



   LIVE, LIVE Basic, LIVE +,
   MIDI recording software for Atari ST/STE/TT/Falcon 030



                                       WELCOME TO LIVE!

   The power of a software is mainly defined by the sensitivity of
   its developers. The higher goal of their work are the desires
   of the people who are going to work with the software. LIVE
   is a softare for musicians. Therefore it has been of particular
   interest to clearly design the numerous possibilities of the
   program and also to provide a familiar environment especially
   for the musician. LIVE mainly offers the possibilities of
   different pieces of equipment. So it was quite evident to adapt
   the user surface to the 'real' equipment - or have you ever
   tried to use a tape machine with a pulldown-menu?  Gadgets
   do not have alert-boxes either that all of a sudden block the
   musician's view on his work. Instead they have buttons and
   displays with fixed positions which work simple, reliable and
   easy to remember.
   LIVE follows this way of working to the fullest extent.
   All buttons can really be pushed, all displays are in fixed
   positions, everything is realistic, true-to-life and ... LIVE.

   THIS IS A DEMO VERSION

   You can only load Songs and Midifiles. Some functions are not activated.
   It is not possible to save any data.

   This introduction describes the LIVE version. On this disc you also find
   a demo version of LIVE +, the GEM version of LIVE. Basic operations are
   similar to LIVE.

   THE GENERAL PART.

   LIVE was made for all computers of the ATARI ST, STE, TT and Falcon
   series with a minimum of 1 megabyte RAM, monochrome monitor and big
   screen plus all instruments with midi interface.


   Installing the system

   Insert the program disc into disc drive A and switch on your
   computer.
   With a double click on the "disc drive A" symbol the
   corresponding window is opened.

   The program disc contains the following data:

   Folder           M.ROS
   Program          LIVEDEMO.PRG
   Program          LIVEPLDE.PRG (LIVE + demo)
   Folder           DEMOS D 10
   Text             READLIVE.TXT (english)
   Text             LIESLIVE.TXT (german)

   With a double click on "LIVEDEMO.PRG" the program is
   started. A few seconds later the LIVE song page appears.


   MIDI IN/OUT/THRU

   The standard configuration to work with LIVE is a
   MIDI-capable keyboard. Connect the MIDI-out of your keyboard
   with the MIDI-in of your computer and the MIDI-in of your
   keyboard with the MIDI-out of your computer. To use more
   MIDI equipment, connect the MIDI-thru of your 'master
   keyboard' with the MIDI-in of each additional gadget.
   Theoretically you can now use an infinite number of MIDI tools,
   practically there are some restrictions:
   1. MIDI has only 16 different channels, so that your
      possibilities are quickly depleated.
   2. In some situations, noticible time problems can occur .
      This appears because the MIDI interface is 'too small'
      for a certain amount of data.

   Timing problems can be avoided or reduced if additional
   MIDI-ports are installed which at the same time offers the
   possibility to use the 16 MIDI-channels of each MIDI-port
   separately.


   Installing a M-ROS device

   LIVE works with the MIDI multitasking system "M-ROS" (c)STEINBERG
   which is an extension of ATARI-TOS with MIDI-functions.
   Multitasking-system means that several programs can be worked at
   the same time with help of the M-ROS "switcher"program. M-ROS also
   supports the installation of up to 16 so-called "devices"
   (additional gadgets).
   Those devices are offered by STEINBERG (Midex, SMP 24 etc.) and other
   companies. If one of those devices is connected (for example
   Midex through the ROM-port), LIVE  recognizes this automatically and
   displays the installation and for example additional MIDI ports.
   For more precise information about additional devices please
   see the user's manuals.


