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Diz modplayer is a program of at least 4 years ago from me, u can still use it. It can load and play ALL mod-files. Since Multi Media doesn't support (and i'm to lazy to adapt this thing), so i just distribute it. The only know problems are: little bit slow and doesn't run (goord) under Win 95 It has nice (REAL) graphic scopes and Real VU meters/bars ! (Press num 0-9 !) Use fast but simple interpolation (Oversampeling), thus good quality ! You can't compose music with it, but play composed music anyway :) It is not a nice looking player (You need a pro for this), but the more important thing is, it works ! (I you can handle it) I probably gonna update thiz thing with SB/pro/16/AWE32/64 (since i have one) And i can ensure you it will be high quality sound with stereo/surround/head phone panning. Sorry for GUS owners, i don't even seen one (real) ! If you don't like it, just ignore it :-) enjoy CooL MiND 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CCCCCC OOOOOO MM MM PPPPPP OOOOOO SSSSS EEEEEE RRRRRR CC OO OO MMMMMMMM PP PP OO OO SS EE RR RR CC OO OO MM MM MM PPPPPP OO OO SSSSS EEEE RRRRRR CC OO OO MM MM PP OO OO SS EE RR RR CCCCCC OOOOOO MM MM PP OOOOOO SSSSS EEEEEE RR RR 1111 00000 00000 11 11 00 00 00 00 11 00 00 00 00 11 00 00 00 00 11 OO 00000 00000 ******************************* * Composer Documentation File * ******************************* 1. Introduction --------------- In General (for beginners): "It's possible to make and play real music on PC !" name it, techno, house, hardcore, classic, jazz, mellow, ... You don't need to by a synthiser or an organ that cost 20 PC's Important: you don't have to buy it (player) ! for free ! People make it for there hobby ! (no viruses, if you are carefull, it is not depended on us) Composer is a music player for the PC. Modules can be played through PC-speaker or other devices like DAC and SoundBlaster(SB)/GUS (Gravis Ultra Sound). This player supports the popular amiga music module '.MOD' and all his variants. Various number of channels/voices and samples/Instruments. At the moment is support the devices PC-speaker (every PC has one) and DAC and variants. A module is a package of samples, patterns and other music info, stored as a file (like text, data and other). Programs that can load, read them are players, trackers or editors (Change/save). Channels: you can compare with number of channels that can play (make sound) on the same time. 4 voices (different or same sounds) can start and end (on) any time. Think of four people that sing, a capella. one makes the low sound, other the high and middle sounds ... Some people don't know the existence of the possebility to play music on computer ! Even better, you can make your music (using editors) yourself without knowledge ! For/to Professionals: Composer is a module loader and player that supports the popular amiga-module format MOD. It plays through PC-Speaker, DAC (stereo or mono), Covox, Disney and soon soundblaster (pro, 16 & AWE32), GUS, Adlib and many others. it support different (all) types of amiga-modules, hum, no 16-bit, no 669, S3M, MTM & STM yet. But 2/4/6/8/10/12/14/16/32 channels, 31 and 15 samples/instruments, auto- matic detection of type and controle check. Soon support for VOC/IFF/WAV/ST3 samples formats (used by dump). Prototyp (R) is a sort like, please feel free to try it out. 2. More than that ... --------------------- Minimum requirements: IBM-PC compatible XT or Higher DOS 3.0 or higher Standard VGA 256k if you use graphic scopes DAC('s) or Covox Speech thing or buildin PC-Speaker (usually standard ...) If you have a tiny one you will hear very poor sound. By (with) many modules it will display the message "wrong number of patterns", because the program checks amount of patterns in two ways, if they're not equal, it prints that text on your screen, it is only a warning, normally it works fine. But it is still non-compatible against the original module format. The latest pattern has to be at the end of the sequence table, if it doesn't, than i have to search to the largest pattern value in the whole table, and that was the other algoritm does. If i had the time, i would make 'Doctor-mod' like Norton disk doctor, but only for (amiga) music modules, it would search for incompa- tibleties and would correct them, also with optimizing facilities, such as defrag, adjust volumes, removes not performed actions (not used samples, for example, or two the same). I've made a prototyp of it, and i can ensure you, i have gained a lot of kilobytes, if i may say megabytes ... Other stuff: Stereo is twice better than mono, because we have 2 channels, otherwise