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1997-04-16
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MASTERCLASS 2
=============
MASTERSOUND 2
-------------
Mastersound 2 was the follow up to Mastersound, but there
shouldn't be any reason why you can't use it in Mastersound as
well as version 2.
STARTING OFF
------------
Load up Mastersound 2, obviously clicking on the appropriate
program (I cant remember).
You come with the main screen, you have the main sample window,
which shows you the wave of the current sample, you won't have
one at the minute. Then you have the control buttons ranging from
STE selection panel to 3D FFT display.
Connecting your input socket with an appropriate lead to your hi-
fi or walkman or whatever. A suitable lead is available from
Tandy, thats where I got mine from.
TESTING YOUR INPUT SOUND LEVEL
------------------------------
To test the input sound level we must select the scope, this is a
wiggly line symbol, (PRESS S for screenshot of panel), this will
now show the wave level of your sample (press PLAY on your input
device). To get the correct volume level you must get the wave
to look like the screenshot picture (Press S).
Now we can begin.
SUMMARY OF BUTTONS
------------------
INSTANT END LOCATION
These enable an instant ability to locate either the start or end
of the sample edit buffer. Click on one causes the computer to
redraw the sample wave. ONLY WORKS under MAGANIFICATION (see
below).
REVE
Reverse Mode. Doesnt work in STE mode. Runs the sample backwards.
UN/MAGNIFY SCREEN
Pressing the magnify button will maginify the current sample
between the cursors. Pressing the un-magnify button will
un-magnify it back to full sceen.
DISPLAY REWIND\FORWARDS
When under MAGNIFY mode, you can go reversely and forwardly
through the sample.
PLAY
Plays sample between cursors.
STE CONTROLS
This pops up a menu for STE users only, this enables you to
adjust the VOLUME, TREBLE and BASS by 24dB. From now on if you
press USE the editor will replay samples using the DMA chip.
FREQUENCY
Clicking on << will decrease the sample frequency , pressing >>
will increase the sample frequency. On an STE it will increase
in steps of 6.2, 12.5, and 25.6 only.
Frequencies available:
3Khz to 30.7Khz (ST) 6.2,12.5,25.6 (STE)
LISTEN
Allows you to listen to the current input of the sample.
SEQ
Goes to Sequencer menu, see below for details.
SAVE
Saves your sample between cursors as RAW or AVR format samples.
AVR being compatible with QUARTET by Microdeal.
3D FFT
Displays a 3D Fast Fourier Transform of current sample.
LOAD
Loads sample, any type. If its not mastersound and you still want
to load it, say so, then if it doesnt play, pressing CTRL-S will
convert it to Mastersound 2 format.
RECord
Records current input to memory, the length of course depends
on your frequency and memory.
REAL TIME OSCILLOPE\GRAFIC EQUALIZER
These display an oscilloscope (as in setting up volume) of
current input, and a 32-Bar grafic equalizer. The sample cannot
be heard with latter.
AUTO RECORD
This selects auto-record on or off, meaning the computer will
start recording your sample when the volume reaches a certain
level, which can be adjusted by the two arrows, and the little
bar.
VOLUME
Increase volume or decrease volume of sample in cursors.
Eventually your sample will decrease rapidly after repeated use
of both.
COMPRESS
Enables you to sample at say a high quality frequency say 25Khz
and compress it down to 7.5 Khz, so it takes up less memory. This
enables you to keep the bass and treble less tiny.
FILTER
Enables you to put the sample through a HARD or SOFT filter,
making it less tinny.
COPY
Copies block between cursors and enables you to move it about.
OVERLAY
Copies block between cursors and enables you to produce ECHO
effects by laying it over the same bit of sample except further
along.
WIPE
Wipes sample between the cursors.
CUT
Cuts the sample between cursors and shuffles the rest of the
sample down.
REVERSE
Same as REVE but works on STE, and shuffles whole sample
backwards. Enables you to produce fascinating effects.
FADE
Fades in/or/out. Depending on the gap between your cursors the
intensity of the fade is less or more pronounced.
