Millennium Time Capsule

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Millennium Time Capsule / AC2000.BIN / disks / ac5_disk / sam / manual.doc next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-05-20 | 31.3 KB | 682 lines

============================================================================== System Audio Manager Version 1.1 Copyright (c)1993 Atari Corporation & Software Development Systems All Rights Reserved Written by Scott Sanders ============================================================================== SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>> Atari STe/Mega STe/TT/Falcon'030 Computer w/TOS 2.05 or greater MultiTOS Optional Recording requires a Falcon'030 and Microphone What is System Audio Manager? <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>> System Audio Manager (SAM for short) is a utility program which is designed to allow you to attach digitized sound files to system events such as a window opening or a key being struck. In addition, SAM contains basic playback, record, and editing features which make it possible for you to manipulate existing sounds and record new ones. What sounds may I use? <<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>> Digitized sound files (often referred to as samples) are computer representations of sound waves which SAM uses to play and record sounds. Samples got their name because to record them, samples of the sound waves were taken at anywhere from 6,000 to 48,000 times per second. Depending on how fast samples were taken (the sample rate), the sound quality will increase or decrease. Samples recorded at high sampling rates sound much better than those take at lower rates but take much more memory and disk space. Samples come in a variety of different formats. SAM can read samples which have the file extender .AVR or .WAV. In addition, many samples which are not in either of these formats can be read easily in a manner discussed a little later in this file. .AVR is an Atari-based sound format. Many sounds are available from BBS's, public-domain disks, and your local dealer. .WAV files are Microsoft Windows based sound files which may be found on PC BBS's and at PC software stores. When shopping for .WAV files be sure to ensure that sounds weren't stored in compressed format on disk, otherwise your Atari computer will not be able to read them. Installing SAM <<<<<<<>>>>>>> To get started using SAM, copy the file SAM.PRG to the \AUTO folder of the disk you boot your computer with (usually either A:\ or C:\). If you don't already have an \AUTO folder, create one first. Next, copy SAMCNFIG.ACC to the directory where your desk accessories are loaded from (on most computers, this is the ROOT of your boot drive). Atari computers not running MultiTOS may only have six desk accessories installed at once. If you are not running MultiTOS and you already have six desk accessories installed, you must remove one first. Also, if you use the Extensible Control Panel 'XCONTROL.ACC' copy SAM_S.CPX to the directory on your boot disk where your other .CPX files are stored. Finally, copy the included sampled sounds to any directory you like on your boot disk. \SOUNDS is a good choice. That's it. Now, reboot your computer by hitting the reset switch and, if correctly installed, you will see a short installation message appear on your screen before the GEM Desktop appears. Click on the entry 'SAM Setup' in the leftmost menu of the Desktop to access the configuration accessory. If the title 'SAM Setup' does not appear in the menu, the accessory was not properly installed. If SAM.PRG is not installed but the accessory is started, you will be able to use the record and playback features of the accessory but no other functions will operate (including system sounds). BEGINNER'S NOTE: If you've never had experience with an Atari computer before, please familiarize yourself with the operation of the GEM operating system and Desktop by thoroughly reviewing your computer's user manual before attempting this tutorial. Tutorial - Getting Started <<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>> At this point, the SAM Configuration accessory should be visible on your display. When SAM is first started, the main sound assignment screen is visible. The uppermost text box contains the system events which may have sounds assigned to them. The lower list box contains sounds found in your sound directory (it will probably be empty when you first start). If more items are contained in either of these boxes you may use the slider bars to the right of them to view the rest of their contents. Below these two boxes, an information line informs you of the amount of memory reserved for sounds. Also, a check box which may be turned on and off, enables and disables the sounds you assign. Three buttons line the bottom of the assignment screen. 'OK' saves any changes you have made and closes the accessory. 