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Synthesizer.javaAPI DocJava SE 5 API15126Fri Aug 26 14:57:50 BST 2005javax.sound.midi

Synthesizer.java

/*
 * @(#)Synthesizer.java	1.27 03/12/19
 *
 * Copyright 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
 * SUN PROPRIETARY/CONFIDENTIAL. Use is subject to license terms.
 */

package javax.sound.midi;		  	 

import javax.sound.sampled.Control;


/**
 * A <code>Synthesizer</code> generates sound.  This usually happens when one of 
 * the <code>Synthesizer</code>'s {@link MidiChannel} objects receives a 
 * {@link MidiChannel#noteOn(int, int) noteOn} message, either
 * directly or via the <code>Synthesizer</code> object.
 * Many <code>Synthesizer</code>s support <code>Receivers</code>, through which
 * MIDI events can be delivered to the <code>Synthesizer</code>.  
 * In such cases, the <code>Synthesizer</code> typically responds by sending
 * a corresponding message to the appropriate <code>MidiChannel</code>, or by
 * processing the event itself if the event isn't one of the MIDI channel 
 * messages.
 * <p>
 * The <code>Synthesizer</code> interface includes methods for loading and 
 * unloading instruments from soundbanks.  An instrument is a specification for synthesizing a
 * certain type of sound, whether that sound emulates a traditional instrument or is
 * some kind of sound effect or other imaginary sound. A soundbank is a collection of instruments, organized
 * by bank and program number (via the instrument's <code>Patch</code> object).  
 * Different <code>Synthesizer</code> classes might implement different sound-synthesis
 * techniques, meaning that some instruments and not others might be compatible with a
 * given synthesizer.
 * Also, synthesizers may have a limited amount of memory for instruments, meaning
 * that not every soundbank and instrument can be used by every synthesizer, even if
 * the synthesis technique is compatible.
 * To see whether the instruments from 
 * a certain soundbank can be played by a given synthesizer, invoke the
 * {@link #isSoundbankSupported(Soundbank) isSoundbankSupported} method of 
 * <code>Synthesizer</code>.
 * <p>
 * "Loading" an instrument means that that instrument becomes available for 
 * synthesizing notes.  The instrument is loaded into the bank and 
 * program location specified by its <code>Patch</code> object.  Loading does
 * not necessarily mean that subsequently played notes will immediately have 
 * the sound of this newly loaded instrument.  For the instrument to play notes, 
 * one of the synthesizer's <code>MidiChannel</code> objects must receive (or have received)
 * a program-change message that causes that particular instrument's
 * bank and program number to be selected.
 *
 * @see MidiSystem#getSynthesizer
 * @see Soundbank
 * @see Instrument
 * @see MidiChannel#programChange(int, int)
 * @see Receiver
 * @see Transmitter
 * @see MidiDevice
 *
 * @version 1.27, 03/12/19
 * @author Kara Kytle
 */
public interface Synthesizer extends MidiDevice {


    // SYNTHESIZER METHODS


    /**
     * Obtains the maximum number of notes that this synthesizer can sound simultaneously.
     * @return the maximum number of simultaneous notes
     * @see #getVoiceStatus
     */
    public int getMaxPolyphony();


    /**
     * Obtains the processing latency incurred by this synthesizer, expressed in 
     * microseconds.  This latency measures the worst-case delay between the  
     * time a MIDI message is delivered to the synthesizer and the time that the
     * synthesizer actually produces the corresponding result.
     * <p>
     * Although the latency is expressed in microseconds, a synthesizer's actual measured 
     * delay may vary over a wider range than this resolution suggests.  For example,
     * a synthesizer might have a worst-case delay of a few milliseconds or more.
     *
     * @return the worst-case delay, in microseconds
     */
    public long getLatency();	

	
    /**
     * Obtains the set of MIDI channels controlled by this synthesizer.  Each 
     * non-null element in the returned array is a <code>MidiChannel</code> that 
     * receives the MIDI messages sent on that channel number.
     * <p>
     * The MIDI 1.0 specification provides for 16 channels, so this 
     * method returns an array of at least 16 elements.  However, if this synthesizer 
     * doesn't make use of all 16 channels, some of the elements of the array
     * might be <code>null</code>, so you should check each element
     * before using it.
     * @return an array of the <code>MidiChannel</code> objects managed by this
     * <code>Synthesizer</code>.  Some of the array elements may be <code>null</code>.
     */
    public MidiChannel[] getChannels();