one. The quality of stereo is impressive against Mono. The volume is higher and sounds clear. You should compare it with 1 x 8 bit or 2 x 8 bit (+/-=16 bits). By some programs you will hear no difference, because they are to lazy or stupid to simply take the advance of it. (mostly the (second) last with the first excuse ...) Some people say that stereo slows your computer down, well, in my program it makes no difference (influence) except that you have only separated master volumes. I don't use volume or frequention tables at the moment, that maybe slows your computer down, but saves kilobytes of memory and if a note is not in list, you will hear noise or nothing. In my case it takes the values and matches the note and octave. So if somebody implements a new note or octave, it will auto- matically support it. That's what i called looking in the future. assume: 8-bit samples extern quality 8-bit (output) Channels Quality internal range quality lose / keep 1 8-bit 256(0-255) 0% 100% 2 9-bit 512 50% 50% 4 10-bit 1024 75% 25% 8 11-bit 2048 87.5% 12.5% 16 12-bit 4096 93.75% 6.25% 32 13-bit 8192 96.875 3.125% Still the quality of for example 32 channels module is not so bad because in general the player will raise the main volume 50% so that the quality is halve more high and will sound like a original 16-tracks module. x Also: modules with a number channels powers of two are faster than non 2. For example: a 16-tracks module can be played at a higher mix-rate than a for example 18-tracks module. why ? because 18 is not a power of two and is muth more difficult to mix. It uses divisions and multiplications to mix the data instead of using simple and faster shift instructions. 'Afvlakken': see bassdrums, equal to 'vervorming' (distortion), overload I have also composed some modules by myself that are included in the package. There are many (hundreds) nice tunes, mutch variation, to mutch ... Well, i know, i don't won't to make a world hit, but it is better than nothing, you see. Give it a try. You can't lose anything, i think ... So, if you like my tune or a part of it, give me a sing. P.S. I like mixes. From Classic (Mozart/Beethoven/Mellow/...) to house/HardCore/techno. About myself: I'm student Graduate (computer sience) Informatics(a) at High Scool. I love music, girls, motorbykes/cycles, fast cars (ferrari), party's, hot & beautyful beaches (holiday)with palmtrees, movies (films), ... Noboby is perfect Machine: (developed) IBM-PC i486 DX2 computer system, mini-tower, 20MB MEM, 250 MB HDD VESA Local Bus, Trident 1MB, Panasonic MultiSync Screen (1280x1024) (Don't say my videocard is bad, it works fine !) tested on: - 486 DX 40 mhz or something like that (clone without display) - Pentium 133 mhz - Pentium 100 and 200 Mhz intel - XT 8088 10MHZ (yes, my old one) - 486 DX2 80 Mhz - ... Important note: set the mix speed low at start up (commandline option -f) You can later raise it with the cursor up/down keys. Because some computers seems to be slow, and can't handle. Because in that case all computer time is taken by the music player, and there's no key possible, or to slow, every 30 minutes, if you have time. In that case press reset button ... and adjust speed before running the program, later i will buildin a benmarch tester. My sound system: Two 8-bit own-made DAC's (stereo) connected at my 2x20 W musicpower MIDI system. Great sound ! especially the bass. (you know that sound that the little multi media boxes can't cope) My reserved sound system: build-in PC-speaker or buzer Everyone has one so the most used 'sound-card'. Have to support it. Some people have some problems with 'how to implement' it. Otherwise, some pc-speakers are to tiny, that the sound is not clear enough. I have a big one, 5 cm diameter, 0.5 W and sounds well. (i can hear music and voices very well, instead of others ...) I implemented it because not all cards are supported, this one sure. To prevent that the program become useless on a(ny) PC without or unsupported cards. There is very (poor/less) known about the PC-speaker technology, how to program it, especially playing real music/sound. (with volume and multi voices) Normaly the following table tells more about quality: here some (home-made) information: Formula: 1193182 / # bits = freq Bits Values Freq(hz) ------------------------- 4 16 74.573 (to high max.65536) 5 32 32.286 (faster computers, low resolution) 6 64 18.643 (recommanded, best solution) 7 128 9.322 (slower pc's, exceptable) 8 256 4.660 (high resolution, low freq, to low, peeps at background) Other frequenties and # bits are possible, but slower to calculate, but interesting when using a precalculated table, you can amplify at the same time, speeds up a lot. Standard amplify (gain) 200%, for best sound. Objective: Best sound quality (resolution, smoothness, ...) - interpolation/oversampling (scale/zoom) - 16-bit mix-buffer (with 16-bit samples use 32bit buffer) - high fractional part (16-bit) scale resolution - Optimal Volume (no overload, but loud) - standard (quality mode) not : fast (freq) speed (not necessairly better sound !) Preffered: 22 khz or higher Manual: ======= Keyboard: //////// F1-F10 : Channel/track sound on/off Tab and Shift+Tab : Select Device (increase/decrease/Next/Previous) up to 9 N/Esc : Next Module if any (depending on path) Q : quit/end program Backspace : switch loop module mode Numeric pad: (Try out !!!) 