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EnigmA Amiga Run 1996 February
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EnigmA AMIGA RUN 04 (1996)(G.R. Edizioni)(IT)[!][issue 1996-02][Skylink CD III].iso
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****************************************************************************
* Vick Music v1.0 *
* ideated and created by Giuseppe Ligorio *
* music demo by Martino Lamanna *
* CopyRight ©1993/94 all right reserved. *
* User Manual *
* *
* The commercial use is stricly forbidden without author written agreement *
* This program can be freely distribuited, but the program must be *
* distribuited with its documentation in all languages (for instance *
* English and Italian) without any modification. *
* *
* I made a lot of tests and I have not found problems but I decline any *
* responsability about the use of Vick Music. You are using this program *
* at your own risk. The author is not responsible of any damage, as result *
* of the use of his program. *
****************************************************************************
* Introduction. IMPORTANT!!! *
This program is innovating; Vick Music is a music program for make music on
Amiga like pro-tracker; Vick Music can simultaneously realize 16 voices! The
technique used to make this is the algebric method; in one channel 4
waveforms are added in real time on Amiga 1200 too! How is this possible?
This is possible because I have ideated a technique that allow Blitter to
make addition and other algebric operations!!! I have named this technique
OperBlitting; you understand that this technique can be used for many other
applications like 3D animations with incredible speed gain. I'll present a
OperBlitting library in same period which I have distribuited this program.
I am preparing a 2.0 version of Vick Music, compatible with 2.0 features,
with menu' future oriented and object oriented system; this version will be
available for 1995, contact me at the my address for more information and
for ever suggests or bugs report.
Giuseppe Ligorio
via Valeggio, n. 15
10128 Torino
Italy
_____________________________________________________________________________
Summary.
1. Vick Music: a new philosophy.
2. Structure of Vick Music.
3. Vick Music menus.
4. Edit Song.
5. Edit Patterns.
6. Edit Instruments.
7. Play Song.
_____________________________________________________________________________
1. Vick Music: a new philosophy.
_____________________________________________________________________________
There is another program that perform 16 voices; this program is SuperJAM but
its technique to play is different to that used in Vick Music; the advantages
and disadvantages of SuperJAM and Vick Music are almost complementary; let's
see them: SuperJAM precalculates different interpolates notes of every
instrument; this occupies a lot of memory and you can use only the 12 notes of
an octave, you can't implement vibrato or portamento but sound quality is
better; Vick Music occupies little space memory, implement vibrato and
portamento but sound quality is not warranted; infact some instrument (for
example very pure) could be played with some glitches, but if this instrument
is played with higher note in its physic channel, there is no inconvenient;
for example there is this problem in Oktalyzer too, that use same play
technique. Vick Music functions like pro-tracker; infact Vick Music is pattern
philosophy based, but add a new level of definition. The Vick Music pattern
has associated to only one channel, and any pattern has an own different
length and speed; the new level is the section. In Edit Song you have to
specify what patterns are associate at the aux channels; line that contains
all patterns that will be play simultoanesly in particular channels is
section; the Song is composite by more sections. This new philosophy is very
advantageous, infact for example if you have the drum in a music that repeat
every time in the same mode, then you make only one pattern for drum and you
sign this pattern in all sections of music.
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Structure of Vick Music.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Vick Music has 4 different work screens:
1) Edit Song
2) Edit Pattern
3) Edit Instrument
4) Play Song
that can be accessed by menu (see section 3); Edit Song allow to make the
song with the philosophy just wrote; in this screen you have to insert what
pattern to play and in what channels (see section 4 for more details).
Edit Pattern allow to create patterns; patterns in Edit Pattern are like
pro-tracker's patterns, but they have only one coloumn because are associated
to only one channel; any pattern has own speed, length and script (see section
5 for more details).
Edit Instrument allow to manage standard IFF 8SVX files, and raw files for
read and write sound data ; there are options for digitize and sound
elaboration too.
Play Song allow to play the song.