    /**
     * Obtains the current status of the voices produced by this synthesizer.  
     * If this class of <code>Synthesizer</code> does not provide voice 
     * information, the returned array will always be of length 0.  Otherwise,
     * its length is always equal to the total number of voices, as returned by 
     * <code>getMaxPolyphony()</code>.  (See the <code>VoiceStatus</code> class 
     * description for an explanation of synthesizer voices.)
     *
     * @return an array of <code>VoiceStatus</code> objects that supply 
     * information about the corresponding synthesizer voices
     * @see #getMaxPolyphony
     * @see VoiceStatus
     */
    public VoiceStatus[] getVoiceStatus();


    /**
     * Informs the caller whether this synthesizer is capable of loading 
     * instruments from the specified soundbank.
     * If the soundbank is unsupported, any attempts to load instruments from
     * it will result in an <code>IllegalArgumentException</code>.
     * @param soundbank soundbank for which support is queried
     * @return <code>true</code> if the soundbank is supported, otherwise <code>false</code>
     * @see #loadInstruments
     * @see #loadAllInstruments
     * @see #unloadInstruments
     * @see #unloadAllInstruments
     * @see #getDefaultSoundbank
     */
    public boolean isSoundbankSupported(Soundbank soundbank);


    /**
     * Makes a particular instrument available for synthesis.  This instrument
     * is loaded into the patch location specified by its <code>Patch</code> 
     * object, so that if a program-change message is 
     * received (or has been received) that causes that patch to be selected,
     * subsequent notes will be played using the sound of 
     * <code>instrument</code>.  If the specified instrument is already loaded,
     * this method does nothing and returns <code>true</code>.
     * <p>
     * The instrument must be part of a soundbank 
     * that this <code>Synthesizer</code> supports.  (To make sure, you can use
     * the <code>getSoundbank</code> method of <code>Instrument</code> and the 
     * <code>isSoundbankSupported</code> method of <code>Synthesizer</code>.)
     * @param instrument instrument to load
     * @return <code>true</code> if the instrument is successfully loaded (or 
     * already had been), <code>false</code> if the instrument could not be 
     * loaded (for example, if the synthesizer has insufficient
     * memory to load it)
     * @throws <code>IllegalArgumentException</code> if this 
     * <code>Synthesizer</code> doesn't support the specified instrument's 
     * soundbank 
     * @see #unloadInstrument	 
     * @see #loadInstruments	 
     * @see #loadAllInstruments	 
     * @see #remapInstrument
     * @see SoundbankResource#getSoundbank	 
     * @see MidiChannel#programChange(int, int)
     */
    public boolean loadInstrument(Instrument instrument);

	
    /**
     * Unloads a particular instrument.
     * @param instrument instrument to unload
     * @throws <code>IllegalArgumentException</code> if this 
     * <code>Synthesizer</code> doesn't support the specified instrument's 
     * soundbank 
     * @see #loadInstrument	 
     * @see #unloadInstruments	 
     * @see #unloadAllInstruments	 
     * @see #getLoadedInstruments
     * @see #remapInstrument	 
     */
    public void unloadInstrument(Instrument instrument);


    /**
     * Remaps an instrument.  Instrument <code>to</code> takes the 
     * place of instrument <code>from</code>.
     * For example, if <code>from</code> was located at bank number 2,
     * program number 11, remapping causes
     * that bank and program location to be occupied instead by 
     * <code>to</code>.  Instrument <code>from</code> is unloaded.
     * 
     * @param from instrument to be replaced
     * @param to new instrument to be used in place of the old instrument
     * @return <code>true</code> if the instrument could be remapped, 
     * <code>false</code> otherwise
     * @throws <code>IllegalArgumentException</code> if the soundbank is not supported
     */
    public boolean remapInstrument(Instrument from, Instrument to);	

	
    /**
     * Obtains the default soundbank for the synthesizer, if one exists.
     * (Some synthesizers provide a default or built-in soundbank.)
     * If a synthesizer doesn't have a default soundbank, instruments must
     * be loaded explicitly from an external soundbank.  
     * @return default soundbank, or <code>null</code> if one does not exist.
     * @see #isSoundbankSupported
     */
    public Soundbank getDefaultSoundbank();

	
    /**
     * Obtains a list of instruments that come with the synthesizer.  These
     * instruments might be built into the synthesizer, or they might be
     * part of a default soundbank provided with the synthesizer, etc.
     * <p>  
     * Note that you don't use this method  to find out which instruments are 
     * currently loaded onto the synthesizer; for that purpose, you use 
     * <code>getLoadedInstruments()</code>.
     * Nor does the method indicate all the instruments that can be loaded onto
     * the synthesizer; it only indicates the subset that come with the synthesizer.
     * To learn whether another instrument can be loaded, you can invoke 
     * <code>isSoundbankSupported()</code>, and if the instrument's 
     * <code>Soundbank</code> is supported, you can try loading the instrument.
     *  
     * @return list of available instruments.
     * @see #getLoadedInstruments	 
     * @see #isSoundbankSupported(Soundbank)
     * @see #loadInstrument	 
     */
    public Instrument[] getAvailableInstruments();


