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Normally you shouldn't see this text but as you see it, there is an error in the helpfile.

If this error occurs after you have installed a new version of MusicManiac, please delete the file KOSMuMa.GID in the MusicManiac directory (selected during setup).

You can also contact us.


To do:

Design links in CNT
design links in topic "DESIGNS"

links in "Intro. Designs."


What is K/oS MusicManiac
What is K/oS MusicManiac ?

K/oS MusicManiac is a so called "Module player". It allows you to listen to sound-files (modules) in up to 44,1 kHz (Stereo) quality. It also gives you the ability to store this modules in discs (MusicManiac discs) that are as easy to handle as normal CDs.

MusicManiac supports the most common file-formats (see Supported Module-Types for more information) and it also has file-management functions (Copy, Move, Delete, Rename) so you can directly organize the modules from MusicManiac.

Beside this, the K/oS MusicManiac engine can be used from various sources (EXE files, Office documents and even HTML files) through ActiveX. These files, that use the MusicManiac engine, are called Designs. Instead of one huge files that tries to do everything, you have small designs that are specialist for one task. MusicManiac is nothing without designs, but with them it's the most powerful player you every seen. In fact, selecting the MusicManiac icon in Start | Programs | MusicManiac does nothing more than launching your default design.

Because the MusicManiac engine can be used from Web-Pages as well, it's easy to use modules as background-music for your web-site.

Best of all, all this comes to you for free (K/oS MusicManiac is Freeware).

 Related Topics


Using K/oS MusicManiac

Using K/oS MusicManiac is very simple: Click the icon of MusicManiac in Programs (Start | Programs | MusicManiac) and the default design will be loaded. Depending on the design you have selected, you can listen to some modules, create some discs or do whatever you would like to.

You will notice also that after you have started a design, the MusicManiac icon will also appear in your tray. Right-click it to bring up a menu with common commands. For example, you can mute the current playback (if any).

If you like to change the current configuration you can either select "MusicManiac Configuration" in Start | Programs | MusicManiac or right-click the tray-icon and select "Configure".

Inside MusicManiac Configuration you can change how the modules should sound like or you can also select a different design (one of MusicManiac key-features) because it suits you better then the currently selected design.

If you are interested in using the configuration program, go to K/oS MusicManiac Configuration

If you would like to know more about designs, go to K/oS MusicManiac Designs

 Related Topics


Config


MusicManiac Configuration
K/oS MusicManiac Configuration

To start the K/oS MusicManiac Configuration, either select MusicManiac Configuration from Start | Programs | MusicManiac or (if a design is currently activated) right-click the MusicManiac icon in the tray and select "Configure".

The program is divided into different tabs, each responsible for one aspect of MusicManiac's configuration. If there are sliders to set a option: a higher slider position means better/more and a lower position means less/bad. Some sliders also have a "Default" button to restore the original setting.

If you want to recall MusicManiac's original configuration go to the "Misc" tab and select "Reset Configuration".

 Related Topics


Output Mode

You can select the desired output mode: 8 bit, Mono; 8 bit, Stereo; 16 bit, Mono; 16 bit, Stereo. 16 bit, Stereo is recommended for most users because nearly all modules use this mode. Using something different might result in really wired noises.


Filter Mode

Use this setting to set how MusicManiac should handle filters. If you select "No Filtering", no filter will be applied to the modules even if it's necessary. "Automatic" is recommended for most users, MusicManiac will decide if it's necessary to apply a filter or not, depending on the current module. "Less filtering" and "More filtering" means that there is always a filter applied, either less or more.


Mixing Mode

Select either "Normal mixing" or "High quality mixing": "High quality mixing" will result in a better output of the modules but it's also very CPU consuming. "Normal mixing" uses less CPU time but it might does not produce the same quality as "High quality mixing".


Mixing Frequency

The mixing frequency directly affects the sound-quality. A higher frequency produces better results but used more CPU time also. A lower frequency uses less CPU time but also result in poorer sound-quality.


Buffer

MusicManiac isn't the only program you will execute on your computer, it is possible that it don't get any CPU time to calculate the next part of the module. Because this would mean that the playback is stopped, there is a buffer that can be used meanwhile. The higher the buffer, the less the music will hang but the more memory is needed also.

If you have a very fast computer, you can decrease the buffer to save memory. If the playback hangs often, increase the size of the buffer.


Volume

Select the desired the volume, ranging from 0 (quit) to 10. Please note that a volume of 10 means: "as loud as the system volume is configured": If you have set it to 10 and it's still to silent, you should increase the system volume by right-clicking the MusicManiac icon in the tray and select "System Volume".


Amplification

Select the amplification you would like to apply where 100% amplification is normal (= no amplification). Note that Amplification is not the solution of choice if you think the playback is to silent. Instead, you should increase the system volume (right-click the MusicManiac icon in the tray and select "System Volume").


Fadeout

Simply stopping a module can sound very stupid so you have the choice the fadeout every module when it's stopped. Select the desired fadeout time or set this option to zero if you don't want any fadeout.


