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1995-02-06
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MIDI Machine V1.21 (c) Excel Progs/TOW Development 1995
I. Info about Excel Progs/TOW Development
II. Introduction
III. What You Need
IV. Running MIDI Machine
V. Command Line Options
VI. Configuring MIDI Machine
VII. Extra Animations
VIII. Current List of Available Animations (Icon Packs)
IX. Support Info.
X. Registering
XI. Revisions
XII. Warranty/Disclaimer/License/Thanks
I. Info about Excel Progs/Tow Development
MIDI Machine V1.21 by Excel Progs/TOW Development
MIDI Machine was written by Andrew Malek of Excel Progs, and is
being distributed by Excel Progs and TOW Development.
For more information, contact Excel Progs with a SASE at:
Excel Progs
c/o Andrew Malek
434 Gallaher View Road Apt 60
Knoxville, TN 37919
Or, contact either Excel Progs or TOW Development via The Other World
BBS of Knoxville, TN.
The Other World BBS: (615)-577-9342, Games, No Ratio, More
II. Introduction
Congratulations for choosing MIDI Machine as your MS-Windows(c) MIDI
player! Midi Machine is the latest of Excel Progs line of excellent
products for the IBM(c)/clone computers, and like all EP products, it
is backed by full support.
Midi Machine allows you to play the .MID (MIDI) files that are seen
all throughout the world. Midi Machine also allows you to play the
standard .WAV (WAVEAUDIO) files. MIDIs cover all genres of music,
including:
o Big Band Jazz/Blues/Funk/New Age Jazz
o Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
o Pop Music/Rock 'N' Roll
o Easy Listening/Soft Rock
o Classical/Instrumental
and many more styles of music are represented by this music file
format.
WAVs cover all types of sounds, including:
o Instrument Demonstrations
o Music Clippings
o Voice-Mail Attachments
o System Events
and many more types of sound files are represented by this audio
file format.
III. What you Need
In order to play music with Midi Machine, you must have:
o MS-Windows 3.1 or higher
o A Midi-compatible sound card
(GUS, SB, SBPro, SBAWE32, TB, SMWave, ..etc)
o Installed MIDI drivers for Windows
o VBRUN300.DLL (found at many fine BBS's and distribution networks)
If you wish to only play WAV files, the midi drivers and midi-
compliant sound card are not needed. You will, however, need a sound
card that can play digital sound and appropriate drivers.
IV. Running MIDI Machine
In order to run Midi Machine, you need to copy, unpack,..etc the files
you received. Next, copy the MCI.VBX and ANIBUTON.VBX files to your main
Windows System directory (C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM on most systems if Windows
is on drive C). Get VBRUN300.DLL from your distribution site (or The
Other World BBS), and place it in your Windows directory (C:\WINDOWS
on most systems if Windows is on drive C). Add the Midi Machine icon
to your program manager or equivalent (or just run it straight using
your pm's run command).
Midi Machine will execute and bring you up to the main status window.
This window is divided into several parts:
o Status Bar
This bar displays the name of the song being played, the mode
of operation you are in, and other information (it CAN be
turned off...see "Configuring MIDI Machine.")
o Info Bar
This bar will contain file INFO on sound files when you request
it (see "Text Buttons")
o Drive Selection Window
This will allow you to choose which drive Midi Machine will
pull the Sound files from.
o Directory Selection Window
This will allow you to choose which directory from which
Midi Machine will pull the files or album files.
o File Selection Window
This will allow you to choose the individual sounds that you wish
to add to your playing queue (see below). Or, when loading
albums, this is where you will select the album which contains
files to place in your queue.
o Animation Box
This box is located under the INFO BAR, and defaults to blank.
It will be replaced with an Icon-Animation when sounds are
being played if so desired.
When clicking on this box, you are able to customize the icons
Midi Machine uses when playing .MID and .WAV files. There are 9
separate animations to choose from, as well as "none" for no
animations to be seen and "Rand" for random viewing of animations.
