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─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Written by Roman Dolejsi (RDOS of DIMENSION)
August 27, 1996
Last update: September 5, 1996
This is the documentation belonging to and explaining the use of
RDOSPLAY version 0.17e
OPL2/OPL3 music module player for MS-DOS
TOPICS covered in this document:
DISCLAIMER
APOLOGIZE
PURPOSE OF RDOSPLAY
REQUIREMENTS
INSTALLATION OF RDOSPLAY
RDOSPLAY IN ACTION
PROGRAM KEYS AND DIALOG LINE
CURRENTLY SUPPORTED MODULE FORMATS
MODULE GRABBING
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COPYRIGHT
WHERE TO FIND RDOSPLAY
THANX
CONTACTING ME
DISCLAIMER:
-----------
Although RDOSPLAY has been tested on several systems, I cannot guarantee that
it is bugless. Therefore I do not take responsibility for any damage directly
or indirectly caused by RDOSPLAY as a result of known/unknown errors in it or
errors caused by its access to your devices.
APOLOGIZE:
----------
Sorry, english is not my native language. However, I wrote this nice docy in
english without any help. I APOLOGIZE for any mistakes in the document. Take it
easy... Nobody is perfect.. :-)
PURPOSE OF RDOSPLAY:
--------------------
RdosPlay is a OPL2/OPL3 music module player for IBM PC compatible computers
running MS-DOS operating system. This means that you can use it for playing
your favorite melody from some music editor, demo or game. It is FIRST known
generic OPL player. I've coded it because of lack of any player of this type in
PC-world.
REQUIREMENTS:
-------------
RdosPlay is coded in pure 286-assembler with no 386+ optimalizations. This
means you can use your old 286 and Adlib card for background playing while
doing some work. So The only required things it needs is OPL2/3/4 compatible
card (Adlib or higher), 286 or higher and about 192kB of free mem. For graphic
analyzers you would probably need at least 386-sx (not tested). The other thing
you need is some music module of course :-)
INSTALLATION OF RDOSPLAY:
-------------------------
- first you have to make some directory on your drive. Then you have to unpack
there archive file RPLYxyyz.ZIP. Don't forget to unpack it WITH directories
otherwise you would get a pretty nice garbage :-)
(you probably did all this when you read these lines :-)
- RDOSPLAY pack should consist of these files:
RDOSPLAY.EXE - Main file - OPL player
RDOSPLAY.DOC - Documentation for RdosPlay (this file)
RDOSPLAY.REV - RDOSPLAY changes/revision history file
FILE_ID.DIZ - bbs file_id header
FILES\* - music module examples
- now you have RdosPlay successfully installed :-)
RDOSPLAY IN ACTION:
-------------------
Rdosplay uses your sound card's OPL chip for producing synthetic music
typical for these chips. For OPL2 (mono) musics it can also simulate stereo
by distributing channels in left/right speakers. It's not possible with OPL3
musics which do their own (precise) panning. OPL2 stereo and OPL3 modes are
both possible only on OPL3 chip of course.
When producing music RdosPlay also shows some analyzers to make world
brighter :-). This can be supressed when using slow computers or slow OPL2
emulation (GUS users).
