PC World Komputer 1996 February

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Text File | 1994-03-28 | 22KB | 534 lines

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN WITH THIS DISTRIBUTION PACKAGE ---------------------------------------------------------- WBTDEMO.EXE - The main WaveBlaster Tamer Working Demo program. WBTAMER.CBK - A preset (patch) file for you to experiment with. WBTAMER.INI - A file that contains patch name information for Cakewalk Apprentice PATCHES.INI. See WHATS.NEW for more information. WBTAMER.ICO - An icon for WaveBlaster Tamer running under Windows. WBTAMER.PIF - A file to let you use WaveBlaster Tamer under Windows. WBTAMER.MID - A special .MID file that WaveBlaster Tamer will play. WBTAMER.TRN - A collection of free patches that can be used with the WaveBlaster Tamer patch transfer system. PRESETS.DOC - A text file on the free presets included with this file. WBTDEMO.WRK - A Cakewalk demo song that shows off the free presets. Read WHATS.NEW for details. WBTDEMO.WAV - A Windows .WAV file to help you see if you installed the presets OK. See WHATS.NEW for details. ORDER.FRM - An order form. FILE_ID.DIZ - A bulletin board information file. WHATS.NEW - A history of additions and upgrades to WaveBlaster Tamer. Be sure to view this. READ.ME - This file. WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES ---------------------- Your Creative Labs WaveBlaster is a sound module--a special kind of synthesizer that plays back instrument samples. Samples are digital recordings of real instruments. Therefore, when a program asks your WaveBlaster to make a piano sound, it is playing back the sound of real piano. But there is more to a sound module than playing back samples. Most sound modules let you adjust to an extraordinary degree how that sample is actually played. To begin with, you can vary the sample's attack, decay, sustain, and release. Or you can double the sample with the second one slightly out of phase with the first, causing a chorusing effect. You can even play the sample backwards, which sounds like a tape machine running in reverse. This program makes it possible for you to modify every available parameter in the WaveBlaster. WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT ALL THIS ---------------------------------- IF YOU ARE A MUSICIAN, this all means that you have a lot of power on your hands if you can control all of those variations. You can create instrument sounds from the ground up, to match any music you can imagine. IF YOU JUST BOUGHT YOUR WAVEBLASTER TO PLAY GAMES, it means you can tweak your instrument sounds to bring the best music possible from the WaveBlaster. You don't need to read music. With the right utility (i.e., this one!), you don't have to know about synthesizers. You don't even need a keyboard. All you need is your ear. HOW IT WORKS ------------ All of the parameters are stored in special files on your hard drive called "preset files." The preset file can contain up to 192 "patches." Each patch contains the parameter settings for one instrument. With this program, you can load a preset file from disk, listen to the patches, modify them, and save them back to disk. You can send them to the WaveBlaster and listen to the way your changes enhance the sound of your music and games. As you become more advanced in making new sounds, you'll find that this program will support your efforts. All you need to do is experiment. MY MORE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ---------------------------------- Q. I find some of these settings confusing. What kind of documentation is there? A. I have developed a 50+ page printed manual for registered users that is pretty comprehensive about the WaveBlaster. However, you must remember that the WaveBlaster itself is quite advanced. To use it to its fullest advantage, you'll have to acquire a pretty good knowledge about MIDI implementation. The good news is, if you choose to acquire that knowledge, WaveBlaster Tamer will be able to keep up with you. Q. Why didn't you develop WaveBlaster Tamer as a Windows application? A. Well, I just might. But it isn't the highest thing on my list of priorities. I like Windows just fine, and I probably run WaveBlaster Tamer in Windows more than DOS. Here are some thoughts behind my programming technique. - Windows itself is a DOS application. Developing a program in DOS doesn't mean it automatically can't run in Windows--that's a non sequiter. When you program in DOS, you can make your program "Windows aware." That means your program knows when it is running under Windows and acts accordingly. That's what WaveBlaster Tamer does--you can see some of its menus change color when you are in Windows. - In some respects, WaveBlaster Tamer is capable of doing some things in Windows that Windows applications can't. The SBMIDI port is always available to WaveBlaster Tamer in Windows, no matter what other application is running. - You aren't going to spend most of your time with WaveBlaster Tamer editing preset files. You'll spend more time uploading preset files and bank switching (or channel muting if you have