0 : default screen, text Screen, trace + general info 1 : horizontal smooth VU-Bars (256-value) per channel/track 2 : Oscilloscope (stereo) 3 : View sample information (+active samples) 4 : Light Scopes 256-color, VU-based, only first 4 channels 5 : VU Bars Vertical, 64-points per channel 7 : VU meters, analoge, press space to switch from/to delay 8 : Fast Fourier Transform (mono), slow, 256 9 : Nothing yet (None-interrupt mode) should be faster ? V : Change volume interactive, input value (between 0 and 255!) confirm Enter Page UP/Down : decrease/increase Global/Master volume slide (gain) Delete/Insert : set interpolation (scale and zoom correction, Oversampling) ON/OFF. W : wait, complete pause Cursor up/Down : increment/decrement Mix Frequention rate ! Cursor left/right : Next/previous pattern (circular) [] : Change Tempo (up/down), standard 125 {} : change Speed (up/down), normal 6 D : Dosshell, if enough memory ! (problem reserved heap) Precautions: ************ If the program abnormal quits or anything while playing for some reason, don't work not further, reset/reboot/restart your computer, because the clock must tick 18.2 seconds and while playing it is muth quicker so it could asynchrones your drive(s) and harddisks. I say this for (your) safety, if it should go wrong. Probably it would never hapen. Tips: I also recommend to use Scandisk (or CHKDSK) of DOS or Norton Disk Doctor (excellent program) or any other check disk program for a clean disk. Also remove temporary files, better to set DOS environment SET TEMP=C:\TEMP\ so that (all) programs creates there temp files a that drive and directory. Even better should be to point at a RAMDisk to speed up drasticaly. Of course this is out of my terority. 3. Claims --------- Don't worry, be happy Don't blame my if your computer crashes or causes cross-linked files. I'm not responsible for any damage caused by the program. Sorry for misspelled words and other mistakes. Maybe you would understand nothing of my rebel-english, please contact me or ask somebody to desciper this codetext for me. FAQ: Why no support for soundblaster ? Because i don't have money for a (all types of) soundblaster. And there are so many now ... And nobody won't lending his one. and Creative Labs doesn't respond my letters and only wants money. I don't have money for soundblaster programmers kit. And i don't have the time to search to something that hard to find and decipher (it seems that the package sucks). I'm collecting technical information about soundblaster, GUS and other cards. Why invent the wheel for the second time ? it's useless. To developers of new standards or/and formats: Give my the code or at least information about the standard or format. That's the duty of the developers, to spread it (free), for nothing, but nothing. gotdamed ! Keep lawers happy: Norton (Disk Doctor) is a trademark from Symantec Corporation. Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International. Soundblaster is a Trademark of Creative Labs Inc. IBM-PC is a trademark of IBM (International Business Machines). Panasonic from Panasonic i think ... Windows is a trademark from Microsoft 4. Technical ------------ Composer is entirely written in Turbo Pascal 6.00 (wish i had 7.00 or 8 ...). You would say, that's totaly crazy !, yes of course, but it's nice to prove that it seems to work, it is easy, not to slow, in fact, it is fast for a high- level language, but why you don't use C++ or something like that ? Because i'm not scilled in that and i'm not convinced that i goes faster (and compacter). (and that C is portable is bull shit, every language is possible to transfered !, i don't know why they took C, commercial i think and the right moment). The program is compact and don't forget, it don't uses volume and other tabels (i have to correct this after a few years later, now it uses it for max speed) , that sometimes speed up thinks, but otherswise, it eats kilobytes of memory ! So this moduleplayer use not muth more