The Interface Panel: Part I

The interface panel is divided into two frames. The left frame consists of music files; the right frame consists of data files.

 

Interface Panel Buttons

Run:  Runs the KAM Music program using the selected music file.
Delete: Deletes all parts of the selected KAM Music file.
Edit: Edit selected protein file.  This is a text file with the extension .PRO.
Update: Install the selected .PRO data file into the selected .KAM Music program.
Edit Piches: Edit the pitch tables.
Update Pitches: Install the pitch table into the selected .KAM Music program.
Notes: Use notepad to make notes to be associated with a piece.
Help: This Help File
Clone to: Clone the selected KAM Music file to the file written in the space.
Interface: Set the MIDI interface parameters.

Music and Data Files

The music files are program files that have been set up to play a specific protein sequence. Each new piece you create will be added to the list of music files. The files provided are DEFAULT, TPI, and MIDITEST. The MIDITEST file is for use in installing and testing your midi program. TPI (Triose Phosphate Isomerase) is a completed General MIDI composition by Mary Anne Clark that demonstrates how the program runs. The DEFAULT file has been loaded with the sequence data for beta-globin, but all the music controls are at their default settings. Clone this to begin a new composition. The DEFAULT file cannot be deleted.

The data files consist of protein sequences. You may obtain these protein data files using information from on-line data bases for protein sequences, for example OMIM (Online Mendelian Genetics in Man) <http://www3.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Omim/>, or SwissProt, <http://expasy.hcuge.ch/>.

The simplest way to learn to use the program is to begin with the preinstalled TPI music file. Select the piece by highlighting it and then hit Run. The program will load and display 8 music panels and a control panel at the top. The piece is played or stopped by clicking on the Mute control at the upper right of the screen. You can test the effect of changing various control settings on the TPI file; so long as you do not SAVE them (see the discussion of the Save function below), the original file will not be altered. If you do alter the original file, it doesn’t really matter; it has been included for demonstration only.

As the piece plays, you will see several things happen in the control panel and in the music panels. The use of each control is explained in other sections.