'Cancel' leaves the accessory without making any of the requested changes. Keyboard Users Note: Since 'OK' is surrounded by a thick border, it can be selected by simply pressing RETURN. CTRL-Q will close the accessory and cancel any changes. The final button on the main assignment screen is a gateway to the other features of SAM. Click the left mouse button on 'Extras' now. When you select this button, a popup box appears allowing you to enter four other screens from which features of SAM may be accessed. The four screens are 'Define Keys', 'Play/Record', 'Configure', and 'About SAM'. Clicking the left mouse button on any of these items will send you to a different area of SAM. To close the box without leaving the assignment screen, simply click the left mouse button once outside of the popup box. Click the left mouse button on 'About SAM' for now. This takes you to a view of the program credits and revision version/date. As indicated in the text window, context-sensitive help is available from every screen by simply pressing the HELP key. Leave the 'About SAM' screen by pressing RETURN or clicking the left mouse button on 'OK'. Whenever you leave a screen accessed through the 'Extras' button you are returned to the main assignment screen. If you wish, you may take a break now and continue the tutorial at the next section. Tutorial - Configuring SAM <<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>> Now, let's configure our accessory to get started. Select the 'Extras' button again, but this time choose the 'Configure' option. The configuration screen allows you to set the disk directory where your sounds are located, adjust the amount of memory reserved for samples, and install special files which make third-party applications 'aware' of SAM. The text box found at the top of the screen under 'System Sound Directory' contains the current path SAM is using to look for sampled sounds. Click on this box now and a file selector will appear. Use the file selector to navigate to the path where your sampled sounds can be found and select 'OK'. The text box will be updated to reflect the new path that you have chosen. This is the path from which all SAM sounds must be loaded. Click 'OK' to return to the main assignment screen. If everything went well, after a short pause, SAM should display the main assignment screen as before, however, the lower text box will contain a list of all of the sounds in the directory you specified. If no sounds appear, ensure that you have properly installed the sample sound files in a directory and located that directory using the 'Configure' screen. Many sounds have a descriptive title associated with them. In this case, it is this title that will be displayed. If no title was saved with the file, the text box will indicate the filename. To start, lets assign a sound to the system keyclick. Highlight the 'System Keyclick' option in the upper text box. Next, choose any sound you like from your list of sounds in the lower text box (short sounds are the best choices for the keyclick). When you click on the sound you have chosen, that sound will be played back through your computer's speaker (or headphones if they are attached to a Falcon). If you don't like the sound you have chosen you may simply select another until you find one you like. You'll notice that when you select a sample you will probably exceed the default buffer of 1k and the information line will change to reflect it. You will probably see a message like 'Samples exceed buffer by xxxk'. That's alright. SAM will automatically readjust the buffer when necessary. To activate the sound you selected click 'OK' to close the accessory. When you do so, you will probably receive a message like: The amount of memory reserved for samples is inadequate. Should the buffer be enlarged to fit? Select 'OK'. SAM will warn you that you need to reboot to make changes take effect. Any time you make a change in your setup which requires more memory than was originally set aside at boot time, you will need to reboot. After the accessory closes, reboot your computer by pressing the reset button and then test the sound you assigned by pressing some keys (the numeric keypad is a good place to test keys because they don't conflict with any Desktop key equivalents). If no sounds occur check to make sure keyclick sounds are enabled by using the Control Panel and make sure that the check box in the accessory next to 'System Sounds Enabled' is selected. If that doesn't remedy the problem you probably missed a step somewhere. Simply review this lesson and try again. If you would like, now would be a good time to take a break... Tutorial - More Main Assignment Screen... <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Restart the desk accessory to continue the tutorial at this point. You'll notice that every time you open the configuration accessory, the top text box shows 'System Bell' is highlighted. Unless you have a sound assigned to it, no item in the lower list box will be highlighted. The item highlighted in the lower box is always kept current with the system event it is assigned to in the upper box. Several other useful 'expert' functions are available from this screen. To try this, select a sound with the left mouse button while holding the CTRL key. An information box will appear which shows