Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/040a/sfxbla.zip/SFXBLAST.HLP

Text File | 1991-06-17 | 34KB | 1,332 lines

* This help file is for SFXBLAST Ver. 1.02  June 17, 1991 ******
* Copyright 1991 Silicon Shack, Ltd., San Jose, CA
!Begin titles
How To...
.. PLAY Sounds
.. RECORD Sounds
.. GET a File
.. SAVE a File
.. Loopback
.. ZOOM
.. Use the Keyboard
.. Use the Mouse
.. Use the Menus
General Help Playing Sounds
Trouble-Shooting
!End

!Begin titles
File Menu
The File Menu
Save File
Save As
Get File
New File
Quit to DOS
!End

!Begin titles
Edit Menu
The Edit Menu
Clear Block
Delete Block
Cut to Buffer
Copy to Buffer
Replace from Buffer
Insert from Buffer
Overlay from Buffer
Switch Channels
!End

!Begin titles
Play/Record Menu
The Play/Record Menu
Playback Whole
Playback Block
Monitor Sounds
Sound Level
RECORD Whole
RECORD Block
!End

!Begin titles
Modify/Create Menu
Modify/Create Menu
Filter Sounds
Echo Sounds
Amplify Sounds
Envelope
Reverse Sounds
Noise Generator
Tone Generator
AM Generator
FM Generator
!End

!Begin titles
Settings Menu
Display Settings
Play/Record Settings
Calibrate
Resample
Port Settings
!End
****************************************
!Begin Block   How To...
!Begin Text
How to Play a Sound File:

Pull down the Play/Record menu and
select Playback Whole or Playback
Block.  A Playback Dialog Box will
appear.

There are various settings for playing
that you can adjust.
See the Play/Record Settings
descriptionto adjust these settings.
   More ...
Use the default values for most
applications.

When you open an existing sound files,
recording values for that file replace
the previous Playback Dialog Box values.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Record a New Sound File:

Pull down the File menu and select New
File.  The New File Dialog Box will
appear and warn you that memory will
be cleared and the filename will be set
to untitled.  Pull down the Play/Record
menu list and select Record Whole. The
Record Whole Dialog Box will appear.
The box will show the current operating
settings.
   More ...
If you want to change any item use the
Settings menu.  There are various
settings for recording that you can
adjust, depending on what and how long
is the sound.

When you first open a new file it will
be empty, as shown by straight
horizontal lines in the sound graphs.
Once you record a sound, that sound will
replace the contents of the current or
   More ...
active sound file.  If you select Record
Whole again, the new recording will
replace all of the old recording.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Get an existing Sound File:

Pull down the File menu and select Get
File.  You will see a display of sound
files in the current directory.

To change the current directory, select
the Get File box and type in the new
path. (Use Home key without a mouse.)
You can use wildcards as in DOS.  Select
the file you want to record over.
   More ...
This file will become the active sound
file and show in the graph windows.

Recording conditions for that file will
become the current settings.
If you want to record over the entire
file, just select Record Whole from the
Play/Record menu and start the
recording.  Selecting Record Whole sets
the file header information to the
current values.
   More ...
If you want to replace only a part of
the sound file, first adjust the cursor
markers to mark the replacement
location.  Then select Record Block from
the Play/Record menu and start the
recording.  See the section on editing
for marking a sound file.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Save a Sound File:

Pull down the File menu and select Save.
This will save the active sound file,
using the current file name as shown.

To save a sound file under a name
different from the current file name,
select the Save As option.  You can then
type in another file name.
   More ...

The record settings used in the Record
Whole (or the default values if Record
Whole was never used) operation are
saved in the file header, even if you
may have changed the settings after
recording.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Loopback:

Pull down the Play/Record menu and
select Playback Whole or Playback
Block.  From the dialog box, select
the PLAY LOOP button.

The active sound file will play and
loopback.  The loopback play will
continue until you press a standard
keyboard key.
   More ...
To adjust the loopback position in the
sound file, see the sections on
waveform marking or selection.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Zoom or View Part of the Sound
File:

Adjust the left cursor position by
selecting and dragging it with the
mouse.  Alternatively, you can use the
F3 key and cursor control and escape
keys.  See the help section on cursor
control in editing, for more detail.
Use the mouse (or F4 key) to position
the right cursor where you want it.
   More ...
Once you have positioned the cursors,
select the ZOOM-IN button on the
bottom of the screen or press the
+ key in the numeric key pad array.
The display will expand to the right
from the left cursor mark.

