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Large Pack of OldSkool DOS MOD Trackers
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AST_HELP.TXT
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1996-11-16
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- ALL SOUND TRACKER -
- VERSION 1.02-
by
- Patrice Bouchand a.k.a Cagliostro -
lundi 11 novembre 1996 ]
BE CAREFULL.IT ISN'T BUGFREE , SO YOU SHOULD OFTEN SAVE
I CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY USE OF AST
First,thanks for reading this DOC and trying AST.I'm going to attempt to
be clear enough,but if you don't understand something,write me.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> {SORRY FOR MY UGLY ENGLISH] <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
[═What can AST do ?══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
AST is a 32 tracks tracker with dynamic track's allocation .
AST can use
-EMU8000 CHIP of AWE32
*30 voices
*load sound in RAM
*use ROM
*Customized chorus and reverb
*Total management of filters,lfos and envelopes
*Direct coding (without adip)
*Drum tracks
-FM Synthesis
*9 voices
*chorus and reverb on AWE32
-MIDI MPU401 INTERFACE (only in out,as long as i haven't got keyboard)
*16 channels
*Waveblaster or compatible daughter board
*Expander,Sampler,Bassline etc..
*Can use every midi controler
-the last but not the least PC SPEAKER!!!!!!!
Briefly,you can compose musical modules which mix all those sounds
AST format is described in astforma.pas.
[═REQUIRERED ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
*PC 386 with 2Mo and a mouse.
*a sound card and/or MIDI extension
*AWE32 with 512ko of ram is strongly advised.
[═GLOSSARY═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
-DEFINITION
Number of command in a time
-A COMMAND
It' the smaller track's element.
A command has that structure: C#1^24 m20
C is the note (A to G)
# is the sharp (# or .)
1 is the octave (0 to 9)
^ cut the previous note
24 is the velocity/volume (0 to 7f)
m is an effect (see effect's table)
20 is the effect's value (0 to ff )
-A TRACK
It's a set of 16*Definition commands
-A PATTERN
it's a set of 32 tracks
- ORDRE
it's the order in which patterns must be restituted.
-POLYPHONY
it' the number of tracks subsequent to the track where is the cursor,
which can be modifyed.
Example,the cursor is on track 3,its polyphony is 2,
if you press simultaneously 2 keys of the keyboards, this 2 notes
will be put on the same line,one on the track 3,the other on the track 4
That allows you to strike chords.
[═DETECTION════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
When you run AST, you see a window with the results of detection
-For FM synthesis ,only one baseport is used, $388
It will be enough for every SB compatible sound card
-for AWE32,the baseport $620 is default value
RAM size is automatically detected.
-For MPU401,baseport $330 is default value.
If you have an AWE32,{DON'T USE AWEUTIL IN MIDI EMULATION]
Sometime MPU401 don't work on awe32,so RESET your computer
(I found this in DUKE NUKEM 3D's help !)
-for sound blaster,baseport $220 is default value.
only use to set the SB volume.
for setting up the baseports, go in divers,config,SBconfig
[═START UP ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
Default destination's tracks is MIDI.
Use the effects dxy or yxy to set up the destination
[═SETUP THE TRACKS'S DESTINATION═════════════════════════════════════════════]
To assign separately a track, use the effect dxy
this effect acts on the track where it is placed
x is the destination
y is the voice,midi channel,or fm channel
x =0 ════> MPU401 0=<y<=f
16 channels.
channel 9 should be drum channel
Several tracks can be assigned to the same channel
All this tracks will have the same midi instrument.
x =1 ════> PC speaker...
x =2 ════> FM Synthesis 0=<y<=8
9 channels.
you should not assigned several tracks to the same channel
but this could do nice effects.
x =3 ════> first 16 voices of awe32 0=<y<=f
16 voices and same thing for assigning same voice
to several tracks.
x =4 ════> last 14 voices of awe32 0=<y<=d
14 voices and same thing for assigning same voice
to several tracks.
x =5 ════> Drum tracks of the awe32 0=<y<=d
14 voices and same thing for assigning same voice
to several tracks.
