This file describes the features introduced with Sound-Trecker V2.2.
The new features are:
1 Plugs
Sound-Trecker's capabilities can now be enhanced with so-called plug-ins. Plug-ins are external files which are loaded by Sound-Trecker at startup. Sound-Trecker can be easily extended by adding new plugs.
To be in effect, the plugs must be stored in the Sound-Trecker folder, or in a folder named 'Sound-Trecker Plugs'. The 'Sound-Trecker Plugs' folder itself can be put in the Sound-Trecker
folder, the system extensions folder, or the preferences folder.
To install a new plug-in converter, just copy it into the 'Sound-Trecker Plugs' folder and restart Sound-Trecker.
Plugs can contain different extensions to Sound-Trecker:
• music file converters. Currently, an Oktalyzer and a MED/OctaMED converter are available
• RISC code to speed up Sound-Trecker on non 68k machines (available for Power Macintosh)
• a new version of the Sound-Trecker music playing code
• instrument kits (in future versions)
Using the “About Plugs” menu command, a short description of each plug loaded can be obtained.
A note for programmers: the interface for music file converters will be published, including a converter
in C source code, so you can write your own converters for every file format you wish!
2 Supported Music File Formats
Sound-Trecker now supports the following file formats:
• a variety of MOD derivates with up to 32 voices (M.K., M!K!, FLT4/8, 5CHN-9CHN, 10CH-32CH)
• Oktalyzer (a format with up to 8 voices)
• MED/OctaMED (modern MMD0/1/2 format)
3 Power Macintosh Optimization
Execution speed has vastly been enhanced for the new Power Macintosh series by replacing the most time consuming routines by native PowerPC. Sound-Trecker can now play 32 voices simultaneously on any Power Macintosh in stereo at 44.1 kHz / 16 bit, even with the realtime sound filter switched on.
The native PowerPC code is contained in an external 'PowerPlug' file. The concept also permits for PowerPlugs for other architectures which run the Macintosh operating system, like SUN Sparc and HP PA/RISC.
To be in effect, the Sound-Trecker PowerPlug must be stored in the 'Sound-Trecker Plugs' folder.
4 Test-playing Instruments
In the “Informations…” dialog, the MOD's instruments can be test-played on the Macintosh keyboard. The keyboard is divided into two manuals, the lower starting at middle C, the upper starting one octave higher. The lowest row of keys contains the white keys, the next the black, the third the white keys for the upper manual, and the to row the black keys.
If you want to play along with the current MOD, simply select “Informations…” (the MOD must not be paused). If you want to play the instruments alone, stop the MOD. You cannot play with the instruments of one MOD along with another.
5 Temporary Memory
Sound-Trecker now uses temporary memory for storing the instrument samples. All memory not yet occupied by an application can be shared among all running applications for temporary storage. The advantage is that the amount of memory assigned to Sound-Trecker can be quite low (720K). When a song is loaded, Sound-Trecker will allocate exactly as much space as it needs. It will return this memory to the free memory pool as soon as the song has finished.
6 Other Features
The following changes in the user interface have been made:
• enhanced display: the color design of the realtime display has been improved
• faster 'fast forward' and 'rewind'
Apart from that, a lot of internal changes in the playing code have been made, including bug-fixes and optimizations.
