------------------- - version history - ------------------- * v2.4, 15-sep-1994 Well, v2.3 wasn't the last version... The version 2.4 has been created for the SKYLINE CD for ATARI and basically is a fully registered version of Paula 2.3. Differences and NEW FEATURES are: + If you want to register for PAULA you decide how much you pay! But please, DON'T SEND ANY CHEQUES - CASH ONLY. This is because the transfer costs between different banks (using different currencies) are usually around 20 DM. + To save disc space, you can compress your MODfiles with Larc (SFXLHARC, LHarc 3.x) or any other program which can create 'afx' or 'lz5' type files. With LHARC, the command line is: lharc c *.mod + The main window now has key shortcuts for every button. Try it! + New GEM messages have been added: MP_START (0x4802) load and start one or more MODfiles. Same effect as VA_START. MP_STOP (0x4803) stop player and release MODfile. MP_SHUTDOWN (0x4804) Close window, stop & release MODfile. In addition to that Paula replies to every MP_xxx message with either: MP_ACK (0x4800) Command exectuted successfully MP_NAK (0x4801) Command wasn't executed properly. For more infos, refer to the sample code MP.C in \UTILS. + Paula understands command lines, standard and ARGV system. + Paula goes multitasking... even more! If it detects another running copy of itself in memory it passes control to the first copy (or 'instance' if we're talking OO). + The autoload feature has been eliminated. + A critical TAS.B opcode has been removed to assure compatibility with some STE accelerator cards. + The INF files are fully compatible to the old files. However, if an existant INF file containing a key is read and saved again the key info is lost. * v2.4beta, 24-jun-1994 Bugfix: another memory corruption bug fixed (4 bytes overshoot) Feature change: Speed 00 doesn't STOP, it only pauses the player. * v2.3, 13-mar-1994 Bugfix: swapped L and R channel according to Protracker Bugfix: no more memory corruption under MagiX Bugfix: workaround for form_center bug (or feature??) in some TOS releases NOTE: This will definately be the last version of Paula. No more updates. Sorry, hacker. * v2.2a, 20-feb-1993 Stop-command changed: in Protracker mode, a zero speed command stops the player at the current location - restart it with 'PLAY', while in non-protracker mode it is simply ignored. Internals adapted to the lower F030 sampling freq's (KHz) in STE DMA mode: ST STE TT F030 Hi: 6.1 12.5 12.6 12.3 Med: 9.6 25 25.1 24.6 Low: 12.2 50 50.3 49.2 This change was necessary because the sampling frequency difference between a TT and a F030 is such that it gives 35 cent pitch change (awful for musicians!!). * v2.2, 1-feb-1993 Correct CIA-timing implemented. Paula is now the only player which is really compatible to every MOD-format - including the very old Soundtracker 1.2 format introduced 1986 by K. Obarski. New hardware register access code - should now work on the FALCON if it is in 'STE-Compatibility-mode'. Old 15-instrument modules are always considered as non-protracker compliant. Finetune routines will also work with non-standard period values to be more compatible to some PC mod editors. * v2.1c, 11-jan-1993 Bugfix in the PT2.1 replay routine - one asm opcode changed. * v2.1b, 1-jan-1993 Improved chip emulator (resampling routines): very short, looped samples are now played much more precise at low sampling rates. When loading a file with the main window opened, a busybee is displayed. Bugfix: the 'Note Delay' Command was erroneous. Any player based on the 'PT-Replay 1.1B'-Routine will experience this bug. The play routine has also been updated to >>> PROTRACKER 2.1A <<<. * v2.1a, 30-oct-1992 Bugfixes: 1. the lz5 depack routine had some problems with MultiTOS' memory protection... 2. if one MOD was corrupted the following MOD was always assumed to be a packed one -> crash. But only on registered copies. Bad, very BAD... 3. samples longer than 64 Kbyte were problematic * v2.1, 18-oct-1992 Added AFX/Lz5 packed module support. Packed MODs are only useable with registered PAULA releases. Hint: instead of having AFX.PRG depacking your MODs, let Paula do this job. It's faster! * v2.0d Bugfix: a single MOD was always repeated in earlier versions. * v2.0c ?bugfix, dunno what. * v2.0b, 27-aug-1992 Bug related to LetEmFly fixed. (bug report: M. Schmitz) * v2.0a, 23-aug-1992 The length of the 'key'-field had to be changed to 16 chars. * v2.0, 20-aug-1992 From now on, Paula is Shareware. Further releases will include new features which will only be operational if you got a registered copy. Most parts have been rewritten from scratch in C. A new sequencer, the PROTRACKER PLAYER v1.1b has been built in - that guarantees maximum 'Amiga'-compatibility. The Amiga Soundchip emulator has been enhanced; interpolation is now as fast as it can be on 68030's. * v1.0 through v1.9 Well, these versions are still freeware... --------------------------------------------------------------------