Buzz 3/Buzz 3.adf/PlaySID_3.0.LhA/PlaySID3.0/Library.doc

Text File | 1994-08-12 | 8.3 KB | 232 lines

    PLAYSID.LIBRARY V1.0        (C)1994 Per Håkan Sundell & Ron Birk

    Release date: 1 June 1994

NOTE:

    This is SHAREWARE, not Public Domain. That means that if you like
    this program and want further updates, you can be a registered owner
    by sending us $15. It also means that you can copy this program only
    if all files (including this) are included and nothing is changed.
    You are not allowed to replicate any portion of the program, both
    code or data. Note also that we take no responsibilities for the use
    of this    program considering any damage to or failure of your hardware
    , software etc.

    You have the permission to put this unmodified and full archive on
    any BBS, FTP site, CD Rom, Magazine, Disk etc. In other words, the
    archive    may be freely distributed as long as no more than a nominal
    fee is charged to cover time and copying costs.

    If you just like the program, PLEASE let us know so by sending us a
    postcard or similiar to the addresses below.


NEW FEATURES:

    V1.0 (1994)

    * New, faster and better sound and waveform routines
        * PAL and NTSC TV System simulation
        * Channel on/off selection
    * Support for Compute! SID ".mus" files
    * Audio device and cia timers allocated only when playing
    * Icon tooltypes now have default settings, if omitted


PRODUCT INFO:

    The playsid.library is a standard amiga library    where all the c64
    music emulation is done. You can now add support for PlaySID modules
    in your own programs!! REMEMBER, you still need to supply the whole
    PlaySID archive with your program and CAN NOT only extract the
    library.

    This library emulates the SID and 6510 chip. The SID chip is the
    component in the C64 computer that handles sound. The 6510 chip
    is the CPU of the C64, that means the component    that actually
    executes all programs. Because the Amiga does not have these chips
    and others, you can't run C64 programs directly on Amiga.

    Now this library lets you play all those C64 programs that produce
    sound. As you probably know, the C64 has three sound channels (the
    amiga has four). But this utility also allows use of the fourth
    channel. This channel is the product of    some special programming on
    the C64, it isn't really a channel.

    The purpose of this product is to make the best conversion of C64
    sound on Amiga ever possible. If you think some sound isn't correctly
    converted please let us know.

    This utility is designed to work with true multitasking, under any
    system version and any amiga model. It can be run from both Workbench
    and CLI/Shell. It should work with any other program that don't use
    sound or timing. If this isn't the fact please let us know.


PROGRAM INSTALLATION:

    To install playsid.library copy it to your LIBS: directory by hand,
    or run the installation script 'Install' (by using 'Execute' or by
    doubleclicking its icon).


FILE FORMAT:

    playsid.library needs a PlaySID module header and a C64 data file to
    work. One-file modules have the header in front of the data. Icon
    files have the header data as icon tooltypes instead. The library
    support a conversion to a module header.


TECHNICAL INFO:

    Up to date playsid.library features:

    * Full emulation of 6510 instructions
    * Full envelope emulation (even better than SID)
    * Full waveform emulation (uses highest quality ever possible)
    * Full ringmodulation/synchronize emulation (even both!)
    * Emulation of the fourth channel, including Martin Galway NOISE
      and all kind of SAMPLES
    * Sounding like C64 PAL and C64 NTSC on all Amigas
    * Handles vertical sync, 60Hz and variable speed timing
    * Fast Forward and Rewind!
    * Timer (holds the actaul time, dependant of forward/rewind)
    * Amiga 4 kHz Filter ON/OFF (should be off)
    * Full TRUE Multitasking (opens, closes and checks everything)
    * Above new feutures

    playsid.library is written with GnuEmacs 18.58 and compiled with
    SAS/C 6.50 and Devpac 3.02 assembler. It uses about 50kB of chip
    memory and 160kB of other memory. If playing samples or rewind
    option is on, more memory will be used. Also add the length of the
    tune to the amount of other memory.