   The program construction

   LIVE consists of 11 pages:

   F1   PERFORMANCE PAGE
   F2   SONG PAGE
   F3   KEY EDITOR
   F4   DRUM EDITOR
   F5   MIXER
   F6   KEYTRACK EDITOR
   F7   STYLE EDITOR
   F8   SYS-EX PAGE
   F9   DEFINITIONS
   F10  FILE MANAGER
   F ?  CONDUCTOR

   You can reach the pages either with the F1 - F10 keys on your
   computer keyboard or with the mouse on the screen (PAGE MENU).
   CONDUCTER is entered by pressing the F key of the active page.


   Page Menu

   Below the position display the name of the current page is
   shown. If you move the cursor on that name, the ten symbols
   for the different pages are shown.
   Now you can select the desired page with a single mouse
   click.


   The displays

   On the upper part of the screen you find the displays. Their
   function is to inform the user about the processes on the
   workspace below and to offer the possibility of changing
   details.

   The position display

   The position display is located in the left part of the display.
   It shows the current beat-, SMPTE-time, the current song
   name, the tempo and the time.

   The dialogue display

   When you select an object, the dialogue display shows
   parameterof the object that can be changed.

   The help display

   The help display shows which functions can be called up on
   the current mouse position with either the left or right mouse
   key or with a double click (left mouse key).
   If you move the cursor on the help display you can switch
   between English and German program language anytime.


   THE WORKSPACE

   The workspace is your actual work place. Just like a piece of
   paper on your desk you can work on different objects on the
   workspace on screen. Some drawing or writing pads have a
   ruler printed on the side, the horizontal bar between the
   workspace and the display area pictures a ruler which shows
   the beat or minutes and seconds. On this ruler you also find
   two triangles which are the locator-marks. The workspace is a
   coordinate system with a horizontal time axis. The vertical axis
   shows which kind of objects are conducted in the current
   page, for example parts in tracks, songs in a performance,
   notes in a keyboard or beats of different percussion
   instruments in a drumset etc..

   The first time LIVE is loaded into your computer, only a few
   objects are in the workspace, one song and one track with
   part (without contents). An object can be a single note or a
   whole song or a part of a song or whatever you are working
   on with LIVE. An object mostly has the shape of a rectangle
   with exception of drumnotes which are triangle-shaped.
   The dialogue display provides you with further information
   about the object, so you do not have to guess which kind of
   object you are looking at on the screen. This function is called
   up by moving the cursor above the object and then clicking
   the left mouse key once. The help display always provides you
   with information about which functions can be executed with
   the mouse at any place without chosing the particular object.
   It is sufficient to move the cursor over the object.

   It is also posible to scroll through the workspace by moving
   out of the workspace with the mouse key pushed down. This
   works the same way with the scroll keys on your computer
   keyboard. Single areas can be selected by pulling a 'rubber
   band' around the objects.


   The button area

   The button area offers further 'utensils'. At the desk, you
   work with your hands (a pen or scissors) on the workplace.
   Around the workplace are other utensils like files and little
   shelfs, under the desk is a waste paper basket. Working with
   LIVE works the same way. Under the workspace is a little
   shelf, a waste paper basket and other important things that
   you need for working which can be operated by the buttons:

   The disc button

   Load or save the objects by clicking this button with the
   mouse. Saving with a double click executes this function
   without prior demand.


   The clipboard button

   To transfer an object of a song or from a work area into
   another work area you select it and click the clipboard button
   with the left mouse key. The next time you click the clipboard
   button the object can be transferred out of the clipboard into
   (another part of) the workspace. The cursor will show a little
   "box" with the ending of the selected object. An object saved
   in the clipboard is
   a)  indicated through the stylized paper sheet "on the
       clipboard",
   b)  further described with three letters ("extension"). The
       extensions are explained in the chapter "file manager".

   The trash button

   First click an object to show it inverted. Clicking the trash
   button deletes the object. This and other functions can be
   reversed with the "undo"-key on your computer keyboard.


   The transport buttons

   Here everything works like on a real tape machine - try it.
   Record, play, rewind and fast forward ... A vertical line in the
   workspace shows the current position graphically, the position
   display shows the current position in numbers (beats and
   SMPTE-time).