There is another important screen section; this screen section occupy the
lowest 56 lines of screen (the screen is PAL and this section is not visible
by NTSC monitors, but the function of this screen section may be implemented
by keyboard); at start you can see the program's logo and some information
(free memory and number of songs, patterns and instruments used); in bottom
right there is a gadget that change this screen-section in a music keyboard
with 4 octaves; any octave has an own gadget that selected, allow to change
the instrument and playing octave associated; the octaves selected of music
keyboard are two: the first correspond at the lowest line of letter keys in
the keyboard and the second at the first line (like pro-tracker); this keys
are important because they allow to play notes that will be insert in
pattern; for select what octaves use, you press F1, F2 or F3 keys; if you
want to set for all octaves the instrument selected at the moment, with
playing octaves from 1 through 4 then press ALT and J togheter; for change
between information screen section and keyboard screen section press ALT and H
(or select gadget); this screen section is present in all work screens and it
doesn't change at work screens switching.
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Vick Music menus.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Vick Music menus are fixed and don't change in different work screens; they
implement general purpose actions; there are two menus with this structure:
Project Edit
Clear Am+C Edit Song Am+S
Open Am+O Edit Pattern Am+P
Save Edit Instrument Am+I
Save AS Am+W Play Song Am+M
Delete Am+D
Preferences Am+R
About...
Quit Am+Q
The keys at right of menu options are keyboard short cuts, Am+C indicate to
press AMIGA key and C key simultaneously.
Project menu:
Clear - remove current song with its patterns and instruments; attention, this
operation is unrecoverable (the program ask conferme to effect the
clear operation)
Open - open a new module song with patterns and instruments connected; when
you select this option a file requester will appear on screen and you
may select the file to read or reject the operation.
Save - save module with last name used; attention this option will not ask you
conferme!
Save AS - save module with name selected by file requester.
Delete - delete file selected by file file requester.
Preferences - open window with program setup; the setup parameters are:
Workbench (ON|OFF)
OFF if you want to close Workbench, ON if not.
Instrument Save Format (IFF|RAW)
IFF for standard IFF 8SVX format, RAW for raw format
Default Pattern Length
see section 5 for more details
Default Pattern Speed
see section 5 for more details
Default Channel Configuration
select the standard channel swap that will be used when you
create new song (see section 4 for more details)
Default Notes Denominations (English|Italian)
English: C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B
Italian: D,D#,R,R#,M,F,F#,S,S#,L,L#,I that corresponds to
(D)o,(R)e,(M)i,(F)a,(S)ol,(L)a,s(I)
Frequence Quality
select the frequency quality based on system where program is
running; you can select only A1200 and A4000, (where I have
tested the program) but it should run correctly on all Amiga
(but at least with 68020); if you use it with other system
set this value to A4000 (yes, you have read right A4000).
On new version I'll implement an auto-test.
in setup window there are also three gadgets:
OK - use this new configuration
Cancel - don't use this new configuration, hold old config
Save - use and save the new configuration; when you will start
the program, it will read the configuration-file and it
will use this configuration; if there is not
configuration file, Vick Music will use standard config.
About - open a window with some information on program and author.
Quit - exit from program; attention with this option all work will be lost.
Edit menu:
Edit Song - go to Edit Song work screen (see section 4).
Edit Pattern - go to Edit Pattern work screen (see section 5).
Edit Instrument - go to Edit Instrument work screen (see section 6).
Play Song - go to Play Song work screen (see section 7).
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Edit Song.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Edit Song screen work has three windows; the first named "Edit Song", in top
of screen with options; the second named "sections" in bottom-left of screen
that shows the structure of a song; the third named "Pattern" that shows the
list of patterns available to be used in sections.
In top-right of Edit Song window there is the name of song slected in at the
moment.
Sections window visualizes the song contents; the song raws corresponde at
sections and song coloums corresponde at aux channels. You may insert the
pattern symbol (a label that represent a pattern, see chapter 5) in a place of
this matrix; patterns in same section will be simultaneously play at
rispective channels (coloums); pattern in same coloumn will be played
chronological sequence at same channel. Every pattern has an own speed and
length, therefore how to assicure synchronism between different patterns in
same sections? The player wait that all patterns in same sections are executed
and then pass to next section.
Pattern window visualize all existing patterns and them information:
Num - the pattern number
Sy - pattern symbol
Time - the execute time of pattern misured in 1/30 seconds.
Sp - pattern speed
ScTyp - script type (see section 5)
ScDat - script data
With scroll gadgets you may see the patterns list and select a pattern for
Play Pattern option.
The options of Edit Song window selectable are:
Create Song
Initialize the structure of a new song.
