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Text File | 1996-04-08 | 49.8 KB | 1,030 lines |
-
- History.
- (The names after some of the changes indicate the person who FIRST suggested
- the change - those that don't have names are my own changes!)
-
- 7/12/95 Initial beta release!
-
- 11/12/95 Secondary beta release.
- - Fixed ping pong loop bug
-
- - Added PC Speaker support
- <Edward Ananian-Cooper>
-
- - Added timing routines (for Info Page)
- <Chris Jarvis>
-
- - Removed in-program sound card configuration (confuses command
- line options)
-
- - Added the save-check routine :) (ie. if disk is full, etc.)
- <Edward Ananian-Cooper>
-
- - Redid a lot of the pre-mixing routines. As a result, it *should*
- be quite a bit faster, but now, changing the separation will only
- affect new notes played.
-
- - slight timing discrepancies fixed
- <The WALKER>
-
- - sample save errors fixed (in ST3 and raw data formats)
- <12th Knight>
-
- - shoved in a VERY limited WAV file loader....
- (It's a very poorly done hack job - 'cos I didn't have the
- specs, and couldn't be bothered to find 'em - so it's quite
- possible that it doesn't load WAVs correctly - it should
- load all single-sample WAV files OK tho :) )
-
- 25/12/95 Final Release for version 1.
- - made SB playback routines smoother (ie. on Info Page)
-
- - made the sample loop changes affect currently playing loops
- (you can use Grey '+' and Grey '-' to alter the loops by one byte
- while it's playing)
-
- - made some functions accessable from the help screen.
- (Includes: Ctrl-F5, F6, F7, F8, Alt-F1->F8, {, }, [, ], / and *)
- <12th Knight>
-
- - fixed up the out of memory error in the sample loader (which caused
- the previous sample loaded to be screwed up in memory)
-
- - fixed old Amiga-Format MOD sample loop error.
- <Red Haze>
-
- - added the dark grey ':' on the info page to mean note off.
- the red version still means that the channel volume is 0. (this
- means that if the vol0optimization is on, the red channels will
- not be mixed.)
- <12th Knight>
-
- - Added /S0 option on the command line.
-
- - Fixed slight PC speaker bug (still doesn't sound the best!)
-
- - Added the sample & instrument hilights on playback.
-
- - Fixed volume envelope sustain&normal loop bug (logic problem).
-
- - Moving forwards/backwards through a song no longer resets the
- channel panning and volume.
-
- - Fixed bug where menus were sliced down the centre by the routine
- which updated the pattern numbers (when in pattern edit)
-
- - Added command S5x (set 'panbrello' waveform) and Yxy ('panbrello')
- <12th Knight>
-
- - The limits for channels has been changed to 4->256 (previously
- 16->256) - this is for the demo musicians, if they decide they
- like this program :)
-
- - Starting a new song removes the file name.
- <12th Knight (?)>
-
- - Added Gravis UltraSound support!!!!! YAY!!!!
-
- - Playing instruments in the instrument list is no longer dependent
- upon the mute setting for the first channel. (All notes played act
- through channel 1 - for sample list, sample loader and instrument
- list).
-
- - The MOD loader filters out D00 commands. (how it should)
-
- - Fixed a 'minor' .MTM loader bug, which caused samples to loop
- after 2 bytes :)
-
- - changing an instrument with the portamento to command now adopts
- the new instrument's volume envelope.
-
- 8/1/96 Version 1.01 - note that this is the inevitable uninteded release,
- mostly containing bug fixes. It's much earlier than
- I inteded to release another version, but due to
- the amount of EMail that I was beginning to receive,
- I decided that an update was timely.
-
- - Bug fix: The portamento to command can now change samples with a GUS.
- (previously did with SB, but not with GUS)
-
- - Bug fix: Fixed a simple little problem in the MOD loader which incorrectly
- determined the number of patterns, which hence also stuffed up the
- sample data. :)
-
- - Bug fix (major!): If the sample/instrument is zero (ie. ".." in the
- pattern editor), then the program will NOT hang when you
- go to the instrument screen. This was a very stupid
- oversight when I rewrote that section of code :)
-
- - Bug Fix: Fixed a linear fine slide down bug. This affected all "small"
- slides down including (when in linear mode) vibrato, pitch
- slide down, portamento to (downwards) and also sample vibrato
- (in either linear/amiga modes - sample vibrato always uses
- linear pitch slides). The effect with the vibrato was that it
- was quite lopsided, and sounded quite horrible. It should be
- better now (well, try to keep the vibrato depth towards the
- lower side, if possible!) Also, *sample* vibrato is 4 times
- finer (slower) - so you can select a greater range of speeds.
-
- - Bug Fix: In the pattern editor, when you play a note with an effect,
- the effect is now interpreted for the correct number of frames.
- (depends on the current speed - it used to interpret the effect
- for one more frame than it should have)
-
- - Bug fix: Swapping samples with the GUS when in instrument mode works OK.
- (ie. it reloads the samples)
-
- - Bug Fix: Fixed a problem with the retrig command.
