Speech feedback and keyboard control mode

This is an attempt to use the MIDI functions of the VS together with the speech capabilities of the Macintosh to help blind and visually-handicapped users of the VS machines. When this mode is activated in the preferences dialog, all the program controls can be accessed and adjusted using the keyboard with speech feedback to indicate which control is selected and what value it has. In addition, control changes reported by the VS are spoken so long as the corresponding window is open (unfortunately the VS machines do not report all parameters, only those relating to the mixer section - if Roland changes this in future updates please let me know). Using the Command-Control-0 (Zero) keyboard shortcut immediately after starting up the program will ensure that all windows are open. To get the most out of the control change reporting capabilities of the VS, set the Mixer Control Type to SysEx (this can be done in the MIDI/Sync window).

With the speech mode active, the program reports the name of each window as it is opened or selected (using the command/apple key to activate the menu option as in normal applications). The various windows correspond to various sections of the mixer and other parameters. Each window has a "cursor" which can be moved around amongst the various controls and popup menus using the up, down, left, and right keys (the cursor keys). Pressing one of these keys will cause the program to move the cursor and then speak the name of the new control and its value. Press the space bar to make the program speak the name and value of the control or popup menu presently selected without moving the cursor. To move faster, holding the shift key down while pressing the cursor keys will move the cursor without speaking. To change the value of a control or a popup menu, hold down the control key and press the up or down keys. To change control values faster, hold down the alt/option key and/or the shift key at the same time as the control key to get larger steps (steps of 8 with either shift or option, steps of 64 with both shift and option). For popup menus the down key selects the next menu item and up selects the previous item - menus can usually be identified because they are lists of non-numeric or non-continuous settings. Disabled menu items are automatically skipped. The program beeps if the allowed range of the control has been reached or if there are no more valid menu options in the direction selected.After sending the parameter change to the VS the program will speak the new value. For the song name and effect preset name, hold down the control key and press the return key to start editing the name (the text cursor will be positioned at the end of the string immediately after doing this) and then press return as normal to finish editing. The keys pressed while editing are spoken and the full text is spoken both before editing and after editing.

To ensure keyboard-only navigation of the program (once it has been correctly configured), the startup dialog also has some shortcut keys:

Command-T           Check communications
Command-Q           Quit immediately
Return or Enter     Ok

When speech is enabled, the message dialogs (except those reporting errors associated with the speech manager) will open and begin speaking the message displayed. Pressing Return or Enter will close these dialogs and finish the speaking even if it is not complete.

It should be noted that the MIDI specifications (at least those published) are not complete enough to allow full remote control. It does not appear to be possible to select or create a song via MIDI commands, for example. Having said that, first experience using the program suggests that it would be more useful simply for the VS to be able to report via MIDI every action/change that the user makes from the control panel of the VS itself. Since a whole set of actions have to be memorised anyway, it is obviously much better to memorise the standard controls of the VS than the arbitrary controls provided by the VS-Console program. Having said that, it may be that the program provides access to the vast array of effect parameters in a way which is better than nothing. People who find the speech additions useful are requested to contact me by e-mail . Suggestions for improving the usability of the program are welcomed, although be warned that present experience already indicates that the most likely answer will be "Sorry, the MIDI specifications do not allow for this".