the 14 voices of drum tracks are also the last 14 voices
of the AWE32 so you should not assign the same voice for
a drum and a normal track
the effect yxy is very similar,exept it acts on the 32 tracks
x is destination of the first 16 tracks
y is destination of the last 16 tracks
the voices are assigned like that:
first 16 tracks voices:=min( track, max. voice number)
last 16 tracks voices:=min( track-16,max voice number )
EXAMPLE :d23 voice 3 of FM synthesis
y03 first 16 tracks on midi
last 16 tracks on first 16 voices of awe32
y34 first 16 tracks on 16 first voices of awe32
last 16 tracks on last 14 voices of awe32
tracks 30,31,32 are assigned to voice 29
ADVICE : SET THE TRACK'DESTINATION IN THE FIRST PATTERN
[═EFFECTS═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
The effects differ from the classical effects of other tracker but
they are adjust for your sound card
effet║ MIDI ║ FM ║ AWE32
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
0xy ║ You can assign this ║ ║
1xy ║ effects to MIDI ║ ║
2xy ║ controler ║ ║
3xy ║ ║ ║
4xy ║ ║ ║
5xy ║ watch after for more ║ ║
6xy ║ information ║ ║
7xy ║ ║ ║
8xy ║ ║ ║
9xy ║ ║ ║
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
axy ║ Cut every notes on ║ ║ Portamento time filter
║ the midi channel ║ ║ in ticks
║ assigned to the track ║ ║ 0=>ff (20 default)
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
bxy ║ After touch ║ x:volume fm left ║ portamento filter
║ 0=>7f ║ y:volume fm right ║ 0=>ff,filter goes from
║ ║ (awe32 only) ║ current value to xy
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╩═══════════════════════
cxy ║ ║set effect type x:chorus ,y:reverb
═════╬═══════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════════
dxy ║ SEE PREVIOUS TOPICS
═════╬═══════════════════════╦══════════════════════╦═══════════════════════
exy ║ portamento ║ Pitch multiplicator ║ portamento to note
║ ║ ║ y of octave x
║ controler 65 ║ 0=>ff ║ y=0 c do
║ ║ ║ 1 c# do #
║ 0>=7f ║ ║ 2 d ré
║ ║ ║ 3 d# ré #
║ ║ ║ 4 e mi
║ ║ ║ 5 f fa
║ ║ ║ 6 f# fa#
║ ║ ║ 7 g sol
║ ║ ║ 8 g# sol#
║ ║ ║ 9 a la
║ ║ ║ A a# la#
║ ║ ║ B b si
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
fxy ║ soft pedal ║ attenuation ║ Set filter to value xy
║ controler 67 0=>7f ║ 0=>ff ║ 0=>ff
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
gxy ║chorus level ║chorus level 0>=ff║ chorus level 0=>ff
║controler 93 0=>7f ║(awe32 only) ║
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
hxy ║reverb level ║reverb level 0>=ff║ reverb level 0=>ff
║controler 91 0=>7f ║(awe32 only) ║
═════╬═══════════════════════╩══════════════════════╩═══════════════════════
ixy ║ assigned instrument xy to the track 0=>7f
═════╬══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
jxy ║ jump to order xy
═════╬═══════════════════════╦══════════════════════╦═══════════════════════
lxy ║ ║ ║ x=1 start lfo 1
║ ║ ║ y=1 start lfo 2
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
mxy ║ modulation ║ ║ lfo1 pitch
║controler 1 0=>7f ║ ║ 0=>ff
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
nxy ║ ║ ║ lfo2 pitch
║ ║ ║ 0=>ff
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
oxy ║ ║ ║sample offset 0=>ff
║ ║ ║start sample at
║ ║ ║position size *xy/255
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
pxy ║ pitch bend ║ ║ set pitch to note y
║ ║ ║
║ 0=>7f ║ ║ of octave x
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
qxy ║ portamento time ║ ║ portamento time
║ controler 5 0=>7f ║ ║ in ticks 0=>ff(20 dft)
═════╬═══════════════════════╩══════════════════════╩═══════════════════════
r0y ║ retrig last note every y ticks
═════╬═══════════════════════╦══════════════════════╦═══════════════════════