-
- - Bug Fix: Internal bug fixed concerning a problem with muting channels,
- which COULD produce disastrous results.
-
- - Bug Fix: Bug within the GUS playback routines which could cause wierd
- behaviour in the program. Also fixed the sample loop bug which
- was another source of clicks.
-
- - Bug fix: You can now store patterns of length > 32k (did ANYONE get a
- pattern this big?!? It gave a pattern length > 64k error!).
- The 64k pattern length limit is still there, though (but should
- cause absolutely no problems for any of you!)
-
- - Modification: Playback of samples and instruments is ALWAYS with central
- panning.
-
- - Modification: When you have a stereo output device and the playback is
- in stereo, the mixing volume is doubled internally. This
- means that songs should sound at about the same volume when
- stereo is turned on/off. Also, this means that if you are
- working in stereo, all mixing volumes above 64 are
- effectively reduced to 64 (because 64 doubled is 128 -
- the maximum mixing volume). So try to keep your mixing
- volumes less than or equal to 64.
- <Ng Pei Sin>
-
- - Modification: Shift-Tab in the pattern editor will take you backwards one
- channel IF you are on the note column, otherwise it will
- bring you to the note column.
- <Ara>
-
- - Modification: The default pattern edit mask includes the volume.
-
- - Modification: Removed the volume msg in the header, and replaced it with
- the current speed/current tempo.
- <Ara>
-
- - Modification: Changing the current speed with { and } also changes the
- initial tempo.
- <Ara>
-
- - Modification: Changed PgUp in the pattern editor so that if it is in the
- last (few) rows, it will move to the next hilight major
- row from the bottom when pressed
- <Ara>
-
- - Modification: GUS Initialisation routine changed slightly. Hopefully this
- should correct the problems that some people have been
- experiencing. (I still don't know what was wrong in most
- cases!). Make sure that the synth output is enabled with
- ULTRAMIX.
-
- - Modification: Setting the panbrello waveform now resets the panbrello
- 'position'. Also, panbrello is now 4 times finer (ie. slower)
- Sorry to those who have already used this command.
- Hopefully this release is soon enough, that most of you
- wouldn't have delved into this function
- (Apologies especially to Mysterio - I found an .IT on
- ftp.cdrom.com which used panbrello. D'oh)
-
- - Modification: Alt-A on the note translation table in the instrument screen
- will now reset all of the note values also (ie. enters C-0
- to B-9 for you).
-
- - Modification: F7 has moved to Shift-F6, similar to Scream Tracker 3
- It has been replaced with the "Play from Mark/Cursor"
- command (also similar to Scream Tracker 3). But to set the
- marks in the pattern editor, you have to use Ctrl-F7.
- <Ara, sorta>
-
- - Modification: The GUS will release the sample memory used under a few
- special circumstances.
-
- - Modification: Changed the "Maximum Row in Pattern" to "Number of Rows
- in Pattern"
-
- - Modification: When you load a song, instead of always going to pattern 0,
- the tracker will go to the first order's pattern.
-
- - Modification: Using Ctrl-Grey Plus/Minus in the pattern editor when you're
- on the last/first order will go to the last/first pattern.
- Version 1.0 ignored this press if the order was already at
- the last/first position.
-
- - Update: Rewrote GUS output routines. Hopefully they'll be less 'clicky'
- But this also means that if you *EXTEND* a sample loop, you'll
- have to reload the Gravis samples (Ctrl-G or menu:Samples,
- Reload Gravis). If you want to find a nice loop, set the loop
- end to the sample end, reload the sample, then use the grey
- minus key until a nice smooth loop is found.
-
- - Update: PC Speaker routines have been rewritten and should be slightly
- faster.
-
- - Update: All the mixing routines have been rewritten and should be slightly
- faster again.
- (Big thanks to Zilym Limms for his help)
-
- - Minor Addition: Alt-S from the Info Page toggles the stereo on/off.
- <Ara>
-
- - Minor Addition: Ctrl-R will go to the Load Module screen
- <Zilym Limms>
-
- - Minor Addition: Alt-B on the sample list will cut out the part of a sample
- before it's loop. Useful when you want to use envelopes.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Minor Addition: If you press Ctrl-S and no filename currently exists, you
- are taken to the save module page.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Addition: Palette configuration on Ctrl-F12. To save the current palette
- to disk, use the "Save all Preferences" at the bottom of the
- song variables and configuration screen (F12). Be careful - this
- will also save the directories listed to disk. This addition
- was basically a hack job wasting a lot of memory, because I
- couldn't be bothered writing special routines for it, so I
- created 110 'objects' (which were already defined) which do
- everything that you see on that screen. :)
-
- - Addition: Added S3M save support. Woo hoo! On the save module page,
- there are format buttons. You can choose either between
- .IT or .S3M modules by selecting the appropriate one. I don't
- plan to support any other save formats for now.
