Groovy Bytes: Behind the Moon

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

/ Groovy Bytes: Behind the Moon / groovybytes.iso / GROOVY / SND_TOOL / WM10.ZIP / DOC.DAT / convert.txt < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1995-08-30 | 26.2 KB | 544 lines

Convert (C) Jesus Villena, 1994 Version 1.4B Universidad Politecnica de Valencia Facultad de Informatica Valencia, Spain INTERNET: usufi4@finf.upv.es [This is a slightly edited version of the author's original document. - T.A.] INDEX Copyright {Convert 29} Introduction {Convert 39} Motivation {Convert 47} Features {Convert 62} Format Identification {Convert 114} Syntax {Convert 165} Recognized Input Formats {Convert 295} Notes {Convert 345} Acknowledgements {Convert 404} Petitions {Convert 413} Internet Sound Sites {Convert 423} Frequently Asked Questions {Convert 447} COPYRIGHT This program is Freeware and may be distributed without any permission by the author. Its development has been carried out by and for the Internet community. Contribute to its improvement and extension!!! This software is provided "as is". The author makes no warranties regarding Convert. You use it at your own risk. INTRODUCTION Convert is a DOS tool which translates samples between several formats. It tries to preserve as much as possible of the information present in the original file, e.g. name, loop points, number of data bits, number of channels, etc. MOTIVATION Convert started out as a domestic project with the goal of obtaining high quality instruments for the Gravis Ultrasound card from sound files produced with professional samplers (Ensoniq EPS, Roland [S] 50, Yamaha TX16W...). The source code was designed so as to be easily extended to additional formats. In fact, support for the most well-known modules (MOD, MTM, FAR, S3M...) was soon added. A little later the MIDI Sample Dump Standard formats (SDS and SDX) followed, as well as other formats used by various manufacturers (AIFF, IFF, SMP ...). Whenever possible, new formats were made available for both input and output, so that virtually any input format could be converted to any output format. FEATURES - Large number of input and output formats: see list. - Automatic recognition of input format: it is not necessary to specify type of input file; Convert detects it automatically. - Possibility of converting several files in one pass using wildcards and of sending them to a specified target directory. - Ease of use: operation is intuitive, complicated combinations of input parameters need not be memorized (for instance, if you want to use the samples contained in a PAT file for creating a MOD module, simply use the -MOD switch and Convert will translate all waveforms to SAM format, readable by all MOD editors, without specifying SIGNED or UNSIGNED). - The program handles input files using up to 16 data bits and 2 sound channels, converting these values as needed for generating the output format (for instance, a 16 bit Stereo WAV file will be converted to 8 bits Mono when going to VOC). - High success rate: This program has succesfully converted 98% of my files (other conversion programs generate many errors). In particular, I have all GKH and AIFF files on ftp.reed.edu (now on oak.oakland.edu) and it has converted all very well (except for a few corrupted files). - Varios Keyboard Disk Images have been added: Directly supports the disk image formats GKH and Giebler Enterprises (the most common on the Internet) for VFX-SD, SD-1, TS-10 (DD and HD), VFX-SD, EPS (normal, 16 and 16+), and ASR keyboards and racks units. As opposed to other tools, Convert doesn't need external programs for converting these disk images. - LoopPoints and WaveSample Length show samples, not bytes, as do other packages. Sizes are still in bytes. NEW!! - Full support for the SoundBlaster AWE32 format. Now, you can read and write SBK files (Vienna compatible) with many features. Try it. NEW!! - Stereo support for SBK files, using the multiyering capabilities of the SoundBlaster AWE32. NEW!! - Bidirectional to Forward looping conversion, useful in formats without bidirectional capabilities. NEW!! - Three pro formats have been added as output: Yamaha TX16W, Yamaha SY-85/SY-99 and Ensoniq Instrument file. The files generated with this option haven't been tested. Please test it and tell me. FORMAT IDENTIFICATION Convert currently handles the following file formats: Alias Description ----- ------------------------------------------- 669 669 Tracker Module AIFF Audio Interchange Format File (AIFF) AU Sun/Next Audio File DMF Delusion Digital Music File DSF Delusion Digital Sound File DSM Digital Sound Module DSP Dynamic Studio Professional Module FAR Farandole Composer Module