PROGRAM KEYS AND DIALOG LINE:
-----------------------------
While RdosPlay is running, you can use these keys:
PgUp - increase track of music (for ADL only)
PgDn - decrease track of music (for ADL only)
Dialog line looks as following:
RDOSPLAY.EXE [/p] [/t] [/l] [/s] <musfile.ext>
options:
/pXXX:Y - specifies port and type of OPL chip (avoiding autodetection)
XXX: hexadecimal base port of the chip
Y: 1 = OPL2 (Adlib compatible)
2 = OPL3 (Yamaha YM262 stereo chip)
3 = OPL4 (Yamaha OPL4 stereo chip)
/tXXX - specifies track to be played (for ADL format only, 1-118)
/s - enables OPL3-stereo for OPL2 musics (omitted with OPL3 musics)
/lX - enables LED-meter on LPT port
X: port number, where:
0 = 3BC (EGA's LPT port)
1 = 378 (standard LPT1 port)
2 = 278 (standard LPT2 port)
CURRENTLY SUPPORTED MODULE FORMATS:
-----------------------------------
RdosPlay now supports these formats (where are they and how to get them you
can read in another section):
· ADL (Adlib format similar to XMI)
· AGD (Herad system - DUNE game) [OPL3]
· AMD (Amusic tracker packed files)
· CAL (ShadowLands game)
· D00 (JCH / Vibrants ver 1, 2 & 4)
· FXM (Fuxoft AY music chip language)
· HSC (HSC music composer)
· LDS (Loudness system - Zeppelin game)
· LEM (SI system - XMasLemmings game)
· MUS (First Samurai game)
· PLX (Palladix system - Logical game)
· RAD (Reality ADlib tracker)
· RAW (raw adlib data - Starport demo)
· SAT (SAdT music composer)
· SDB (Herad system - DUNE / KGB games)
· SIG (SI system 2 - DIZZY games)
· VIB (JO/Vibrants player)
RdosPlay also supports some internal file packers. They are:
· HSQ (mainly with SDB,AGD - Dune game)
· SQX (mainly with SDB - KGB game)
· ICE (mainly with CAL - ShadowLands game)
MODULE GRABBING:
----------------
· ADL
This is format used in many games. Each file can consist of up to 118
"tracks" and every track can contain separate music. Default track for
RdosPlay is track number 1. Track can be selected with parameter /t. RdosPlay
will pack all used tracks so unused tracks won't be in selection field.
· AMD
This extension covers files from Amusic tracker by Elyssis. There are two
types of them. Packed and non-packed. RdosPlay currently supports packed files
only.
· CAL
This standard is used in ShadowLands game. Look there and find file
TUNE.CAL. It's ICE-packed file and RdosPlay has internal ICE-unpacker.
· D00
These files are for JCH / Vibrants player. They are created in Vibrant's
editor named EdLib by packing standard *.EDL editor's files. Look for them in
intros or in that editor. Files for player ver 2+ begin with 'JCH' sign.
Example: intro KUKKO2.EXE, offset B2A (module named CROONER.D00).
· FXM
These files are special blocks of music code used in Fuxoft SoundTrack on
ZX Spectrum computer. This computer has 3-channel sound chip named AY3-8910.
RdosPlay has FXM interpreter and AY->OPL2 convertor. All the files that exist
in this format are supplied with RdosPlay standard distribution.
· HSC
HSC files are commonly used in short demos and intros. The source from where
they came is mainly HSC composer which is available on anonymous FTP's
on I-net. There you can get most of these files (about 100 modules). If you
grab some file its extension must be HSC otherwise RdosPlay won't recognize it!
· LDS
These files are used in LOUDNESS system. Look in ZEPPELIN game's SOUND
directory and take all *.DAT files.
· LEM
These files are used in X-Mas Lemmings game. Grab them yourself. Their
sign is [0]=1C 52.
· MUS
This standard is used in FIRST SAMURAI game. Take file ADLIB.MUS.
· PLX
This standard is used in LOGICAL game. All music files are stored in file
LOGICAL.EXE. You have to grab them from this file. Here are file positions:
13310, 165C0, 1B160, 1F320, 50360, 50550, 50730, 50990, 50B90, 50D10, 50FA0,
510F0, 51310, 56620, 59F90.
· RAD
This format came with Reality ADlib Tracker. Tunes often have RAD extension
and if not, there is a 'RAD' sign at the beginning of the file.
· RAW
This format is very simple. It consists of commands directly sent to OPL
port. RAW format is used in STARPRT2.EXE intro (for example).
format: [0]=db 'RAWADATA' ... file identifier
[8]=dw clock ... clock (int8) speed
[10]=dw data_size dup (data) ... adlib data
[..]=dw 0ffffh ... end of file
data: parameter, command. command==0: data==n ... wait n times.
command==2: data==0 ... set speed (next word)
command==2: data==1 ... set OPL3 port A default
command==2: data==2 ... set OPL3 port B default
This format is also generated by RAC (Rdos Adlib Catcher).