another keyboard or sound module hooked to the SBMIDI port). Because of this, I've focused on making WaveBlaster Tamer as automatic as possible. You'll be able to set your WaveBlaster up from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, which you can't do with a Windows application. You can have it run from batch files and .PIF files in "quiet mode," silently changing what you want and then returning control to you. You can't get that kind of multi-platform flexibility in a Windows-only application. But, unless Creative Labs stops making WaveBlasters altogether, I might reproduce this program in Windows, if there is enough interest. INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION FOR WAVEBLASTER TAMER ---------------------------------------------- The remainder of the this README.TXT file was created for distribution with WaveBlaster Tamer 1.0. It will give you a basic introduction to the program, but it does not contain information about the latest upgrades--some major improvements have occurred in later versions. Be sure to glance at the file named WHATS.NEW for updates on any new features. WaveBlaster Tamer 1.0 ---------------------- INTRODUCTION ------------ Thank you for trying this working model of WaveBlaster Tamer. In this working model, most every function is available. Only a few key features and the ability to save files have been disabled. I hope this will make it easy for you to see how the WaveBlaster Tamer can expand your MIDI sound system. READ THIS IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE ---------------------------------- If you want to play now and read later, here's how to set the WaveBlaster Tamer up to demonstrate its maximum potential: 1. UnZIP these files to one directory. I recommend creating a subdirectory under C:\WAVEBLST (assuming you followed the Creative Labs recommended installation of the WaveBlaster software) called C:\WAVEBLST\WBTAMER. 2. Make sure you have SBMIDI.EXE loaded--the version that came with your WaveBlaster, not your SB16. If you used the default installation parameters when you installed the WaveBlaster software, it's located in the C:\WAVEBLST directory. To make sure SBMIDI.EXE calls your WaveBlaster properly, enter SBMIDI /2 on the command line. (You know, I find this little TSR so useful that I put it in my AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and let DOS's MEMMAKER put it in high memory. You might want to consider that--in the complete WaveBlaster Tamer documentation, I discuss different ways to make this utility fill some very handy functions.) 3. Know where these files are located: a. PLAYMIDI.EXE b. SB16SET.EXE c. WBTAMER.MID * d. A directory where you keep .MID files (Possibly C:\WAVEBLST) e. A directory where you keep .CBK files * * In this working demo, you've been given a sample .MID file and .CBK file (WBTAMER.MID and WBTAMER.CBK). Assuming that you've put the working demo package in its own directory, that's where these files will be. You can substitute any .MID file of your choosing for WBTAMER.MID, but see below. Since WaveBlaster Tamer can't save .CBK files, you'll probably be working exclusively with WBTAMER.CBK. 4. Know what your WaveBlaster port address number is. It will be either 330 (factory default) or 300. If you enter in the wrong number here, WaveBlaster Tamer will crash the first time you try to send it a command or play music. Ouch. If you want to run this on a computer without a WaveBlaster installed, enter a 0 when you are asked for an address. Then the program won't try to send information out. 5. Run the program, and select CONFIGURE first. Enter the information described in 2 and 3 above. 6. Have fun. COOL THINGS TO KNOW ------------------- While you are in the program, the following function keys work in most places. F1 Sends the current preset to the WaveBlaster and plays a sound audition with the default note sequence. Shift-F1 Sends the current preset to the WaveBlaster, but does not play the default note sequence. F2 Plays a sound audition using WBTAMER.MID (or whatever file you specified in CONFIGURE), played by PLAYMIDI.EXE. Shift-F2 Pulls up a directory of .MID files (in the directory you specified in CONFIGURE), to be played by PLAYMIDI.EXE. F3 Panic! Turns off all notes. F8 Pulls up SB16SET.EXE. F9 Pulls up a menu of MIDI command options. F10 Displays help. THE REAL DEAL ------------- Okay, so why isn't this shareware? It's because I'm not sure if the shareware marketing system works all that well when the market for a program is fairly small, which is--compared to the market for word processors or spreadsheets--what the market of people who want to edit patches for their WaveBlasters probably is. But, on the other hand, you are getting a chance to review my craft first-hand, and decide on the quality of my work before you spend a dime. I think that's a pretty good system. Best of all, when you want the real deal, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg. Just drop $29.95 and applicable sales tax plus $4.50 for shipping to: Keith Cowgill 582 Thistle Avenue Gahanna, OH 43230 And I'll send a completely working