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Der Mediaplex Sampler - Die 6 von Plex
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DISK2
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MULTI_08
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VM2.DOC
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1993-04-22
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Vectorballs Mod Player, v2.2, 04.93
Written by Rhys of The Elven Nation.
Thanks to Codeblasters for Goldplay.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This program is postware...Send me a postcard from whereever you are
from and include your system specs. (eg. 386/40, 5RAM-120HD,
SB-Pro (DMA:1, IRQ:7, PORT:$220), Tseng ET4K SVGA, DOS 5.0)
See the end of this document for contact information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What it is...
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VM2 is Mod player for the PC... (Yes, another one :). What sets this
player apart from the others is that it provides an inter-active
vectorball type of 3D environment with which to play during the music.
Vectorballs are basically large 3D dots that compose a 3D object. A Mod
is a convenient digital music format which originated on the Amiga. It
has since migrated to various platforms, (thus the convience), and has
become widespread.
The latest Mods can be found on internet at wuarchive.wustl.edu in the
/systems/amiga/incoming/mods directory. A decent source for dated Mods
is snake.mcs.kent.edu in the /pub/SB-Adlib/ntmods directory. Or, for
those without internet access...call the Sound Barrier BBS at
1-718-979-6629.
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How to start it...
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VM2 requires the file VM2.DAT. It must be in a directory in your path
and must have that exact name: VM2.DAT.
VM2 also requires a configuration file. Run VM2-CFG.EXE to create the
file. Just answer the questions about your system's setup and VM2.CFG
will be saved. VM2.CFG *must* reside in your path (sorry).
To play a Mod, just use:
VM2 <Modname>
The .MOD extension is optional.
You will be prompted for your soundcard configuration:
>Do you have a SoundBlaster Pro (DMA 1, IRQ 7, Port 220h)?
>Do you have a SoundBlaster (DMA 1, IRQ 7, Port 220h)?
If not...it will default to a PC Speaker.
If you have a SB-Pro or SB, VM2 will default to 32K playback rate, or
16K for the PC Speaker.
If you do not have one of these standard configuration items, use
VM2 <Modname> C
This will take you through the GoldPlay configuration menus. This is
tedious, I know; the next version should have a config file so you
won't need to go through the configuration menu every time.
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Keys During Play
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All of this information is available on-screen while the music is playing.
S
This toggles between "scrunched" and "normal" mirrored balls. This
gives more of a water effect (?). Which setting do you prefer?
(Default is un-scrunched)
escape
Quit the program. (novel idea eh? :)
+
Speed up the rotation.
-
Slow down the rotation.
left arrow
Rotate vectorballs clockwise. (default)
right arrow
Rotate vectorballs counter-clockwise.
/
Display 16 vectorballs with mirror effect. (default)
*
Display 8 vectorballs with mirror effect. (for slower machines)
[
Decrease the master volume. (Min is 0/Mute)
]
Increase the master volume. (Max is 63)
M
Toggles the sound on or off just like MUTE on your TV.
1-4
Lock all vectorballs to channel 1-4.
0
Set vectorballs to all channels. (default)
F1-F7
Set vectorballs' method or pattern. Just play with these to understand.
(F3 is default.)
any other key
Stop the rotation if it is going--or start the rotation in the
opposite of its previous direction.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use this program at your own risk...I won't be responsible for anything.
I have tested this program under Windows 3.1 (Windoze...) and it crashes.
Run it under DOS. Or, could someone test it for me under OS/2 and let
me know the results? Thanks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revision History:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legend:
+ added
- removed
= changed
2.2 : 04.22.93
+ Three more vectorball patterns/methods
+ Configuration program/file (it took 3 days and a four-hour
optical physics exam to figure out how to stop crashing after
reading the config file - naturally it was a couple of
really stupid mistakes :)
+ Future plans section in the doc file (see below)
2.1 : 04.19.93 (not released)
+ Changeable master volume (with display)
+ Mute function
= Now displays what channel the vectorballs are locked to
= Quick configuration for PC Speaker said 16K but actually used 20K
= Checks if mod file exists *before* getting configuration
= Default vector method to F3. (Merely my personal preference.)
= Default direction to clockwise. (Personal preference again...)
2.0 : 04.18.93 (First public release)
+ Quick config for standard configurations
+ [C] command-line option for non-standard configurations
+ Speed up/slow down
+ 8/16 vectorballs option
+ Various vectorballs patterns/methods
+ Locking vectorballs to different channels
1.0 : 04.16.93 (Intial Version)
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Future Plans
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to those of you (few) people who gave me suggestions on how
to improve VM2...You know who you are. Priorities are in parentesis
with '1' being first priority and '+', well you know...when I get
around to it. ;)
(1) Show some information about the Mod.
(1) Add a help screen so the background is not so ugly.
(1) Better support for finding VM2.CFG and VM2.DAT, so they
don't have to reside in your path.
(2) Add additional vectorball methods...[This one is not so easy.]
(3) Use different (better) sound routines [maybe DSMI? & GUSMOD?]
(+) Additional card support. [like GUS, and PAS (directly)]
(+) Faster/smoother routines. [like rewriting this in assembler--
some year]
Plus, whatever else I forgot to mention...Send ideas!
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Contact Info
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Send bug reports, suggestions, ideas, comments, gripes, etc. to:
E-mail: (guaranteed valid until 12/93)
swalker@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu
SWALKER@UHUNIX.BITNET
Snail-Mail:
Mr. Sunny Walker
aka Rhys of The Elven Nation
PO Box 1424
Kamuela, HI 96743 USA
RE: VM2
Remember, please send the postcard with your system configuration.
Don't hesitate to send better/faster/optimized code for MOD playing,
vectorball/solid-vector graphics or direct VGA programming. ;)
I know this program could be made a lot better if I knew how, so tell
me how I can do it.
Hope you enjoy it.