-
- If you want to write S3M files, check out the IT.DOC file,
- section 2.7 part 4 (conditions for 100% ST3 compatibility)
-
- Although there were many people who suggested this feature
- (and I even hinted to it in the v1.00 DOCs), you all have
- Beren to thank for this feature in this version.
-
- (I was going to put it off until v1.1). He sounded like a
- most unhappy little tracker, and pleaded with me to get this
- in :)
-
- 20/1/96 Version 1.02 - Many many little things for ST3 users, a few fixups
- and a couple of very nice new features :)
-
- - Bug fix: The Pattern Delay command (SEX!) should work for the correct
- number of frames now! How come none of you found this before?!
- (Including the beta testers!)
-
- - Bug fix: A logic error caused the GUS routines to 'clip' the first part
- of a sample when played through the sample & instrument lists,
- and when entering notes in the pattern editor. (But it used to
- play samples correctly in a song)
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Bug fix: Again. The retrig command. D'oh! Sorry about this - there were
- actually two bugs in the original retrig command. When I found
- one, I thought that I'd fixed it (well it fixed it for mixed
- devices, anyway). Ah well. Should work perfectly fine now. (for
- both SBs and GUSs)
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Bug fix (major!): If you didn't have anything in the order list, the
- first pattern (Pattern 0) was not decompressed into
- the pattern editor, which could cause a loss of data!
-
- - Bug fix: I misunderstood the 256k GUS barrier - it's for DMA transfers,
- not samples - so now the GUS Free is accurate, and you can load
- up songs which push the limits of the memory of your GUS without
- having to worry about sample ordering, etc.
- <Jon Merkel>
-
- - Minor corrections in the online help
- <The WALKER>
-
- - Modification: When you change the (C5) speed of a sample, the sample
- will be replayed at the last pitch used to play a sample.
-
- - Modification: Changed PgUp in the pattern editor again so that it will
- *always* end up on a major hilight even if the pattern is
- an 'uneven' number of rows. (eg if the hilight major is
- 16 and the pattern length is 40 instead of 32 or 48)
-
- - Modification: With the OK/Cancel buttons, pressing 'Y' or 'O' will be
- effectively the same as selecting OK, and pressing 'N' or
- 'C' is the same as selecting Cancel.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Modification: On the info-line, the play messages have been changed to:
- Order xxx/xxx, Pattern xxx, Row xxx/xxx
- and
- Pattern xxx, Row xxx/xxx
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Modification: When you save a song, the Song filename is updated.
- <Ara asked for it - it's something that should have
- been done ages ago, but omitted due to laziness :) >
-
- - Update: Channel allocation procedures *slightly* more efficient.
-
- - Update: Better GUS pitch determination routine. (Noticable for low
- frequency samples.) Why didn't Advanced Gravis just let me have
- a 32 bit register for frequency???
-
- - Update: S3M saving routines updated.
- 1) If in instrument mode, the note translation tables are
- taken into account when saving. Note that this translation
- only occurs when there are BOTH note and sample in the same
- row and column.
- 2) Command Xxx gets converted to an appropriate value in S3M format
- 3) Notes without a sample value are saved properly.
- 4) Panning positions are stored correctly - even though the
- channels are still labeled L1, L2, L3, .... R1, R2, etc.
- <Zoner for pointing out (4)>
- 5) No-order bug fixed.
-
- - Update: Starting a New Song also removes the song name (how it should)
- <The WALKER>
-
- - Update: All samples/instruments that are played are left with a dot
- next to them in the sample/instrument lists in a darker colour.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Update: "Saving all preferences" now saves the following information:
- 1) Directory preferences.
- 2) Keyboard style (still has little significance until I get
- the keyboard data from someone!)
- 3) Palette information
- 4) Info page setup
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
- 5) Pattern edit variables, including
- a) Row Hilights
- b) Edit Mask
- c) View division on/off
- d) View channel setup
- e) View-channel cursor tracking on/off
- f) Command and commandvalue Link/Split option. (Note that
- when the columns are linked, and no command is given, then
- the commandvalue column is skipped over)
-
- - Update: Improved stereo, panned mixing routines. Should be up to 20%
- faster now. The other mixing routines haven't been touched, tho.
- <Jon Merkel>
-
- - Update (Bug fix?): After you save a song in S3M format, the subsequent
- "Save Song" requests (either by the main menu or by
- Ctrl-S) will save in S3M also. This will continue until
- the Save Module screen is invoked (which resets the
- Save Module format to .IT)
- <Zoner>
-
- - Update: Menu updated to incorporate "Instrument Library"
-
- - Minor Addition: Added a Reverse Sample function on Alt-G on the Sample List
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Minor Addition: Pressing Ctrl-Left Arrow/Right Arrow operates in the same
- manner as pressing '+' and '-' on the info page. This is
- available anywhere where Ctrl-Left/Right arrows are not
- already defined. (eg. you can't use it in the pattern ed.)
