FAQ for OctaMED BBS and User on CiX From Teijo & Ray

     There aren't many questions yet - please send me email,
     if you have questions, which you would like to be answered here!

   ( on the BBS e-mail Teijok, on CiX e-mail rbfsoft. WWW coming soon )


Q:Why doesn't OctaMED play samples longer than 131072 bytes?

A:  This is a hardware restriction of audio DMA, and has been existed
    in (Octa)MED since beginning.
    This restriction won't exist in Soundstudio however, when making use
    of the new mixing routines (see the next question).

Q:The next version of OctaMED?

A:  OctaMED Soundstudio (V7), is currently under development.
    This release will concentrate on a few major new features:
    A new mixing routine, notation editor, 32 tracks and more....

    At the time of writing the mixing routine is ready, and working well.

    The mixing routine is a great improvement over the old 8 channel modes,
    it supports 1-32 channels, individual volume control on each channel,
    synthetic sounds, panning in stereo mode, echoes etc.
    It even removes many limits of the 4 channel DMA audio: samples can be
    in Fast RAM, they can be longer than 131072 bytes, and they can be
    played backwards.
    The only drawback is speed, which affects 68000 users only, it is
    slower than the old 8 channel modes.
    For example, my A3000/25 can mix about 8 channels at 48 kHz,
    using Toccata 16-bit output. ( Rays 4000 is faster ) [show off]
    However, even 68000 users can record music e.g. onto hard disk in
    non-realtime, at up to 65kHz in 16 bit quality,
    (the CD rate is 44.1 kHz).
    PC ScreamTracker (S3M) modules can also now be loaded.

    The work on a completely new notation editor has now been started.
    More information about it will appear here later.

    The work on a completely new notation editor has now been started.
    More information about it will appear here later.

Q: When will it be available?

A: Hopefully in early 1996. (depends on bug reports etc)
   You can read these pages now and then to get up-to-date
   information about the current stage of development and planned
   release time.

Q: Will I get an upgrade price from a previous version that I have bought?

A: Only if you are registered with RBF Software or one of their
   outlets, as having purchased V6.

Q: Where can I get the documentation of OctaMED's file format? 

A: It's part of the OctaMED developers' support files.
   These are available on Aminet, for example.
   ( also comes with the latest V6 package )

Q: Will OctaMED ever be available on PCs? 

A: This is a difficult question.
   I'm aware of the fact that there's a big demand of a PC version.
   Even though Ray and I do not like, and probably never will, like PC's
   (it's not just a matter of principle, allthough we have supported the
   miggie through thick and thin), we just prefer to use an efficient,
   multitasking operating system, like AmigaOS).
   It seems to be quite inevitable that we WILL now be porting
   OctaMED to the PC platform as with the upcoming NT4 the Amiga
   is going to be left far behind unless AT do something soon.

   We haven't made any final decisions yet, but nearly have.
   We will first finish OctaMED Soundstudio for the Amiga, at any rate.

Q: If OctaMED does ever becomes available on PCs, is Amiga support
   abandoned?

A: Not realy if, more a case of when!!, but the migy will not be abandoned

   Ray & I will always primarily remain Amiga users at heart,
   and will use our dear Miggies for as long as they continue to work :)
   ( Ray and I will certainly buy a RISC Amiga when and *if* AT brings
     one to the market ). {wishfull thinking?}  [PLEEEEEZE]


Teijo Kinnunen & Ray Burt-Frost