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United Public Domain Gold 2
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United Public Domain Gold 2.iso
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pm164.dms
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Intro
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Text File
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1991-02-03
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7KB
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113 lines
############################################################################
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## "OCTAROCK-3D": New-Dimensions in Computer Creativity ##
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## Introduction by Composer/Disk-Producer: Alex Van Starrex ##
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This disk combines two of the latest developments in artistic-expression
on the Amiga: interactive 3-D graphics and 8-channel music. I find these two
processes go together quite well, in order to bring a new dimension to Amiga
computing. I hope that users of the disk might feel the same way, though the
results fall well short of being "virtual reality on a disk" - nevertheless,
there should be some interesting times ahead for those willing to explore it
in more detail. Details on how to operate the various programs are contained
in their respective drawers.
On the music-side, I've presented a series of compositions created using
"OctaMED", the 8-channel version of the great music-program "MED" by Finnish
programmer Teijo Kinnunen. "OctaMED" isn't a freely-distributable program -
it's a "licenceware" product which is only available from "Amiganuts United"
in England, whose manager, Ray Burt-Frost, sent me out a copy some weeks ago
for possible inclusion in my own disk-distribution enterprise. Unfortunately
I've got mixed feelings about the program in its present state (see the "OM-
Review" document in the "3D-Music" drawer for more details), but this hasn't
prevented me from creating a nice little collection of songs.
----------------------------------
One of the main problems that I found with playing "OctaSongs" from the
Workbench is the huge amount of processor-power required to do this - which,
in turn, slow-downs most other computing and disk-accessing activities to a
fairly unacceptable level (on 68000-based machines, that is - like my Amiga
500). As a result of this, I was hard-pressed to find any kind of graphics-
based material to present with these songs (as I usually like to do) - most
"animating" displays, such as the "Sizzlers" program used on my "Art of MED"
disk, simply refused to operate while the songs were playing.
Luck was on my side, however - in the form of the October 1991 issue of
"Jumpdisk" magazine. There I "found" a series of "3D" programs which, while
slowing-down somewhat in the presence of "OctaSongs", will still operate at
a rather respectable rate of speed, and with all the "virtual realism" that
3D can provide - if you have a pair of red/green (or red/blue) glasses to
view with. All of the 3D programs that I have included (I didn't borrow all
the files) are "interactive", in that users can alter settings, viewpoints,
etc. There's even a nifty 3D drawing program which loads and save pictures,
with some examples to be found in the (icon-less) "3D-Pics" drawer - inside
the "3D-Art" drawer on the disk. The results may be rather primitive (solid
filling isn't possible), but there's no denying the novelty of creating art
in 3-dimensions.
I'd recommend that any interested readers/viewers purchase the original
"Jumpdisk" issue to see more of this type of work - including some document
files and program-listings which I haven't used. It's a good issue, also.
----------------------------------
The intention behind putting the music and graphics-tools together on a
single-disk is, of course, that users try combining the two - experimenting
with the graphics whilst the songs are playing. Having about two and a half
hours (before repeating) of almost-multitasking music required a reasonably
diverting visual-accompaniment to go with it, and the 3-D programs "fit the
bill" fairly well. In order to add further to the sense of "being there", I
would also recommend that, rather than trying to play these songs through a
computer-monitor, readers plug-into an "alternative" stereo sound-system of
some type. I myself use quite a simple arrangement: a small (cheap) pair of
"bookshelf"-sized speakers connected through the headphone-jack of my 1084S
monitor - it has its disadvantages, sound-wise, but it works.
There's plenty of variety in the songs on this disk - with the emphasis
on "rock", or rhythm-intensive music (a more "classical" selection of songs
may be offered in the future). The 8-channel sound is quite apparent, too -
with "multitracked" rhythms, guitar-lines and other embellishments. As this
is my first batch of "OctaSongs", however, I haven't had the opportunity to
pick-and-choose from an available selection, so that a few of the songs may
appear somewhat similar in format, or otherwise over-repetitive in nature.
If possible, readers should access a particular graphics-program before
loading a song, as this saves time, though of course it will take some time
to become familar with each of the respective types of files here. Half-meg
users may have a tough time making full use of this disk, also (though this
shouldn't prevent them from enjoying individual selections of material).
----------------------------------
This disk is being released as "shareware". Users may write to me, with
details of their name and address, in order to receive any possible revised
versions of the disk, together with details of forthcoming releases - small
"donations" will assist this process. I don't mind if PD-distributors start
carrying the product - I'd like to encourage the process, in fact, though I
wouldn't mind getting some sort of reward for my efforts (even if it's just
a thank-you letter or a catalogue-disk). The sooner that distributors start
paying cash for original work, the sooner we'll start seeing better quality
work being distributed in the "public domain".
As I've stated before, buy the original "Jumpdisk" issue if you want to
use the graphics for anything other than your own private purposes. I don't
want to aid the "fragmentation-process" that inevitably takes place as some
people selectively-borrow from other peoples' own borrowing from the public
domain - worse still, from commercial or copyrighted work. Having access to
a "complete" set of tools is a far better arrangement, and helps the people
who originally created (or licensed) the works to recover some of the money
and time spent in the process.
My thanks go to all those who made this disk possible - especially Ray
at "Amiganuts" and Richard Ramella at "Jumpdisk" - also to the distributors
who have, to date stocked (or featured work from) my previous release, "Art
of MED" - "Megadisc" and "MAXI-DISK" in Australia, "Jumpdisk" and the "Fish
Disks" in America, and "Amiganuts", "Crazy Joe's" and "17-Bit" in England.
A.V.S. - October, 1991.