- <Torje Lunderung, Arne-Morten Kvarving>
-
- - Minor Addition: Pressing Ctrl-Grey +/Grey - on the sample list screen
- will raise/lower the current sample's C5Speed by one
- semitone.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Minor Addition: Ctrl-W does exactly the same thing as F10. Just for ST3
- diehards. (I always used to use the menus!)
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Minor Addition: Next to the Allocated Channels mesage on the infopage,
- there's the maximum number of allocated channels in
- brackets.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Minor Addition: Pressing Ctrl-PgUp/PgDn on the sample/instrument lists
- will take you directly to the top/bottom of the lists.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Minor Addition: Pressing 'G' on the info page will take you to the
- currently playing pattern.
- <Benjamin Bruheim>
-
- - Minor Addition: When you have the volume amplification prompt in the
- pattern editor, pressing Alt-J is equivalent to pressing
- the OK button. What this means is that the first time
- you want to modify the volumes of a block, you have
- to select the amplification, but thereafter, if you want
- to use the same amplification, you just have to press
- Alt-J twice.
- <Ara, sorta.>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added command line switch '/F' to remove file colour
- distinctions.
- <Torje Lunderung, Arne-Morten Kvarving>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added command line switch, '/K' to swap the interpretation
- of keys F1 and F11 - this is for ALL the Scream Tracker 3
- users out there who can't break a habit... but the display
- will NOT change - ie. it displays that help is still on
- F1, but pressing F11 will invoke help.
- <Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots
- and lots and lots and lots and lots of ST3 users :)>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added "Delete Instrument" command on the instrument list
- which clears an instrument AND deletes all the samples
- that are associated with it.
-
- - Minor Addition: Added sample amplify command on Sample List (as Alt-M)
- The default sample amplification is the maximum amount
- that the sample can be amplified WITHOUT causing any
- real quality loss (or 200%, depending on which is
- less)
-
- - Addition: Pressing '<' or '>' (or even ',' or '.') on the sample or
- instrument list screens will allow you to choose which channel
- the samples/instruments should operate through.
-
- Pressing Alt-N on the sample or instrument lists will enable
- Multi-Channel playback (like Scream Tracker 3's 'TM' column.)
-
- Note: It's better to setup an instrument, though, and play
- around with that (if it's not on note cut, you should
- be able to play around with chords without having to
- change the channel).
-
- If you want to tune a sample, then you can play a
- reference sample in one channel, and work with the
- sample to be tuned in another channel.
- (Don't use multi-channel mode! Just change the channels
- manually)
-
- - Addition: Added "View-Channel cursor tracking" in pattern editor.
- Toggle this on and off by using Ctrl-T. What this does
- when toggled on, is it tries modify the view-channel numbers
- such that the cursor is kept on the screen. Don't try to
- use cursor tracking with non-consecutive channels selected,
- though - the results can vary quite interestingly!
-
- Suggested uses: Editing modes!
- 7 Track mode: Press Alt-H to remove view-divisions, then
- goto 7 consecutive tracks and press Ctrl-2
- on each one. Then Press Ctrl-T to enable
- cursor tracking. This is the most usable of
- the "extended" track views.
-
- 9 Track mode: Goto 9 consecutive tracks, and press Ctrl-3
- Then press Ctrl-T to enable.
-
- Personally, I find this mode difficult to
- use - it's easier to put up with a more
- limited view (ie. 7 Track) but have certainty
- of control. (The reason is because I *can't*
- give you a half-cursor!)
-
- You can fit in an extra 10th track if you
- turn off the view-divisions.
-
- 36 Track mode: For psychos only. Turn off View-divisions
- with Alt-H, then goto 36 consecutive
- channels and press Ctrl-5. Press Ctrl-T to
- enable. Mostly for novelty :)
-
- Note that you can now save all pattern-editor configuration
- by pressing "Save All Preferences" on the screen on F12.
- <For Psibelius, who still loves the MMEdit editor :) >
-
- - Addition: You can now specify a panning value (between 0 and 64) in the
- volume column by pressing '`' on the volume column to
- toggle entry of volumes/panning. (The key below escape on
- the United States keyboard). You'll still have to use command
- S91 to get surround sound, tho.
-
- The Alt-K (slide volume column) will work ONLY if the two ends
- are BOTH pan sets or BOTH volume sets.
-
- Note that older versions of Impulse Tracker WILL NOT play these
- correctly (and I really don't know what it'll play!) - this
- is because I'm a lazy scum - I can't be bothered to do the
- necessary changes to have it recognised as a true 'update' of
- the format....
-
- These panning commands ARE NOT translated when saved as a S3M.
-
- Hint: If you want to enter a volume, pan position AND effect, the
- channel volume command in a prior row may come in handy to
- scale the sample's default volume..
-
- - Addition: Simple instrument disk i/o now available. Use Alt-O on the
- instrument list to save an instrument, and press enter to
- load in an instrument. You may want to set up an 'instrument'
- directory on your HDD first!
-
- Unfortunately, you CANNOT try out the instruments in the list -
- You'll have to load them in first :(
-
- You can save an instrument which doesn't point to any samples -
- the volume envelope information will be stored.