To zoom out select ZOOM-OUT button on
the bottom of the screen, or use the
- key in the numeric key pad array.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Use the Keyboard:

You can use keyboard inputs instead of
a mouse for control of SoundFX-BLAST.
Pressing the Escape key will access the
top Menu Bar.  The File menu by default
will pull down, with Save highlighted.

You can change to other items within
the menu by pressing the up or down
cursor keys.
   More ...
You move to the other menus by pressing
the left/right cursor keys.

Pressing the Enter key will select any
item that is highlighted.

If a dialog box appears from a
selection, one of the data or command
boxes will show highlighted.  Pressing
the Enter key will select a highlighted
command for execution.
   More ...
If a data box was highlighted, that box
will accept data.  The data is entered
by typing on the keyboard.

To select the file operations box in
the GET FILE and SAVE AS dialog boxes,
press the HOME key.  This will allow
you to type in the name of the file or
directory you want to use.


   More ...
Moving in the Waveform Window with the
Keyboard:
Press the F3 Key to get into the
Waveform Window and select left Cursor.
Press the F4 Key to select the right.
Cursor. The selcet item will flash.
Use the keyboard cursor control keys
to move the selected Cursor.

Press the Escape key to release the
selected item.
   More ...
Marking the Waveform with the Keyboard:
After selecting and moving the cursors
to the desired points, press the F5 Key
to toggle the Left Mark On/Off and press
the F6 Key to toggle the Right Mark.

These Marks are used instead of the
current Cursor positions for all block
operations.
This allows you to view any
part of the file using the Cursors.
   More ...
The Cursor locations are shown in the
boxes below the graphs.  The readout is
in seconds of time or Kbytes.

Zooming In/Out:
To magnify or zoom in on the waveform
between the Cursors, press the numeric
pad + Key.
Use the Waveform Marks to zoom in on a
waveform at a reference.  Press the
- Key to zoom out.
   More ...
Scrolling the Waveform Window with the
Keyboard:
To scroll a waveform through a magnified
window, press the F2 Key.  Press the
left / right cursor keys to move the
waveform in the window.  Press the
Escape Key to release the scroll bar
and update the waveform window.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Use the Mouse:

If you have installed a mouse, a pointer
will appear in the SoundFX screen.  Use
this pointer to control and operate the
program.  While in the pull down menus,
the mouse buttons are set up so that:

Left Button = Select or Enter
Middle Button = Escape
Right button = Escape
   More ...
Also, a fast double click of the Left
button will cause a select and enter
command.
If your mouse has only two buttons, they
are set so that:

Left Button = Select or Enter
Right Button = Escape

While in the dialog boxes press any
mouse button to select or enter an item.
   More ...
You can freely move the Arrow Cursor any
where on the screen.  If the arrow
touches the Menu Bar, the underlying
menu will come down.  Highlighting
replaces the Arrow Cursor in the pull
down menus.

(Click the right mouse button to release
the menu.)
Pressing the left mouse button will
select the highlighted item.
   More ...
If a dialog box appears from that
selection, the Arrow Cursor will
highlight any active data or command box
that it touches.

Clicking the left mouse button will
select the actice data or command
the Mouse Arrow Cursor is touching.

If the Arrow Cursor was touching a data
box, the box will now accept data.
   More ...
You can enter data by typing on the
keyboard or with motion of the mouse.
Click the Cancel or Continue Button to
escape a dialog box.

Click the right mouse button to escape a
pull down menu.

Selecting and Entering with the Mouse:
Use a single click to select screen
and dialog box buttons.
   More ...
Use a double click to select and enter a
highlighted item in the file selection
and help dialog boxes.  A double click
is two quick clicks of the mouse button.

Marking and Selecting the Waveform with
the Mouse:
To mark parts of a waveform, place the
arrow cursor over one of the Waveform
Cursors.  Then press and hold the left
mouse button.
   More ...
Drag the arrow left or right to move the
waveform cursor. Release the mouse
button when done.

