Pumatracker v0.99 by Agile
PUMA-TRACKER V0.99
(c) Agile'91
Released In September 1991
The Documentation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I/ Introduction
------------
The aim of this utility is to achieve the best sound possible with
the less memory and CPU time possible.
The module files are used on The Replay routine for ATARI.
You can transfer it with DOS 2 DOS, and use it like that.
At this time, the replay-routine takes a maximum time of 15 scanlines
and a music takes an average of 6-8 Kbytes.
II/ How to use the editor
---------------------
When you have skipped the intro, the screen appearing is the
PATTERN-EDITOR SCREEN.
The SOND-DESIGNER SCREEN can be accessed by pressing ESC.
Before editing a music, you must start by defining your instruments.
A/ The SOUND-DESIGNER SCREEN (how to make a sound)
-----------------------------------------------
YOU MUST DEFINE THE VOLUME AND THE FREQUENCY DATAS FOR EACH SOUND.
1) Defining the envelope (Volume Data)
-----------------------------------
Click in the box under 'VOLUME DATA' and then you can edit the volume
sequence. ALL THE COMMANDS ARE IN HEXADECIMAL MODE.
Here is the list of commands :
------------------------------
* C0-aa-bb-cc
aa is the number of the sample (or waveform) used.
Numbers between 00 and 09 included are samples which can be loaded
with the LOAD function (which will be explained later).
Numbers between 0A and 33 are waveforms, it means samples of 32 bytes
already stored in the replay-routine.
bb is the step to skip waveforms.
If bb=0 then there is no effect.
If you want to use a sample, you must set bb to 0.
cc is the number of waveforms to be played
Ex: C0-0A-01-0F defines a synthetizer's sound.
* A0-aa-bb-cc
This instruction makes the volume vary.
aa is the volume at the beginning
bb is the volume at the end
cc is the length of time to achieve the volume variation.
Ex: A0-40-00-10 makes the volume vary from 64 to 0
in 16 VBL (units of time)
* E0-00
This instruction stops the sound (It cuts the voice).
* B0-aa
This instruction is the GOTO or LOOP command.
It permits to restarts a sound at any step of the volume sequence
(It's used for echo, make a never-ending sound or restart a
sound).
The aa number is the number of the line to reach multiplied by 4.
Ex : C0-0A-01-0F
A0-40-00-10
A0-00-40-10
Here :
B0-00 loops on the first instruction.
B0-04 loops on the second instruction.
B0-08 loops on the third instruction.
A SOUND MUST ALWAYS START WITH A C0 INSTRUCTION.
A SOUND MUST ALWAYS FINISH WITH AN E0 OR B0 INSTRUCTION.
2/ Defining the frequency (Frequency Data)
---------------------------------------
Click in the box under 'FREQUENCY DATA' then you can edit the frequency
of your sound.
Here is a list of the available commands :
----------------------------------------
* D0-aa-bb-cc
This instruction keeps the frequency constant.
aa is the offset of the note multiplied by 2 (always even) and it's
added to the played note.
a value of 18 means that the frequency is transposed of 1 octave up.
bb is unused
cc is the length of time while the frequency doesn't vary.
Ex : D0-00-00-01 plays the real note during 1 VBL (unit of time)
D0-02-00-01 plays the note transposed 1/12th of octave up.
D0-FE-00-01 plays the note transposed 1/12th of octave down.
This command allows you to make arpeggios...
* A0-aa-bb-cc
This instruction makes the frequency vary.
aa is a value added to the frequency of the note at the beginning
bb is a value added to the frequency of the note at the end
aa and bb must be between 80 and 7F.
cc is the number of VBL...
Ex: A0-50-00-20
makes a little slide from the actual frequency plus $50 down to
the actual frequency plus $00 (The sound becomes more sharpen).
A0-00-50-20
makes a little slide from the actual frequency plus $00 up to
the actual frequency plus $50 (The sound becomes more bass).
3/ The Other Stuff
---------------
- SELECT SOUND can also be selected from the keyboard with F9 and F10.
- The octave of the sound can be changed by pressing F1 to F5.
- VIEW WAVEFORM displays all the look of the sample or waveform used
- LENGTH displays the number of bytes (in Hexa) for each sample or
waveform.