   The Q-button stands for quantising. 'Quantising' means the
   additional correction of recorded sequences or their parts.
   With the left mouse key selected parts can be quantised, with
   the right mouse key they can be de-quantised and with a
   double click the quantising parameters are shown in the
   dialogue-display.

   Play mode

   Pushing the PLAY button with the left mouse key starts the
   play process. If the right mouse key is clicked on the PLAY
   button the process is put into the CYCLE mode. In the CYCLE
   mode the part of a song which is defined by the left and right
   locator is played and steadily repeated.

   Recording

   A click with the left mouse key on the button down on the
   left in the transport-button-block ("REC button") starts a
   recording. With the right mouse key the DUB/LS/REC
   functions are activated. Another click with the left mouse key
   deactivates the recording but the play function is still on.

   The recording mode

   A double click on the REC key shows the recording
   parameters in the recording display.
   'Actual Position', 'Punch In' and 'Punch Out' in the "OFF"
   position is the normal mode. The recording starts from the
   chosen position and can be ended with STOP or pushing the
   REC button again.'Punch In' and 'Punch Out' limit the
   recording to the area between the left and right locator.
   If the CYCLE function is activated, the position jumps back to
   the left locator and at the same moment the REC button goes
   to DUB. The DUB function remains in case more cycle
   processes are recorded. As soon as the stop button is pressed,
   the DUB function goes back to REC. In the first recording
   process the data from the previously recorded section are
   deleted, in the following processes the data from the first
   section remain and the new data is added. REC is not possible
   in the performance page. If you are in the drum editor or in
   the key editor, the track that was chosen last in the song
   editor is recorded on.

   The DUB mode

   The DUB mode works like the REC mode only that already
   existing data will not be erased.

   The LS mode

   LS means Live Style. This is a real time arranging mode. If LS
   is turned on, the connected MIDI keyboard starts single parts.
   Each part has to be related to a note in the TRG box within
   the dialogue display. With this note the part can be started
   from the keyboard. There are three play modes in a
   box labeled PLY in the dialogue display. The choices are
   between:

   ONE                the part is played once
   GTE=GATE           the part is played as long as the key is
                      pressed
   LOP=LOOP           the part is played over and over again

   The keys that do not start any parts can be played normally
   but they are not recorded either. This is possible in the PLAY
   mode as well as in the STOP mode.

   In a LS recording the parts can be added to the chosen tracks
   in the song page by triggering the chosen point of time.

   LS does not need an extra track. In the performance page the
   LS mode starts songs. Each song can again be related to a
   note (TRG). Just like in the song page, the keys that have no
   trigger function can be played as MIDI notes in the MCH
   (MIDI channel) adjusted in the song parameters.
   A songstart can only be triggered in the STOP mode. When a
   song plays the SONG trigger notes can be played normally.
   The LS function can be activated in the performance page, in
   the song page and in the conductor.

   The viewmode button

   Whenever your eyes approach your desk or look away from it -
   different angles have their advantages and disadvantages. Either
   you have a general overview on your papers or you see the
   details. With the viewmode button you can change the
   perspective on the workspace in four levels. No matter if you
   want the general overview or work on details, you can always
   choose the right perspective.

   The info button

   Press the info button to receive information about the program
   developers and the current program version.

   The exit button

   With the exit button you leave the program and return to the
   GEM desktop.
   For verification of your decision there will be a question in
   the dialogue display.


   The locators

   The locators define the area that can be recorded in. They
   can be set with a double click of the left or right mouse key
   and appear as little triangles in the display. They can also be
   chosen directly by the numbers "1" and "2".


   Entering a text

   Almost every object (songs, tracks, parts, etc.) can receive a
   name. The text input is started with a double click on the
   object. The text can be up to 8 spaces long. The ESC key
   erases the previous text, CAPSLOCK changes small to capital
   letters and vice versa. RETURN ends the text input.