    /**
     * Obtains a list of the instruments that are currently loaded onto this 
     * <code>Synthesizer</code>.
     * @return a list of currently loaded instruments
     * @see #loadInstrument	 
     * @see #getAvailableInstruments	 
     * @see Soundbank#getInstruments	 
     */
    public Instrument[] getLoadedInstruments();

	
    /**
     * Loads onto the <code>Synthesizer</code> all instruments contained 
     * in the specified <code>Soundbank</code>.
     * @param soundbank the <code>Soundbank</code> whose are instruments are 
     * to be loaded
     * @return <code>true</code> if the instruments are all successfully loaded (or 
     * already had been), <code>false</code> if any instrument could not be 
     * loaded (for example, if the <code>Synthesizer</code> had insufficient memory)
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the requested soundbank is 
     * incompatible with this synthesizer.
     * @see #isSoundbankSupported
     * @see #loadInstrument	 
     * @see #loadInstruments	 
     */
    public boolean loadAllInstruments(Soundbank soundbank);


	
    /**
     * Unloads all instruments contained in the specified <code>Soundbank</code>.
     * @param soundbank soundbank containing instruments to unload
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException thrown if the soundbank is not supported.
     * @see #isSoundbankSupported
     * @see #unloadInstrument	 
     * @see #unloadInstruments	 
     */
    public void unloadAllInstruments(Soundbank soundbank);

	
    /**
     * Loads the instruments referenced by the specified patches, from the 
     * specified <code>Soundbank</code>.  Each of the <code>Patch</code> objects
     * indicates a bank and program number; the <code>Instrument</code> that
     * has the matching <code>Patch</code> is loaded into that bank and program
     * location.
     * @param soundbank the <code>Soundbank</code> containing the instruments to load
     * @param patchList list of patches for which instruments should be loaded
     * @return <code>true</code> if the instruments are all successfully loaded (or 
     * already had been), <code>false</code> if any instrument could not be 
     * loaded (for example, if the <code>Synthesizer</code> had insufficient memory)
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException thrown if the soundbank is not supported.
     * @see #isSoundbankSupported
     * @see Instrument#getPatch
     * @see #loadAllInstruments
     * @see #loadInstrument	 
     * @see Soundbank#getInstrument(Patch)
     * @see Sequence#getPatchList()
     */
    public boolean loadInstruments(Soundbank soundbank, Patch[] patchList);
	
    /**
     * Unloads the instruments referenced by the specified patches, from the MIDI sound bank specified.
     * @param soundbank soundbank containing instruments to unload
     * @param patchList list of patches for which instruments should be unloaded
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException thrown if the soundbank is not supported.
     *
     * @see #unloadInstrument	 
     * @see #unloadAllInstruments	 
     * @see #isSoundbankSupported
     * @see Instrument#getPatch
     * @see #loadInstruments	 
     */
    public void unloadInstruments(Soundbank soundbank, Patch[] patchList);


    // RECEIVER METHODS

    /**
     * Obtains the name of the receiver.
     * @return receiver name
     */
    //	public abstract String getName();

	
    /**
     * Opens the receiver.
     * @throws MidiUnavailableException if the receiver is cannot be opened, 
     * usually because the MIDI device is in use by another application.
     * @throws SecurityException if the receiver cannot be opened due to security
     * restrictions.
     */
    //	public abstract void open() throws MidiUnavailableException, SecurityException;


    /**
     * Closes the receiver.
     */
    //	public abstract void close();


    /**
     * Sends a MIDI event to the receiver.
     * @param event event to send.
     * @throws IllegalStateException if the receiver is not open.
     */ 
    //	public void send(MidiEvent event) throws IllegalStateException {
    //
    //	}


    /**
     * Obtains the set of controls supported by the
     * element.  If no controls are supported, returns an
     * array of length 0.
     * @return set of controls
     */
    // $$kk: 03.04.99: josh bloch recommends getting rid of this: 
    // what can you really do with a set of untyped controls??	
    // $$kk: 03.05.99: i am putting this back in.  for one thing,
    // you can check the length and know whether you should keep
    // looking.... 
    // public Control[] getControls();

    /**
     * Obtains the specified control.
     * @param controlClass class of the requested control
     * @return requested control object, or null if the 
     * control is not supported.
     */
    // public Control getControl(Class controlClass);
}