Contents
MM-GIF Multimedia GIF Player

MM-GIF is a multimedia GIF file viewer. It can play multi-image GIF files that include both MIDI music and Wave PCM sound data.

The Graphics Interchange Format is the Copyright property of CompuServe Incorporated. GIF(sm) is a Service Mark property of CompuServe Incorporated.

Contents

MIDI Configure

Driver Configure

Wave Configure

Playing Files

Options

File Details

Product Support


MIDI Configure

The MIDI Configure dialog box allows the selection of Windows 3.1 MIDI output drivers. Several output ports may be configured, but most GIF contained MIDI files will specify only one output port.

In order to select or change a driver, simply highlight the driver of interest and click on the Add button.  To remove a driver, highlight the driver and press Delete.


Driver Configure

The Driver Configure dialog box allows adjustment of the perceived polyphony capabilities of the currently selected MIDI driver. Some internal sound card drivers may report an actual number of voices that the driver can support, but external MIDI interfaces have no way of telling what MIDI modules are attached to the other end of the cable. By adjusting the number of voices in the polyphony box, you can aid MM-GIF in deciding which rendition of a MIDI file to play. If the driver reports more notes than the amount currently set in the dialog box, the number is automatically increased. The amount is never decreased, however; allowing user override of the number reported.

If the warning box is checked, MM-GIF displays a warning message when the requirements of a MIDI file exceed the stated polyphony capacity. The warning is strictly informational, and can be safely ignored.

The choose rendition with radio buttons tell MM-GIF how to pick a rendition:

Best Match	Chooses a rendition that the driver can play without losing notes
Maximum Polyphony	Chooses the rendition that contains the most voices
Maximum Polyphony	Chooses the rendition that contains the least voices


Wave Configure

The Wave Configure dialog box allows control over MS ADPCM decompression.  When the Decompress Waves in Memory checkbox is selected, Wave files encoded by MS ADPCM are decompressed in memory when a GIF file is opened; regardless of whether the MS ACM is installed.  In addition, the compressed Wave samples can be forced into either 8 bit or 16 bit decompressed samples.

When the Decompress Waves in Memory checkbox is not selected, the Wave Mapper is consulted to determine the driver to use for playback.  If the MS ACM is installed, it will be used to playback MS ADPCM compressed Waves; otherwise MS ADPCM Waves will be decompressed in memory, and forced into an 8 Bit format.


Playing Files

As soon as MM-GIF is configured for a MIDI device, you can begin to play multimedia GIF files with it. Files can be opened by choosing File/Open... or by dragging a file from the File Manager into an open copy of MM-GIF.

If the GIF file contains MIDI tracks it will wait for you to start playback by choosing Run/Play. You can also configure MM-GIF to automatically begin playback as soon as the file is opened and processed: see Options.


Options

You can adjust certain playback parameters by selecting options from the Option menu. A check mark beside an option means that it is in effect:

Option	Result
Auto Dither	This only has effect for 16 color VGA drivers. If you have one of these, enabling this option will allow an approximation of the 256 color images -- usually better than the Windows default.
Auto Play	Will begin playback as soon as a GIF file loads.
Auto Loop	Will continually playback the same GIF over and over. If you choose this option and Full Screen you'll have a Multimedia Screen Saver.
Stretch Image	Checking this option will cause the images to be stretched to the full width or height of the MMGIF Window.  The image will maintain it's aspect ratio. This option slows down image display somewhat.
Center Image	Causes all Images to be centered on the screen.
Full Screen	Checking this option causes the Image to occupy the entire screen, the next time it is displayed (by choosing View/Current, for instance).  The image is not resized however. The mouse cursor will disappear, but any keystroke or a left mouse click will restore the screen. The cursor reappears after playback ends.


File Details

The File Details screen displays information about each embedded Image, PCM Waveform, and MIDI File.  In addition, comments stored in the GIF are displayed.  This option is only available when a file is open.

In the case of PCM Samples, the information displayed is after any decompression or translation has been performed.


Product Support

MM-GIF was designed and created by CompuServe Staff in the Sight And Sound Forum. Consequently, it will be supported within the Sight And Sound Forum on CIS:  GO SSFORUM

Credits and Acknowledgment

Chief Wizop Visionary:	Jim Maki	-Sysop	[76701,33]
Design and Implementation:	Jamie O'Connell	-Sysop	[72662,1433]
MIDILIB.DLL Library:	Dan McKee	-Sysop	[71333,1572]
EMBED.EXE - GIF Embedder:	Tom LeCompte	-Sysop	[76711,572]

Disclaimer

This program is provided without any warranty, expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular purpose.