1 files changed, 67 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83b6f52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# The MIDIMonster
+
+Named for it's scary math, the MIDIMonster is a universal translation
+tool between multi-channel absolute-value-based control and/or bus protocols,
+such as MIDI, DMX/ArtNet and OSC.
+
+It allows the user to translate channels on one protocol into channels on another
+(or the same) protocol, eg
+
+* Translate MIDI Control Changes into Notes
+* Translate MIDI Notes into ArtNet
+* Translate OSC messages into MIDI
+
+## Configuration
+
+Each protocol supported by MIDIMonster is implemented by a *backend*, which takes
+global protocol-specific options and provides *instance*s, which can be configured further.
+
+The configuration is stored in a file with a format very similar to the common
+INI file format. A section is started by a header in `[]` braces, followed by
+lines of the form `option = value`.
+
+A section may either be a *backend configuration* section, started by `[backend <backend-name>]`,
+an *instance configuration* section, started by `[<backend-name> <instance-name>]` or a *mapping*
+section started by `[map]`.
+
+The options accepted by the implemented backends are documented in the next section.
+
+### The `artnet` backend
+
+#### Global configuration
+
+| Option	| Example value		| Default value 	| Description		|
+|---------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
+| `bind`	| `127.0.0.1 6454`	| *none*		| What address and port to bind the ArtNet socket to |
+| `net`		| `0`			| `0`			| The default net to use |
+
+#### Instance configuration
+
+### The `midi` backend
+
+#### Global configuration
+
+#### Instance configuration
+
+### The `osc` backend
+
+#### Global configuration
+
+#### Instance configuration
+
+## Building
+
+This section will explain how to build the provided sources to be able to run
+`midimonster`.
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+In order to build the MIDIMonster, you'll need some libraries that provide
+support for the protocols to translate.
+
+* libasound2-dev
+* A C compiler
+
+### Building
+
+Just running `make` in the source directory should do the trick.