========================================================== == READ ME CIRCLE ELEMENTS V 2.40 ======================== == Windows - Demo Version - ENGLISH ====================== ========================================================== Welcome to CIRCLE ELEMENTS ! This READ ME File contains important information for the software and its installation Please read it BEFORE you install the software ! Contents ---------------------------------------------------------- 1. Installation 2. Deinstallation 3. Hints for operating 4. Drag & Drop 5. Directory/Folder structure 6. Keyboard Shortcuts 7. CIRCLE.INI Preferences file 8. SNDWORK Errorcodes 9. Hints for using MIDI 10. Unsuccesfull installation procedure 11. Reasons for program crashes 12. Memory Management 13. Known Bugs ========================================================== 1. INSTALLATION ========================================================== Important: You will need about 5 Mb of free capacity on your hard disk to install CIRCLE ELEMENTS. To mix sounds and add effects to them you will need additional capacity. a. From your CD-ROM drive start the program SETUP.EXE in the directory CIRCL_PC. The installation procedure will run automatically. eg: D:\CIRCL_PC\SETUP.EXE "D:" is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive. b. The program will ask you if you want to install it. Click on "YES". c. Select the desired language by clicking on the flag. d. Select the hard disk drive where you want to install CIRCLE ELEMENTS (only the first six drives are listed) eg: C:\ e. Type in a name of a directory where you want CIRCLE ELEMENTS to be installed. eg: CIRCLE f. After a successfull installation start CIRCLE ELEMENTS from your hard disk. eg: C:\CIRCLE\CIRCLE.EXE ========================================================== 2. Deinstallation of CIRCLE ELEMENTS ========================================================== CIRCLE ELEMENTS does not modify any system files or copy files to system-directorys or folders. To remove CIRCLE ELEMENTS from your hard disk just delete the directory or folder where you had installed it. ========================================================== 3. Hints for operating with CIRCLE ELEMENTS ========================================================== a. If you are using CIRCLE ELEMENTS for the first time, please use the help pages. You can leave these pages open while working with the software. We recommend to read these pages to get familar with the CIRCLE ELEMENTS user interface. b. Loading CIRCLES: Load the demo circles only from your hard disk if you are using a PC. The program can`t find the sound elements if you are loading the circles from the CD-ROM. c. If you are saving a CIRCLE you can save the CIRCLE data and/or the mixed sound. You can name the sound and use it directly to generate new CIRCLES. d. The different sound formats are resident in different folders / directorys: 22_8 = 8 bit Sounds, 22,05 kHz sampling-frequency, AIF-Format (These sounds have the lowest memory usage and are preferred for Groove Construction) 44_16 = 16 bit Sounds, 44,1 kHz sampling-frequency AIF-Format WAV = 16 bit Sounds, 44,1 kHz sampling-frequency WAV-Format e. The mixed sounds and the effectsounds are stored in the "TEMP" folder / directory. f. Sound data will take a lot of memory usage. It is recommended to free your hard disk from time to time for unused sounds. g. If you hold down the SHIFT-Button while clicking on PASTE, the copy buffer will not be erased after pasting the sound. The sound remains in the copy buffer. This is very useful from pasting the same sound more than once. ============================================================== 4. Drag & Drop ============================================================== - up from Version 2.20 you can use CIRCLE ELEMENTS like a normal Drag & Drop application. Click on an element and keep the mouse button pressed. Now you can move the element over the screen. On the position where you release the mouse button, the element will be dropped. You can move, copy, delete and select elements for effects. The mouse cursor changes its form, depending on the selected action. The element will always be dropped BEFORE the position you released the mouse button. - MOVE (Cursor: hand) The selected element is deleted at its former position and inserted into a new one. - STOP (Cusor: stop) The selected element cannot be inserted at this position. - MOVE & COPY (Cusor: small drawers) Push SHIFT-button. The selected element will be copied into the new position. - DELETE (Cursor: trash) The selected element will be deleted. - EFFECT (Cursor: sound) The