-
- Only IT's instrument format is supported at the moment - once
- again, this may change depending on motivation :)
-
- 25/1/96 - Version 1.03
-
- - Bug fix: F7 thing fixed, (when the current row is greater than the last
- row in the last played pattern)
- <As mentioned in the BUGS.DOC with v1.02>
-
- - Bug fix: G00 commands in the MOD/MTM loader are no longer removed.
-
- - Bug fix: "Block Halve" command bug fixed (sometimes didn't copy 'enough'
- or brought 'false' data from beyond 200 rows)
-
- - Major Bug fix: Last order bug in v1.02 fixed. Damn, damn, damn. I often
- rewrite little bits of code.. and this one screwed up.
- Sorry. This bug fix is the sole reason for the release of
- this version.
-
- - (Minor) bug fix: Deleting a file in the module/sample/instrument lists
- will not cause a module/sample/instrument name to be
- skipped (from loading).
-
- - Modification: The file-format is no longer updated when you go to the
- save-module screen. It *IS* updated when you LOAD a module
- tho (so S3M files will try to save as S3M)
-
- Version 1.04 - Finished for MODs Anthology CD... make sure you grab it when
- (32/2/96) it is available and you will have a brilliant collection of
- computer module music to play with!
-
- NOTE!!! Impulse Tracker now REQUIRES a 386+ to run.
- This is due to the fact that I required 32 bit registers
- to support 16 bit samples and to remove the 64k barrier.
-
- If you don't have a 386+, then you'll need to grab v1.03...
-
- You can load and play IT modules saved with v1.04+ on earlier
- versions AS LONG as they don't have samples >64k or 16-bit
- samples. IF they do, the results could be interesting :)
-
- - Removed C5Spd Calculations in the sample list (as they were slow and
- inaccurate)
-
- - Bug fix: SB IRQs >= 8 now work! Note that only IRQs 10, 7, 5, 3 and 2 are
- checked for by the Autodetection routine.
-
- - Bug fix: Swapping control of F1 and F11 will now ONLY affect the
- help/order list keys (ie. Alt-F1 WILL mute channel 1)
- <Ara>
-
- - Bug fix: Commands such as KFx, KxF, LFx and LxF *should* now be
- interpreted correctly.
- <The WALKER>
-
- - Bug fix: The pattern delay command has finally been fixed to work like
- ST3 (and MOD AND MTM :) ).
-
- - Bug fix: In the MOD/MTM loader, fine volume/pitch slides with a zero
- parameter are removed.
- <Ara>
-
- - Bug fix: Should save S3M sample names OK. Hasn't been really thoroughly
- tested, tho..
- <Beren first?>
-
- - Bug fix: Pattern loop now is controlled by EACH channel (apparently how
- MODs did it, but *NOT* how ST3 did it....).
- (Wave to Firelight for creating his really wierd backwards/
- topsy-turvied modules!)
-
- - Bug fix: The Instrument Mode handler caused all effects *following* notes
- with invalid sample translations to be ignored. Effects *ON* the
- same row as invalid sample translations will still be ignored.
- The fix also should speed up the processing of instrument
- controlled songs slightly.
-
- - Bug fix: On a GUS, if you had a notecut command and you muted another
- channel which had notes playing in instrument mode, the note-cut
- was ignored.
-
- - Bug fix: I really stuffed up the vibrato command, because I didn't realise
- how it properly operated. In fact, all the vibratos were half of
- what they should have been. (Perhaps a good thing? As vibratos
- greater than 8 or so previously were unusable?). So instead
- of modifying the vibrato routines, and screwing up everyone that
- has already used the program, I've modified the loading routines
- for MOD/MTM and S3M - these loaders will automatically double
- the depth of the vibrato. The vibrato is halved when it is resaved
- in S3M format.
-
- So without even wanting to, I've made all vibratos two times
- finer than all other programs....
-
- Note that there will still be a slight difference in vibrato
- between Impulse Tracker and other programs - the vibrato in
- Impulse Tracker is song-speed independant, whereas the vibrato
- in MODs and S3Ms *ARE* song-speed dependant (the faster the
- song is, the slower the vibrato will be with the same command!)
- <Clef for pointing out the first part>
-
- - Update: The Vol0Opt has become redundant, due to routines which update
- the sample position whenever the volume is 0
-
- - Update: Complete rewrite of mixing routines to support 16 bit samples and
- samples > 64k, although you WILL NOT hear true 16-bit samples with
- a mixed device (but you will with a GUS!). The mixing routines
- themselves are now 12 bit, but unfortunately slightly slower than
- they used to be (they could have been quicker if I had the time to
- move to protected mode (ie. rewrite the whole program)) :(
-
- Don't bug me for true 16-bit mixing, 'cos I can't do it :)
- (Not with the memory restrictions I have)
-
- - Update: Note offsets in muted channels are still processed. What this
- means is that:
- 1) When you unmute a channel, that channel will play whatever
- it would normally be playing at that row.