FSM Farandole Composer WaveSample F2R Farandole Linear Module F3R Farandole Blocked Linear Module GKH Ensoniq Disk Image (VFX, SD, EPS, ASR, TS) IFF Interchange Format File (IFF) INS Ensoniq Instrument File KRZ Kurzweil K2000 File MED MED/OctaMED Module MOD Protracker/Fastracker/Startrekker Module MTM MultiTracker Module OKT Oktalizer Module PAC SBStudio II Package or Song PAT Gravis Ultrasound Patch PSM Protracker Studio Module RAW PCM Signed Raw Sound File SBK Emu SoundFont Bank (AWE32 Bank) SDK Roland S-550/S-50/W-30 Disk Image SDS MIDI Sample DUMP Standard File SDX Sample DUMP Exchange File SF IRCAM Sound File" SMP Samplevision File SND PCM Unsigned Raw Sound File SOU SBStudio II Sound File STM Scream Tracker 1 & 2 S3I Digiplayer/ST3 Sample File S3M Scream Tracker v3 Module SYW Yamaha SY-85/SY-99 Wave File TXW Yamaha TX-16W Wave File ULT UltraTracker Module UNI UNIMOD Module UWF UltraTracker WaveSample VOC Creative Lab's Sound File WAV Microsoft Windows RIFF WAVE XI Fastracker 2.0 Instrument File XM Fastracker 2.0 Module SYNTAX Convert is invoked as follows: Convert [[<InputPath>/@<SearchFile>] [<OutputPath>] [<OutFmt>] [<Switches>]] where <InputPath> is the name of the files to convert. It consists of a directory name and a file name, optionally using DOS wildcards. Examples of <InputPath> would be: \SAMPLES\*.*, ..\SAMPLES\ENSONIQ\*.INS, SAMPLE?.*, etc. <SearchFile> is optional and consists of a text file which lets you specify files to convert, one filename per line. Comments can be included behind the # symbol. Order can be specified by also writing <number>=<filepath>. This feature is supplied mainly to support AWE32 program numbers, although it works for all formats. An example (file SAMPLE.INI): # Sample File to obtain the bank sample.bank # Use convert @sample.ini -sbk 0=c:\sounds\bdrum1.wav 1=c:\insts\snare2.aif 8=d:\krz\voices.krz # This bank will have the sound bdrum1.wav as program 0 # the sound snare1.aif as program 1 # and sounds included in voices.krz as programs 8,9,... <OutputPath> specifies the destination directory where Convert will place the output files. If this directory doesn't exist, Convert will create it. <OutFmt> is a switch descriping the output format. <Switches> can take on the values -8 and -1, and serves to force 8 data bit and mono output. <OutFmt> may be one of the following: OutFmt Extension Offered Features (Resume) ------ --------- -------------------------------------------------- -669 SND PCM Unsigned Raw, 8 bits, Mono -AIF AIF 8/16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Loop -AU AU 8/16 bits LINEAR, Mono/Stereo, Rate -DMF, -DSF DSF 8/16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -DSM WAV 8 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -FAR, -F2R -F3R, -FSM FSM 8/16 bits, Mono, Loop -GKH, -INS INS 16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -IFF IFF 8 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate -MOD, -STM -MED, -OKT SAM PCM Signed Raw, 8 bits, Mono -MTM RAW PCM Unsigned Raw, 8/16 bits, Mono -PAC, -SOU SOU 8/16 bits, Mono, Loop -PAT PAT 8/16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop, Multiple Waveforms -RAW RAW PCM Signed Raw, 8/16 bits INTEL, Mono/Stereo -SBK SBK 16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -SDS SDS 8/16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -SDX SDX 8/16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -SF SF 8/16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate -SMP SMP 16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -SND SND PCM Unsigned Raw, 8/16 bits INTEL, Mono/Stereo -S3M, -S3I SMP 8/16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Loop -SYW W00 16 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -TXW W00 12 bits, Mono, Rate, Loop -UWF, -ULT UWF 8/16 bits, Mono, Loop -VOC VOC 8 bits, Mono, Rate -WAV WAV 8/16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Loop -XM, -XI XI 8/16 bits, Mono, Loop -OUT depends variable (see notes) Notes: If you run Convert without parameters, the program displays a small help page. If you have specified only <InputPath> (or <SearchFile>), the program shows information on the contents of the input files (sample name, number of Bits, number of channels, loop points, etc...). For example: Convert flute.pat ·····················································EXAMPLE Output CONVERT v1.4B, (c) 1994 Jesus Villena Converts sounds among several kinds of music and sample files File : FLUTE.PAT Text : Copyright 1992,1993 EYE&I Productions and Advanced Gravis Source : Gravis Ultrasound Patch Name Length Rate Lo Root Hi Ste 16B Loop Begin End -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flute ············■■■■ INSTRUMENT ■■■■··········· 