memory than the module himself, and the module is loaded entirely (and not partly like some other players !). (I have found that it can load modules that others can't load (incl. ems/xms !) Later i will build a editor in it. With optimizing facilities and compressing. Whaaat ! compressing, are you out your mind ? it's to slow. Hé, i know what i'm doing, ok ? With compressing i ment, only remove silence. Saving 6 bit sound data in 6 bit format, and not in 8 bit ! Also called packing (save optimal). Add: The scopes takes (a lot of) memory because we need one buffer, a copy of it, and another one, that's three times that buffer, than in stereo is six times a buffer of 320 bytes, that makes 1920 bytes, hé that's not muth ... (i can use these buffer for SB DMA ! :-) If you take a high mix speed the scopes will have a high speed. Otherwise of slow, the scopes moves (to) slow. Later more color (256). (in fact to fast for screen=+/-60hz(50-70)) Garanties: This code is not an update or a copy of another program or book. it is entirely written by my one. So, i would thank nobody for it. The main problem of that is that i don't have a modem, so i can not visit any BBS and databanks with information and source. I don't have seen one, just one. It was hard to write it, many bugs and of course the main problem: Gow the do it ? So did some experiments, many craches, some cross-links, ... And here i am. My first public version after a few years work as invidual. Sometimes i would join a group, a big one. Yes, somebody voluntier ? Nobody's help, snif, nothing, ..., I get depressed i think. If you didn't know already, I'm a fucking coder. Yeah, uh. I know (or i heard) that you can have or buy packages (kits) of sound source codes of Scream Tracker, Modplay (Mark J.Cox), ... and some object files like Goldplay of CodeBlasters but they are to limited in interface. The strangest of all is if i get one (code) it looks the same than mine source, isn't it incredible ? All that work for nothing. Why reinvent the wheel ? (again) I have sources from soundBlaster and GUS players, but the are most different from my player, because they have a muth slower speed, they: 50hz, mine: 22000 hz, a big difference, so my code must be faster and better to cope with. I have not a SoundBlaster (oh dear...), so i can not experiment and test my programs on it. So, as long i don't have a commercial soundcard, i don't can support these. And do you think that they (the firm) would lend my one ? (nope) Tested sources: - Evangelis Tracker, nice, low quality, fast, - MIDAS Sound System (386+) (good stuff, but no DAC or speaker) (looks like DMP interface) - Goldplay 1.00 : only library (obj), no improvements, 4 chan - other (mostly garbage, libs, expensive) In none of these sources i found something interresting, i still don't known why my player is slower (tables, 386-code ?), only the soundquality of my player is (far) better than others. Some exclusive options. Try everything out, experiment with it. Maybe there are a few bugs. If you know one, please let me know, and if you can, with the solution, it really saves time. I don't have muth time, you see, time is money and glory. Citate adjusted by Cool Mind ... How to build a DAC ? -------------------- See technical text/documents included. I have joined all the text i had, good luck. Module Format ------------- same, look for included documents Fixbug ------ - Timer has problems with numeric coprocesssor, disabled, slower but better quality, because matching was wrong. Fixed ! even faster ! 5. Why me ... ------------- Composer supports: (big/large list...) + All amiga Module formats ! (.MOD & .NST) (FastTracker, NoiseTracker, ProTracker, ...) + Fast loader (in compare with DMP for example) (So you don't have to copy to your harddisk to speed it up) (DMP don't set off his player while loading, to slow if high freq (tip)) + Old 15/New 31 samples (auto detection) unique ! + 2/4/6/8/(10/12/14/)16(/18/20/22/24/26/28/30)/32 Channels/Tracks (64, 128 and 256 to, but has terrible noise !) + All Octaves and notes, even new notes and octaves ! + 128 Patterns (<->64) + Multi load, Commandline, auto correction (logic response) + Error detection in modules and fix (correction) + Trace on screen + Anti-click & noise (init) + Green, Energy saving + Adjust mix frequention, master volume, skip/next pattern + Better sound quality at low sample play speeds (standard mode) + Stereo Graphic Oscilloscope (Wave) + Auto amplifier for silent songs & better quality (Higher volume) ! + Real VU-Meters (bars) per channel + DAC/Covox stereo/mono on all ports + CD-ROM (Ignore write protect flag, deny none) support ! + 4 Light Scopes ! 