Magnifying the Waveform with the mouse:
To magnify or zoom in on the waveform,
select and drag the Waveform Cursors to
the desired positions and select the
ZOOM-IN button.  The waveform will
expand from the left Waveform Cursor
location, to fill the window.
   More ...
To view the whole waveform select the
ZOOM-OUT button.

Scrolling the Waveform Window with the
Mouse:
To scroll a waveform through a magnified
window, select and drag the Scroll Bar
(at the bottom of the Waveform Window).
The Waveform Window will be updated when
you release the left mouse button.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
How to Use the Menus:

SoundFX-BLAST is a menu driven program
with drop down menus and pop up dialog
boxes for control and operation.

You access all menus from the menu bar
at the top of the SoundFX-BLAST screen.
Pressing the Escape Key or moving the
mouse to the Menu Bar causes the menus
to drop down.
   More ...
The menus available are:
File, Edit, Play/Record, Modify/Create,
Settings, Help, and SoundFX-BLAST.

The File menu lists file operations for
getting and saving sound files, and
returning to DOS.

The Edit menu lists sound editing
operations that are similar to those in
a text editor.
   More ...
The Play/Record menu covers all playback
and recording operations.

The Modify/Create menu lists operations
that modify or create a sound recording.

The Settings menu covers the settings of
various operations.

The Help menu lists the help topics on
the use of SoundFX-BLAST.
   More ...
The SoundFX-BLAST menu item gives
version information about SoundFX-BLAST.

...End
!End

!Begin Text
General Help Playing Sounds

Using PlaySB.exe to play sound files
outside of SoundFX-BLAST.

PLAYSB.EXE will accept play and port
flags or parameters:
/Jx to indicate the Sound Blaster
card jumper setting (x=1 for 210h, x=2
 for 220h (default), ... to x=6 ),
/M to indicate a map file for play,
   More ...
/Rxx.x to play at a different sampling
rate (to override file header value).

For example:

playsb gong.snd
   will play out port 220 hex and

playsb /l /j1 gong.snd
   will play in a loop out port 210 hex.

   More ...
The /l argument will instruct the PLAYSB
program to continuously play the sound
file(s) in a loop until a key is pressed
on the keyboard.

PLAYSB.EXE with the /Rxx.x argument will
allow you to play the sound file at a
different sampling rate from what is
saved in the sound file header.

The xx.x is the sampling rate at which
you wish to play the sound files, ie:

play /r11.5 gong.snd
   will play at at 11.5 Ksamples/sec.

You can pass as many sound file names
to PLAYSB.EXE as DOS will allow on the
command line.

...End
!End

!Begin Text  Trouble-Shooting
Trouble-Shooting:

Please reread the install instructions
that came with the SoundBlaster.

What You Need to Hear and Record Sounds:
SoundBlaster card and Microphone,
Headphones, Powered speakers or a stereo
home sound system with external or audio
line connections connected to card
output.
   More ...
Common Problems

No Sound Out of SoundBlaster

Check:
1. See the error file PLAYERR.TXT.
The play program PLAYSB.EXE may not
have found the sound file that you
specified.  You must specify the path
for the sound file if it is not in the
same directory as PLAYSB.EXE.
   More ...
2. Is the correct port specified by the
playing software?

Try changing the port number.

3. SoundBlaster connection:
Is it firmly seated into the PC slot?

Run the test program supplied with the
card.  Also try reseating the card.

   More ...
4. SoundBlaster output audio plug or
jack connection:
Is the mini-connector firmly seated?
Try reseating the connector.

5. Does the sound output unit (powered
speakers, headphones, or stereo) work
okay with other applications or alone?

If not try another powered speaker or
headphone set.
   More ...
6. Is the audio cable okay?
If not replace the suspected cable and
try again.

Poor Sound Quality
Check:
1. Does quality improve with sound
volume level adjustment?
Generally use lower volume level
setting on your amplifier to minimize
distortion.
   More ...
2. Is there noise?

If the noise sounds like computer hash,
beeps, etc. it may be that the computer
power supply has excessive noise or
ripple.  Try card in another PC.