Remove Song
Remove the song used at the moment; the program will be request if you want
to continue the operation. Attention, if you remove the song then you don't
erase patterns and instruments connected to him, because these can be used
in other song
Song structure
Allow to change the channel swapping configuration; this operation doesn't
clear the song contents
Song number
Allow to select what song you want to edit; patterns and instruments
connected with song, aren't only elements of that song; infact you can use
same patterns in other song (for this, Remove Song doesn't remove patterns
and instruments)
Cut,Copy,Paste,Exchange
These operations cutting, copying a selected region of song and trasfer him
in internal buffer; paste trasfer internal buffer on song at cursor position
exchange, exchange buffer with song content at cursor position.
To do a selected region, move the cursor on start postion, press and hold
SHIFT key and move cursor keys.
Song Length
Change the length (the number of sections) of song; if you reduce the length
and remove some important sections don't warry if you increment the length,
removed sections return back unchanged.
Clear Section
Clear the section (line) at cursor position
Play Section
Play the section at cursor position
Play Pattern
Play pattern selected in Pattern window
Edit (ON and OFF)
If ON allow to modify the song, if OFF you cannot change song values
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Edit Patterns.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Edit Patterns work screen has 4 windows: "Edit Pattern", "Pattern", "Pattern
Features", "Instrument Selected".
Pattern window show the pattern actually selected; every pattern raw
correspondes to a possible note; when pattern is playing a cursor start from
first raw and go down playing notes encountered; every pattern raw is formed
by 6 parameters:
Num - raw number
Not - playing note
Ins - instrument to play
E - effect type to implement in real time playing
D1 - first data for effect
D2 - second data for effect
To insert a note in pattern move cursor on raw where you want to insert note
and on Not coloumn, then press key associated to note on music keyboard (see
section 2); the number instrument (Ins) will be simultaneously appear in Ins
coloumn in same row; you may directly change Ins moving cursor on Ins
coloumn and typing in number; to clear Not or Ins or other parameter move
cursor on them and press DEL key; effects are marked by one letter and
different effects may request numeric value that you have to insert in D1 and
D2; the effects are:
'V' Volume Change
Change volume value; attention this command change the volume on all
channels swapped from same physic channel, use command F to change
volume on only one channel
Data1 = New volume (0..64).
'R' Instrument Release
Release the instrument (use with instrument with repeat).
'S' Speed Change
Change the playing pattern speed (see Pattern Features window)
Data1 = New speed (0..x).
'U' Up Frequency
Portamento up; the frequency unit is 1/12 of note.
Data1 = number of frequency units.
'D' Down Frequency
Portamento down.
Data1 = number of frequency units.
'B' Vibrato
Frequency vibrato since this row; you have to activate it only one time,
and to stop it you have to use same command with D1 and D2 equal to zero.
Data1 = number of frequency units of vibrato bandwidth.
Data2 = vibrato's time in 1/30's second.
'A' Arpeggio
Frequency arpeggio; this effect actives the arpeggio since this point,
and to stop it you have to call same effect with datas set to zero
Data1 = first number of frequency units to add on note.
Data2 = second number of frequency units to add on note.
'H' Up Frequency Smoth
This effect is smoth Portamento up; it gradually does portamento in
specified time.
Data1 = number of frequency units.
Data2 = time in 1/30's second.
'L' Down Frequency Smoth
Smoth Portamento down; it gradually does portamento in specified time.
Data1 = number of frequency units.
Data2 = time in 1/30's second.
'O' Volume vibrato
It does volume's vibrato
Data1 = number of volume units of vibrato bandwidth.
Data2 = vibrato's time in 1/30's second.
'C' Volume Smoth
It gradually changes volume in specified time.
Data1 = new volume value.
Data2 = time in 1/30's second.
'F' Change Shift Bit
All volume's effects change volume of physic channel; this signifies that
if your song have 16 voices, this effect will have influence on 4 voices.
Instead, this command change volume on single voice with no influence on
other voices; this effect specifies number of shift bits (0 through 6) in
channel data value; the result will be this:
shift bits effective volume
0 max volume (see volume of physic channel)
1 max/2
2 max/4
3 max/8
4 max/16
5 max/32
6 max/64
Data1 = shift bits (0..6).
Attention: effect like vibrato, down frequency smoth etc., are actived
with only one command; successive rows are free to use other
effect but these must not be of same type (frequency or volume);
for example, if you active Vibrato first and then Up Frequency
Smoth , Vibrato will be annulled; if instead active Vibrato
first and then Volume Smoth is all right
"Patter features" window contains and allow to change, pattern's features;
these features are:
Patt Name - this is a text string that program doesn't use; it serves to tell
user something about pattern; for example:
"first chord's voice"
"first bass" ecc.