- 2) The total active channel counter takes into account muted
- channels.
- 3) Soloed channels will sound EXACTLY the same compared to how
- they will sound when all the other channels are enabled.
- (Since 'background' notes may be cut short or notes not
- even played if the total number of active channels exceeds
- the limiting value. In previous versions of IT, muting a
- channel prevented it from allocating channels that it
- would normally occupy)
-
- - Update: The MTM loader has been updated to load the song message.
-
- - Modification: Pressing ESC on the opening screen will enter into the
- tracker, instead of exiting to DOS.
-
- - Modification: S3M channels are saved as L1, R1, L2, R2, L3, R3, etc..
- (Although any decent player will understand the panning
- overrides)
- <Zoner first>
-
- - Modification: For GUS users, turning on/off stereo will now kick in the
- change straight away.
- <Ara for pointing it out>
-
- - Modification: Starting a new song will now
- 1) Put you at pattern 0
- 2) Reset initial pannings and volumes for the channels.
- <The WALKER>
-
- - Modification: With the panbrello command, the panning position is
- maintained, rather than being reset every internal update
- cycle. This really only has significance when used in
- combination with NNAs or if you stop a panbrello
- (previously, the panning would immediately return to the
- default panning position)
-
- - Modification: The dots by sample/instrument names are not removed UNTIL
- the next play pattern/song is requested.
- <Ara>
-
- - Modification: Pressing Alt-A on the note translation table also copies the
- sample name into the current instrument name.
-
- - Modification: The program will change automatically to the directory it
- is stored in when you start it. (ie. the .CFG files should
- be read no matter where you run the program from). I'm not
- 100% sure whether the method I used is sound, but it should
- work fine :)
-
- - Modification: D0F and DF0 are updated EVERY frame for greater S3M
- compatibility. (Don't ask me why it's done this way!)
-
- - Modification: Windows '95 will no longer trigger the 'Windows Warning'
- message, as it seems that the program works fine in both
- GUS and SB16 modes under Win '95. Problems have been
- encountered with SBPro tho.. and you definitely don't
- want to try using PC Speaker under Windows '95 :)
- <Clef>
-
- - Modification: When you move from the Sample list directly to either the
- Pattern Editor or the Instrument list when you're in
- INSTRUMENT mode, then the program will search for the
- first instrument which contains the sample you were on.
- I *SHOULD* have had two separate variables for the
- sample/instrument number... sorry.... maybe I'll redo
- that when I find more time...
-
- - Modification: On a GUS, 64 bytes of memory are now reserved (and not
- available for use), to prevent the ping pong loop bug in
- the GF1 from occuring.
-
- - Modification: Detection order is now SB16, GUS, SBPro, SB, PC Speaker.
-
- - Minor Addition: Pressing Alt-P on the note-translation table will enter
- the previous note. (opposite to "Next note" function!)
- <Andy Chen>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added Ctrl-PgUp/PgDn in pattern editor to move to
- top/bottom of the pattern.
- <Laser Harp>
-
- - Minor Addition: Alt-F9 on infopage operates the same as 'q'.
- <Laser Harp>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added Home/End keys on the order list, but End now places
- the cursor on the order AFTER the last one.
- <Mute>
-
- - Minor Addition: Grey enter has been mapped onto normal enter.
- <Several - 12th Knight first (about a month ago)>
-
- - Minor Addition: Support for ITF's FONT.CFG files. See later..
-
- - Minor Addition: Shift-Up/Down in the pattern editor will decrease/increase
- the current sample/instrument.
-
- - Minor Addition: Added a 'channel details' view on the info page. I don't
- know what sort of use this is to anyone... but for a
- complete explanation of the variables, check out IT.DOC
- under the "Playing Songs" section.
- <several asked for it.. can't remember who>
-
- - Minor Addition: Direct support for MMCMP files in the song-name loader.
- (Note that although IT does understand MMCMP file headers,
- you *HAVE* to have MMTSR loaded - the reason for this is
- that it would cause major errors if IT identified a file
- type, and MMTSR wasn't resident (ie. unable to decompress
- the file) - it'd be the same result as having a badly
- corrupted file!)
-
- - Addition: Multiple (10) stage undo buffer (on Ctrl-Backspace) in the
- pattern editor. This undo function can only undo pattern-related
- changes - it does NOT keep track of block marks or clipboard.
- <Ara>
-
- - Addition: Message editor on Shift-F9.... now you have NO excuse for
- corrupting your sample lists :)
-
- - Addition: Effect S78 turns *ON* the volume envelope.
- <Chris Jarvis>
-
- - Addition: Fast Tracker 2 .IFF sample loader. Note that there ISN'T a Ping
- Pong loop field within the .IFF header or a sample frequency
- (as far as I can tell!) What this means is that if the original
- sample had a ping pong loop, then you'll have to toggle the loop
- mode yourself!
-
- - this was a hack job, as I didn't have 'official' info on
- the format....
-
- - Addition: Samples > 64k and 16 bit samples!!! All sample, disk and
- playback functions have been rewritten to incorporate this..