· SAT
These files are made in SAdT music composer. They begin with 'SAdT' sign.
· SDB, AGD
These files are used in DUNE game. Look in game's directory and search for
*.SDB or *.AGD files. These are HSQ-packed. You can unpack them with
UNHSQ (RDOS production) or use them as they are. RdosPlay has internal HSQ
unpacker and recognizes both packed or unpacked modules. *.AGD files have to be
played on OPL-3 stereo music chip (that's why /s parameter doesn't work with
them), *.SDB are for standard AdLib (OPL-2) card.
· SIG
These files are used in DIZZY games. They are stored in main .EXE file and
you have to grab them. Here are their respective filenames, offsets and sizes:
FFOOD=6464E,3B38 KWIKSNAX=73C2E,2BC4 MAGICLND=689EE,4508 YOLK=6571E,33FD
· VIB
This is standard used in player by JO / Vibrants.
Example: intro COPPER.EXE, offset 8990.
RDOSPLAY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
------------------------------------
* RdosPlay have not detected my soundcard although I have OPL2 compatible card.
- You have to set sound card manually (ie. /p parameter).
- GUS users with SBOS running may use /p388:1.
* RdosPlay sounds HORRIBLE on GUS !
- That's the fault of OPL2 emulation on GUS, not mine. You have to stay with it
or to wait until REMUS (Rdos Emulation Sound system) is released. It will
bring a brand new OPL3 emulation for your GUS (hopefully).
* I have D/A converter (PC Speaker), does RdosPlay support it ?
- No, It does not. You have to wait until REMUS is released.
* I have some SAT modules and it seems some of them aren't played correctly
with RdosPlay.
- Yes, it's the fault of RdosPlay's SAT playing routine. I have to improve it.
* What about a fileselector in RdosPlay ?
- It's currently in development, wait for new RdosPlay release.
* Why are sometimes FXM modules played incorrectly (i mean drums) ?
- Not 100% right FXM interpreter initialization causes that noise channel of
adlib card is not initialized at all. FXM player is undergoing recontruction
now. Wait for another release.
WHERE TO FIND RDOSPLAY:
-----------------------
Each time I have a new version of RDOSPLAY available, I'll upload it to
this place:
ftp://sorry.vse.cz/dimension (Dimension FTP site in Prague, Czech Republic)
http://sorry.vse.cz/dimension (Dimension Inet HeadQuarters, Czech Republic)
RdosPlay will be probably also available at ftp.cdrom.com and ftp.sunet.se
FTP archives.
Ask your local Internet or FTP expert on how to reach them.
Another way is to visit RdosPlay's homepage at address:
http://sorry.vse.cz/dimension/rdos/rdosplay (Http site in Prague, CZE)
THANX:
------
Although I did all the programming, there are few friends which helped me with
some things about this program. Thanx go to:
Ondrej Stasek (Ondar/Dimension) - testing, suggestions, new formats delivery
David Voracek (Assassin/Dimension) - - || -
and other friends for their (mostly) betatesting and suggestions..
CONTACTING ME:
--------------
If you want to contact me, write to address listed below. If you want to send
me suggestions, tips or simply greets, send it freely. Also some money would be
good as a power and motivation for further work :-) If you find any new module
format with its player you can also send it to me. You can also send me any
module you want to be in new version of RdosPlay.
My address: E-Mail: (non-commercial)
Roman Dolejsi (RDOS) roman@sorry.vse.cz
Husova 419, Vcelna roman@romeo.pf.jcu.cz
37382 Ceske Budejovice
Czech Republic
Please do not send me E-mails longer than 150kB (because of our local smtp
server limit).
*** end of RDOSPLAY documentation ***