00 NoName 6015 41666 A0 G#5 C8 - x --> 5564 6014 1 WaveSample(s) use 12030 Bytes ······················································ This file is a Gravis Ultrasound Patch and describes an instrument called Flute, which contains a unique waveform called NoName, comprised of 6015 samples, sampled at 41666 Hz at G#5, and can be used in the range A0..C8. The waveform is mono (Ste= - ), 16 bits (16B = x ) and has a Forward Loop (Loop = --> ) from sample number 5564 to sample number 6014. If you haven't specified <OutputPath>, Convert will use the current directory as target. The output file is given the same name as the input file, if the latter contains one waveform. If the input file contains several waveforms, the name of each file generated is the original name plus an index differentiating it from the others (caution: existing files with the same name may be overwritten). If the output format is SBK, the file generated will be named sample.sbk, unless you use the @<SearchFile> option to specify file paths; in this case the ouput file will have the same name as the SearchFile, with extension SBK. The switch -OUT has a special meaning and it is only available for some formats. Basically its meaning is to extract all the waveforms present in the input file to individual output files of the same (input) format. This switch is therefore only available for those formats which may have multiple waveforms in a single file: 669 --> SND (each instrument to PCM RAW 8 bits Unsigned) DMF --> DSF FAR, F2R, F3R --> FSM GKH --> INS MOD, STM, MED, OKT --> SAM (each instrument to PCM RAW 8 bits Signed) MTM --> RAW (each instrument to PCM RAW 8/16 bits Unsigned) PAC --> SOU PAT --> PAT (each WaveForm is converted to a new PAT file) ULT --> UWF S3M --> S3I XM --> XI RECOGNIZED INPUT FORMATS So that a file may be automatically recognized, it should have a header defining it. PCM RAW files are therefore not accepted for input (this format is supported by the SOUND2WAV utility). Valid input formats are: Format Recognized features (Resume) -------- -------------------------------------------------------- 669 Several waveforms, 8 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text AIFF 1 waveform, 1..16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Loop, Name, Text AU 1 waveform, 8/16 bits LINEAR/ULAW, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Text DMF Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text DSF 1 waveform, 8/16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name DSM Several waveforms, 8 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text DSP FAR Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text FSM 1 waveform, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name F2R Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text F3R Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text GKH, INS Several waveforms, 16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name IFF 1 waveform, 8 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Name, Text KRZ Several waveforms, 16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name MED Several waveforms, 8 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text MOD Several waveforms, 8 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text MTM Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text OKT Several waveforms, 8 bits Mono, Loop, Name PAC Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text PAT Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text PSM Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text SBK Several waveforms, 16 bits Mono, Loop, Name, Text SDK Several waveforms, 12 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text SDS 1 waveform, 1..16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop SDX 1 waveform, 1..16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text SF 1 waveform, 1..16 bits LINEAR, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Text SMP 1 waveform, 16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text SOU 1 waveform, 8/16 bits Mono, Loop, Name STM Several waveforms, 8 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text S3I 1 waveform, 8/16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Name S3M Several waveforms, 8/16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Loop, Name, Text SYW TXW 1 waveform, 12 bits Mono, Rate ULT Several waveforms, 8/16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text UNI Several waveforms, 8/16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Loop, Name, Text UWF 1 waveform, 8/16 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Name, Text VOC 1 waveform, 8 bits Mono, Rate, Loop, Text WAV 1 waveform, 1..16 