version, with complete docs, and some other neat stuff, to you. INCOMPLETE DOCS --------------- Full documentation is given to WaveBlaster Tamer owners, but this will get you started. What this is ------------ The WaveBlaster Tamer is basically a patch editor. In E-Mu (the company that's the brains behind the WaveBlaster) terms, the WaveBlaster patches are called presets. WaveBlaster presets are built using samples stored in ROM. Each preset may be built from 1 or 2 samples, each of which can be modified in an extraordinary number of ways. In addition, each preset may be linked to up to 3 other presets, which means that you can create some pretty dense sounds. If you work carefully and diligently, you may find a way to chew up your entire 32-voice polyphony with one preset! Why you need it --------------- If you own a professional-level sound module or keyboard, you are probably used to creating and storing your patches in the unit itself. With the WaveBlaster, all presets reside on your hard drive. The WaveBlaster boots up in General MIDI mode-- the presets for which are stored in its ROM (although you also received a GENMIDI.CBK file with your unit which are the same presets). If you want to change your presets, you'll have to download a new preset file. That's why WaveBlaster Tamer was created--to modify those presets. Getting around -------------- The WaveBlaster Tamer has two editing options, one for presets and the other for MIDI channels. A. Preset editor. The screen is divided into 5 areas, which you access by pressing ALT and the highlighted letter for that area. For example, to change a preset's name, you would press Alt and N at the same time. If you press Alt-O, you have three possible sub areas to choose from. Use your cursor up and down keys to find the one you want. Hit F10 for more help, if you need it. B. Channel editor The screen is divided into 16 areas, representing the 16 channels. Use your cursor or tab keys to find the channel you want and press enter. Press Enter or ESC to quit that channel. Press ESC again to leave altogether. About Presets and Samples ------------------------- The WaveBlaster and the preset file structure are based on E-mu's Sound Engine and Proteus units. When I created WaveBlaster Tamer, I made every single parameter specified in the preset files available to you for your modification, even though some of them may not be used by the WaveBlaster. Most of them are useful. Trust me, you'll find the coolest ones right off the bat. There are 255 samples stored in the WaveBlaster ROM. They sound pretty good, and you'll be surprised to discover that you've never heard many of them coming from your WaveBlaster. Only people with preset editors have complete access to these sounds. As you begin to use this program, you may find it helpful to have your WaveBlaster manual open to the Appendix that lists the stored samples. It will make it a little easier to get around until you become more familiar with finding the ones you want. The structure of the preset file as used in General MIDI mode is that there are 192 presets. The first 128 are instruments available to all channels except 10. The latter 64 are drum sets and drum preset links only for channel 10. You'll find that my program will let you switch from GM mode to Proteus mode, which is an entirely different arrangement. See below for a couple more details on Proteus mode. Your WaveBlaster also has enough RAM for two banks of presets, which means you could have one bank containing General MIDI presets, and another with completely different sounds. With the commercial version of WaveBlaster Tamer, you can switch banks and download different presets to each. If you have a sequencer that sends SYSEX commands, you can easily switch between the two in your sequences. There's other neat stuff too. Explore. OBSCURE INFORMATION THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY COME BACK TO THIS FILE AND READ ONLY AFTER YOU'VE TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. I made a change to a patch, then called up a .MID file from my directory, but I didn't hear my patch. Why? When you are in patch creation and audition mode, your patch is sent to the WaveBlaster on Channel 1, as Program # 1 (In General MIDI, that's Acoustic Grand Piano). WBTAMER.MID, which came with this program, has an instrument playing on just that setting. If the .MID files you are playing have some other instrument (i.e., program number) on Channel 1, or don't use Channel 1 at all, then you won't hear your patch. In the normal version of WaveBlaster Tamer, after you get done creating your patches, you would save your file, send it all to the WaveBlaster, and then go into your sequencer of choice to begin composing with your new sounds. 2. When I establish a Preset Link to Acoustic Grand Piano (General MIDI instrument #1), the Acoustic Grand Piano doesn't play. Why not? I mentioned this to some folks at E-mu. I think it's a bug in their ROM. The WaveBlaster doesn't seem able to link to instrument #1 in a preset bank. The other 191 are available, however. 