The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2

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Text File | 1992-03-29 | 18KB | 478 lines

╒═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ SuperProPlay v1.31 │ │ │ ╞═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ By Joshua C. Jensen │ │ │ │ Release Date: March 29, 1992 │ │ │ ╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ I. QUICK START ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Assuming you have already dearchived SuperProPlay, just type: SPP at the DOS prompt. Everything else is automatic! II. INTRODUCTION ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SuperProPlay allows you to play Amiga Soundtracker, Noisetracker, 4 channel Startrekker, and Protracker modules on a PC (10Mhz+, 12 mhz for optimum performance). SuperProPlay is written completely in assembly and is now 9,000 lines in length. **v1.2c -- Sorry, all you 8086 people. I went through and optimized a lot of the code. It will now only run on a 286 or better. You'll have to use under v1.2c. Again, sorry. IIa. WHAT ARE THESE THINGS CALLED MODULES? ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ A module consists of 15 or 31 "samples" and a 4 channel music score. The samples are actual digitized sounds, sampled in through a variety of different sources. By taking these samples and playing them at different pitches, a rich, musical soundtrack can be created that makes synthesized sound look puny. The music score of a module is made up of several different things. Number one is the note. The note is stored as a "sampling" rate or a period of time. The lower the note, the longer the period of time. Next is the instrument. For every note played, a corresponding instrument is played. The special effect is next. These range from arpeggios to volume slides to speed changes. By combining these items, musical scores lasting several minutes, sometimes ten minutes or more, can be created using minimal space. IIb. PLAYBACK DEVICES ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SuperProPlay supports several playback devices: * PC Internal Speaker * Soundblaster * Soundblaster Pro (next release) * Adlib Gold (next release) * Roland (coming soon) * and other MIDI devices (coming soon) The PC's internal speaker is not really up to handling modules. It can barely handle a 5-bit sample (and that is barely). This is nearly half of the total bits in the sample we have to play. So, if the music gets loud and muffled, you'll know why. The Soundblaster is a wonderful device for modules. The Amiga plays a 9-bit stereo sample. The Soundblaster plays an 8-bit mono. Even so, this is very good...much, much better than the internal speaker. Creative Labs, Inc. should have the Soundblaster Pro programming specs out soon. The Soundblaster Pro will play an 8-bit stereo sample. Channels 1 and 4 go out the left speaker, channels 2 and 3 go out the right speaker. This should sound pretty good. The Adlib Gold will play a 9-bit stereo sample. This doubles the quality of the 8-bit stereo sample, and even makes it sound better than the Amiga. This should sound awesome. IIc. IMPLEMENTATION ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SuperProPlay implements all regular Amiga effects including Protracker effects. Most Amiga modules have samples that are less than 64k in them. A few rare modules have samples greater than 64k. These can be played on a 12mhz machine, but most 12mhz machines really can't cope. Try it on the next step up, a 16mhz machine. IId. PROTRACKER ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Amiga's name comes with its standard in graphics, music, and whatever other types of files it has. This standard is the reason why everything on the Amiga looks good. This standard was also the deciding factor in designing SuperProPlay. SuperProPlay originally began with Soundtracker modules. These contained some nice, standard Amiga effects. But as time went on, more and more Amiga trackers began appearing, implementing more and more new commands. One tracker that is quickly becoming a standard is Protracker. Protracker supports all the Soundtracker commands, plus a host of its own. In implementing the Protracker format, I have opened up a wide range of Amiga modules whose special effects were otherwise not playable by anything but Protracker. You will find that many modules benefit greatly by having these extra commands. III. SUPERPROPLAY COMMAND LINE OPTIONS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SuperProPlay has simple (and very simplistic) command-line playing capabilities. SPP [-1/-2/-3] [-0] [-f] [filename [.MOD]] The items in [ ] are optional. The