selected element can be furnished with effects. - Hint: Empty elements can only be moved or deleted. ============================================================== 5. Folder- / directory structure ============================================================== ==============INTERGALACTIC=================================== 1HYP_140: Techno-Loops, Tempo 140 bpm 2HYP_140: Techno-Loops, Tempo 140 bpm 3HYP_140: Techno-Loops, Tempo 140 bpm 4HYP_140: Techno-Loops, Tempo 140 bpm ANALG100: Analog Synth-Loops, Tempo 100 bpm ANALG140: Analog Synth-Loops, Tempo 140 bpm BASS_120: Bass-Loops, Tempo 120 bpm BASS_140: Bass-Loops, Tempo 140 bpm CLOCKWRK: Clockwork, Sounds/Loops from clocks and industrial DRUM_100: Drumloops, Tempo 100 bpm DRUM_120: Drumloops, Tempo 120 bpm DRUM_140: Drumloops, Tempo 140 bpm DRUM_160: Drumloops, Tempo 160 bpm DRUMTOOL: Drumsounds, Kick, Snare, Crash EXPERIMT: experimental Effects, by Ueberschall GUITAR_E: electrical Guitars, played by Oswin BPM_120: electrical Guitars, Tempo 120 bpm BPM_140: electrical Guitars, Tempo 140 bpm BPM_160: electrical Guitars, Tempo 160 bpm ROBOT_1: electrical Voices, Vocodersounds ROBOT_2: electrical Voices, Vocodersounds ROBOT_3: electrical Voices, Vocodersounds ROBOT_4: electrical Voices, Vocodersounds VOICE_1: Voices, Voice-Licks VOICE_2: Voices, Voice-Licks VOICE_3: Voices, Voice-Licks VOICE_4: Voices, Voice-Licks VOICE_5: Voices, Voice-Licks VOICE_6: Voices, Voice-Licks WELTKLNG: Worldsounds by Andreas Merz AMBIENT: Layers, Atmospheres BPM_080: Loops, Tempo 80 bpm BPM_120: Loops, Tempo 120 bpm BPM_140: Loops, Tempo 140 bpm BPM_160: Loops, Tempo 160 bpm DRUMTOOL: Drumsounds EXPERIMT: experimental sounds SPACE_SF: Space-Effects ==============PLANET_EARTH==================================== _ANIMALS: Soundeffects, Animals _HOUSE: BATH: Soundeffects, bathroom DOOR: Soundeffects, doors KITCHEN: Soundeffects, kitchen MIXED: Soundeffects, various _INDSTRY: Soundeffects, industrial, office, machines _LEISURE: Soundeffects, sports, games _MOREOVR: Soundeffects, explosions, shots _NATURE: Soundeffects, nature, environment _TRNSPRT: BIKES: Soundeffects, bikes CAR_BUS: Soundeffects, cars, busses, doors MIXED: Soundeffects, carracing DANCE: DANCE-Voices, Rap DIGERIDO: Digeridoo, instrument of the australian Aboriginees DRUM_080: Drumloops, Tempo 80 bpm DRUM_100: Drumloops, Tempo 100 bpm DRUM_120: Drumloops, Tempo 120 bpm DRUM_140: Drumloops, Tempo 140 bpm DRUMTOOL: Drumsounds, kick, snare, crash GIPSY: FLAMENCO: Gipsy, Flamenco, Steps, Claps, Voices GUITAR: Gipsy, Guitars INSTRUMT: Gipsy, Zimbalon, Klaria VIOLIN: Gipsy, Violins GOSPEL: Harlem-Gospel-Singers GREGORIA: Gregorian Choir, Moscow GUITAR_A: acoustic Guitars, by Sigi Schwab BPM_080: Western-/spanish Guitar, Tempo 80 bpm BPM_100: Western-/spanish Guitar, Tempo 100 bpm BPM_120: Western-/spanish Guitar, Tempo 120 bpm BPM_140: Western-/spanish Guitar, Tempo 140 bpm INSTRUMT: Instruments, brass, Organ NUNS: nuns from Kasachstan ORCHESTR: Moscow Symphonic-Orchestra, licks und loops VOICES: Voices (Noise) ============================================================== 6. Keyboard codes ============================================================== Circle Screen: ------------------ Space = Loop / Stop I = Load Element E = Empty (empty Element, Pause) D = Delete L = Load Circle S = Save Circle P = Play Selected Element R = Remix U = Setup Q = Quit H = Help Load Window ---------------- PgUp = Page up (only PC) PgDw = Page down (only PC) Arrow up = up Arrow down = down RETURN = Load Circle/Element ============================================================== 7. CIRCLE.INI Preferences ============================================================== CIRCLE ELEMENTS uses this file for storing preferences. This file can be edited with a standard Text editor. The following keywords are used: LOAS= Drive/Path for loading sounds SAVS= Drive/Path for saving sounds LOAC= Drive/Path for loading circles SAVC= Drive/Path for saving circles TEMP= Drive/Path for temporary files (Effects/Mixes) MEMO= Memory usage for the mastertrack (* 100000 kByte) LANG= Language 1=english, 2=german, 3= danish, 4=french, 5=italian, 6=japanese, 7=hebrew, 8=spanish MVOL= Master volume RCNT= File counter for temporary files (Effects/Mixes) MCHA= Midi-Channel (0=OMNI, '-1' = OFF) MNOT= Midi-Note for master track OVER= Factor for the LED timer (default: 0.96) DISK= Background Picture 'INTER'=Intergalactic, 'PLANET' = Planet Earth !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the LEDs are not running synchronously to the master track, modify the value for keyword "OVER". Increase the default value of 0.96 if the LEDs are running too slow, decrease this value if the LEDs are running too fast. The correct value depends on the processing power of your PC. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ============================================================== 8. SNDWORK Error codes ============================================================== CIRCLE ELEMENTS is using an Xobject/DLL which will generate error codes if something is going wrong. The following short description will help you to diagnose the reason. FileNotFound 01 FileNotOverwrite 02 FileReadError 03 FileWriteError 04 DataBlockSizeTooBig 05 EndOfFile 06 NotEnoughMemory 07 AIFFileExpected 08 BadCOMMChunk 09 BadSSNDChunk 10 AIFUnexpectedBlockSize 11 AlreadyInitialized 101 CantCreateMasterSound 102 IndexAlreadyLoaded 103 IndexNotLoaded 104 WaveFileExpected 105 WaveFileIsCorrupted 106 WaveHeaderPrepareError 107 SoundAlreadyPlaying 108 SoundNotPlaying 109 OpenSoundFile 110 LocalLockFailed 111 ReadingFormatChunk 112 PCMFileExpected 113 CantPlayThisFormat 114 DataChunkExpected 115 EmptyDataChunk 116 GlobalLockFailed 117 OpenWaveDeviceFailed 118 BadSoundIndex 119 ReadingSoundData 120 MasterSoundCorrupt 121 StereoSoundNotSupported 122 OffsetOutOfBounds 123 BlockSizeTooLarge 124 SampleRateNotEqual 125 SoundModeNotEqual 126 SoundBitRateNotEqual 127 BadOffsetParameter 128 NoDataAvailable 129 NoMoreDataSpace 130 MidiDeviceAlreadyInstalled 131 MidiDeviceOpenError 132 MidiDeviceAlreadyOpen 133 MidiDeviceNotOpen 134 MidiNoDeviceInstalled 135 MidiAlreadyInitialized 136 NoSoundchannelAvailabl 137 AIFFFileExpected 138 AIFFFileIsCorrupted 139 NotSameFormat 140 SoundIsEmpty 141 No8Or16BitSound 142 ============================================================== 9. Hints for using MIDI ============================================================== a. If you do not use the MIDI functions make sure that the value for the MIDI-Channel in the SETUP window is set to "-" (MIDI off). This will speed up the system. b. The MIDI functions of CIRCLE ELEMENTS require a 486 PC with 50 MHz and a high performance sound card to operate correctly. c. Check for unused MIDI signals from your Keyboard or Sequencer (especially aftertouch messages and unused Channels). Theses messages will slow down the system. d. If the processing power of your PC is too slow, there could be drop-outs while playing sounds and simultaneous processing MIDI messages. In unfavourable environments it might hang the PC. e. Remember that the master track has to be mixed before it can be played. To start the master track synchronously to your sound equipment, mix the master track manually by clicking the loop button. f. CIRCLE ELEMENTS Midi functions will work with any MCI compatible Midi-Interface. You can use the Midi-Mapper. Make sure that the channels are set correctly. In the SetUp windows the red LED will be lit if CIRCLE ELEMENTS is receiving ANY Midi-messages. ============================================================== 10. Unsuccesfull installation procedure ============================================================== - If the SETUP Program crashes immediately check the follwoing items: Grafik Resolution should be 640 * 480 * 256 col CD-ROM Drive should handle Hybrid-Mode (ISO9660 & HFS) - There could be different reasons, if the installation procedure fails (e.g. not enough hard disk capacity, not enough RAM, incorrect Windows installation). The following procedure describes the steps to install CIRCLE LEMENTS manually. a. Create a directory on your hard disk for circle elements. e.g. c:\circle b. Copy the contents of the directory CIRCL_PC and the contents of its subdirectorys (XCOPY) of your CD-ROM in the previously created directory. To save hard disk capacity you can copy only parts of the program, if you don`t need the functionality. The directory CIRCL_PC\HELPE will only be used, if you need the English language help pages. The directory CIRCL_PC\HELPG will only be used, if you need the German language help pages. c. Use a text editor to create an empty file named CIRCLE.INI and copy this file in your circle elements directory (c:\circle). d. Start the program CIRCLE.EXE from your hard disk. Wait for the main screen. e. Quit the program by clicking QUIT. f. The file CIRCLE.INI is now initialized with its default values. Please read the Section 6 in this file for the description of these parameters. Modify these parameters for your own needs. g. The demo circles are located in the directory CIRCL_PC\CIRCLES on the CD-ROM. These files are modified during the installation process. The installation program adds