK, but you cannot hear MIDI files played in any programs:
If you can't hear MIDI during MIDI playback in all programs in spite of all volume controls being set to maximum - check your MIDI settings in Control panel -> Multimedia ->"MIDI" tab. Try to choose another playback device. If problem persists, contact your Computer or Sound Card Vendor.
3) You can hear both MIDI and Wave Playback in all programs except 7Canaries:
If you can't hear anything during 7Canaries Wave playback - verify that the file you are trying to play is not empty and does not contain silent parts. You may also need to choose correct devices in the "Devices Tab" in 7Canaries Options dialog.
4) You cannot hear the MIDI playback in 7Canaries "MIDI Player":
Try to open a MIDI file, which you are sure is not empty with 7Canaries (try it first in Media Player). If you can't hear anything during playback - check 7Canaries "Options" Dialog (press "General Options" button on 7Canaries toolbar to see it). In this dialog window choose "Devices" tab and try to change MIDI device. Try playback again.
If you cannot hear MIDI files created not by 7Canaries - check 7Canaries Settings. To do so, press "Recognition Settings" button on 7Canaries toolbar and press "Default" button in this dialog. Also, check Equalizer settings. To do this, press "Show Equalizer" button on 7Canaries toolbar. Press "All to Max" button in Equalizer. Repeat recognition process from the very beginning (Close GS Window, make "Wave Window" active and press "Process Source file" button on toolbar). Try playback of the MIDI file you get.
If you still can't hear MIDI - try to recognize another Wave, mp3 or CD-Track. It is possible that the sound file you have chosen has a weak sound level.

What files can I open with 7Canaries?
Answer: 7Canaries supports different source files formats. They are:
    - Microsoft(R) PCM WAVE files with any frequency rate and any number of bits, both mono and stereo.
    - Compressed WAVE - any format supported by installed ACM codecs. This usually includes at least ADPCM, A-Law, u-Law compressed files. See Control Panel -> Multimedia -> Advanced -> Audio Compression Codecs for the list of supported compression types on your particular system.
    - MPEG compressed sounds with *.mp1, *.mp2, *.mp3 and *.mpp extensions. These formats are supported independently of external decoders installed on your system.
    - CD-digital audio (*.cda extension) files - you can open sound track from audio disk directly, without grabbing it first to hard disk. Note: this does not work sometimes. See Reading CD Audio Disks for details.
    - GS files created with 7Canaries. See Using GS files for details.
    - MIDI file
-.tsvn - VisiNote Editor's files.

What are GS files?
Answer: 7Canaries algorithm consists of two steps. First step "Wave->Pitch" takes a lot of time and produces spectral data. Then it is converted to MIDI by means of a fast "Pitch->MIDI" algorithm. The idea is that you can keep and save intermediate spectral data to skip the first step when changing settings. GS file is an intermediate file, which consists of "Pitch" data. You can produce it once and re-use it with different "Pitch->MIDI" and Equalizer settings. Parameters for creating GS are located on "Wave->Pitch" tab of "Recognition settings" dialog. When recognizing GS, these parameters do not influence the result.

What is Synchronous Playback? How to use it?
Answer: Synchronous Playback is a possibility to synchronize playback of source audio file and result MIDI file. This button is active when any MIDI window is active and Wave is open. This helps to compare the result of transcribing with initial melody.
Note: if you activate MIDI file which does not correspond to the selected part of source file, you will hear two absolutely independent melodies sounding simultaneously. Doing that is possible, but does not make any sense.

How to print the music score?
Answer: Unfortunately, 7Canaries doesn't have such a possibility. You need to use third party MIDI editor to do this.

Settings adjustment

Does the number of tracks produced correspond to the real number of voices in the melody?
Answer: MIDI file that you get can consist of several voices - up to 18. Number of voices is controlled by "Polyphony" parameter in "Pitch->MIDI" Tab of "Settings" dialog. In this case polyphony means maximal number of notes that sound simultaneously. The voices are divided by volume. The number of simultaneous notes indicated in "Polyphony" will be accepted in the output MIDI, all others will be rejected. Result file can be (and usually is) composed of several tracks. The number of tracks is not equal to "polyphony". We are still working on making 7Canaries detect a real number of voices in the source file and separate them by instruments. Note: 7Canaries now can also combine all notes to one track regardless of their volume.

Under what circumstances do I need to change the default settings?
Answer: MIDI files produced by 7Canaries tend to sound as close as possible to the original sound. When you see that MIDI file you got does not sound similar to WAVE file you initially had, this is the time to adjust settings. Typical inaccuracies are: waste notes were added or some necessary notes were lost, or some "rubbish" in high frequencies was added (this means - short excursive high-pitched notes) or maybe every melodic tone of the melody has been spliced onto pair of notes divided by octave.

How to use the Equalizer?
Answer: The purpose of Equalizer is to let you set relative volumes of notes for different pitches. It consists of a bar chart and a fingerboard underneath it. By pressing the left mouse button anywhere in the chart area, you can adjust the corresponding note volume. Equalizer tool helps to select one or more frequency ranges to recognize or to remove some particular pitches. For example, having recorded with a low bass accompaniment and a high-pitched melody, you can set all low pitches at Equalizer to zero, and this will lead to transcribing only the melody itself.

Customer support

How can I get support?
Answer: You can get support via e-mail. Please contact support@audioto.com or visit our website http://audioto.com/eng/support.htm . See also Support Sources.

I cannot adjust the recognition settings in order for my sound file to be recognized correctly. Can I send this file to support service?
Answer: Usually 7Canaries support does not accept letters with attached files. If you cannot adjust settings to get acceptable recognition quality, you can ask 7Canaries support to accept your source file, but we do not guarantee that we will work with it. Decisions on that question are always made individually.

Miscellaneous questions

Can I use 7Canaries as a component of my own product?
Answer: You can integrate 7Canaries into your product, but you are not allowed to distribute this product. If you create program with 7Canaries (any version) integrated in it, you can use it only for you personal needs.