- so let me know if you find any bugs! (The new sample limit is
- just under 4MB - I could have made it 16MB (The limit of
- expanded memory), but it wasn't really 'worth' the extra
- effort... if you need more than 1MB for *ALL* your samples,
- you've missed the point of trackers! )
-
- Under the new limit:
- An 8 bit sample at 8363 Hz can last for 8 min 19 sec
- An 8 bit sample at 44100 Hz can last for 1 min 35 sec
- A 16 bit sample at 8363 Hz can last for 4 min 9 sec
- A 16 bit sample at 44100 Hz can last for 0 min 47 sec.
-
- Note that although you can save samples >64k and 16 bit samples
- in S3M format, *MOST* S3M players do *NOT* support these fields!
- (Even Cubic Player!)
-
- - Addition: Two utility programs are now included with Impulse Tracker:
-
- 1) MMCMP/MMUNCMP/MMTSR
-
- This collection of utilities was programmed by Emmanuel Giasson
- <giassone@ift.ulaval.ca>. They allow you to compress MOD/S3M/IT
- files (with MMCMP) and MMTSR will decompress them on the fly in
- the background!
-
- If you want to ZIP up a song that has been compressed with MMCMP,
- remember to use "MMTSR off" before you do it!
-
- 2) ITF - Impulse Tracker Font customiser
-
- This program is used to create/modify the FONT.CFG file which
- contains *YOUR* own custom font. The FONT.CFG must be in the
- same directory as IT.EXE from (same as IT.CFG) Written by ZaStaR.
- (Script font by me - cosmetic, but not usable :) )
- <zastar@uclink4.berkeley.edu>.
-
- Thanks go to both Emmanuel and ZaStar for their efforts (especially
- Emmanuel, with whom I spent many hours, trying to work out a very
- minor bug which caused some major problems!)
-
- Big thanks go to all the beta testers of v1.04 (GD, Andy Chen,
- ZaStaR, Delta X, KXMode, ShawnM, Ara.. hope I haven't missed
- anyone!) - there were a LOT of changes that were made, and quite
- a bit went astray in the update... and you have to thank these
- people for their help to set it all back into working order!
-
- Version 1.05
- - Bug fix: Changing a sample's loop while it's playing can no longer
- cause the program to produce a divide error (mixed devices)
- (only reason for the release.. found on the same day I
- sent out v1.04! Doh)
-
- Version 1.06 - This release was made, without a lot of the improvements that
- I intended, just because it's been sitting on my computer for
- quite a while without any significant changes! I just haven't
- had as much time as I would have liked to work on it.
-
- Also, Chris Jarvis now has an EMail addy... it's at:
- cjtrack@smug.student.adelaide.edu
-
- Note: Our mail server has been having troubles lately... it
- seems that I haven't been receiving all the mail that's
- sent my way! So, if you *DID* send anything and I didn't
- reply within 48 hrs, then send it again (and again) -
- I check my mail VERY frequently (as many of you have
- found out!) :)
-
- - Internal modifications in some of the effects processing for size and
- speed... I hope I rewrote them all correctly (fingers crossed) :)
-
- - Update to internal routines, for greater stability with Win'95 (hopefully)
-
- - Bug fix: Global volume slides UP are restricted properly (ie. to 128)
- Previously, it reset to 0 when it exceeded 128. (Obviously
- no one has used this, because it has been wrong since v1.00!)
-
- - Bug fix: Random panbrello has been set back to how it used to work!
- (The delay was interpreted incorrectly.. this was mucked
- up in v1.04)
-
- - Bug fix: A disk-write error (eg. out of disk space) will *NOT* cause
- the program to hang now when saving samples. Ooops. Also, the
- resulting file will be deleted, so that your disk doesn't
- become cluttered with partial (useless) files.
- <Pfister for alerting me, albeit indirectly>
-
- - Bug fix: Fixed up replace instrument function.
-
- - Bug fix: With Alt-Insert in pattern editor (Row Insert), there was a
- problem with the last line.... no longer.
-
- - Bug fix: "Set sample" command in the pattern editor will change samples
- which don't have notes attached to them.
- <TiB>
-
- - Minor modification: Changed colouring of play-back information line.
- <ZaStaR>
-
- - Modification: The program will remember the starting directory, and
- return to it when exited. This directory is also used
- in a DOS shell, and updated when you EXIT from a DOS
- shell.
- <Golden Spud>
-
- - Modification: Using the Help screen will remember the previous 'position'.
- <KaSHopAN>
-
- - Modification: OK. So I have decided to change it after all - the cut
- sample commands do NOT require the sample to be looped.
- <GD>
-
- - Modification: MOD/MTM/S3M loader converts XA4 to S91, and the S3M saver
- converts S91 back to XA4
- <Liam the Lemming>
-
- - Modification: The Shift-Movement keys can now be used to mark a block.
- Note that the old Shift-Up/Down to change the sample
- has moved to Ctrl-Up/Down.