   The keyboard

   Some functions are only availabled on the computer keyboard
   or in addition to using the mouse. This can be very useful with
   the disc drive functions, so LIVE can be worked like a tape machine.

   The F-keys

   F1 : performance page
   F2 : song page
   F3 : key editor
   F4 : drum editor
   F5 : mixer
   F6 : keytrack editor
   F7 : style page
   F8 : sysex page
   F9 : definitions
   F10: file manager

   If the F-key of the current page is pressed again, you enter
   the conductor.


   The number block

   "ENTER" : play
   "0" : stop
   "+" and "-" : record mode
   "*" : record
   "/" : play mode
   "(" and ")" : fast forward and rewind
   "1" to "9" : locator positions, 1 and 2 are visible as cycles on
                the beat ruler, 3 to 8 programmable Cue-points, 9
                last Stop position
   "SPACE" : stop
   "CURSOR KEYS" : scrolling through the workspace
   "RETURN" : end text input
   "DELETE" : same function as trash button
   "UNDO" : cancels the last editing process
   "CONTROL + Q" : quit the program

   "P" : saves the parameters put into the definitions
   "M" : adds the graphic controller display to the key editor
   "Q" : Quantize
   "D" : deQuantize
   "L" : Load
   "S" : Save




   THE PERFORMANCE PAGE

   In the performance page up to 32 songs can be combined to a
   performance. The sequence can be chosen freely and can be
   the basis for a stage show or concept for an album. Several
   songs can be put in chronological order into the song table.
   Now each song can be selected, started and stopped. In the LS
   mode each song can be related to a single note to start it
   from the keyboard. This way you are totally independent in
   composing a LIVE performance. In addition to this you have
   three possibilities of chaining the songs. In the CHN box of
   the dialogue display you find the following settings:

   STP=STOP        the song ends and stays selected
   SWP=SWAP        LIVE goes into the start position of the next
   song RUN         LIVE goes into the next song immediately

   The names of the single songs are shown in a table together
   with their starting time. To provide a better overview of the
   different lenghts of the songs the songnames are additionally
   displayed on the time axis. The songs can be transfered or
   copied with the mouse in the table as well as on the time
   axis. The name of the performance is displayed above the
   songtable and can be changed anytime. The songnames are
   entered into the songtable.




   THE SONG PAGE

   In the song page all parts of a song can be recorded,
   transfered with the mouse, copied, cut, spliced and erased.

   Also copying single parts or whole tracks into another song or
   style is possible with the CLIPBOARD.

   The part

   The part is the graphic display of a recording in a track.
   The notes or data contained are send to the track's address.
   A detailed display of the data in the part is possible through
   the editors (key-, drum-, keytrack-).

   The part parameters in the dialogue display

   PRG :  program change
   VOL :  MIDI volume controller
   VEL :  velocity
   CMP :  compression
   TRP :  transpose
   DLY :  delay
   LOP :  loop mode

   TRG :  trigger-note
   PRI :  priority
   PLY :  play mode


   The track

   The parts are organized in a track whose address defines the
   receiver of data or notes.
   The MIDI channel of your instrument and eventually a name
   have to be entered. If you record on MIDI channel 00, LIVE
   registers the sending channel of your keyboard and tracks it
   automatically when playing.
   For timing precision the priority goes from top to bottom, i.e.
   track 1 is the most precise one.


   The track addresses

   A00-X16 : letter describes MIDI port (starting with A for the
             Atari output, then the ports of the installed extensions
             follow);
   00-16    describes the MIDI channel
   DRM :  MIDI channel and order of notes of the track are determined
          with the drum map
   MIX  : automatically installed after recording mixing data (MIXER)
   KTR :  installs a keytrack
   STL :  see "including styles"


   The track parameters in the dialogue display

   PRG : program change
   VOL : MIDI volume controller
   VEL : velocity
   CMP : compression
   TRP : transpose
   DLY : delay
   PIT : influencing the pitch through keytrack
   TRACK : displays selected track name