Choose the check box corresponding to the animation you wish to
set (for .MID files, for .WAV files, or both) and click on the
corresponding icon button. Your selection will be automatically
started and will be saved if you save the .INI file from SETUP
(see "CONFIGURING MIDI MACHINE").
o Sound Playing queue
This will be a list of Sounds that you have selected to play,
in order of selection (note that the order the Sound files are
selected are NOT exactly the order in which that they will be
played! See below for more options).
o Text Input Bar
A text input region above the three file buttons (Rename, Delete,
and Info) that is used when performing various extended
functions (see "GRAPHIC BUTTONS").
o Text Buttons
Buttons are the method by which you can tell MIDI machine
what to do. The text buttons are as follows:
(R)ename
Allows you to rename or move a sound when you are out of
playing mode.
(D)elete
Allows you to delete a sound when not in playing mode.
(I)nfo
Allows you to get information on a sound. This information
will be displayed in the INFO BAR which is the second text
bar from the top.
(A)dd
Allows you to add a sound file from the file selection window
to your Sound playing queue.
Add A(l)l
Allows you to add ALL sound files from the file selection
window to your Sound playing queue.
R(e)move
Removes a sound or sounds from your playing queue.
(C)lear
Clears ALL sounds from the queue.
A(b)out
Information about Midi Machine, including the author, and
the person to whom this version of MIDI Machine is registered
to (if this is a registered version).
E(x)it
Exits Midi Machine or the current task if you are using one
of the graphical buttons (see "GRAPHIC BUTTONS").
Set(u)p
Goes into MIDI Machine configuration mode, where you can change
many options of the program's operation (see "CONFIGURING MIDI
MACHINE").
(H)elp
Displays help about Midi Machine.
(S)tart
Start playing sounds! You must have sounds already in your
queue for this operation to work.
(N)ext
Skip to the next sound in your queue.
S(T)OP!
Abort all sounds. Keeps any songs in the queue available for
playing.
(P)ause/(P)lay
This button changes depending upon the state of the sound.
You can temporarily pause the sound output and then resume
later.
o Graphic Buttons
The graphic buttons are those to the top of the sound playing
queue. This allow you to perform advanced operations, and
are only accessible when you are not playing any sounds. Going
from left to right, these are:
Button 1 (Arrow pointing from disk to notes)
Allows you to load an album to your queue. Albums are a
collection of sound and music files that you may wish to play
at a later time. They can be of rather large length (~32k),
and can contain any combinations of sounds. Select the directory
of the album using the directory selection window and the album
name by the file selection window or the text input bar. You
can only load ONE album at a time, and loading albums WILL ERASE
your current queue!
Button 2 (Arrow pointing from notes to disk)
Allows you to save an album from your queue to disk. Same
rules apply as far as selecting the file name. You will
be warned if you wish to overwrite an existing album.
Button 3 (Notes and a "1" in a diamond).
Selects a "Header Midi." A Header Midi is a midi that plays
before each other midi is executed. Useful if some midi songs
do not return your card to its original state, and you have
a midi that contains specific codes that do revert the card
back to normal. Also useful if there is a song that you enjoy
quite a bit, or if you want a "fanfare" before songs. This
Header Midi will be saved to the INI file if you desire (see
"CONFIGURING MIDI MACHINE").
o Sound Playing Check boxes (to the right of Queued Sounds)
These check boxes allow you to change the order in which
Sounds are being played. Simply click on the boxes to
change the playing direction.
S(h)uffle
Plays the MIDIs in a format similar to a CD player's "Shuffle"
mode. This will play all your sound files randomly until every
song has been played. Then, the sounds will begin again with
a new random combination. For example, if you have in your
queue the files SOUNDA, SOUNDB, SOUNDC, SOUNDD, the way the
sounds will be played COULD be like this:
1) SOUNDB 2) SOUNDC 3) SOUNDD 4) SOUNDA
as all sounds have been played, the queue will start over with
something randomly like:
1) SOUNDD 2) SOUNDB 3) SOUNDA 4) SOUNDC
...this will continue until you stop the sound playing by
pressing "STOP!" or exiting the program by pressing "EXIT."
This button is only visible when you are in selection,
not playback, mode.