statistics for the sound including filename, size, mode (stereo or mono), fidelity (8 or 16 bit), frequency, and duration (in seconds). Select 'OK' to exit this information box. Selecting a sound while holding the left SHIFT key will cause the sound selected to be played but not assigned to the system event. Go ahead and try it now. Lastly, try clicking in the lower text box with the ALT key held down. This activates the 'Jukebox' which will cause all of the sounds in the directory to be played one after the other until the left mouse button is struck. Now would be a good time for a break. Tutorial - Key Assignment Screen <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> SAM allows you to assign sounds to individual keys as well as just the entire keyboard at once. The 'Assign Keys' screen serves the purpose of creating sets of keys which can be assigned sounds on an individual basis. Make sure the accessory is visible and go the the 'Assign Keys' screen by selecting 'Extras' and the 'Assign Keys' with the left mouse button. The key assignment screen contains a text box at top which lists all of the currently created key sets (at this point there should be none). To get started, select the button 'New Key Set'. SAM will ask you to define a title for your key set. You must enter a title. Try entering "Numeric Keypad" for now (without the quotes) and select 'OK'. When you select 'OK' an alert will appear asking you to type in any keys you wish to put in this key set. For right now, press each key on the numeric keypad and then click a mouse button to finish. Note: Modified keystrokes such as SHIFT-A and CTRL-A are different from just 'A'. However, using multiple modifier keys such as CTRL-SHIFT-A will be ignored. Your new key set should appear in the upper text box. If not, please review this section of the tutorial again. The small text box in the middle of the screen gives a descriptive list of all of the keys you included in your set. Use the arrows to view the whole string. Select 'OK' when complete. Now, back on the main assignment screen, you can use the slider bar of the upper text box to reveal that a new entry has appeared in the list for your new key set. You may now, if you like, assign another sound to this key set to test your work. You may take a break from the tutorial now. Tutorial - Play/Record Screen (Editing) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Make sure you're viewing the main assignment screen and select 'Play/Record' from the 'Extras' popup. This screen contains playback, recording, and editing features which you can use to create your own sounds. To start, let's load a sample into the buffer. Select 'Load Sample' and choose any sample from your sound directory from the file selector and choose 'OK'. If you selected an .AVR or .WAV file the sound will be automatically loaded. If you chose another sample type, SAM will ask you if you'd like the data loaded RAW. Many uncompressed sample types may be loaded in this way. Note: The main assignment screen does not list a sound unless it has a .WAV or .AVR extension. If you wish to use another type of sample, use the Play/Record screen to load the sample, set the playback rate and mode and then resave the sample as an .AVR or .WAV file. The upper box is the sample display box. It contains a graphic representation of the sample. For a sample which is longer than can be displayed you may use the slider bars to scroll through the sample. In addition, the 'Rewind' button will take you to the beginning of the sample whereas the 'Frwd' button will take you to the end. Above the box is a text box which gives you information about the contents (or lack thereof) of the editing buffer. Use the 'Play' button or click the right mouse button to hear the sound in the buffer. Click 'Stop' to terminate playback of the sound early. Three buttons on this screen control the quality and type of playback and recording. 'Quality' indicates the sample rate at which the sample was taken in kilohertz (or kHz - meaning thousands of samples per second). The higher the number, the better the playback quality. Click on 'Quality' and you will see the sample rates available to you. Different machines allow different sampling rates. If a sample is loaded that has an unavailable sample rate, the closest one available is chosen. Try selecting a 'Quality' setting different from that which was set when the sound was loaded and then playback the sound. This setting can affect the pitch and speed of the sound by changing it after a sound has been recorded. The 'Fidelity' button chooses the resolution of a sample. If you are using a Falcon, this button will allow you to select between 8-bit and 16-bit. 16-bit samples are of a better quality but require twice the space. STe and TT users will have this option greyed out because their machine hardware only supports 8-bit samples. If you try to load a 16-bit sample into SAM running on a machine other than a Falcon, a message will appear informing you that it is not possible to load the sound. Altering the 'Fidelity' setting of a pre-recorded sample is not harmful, however, it is