the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive to the sound names. You have to modify these files if you want to use them. e.g.: AGUITAR.CIR orginal file: --CIRCLE elements v1.01 F01 T13 1010116125DEMO\C_MAJ_2.AIF 1020116251DEMO\F_MAJ_1.AIF 1030116094DEMO\G_MAJ_2.AIF 1040116205DEMO\A_MIN_2.AIF 1050116138DEMO\F_MAJ_2.AIF 1060116239DEMO\G_MAJ_1.AIF 1070116094DEMO\G_MAJ_2.AIF --END modified file: CD-ROM drive letter: E:\ --CIRCLE elements v1.01 F01 T13 1010116125E:\DEMO\C_MAJ_2.AIF 1020116251E:\DEMO\F_MAJ_1.AIF 1030116094E:\DEMO\G_MAJ_2.AIF 1040116205E:\DEMO\A_MIN_2.AIF 1050116138E:\DEMO\F_MAJ_2.AIF 1060116239E:\DEMO\G_MAJ_1.AIF 1070116094E:\DEMO\G_MAJ_2.AIF --END Note: The entry for the keyword/soundname "_PAUSE" may not be changed. ============================================================== 11. Reasons for program crashes ============================================================== - If CIRCLE ELEMENTS crashes with an error message from the Windows kernel while loading/saving files (installation procedure) check the following items: 1. CONFIG.SYS file. The keyword STACKS should have the following value: STACKS=0,0 !!! Remember that other programs probably need other values. 2. Make shure that all standard windows fonts (e.g. Arial) are correctly installed. - If CIRCLE ELEMENTS crashes while playing sounds check your System control panel. You should not work with a Windows Swapfile. CIRCLE ELEMENTS needs real RAM to loop the sounds cortrectly. - Unreproduceable falls can occur with some hardware components by using Windows. There seems to be no cause in any user interaction. The error message displays a general-protection-error in the module KERNEL386.EXE. At most times, the driver of the graphics-adapter is the reason for these falls. Circle elements was made with the authoring system "Director" by Macromedia and is based on the hardware compatibility of this software. Macromedia documented the hardware compatibility of "Director" in the file VIDSOUND.WRI, which is also included on this CD-ROM. Please check your software drivers in relation with this file, and follow the given advices or consult the manufacturers of your graphics- or sound-hardware. For clearly identify your graphics driver as the problem, there is the possibility equal or higher than version 2.30.1 of Circle elements, to start the program with the standard VGA-driver of Windows(16 colours). Therefor you must configure the Windows VGA-driver with the SETUP program and then you have to start Windows once again. After that, Circle elements must be started with pressed and hold SHIFT button, so the showing of mistakes and the quitting of the program do not occur, in case of using 16 colours.The showing of the colours in this case is very strange. If there aren't any errors in this 16-colour mode, the driver of the graphics adapter is clearly exposed to be the cause of your problems. ============================================================== 12. Memory Management ============================================================== - CIRCLE ELEMENTS uses a dual memory management. The size for the master track can be adjusted in the SetUp-Window. This adjustment allow values up to the half of the maximum of the free memory. We assume that the other half is used for loading the sounds. If you want to assign more than the half of the free memory to the master track, edit the CIRCLE.INI file and don`t use the SetUp-window for this purpose. - If you Click in the sound-window the two values of free memory are displayed. 'Memory' is the free memory for loading sounds 'Master' is the free memory of the master track The values will be updated if you click in the Sound-window. ============================================================== 13. Known Bugs ============================================================== - While saving circles and sounds don`t use the return key. WORKAROUND: Click on the OK button - If you are using 16Bit sounds and you have only clicked a start LED a "click" at the end of the master track will be played. WORKAROUND: Click on a stop LED. - If an Element on track 2 is longer than the opposite Element on track 1 the playback is incorrect. WORKAROUND: You should load the longer Elements on track 1. Track 1 is the master track and controls the timing of your CIRCLE. - Unfortunately CIRCLE ELEMENTS does not take care of the adjusted volume while mixing, if the opposite track does not have a loaded element or an empty element. WORKAROUND: Loading an Element at this place and turning its volume to zero will give you the requested result. == EOF =======================================================