bits, Mono/Stereo, Rate, Loop, Name, Text XI XM NOTES The GKH format describes Giebler Enterprises images. Class One files have the extension GKH and include various Ensoniq formats. Class Two files have the extension ED?, where ? is character denoting disk tipe (e.g. EDA is an ASR disk image file by Giebler Enterprises, EDT is a TS-10 disk image, and so on). These formats are (basically) an Ensoniq disk image. When translating to other formats, Convert will first create DOS (INS) files, and then translate those. I recommend you use the -OUT option with this format in order to prevent a repetition of this process every time the file is accessed. The INS and KRZ formats support multisample instruments, that is, they allow the assignment of different waveforms to different ranges on the MIDI keyboard. This feature is supported upon conversion to PAT if and only if the ranges do not overlap. This way, a complete percussion kit would generate just one multisample PAT file. All supported formats can be handled even when compressed or packed. An error will be displayed if you try to extract the waveforms in a file using unsupported compression or packing. The KRZ format supports stereo waveforms, but this version of Convert doesn't recognize it, and some waves are converted incorrectly (sounds at lower pitch). For the SBK format, Convert shows only wavesamples for the RAM area. It does not display ROM based wavesamples because they cannot be extracted (for this reason, SYNTHGM.SBK, which comes with SoundBlaster AWE32, doesn't display anything: this bank uses only the General Midi Set stored in the board's ROM area, and the file only contains nothing but instrument info). I have included the SearchFile (@<SearchFile>) in this version mainly to let you specify which files will make up the SBK bank and which programs will play each sound. This can be achieved using <number>=<sound> (like ULTRASND.INI but using full path names). Files with multiples waves can cause Convert to misinterpret the number chosen (only in SBK conversion). An example: 1=TR808.KRZ 2=KISS.WAV If for example TR808.GKH has 15 wavesamples, it will be played through programs 1 to 15. The user wants KISS.WAV in program 2, but this can't be because program 2 is already in use. The program seeks an available program (16) and assigns it to KISS.WAV. How do you use SBK banks generated with Convert? Once you have obtained a SoundFont Bank (e.g. SAMPLE.SBK) you have to download it into the AWE's memory. First, fill out the "USER=" field of the [AWE32] section of your SBWIN.INI file, in your Windows directory, with the path to the bank generated (e.g."USER=C:\SB16\SFBANK\SAMPLE.SBK"). Second, inside Windows click the AWE Control Panel and find "User Custom Synth" in the Synthesizer Bank section. Then click on Establish and if you have enough memory, you will have the sounds in memory. You can now use sequencer programs to sound the samples, using any program number you have specified. You can load SBK files generated with Convert into Vienna too. This version of Convert supports all feautures of SBK formats and is compatible with the Vienna SF editor. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Cris-(tobal) for his disinterested help in the previous test phase and for his contribution of formats, Jordi for his beta testing and for his suggestions, as well as the creators of all anonymous sources where I have obtained the specifications of the various formats (a special thank to F. Markus Jarsson for the KRZ and SYW formats). PETITIONS As initially stated, this tool was born with extension in mind. I therefore ask all users interested in including other formats that they send me a description of the format, and if possible, some file(s) for testing. I am especially interested in the Maui and Rio Patch, Drum and Bank formats. Please e-mail any bugs or possible improvements to usufi4@finf.upv.es. START NOW To start enjoying new and vibrant sounds, here's a small list of sites where you will find them on the Internet. Personally, I have more than 200 Mbytes of these samples!!! GKH, INS, EFE, AIFF: ftp.reed.edu in /eps oak.oakland.edu in /pub2/eps TXW: ftp-ls7.informatik.uni-dortmund.de in /pub/tx16w SDK: lotus.UWaterloo.ca in /pub/sgroup SDS, SDX: alf.uib.no in /pub/sds sweaty.palm.cri.nz in sds PAT: archive.epas.utoronto.ca in /pub/pc/ultrasound wuarchive.wustl.edu in /systems/ibmpc/ultrasound KRZ: ftp.uwp.edu in /pub/music/lists/kurzweil cs.utk.edu in /pub/martin/K2000 bach.nevada.edu in /pub/K2000 SBK: moon.earthlink.net in /pub/software/AWE32 You will find a larger list on ftp.cs.ruu.nl in the file /pub/MIDI/DOC/archives. HAPPY CONVERSION!