Ran(d)om
Plays the sound files COMPLETELY randomly, meaning that if
you are using CONTIN. (continuous) mode you may hear one sound
twice before hearing all of the others. Without CONTIN. mode,
all sounds will play once and playing will stop.
(B)kwrds
Plays the sound files backwards.
C(o)ntin.
Plays the sounds continuously. This button is only visible
when you are in selection, not playback, mode.
o Sound Selection Check Boxes
(M)id
Adds .MID (MIDI) sound files to the list of files that can
be selected (ON as default).
(W)av
Adds .WAV (WAVE) sound files to the list of files that can
be selected (ON as default).
o Help Bar
This bar displays a line of help on the button or window which
your mouse pointer is currently over. This is only applicable
on the main screen and not in the configuration area (it CAN be
turned off...see "Configuring MIDI Machine.")
o Down-Pointed Arrow (Upper right-hand corner)
Most programs made for the Windows(c) operating system have the
ability to be minimized. Midi Machine takes this one step further,
allowing you to have a "semi-minimized" mode. This mode displays:
. The icon-animation (which you can click on to change the
animations, similar to maximized mode)
. The sound name
. The button labeled "N," which goes to the next sound
. The button labeled "S," which stops the sound playing
. The button labeled "E," which exits the program
. The arrow pointing up, which returns to the main sound
selection/playing screen
. The arrow pointing down, which minimizes the program
completely. Double-clicking on the minimized icon will
bring you back to the "semi-minimized" mode.
o Drag&Drop Operation
Not something you can visibally see, but a function that allows you
to drag sound files from File Manager (or any other program that
supports external drag&drop operations) and place them DIRECTLY
into the sound queue. This ONLY WORKS when you are in sound
playing/selection mode, and Midi Machine is maximized. You can
set the program up to auto-play the queue after a drag&drop
operation (See Below).
V. Command Line Options
Midi Machine allows you to specify certain command-line options
to allow the program to auto-execute features at start-up.
These are:
o /R
Sets Midi Machine to play queue files randomly.
o /S
Sets Midi Machine to shuffle play queue files.
o /B
Sets Midi Machine to play queue files backwards.
o /C
Sets Midi Machine to play queue files continuously.
o /M
Causes Midi Machine to automatically go to "semi-minimize"
mode at start-up. This is mainly useful if you have a song/
album file automatically played at startup (SEE BELOW).
o /X
Causes Midi Machine to exit after the queue is done playing.
This is only useful if you have a song/album file automatically
played at startup (SEE BELOW).
o [(xxx.alb),(xxx.mid),(xxx.wav)]
Specifying an album, .MID, or .WAV file in the command line after
the other options cause Midi Machine to automatically load and
play the file.
EXAMPLE: To load FAVES.ALB, play the sounds randomly, "semi-
minimize" Midi Machine and exit after playing, issue this at
the command line after you enter the filename for Midimac.exe:
/R /M /X FAVES.ALB
VI. Configuring MIDI Machine
Midi Machine can be setup in many ways, and even more ways
to make MIDI MACHINE configurable are being planned for
later versions.
o Visible Configurations
These are configuration items that can be changed without
editing the MM100.INI file (see below).
Show Help Bar
Allows you to allow/disallow the help bar from being displayed.
Show Status Bar
Allows you to allow/disallow the status bar from being
displayed.
Show Soundname When Minimized
When Midi Machine is minimized or in the "semi-minimized" mode,
the animation will still play! If this box is checked, the name of
the sound currently playing will be displayed in the "semi-
minimized" window along with the icon-animation, and in fully
minimized mode, the sound name will be displayed under the icon-
animation.
Auto-Play on Drag&Drop
Allows you to allow/disallow Midi Machine from playing the queue
automatically after a drag&drop operation. This only is in
effect if sounds are not already playing.
Save Ini
Saves all information on the setup screen, the icon animations, AND
the current Header Midi into the MM100.INI file.
Revert Ini
Reverts the current configuration to that of MM100.INI.
Exit To Main
Exits back to the main screen.
o .INI Configurations
Midi Machine has a corresponding .INI file, MM100.INI. Various
features of the program can be changed in this file with a
simple TEXT editor (NOTEPAD will do fine).