Downloads from the Internet
Enable downloads from the Internet

MusicManiac has a special feature to allow authors of Internet Sites integrating modules into their web-pages. This also requires that the modules need to be downloaded to your computer. If you don't want this, disable this option.

Important: Disabling this feature might result in errors on web-pages that use this mechanism!


Check for MusicManiac as default player

If selected, K/oS MusicManiac will check if it's the default module-player on this computer. If it isn't, it will display a message where you can decide if MusicManiac should be the default module-player or not. Disable this option if you don't want that MusicManiac performs this check.


System Volume Application

You can use the menu of the MusicManiac tray-icon to start the system volume application; by default, MusicManiac uses the program SNDVOL32.EXE for this. If your soundcard comes with an extra program to control the system volume, select it and MusicManiac will use it the next time you would like to configure the "System Volume".


Reset Configuration

If you think you have totally mis-configured MusicManiac select this command and all settings will be reseted to their default states.


Designs

Use this tab to control the MusicManiac designs. Select one of the available designs from the drop-down box and you will see a short description of it.

Select "Start now" to start the design, select "Set as default" to make this design the default design (if you select "MusicManiac" from Start | Programs | MusicManiac, this design will be started).


About (Configuration)
About

Some information about MIDAS and K/oS MusicManiac (what else should About mean???).


Config END


MusicManiac Designs (Introduction)
Introducing MusicManiac Designs

Designs are programs (the term "Program" is not limited to executables [EXE], it can also be a HTML or Office document) that use the MusicManiac engine through ActiveX.

These programs provide an Interface between you and the MusicManiac engine (which hasn't any visual interface). Usually, they are highly optimized for one specific task.

For example, if you just want to listen to some modules you might decide to use the K/oS MiniPlayer design, because it's small and easy to use.

If you have just bought the "All modules you can eat"-CD you need something else. You need a player that lets you quickly browse through the directories on the CD, listen to the modules and move the good ones to a different directory easily. The K/oS BatchPlayer Design is the solution for this.

If you click the green links above you will see that both design look very different. While the MiniPlayer is optimized to play one file over and over, the BatchPlayer is designed to open and listen to modules with just a few mouse-clicks.

 For every task the right design because no design can do everything

Please note that not all Designs use all features MusicManiac offers. For example, the K/oS MiniPlayer Design does not offer support for discs (*.MMDC) while the K/oS ClassicPlayer design does.

To change the default design, or to launch a specified design, use MusicManiac Configuration program and click the "Designs" tab.

Note also that their is a free SDK (Software Development Kit) for K/oS MusicManiac available on our Site which you can use to create your own designs.

 Related Topics


K/oS ClassicPlayer

The ClassicPlayer can be used to easily create and manage discs or to create new discs.

Some notes how to use it:

- Open a module by selecting "Open module" from the File menu

- To assign the loaded module to the disc, you can either drop the module-title on the desired position or right-click the desired position and select "Assign module" from the appearing menu

- To remove a module from a disc, right-click the position and select "Clear"

- To save a disc, select "Save" from the Disc menu

The discs you have create can be used by any other MusicManiac program.

 Related Topics


K/oS BatchPlayer

The BatchPlayer allows you to hear many modules in a short time. It's main goal is to sort out a bunch of modules fast (if you have just downloaded 20 MB from the Internet for example).

Some notes how to use it:

- Select "Browse" and point to a directory containing modules

- Click the module you would like to hear (no double-click required!). Some information and the instruments of the module will be shown in the section below the directory-view.

- If needed, click the Move-, Delete- or Copy-button

- Select the <..> folder to move one level up

 Related Topics


K/oS MiniPlayer

The MiniPlayer is designed for those how don't need extra-features like MusicManiac discs. It simply loads a module and plays it infinitely.

Some notes how to use it:

- Select the first yellow button to open a module

- Click "Instruments" to see the instruments for this module

- To see additional command, click the "More..." button

 Related Topics


K/oS MagicPlayer

The MagicPlayer is a more "fancy" version of a module-player. It allows you to open more then one module at once and it offers different playmodes.

Some notes how to use it:

- Select the "Open" icon on the left side to open one or more modules

- To load the next module in the chain, click the "Nx" icon on the right side

- Switch the playmode by clicking on the "Ra" icon (Repeat All mode), the "Sh" icon (Shuffle play mode) or the "Rp" icon (Repeat one).

- Click the "X" icon on the left side to exit

 Related Topics


K/oS TrayPlayer

If you would like a player that is as small as possible, TrayPlayer is the right program for you. It will only be shown in your tray, minimizing the space it takes up on screen. It is able to load discs.

Some notes how to use it:

- Right-click the icon in the tray to bring up the menu

- Select "Open" to open a module or a disc

- Select "Playmode" to switch the current playmode (only available if a disc is loaded)

- Select "Next Track" to load the next track of the disc or select "Prev. Track" to load the previous track of the disc

- Click "Information" to see some information

- Double-click the icon in the tray to fast forward the current module

Note To create a disc to be used with the TrayPlayer, use the K/oS ClassicPlayer.