filename can contain wildcard characters, so SPP * would be valid. SPP * would play all *.MOD files in the current directory one after another. Playback of a list of files can be aborted by hitting ESC several times in rapid succession. -1 should be used if you are playing samples on a 10mhz machine. -2 is the default, 12mhz machines or better. -3 is for 12mhz machines playing modules with samples greater than 64k. If your machine acts screwy, use this. -0 tells SuperProPlay to play through the PC speaker. This is the default and using this switch will override any automatic detections. SuperProPlay automatically detects a Soundblaster card. -f will create a list of all module files in the current directory. See below (Module File List). IV. SUPERPROPLAY INTERACTIVE MODE ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Typing SPP on its own will bring up a file selection list. From here, files can be tagged, played, deleted, output device can be changed, etc. Help is available on all keypresses by pressing F10. Commands on the file selection screen are as follows: Cursor Left or Cursor Up - Move the highlight bar up Cursor Right or Cursor Down - Move the highlight bar down Home - Move the highlight bar to the top of the screen End - Move the highlight bar to the bottom of the screen PgUp - Move up a page of files PgDn - Move down a page of files Return or Enter - This will play the currently highlighted module, or change the drive or directory. ESC - Quits SuperProPlay. O - Brings up a menu showing all the output devices available and allows selection from them. D - Deletes the currently highlighted module with confirmation. Space - Tags or untags the currently highlighted module and advances to the next module. T - Tags all the modules in the directory. U - Untags all the modules in the directory. P - Plays all tagged modules. S - Pulls up a sample list for the current module (see below). V. SAMPLE LIST/MENU ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ This menu is set up to view, play, save, or load samples for the current module. This is only temporary and when you exit, all changes are destroyed. Note that this is a very untested section of the program. Use with caution!! Keys that work from within this menu are: F1 Save the current sample to disk. Prompts for a filename. F2 Load a sample from disk. Prompts for a filename. F3 Plays the module with the changes. ESC Exits the sample menu. In addition to the above keys, samples can be played from here, too. Below is a crude rendition of a piano keyboard. 2 3 4 6 7 9 0 - F#2 G#2 A#2 C#3 D#3 F#3 G#3 A#3 Q W E R T Y U I O P [ F-2 G-2 A-2 B-2 C-3 D-3 E-3 F-3 G-3 A-3 B-3 S D G H J L ; C#1 D#1 F#1 G#1 A#1 C#2 D#2 Z X C V B N M , . / C-1 D-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 A-1 B-1 C-2 D-2 E-2 VI. PLAYBACK KEYS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ These keys will work during any playback. Space or Return or ESC Stop playing F1 Decrease volume bar character by one F2 Increase volume bar character by one F3 Decrease volume bar attribute by one F4 Increase volume bar attribute by one F5 Scroll music F6 Unassigned F7 F8 Sorry, folks. Somebody gave me the spectrum analyzer source. It didn't work the way it was supposed to, so I cut it. F9 Flips into graphics mode - or F11 Decrement master volume + or F12 Increment master volume 1 Turn channel 1 on/off 2 Turn channel 2 on/off 3 Turn channel 3 on/off 4 Turn channel 4 on/off 7 Decrement foreground attribute for real- time spectrum analyzer 8 Increment foreground attribute for real- time spectrum analyzer 9 Decrement background attribute for real- time spectrum analyzer 0 Increment background attribute for real- time spectrum analyzer [ Decrement number of counts per next note ] Increment number of counts per next note A Decrement channel 1 volume Z Increment channel 1 volume S Decrement channel 2 volume X Increment channel 2 volume D Decrement channel 3 volume C Increment channel 3 volume F Decrement channel 4 volume V Increment channel 4 volume Left Arrow Slow music down Right Arrow Speed music up Down Arrow Restore original speed End Almost pause music Home Go to beginning of music PgUp Decrement current block by one PgDn Increment current block by one VII. MODULE FILE LIST ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ By using the -f command-line switch, a list of all modules in the current directory can be created. Use redirection to redirect them to a file. C:\MODULES> SPP -f > LIST.TXT Would create a file LIST.TXT with the contents similar to: CRUSADE.MOD 87k CRUSADE.SONG.st 20 31 02:30 RAINY_NT.MOD 209k rainynight 54 31 06:46 BRIDGE.MOD 145k bridge 32 31 04:00 VIII. MODULE