FUTURE FEATURES:

    This is a list of features that still isn't included into the current
    version. They will probably be included in future versions.

    * Emulation of Filter.
    * Option to load and play Tunes which are already emulated.
    * Support for other c64 module players
    * Features YOU would like to be added (PLEASE WRITE AND TELL US).


CONVERSION:

    If you convert by yourself, PLEASE send them to us, using e-mail or
    regular mail, so we can release complete packages. Then the user will
    not get several packages with same or bad tunes. PLEASE, supply full
    information (name, author and copyright).

    If you want to help us with conversion, we would be very pleased. We
    have a lot of disks on 1541-format and Amiga-format with already
    ripped tunes. On a lot of the files, the only work to do, is to    find
    the addresses of the initroutines. Some of them are splitted in
    several files but the most of them are one-parted. If you don't    have
    a C64 anymore but still have the knowledge of 6502, we could also
    supply you with a fast C64emulator with a machinecodemonitor made by
    ourselves. If you would want these files, please send some blank
    disks (in either format) to any address belove. If it shows up that
    you are a good converter, then you will have the next updates for
    free.

    For more information about conversion, read the supplied docs.


REGISTRATION:

    If you want to support our work, you have the option to become a
    registered owner of this utility and receive further upgrades WHEN
    THEY ARE READY. Send $15 USD (US DOLLAR) or equal amount in SEK
    (Swedish Krona) or DM (German Mark). Send it to either address below
    with your name, address, e-mail, phone etc. If you later change
    address, PLEASE let us know.

        Håkan Sundell            Ron Birk
        Dr. Lindhs Gata 3,II        Krögarvägen 11
        413 25 Göteborg            145 52 Norsborg
        SWEDEN                SWEDEN

    Those of you who already are registered users and have got one or
    more upgrade version, and want further upgrades can send either a
    fully post-paid return letter (swedish stamps!) with a disk or $5
    USD (or equal) for our expenses. You can do this right now so that
    you will get the upgrade the same moment it is ready.


CONTACT ADRESSES:

    You will reach us through usual mail, phone or Internet mail. Regular
    mail is very slow so Internet mail is the best way to reach us and is
    usually answered the very same day!

    If you want to call us about suggestions, bug report or complains
    about PlaySID you may call:

    [phone]  (Håkan) about 6502 and SID Emulation
    [phone] (Ron)   about Library, User Interface and Features

    If you have access to Internet you will reach us at the following
    e-mail addresses:

    [e-mail] (Håkan)
    [e-mail] (Ron)


NOTE TO OTHER DEVELOPERS:

    To Questronix (The makers of The A64 Package):

    We are still offering you our SID emulation to your C64 Emulator
    (We have listened to your noise emulation). And if that is
    interresting, we could help with the Cassette interface    (including
    software) too! It's connected as a diskdrive, and it works very fine.


THANKS:

    We want to thank the following people for helping us with the
    development of PlaySID:

    Robert Eichelsheim   - For supporting us with extremely many ripped
                   tunes and for information about the authors
                   and copyrights. For beta testings and good
                   suggestions about improvements.

    Bent Nielsen         - For supporting good ideas and algorithms
                   about synthesized waveforms.

    Alexander Andelkovic - For lending us your C64, 1541 and many
                   games to rip songs from.

    Peter Kunath         - For good suggestions and beta testing.

    Stefan Boberg        - For early beta tests and good suggestions.

    ??? (Florida?)         - For giving us the Compute! SID player.

    Teijo Kinnunen       - For making MED! It inspired us to make
                   PlaySID multitask.

    Olaf Barthel         - For making Term! Without it we would still
                   use snail mail during development, as we
                   live 460 km from each other.

    Registered Users     - Thanks for supporting our work. You are
                   the reason for our work.

    Commodore-Amiga      - For making all this possible!


LAST WORDS:

    We hope that you will find this program useful and that
    it will bring back the old C64 athmosphere to you too...