sxy ║ stereo position(0=>ff)║ ║ stereo position(0=>ff)
║ controler 10 ║ ║
═════╬═══════════════════════╩══════════════════════╩═══════════════════════
txy ║ Set tempo BPM
═════╬═══════════════════════╦══════════════════════╦═══════════════════════
uxy ║ Pitch bend sensitivity║ ║
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
vxy ║ Midi channel volume ║ effects volume ║
║ controler 7 0=>7f ║ vibrato and trémolo ║
═════╬═══════════════════════╩══════════════════════╩═══════════════════════
yxy ║ Watch higher
═════╬═══════════════════════╦══════════════════════╦═══════════════════════
Fxy ║ ║ ║ Random filter
║ ║ ║ xy :min filter value
═════╬═══════════════════════╬══════════════════════╬═══════════════════════
Sxy ║ ║ ║ random pan value
║ ║ ║
[═ASSIGN MIDI CONTROLER TO EFFECTS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 ═══════════════════════]
you assign those controlers by sending N° of the controler+$80 to the effect
After,if you want to set the controler's value, send the value to the effect
per default the effets 1,2,3... are assigned to controlers 1,2,3...
xy
EXAMPLE 7 86 assign controler 6 to effect 7 ($80+6)
7 02 send 2 to controler 6
5 9f assign controler 1f to effect 5 ($80+$1f)
5 64 send 64 to controler 1f
5 0f senf 0f to controler 1f
See your synthesizer manual to know what midi controlers can be set
[═MAIN WINDOWS═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
- I'm not going to describe all mouse's buttons,just try to use it
- Everywhere right mouse's button is the same that ESC key
- Everywhere F1,F5,F6,F7,F8,*,/ do the same thing .
KEYS USED
F1 : Help
F2 : Track's information
F3 : AWE32 instrument
F4 : Activ/Desactiv chord mode for the track
F5 : Play all song
F6 : play current pattern
F8 : Stop
shift+F8 : initialize MIDI controler
F9 : neutralize current track
arrows : move in a track
espace : clear command
ins : insert
suppr : delete command
tab : Next track
shift+tab : Previous track
² : Increase polyphony / next chord
& : Decrease polyphony / pevious chord
* : Increase octave
/ : decrease octave
+ : Next pattern
- : Previous pattern
entré : select pattern
shift+entré : copy selected pattern on current pattern
ctrl+b : Block begin
ctrl+e : block end
ctrl+d : mark a half track from cursor
ctrl+f : mark a quarter track from cursor
ctrl+l : mark whole track
ctrl+u : unmark
ctrl+v : Set velocity of block to velocity of cursor
ctrl+r : ramping on effect value according to first and last
command 's effect's value of block
ctrl+k : ramping on volume value according to first and last
command 's volume's value of block
ctrl+a : increase a half tone
ctrl+q : decrease a half tone
[KEYBOARD'S KEYS (Sorry ,only french keyboard..) ]
┌───┬───┬───┐ ┌───┬───┐ ┌───┐
│ " │ ' │( │ │ è │ _ │ │ ç │
┌───┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┐
│ a │ z │ e │ r │ t │ y │ u │ i │ o │ p │
┌───┬───┐ ┌───┬───┬───┐ ┌───┬───┐ ┌───┐
│ q │ s │ │ f │ g │ h │ │ k │ l │ │ ù │
┌─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┘
│ < │ w │ x │ c │ v │ b │ n │ , │ ; │ : │ ! │
[═CHORD'S WINDOW═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
Used keys:tab,
shift+tab,
arrows,
esc
10 chords with 4 notes can be set
you set the difference in half tone with the first note
in right column, you set the number of used note.
for using chord,just pressed F4 in Main window
for selecting chord ,pressed ²,&
[═ORDER'S WINDOW═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
It's the pattern's restitution's order
used keys: +,-
arrows
suppr:
ins :
space:neutralize current order .
g :quit and go to pattern
esc:
[═RECORD════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
If you pressed F10 in main window,the current pattern is going to be played.