EDITING ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SuperProPlay Advanced will contain complete and total real- time module editing! Yes, folks! You heard it! Real- time...on a PC! This version of SuperProPlay contains a small sample of the beginning stages of some editing I am working on. To sample it, press E on a module from the file selection screen. Use standard moving keys, the piano-like keyboard, F7 and F8 to increment the current sample, F9 and F10 to increment the current block, space to start playing, Ctrl to play note under cursor. Note: This is not even in the beta-testing stages. If it locks up your machine, it's not my fault. Compare MED for the Amiga. Coming in version 2.00. The very next release! Available at the end of March. ** Delayed because of another project I have been working on. Sorry, contact 1:302/1 for more information. IX. FREEWARE ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ This software is Freeware. This means that if you use this software, like it, and continue to use it, in order to keep your conscience clear, donate some money to the development of this software. I have a problem with Shareware. The problem is that no one has ever supported anything I have written so far. This is the last and final test in this area. If anyone has anything they'd like to say, send me a letter! Support Shareware. X. CREDIT & THANKS: ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ These people have directly and indirectly helped in the development of SuperProPlay. Thanks to all of them! If you have ideas, your name could appear here, too. Joshua Dinerstein - Provided the MED source code for the Amiga which contained a MED playback routine. Recently supplied the Protracker source code so I could verify my routines. Ted Birch - For obtaining the Soundblaster programming info. Tom Campbell - One of my few and only beta testers. Thanks for all the suggestions. - The now, over 100 people, who have requested copies/given ideas for SuperProPlay. XI. COPYRIGHT/LICENSE/WARRANTY ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ This license agreement applies only to the version of SuperProPlay that accompanies this document. The software (SPP.EXE and SPP.DOC) is Copyright 1992 by the author (Joshua C. Jensen). You are hereby granted permission to: use this software; give copies to anyone; and distribute the software and documentation via electronic means. You are specifically prohibited from charging, selling, or requesting any monetary amount for any copies, however made. The software may not be used for any commercial purposes without written contract from the author (Joshua C. Jensen). This software may be distributed in the Shareware/Public Domain libraries that charge for copying and distributing disks so long as those companies contact the author first and receive his written permission to do so. There is no warranty of any kind; this software is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. The author (Joshua C. Jensen) is not liable for any damages whatsoever, directly or indirectly, that may occur as a result of using this software or documentation. By owning/using this software, you agree to all the above terms. No copy of this software may be distributed or given away without this document; the software or document may not be altered in any way nor the software reverse-engineered by disassembly or any other method that could cause alteration. The software and documentation are Copyright (C) 1991/1992 by Joshua C. Jensen XII. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Q. How do I make modules? A. Modules are generally created using MED or Protracker on the Amiga. SuperProPlay Advanced (available at the end of March) will contain _full_ real-time editing comparable to MED or Protracker. Q. Can I have the source code? A. It is my intention to release the full source for SuperProPlay to create a standard on the IBM also. Right now, I am holding back, because certain companies are investigating SuperProPlay and may incorporate the playing routines in their games. There is one company so far that has used my playing routines. That is Inland International Software. They/we used it in a game called the Crusade. Contact them at (801) 753-5720 for ordering information for the Crusade (IBM/Amiga). XIII. CONTACT/SUPPORT ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ For any support, bug reporting, registration, or anything to that effect, contact me via one of the following places: Joshua C. Jensen P.O. Box 414 Hyde Park, UT 84318 Official support sites: The Holo Deck BBS (801) 563-6348 1:302/1 Into the Woods (801) 753-2408 1:302/5 or via any 1:302 Fidonet address.