Commercial PD/shareware clearing houses (such as, but not limited to, Educorp, BudgetBytes and MacClub Benelux), MUST obtain my written permission prior to including any of these programs on any of their disks.
The same naturally applies to any other form of commercial distribution.
As an example of proper behaviour, Fifth Generation, publishers of Suitcase II, did ask and obtain my permission (for free) to distribute the Package on their Suitcase II disk.
California Freeware also obtained my permission and I personally provided the Boston Computer Society and BMUG with the then current version of the Package at MacWorld Boston '89.
**********
As a private individual, you may, however, give out copies of these programs to any and all your friends and to members of your Macintosh User Group, provided you include all documentation and don't charge them anything. You may also upload them to a BBS that does not charge a special fee for downloading.
If you keep and/or use any of the programs that comprise the SMP for longer than a fair trial period of two weeks, you are expected to pay for the entire Package.
If, on the other hand, you decide you don't like or need these programs, then simply trash them and you'll owe me nothing.
Paying for the SMP is very simple: print out the registration form that follows the Help screens in Sound Mover (or the last page of this document), slip it in an envelope with your payment and send it AIR MAIL to:
Riccardo Ettore
67 rue de la limite
1970 W-Oppem, BELGIUM
If you do not have access to a printer, just jot down your name and mailing address on a piece of paper and send it along with your cash, cheque or VISA/MC/AE number and exp. date. Preferred methods of payment are cash or credit card, cheques are a little harder for me to cash. Do not send US or Canadian Postal Money Orders: they can ONLY be cashed in the US or Canada! I have had no problems with International Postal Money Orders. Also good are American Express Money Orders.
Several CIS users have registered on-line by EMailing me [72277,1344] their credit card # and exp. date. Be sure you are EMailing me privately, rather than posting a public message!
Why should you send in the registration fee?
Legally and morally speaking, of course, you have no choice: the programs constituting the SMP are my intellectual property and you are not at liberty to use them after the trial period unless you pay me. (Please bear in mind that I did not earn a single penny out of whatever amount you may have spent downloading the programs or ordering them from a PD distribution service or whatever.)
Pragmatically speaking, I'll acknowledge your payment by sending you a printed, more detailed, illustrated manual (including a short C source code example for playing 'snd ' resources from your own programs) and TWO disks containing the very latest revision of the programs (i.e. fewer bugs/more features) and tons of my favourite digitized sounds (ranging from light-hearted insults to various kinds of laughter to animal sounds and more). You'll also get copies of my other shareware/freeware programs.
Naturally, registering for one version of the Package entitles you to use and keep all subsequent upgrades that come your way (via any of the distribution channels that brought this version to you).
Also, you'll be notified by postcard whenever I release a major upgrade, in case you wish to order it directly from me rather than wait for it to make it through the PD carriers.
But most important of all, I'll consider your payment as the most sincere form of flattery and I will be encouraged to improve this Package (as I have indeed done since its first release back in 1987) and write more programs for you to try before you buy.
So, if you think my programs are useful or entertaining, you owe it to yourself to pay for them.
How do you use the programs in the package?
Although you should find them fairly simple to use if you're familiar with the Mac, here is a short description of each of the programs. Please note that the printed manual I'll send you on receiving your registration fee is much more detailed than these few lines.
The new SndControl cdev is described in its own separate document.
Sound Mover
Introduction
As a Macintosh user, you are very likely to be familiar with the concept of moving Fonts and Desk Accessories into and out of the System file or indeed any other document or program file, to make them available as required by your application(s).
Sound Mover lets you do exactly the same to sounds and what's more, it will automatically perform certain conversions between several different (and incompatible) formats.
Initially, Sound Mover was designed to deal exclusively with the resources of type 'snd ' that appeared with the introduction of the Mac II and System 4.1.
These sound resources come in two flavours: format 1 and (how did you guess?!) format 2.
Originally, only format 1 snd's could be used as a replacement for the beep sound, while format 2 snd's were only playable in HyperCard.
Nowadays, the Control Panel Sound cdev that comes with System 6.0 will accept to play either type, but HyperCard still insists on being given format 2 snd's to play.
Sound Mover will automatically convert an 'snd ' to format 2 when you copy it to a HyperCard stack and viceversa.