Just pressed the keyboard's keys to record your sequence
Tracks are set at the end of recording
you quit this mode as soon as you press a key different of keyboard's key
and / , *
[═FM INSTRUMENTS'S WINDOWS ════════════════════════════════════════════════]
Used keys: +,-,
arrows ,
tab , shift+tab : Next/pevious test voice.
pgup,pgdown:Next/previous instrument
Keyboard's key:test an instrument
esc
you set the FM instruments's parameters
you can set the instrument's name by clicking on this.
if you set " several test voices " to "on" ,test's voice will be increase
as soon as you press a keyboard's keys.So you can strike chord
[═AWE32 SAMPLES'S EDITOR ═════════════════════════════════════════════════]
Keys used :+,-
arrows
tab , shift+tab : next/previous test's voice.
SUPPR:Delete sample from RAM
pgup,pgdown:next/previous sample
Keyboard's keys:test a sample
F3:AWE32 instrument
enter :load a wav file.
esc
-LOAD A SOUND FILE
*WAV files are automatically recognized
but you should not load stereo or compacted sample.
*the other sound files (snd,raw,voc,iff,smp...),can also be loaded
Try to load them as 8 bits signed,unsigned,16 bits , test it by pressing
on keyboard's keys ,as soon as sound is good ,you have found !
*internal samples can be loaded,those files have AIT extension,of course
they don't use RAM.Their quality isn't very good .
-SAVE A SOUND FILE: Every sample are saved as WAV files
(even ROM samples );
-BEGIN,LOOP BEGIN ,END LOOP,loop on/off:I think you understand!
BASE PITCH :for tuning samples
advice: to tune 2 instruments ,you have to do them play the same notes,on
2 different tracks,modify their base pitch, as soon as it sounds
good ,the instruments are tuned.
-click on sample's name to set this.
-TRIM USED PART: unused parts of sample will be cut from RAM
-RESAMPLE 50% : sample will be resample at 50%,it will take less place in RAM
but some quality will be lost
Base pitch will be set ,so you will not hear tone's difference
-Chorus,reverb and pan level are only test's value .click on this to modify
-REINITIALIZE AWE32: sometime (rarely),awe32 sputters,
you must reinitialize it.
This does'nt do anything on samples.
-REVERB,CHORUS : access to CHORUS AND REVERB Selection.
-INSTRUMENT : access to instruments's window.
[═AWE32 INSTRUMENTS'S EDITOR ════════════════════════════════════════════]
Keys used +,-
arrows
tab , shift+tab : Next/previous test's voice.
*,/:octave
pgup,pgdown:Next/previous test's voice
Keyboard's keys:test an instrument
F3:sample awe32
esc
AWE32 instruments are AWE32 samples with a set of awe32 parameters.
See the AWE32 manual to get more informations about the parameters
-SAMPLE'S NUMBER:It's the instrument's sample.Several instruments can use the
same sample.Per default,instrument 1 is assigned to
sample 1 ,2 to 2,etc..
-OVERRIDE : When this parameter is one the envelope goes right to the
sustain.
-BOOLEAN PARAMETER
Those parameters describe what the program must do with new notes.
effect's column shows the effect which is similar to the parameter
│ on │ off │effet
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set lfo1 │lfo 1 restarts each time │ lfo1 doesn't restart │l10
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set lfo2 │lfo 2 restarts each time │ lfo2 doesn't restart │l01
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set filter│ Filter uses the instrument│ Filter uses track's │fxy
│ 's filter value │ filter's value │
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set lfo1f │lfo1 pitch uses instrument │ Lfo1 uses track's value │mxy
│'s value │ │
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set lfo2f │Lfo2 pitch uses instrument │ Lfo2 uses track's value │nxy
│'s value │ │
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set panora│ uses instrument's pan │ uses track' s pan │sxy
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set chorus│ Instrument's chorus │ track's chorus │gxy
──────────┼───────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┼─────
set reverb│ Instrument's reverb │ Track's reverb │hxy
If you set "Several test's voices",voice will be increased each times
you press a keyboard's keys.So you can test strike.