MIDI (TAB)
Pressing TAB makes the sample play thru the MIDI port, and
enables you to play the sample using a keyboard. You could sample
a nice guitar and use it on your keyboard over 2-octaves.
EXIT (CTRL-C)
Goes to desktop.
Thats all the commands, to see where they are located press 'S'
to see the special screenshot.
SAMPLING
--------
This is important in creating a sample or demo, sample it at a
good frequency then compress it. Also, fitting a filter between
the sampler and your input device, will reduce the background
noise. Also, keeping your walkman away from you and computer will
cut noize down.
LOOPING SAMPLES
---------------
Looping a sample can create a longer sample effect without using
loads of memory. By carefully matching up the start and finish of
the sample so they are roughly the samem the sample should
ideally start with zero volume and end with zero volume which
reduces clicks and pops and crackles. Using MAGNIFY will help you
match them up. It takes a while of getting used to looping, so
have a little practice.
JOINING SAMPLES TOGETHER
------------------------
The same volume of the end of the first and the beginning of the
next is quite essential as you dont want sudden noise increases.
Place the second sample quite close to the end of the first, then
locate the point in the middle by placing it somewhere in the
centre of the display. Now magnify the section of joining of the
samples. Locate the markers at one part of each sample that have
the same level and use CUT to bring the sections together. Now
press UN-MAGNIFY and PLAY it, it should have no clicks, but
practice makes perfect. Try it on simple samples like voices, or
two words.
THE SEQUENCER AND DEMOS
-----------------------
Pressing SEQ (as before) brings us to the sequencer screen.
Note: You can't use samples above 16.1Khz, on an ST and 12.5Khz
in STE mode.
The sequencer allows you to assign a sample to various keys on
the numeric pad, and can play them in a set sequence and play
them all back after you have set up the sequence.
HOW
---
Well, first sample all the required samples at a sample frequency
between 3.0Khz and 16.1Khz, say 7.5Khz may be best and 12.5Khz in
STE mode.
Then press SEQ, you can now assign various samples to the keys of
the numeric pad. You do this by putting your required sample in
between the cursors (pink lines), and then either choosing LOOP
or REVE, for a looped or reversed sample or even both. Then press
PROG and a numeric pad key. This will assign it to the key. A
letter will now appear next to the key. This could be 'L' for
Loop 'R' for Reverse and a BLOCK to show it has a sample in it.
You do this until you have got all your various samples.
DOING IT
--------
(The sequence that is - its not that sort of magazine!)
Its best to put you beats in first so press REC, and RECORD, then
press your beat key and I advise you to put a beat for say 1000
seconds.
(You can also change the frequeny of your sample.)
Pressing ESCAPE will stop recording.
You can record at any point in your sequence to overwrite
mistakes or alter various sections.
OVERDUBBING
-----------
Dubbing will mix your new sample over the current sequence
instead of totally overwriting them. Mastersound 2 quantises
events at 20th of seconds, this means it records various events
every 1/20 secs, so if you could record over the next sample
event if you're not careful.
HINTS
-----
Pressing SPACE restarts your sample so you could produce
stutters.
DEMOS
-----
Demos can be created from .SEQ files, by using the DEMO.TOS
program in your demos. This loads in a .PI1 (degas) picture and
your .SEQ files, this plays them back with a piccy. It doesnt
however have a scroll as in Mastersound. f1 - Toggles between
50/60Hz.
USING SAMPLES IN BASICS
-----------------------
I have put an STE only routine in PROGRAMS section, this plays
samples (from Mastersound 1&2) on the DMA chip. Also in the
GOODIES folder is an ST version for GFA Basic. (No expense spared
I say).
OTHER
-----
Your Mastersound 2 disk has replay programs for Hisoft and ST
basic, and also in your manual it explains the ST versions. These
use BASCODE.EXE which is a machine code file which contains the
playback data. The routines supplied on this disk dont use it,
so you save loadsa memory (well not quite).
So get demo writing and send em in to:
BIG NIGHT OUT MAG
28 Woodlands, Seaham, Co.Durham, SR7 OEP.
==================================================P.Bramwell====