Symb - this is a two letters text that identifies pattern; symb must be
different for different patterns; symb is used in Edit Song (see
section 4) to indicate pattern that will be played in that channel and
section.
Script - this features tell to player what it have to do when pattern
execution ends; it can be Repeat, Jump and Repeat & Jump. If you
select Repeat this pattern will be repeated other n times; if script
is Jump then player will jump on pattern s; when script is Repeat &
Jump, player will repeat this pattern n times and then it will jump
on pattern s; n is a number and s is a symb that are specified in
box on right of script type box in form "ss nn".
Attention: you can specify scripts like "jump itself"; this signify
that pattern will be execute infinite times; but if you
insert this pattern in one song's section, this will not
be played infinite times because in song playing, pattern
will be executed following script, but pattern's end will
be recognized when pattern ends first time. If you want to
play all script, but is only active this pattern in
playing, you have to make an empty pattern of desidered
time execution and you have to insert it with this pattern
in same section.
Patt Time - indicate pattern's time execution in 1/30's second; this value
cannot be modified but it is function of pattern length and
pattern speed.
Patt Length - specify what is pattern length in rows.
Patt Speed - specify what is pattern speed in this mode:
Patt Speed specifies number of 1/30's second that player wait to
pass on next row; if Patt Speed is 1 then player doesn't wait and
pattern will be executed at 30 rows per second; if Patt Speed is
2 then player wait 0.5 1/30's second and pattern will be executed
at 20 rows per second; if Patt Speed is 3 then player wait 1
1/30's second and patter will be execute 15 rows per second.
In other words player pass to next row ever 1/30's second if
Patt Speed is 1; for ever other n value of Patt Speed player wait
1/30's second + 0.5*(n-1)*(1/30's second). This is a strange
formule but it is very useful; because your speed increment
precision is half 1/30's second (instead of one whole); however
you can calculate effective speed then you have to divide Patt
Length per Patt Time.
In upper-right of "Pattern Features" window there are two arrows that allow
you to select pattern.
"Instrument Selected" window is a window that allow you to select actual
instrument without to go in Edit Instrument work screen; this window show all
information on selected instrument too; remember that instrument used to
insertion in pattern is that actually set in keyboard screen (see section 2,
to set actual instrument in keyboard screen press ALT and J).
"Edit Pattern" window contains several command for pattern management:
Create Patter
Create a new empty pattern.
Remove Pattern
Remove currently selected pattern; program requests if you want really to
remove pattern first to does anything.
Load Pattern
Load a pattern precedently saved on disk; this option creates a new pattern
with data loaded from disk.
Save Pattern
Save currently selected pattern on disk's file; this option will be save
instrument used in pattern too and it requests if you want to save pattern
and instrument used in Script.
Play Pattern
Play pattern currently selected.
Clear, Cut, Copy, Paste, Exchange and Mix.
This options will be effect only if a selected region is set in pattern; if
you want to make a selected region, move cursor on first row of region,
press and hold SHIFT key and use up/down keys to make little/large the
region. Clear option will clear selected region contents; Cut clears
selected region contents and memorize it in internal buffer; Paste inserts
internal buffer contents in cursor position; Exchange changes internal
buffer contents with selected region contents; Mix mixs internal buffers
contents with pattern contents on cursor position.
Change Inst
This option allow to change code instrument with an other in selected
region; when you select this option, will be appear to you a window that
allow you to decide what instrument change.
Note Up
Increment notes of selected region with one halftone.
Note Down
Decrement notes of selected region with one halftone.
Octave Up
Increment notes of selected region with one octave.
Octave Down
Decrement notes of selected region with one octave.
Edit (ON|OFF)
If edit is on then you can modify pattern contents; if edit is off you
cannot change pattern contents.
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Edit Instruments.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Edit Instrument work screen allow you to management instruments; it is
composited by two windows: "Edit Instruments" and "View Instrument".
"View Instrument" window show instrument graphic and other important
information:
Title Inst is instrument's name
Length is instrument length in bytes
Time is instrument playing time in seconds (this depends by Frequency)
Volume is standard volume's instrument; this value has not importance for
playing, because instrument will be executed at channel volume, but this
information is memorized for management of IFF format
Frequency is standard frequency's instrument; same speech done for Volume is
done for Frequency; if you click on this box you can change this value with
a window that allow to you to modify note and octave.