ShowStatusBar= X
1 = Show Status Bar
0 = Do Not Show Status Bar
ShowHelpBar= X
1 = Show Help Bar
0 = Do Not Show Help Bar
ShowSongWhenMinimized= X
1 = Show Sound Name When Minimized
0 = Do Not Show Sound Name When Minimized
AutoPlayOnDrag = X
1 = Auto-Start the Queue After Drag&Drop Operation
0 = Do Not Auto-Start Queue.
Anim_Mid= X
Number of the MIDI to display when playing
0 = None
1-9 = Number of Picture (+1)
10 = Randomize
Anim_Wav= X
Number of the WAV to display when playing
0 = None
1-9 = Number of Picture (+1)
10 = Randomize
Pic(0-8)= X
Name of the animation to place in picture locations 0-8
instead of the default animation. The filenames used
should be without the .CCC or .CCB extensions (see "EXTRA
ANIMATIONS"). Leaving the space after the equal sign blank
will stop Midi Machine from loading an external animation
file. The defaults hard-coded into the program are:
0 = Conductor
1 = Ear
2 = Excel Progs Logo
3 = Wave
4 = Oscilloscope
5 = Dancing Notes
6 = Dancing Disk Man
7 = Feel The Music
8 = Fractal 1
[NOTE: Midi Machine MAY have been distributed with extra
icon sets, and the icons you get when first running this
program MAY be different. If that is the case, you may
wish to examine the INI file.]
HeaderMidi= X
Name of the Header Midi (Midi to play before others).
Leaving the space after the equal sign blank will stop
Midi Machine from playing a header midi.
[NOTE: For compatibility reasons and since:
V1.21 adds no .INI configuration items
V1.20 adds no .INI configuration items
V1.10 only adds one configuration item
V1.05 adds no .INI configuration items
it was decided to keep the .INI filename the same since V1.00.]
VII. Extra Animations
Midi Machine support external animation files (.CCB extension).
These animations currently support 4 icons (more will be
supported in the future). Each animation comes with a
corresponding description file (.CCC extension), which is of
this format (everything that is to be replaced by other text
is in quotes).
~~~~~~This is the Beginning of the file~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"short icon description"
[Date]:"icon creation date"
[By]:"icon creator(s)"
[Included]:"zip file or icon pack where animation was found"
[Long Description]
"description of icon."
---------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~This is the End of the file~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REGISTERED users may send in the above information and 4
icons and shall receive an animated icon in return (note
that if you do this via Internet I must have an e-mail
address, and if you do this via mail I MUST have a disk
and self-address stamped disk mailer! I also need to know
whether or not the animated icon can be distributed freely).
REGISTERED users may do this only with public domain icons
which do not represent a company, group,..etc. The limit is
15 icons per registration, but special considerations may
apply for other cases (especially if you're letting the
animations be distributed freely). Contact me if you
need information.
For other cases (including making animations of business
logos and having me draw you an animation)...leave me mail
and we'll talk.
VIII. Current List of Available Animations (Icon Packs)
This list is as of 2/6/94.
MMIC0001 - Christmas #1
=======================================================================
CANDCANE FRACT2 MENORAH MERRYXM RUDOLPH
SANTA1 TREESNOW WREATH XMCOOKIE XMSTAR
=======================================================================
MMIC0002 - Christmas #2
=======================================================================
CANDLE DANCTREE FRACT3 GINGBMAN ORNAMENT
SANTA2 SNOWMAN STOCKING TOYSOLDR XMASBELL
=======================================================================
MMIC0003 - Notes and Staves
=======================================================================
16NOTEDN DANCFLAT FRACT4 NOTEBOUN NOTEJMBL
NOTELIGT NOTEMRPH RNDMNOTE TIMESIG WINKNOTE
=======================================================================
MMIC0004 - Fractals 5-14
=======================================================================
FRACT5 FRACT6 FRACT7 FRACT8 FRACT9
FRACT10 FRACT11 FRACT12 FRACT13 FRACT14
=======================================================================
MMIC0005 - Fireworks
=======================================================================
BOTTLRCK FWBRIDG1 FWBRIDG2 FWHEART FWMASSIV
FWRWB FWSPIRAL FWSTAR FWTRIANG REDBURST
=======================================================================
MMIC0006 - Potpourri #1
=======================================================================
3DBOX CIRCLES COFFECUP DONTCLIK FRACT15
PAPRCLIP PLANET PRISM RADAR TILEDEAR
=======================================================================
(These also may be distributed in this format:)
MI001003 - Midi Machine Icon Packs #001-#003
MI004006 - Midi Machine Icon Packs #004-#005
If you can not find them, either bug your sysop to get them (just
kidding!), or call The Other World BBS (The number can be found under
SUPPORT INFO).