 Related Topics


What is a module ?

So, what are the files MusicManiac plays? Well, we will try to explain them, but beware: it isn't technical! Any flames will be ignored ;-).

First of all, a module (it doesn't matter if it's a XM, MOD or what else) is divided into two different types of data:

-	pattern data

-	sample data

The sample data contains all sounds, a module uses. A sample can be any sort of sound: a noise, an instrument or a voice; it doesn't matter. A very, very simple module might contain only two samples: a voice and an instrument.

The pattern data defines where a sample-collection gets played in a module: It contains when and which sample should be played.

The easiest way to explain a pattern is to think of it as a Sheet (like in Excel) with rows and columns (called channels in modules).

Sheet					Module
	Col. 1	Col. 2	Col. 3			Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3
Row 1	1,44	7,33	8,12		Row 1	Sample #7	Sample #1	Sample #4
Row 2	3,51	5,33	3,02		Row 2	Sample #3	Sample #9	Sample #6

Note: Almost all modules use at least 4 channels.

That way, a pattern in a normal module contains row 1 to row X (a composer can use as many rows as he or she needs). In every, “cell”, they simply say "Play this note with that sample". Of course, an instrument sounds quite different when played with note C3 instead of G2.

A pattern also contains how fast it should be played. A techno-tune for example, would be played faster than a classic-tune.

All patterns get a number and this is used in the so called "Playlist/playorder". This is a list, that just contains the order the patterns should be played. For example, "3-1-6" means "Play Pattern number 3, then number 1 and then number 6".

And what will a player (like MusicManiac) do with all this data? It will first read the samples and prepare them for playback. Second it will read the "Playlist" and look for the first pattern that should be played. It will then read the first row of that pattern, play it, read the second row, play it.... After one pattern is finished, it will look for the next pattern to be played in the "playlist".

This procedure will continue until there are no more in the "playlist".

Display in MusicManiac

What the different Designs display to you might differ, but these terms are very common:

-	the entries in the "playlist"
"Length" / "X patterns used for song"

-	the number of channels in the module
"Channels" / "X channels used"

-	the number of all patterns in the module
"Patterns" / "X patterns are different"

- 	the number of all samples/instruments used
"Instruments" / "X instruments used"

More Information

If you want to learn more about modules (e.g. what an effect is), please read the MODULE FAQ. This is a well known FAQ that describes everything about modules. It is found on many internet sites, so use a search-engine (for example HotBot) to find it.


Supported Module-Types

MusicManiac uses the MIDAS Digital Sound System for playback so the supported module-types are those MIDAS supports:

ProTracker/NoiseTracker/StarTrekker

Extension: MOD

ScreamTracker 3 by Future Crew

Extension: S3M

FastTracker ][ by Triton Prod.

Extension: XM

ImpulseTracker by Liam

Extension: IT


New modules

Of course you want to know where to get new modules. There are many sites on the Internet where you can find them; below we have listed some sites we visit frequently.

http://www.kos.org/music

K/oS's own section dedicated to modules. It's always a good idea to start your search here.

http://www.kosmic.com

One of the best places on the web to get new modules. At about every 2nd day a new module is available.

http://www.modarchive.com

Simply the best module-archive in the web.

http://sdc.wtm.tudelft.nl/trancefusion

Home of TranceFusion. The best trance-site in the web!


About / Contact
About K/oS MusicManiac

K/oS MusicManiac

Copyright © by K/oS

All Rights Reserved

Windows, Windows NT, Word, Excel, Visual Basic, ActiveX, OLE, COM and VBScript are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corp.

K/oS MusicManiac is Freeware. Detailed licensing information is included within the archive (file "LICENSE"). Please note that MusicManiac Designs have to be Freeware also. If you see somebody who sells MusicManiac Designs, contact us immediately !! These is a violation of our license and therefore illegal !!

You can contact K/oS for any reason:

E-mail:	TeXHeX@msn.com or TeXHeX@gmx.net

Internet:	http://www.kos.org

To get the newest version of K/oS MusicManiac, please visit the above mentioned Site.

K/oS would like to thank Petteri Kangaslampi and Jarno Paananen, the authors of MIDAS. Without their great work K/oS MusicManiac wouldn't exist.

 This helpfile has been generated using K/oS Helpy


About MIDAS

MIDAS Digital Audio System is a multichannel digital sound and music

system, designed mainly for use in games, demos, and other real-time

multimedia applications. MIDAS is free for non-commercial usage, but

licenses for commercial use are also available.

 Copyright © 1996 -1998 Housemarque Inc.

 written by Petteri Kangaslampi and Jarno Paananen

For more information, see http://www.s2.org/midas/


Tips & Tricks

- Double-click the icon of MusicManiac in the tray to start the Configuration program directly

- If you switch designs often, use the program "DSelector.EXE" program located in the installation-directory (normally C:\Program Files\MusicManiac)

- You can start any module directly from the Windows Explorer by double-clicking it

- Some designs support Drag&Drop - simply give it a try