Program name : MELODY ASSISTANT
Version      : 1.1.3
Date         : March 1998
Authors      : Didier & Olivier Guillion
Adress       : 22 rue Pierre d'Aragon, 31200 Toulouse, France
E-Mail       : myriad@hol.fr
Web          : http://members.aol.com/GBShare



                1. Introduction
                2. Installation
                3. Documentation
                4. Fee
                5. Our other softwares


1. Introduction
----------------

 Melody is an useful software for computer-assisted tunes writing and 
 composition. 

 Easy to use, it offers a friendly interface and powerful features :

 - Score editor
  If you use often printed scores, it'll be easy to enter them on your 
  computer : Melody processes almost all the break symbols used in musical 
  writing, and uses them while playing the music. A powerful editor allows 
  you to place and move easily the notes on the staves.
 
 - Digital output
  A complete digital instrument database is integrated to Melody, which 
  gives hi-quality musics, even if you don't own professional hardware.
 
 - Digital sound editor
  You can record your own sounds from a CD or a microphone (or load a sound
  file like .AIFF or .WAV), and use them as instruments in your tunes.
 
 - Compatibility with other softwares
  Your tune files can be played either on PC or Macintosh, since Melody 
  exists on both platforms. Melody allows also to import and export musics 
  in MIDI 0 or 1 or CMF format.
  Melody can read Band In A Box style files and MOD or S3M files.
  Exporting the whole tune in AIFF or WAV format allows your music to be 
  integrated in multimedia projects, or to be written later on an audio CD.
  Exports are reserved to registered copies.
 
 - Tablatures and chord diagrams
  Guitarists and Bassists haven't been forgotten : Melody calculates 
  tablatures and displays the chord diagrams. You can even define your own 
  stringed instrument and calculate tablatures for it !
  A complete library of guitar chord diagrams is given with Melody. You can 
  complete this library by defining easily your own chords.
  
 - Karaoke
  You can associate lyrics to a tune, and let the music play in Karaoke 
  mode. Of course, Melody loads and processes the MIDI Karaoke file format 
  (.KAR).
  
 - Graphics and colors
  Graphic in black and white or color (in BMP or PICT format) can be 
  inserted at any point on the score. 
  All the symbols can be colorized, globally or individually, in order to 
  enhance the attractiveness of your document. 
  You can drop texts and comments where you want on the score.
  
 - Tune printing
  Printing is widely user-defineable : you can define integrally the 
  printing format.
  
   
2. Intallation
---------------
 Start the "Install.exe" application and follow the instructions.
 Note : The Windows 3.1x users must install beforehand the Microsoft's
 32 bits compatibility kit named "Win32s".

3. Documentation
-----------------

 The software manual is given in RTF format in the "Docs" folder
 (Docs\English.rtf). We engage you to read it with your usual word 
 processor, and to print it.
 However, if some problems aren't solved in the software manual, fell free
 to contact us by postal or electronic mail. 


4. Fee
-------

 If you like this software and want to use it steadily, we ask for a 
 $15 fee.
 Once this fee received, we'll send you back very quickly a personal 
 registration code which grants you the access to all the features :
 unlimited number of symbols on a staff, music exports in WAV, AIFF or
 MIDI format, key change at any point in the score ...

 Of course, this personal registration number will remain valid for all
 the future versions of Melody.

 If you want to receive at home, by postal mail, the next releases of
 Melody, add $4 for each release. If you have an Internet access, the next
 releases will be available on our Web site, and on most of the shareware
 archive services, like Shareware.com, SoftSeek, etc.

 If you want to receive the extended version of the digital sound database,
 add $6.

 To register your copy, click on the "Register" button in the first window, 
 and choose the payment mode (credit card or other).
 Then, you just have to follow the instructions.


5. Our other softwares
-----------------------

 Sapiens : Sapiens is an adventure-arcade game that brings you back 100 000 
  years ago for discovering the everyday life of the Homo Sapiens 
  Neandertalensis. 
  You incarnate a young Hunter from the Light-Foot tribe : you'll have to 
  explore your territory, keep up friendly contacts with the other tribes, 
  trade objects, make assegai heads and fight for your life... 
  The movements are displayed in 3D view and a digital music energizes the 
  game. 
 Fee : US $10

 Awale :  It is one of the most ancient games still played. The Masai say 
  that the Awale was invented by Sindillo, the son of the first man, 
  Maitoumbe, and was originally called geshe. 
  This fascinating African game (also known as Awele, Oware, Wari, ...) has 
  been here very attractively adapted on microcomputer. Play against the 
  computer and try to defeat him. 
  A very realistic game, with solid wood and clattering stones. 
  Its progressive game levels, its 16 different variations from all over 
  the world and its Internet features that allow two players to challenge 
  over 
  the Internet makes Awale the best Mancala game ever.
 Fee : US $10

 Harmony Assistant :  Harmony is the Melody's big brother. To a more 
  complete description of this software, refer to the dedicated chapter in 
  the documentation file. 
  Harmony is a commercial software, sold $65. You can order an evaluation 
  copy (complete software, but without save and print options) for $6.

----- End of Readme file