320 x 240 x 256 graphic mode + Prevention of to high play rate, locking up (automtic decrease) ! + Excellent Sound Quality (equal to DMP) + Surround implemented (only for two dac's) + Laser Light Effect (house/Techno) Graphic + ... Soon: + STM, S3M, XM, 669, MTM formats + PC-Speaker finetune + Sound Blaster, Adlib, GUS, Windows Sound System, PAS, ... + Graphic or higher text resolution for more space. + 256 patterns/songLength + 2 Gb samples (128 kb) 32 bit dubbleword + Support of an already existing packed module format to save space. + Build in editor + Drum machine, Live Pattern record, Playback, ... (like synthiser) + Faster player (assembly ?), speed up + Windows, Mouse, Pull-down & pop-up menu's + 128 Courier spectrum analyser ! (graphic) VGA 640 x 480 x 16 + Better look, Color Logo + Fractals, Vectors, Plasma and many other cool effects + EMS Usage (for modules bigger than 640 kb) + Automatic Speed Detection and adjust + Simulation play, to detect higest volume, so when real playing can by amplyfied without distortion. + 24-bit interpolation, 256 x sampling (figure out what it is) + Amplify = decrease weaken (Standard the music already weaken, so to amplify just undo the weaken !) for better Quality (volume is here the same) + Multi Tracker support (MTM) + New track/mix format for better quality. For example if track one must be twice louder than the three other, don't divide volume in 64,32,32,32 (on 256 it means you lose 96 (37%) on volume !) so the alternative is to take advantage from this situation (of that knowledge). 103+51+51+51 is possible, it is slower, but is the best quality that there exist ! + ... A good example is Sound Club (Blue Moon or something) from U.S.A. (Great player !) 6. Tips -------- QEMM or EMM386 slow your computer down and maybe has effect on sound quality. It is only usefull if you have not enough memory. This program use a the moment only conventional memory (under 640 kb). Later i will implement extended memory (in protected or virtual mode). EMS is to slow because on many computers EMM (-Q or -386) is used, and that is only a emulation of it. It converts fys extented to expanded log. So it is better to use it directly. It is faster but difficult. EMS is easier to use because there are already procedures/routines implemented in ROM BIOS for that. That's why there are also simulations for DOS-programs (a real-mode system) to run in protected mode like DOS4GW (I hope that all is correct what i'm trying to say). Loading on harddisk or CD-ROM (quad+ speed) is faster, altought it is a fast loader. RAM-Disks are the fasted disks on earth. Remarks: - DMP, why no DAC or pc-Speaker support, to good/bad for you ? - Inertia, when you gonna support stereo DAC on two lpt's ? - Windows 95 and his predecessors, gets slower and slower, or should it be reversed ? and that with faster computers, 32-bit slower then 16-bit, i am confused ! - ... 7. Questions ------------ - Please, do i get the code, pretty please ? No, fuck you lamer, go to hell, suck, ... get breath, i'm finisched. Don't destroy my text with your mad eyes ... mammy or maybe ... i will think of it ok ? - Can i get the newest version ? Of Course, please note wish version you have and maybe the version that you would like to get. If there's newer version than mentioned than i would automaticaly update, if not refused. Please send one High Density 3.5" disk and stamps inclosed, otherwise i will charge you a bill or simply not respond ! Don't forget your adress ! - When you gonna support soundblaster/GUS ? uh,... , look below - I have a question ... Send my a letter, fax or call me, or ..., hé take initiative men ! It is not hard to cope. I know that i don't have explained everything. I can not preview all precoutions (???) uh Call 24H/24h 555 000 205 201 888 060 077 , joke ! really ! hé don't fuck me ok 8. Contact ---------- I don't have modem or a site on FidoNet, internet or Compuserve. So, if you have one for me, send it to me. Leave a (mail) message on a BBS in Belgium. i have just got a modem V34 ! For information, suggestions, answers, donations or anything else, call, fax or write to: B&B international development blow-up company ... :-) Brackenier Bart CodeName: Cool Mind Wolvestraat 12 GroupName: Stebar Coporation 9200 Dendermonde (N.V., Inc. or productions or whatever) Belgium Europe Tel.: 052/21.19.05 or 052/22.38.61 Fax : 052/21.86.41 (this is better and cheaper, don't forget your own faxnumber and write for who it is, for me i hope) Outside Belgium: skips first zero and add +32 (be carreful, it is expensive) I'm waiting for a inventation at assembly party '97 ! (i missed 96) with full service, tickets, flight, food, room+beth, girls, and so on.