- Don't use SAVE and CLEAR, they ain't working yet !!!
- The LOAD option displays a new menu allowing to load samples.
You must SELECT a number of SAMPLE before loading it.
CANCEL exits this menu.
CLEAR doesn't work.
B/ THE PATTERNS-EDITOR SCREEN
--------------------------
This screen is cut in two parts.
1) The First One (Upper Part)
--------------------------
It contains the list of patterns for each voices.
With some parametters like SPEED, OFFSET about instruments or note.
- The left box contains the number of lines,
(like POSITIONS about 'Soundtracker'...)
- The right box contains the Speed for each lines.
(You don't need to repeat the same speed on ever lines, use it like
Soundtracker...)
- Then the four middle boxes contain the number of pattern, offset
about instrument, offset about note for each voice. These parameters
can be choosed in the second part of the screen (The lower part).
How to use the two boxes 'Pos (Up-->Down)' and 'Patt (Down-->Up)'
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If you press the first box, all parameters (Except the offset added to
the instruments value) on the line selected (Upper Part) will be copied on the
boxes (Lower Part). So you can show all sequence of music (Patterns) for every
line of 'Positions Box'.
If you press the second box, it's exactly the contrary that will happen.
Take care when using this function you can easily destroy your music !
- PLAY (Upper Part) plays the song. Stop it by pressing again the left
mouse button.
- LENGHT if you click on this box, the lenght from the file 'song'
actually will be appear.
This lenght can change when you edit your music or sound.
This function will help you to keep a cool size in memory.
- LOOP-TRACK
At this line, the music will restart.
- 'SONGNAME' is only to show it, you can enter anything here.
(See on the DISK screen the 'LOAD' & 'SAVE' options).
2) The Lower Part, EDIT THE PATTERNS
---------------------------------
That's approximatly the same as SoundTracker.
Enter the notes with the keyboard (Two octaves, choosen by pressing
F1 to F5).
F6 Places your cursor on the first line of the pattern.
F7 Places your cursor in the middle of the pattern.
F8 Places your cursor at the end of the pattern.
F9-F10 Select number from used sound, you can look it in the mouse
pointer.
PLAY plays the 'Pattern' (Every pattern on every voice)
Note that 3 effects are possible in the patterns:
'1' For the volume, type '140' <=> volume = $40 = 64
'2' To slide the frequency down (Use it with a sound that don't
reset Frequency...)
Type '204' <=> Frequency + 4 (Every vbl.)
'204' ---------
'204' ---------
Type '200' to stop the effect
'3' To slide the frequency up (Use it like the previous one...)
Some hints:
You can use up to $80 patterns.
Don't forget that if you use the same patterns on some lines (on
positions), when you change it, it will be changed on each lines...
Patterns are crunched and played like that, clear all effects unused.
Don't write about pattern $00 !
Don't clear a pattern if you use some patterns upper, it may cause some
damages to your music.
Select the number of a pattern by voice, select offset from note.
Listen, when it's good, choose the POSITION-LINE (Upper Part), and click
on the box 'Patt. Down-->Up'. This will copy the parameters...
III/ Credits for that program
------------------------
Improving of the program : Shocker, Flyspy, Exocet
Replay-Routine debugging : Flyspy
Documentations : Shocker
All the work behind that program and the documentation has been done
by the French AGILE Section. If you wanna contact us for any reason,
just send a letter to the following address :
AGILE
BP 43
13266 MARSEILLE CEDEX 08
FRANCE
Or to... AGILE
Box 3081
18103 LINDINGO
SWEDEN
Or just take your phone and call our boards :
STREETS OF FIRE +46 755-10498 (Ministry+Mogwai) SHQ (DEFJAM/AGILE)
THE GRAVEYARD +44 91-5160560 (The Undertaker) EHQ
ILLICIT ILLUSION +1 717-399-3160 (The Mighty Quinn) WHQ
SANITARIUM +1 416-575-9150 (Elektra) CHQ
TONE TOWN +1 414-781-3218 (Dictator) USHQ
TWILIGHT ZONE +49 511-456592 (Captain Midnight) GHQ
REIGN IN BLOOD +49 203-409925 (Malzam&Andy) GHQ
/Shocker
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