not recommended as it will alter the quality of the sound. As with the 'Fidelity' setting, the 'Mode' button allows you to decide whether a sound is played back or recorded as a Monophonic (one channel) or Stereophonic (two channel) sample. Changing this setting on a pre-recorded sound is not recommended. Falcon owners will have access to a button labeled 'Other...' which leads to a popup menu which provides access to two other special functions of SAM. Selecting 'Input Gain' provides access to a dialog box which allows you to modify the input level of the Falcon's microphone. The 'Sign +/-' popup selection (or button for non-Falcon owners) should be used if you obtain any non .AVR or .WAV samples that sound full of static when you load them. The 'Sign +/-' selection may be used to attempt to correct the problem. The 'Sign +/-' button is a toggle, you may click the button again to reverse the effects. Also, 'Sign +/-' is only relevant with 8-bit monophonic samples. The Play/Record screen also has some basic editing features. To try this, use the mouse to click inside the waveform display box. The sound will be highlighted from the point of the mouse click to the end of the sample. You may also select a portion of the sample by clicking and dragging the mouse over the section you wish to highlight. Either of these actions define a block which the Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Play, and Save functions use. EXPERT NOTE: While selecting a block by clicking and dragging you may listen to the block you've selected by depressing the right mouse button. Once a block is selected, try the 'Play' button to listen to the block you've selected. To save this block, select 'Save Sample'. An alert will appear which will allow you to save either the selected block or the entire sample. You may save the block if you wish or select 'Cancel' to return. The clipboard functions are available to allow you to cut and paste pieces of samples together. The clipboard is a special storage area on your disk where pieces of data are stored so that other applications which manage sounds can access data stored there simply by selecting 'Paste'. 'Cut' cuts the selected block (or the entire sample if no block is selected) to the clipboard and erases the block. 'Copy' copies the selected block (or the entire sample if no block is selected) to the clipboard leaving the block intact. 'Paste' inserts or appends data stored on the clipboard to the current editing buffer. 'Delete' permanantly erases the contents of the selected block (or the entire sample if no block is selected). To test this select 'Cut', making sure a block is highlighted. Choose to cut the block only. Now playback your sound. The piece of sound you highlighted will be missing. Now, select 'Paste'. SAM will append the clip to the end of what remains of your original sample. Go ahead and play it back to verify this. You may save your new sample by selecting 'Save Sample'. You will be asked if you would like to save the file as a .AVR or .WAV file and you have the option of entering a long description for the sound. In addition, if you choose to save your sound as a .WAV file you have the option of compressing it. Compressed .WAV files take up a little more than half the disk space but lose a small fraction of the sound quality and take a longer to load and save. NOTE: Because compressed WAV files take longer to load, you might want to avoid using these files for your sound assignments. Large compressed files will increase your computers bootup time signifigantly. If you wish to take a break, click the close box to exit the accessory and return to this screen when you are ready to start again. Tutorial - Play/Record Screen (Recording for Falcon owners only) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Falcon owners have digital sound recording built right in to their Atari computer and can therefore create their own original sounds. First, plug in a microphone or appropriate level input source to the microphone jack on the Falcon. To test the input level, select 'Input Gain' from the 'Other...' popup on the Play/Record screen. A quickly updated graph will appear that shows you graphically what is being received from the input. Speak a few words into the microphone or begin playback or your source device to test the input level. Use the slider bars to raise or lower the gain to bring the bar away from the red areas. Too high of a gain setting will cause recordings to be distorted. Too low of a setting will cause the sample to be too quiet. Other factors such as the volume control of the source device and distance from a microphone can affect the input level as well. NOTE: Some Falcons have a bug which causes the setting for the left channel gain to affect the right channel gain as well. Simply use the left channel gain to set both channels as necessary. Leave the Input Gain screen by selecting 'OK' when you chosen an appropriate setting. If, using another utility such as 'Audio Fun Machine', you have configured the DSP to process special effects, select the 'Use DSP' checkbox to enable DSP sound processing in your