3. Hey! What happened?! One (or more) of my channels quit working! You probably got into the Channel Edit portion of the program and turned the channel off. I made this available to you because you may, like me, have an external MIDI module hooked to the SB16 MIDI port. Unless you turn off channels that you want your external module to use, both the WaveBlaster and the module will play on those channels. Here, you can turn a channel off (or back on) to the WaveBlaster, so that only your external synth will sound on that channel during this session. Above all, just remember that there really isn't much you can do to the WaveBlaster that can't be undone by turning your computer off and on. 4. I got into my sequencer, and discovered that my drums on Channel 10 had been replaced by pianos and stuff. What gives? You probably switched the WaveBlaster from GM to Proteus mode. GM demands that drums be on Channel 10, but Proteus mode has no restrictions. Proteus, through a channel mapping scheme, allows any of the 192 presets to mapped to any channel. If you switch to Proteus mode, the same presets played by the other channels are played by channel 10. 5. I don't know what I did, but the WaveBlaster seems to have locked up completely! I hope this doesn't happen to you--and if it does, I hope you'll let me know what you were doing when it happened. If it ever should, just starting WaveBlaster Tamer again should fix things, although you can always select "Reset WaveBlaster to factory settings" from the MIDI Options menu to accomplish the same task. 6. I know I can't save presets on the demo, but sometimes they seem to sound a little different than others. This will happen if you are playing with a patch that has Preset Links. Preset Links represent the joining of two or more presets. However, when linked presets are called, the *currently downloaded* presets are the ones you will hear. If you want to hear the WBTAMER preset demos precisely as I programmed them, you must first download the WBTAMER.CBK file from the file options menu. 7. In an editing session, I keep changing presets, but my keyboard keeps playing the same sound. Why? This happens--especially in Windows--if you are going back and forth between programs that send out MIDI information. If your sequencer sets your keyboard to some other channel or instrument, then it will no longer be set at WaveBlaster Tamer's editing area. This is an easy fix, though, just push whatever buttons on your keyboard that will reset it to instrument or patch 1. Then you'll be back in business. This should point out to you, however, that WaveBlaster Tamer responds to ALL MIDI In information, not just notes. You may find that useful to know, because it means that you can call up WaveBlaster Tamer, upload a .CBK file, and access all the instruments in that file by changing patch numbers on your keyboard. THERE'S NO WAY YOU FIGURED THIS OUT ALL BY YOURSELF, IS THERE? -------------------------------------------------------------- No. Most people who know me can assure you that I don't have the brain power for that. However, I did have... -A document written by Daron Myrick called "WAVEBLASTER Secrets," that alerted everybody to the potential in the Creative Labs WaveBlaster. Well done, Daron. -Extraordinarily patient and helpful technical advice from Mark Camp and Dave O'Neal at E-Mu systems. -Nice answers from some pretty smart people on CompuServe's MIDI forum. Thanks, everybody. BUG REPORTS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, COMPLIMENTS ----------------------------------------------- Bugs? In Version 1.0? How could such a thing happen? >> ReadMe Revision 12/5/93: Yes, it did happen. That's why Version 1.1 was distributed within two days of Version 1.0. Seriously, I would be thrilled to hear from you. Just not by phone. Drop me a line at the address above or E-Mail me on CIS at 73147,2253. I have plans in the making for Versions 2 and 3 of this program, but all of that may change depending on upcoming technology changes with Creative Labs sound cards. THE LEGAL STUFF I SWORE I'D NEVER PUT IN HERE --------------------------------------------- But then again, paranoia strikes deep, as Stephen Stills used to say. I retain all copyrights to this program. You are entitled to use this program any way you wish and distribute it to anyone you wish, with the following restrictions: - Don't change the WBTDEMO.EXE file in any way. - Don't charge anything for distributing it other than a nominal distribution-service fee. - If you upload or distribute the program in any way, include all of these files as you received them, with no modifications. WHO I AM AND WHY I INSIST ON WRITING PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION LIKE SOME CHEESY ADVERTISING COPYWRITER ---------------------------------------------------------- It's because I am a cheesy advertising copywriter, by day. I also play out and record with a rock band in Columbus, Ohio. For some reason, that still doesn't make me feel enough like a social misfit, so about once every couple years I get this urge to be computer programmer, and this is the program I'm writing this time around. Hope you like it.