3. Is there a humming sound?

There may be a ground loop between the
powered amplifier or stereo and the
computer.     More ...
Be sure all equipment is properly
grounded and is connected to the same
AC wall outlet if possible.

4. Does the sound quality change with
playback sampling rate?

If so this may be digitizing noise or
quantizing steps and is to a certain
extent unavoidable.
   More ...

If the stereo or powered amplifier that
you are using has an equalizing filter
try adjusting the high frequencies down.

...End
!End
****************************************
!Begin Block   File Menu Items
!Begin Text
The File Menu:

The File menu lists commands used for
SoundFX-BLAST file operations.

These items will prompt you for
information through a dialog box.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    Save
Save:
To save the current sound waveform under
its present name select Save.  All the
current settings for that waveform will
be saved in the file header.
If SoundFX-BLAST finds a sound file with
that name, you must tell it to overwrite
the file or not.  Choose Save As, if you
do not want to overwrite the original
sound file.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    Save As
Save As:
To save the current sound waveform under
a name different from its present name,
select Save As.  A dialog box will
appear with a display of sound files
in the default directory.

To change the default directory, select
the Save As box and type the new path.
Select the file you want to overwrite,
or select the Save As Box and type in
a new filename.   More...
All of the current settings for that
waveform get saved in the file header.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    Get File
Get a Sound File:
Pull down the File Menu and select Get
File.  You will see a display of sound
files in the default directory.

To change the default directory, select
the Get File Box and type in the new
path.
Select the file you want to open.  This
file becomes the active sound file
displayed in the graph windows.
More ...
The record settings of this file will
replace the previous Play/Record
Settings.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    New File
New File:
To open a new sound file select the New
File item.  A dialog box will pop up
warning you that the current sound
memory will get cleared.  If you want
to save the current sound waveform
select Cancel.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    Quit to DOS
Quit to DOS:
To exit the SoundFX program and
return to DOS select Quit to DOS.
A Quit to DOS Dialog Box will appear.
If you still want to exit, select Yes,
otherwise select No.

...End
!End

****************************************
!Begin Block    Edit Menu Items
!Begin Text
The Edit Menu:
Use the Edit menu to access the sound
editing functions in SoundFX-BLAST.
These functions are like those you may
have used in text editor or graphics
programs.  Move the highlighting to
desired menu item.  Press the Enter key
or left mouse button to start the
operation.  A Dialog Box will appear
with additional information or prompts
about that operation.
...End
!End

!Begin Text  - Clear Block
Clear/zero marked:
The Clear operation will set the marked
section or portion between Waveform
Cursors of the current sound file to
zero.  Use the Clear function to create
quiet periods or no sound.

...End
!End

!Begin Text  - Delete Block
Delete Marked Block:
The Delete Block operation removes
the marked section of the waveform and
discards it.  Each time Delete Block
is used, a section the size of the
current file is reduced by the size
of the deleted section.  If you want
to save the marked section, choose the
Cut to Buffer Menu item instead.

...End
!End

!Begin Text - Cut to Buffer
Cut to Buffer:
The Cut operation removes the marked
section or the portion between cursors
of the waveform and holds it in a
temporary buffer.

This buffer holds just the last section
cut.  Each time you cut a section, it
replaces the previous buffer contents.
The cut section will stay in the buffer
until you Copy or Cut something else.
   More ...
The Cut operation is like a cut and
splice operation on magnetic recording
tape.

...End
!End

!Begin Text  Copy to Buffer
Copy to Buffer:
The Copy operation moves a copy of the
marked waveform or the portion between
cursors into the temporary buffer. This
section of the waveform will stay in the
buffer until you Copy or Cut something
else.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   - Replace from Buffer
Replace from Buffer:
The Replace operation replaces the
current sound waveform starting at the
left Mark or the Cursor position with
the contents of the temporary buffer.
The length of the sound file is not
changed unless the buffer contents
does not fit in between the left
Waveform Cursor or Mark and the end
of the sound file.

...End
!End

!Begin Text  - Insert from Buffer
Insert from Buffer:
The Insert operation inserts the
contents of the temporary buffer into
the current sound file starting at the
left Mark or Cursor position.  The sound
file is increased in length by this
operation unless the replacement does
not fit in between the left Waveform
Cursor or Mark and the end of the
sound file.