recording and playback. Now select a quality, mode, and fidelity setting for the sample you wish to record. The information line above the waveform display box will indicate how many seconds you will have to record at the settings you've chosen. Remember, the better quality of sample you want the more memory and disk space is required. A 44 kHz sample recorded in 16-bit Stereo will consume the memory of a 4 meg Falcon in just 23 seconds, however, recording at 8 kHz in 8-bit Mono will give you 8 minutes of recording time on that same machine. Select the 'Record' button to proceed. An alert will appear which instructs you to select 'OK' when you are ready to begin recording. Select 'OK' to begin. Speak into the microphone or allow your input source to be recorded. After a few seconds, click the mouse button to stop recording and your sample will be displayed in the waveform display box. If you run out of recording time, an alert will appear informing you of the fact. Playback the sound you recorded and save it if you wish. Tutorial - Making Applications 'SAM Aware' <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Some developers may choose to make their applications 'SAM Aware'. If they do so, they will include a .SAA file which may be installed from the configuration screen. The .SAA file instructs SAM as to which Application Globals (see below) an application supports as well as other program options which it wishes the user to be able to attach sounds to. After installing a .SAA file extra items will appear in the System Events text box on the main assignment screen which can have sounds assigned to them just like any other system event. These items include Application Globals. Application Globals are common computer actions such as Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Quit, and so forth. When an application is installed that supports these actions, these items will appear under Application Globals and may be assigned sounds just like any other event. NOTE: Only 'SAM Aware' applications will produce sounds for these events. Tutorial - Wrap Up <<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>> The other file you probably installed which hasn't been discussed at all yet is SAM_S.CPX. If you are using MultiTOS and wish to conserve on memory by not installing the accessory, you must have this file in your CPX folder and the Extensible Control Panel installed. This file takes no memory away from other applications while SAMCNFIG.ACC takes about 160k. That's it. You've finished a solid introduction to the features of SAM. You may wish to experiment with SAM further or consult the following reference section of this manual to learn about features in detail. ============================================================================= System Audio Manager Reference ============================================================================= Keyboard Only <<<<<<<>>>>>> HELP - Jumps to the 'About SAM' screen and displays context-sensitive help for the current screen. CTRL-Q - Cancels any changes and closes the accessory. RETURN or ENTER - Saves changes and exits the accessory from the main assignment screen, moves to the main assignment screen accepting any changes from any other screen. The window closer box is equivalent to pressing RETURN. Main Assignment Screen <<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>> System Events Text Box - Selecting an item in this box allows you to assign a system event, application global, application sound, or key set to one of the samples listed in the Sound Assignment Text Box. Sound Assignment Text Box - Selecting a soundfile in this box plays the sound and assigns it to the currently selected item in the System Events Text Box. To remove an assignment simply select it again. A sound may be played without assigning it by clicking on the sound name while holding SHIFT. Extended information about a sound may be determined by clicking on a sound while holding the CTRL key. Jukebox Mode - Jukebox Mode is entered by clicking anywhere in the Sound Assignment text box while holding the ALT key. Exit Jukebox Mode by clicking the left mouse button. System Sounds Enabled - This box must be checked for any sounds to be active. To turn off SAM globally, remove the check from this box by clicking in it. OK - Save the current setup to the root directory of your boot drive in a file called SAM.DAT and exit the accessory. Cancel - Exit the accessory without implementing any changes made in the most recent session. Extras - This button opens a popup which allows you to enter the four other screens of SAM by selecting one with the mouse. About SAM <<<<<>>>> Help Text Box - When entered from the 'Extras' button, this box contains the revision date and a short message. When entered by pressing HELP, context- sensistive help is shown which may be read by using the slider bars. OK - Returns to the previous screen. Configure <<<<<>>>> System Sound Directory - Click in this box to select a new path which SAM will use to look for your library of sampled sounds. SAM Aware Applications Text Box - This list box contains a list of all