- If you get used to these, then multi-channel blocks
- become a lot quicker to select. Don't forget the old
- commands, though! (such as Alt-L, Alt-D)
-
- - Update: Yet another update to the GUS routines to (hopefully) remove
- MOST of the clicking (clicks that occur due to quick sample
- value changes that occur on other sound cards will still occur).
-
- - Update: Yet another change to the 8-bit panned mixing routines for speed
-
- - Update: Sample/Instrument header loaders will recognise MMCMPed files.
- Note that sample may be compressed with MMCMP versions 1.3+
- Instrument compression will come soon.
-
- - Minor Addition: Included reference file SUMMARY.DOC - I strongly suggest
- that you print this out!
- To print this out: COPY SUMMARY.DOC PRN
- or of course, you could use an editor of some sort..
-
- - Minor Addition: Added Ctrl-Home/End in the pattern editor to work as
- in ST3. (ie. move up/down 1 row regardless of skip-value)
- <Yamaha>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added Copy-Instrument function on Alt-P in the instrument
- list.
-
- - Minor Addition: Directory name searching on the file lists (like the file
- name searching)
- <Lots and lots of people..>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added spacebar on the info-page which toggles a channel
- AND moves to the next channel.
-
- - Minor Addition: Left-Ctrl+Left-Shift 1-5 will setup ALL view channels
- in scheme 1-5 an enable cursor tracking. This will take
- into account whether channel divisions are present or not.
- <ZaStaR>
-
- - Minor Addition: Added drive selection window on instrument list
- <Darrel Biesterfeld>
-
- - Addition: Incorporated MMTSR into the tracker, but this version will
- ONLY use EMS, and will uninstall itself on exiting. This
- only operates on loading - files are still not compressed
- on saving. Big thanks go to Emmanuel Giassone for the code!
-
- Note: This decoder will NOT be loaded if the EMS required by
- the decoding routines cannot be allocated, but the tracker
- will still operate.
-
- Also note that MMCMP works fine under Windows '95 now!
-
- You can disable the internal MMTSR by using IT /X
-
- - Addition: Ctrl-C in the pattern editor will enable/disable pattern
- centralisation. This option is saved in IT.CFG (by 'saving
- all preferences')
-
- - Addition: Command S6x is a delay on the ROW for x frames. This is a
- convenient way to control timing more accurately... example:
-
- ......... A06 ......... A06
- ......... .00 ......... .00
- ......... A08 can be written ......... S62
- ......... A06 ......... .00
- ......... A07 ......... S61
- ......... A06 ......... .00
-
- This is useful for cases where you want to just have a *certain*
- row last that little bit longer (ie. use it as a fine row-delay)
-
- Note that a Axx command in a later channel will override this,
- and that another S6x command in another channel is cumulative.
- Axx should still be used for any long-term speed change.
-
- - Addition: Added "Old Effects" option to replace Vol0Opt (was redundant)
-
- (from IT.DOC)
-
- Old Effects - When Impulse Tracker was first written, some effects
- were interpreted differently from other formats, most
- notably vibrato. When you turn this ON, then it effects
- will be interpreted how the used to be in ST3/MMEdit/...
- but when it's off, it'll operate how it use to in
- previous versions.
-
- (from IT.DOC)
-
- Differences (so far):
- The Vibrato (and Tremelo) used in IT is smoother than
- how it was implemented in MOD/S3M/etc. It is updated
- EVERY frame and hence is independant of song speed,
- whereas the standard vibrato WAS dependant upon song
- speed. Vibrato is two times 'deeper' with Old Effects
- on and the loaders no longer modify the vibrato value.
-
- Sample offset commands past the end of a sample in IT
- were ignored, whereas with Old Effects on, the sample
- is played from it's end point.
-
- Note: I have restarted Uni and I don't have quite so much time as I used
- to have, so either updates will be slower, or there won't be as many
- changes...
-
- Note 2: Several people have asked about GUS PnP support. Here's the deal:
- If enough of you write to Gravis and can convince them to send me
- a card (with RAM on it), then I'll support it when the SDK comes
- out. Otherwise, I can't see myself forking out the money to support
- it (since I don't have one and also because I've already spent a
- lot of money to make this tracker!)
-
- Planned for later versions... (I better not say any version numbers :) )
- (Aplogies to all who expected to see certain features and didn't... I ran
- outta time :) )
- - Possible AWE 32, PAS and DAC support depending on how it works out,
- but no promises - the AWE 32 has some really stupid limitations (ie. you
- CAN'T play a sample at anything above 176kHz eg. you can't play a 44kHz
- sample C-7 or above - don't forget that the 'middle C' is C-5 in this
- program!)
-
- - .PAT, .XM, .XI loaders...
-
- - Update to Dxx, Pxx, Nxx, Kxx, Lxx and Wxx to allow better tick control.
-
- Big thanks to all of those who have contributed to make the tracker what it is!
-
- Contact me at pulse@smug.student.adelaide.edu.au
- I *try* to check and reply to all EMail every day.
-
-