Prior to Apple's introduction of the 'snd ' resource, sounds were usually distributed in what is known as the SoundCap or MacNifty format (in reference to the first software and hardware combo that allowed Mac users to digitize sounds way back in '86).
In this format, the bytes of data that make up the sound are stored in the data rather than the resource fork of a file.
Earlier versions of the Sound Manager Package contained a separate program (Sound->snd) to convert a sound from data to resource format.
From version 1.40 (released Nov '88), Sound Mover includes this feature and even adds a conversion in the opposite direction, that is, from 'snd ' to data file format. (See printed manual for details on creating data files that will launch SoundCap, SoundWave or SoundEdit when double clicked.)
Also prior to the birth of 'snd ', programmers wishing to include digitized sounds as resources in their applications, created a large number of different and incompatible resource types to contain the sound samples.
SoundMover knows about a number of these fileType/resourceType combinations and will let you open them and extract the sounds they contain.
- Jam Session/Studio Session instrument files (DEWF fdType, sound in data fork).
- SoundCap/SoundWave/SoundEdit files (FSSD fdType, sound in data fork).
From version 1.61 (released April 2, 1990), Sound Mover will also let you open any file at all and work with any resource type you think may contain sound samples. This very powerful feature is discussed and illustrated in detail in the printed manual, but you should be able to make use of it with a little experimentation.
How do you use Sound Mover?
Almost exactly as you would use F/DA Mover from Apple. The major difference is that you must hold down the shift key when you want to select a group of sounds and press the command key to make multiple but disjointed selections.
Of course, just as F/DA Mover gives you a sample of the font at the bottom of the screen, so Sound Mover shows you the waveform of the sound and (provided your volume is not set to zero) plays it for you.
Unlike F/DA Mover, Sound Mover will also let you edit the sound waveform, though admittedly not with all the sophistication of a dedicated editor such as Farallon's excellent SoundEdit.
Here are a few functions that are specific to Sound Mover :
Changing the volume is a simple matter of using the tiny scroll bar under the loudspeaker icon, which corresponds initially to whatever volume was set with the Control Panel. On leaving Sound Mover, you'll find that the sound level was restored to its previous setting.
Clicking on the icon will cause the sound in memory to be played, unless the volume is set to Silent.
When transferring a lot of sounds, you may want to set the volume to Silent to avoid having to listen to each sound you select (and to wait for the time each takes to complete).
Clicking and dragging on the waveform will highlight a section of the sound which you can then play by pressing any key (or clicking on the loudspeaker icon).
To copy only the highlighted portion of the sound to another file, simply hold down the option key as you click the Copy button. A dialog will appear to allow you to change the name of the sound (if you wish) and to show you the length of the new sound.
If you keep the option key pressed as you click Open, you'll be able to copy sounds into or out of any document or application. If you don't press option, you'll only be able to open those files that are recognized by Sound Mover (see printed manual for more details).
Just above the information on the size of the sound in the middle of the screen, you'll see an indication of the type of sound you have selected. Format 1 snd's can be used as beeps but cannot be played by HyperCard. However, when copying sounds from one side to the other, Sound Mover is smart enough to detect if the destination file is a stack or HyperCard itself and if so, it will automatically convert format 1 snd's to format 2. Viceversa, when copying sounds out of a stack and into a file created with Sound Mover (or indeed into any other file that is not a stack) they will be converted back to format 1.
Just under the volume control icon you'll see an indication of the original sampling rate: 22K effectively means that the sound takes up 22Kbytes of memory per second, 5K sounds are of lower quality, but will save you a lot of disk space!
11K appears to be the best compromise between quality and size.
If you hold down the Command key as you click Copy, the sound will be cut in half as it gets copied to the other side by removing every other byte. This is extremely useful to save disk space and very often I cannot hear any difference between a sound taking say 60,000 bytes at 22K and the same sound after chopping it down to 30,000 bytes and playing it at 11K.
I found a lot of HyperCard stacks where sounds are needlessly sampled at 22K. After downsampling with Sound Mover, the stack can sometimes be cut by as much as 50% with no audible loss of sound quality, a considerable saving of disk space and quicker loading of the sound(s) into memory at playback time.
A detailed description of the editing functions is beyond the scope of this document, but you should be able to use them if you're familiar with the standard way cut and paste works on the Mac.