IX. Support Info.
If you notice any errors, please let me know. I can be contacted
by the following ways:
1) E-Mail on The Other World BBS (615-577-9342) as Andrew Malek.
2) SASE at the Excel Progs address.
3) If you are on Internet: admalek@sacam.oren.ortn.edu
4) If you are on CompuServe: ID 76023,1175
Note that mail WILL NOT be answered from Internet to my CompuServe account.
To save yours and my money, mail to my Internet account if you are on the
net; likewise, send e-mail to my CompuServe account if you are on that
service only.
The only errors noticed (that haven't been corrected) are that the
program will hang on a .MID that your current drivers can't support, or
on some corrupt .MID files (some just cause Midi Machine to skip
them, however).
If Midi Machine attempts to load a file in the queue that is not
present, or if it attempts to load a .WAV that isn't supported (ex. trying
to play a 16-bit wav on an 8-bit card), it will skip on to the next file.
X. Registration
o US Mail Registration
Registration is $15.00, which will give you the current release of Midi
Machine (up to version 1.5 - further versions MAY cost more) with your
name on the title bar and in the ABOUT box (nothing profane, please!)
Company/government/group registrations are as follows:
11-25 licenses / $14 @
26-49 " " / $13 @
50 & up / $11 @
Mail the check or money order (NO CASH), your preferred disk format
(3.5 or 5.25 double density), and your name or company name TO Andrew
Malek. The full address is:
Excel Progs
re: Midi Machine Registration
c/o Andrew Malek
434 Gallaher View Rd Apt. 60
Knoxville, TN 37919
(Note: Make sure the check/money order is made to Andrew Malek and NOT Excel Progs).
o CompuServe SWREG Registration
Midi Machine V1.21 is available for registration via the CompuServe SWREG
(Shareware Registration Database). To offset their administrative charges, the
program costs $17.25 (International registrants may have to pay slightly more for
shipping & handling...all information is provided in this service before you make
your order). Simply type GO SWREG or choose "Shareware Registration" if you are
using a graphical interface to the service. MIDI MACHINE V1.21's SWREG ID #: 4604.
o International Registration
Standard registration for Midi Machine is $15.00. In the spirit of NAFTA, the
extra S&H for Mexico and Canada has been waived. However, overseas registration
will cost a slight $0.75 extra, for a total of $15.75. Transfer the money to
US funds, made out to Andrew Malek. Send the registration fee and your name/
company name to:
Excel Progs
re: Midi Machine Registration
c/o Andrew Malek
434 Gallaher View Rd Apt. 60
Knoxville, TN 37919
(Note: Make sure the money is made to Andrew Malek and NOT Excel Progs).
XI. Revisions
V0.7 First Beta Version (For TOW Development beta-testing)
V0.75 Misc. Features
Added a minimum button.
The text colors were changed from blue to yellow, letting
the text stand out more.
Altered the text in the "About" box slightly.
You can now rename one file at a time (fixed), and it
displays the name/size of the file in the box.
Traps any errors in rename procedure.
Ability to delete multiple files.
Allows canceling of delete procedure.
Traps any error in delete procedure.
Able to play MIDIs in continuous mode.
In the title bar, as well as when the icon is minimized,
the text is changed to the midi name when playing, or
"Paused..." when paused.
V0.78 Graphics/More
Minor Bug Fixes
Added Setup Screen
Added moving picture ability when midis are being played
Created "Conductor," "Music Notes," "Feel the Music"
animation sequences
V0.83 WAV Support, Graphics/More
Minor Bug Fixes
Stopped "flicker" when changing icons in setup mode when
playing midis.
