Here is a short MIDI-axe description:

MIDI-axe, written by Emile Tobenfeld (Dr. T.) is a program that uses
the computer as an interactive musical instrument.  It belongs to the
same family of programs as M and Music Mouse.  MIDI-axe is the second
generation of the program originally released as Fingers. I don't
think it ever was officially released.  It works as an MPE module in
Dr. T's KCS (Omega) program, and records it output to KCS or
interacts with sequences in KCS.  The user interface has no graphics,
just columns of numbers and letters.  It is necessary to read the
manuals to figure out what the cryptic letters means.

The program has two interacting parts, Fingers and MIDI-axe. Fingers
is basically 4 monophonic "lines" where the musical elements pitch,
time, velocity and articulation (short or long notes) are separated. 
MIDI-axe is a mouse-play program where the playback also can be
controlled by the computer keys, Fingers, KCS or MIDI continous
controllers from external instruments.  If you don't use the Fingers
part when playing MIDI-axe you can get rid of that screen and get a
blank matrix instead.

In Fingers the upper 3/4 of the screen consist of 13 or 16 columns
for pitch, time, velocity and articulation.  The user enters values
in these rows.  The lower 1/4 of the screen have controls for each
line, for instance for mute, time division, MIDI-channel, patch,
transposition, direction, linking to other lines etc.  When playback
starts, the cursors will run down or up the columns.  Then the user
can redirect or change values in realtime.  The output will be
somewhat similar as that of M.  It will be boring soon if there are
just short patterns with the same length in all columns, that will
sound just like a short looping pattern.  But if the elements has
different lengths and/or internal loops, random elements etc., you
can create music that is changing all the time.  It can be used to
create rhytmically interesting textures or ever changing harmonies.

MIDI-axe use the computer screen as an XY pad, where the X and Y
directions means pitch, velocity or time division.  The two mouse
buttons can be set up to do different things.  At its most simple use
you get a middle C with a velocity of 64 if you click once in the
middle of the screen, and then higher or lower pitch or velocity as
you click in other parts of the screen.  You can then set the note
you click to repeat, and change the time division between each
repeat.  Or you can drag the repeating note (or several notes) around
and get changes in pitch or velocity or time divisions.  Instead of a
note you can also start a KCS sequence, which can also be dragged
around.  This sequence can either play back its original timing, or
it can be even time divisions between each note.  You can start
multiple copies of a sequence at different pitch, velocity or time
divisions, or change to other sequences.  Repeating notes or
sequences can be controlled by the mouse or by sliders that you set
up on the screen.  These sliders can be controlled by mouse clicks,
by the computer keys, from Fingers lines, from KCS sequences or from
MIDI continous controllers.   How the sliders work and what they
control can be changed.  The sliders can also control Fingers.  They
can even change notes inside KCS sequences.

MIDI-axe is extremely user configurable.  How it works and use the
computer's keys and mouse buttons is up to you.  And a lot can be
changed while playing.  So in a way you can design your own musical
instrument on the fly. 

The program takes some time to get used to, and you need to
experiment a lot.  Personally I bought the program around 1994, and
have had a lot of fun with it.  I think that it can be used without
KCS, but then you would miss some features.  The Doctor himself also
used the program together with an alternate MIDI-controller. 
MIDI-axe come in 4 versions, of which two have special controls for
this controller.  

Well, this was a short description, there is a lot more.  The program
is highly recommended for people who like to experiment with music,
and who is not afraid of non-friendly user interfaces and manuals.



Trond Einar Garmo