IBeep2
Introduction
IBeep2 (pronounced I beep too) is a small program (technically called a CDEV) that performs a function similar to that of the Sound file found on System 4.1 and later, i.e. it lets you pick an alternative to the standard sound of the Macintosh beep. The difference is that while Sound originally only worked on a Mac II, IBeep2 was designed to work for 'the rest of us' Plus and SE users even when running under System 4.1.
Also, from version 2.3, IBeep2 is compatible with System 6.0 and will let you pick a sound to be played when a disk is ejected, another one to be uttered at shutdown time and yet a different one for restart.
How do you use it?
In order to use IBeep2, you must place it in the System Folder of your startup disk and restart the Mac. The next time you open the Control Panel you'll find its icon along with those of any other installed CDEVs.
Clicking on this new icon will display a list of any resources of type 'snd ' in your system file (such as Monkey or Boing). The list will also include any sounds you add to a file called "snd" (i.e. the three lower case letters s,n and d) which must be in the system folder. Use Sound Mover to create this file and fill it with the desired sound(s). This feature means you can keep your system file lean and mean, yet still have access to a large number of beep sounds, even if you don't use a program like Suitcase™, Font/DA Juggler™ or equivalent. (In fact, for IBeep2 to function properly, the "snd" suitcase file must NOT be opened with Suitcase™ or Font/DA Juggler™.)
To attach a sound to one of the actions supported, you first click on the radio button corresponding to the action (say, Disk Eject), then choose a sound from the list and finally set the volume to the desired level. This allows you to have a sound played very loud when a disk is ejected, yet have a very soft sound when the Mac beeps or is restarted.
Notice, though, that whenever you set the beep sound to zero, then no action will produce a sound. Think of it as a master switch to silence your Mac completely.
If at any time you don't wish to hear the sound associated with an action, press the option key and it won't play, even if its volume is set louder than zero.
StartupSndInit
Introduction
This little critter is a file of type INIT which will automatically be executed at startup if you place it in your System Folder.
What it does is first of all look at the volume setting: if it's zero, it does nothing at all. Otherwise, it looks inside itself for resources of type 'snd ' and plays them.
How do you use it?
Fill it with the sound(s) you want played at startup using Sound Mover.
Place it in your System Folder, make sure the sound level is at least 1 and reboot.
NOTE: If you ever have to restart the Macintosh in front of your boss, or in the middle of the night while your children are asleep, and don't want the startup sound(s) to be played, make sure the caps-lock key is down while restarting.
StartupSndInit's function is also incorporated in the SndControl CDEV.
Where to get new sounds.
Many strange and wonderful sounds are available on Compuserve's MAUG as well as from User Groups, BBS's and PD distribution companies.
Whether they are distributed as compressed or uncompressed SoundCap data files or in 'snd ' format, Sound Mover will let you move them and organize them as you wish.
If you are really keen to have specific sounds, you may also want to consider buying a Farallon MacRecorder. It's a device not much larger than the mouse and costing well under $200 from most US mail order outlets. With it, you'll be able to record any sound at all and use SoundEdit™ to shape it exactly as you wish.
For more information on obtaining more sounds, please refer to the SndControl documentation file.
Conclusion
This concludes the description of the SMP. I hope you enjoy using any or all of the programs in the package as much as I enjoyed creating them. If you do, please take the time to send your registration fee, preferably using the form that prints out when you select Register Now from the third help screen in Sound Mover or the one at the end of this document.
Naturally, if you prefer simply jotting down your address on a scrap of paper attached to your payment that's also fine by me.
Remember: paying is your way of telling me to keep writing software for the Mac and make it available for you to try before you buy.
Thank you in advance for your support,
Riccardo Ettore
Compuserve ID: 72277,1344
GEnie: REttore1
WARNING
These programs have been tested by members of the European Communities Computer Club in Brussels and hundreds of users around the world have reported satisfaction with them.
However, one can never be sure that all bugs have been ironed out so the usual CAUTION is recommended when you use any of the programs in the Sound Manager Package in your own environment.
I ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY for any loss of data or for any aggravation due to the use of the SMP.
I am however always interested in receiving well documented bug reports that may allow me to improve the quality of my programs.
PS Feel free to write to me in any of the following languages:
