EuroCD 3

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ EuroCD 3 / EuroCD 3.iso / Music / SMT / Manual < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1998-06-24 | 29.1 KB | 700 lines

Steev's MIDI Trigger Version 2.30 Copyright 1995-7 by Steven Goodwin This version is freely distributable, providing ALL the files, environments, samples, MODs and programs remain intact (and with my Copyright notice attached), with no alterations, additions or deletions. The license supplied with the software is such that you may use it for 30 days. After such time you should either register the software (see bottom of file) or delete all SMT software from your disks (including samples, MODs and environment files), with no intent of re- gaining SMT at a later date. -- Abstract -- This is a simple program, with a lot of hidden potential. It plays various samples (through the Amiga's internal hardware), upon the triggering of certain notes through the MIDI interface, or the Amiga's own keyboard. Each note can trigger a different sample (assuming you've enough CHIP RAM available), or they could trigger the same one at different pitches. For example, a combination of the above methods allows four (or more) piano samples to be played across the range of the entire keyboard giving very high quality reproduction. The demo environment 'Virtual_Piano.mte' shows how this can be done, and is a very useful feature when you have keyboard without a particularly good sounding piano (eg. mine!). It is also possible to get the notes to play the 'wrong' frequencies. So, when you play a C-2 on the keyboard, the program will replay a sample at F-2. This provides a very abstract piano which can provide unexpected results by playing familiar note sequences. By using different samples, you can 'jam' along with other musicians and create your own ambient and aural soundscapes very easily. It is also very easy to use a four-track tape recorder to build up several layers of a live performance using the MIDI trigger, without resorting to sequencing or programming. By using non-musical samples (door creaks, screams etc) this program would be capable of providing an audio backdrop for a play or video production, without the hassle of setting up tapes to play at the precise point of an effect. There is also MOD support. This allows you to load in a standard soundtracker module, and play it while you are jamming out a top line. This facility makes it very good for re-mixing, live techno performances or as a DJ supplement! You can program a simple breakbeat loop and bass line on the tracker, and then add vocals, scratchs, bleeps and other sounds on the remaining tracks. This can create a musically absorbing experience! The demo environment 'House_Music.mte' shows this. My final suggestion (although there are no doubt others), is to trigger breakbeats from individual keys, and build a song up from there. Many upbeat electro and techno tracks are very simple in structure, so you could sample several two bars segments from both the verse and chorus and trigger them from the bottom two octaves of the keyboard. The upper octaves could then be used for extra effects as mentioned above. Wow! What versatility!!! What makes this so special? AWE. The interface was written using AWE running under AMOS. This allows you several requesters open at the same time, just like Workbench. It also allows you to access one function, without closing another one down. So, for example, imagine you were about to assign a sample to a note, but had forgotten to load the sample! Normally with AMOS, you've have to close down the requesters, load the sample into memory, re-open the requester (making the necessary edits), and THEN assign the new sample. Using AWE you can load a sample while the sample list is shown on-screen. Then, when the sample has been loaded, the sample list will be updated for you to select the correct one! -- How To Use Steev's MIDI Trigger -- The main screen has a scrolling list on the left, detailing each of the notes available for triggering, along with the sample it will play, and the pitch. Throughout SMT, the pitch can be given as either a note name (C2 F#1 etc), or a frequency in Hertz (Hz). This latter facility allows fine tuning. Just for reference, SMT uses A-2 as 440 Hz. The maximum pitch for an internal sample is B-3 (the same as a standard tracker). Anything above this will not sound. The right hand side of the screen has a variety of buttons. These are split into two sections. The upper half references the 'Environments', the lower the 'sample' and 'note' data. Each of these meanings (in the context of SMT) will now be explained, along with the associated buttons. -- Environments -- Overview: These hold details of the complete memory. This means every sample, and all the note data (eg. its frequency, input and output parameters). Other information like the backing track MOD, and its' triggers are also part of the environment. However, the environment file does not contain any sample data. In fact, it never does. Samples and MOD's are always stored separately to reduce filesize, and allow the same sample to be used in different places without taking up extra disc space. If you "read" the environment file (used a standard text editor) you will find the sample paths listed. The four options to manipulate environments are: New Environment: Clears out the entire data file, and all sample data from memory. Nothing is left! If you just want to clear the note data, then select the 'Clear Data' button (see below). Load Environment: This will load the environmental data file from disc, and then proceed to load each sample required for it in turn. The backing MOD (if appropriate) is also loaded. If a sample can not be loaded, the load will terminate, leaving you with nothing!!! Save Environment: Saves the data file to disc. No samples are saved with this option. The MOD is not saved either. Full Save: Saves the data file, AND the samples to disc. This option is recommended for floppy disc users, or those who do not have the samples required on their hard drive, as it saves a lot of disc swapping as the program attempts to locate each sample. The MOD will also be saved, if it exists. As noted above, all of the supplement music data (eg. samples) are saved in separate files, and not joined with the environment file. -- Samples -- These are always loaded and saved in raw, signed, format (the usual for Amiga software). Each sample (once loaded) will cause a 'Sample Attributes' requester to appear. This has the following controls, Reference Name: The name of the sample (without the path) as a default. You can change this if you want by clicking in the box, and typing in the new name. This name will be shown in the main scrolling list wherever that sample is used, so it is best to make it fairly descriptive and/or recognisable. Full File Name: The complete path of the sample. Best to leave it as it is. Default Frequency/Note: This is the pitch at which the sample will be played at normally. It is not necessary to alter these values, unless you will be using that sample a lot at the default pitch, as the pitch of the sample can be altered in later requesters. Once the information in this requester is correct you should click OK. The 'cancel' button does not un-load the sample, it just uses the original contents of the requester (i.e. the original reference name and default frequency). -- Replace Sample -- This is the same requester as above, except it provides the opportunity to load a new sample into the current slot (the file requester button to the right of the file name). This allows you to experiment with different bass sounds (for example), without re- programming all the notes. Simple, but effective! -- Note Data -- The scrolling list on the main screen details each note, and its associated sample. By double clicking on one of these entries (or selecting EDIT PARAMETERS with a note in the display box underneath the list) you will bring up the 'Note Parameters' window. All of the information shown (and that obtained from it) is collectively known as the 'note data'. Input: This brings up a small window with 16 check boxes in. Each box relates to a MIDI channel. Using this you can mask off certain MIDI channels from SMT. By masking off channels 10-16 (for example) you get the Amiga to produce sounds for channels 1-9 ONLY. This is helpful when you have keyboard that sends drum data you do not want the Amiga to see. Output: This requester allows you to specify which channel the sound comes out on. There are four options here, and the appropriate one is marked by its radio button. 1)Specific Channel: The sound will ALWAYS come out on the channel(s) specified by the tick boxes. It will cut out any other sound already playing on that channel, including MOD music. 2)Alternate Between: The sound will toggle between the single channels reference by the ticks. There will only ever be one channel of sound. This will also cut out all other notes on the channel. 3)Next Free Channel: Whatever channel was used least recently will be used. Note: This does not take into account any MOD that is playing. Thus, this option is NOT very useful for mixing MODs with trigger notes. 4)MIDI, soft thru. Sends the note straight back to your synth. It is best to use this to play long string parts or chords. There is also a check box labelled 'Sample Link?'. this is new (V2.0) feature that allows you to combine the 'alternate between' option between several notes using the same sample. In other words, the sample will be played on the alternate channels as usual, but the count of which channel to use will be kept global to all the notes using this sample and the 'Sample Link' option. This is best used to implement a virtual piano on only two channels, while the others are used for playing a MOD, or other samples. Change Sample: This brings up the sample list requester. A double- click will tell the computer which sample you wish to use, and return you to the 'note params' req. Test Sample: This plays the current sample at the pitch shown in the window. Default: Both buttons force the relevant sample default data into the text requester. This is the same data as set up in the 'Sample Attributes' requester. The 'output' and 'input' requesters can be opened directly from the main screen in the same way as the 'Note Parameters' requester. Both access and edit the same data, but there is one minor difference in their working. If you open the 'output' window from the 'Note Parameters' window, then, when you close 'Note Parameters' the 'output' window is automatically closed. This is because it is it's 'child'. However, when opened from the main window 'output' belongs to the main window, and so can be closed from its own OK/Cancel button...or the main window. Similarly, if you close the main window it will close its child of the 'output' window....but closing the main window will also quit the program! Looping sounds can be achieved by using the three radio buttons near the base of the requester. These are: Off: No looping. This makes each sample a 'one-shot' sample (which is the default for versions 2.1 and lower). Any old environments will default to this. Always: The sample will loop until the trigger is stopped, or another requires the channel. Until release: The sample loops until you release the key pressed, if you are using a MIDI keyboard. Because of the way SMT works (it buffers samples in memory, ready to play when one finishes) when you release the key the sample will loop around again before stopping. This is OK. It happens because there is still a sample in the buffer, and the OS takes it automatically. If you find this a problem, there is one more feature to mention... 'Cut Sample On Key Up' - This check box will stop the sample the moment you take your finger off the key. This is best used with 'loop: until release'. Note: Looped sounds work best when kept on a specific channel, or channels. Looping them on 'next free channel' can confuse SMT as it does not know what channel it should play them on. Eg. Does it mean 'loop on next free', or 'loop on same channel again..even if its not free?'. The results of this action are undefined. Note: It is not advisable to use looped and cut-off samples from the Amigas keyboard. This is because the keyboard matrix can sometimes miss a key up, making it impossible to re-trigger the sample without first playing another on the same channel, or pressing 'space' to clear all the samples playing. -- Note Range -- For some environments (the virtual piano for instance), it would be very time consuming to enter data for every note. This feature assumes the frequency of each note will be evenly spaced, and does all the hard work for you (ahhh!). For Note Range: This specifies which notes are to be affected. You should enter them in 'standard form'. eg. C 2 D#3 However, the program is currently smart enough to accept "b1", "F 4", "f# 3". Change Sample: ...and... Test Range: ...and... Input: ...and... Output: These are all the same as normal. The setting of these options are replicated in each note that the option produces. Note: This does not necessarily mean EVERY note between the specified note range, as it is possible to tell the computer to ignore data already programmed in. Change..from.: These provide the pivot points. The computer will scale between the frequency/notes specified. Both this and the 'note range' parameters will be executed in the order given, so it is also possible to scale notes into descending order if you so wish. Note: The standard musical scale is NOT a linear relationship! That is, the frequency difference between successive notes is not the same. In fact, the frequency of each semi-tone increases by a *factor* of 1.0594631. This is not necessarily a bad thing though, as some interesting effects can be achieved using an even-frequency scale. The current sample name is shown in the bottom requester bar, and is carried over between subsequent 'Range' calls. But it is the only piece of information that is. -- Backing Track -- This option details the module to play in background. This is obvious an optional feature, but if used it can be invoked in two ways: 1) Type in the full file name and path into the upper text requester. SMT will then attempt to load the file when you OK this window. 2) Press the 'file requester' button on the right. A successful filename will be automatically entered into the text requester. The three cyclic buttons specify the trigger to Start, Stop or Pause the MODule during the triggering phase. The defaults are: START MODULE Left mouse button STOP MODULE Right mouse button PAUSE MODULE Fire button of first joystick It is possible to use the left button (for example) to start AND stop the module as SMT will see if the MOD is playing before determining which option to execute. It is not advisable to use the same trigger to PAUSE and either START or STOP the MOD, as this is confusing. Also, it is not possible to use the same trigger for all three options...this is just as confusing! The option to allow 'keys' to start the MOD is actually triggered from any key that does NOT produce a note (ie the main alpha-numeric key set - see later). The default setup is suggested because it allows you to re-start a module immediately (without having to stop it playing first). This provides a good 'scratch' effect for the first bar of a song. As a suggestion to semi-pro artistes...why not get a couple of foot switches and wire them in parallel to the standard mouse buttons. This will allow you to control the modules from the floor, allowing you to position yourself away from the Amiga. The registered version of SMT includes a stand-alone player which reduces the amount CHIP ram taken by the program (by not using a full interface) and can be used to run a batch of environment files upon termination of the previous. -- Test Trigger -- This is IT. This is the option that actually *does* something. Clicking on this permits you start triggering! During this time you can not access, move, or close any of the windows on the screen. But all the standard trigger keys (including the mouse buttons for MOD control) still work. Use both mouse keys (as directed by the on-screen prompts) to exit. -- Using The Amiga's Keyboard To Trigger SMT -- SMT uses the "standard" keyboard layout, as used in OctaMED and other trackers. That is, the keyboard is split into two octaves, one above the other thus: S D G H J L ; Z X C V B N M , . / for C-1 to E-2 and 2 3 5 6 7 9 0 = \ Q W E R T Y U I O P [ ] for C-2 to G#3 There is also the option of increasing the pitch of the note by an octave by pressing either SHIFT key. You can transpose up by two octaves using ALT, and three by either AMIGA key. There are also two other 'special' keys. The space bar and return key both 'refresh the module'. Because you can not play samples at the same time as the MOD (on the same channels), the current MOD channel has to be muted while the sample plays. This should un-mute shortly after the sample has finished playing. But if it doesn't, either of these keys will let the MOD play on all 4 channels again. Some interesting sound effects (i.e. noises) can be achieved by forcing a channel refresh before your sample has actually finished playing. -- Keyboard Shortcuts -- These are available throughout the product. The appropriate key is indicated by an underscore. That key should be pressed to activate the button. No other qualifying key is required. There is also a prevailing general rule that the OK and Cancel buttons can always be executed by use of the Return and Escape keys (respectively). This feature is not availible on 'Clear Data' because of its implications. -- The Demonstration Environments -- There are three included with SMT V2.1. They are, Virtual_Piano.mte House_Music.mte GM_Drums.mte Virtual Piano This is simplest to use. The lower four octaves contain there own piano sample, each played on the next free channel. This is a fairly good attempt at a piano. The problem lies within the limit of 4 audio channels on the amiga, and so if you are a good pianist (or you just play lots of notes) you will hear a very definite cut-off of the samples. An interesting effect can be achieved here by using the Amigas keyboard to hold down a chord. Because the computer has a key repeat facility the notes held down will also repeat. They cut off those already playing and start sounding anew. Try it, and hear what I mean. I'm sure someone will use it as a intro to at least *one* song!!!! House Music This is essentially a re-mixing console for all the DJ's and DJ- wannabes out there (i.e. me!). This contains two octaves of FX/vocals and general house sounds (circa 1988), a backing MOD (of originally composed music - including a not-very-original backing riff!), and MIDI thru' on the top octaves, permitting 'house piano' noises etc. Generally, the white keys produce vocals, the black notes-FX. Also, the first octave C-1 to B-1 puts the sounds out on the right channel (the MOD always leaves this empty), and the second octave uses the left channel (often empty, but sometimes containing extra melodies). The specific layout of the keys is thus: C-1 Z Ah yeah (vocal) Left Channel C#1 S Record scratch (sharp) D-1 X Check This Out (vocal) D#1 D Record scratch 2 E-1 C Give It To Them (vocal) F-1 V Hit It (vocal) F#1 G Metal Keys (at C-2) (use for extra melodies) G-1 B House Man (vocal) G#1 H Metal Keys (at D#2) A-1 N You Got It (vocal) A#1 J metal Keys (at G-2) B-1 M Ecstasy (vocal) C2-B2 as as C1-B2 except on the right the channel, the only differences are: C#2 2 Orchestra hit (pitched low- D2) D#2 3 Orchestra hit (powerful, different to the others) F#2 5 Orchestra hit (at F2) G#2 6 Orchestra hit (at G2) A#2 7 Orchestra hit (at A2) The backing track module uses the default keys of, START MODULE Left mouse button STOP MODULE Right mouse button PAUSE MODULE Fire button of first joystick GM Drums This mimics the General MIDI spec for drum and percussion sounds. I personally own no such equipment, and so can not verify the correctness of the mappings or sounds, but I have not received any complaints so far! I see this being used to try out complex drum patterns from GM files fed into the SMT from another Amiga, or a lesser-sequencer :-) It could also be used to take signals from a set of drum pads to give a 'virtual drum kit'. I, myself, am on the lookout for such a kit because I envisage it being so much fun! The key map used is: C-1 Kick Drum C#1 Stick D-1 Snre D#1 Claps E-1 Snare (crisp) F-1 Lo Tom (2) F#1 Closed Hi Hat G-1 Lo Tom (1) G#1 Opening Hi Hat A-1 Mid Tom (2) A#1 Open Hi Hat B-1 Mid Tom (1) C-2 Hi Tom (2) C#2 Crash Cymbal D-2 Hi Tom (1) D#2 Ride Cymbal E-2 Chinese Boom F#2 Tamborine G-2 Crash/Splash cymbal G#2 Cowbell A-2 Crash Cymbal (2) B-2 Ride Cymbal (2) C-3 Hi bongo C#3 Lo bongo D-3 Congo Slap D#3 Congo Hi E-3 Congo Low F-3 Timbale Hi F#3 Timbale Low A 3 Cabasa A#3 Maracas C#4 Short Guiro D-4 Long Guiro D#4 Claves E-4 Woodblock Hi F-4 Woodblock Low G#4 Triangle A-4 Triangle (2) A#4 Shaker C-5 Castinets You may notice a few gaps in here, compared to the actual GM drum kit. That is because I seem to be a couple of samples short, and have not tried to substitute any others. -- Problem Shooting -- Not that there should be problems of course.... Q. SMT can't find any of the samples? I've looked, but they are there! A. Are the paths in the environment file wrong? Are the samples on a disc of the right name? Have you copied SMT to a hard drive, and forgotten to use an 'assign smt: dh0:smt/' (or similar) command? I would add a line to your "s:user-startup" file, to make things easier. Similarly, the floopy should be named "SMT". Q. SMT keeps using the floppy disc, when I'vr got it installed on my hard drive. Why? A. The floppy disc is a device, and so take priority over the name "SMT:" when used as a assign to your hard drive. Take the floppy out of the drive! Q. My computer keeps saying "Out of memory". Why? A. The answer is very simple, my friend....You need more CHIP ram. Both the interface and samples require lots of it! It does work on an A500 with 1/2 Meg Chip machine (I've got one) but you probably won't be able to multitask much with it. I would suggest you use the "About" box to keep a check on the CHIP ram you have available, anything less than 50K, I'd expect the machine to crash very shortly! Q. The environment icon won't load the SMT program! A. The program must be called "Trigger" on a disc, or in "assign"ed directory called "SMT:". Q. The environment icon will load the SMT program... but says it can't find the environment file? A. The environment file (and thus its icon) must be in the same directory as the SMT program (SMT:). This is because as soon as the program has loaded, the directory is SMT: ... so when it looks for your environment file it can't find it. -- SMT - Version List -- Heres a rather potted history of the various SMT versions that are probably still floating around on FTP sites, and PD libraries... 1.0 So old, I'd rather forget about it! 1.1 Added the all important m/c. Added touch sensitive control. 1.2 Allowed MOD playing. 2.0 Brand new AWE interface. Added sample link idea. Allowed the Amiga's keyboard to be used. Added my picture to the main screen, and the title screen ;-) Improved a load of stuff I should have done ages ago!!!! 2.1 Improved the MC, added MIDI program changes. Corrected a few niggly bugs from 2.0. 2.2 Added sound looping (at last!!!)! Used the key messages to stop loops and cut off samples. 2.3 Changed the key handling routines back to v2.1 to give certain users *that* trick with the Amigas keyboard! -- THE END -- That's all you're getting for documentation! Pretty hefty though, really. Nevermind, if your starved of docs and want something else to read, then why not register 'Steev's MIDI Trigger', and learn about the file format, the source code, AWE programming and a whole load of little tricks! -- Registered Users Pack -- Executable code for: The SMT stand-alone player. The latest version of SMT. Source code for: Steev's MIDI Trigger in AMOS and ASCII formats The assembler code for SMT. In plain ASCII, suitable for GenAm 2+ SMT stand-alone player (in AMOS and ASCII). Documents for: The stand-alone player. The SMT file format. How to get it: Send me a fiver (such a small price, for such great software) and I'll send you a disc with all the above stuff on it! If you've got a printer then why not use this to make it very easy: o/_________________________ CUT HERE ________________________________ O\ Your Name:_______________ Address :_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Hi Mr. Steven Goodwin, I would like to register Steev's MIDI Trigger because, a) I'm a semi-pro and want to help out a would-be semi-pro b) It would be nice to get a letter that ISN'T a bill this week! c) I'd like to find out how you read the MIDI port in AMOS. d) I want you to guess the typeface on my printer. e) I have a tremendous guilt complex! f) All of the above (circle as appropiate) I enclose a cheque/postal order for #5 (which includes P&P) because I'm a kind hearted soul who cares about the people who make the software I use and enjoy! Thanks very much, Name ________________ (not completely necessary, but ties up the letter nicely) o/_________________________ CUT HERE ________________________________ O\ Contact address: Steven Goodwin 105 St. Johns Road Clacton-on-Sea Essex CO16 8DB Disclaimer: I make no warranties, implied or otherwise, in the distribution of this software. No responsibility is taken for the loss of data, information or sanity whilst using this software. So there!