   THE CONDUCTOR

   The conductor allows you to change the tempo within a song.
   With the right mouse key markers are set to define the area
   in the workspace and then the tempo can be changed with the
   left mouse key within those markers. In the "meter
   changes"-track the time can be changed with the help of
   intersection points within the selected area.
   With the fader real time tempo changes can be executed that
   can be recorded with LS. For finer adjustments you can add a
   minimum and a maximum value to the fader. The section
   between the two values is calculated to the whole length of
   the fader. A MIDI controller can also control the tempo
   between the "min" and "max" values. Controller no. and MIDI
   channel can be determined in the dialogue display if the fader
   is selected.




   THE KEY EDITOR.

   The key editor allows you to edit single notes. Select a
   part in the song page and change into the key editor, there
   you can see all notes of the part. These are shown as grey
   bars which can be freely positioned by hand with the displayed
   keyboard. The single notes can be transfered, copied,
   shortened, extended and erased like the parts in the song
   page. Also the definition of blocks with the 'rubberband' is
   possible. Blocks can be edited like single notes. An additional
   display (push "M") provides information about controller events
   like pitchbend or modulation, if desired.


   The Event Editor

   lists all MIDI events (except for note on and note off) in chronological
   order. If an event is selected, the related parameters are shown in the
   dialogue display and can be edited there. Double click on one event
   selects all events of the same kind.
   Double click on a free space in the event editor creates a new event,
   that can be edited in the dialog display.
   With the two arrow buttons above and below the window you can scroll
   through the events in chronological order.



   THE DRUM EDITOR.

   No modern production can live without the right beat.
   Therefore LIVE has a page where drum takes can be easily
   and clearly developed. The single beats are pictured as little
   triangles. Every beat can be freely positioned, transfered,
   copied or erased within the instrument lines. Up to three
   different MIDI notes can be defined for each instrument as
   triggers, which allows a very flexible way of recording.


   The beat

   A beat is the graphic display of a hit on a drum instrument.
   If a beat is selected, several changes can be made in the
   dialogue display.



   The instruments

   An instrument is an input-output-classification for percussion
   instruments. 64 instruments are at your disposal. For each
   instrument a name and the related MIDI notes of the keyboard
   or drum computer can be entered, also the velocity offset and
   the note lenght.
   The instruments are organised in a drummap that can be saved and
   loaded. Each track can have its own drummap.


   The instrument parameters

   Input parameter :
   IN A, IN B, IN C : three different trigger notes for each instrument
   NOTE  : original note of your MIDI instrument
   VEL   : velocity offset
   LEN   : lenght of notes created with the mouse

   Output parameter
   MCH   : MIDI channel


   The drummap

   To put the percussion sounds of your keyboard or drum machine in a
   different order, trigger one sound with more than one key or use
   sounds from different expanders in one drum track you can make up a
   drummap. In the 'UNTITLED' drummap the instruments are put in
   chromatic order like in the key editor. Now you can put together
   your own drumsets with the instruments at your disposal by putting
   in a name and relating them to certain notes (e.g. bass drum C1,
   snare D1, etc.) and MIDI channels. Above the instruments you find
   the input section for the name of the drummap. Drummaps can be saved
   independent from songs. If a drummap is produced in a track,
   the symbol DRM (song page) appears instead of the MIDI channel.



   THE MIXER

   The mixer is a realistic reproduction of an automatic
   16-channel mixing board with motor faders. For each MIDI
   channel, controller events like volume or modulation can be
   recorded to the current song. In the song page a mixer track
   is produced automatically. Also additional recording in the DUB
   mode is possible. Instead of the MIDI channel you find the
   entry "MIX". Each fader can be moved directly with the mouse
   and miraculously works the user's outline by itself after
   recording. Each channel has a mute button for temporary
   silencing and a LED pitch display to overview the controllers.
   The master fader affects all MIDI channels simultaneously. The
   button above the master fader has another function. If this
   button is pressed, all volume levels of the connected gadgets
   are put on maximum.