...End
!End

!Begin Text  - Overlay from Buffer
Overlay from Buffer:
To overlay or mix a copy of the
temporary buffer into the current sound
file at the insertion point, select
Overlay.  The overlay begins at the left
Mark or Waveform Cursor location.  The
sound file is not increased in size by
this operation unless the buffer
contents does not fit in between the
left Waveform Cursor or Mark and the
end of the sound file.
...End
!End

!Begin Text  - Switch Channels
Switch Channels:

** This function is only available on **
** SoundFX-Blast Stereo.  Available   **
** Summer '91 for Sound Blaster Pro.  **

Use the Switch Channels function to swap
the left channel sound to the right
channel and vice versa.  This function
is an automatic cut and paste operation
in the same time slot.
...End
!End
****************************************
!Begin Block   Play/Record Menu Items
!Begin Text
The Play/Record Menu:
Use this menu to access the play and
recording operations in SoundFX-BLAST.

Move the highlighting to the desired
menu item.  Press the Enter key or left
mouse button to select the item.

A Dialog Box will appear with additional
information or prompts about that
operation.
   More ...
Playback Whole:
Select the Playback Whole Menu item to
play the whole sound file displayed.

Playback Block:
Select the Playback Block menu item to
play a part of sound file.

Monitor Sounds:
To put SoundFX into the real-time sound
monitoring mode, select Monitor Sounds.
   More ...
Sound Level:
Use the Sound Level function to view
a bar graph of the average input sound
level.

Record Whole:
To record into the whole sound window
select Record Whole.  This operation
writes over what ever was in memory.
Use the File Save menu to save what is
in memory.
   More ...
Record Block:
To record part of the current sound file
(the portion between Waveform Cursors or
Marks) select the Record Block item.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Playback Whole
Playback Whole Sounds:
Select the Playback Whole Menu item to
play the whole current sound file once
or in loopback.
The Playback Whole Dialog Box will
appear.  This box will show the present
settings.  If you want to change any
setting use the Settings Menu.

See the Settings Menu Play/Record
Settings for details.
   More ...
When all settings are what you want,
select Play Loop or Play Once to begin
playback.  You can escape the dialog
box without a playback by selecting
Cancel.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Playback Block
Playback Block Sounds:
Select the Playback Block menu item to
play a part of current sound file.

Playback begins in the file at the left
Waveform Cursor or Mark and ends or
loops back at the right Cursor or Mark
position.  Adjust the cursors or marks
to play to desired portion of the
sound file.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Monitor Sounds
Monitor Sounds:
To put SoundFX into the real-time sound
monitoring mode, select Monitor Sounds
from the menu list.
A Process-in-Progress message will
appear after selecting the Start button,
showing that the monitoring operation is
in effect.
The process will continue until you
press any standard key.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Sound Level
Sound Level:
Use the Sound Level function to view
a bar graph of the average input sound
level.  You can use this level
indication to adjust the volume level
controls or microphone locations.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Record Whole
Record Whole:
To record into the whole current sound
file select Record Whole.  A Record
Whole Dialog Box will appear showing
the present record settings.  If you
want to change any setting, use the
Settings Menu Play/Record Settings item.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Record Block
Record Block:
To record part of the current sound file
(the portion between Waveform Cursors or
Marks) select the Record Block item.  A
Record Block Dialog Box will appear
showing the present record settings.
You can escape the Record Block Dialog
Box by selecting Cancel.  After you
select Start, a Recording-in-Progress
message will appear.

...End
!End
****************************************
!Begin Block  Modify/Create Menu
!Begin Text
Modify/Create Menu:
The Modify/Create Menu is used to create
or modify sound waveforms.  These
operations work on part or all of the
current sound file in memory.

Select the Do Whole option to operate on
the whole file.
Select Do Block to operate on the
portion of the sound file between the
Cursors (or Marks if they are set on).
   More ...
Modify Existing Sounds:
These functions are used to modify
an existing sound file.  You can use
any number or combination of these
modifying effects.