Added WAV support
Added WAV icon support.
Created "Ear," "Wave," "Oscil" animations.
Added new feature of "Smart-Renaming"... wav files
will add .wav extension if left off, mid files will
add .mid extension if left off.
V0.86 New About Box/More
Bug Fixes
Renaming a file to itself will not display error
New "About" box
New "About" and "Setup" box formats...windows stay on screen until
you want them to be removed. You can have all three windows
on at one time.
V0.88 Bug Fixes/Speed Improvements
Bug Fixes
Increased speed with animated icons.
When Midi Machine is minimized, the graphics will not
move...speed increase.
V0.89 Big Fixes/First Official Beta Release
Bug Fixes
V0.90 Sound Selection/Animation/Interim Release
Added ability to select only .WAV / .MID files or both
when adding files to the queue.
Animated picture shows even when program is minimized
(as per users requests).
V1.00 Many Additions/First Official Standard Release
Bug Fixes
9 default animations are installed, and WAV and MID files
may use any/all of them.
External animation support, with animation descriptions.
Random animation play support.
Shuffle play support.
Load/Save Album support.
Mouse-Pointer display help in Help Bar (configurable).
Info Bar to display file information.
.INI file support.
Allows INFO button to be used during sound playing.
Sound file information displayed in separate Info Bar.
Added feature to turn-off display of sound name when
minimizing icon.
"Header Midi" support.
Many other function/cosmetic changes not mentioned here.
V1.05 "Semi-Minimize" Mode/Interim Release
Added "semi-minimize" Mode.
Placed Next, Stop, and Exit buttons on "semi-minimize" mode.
V1.10 Auto-Play Drag&Drop/More
Added Drag&Drop ability when loading and playing sounds.
Added "Auto-Play On Drag&Drop" configurability.
Changed the method of configuring icon-animations.
Sped up the "AddAll" button operation.
Bug Fixes/Cosmetic Changes
V1.20 Command Line Options/More
Allowed sound/album name to be specified at start-up.
Added /R, /C, /S, /B, /M, and /X command-line options.
Displays icon animation name when mouse is dragged on top of
a picture when configuring icons.
Cosmetic changes.
V1.21 International/SWREG Ordering Information
(same code as V1.20).
Documentation contains Compuserve(c) SWREG information.
Documentation includes international ordering information.
XII. Warranty/Disclaimer/License/Thanks
EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE BY EXCEL PROGS/TOW DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THE
QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AND EVERY ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO MAKE THE
PROGRAM AS ERROR-FREE AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, NEITHER EXCEL PROGS,
TOW DEVELOPMENT, ITS EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS,..ETC, TAKE ANY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OUTPUT OF THIS PROGRAM. YOU, THE USER, TAKE
FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE USAGE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
Microsoft, Windows, are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
All trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
Midi Machine (c) 1995 Excel Progs, All Right Reserved
REGISTERED/UNREGISTERED COPIES henceforth refer to this product,
Midi Machine.
You have the license to run UNREGISTERED COPIES on as many computers
as you wish for a trial period. If you enjoy this program then you
need to register. Only through registration can new versions be
created. If you purchased a disk containing Midi Machine from a
shareware vendor, that money DOES NOT count toward registration.
You have the license to place UNREGISTERED COPIES on bulletin board
systems, information systems, shareware compilations, or on cd-rom
compilations, provided that you distribute the ENTIRE version with file
descriptions (FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI). Although it is not required,
it is appreciated if you let me know that you are distributing Midi
Machine.
REGISTERED copy holders have the license to place the REGISTERED copy
on only one machine at a given time, and have the license to make
backup copies for their PERSONAL ARCHIVAL USAGE ONLY! REGISTERED users
may still make any copies they wish of the UNREGISTERED version for
distribution.
Thanks to everyone on the newsgroup ALT.BINARIES.SOUND.MIDI and others
who have beta-tested this program, giving criticisms and ideas. I
definitely appreciate the time you took to examine the beta version
and give ideas for this full release.