Rep Start and Rep Leng are repeat's start and repeat's length in byte; these
values indicate if instrument is executed in infinite loop repeating itself
from Rep Start for Rep Leng bytes; if Rep Leng is 0 then repeat is deactivated
Number Instrument is number of instrument actually selected; this value is
used in Patter to indicate what instrument to play; with arrow you may select
instrument.
"Edit Instruments" window contains options for instruments management:
Create Instrument
Create a new empty instrument; when you select this option a window request
you what is desidered dimension of it.
Remove Instrument
Remove currently selected instrument; program requests if you want really to
remove instrument first to do anything.
Load Instrument
Load a instrument from disk in RAW or IFF format; this option creates a new
Instrument with data loaded from disk.
Save Instrument
Save currently selected instrument on disk's file follow format (RAW or IFF)
specified in preferences
Clear, Cut, Copy, Paste, Exchange and Mix
These options and other are effect on selected region; to make a selected
region move mouse pointer on instrument graphic, press and hold left mouse-
button, move horizontally mouse and release mouse-button.
Clear will clear selected region (change all bytes' values to zero)
Cut transfers selected block in internal buffer, and selected block will be
eliminated
Copy transfers selected block in internal buffer but doesn't touch it
Paste transfer internal buffer contents in position specified by start
of selected region
Exchange change internal buffer contents with selected region contents
Mix will mix internal buffer contents with instrument contents on start
selected region position; when you active this option a window will appear;
you have to indicate what are instrument and buffer amplitude for mixing;
like other operations there is a undo-buffer; if you select Do, program
will effect operation, if you select Undo program will restore original
contents; when the result is what you want then select OK.
Volume
Change amplitude of instrument; you have to specify amplitude per cent for
selected region and not selected region
Period
Change period (or better frequency) of selected region; you have to specify
old period and new period.
Echo
Make echo on selected region; parameters to specify in echo window are:
Repeat rate (per cent) is distance for ever repeat; Decay rate is per cent
of amplitude change for ever echo; Number echo is number of echo to realize.
Reverse
Reverse selected region
Dynamic
Realize dynamic expansion of selected region; this signify that aplitude
change of instrument isn't linearly realized but it is realized with
exponential law; in this mode little signals (like noise) are eliminated.
Parameters to specify are two: Volume instrument, amplitude's change that
will have effect after real dynamic expansion; Dynamic value is exponent for
dynamic expansion, if this value is 1 the amplitude's change will be linear;
for bigger value amplification will be exponential and for littler value
will be logarithmic.
Seek loop
Seek loop for instrument repeat; parameters are: Search Limit is limit (left
or right) that are fixed; Search Direction is direction for limit move (
limit considered here is other then that specified in Search Limit).
This command search loop finding zero respecting wave's phase; it calculates
the difference between amplitude of loop's wave; if this difference is
bigger then Volume Error this loop will be not considered. Position Reset
will reset limits' positions follow Search Limit and Search Direction value.
Monitor
With this option you may monitor your sound-digitizer; if you press right
mouse-button then program change speef of graphic refresh velocity.
Sampling
This option allow you to sampling with your sound-digitizer; a window will
request you what is the maximum length of memory that program will allocate
for sampling; if you press OK then program goes in monitor mode and when
you want to start sampling then press left mouse-button; to stop sampling,
press left mouse-button and however if program reaches maximum of memory
allocated then it stop itself.
Analyzer
When you select Analyzer a window appear; here you can select analyzer type:
Waveform (that is like monitor but bigger) and Spectrum that allow you to
analyze fondamental frequency component of wave sampled in real-time.
You can select Grid too, start analizing and exit from "Analyzer" window.
Sampling Frequency
Select frequency for sampling-operations
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. Play Song.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Play Song work screen allow you to play song edited in other work screens;
there is only one window, "Play Song" window with options for play; in the
section lower of screen there are V-Meter and Spectrum Analyzer meter; if you
click on one of V-Muter you may deactivate (or activate) that channel, for
play.
"Play Song" window has in upper-left two arrows to select what song you want
to play; in bottom of window there are other two arrows to select from what
section start play; the options are only two:
Play Section
Play currently selected section
Play Song
Play currently selected song from currently selected section
_____________________________________________________________________________