Generate New Sounds:
Sounds are created with the
generate functions.  These functions
create noise, simple and complex tones
or sounds.
   More ...
These functions replace any sounds in
the active sound file, starting at the
left Waveform Cursor location (or Mark
if is set on).

The replacement sound effect ends at the
right Waveform Cursor (or Mark if is
set on).

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Filter Sounds
Filter:
Use the Filter function to restrict or
modify sound waveform frequencies.

This function uses advanced floating
point math (for low distortion) digital
filtering techniques and will work best
on unclipped sound waveforms.

A math coprocessor is desirable (but not
required) for faster operation.
   More ...
The Filter Dialog Box contains On/Off
switches and data boxes for setting the
filter corner frequencies.

Use the Low Pass Filter to pass
frequencies below the corner frequency
and attenuate higher frequencies.

Use the High Pass Filter to pass
frequencies above the corner frequency
and attenuate lower frequencies.
   More ...
The digital filter theory limits the
range of the corner frequency, as
indicated in the dialog box.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Echo Sounds
Echo Sounds:

Select the Echo item from the
Modify/Create pull down menu.  The Echo
Dialog Box will appear with various
options.

The Echo function creates the effect of
reverberation or repeated sounds. One or
two echoes are available in one pass
through the file.
   More ...
The Delay Time sets the time between the
start of the echoes.  A short delay is
about 5 milliseconds and a long delay is
about 100 milliseconds.

The amplitude or loudness of each repeat
of the sound is controlled by the
Damping Factor in the Echo Dialog Box.
A damping factor of 20% gives a slight
echo that dies out quickly.  A damping
factor of 75% gives a very strong echo
that lasts for a while.     More ...
A damping factor of 100% or more causes
the echo to never die out and distortion
may result.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Amplify Sounds
Amplify:
Use the Amplify function to scale a
sound waveform up or down in amplitude
or loudness.  The scale factor range is
from 0.01 to 100.00 or -40dB to +40dB
and is set in the Amplify Dialog Box.

Clipping of a sound waveform will occur
if the original waveform is scaled too
high.  Scaling a sound waveform too low
will cause it to disappear.
...End
!End

!Begin Text   Envelope
Envelope:
The Envelope function is used to adjust
the loudness or amplitude of a sound
waveform file in a logarithmic way.
The loudness changes in a linear
logarithmic scale between three pins or
points set in the sound file window.
The Envelope Dialog Box is used to set
the amplitude range (-40dB < xdB <
+40dB) controlled by the vertical pin
positions.
   More ...
When the Envelope function is selected
a straight line with three pins appears
in the Waveform Windows.  A scale of
+/-xdB is on the sound file window edge.

The pins are moved by selecting and
dragging.  If a pin is dragged up above
0dB line, the amplitude will be
increased.  If the pin is dragged down
below 0dB line, the amplitude will be
decreased.
...End
!End

!Begin Text   Reverse Sounds
Reverse:
The Reverse function reverses the data
in the sound file.  This has the effect
of reversing time in the recording.
There is no change the sound wave
amplitude with this function.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Noise Generator
Noise Generator:
Select Noise to replace the selected
section of the waveform with random
broadband noise.  The Noise sound is
like the noise that you hear between FM
radio stations with muting off.  Use the
dialog box data box to set the amplitude
of the noise, which has a range of 0 to
128.

...End
!End

!Begin Text   Tone Generator
Tone Generator:
The Tones function is used to create
simple pure sine waves, square waves,
and triangle waves.  Use the dialog box
to select one or more of the tones, the
amplitudes, frequencies, and duty
cycles.  The amplitude range is from 0
to 128.  The frequency range is 1 Hz to
20 KHZ.  The duty cycle range 1% to 99%.
** Note: SoundBlaster's output is
limited frequencies below about 4Khz. **
...End
!End

!Begin Text   AM Generator
AM Generator:
The AM Generator function is used to
create a sine wave with amplitude
modulation.  The AM Generator Dialog Box
is used to set the carrier frequency,
the amplitude of the carrier, and the
type and level of modulation.
The carrier and modulation amplitude
range is from 0 to 128.  AM sounds can
range from beating tones to rising or
decaying tones.
...End
!End