applications which have been installed and made 'SAM Aware'. Install .SAA - Install a .SAA file provided by a third-party manufacture to make SAM 'aware' of the application. Delete .SAA - Remove a .SAA file from the configuration. This will cause an application to cease making sounds with SAM. Sample Memory - Use this box to enter the amount of memory (in kilobytes - 1024 bytes) you wish SAM to allocate upon bootup for sampled sounds. This value will turn red on a color monitor when the value entered is lower than the amount needed to support all currently assigned samples. Size to Fit - This button will increase or decrease (as appropriate) the amount of sample memory according to your current configuration. Load .SAM - This option allows you to load a .SAM file (configuration) other than your bootup default. Save .SAM - This option saves your current configuration in a separate file apart from SAM.CNF. OK - Select 'OK' to return to the Main Assignment Screen. Play/Record <<<<<<>>>>> Waveform Display Box - Once a sample has been loaded or recorded into the editing buffer you may click once inside this box to create a block from the point where you clicked to the end of the sample. You may also click and drag to select a block. Click once again to unselect the block. Load Sample - Click this button to load an .AVR, .WAV, or other sound sample. If the data is in an unrecognized format SAM will ask you if you wish to load the data raw. Save Sample - Click this button to save a sample currently in the editing buffer. You are given the option of entering a long description for the file and selecting save format. If you choose to save in .AVR format you may also choose whether to compress the data or not (8-bit only). Cut - Use this option to move the sample or selected block to the clipboard. Copy - Use this option to copy the sample or selected block to the clipboard. Paste - With no block selected, 'Paste' will append the clipboard contents to the current editing buffer. Clicking 'Paste' with a block selected gives you the option of replacing the block with the clipboard or inserting the clipboard at the end of the marked block. Delete - This option deletes the current sample or selected block (after verification). Quality - This popup box is used to select the playback and record rate for the editing buffer. The higher the number, the better the sound quality and longer the recorded sound will be. Fidelity - This popup box selects the playback and record fidelity between 8- bit and 16-bit. 16-bit samples are much in higher in quality but take twice the space. Mode - This popup box selects the playback and record mode between Stereo (2- channel) and Mono (1-channel). Again, Stereo samples are usually of a higher quality (if you have a stereo input and playback device) but are twice as long. Other - This popup box (Falcon only) provides access to the following two functions: Input Gain - This option takes you to a dialog which is used to set the microphone jack input gain. Use the sliders on this form to bring the input level within acceptable limits (your ear is your best guide). Sign +/- - Some samples you obtain from other sources may have their polarity reversed. If a newly loaded sound contains an enormous amount of static, try this option. If it makes it worse, simply select it again to reverse the effects. (This option will appear as a button to non- Falcon owners.) Use DSP - This checkbox enables/disables the use of the DSP in sound processing. This is only effective when using a second utility to enable a special DSP sound effect. Rewind - This option causes the waveform display to be updated to start display from the left at sample #1. Frwd - This option cause the waveform display to display the extreme end of the sample in the editing buffer. Play - This option causes the sound in the editing buffer to be played at the currently selected quality, mode, and fidelity. Click the left mouse button to cease playback. Stop - This option may be used to cease playback along with the left mouse button. Record - Selecting this option brings up an alert from which you can begin recording at the start of the editing buffer (Falcon users only). OK - This button returns you to the Main Assignment screen. Define Keys <<<<<<>>>>> Current Key Sets Text Box - This box contains a list of all of the current key sets contained in your configuration. Included Keys Text Box - This line shows the keys contained in the currently highlighted key set. Use the arrow keys to show parts of this box not visible. New Key Set - Select this button to define a new key set. First enter a title for your key set, select 'OK' and then type any keys you wish to add to the set. Click the mouse button to finish the operation. Change Key Set - This option allows you to redefine an existing key set in the same manner as you create one with 'New Key Set'. Delete Key Set - This option removes a key set from your configuration. ============================================================================== End of File: SAM_RDME.TXT ==============================================================================