Click on instrument's name to change it
-INITIALIZE:Just set the instrument's parameters to default values
-SAMPLE :Access to awe32 sample.
-REVERB,CHORUS :access to CHORUS and REVERB selection.
[═CUSTOMIZED CHORUS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
Used keys : +,-
arrows
esc
-In this window,sound can be saturate,it is normal...
-Internal chorus's parameters are written in gray ,as example
-click on the name to change it
[═CUSTOMIZED REVERB ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
Used keys : +,-
arrows
esc
-In this window,sound can be saturate,it is normal...
-Internal reverb's parameters are written in gray ,as example
-click on the name to change it
[═REVERB-CHORUS SELECTION══════════════════════════════════════════════════]
Used key : esc
Click on the mouse button to select reverb and chorus
Customized reverb and chorus,are the bottom's mouse buttons.
Also watch the effect cxy
[═AWE32 DRUM INSTRUMENTS════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
used keys:+,-
fléche
tab , shift+tab : instrument/pitch
Keyboard's keys : test the instrument assigned to the key
esc
Those instruments are very similar to channel 9 of midi.
The principle is that drum instruments only use one pitch
Each of 36 instruments are assigned to a note of 3 octaves
EXAMPLE : Instrument 2 is assigned to key C 2 with the pitch 50000
If you send C 2 to a drum track ,the program will going to
play the instrument 2 with the pitch 50000
The pitch is the value of the awe32 pitch's register
0==>65535 <=> 0==>176000 Hz
[═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════]
That's all folks
Don't hesitate to click everywhere,to test the effects,
Analyze the demonstration's modules ,they aren't very good
but they are good example
AST has been coded with tp7 90% on 386 sx 25 with 4 Mo
10% on p150 with 16Mo
AWE32 with 2Mo
TURTLE BEACH RIO daughter board
*I was using Scream tracker 3 which is really a great tracker,
it's why you can see that a lot of keys's combination are the same.
*I started to code AST in august 95,i had an SB16 with a RIO daughter
board,AST used only MIDI, after I implement FM synthesis.
*in november 95,i bought the marvellous AWE32,but i had to wait mars 96 to get
informations on awe32 programming,
[═══════════════════════ REGISTER ═══════════════════════════]
If you want to register AST, you can {send me some modules made with AST]
or a good english version of this file
{Nothing will enjoy me more than see that someone takes time to use AST]
I don't ask you money , but you can send me money... ;-)
I'm sorry but i' haven't got modem so here is my address
BOUCHAND PATRICE
LE BOURG
42990 st Georges en couzan
FRANCE
Please write me....
if you are AWE32 coder,look at the files AWE_HELP.ME
[══════════════════ MERCI ------ THANKS -----DANKE ══════════════════════════]
** a GREAT,GREAT THANKS TO {CYGNUS-X-1] FOR THE OMEGA PLAYER AND
{Vince VU a.k.a JUDGE DREDD] FOR THE UN-OFFICIAL AWE32 PROGRAMMING GUIDE
I hope this help you to feed your ego (;-)
**Thanks to {Bert Boer,Lada Kopecki,Cubic Team] for releasing player for AWE32,
HELP ME TO AVOID THOSE CLICKS !
**Thanks to christian braut for the book " la norme midi "
Arthur Burda and boris Bertelsons for "le superlivre de la SB"
Mathias Rasch and " " " " " for "PC INTERDIT"
[══════════════════════ SOUND CARD MANUFACTURER ════════════════════════════]
If you want that AST use your new sound card ,send me one and a doc.
I will try to do my best...
[══════════════════════ NEXT RELEASE ════════════════════════════]
I would like to implement
* MIDI keyboards
* MIDI message editor
* WAV player
* using CSP of AWE32
* Less clicks ...
A BIENTΓT...