!Begin Text   FM Generator
FM Generator:
The FM Generator function is used to
create a frequency modulated sine wave.
The FM Dialog Box is used to set the
carrier frequency, amplitude, deviation
factor, and type of modulation.  The
carrier amplitude range is from 0 to
128.
FM sounds can range from a siren wail
to ray gun zaps, depending on the
settings in the dialog box.
...End
!End

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!Begin Block   Settings Menu Items
!Begin Text    Display Settings
Display Settings:
You use the Display Settings item to
control the Waveform Window display.
Selecting Display Settings will cause a
dialog box to appear showing the current
settings.  Use the data boxes in this
dialog box to change the settings for:

Display Vertical Scale 1X, 2X, or 4X.

Display Vertical Units +/- Decimal or
Average Envelope.     More ...
Display Horizontal Units:
Time in seconds or bytes.
Note: One pixel position represents
x number of sound samples depending
on the zoom factor.  Maximum Zoom-IN
gives one pixel to one sample.
A vertical scale of 1X gives a range of
-128 to +128.
A vertical scale of 2X expands the
display to a range of -64 to +64.
A 4X scale expands the display to
a range of -32 to +32.      More ...
+/- Decimal / Avg. Envelope:
Because of the finite horizontal
resolution of the display, not every
file data point is displayed.  This
causes an aliasing effect in the
display for certain sound waveforms.

For example, if a constant amplitude 1
KHz sine wave is displayed at high
horizontal magnification (one pixel per
sound file value) the waveform is seen
as a sine wave.     More ...
If the magnification is decreased so
that less than two pixels come from each
cycle of the sine wave, the display will
show a varying envelope to the waveform.

Use the Average Envelope display option
to get a better view of the sound
waveform in situations like this.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    Play/Record Settings
Play/Record Settings:
Select the Play/Record Set. Menu
to set the sampling rate and record
length.  You can change the sampling
rate for a tradeoff of record length
versus fidelity.
 *** Note: The SoundBlaster card has a
maximum sampling rate of 12KHz on Record
and 23KHz for playback of 8-bit linear
sound files (this card has an actual
audio bandwidth of about 4KHz).
   More ...
Use Silicon Shack's SoundCard series for
higher sample rates and higher fidelity.

Since the sampling rate directly changes
the sound time, the rate changes will
show in the sound Time Box.  Increasing
the sampling rate increases the
fidelity, or the maximum sound frequency
that you can record.  The record length
per second of sound increases with
sampling rate.
   More ...
You can set the sampling rate over a
wide range for special effects.  A
general purpose value is a rate of 10
Kilo samples per second for a maximum
sound frequency of 5 KHz.  A 10 K
samples per second rate use 10 KBytes of
memory per second of sound for a
monaural recording.

For example, to change the sampling rate
select the box under Sampling Rate.
   More ...
You can change the value in the box by
keyboard entries.  Use the Record Length
Box to set sound file length.  You can
set the sound length in increments of 1
Byte or 1 millisecond of sound.

The sound file length in bytes of memory
does not change with rate changes, but
the recording or playback time does
change.  Each time you change the rate
box value the time box will get updated
and vice versa.     More ...
If you change the record length box
value, the rate box value will stay
fixed and the time box value will
change.

Any changes made in the Play/Record
Settings Dialog Box do not get
transferred to the current file header
unless the New file or Record Whole
operations get selected.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    Calibrate
Calibrate:
You use the Calibrate function to
correct SoundFX's internal constants
after you make a computer speed change
with SoundFX running.  You do not need
to re-Calibrate if you have a single
speed computer.  A Dialog Box will
appear and warn you that memory will be
cleared.

...End
!End

!Begin Text    Resample
Resample:
Use the Resample operation to convert
a sound file from one sample rate to
another.  The Resample Dialog Box will
display the file header information for
the current sound file.  To change to
another sample rate select one of the
standard values or input one into a data
box.  Filtering of the sound file both
before and after resampling operation
may be necessary to prevent aliasing.
...End
!End

!Begin Text  Port Settings
Port Settings:

Use this Dialog Box to select the
hardware settings for record and
play.  Be sure these settings match
the actual jumper postion on the card.

...End
!End
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