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONVERT: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEX Clicks in loops {Convert 462} Loop points in WAV files {Convert 480} Avoiding Bidirectional to Forward Conversion {Convert 489} Avoiding Stereo to SBK Conversion {Convert 500} Working with DrumKits {Convert 509} Error loading instruments into Scream Tracker 3 and others {Convert 520} Using the -g switch {Convert 532} ··············································································· Q. I have converted some files with loops, but they contain clicks. Why? A. This may have several causes. The first and often the most important cause is the bad loop points chosen in the original file. The second reason is that several formats (e.g. PAT and INS) use a loopfraction to achieve optimal tuning of the loop points; here, loop points are not located in a sample, they are located between samples (1/3, 1/5 of sample...). Since these wavesamples never have exact loop points, the conversion process will create a light click. Convert tries to aproximate the wavesample loop points to the closest sample. Another reason can be that several formats (e.g. SMP) contain multiple loop points, and Convert uses the first one. This point may not be the best. ··············································································· Q. How can I use loop points in WAV files with Convert? A. Convert stores loop points in WAV files as CUE points. You can manipulate loop points with programs which let you work with CUE points (standard WAV specification). Cool Edit (select the "Loop Range" CUE point) and GoldWave (select the "Loop Start" and "Loop End" CUE points) are such programs. ··············································································· Q. I understand the Bidirectional to Forward Looping conversion but I want to convert my bidirectionally looped wavesample without looping, how can I do that? A. Convert carries over bidirectionally looped wavesamples to formats which only have forward loops by increasing the wavesample size. This might be undesirable. You can then use the "-b" switch, which maintains the original wavesample size and loop points, but loses the perfect loop, in order to change to forward. ··············································································· Q. I understand the Stereo to SBK conversion but I want to convert my stereo wavesample to SBK in mono, how can I do that? A. Convert uses multilayering to work with stereo wavesamples. This is done using the left channel and the right channel as two layers with different panning positions (0 and 127). This can be avoided by specifying the "-1" switch (the standard force mono switch). ··············································································· Q. How can I separate drum sounds from Drum Kits? A. Often, a Drum Kit is an instrument with many waveforms (generally percussion), each one assigned to one MIDI key. Convert treats Drum Kits as standard instruments, that is, when you convert to a format with instrument capabilites, it maintains the same structure. To extract individual waveforms, you can first convert to a format without instrument capabilities, such as WAV, and later convert each waveform to an instrument (Convert *.WAV -SBK). ··············································································· Q. I have several good stereo 16 bit instruments, but once converted by Convert to S3I format, Scream Tracker 3 sounds bad. Why? A. Although the S3I format has been designed for supporting stereo 16 bit samples, Scream Tracker 3 only works with 8 bit samples. Convert supports S3I at 16 bits/stereo in view of future versions of Scream Tracker, but in order to use samples in Scream Tracker version 3, you must to add the "-8 -1" switches at the command line to force 8 bit mono samples. Other tracker formats have similar problems, in each case you must use the "-8" and/or "-1" switches to fix this. ··············································································· Q. What does the -g switch mean? A. The Gravis Ultrasound Drivers are designed to actually use only the portion of the sample defined until the loopend point, that is, when you loop a wave, the sustain and the release parts use the loop range to maintain or fade out the sound. There are PAT files around the Internet (for example ProPATs) which have some click or some kind of noise in the last part of the wavesample (between the loopend and the end of the wave) not audible with the GUS. The "-g" switch (means Gravis correct) forces Convert to save only up to the loopend point of a PAT file, avoiding this noise at the end of the wavesample. Use it if you find some kind of noise at the end of a PAT file.