   THE STYLE EDITOR.

   The style editor becomes very interesting for musicians who
   find just one style of music boring in the long run. The basic
   elements of any piece of music can be combined with any
   other one.
   Just try how a Beatles melody would sound together with a
   Sting bass line and a Hip Hop groove. Or combine your own
   melody with a James Brown beat - get on up !

   The style

   A style is a pattern that steadily repeats itself and consists of
   16 bars and drum-, bass-, harmony- and ostinato-track. Into
   each of these tracks you can record directly or copy any part out
   of the song page with the clipboard. Each track can have up to three
   musical variations which can be changed during the song from
   your connected keyboard. Up to fourteen styles can be in the memory;
   they are displayed in the style column on the right.

   The possibilities

   Composing with styles makes it possible to spontaneously and
   clearly combine the single musical components within a song.
   With a single mouse click on "NO(rmal)", "V(ariation)1" or
   "V(ariation)2" you can try if another drum beat would fit
   better to the current harmony line or if a more active bass
   line would gear up the song. Instead of the mouse click, a
   trigger note chosen in the dialogue display can make the
   change in the variation. For each single variation, three "cross
   points" can be chosen in the connected display. A cross point
   is a point in time where a change in the variation makes
   sense musically. Whenever the variation is changed through a
   trigger note, LIVE only switches when the next cross point is reached.
   This way the correct timing is always kept, even if the changing
   between the variations 'goes wild'.



   THE KEYTRACK EDITOR.

   Are you one of the musicians who knows those endless studio
   sessions whose only purpose seems to be constantly repeating
   certain parts ? The guitar does not seem to remember a
   complex harmonic series, the keyboards argue over the basic
   key and the bass keeps missing the cue,... . The keytrack
   editor deals with exactly this problem. It allows the optical
   control over the harmonic structure of the current song. The
   current or following chord is graphically shown on the monitor
   at the same time. The display can be switched; the chord is
   either shown as keyboard-, guitar- or symbol-display. Harmonic
   disharmonies are therefore a thing of the past. But not only in
   the studio, also on stage the keytrack editor proves to be a
   very useful communicative help.

   The keytrack

   The keytrack is a directing track for rhythm, harmony and
   bassline. Similar to many organs and solo entertainer keyboards
   it is possible to direct other tracks harmonically and even
   rhythmically. A keytrack is produced by either selecting "KTR"
   in the MIDI channel box of an empty track in the song page
   or by recording directly into the keytrack editor.



   THE SYSEX PAGE

   The SysEx page makes it possible to comfortably administer
   system exclusive data. Instruments can be configurated
   according to the individual MIDI setup, SysEx information is
   available in part format. Access to Accessories is possible via a
   stylized "menu" button.



   THE DEFINITIONS

   In the definitions page all global adjustments can be made that
   make daily work with LIVE easy. These can be saved with the
   "P"-key or with clicking the right mouse key on the disc
   button.
   This data file is called LIVE.INF.. The global adjustments
   ('configuration') are loaded with every program start.



   THE FILE MANAGER.

   The file manager is a tool for administrating data. It makes
   the simultaneous access to three disc stations or hard disc
   partitions possible. Data and files can be clearly copied,
   transfered or erased through simple mouse actions.
   The page consists of three file selectors for data access and an
   action field which provides additional functions.


   ==============================================================

   PRODUCTION PARTNERS & COPYRIGHTS


                      * 'LIVE' is a SOFT ARTS Program (C) 1991

                                                     SOFT ARTS
                                                PoBox 12 77 62
                                                1000 Berlin 12
                                                       Germany

                                         Phone: +49-30-6843737
                                           FAX: +49-30-6858041

                                * 'ATARI' is TM by ATARI Corp.

      * The operating system 'M.ROS' used in this program is a
        copyright product of STEINBERG Software GmbH, Hamburg.


