OCTALYSER STE 0.82, UPDATE INFORMATION ---------------------------- -- WHAT'S NEW IN OCTALYSER 0.82 -- ---------------------------- Here come the replacement files for Octalyser STE. Simply replace the files included in this archive and add the new files to the appropriate folder path. In case that you do not have a complete copy of Octalyser, contact the nearest good Atari BBS, or wait for Octalyser STE 0.9, due to be released relatively soon. As the manual for 0.80 explains most of the important features in Octalyser, there'll be no new manual for 0.82, but instead an updated keyboard shortcuts list, explaining some of the new functions and an information for developers planning on supporting 8-channel moduler or whatever. What's new in Octalyser 0.82? """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" There have been several improvements regarding editing options and block options, explained below, which will make music-making process faster and easier. Furthermore, some known bugs have been fixed, now it works with all HD-drivers (at least we hope so), and Forget-Me-Clock for instance. Some of the processes during the VBL have been sped up, so the better replay quality is available in several replay-modes, plus that the editing has been more convinient because you can see more of the pattern-data than before. The presets for the number of patter lines shown has been changed to: 1, 9 and 17 instead of 1, 7 and 17. 9 is more natural as it shows the whole tact and doesn't cut it. (In normal 4/4 modules). Furthermore, some of the CuBase shortcuts have been implemented, to make editing easier for the users used to CuBase. This is not finished yet, but at least ENTER, '0' and '*' on the keypad work. You should expect quite a few improvements on this point. When switching between replay modes, the time used to switch is much shorter now. And some bugs with the pattern lines not being erased have been removed. Loading of the UMP modules have been improved, and there will be some improvements of the UMP-standard in the near future, 'coz we had some problems with the synchronization of the Thermody-modules. When using the BP button to alter the amount of pattern lines showed in different modes (or UMP-module), the Octalyser STE will remember your choice and not force the default as in the previous versions. The base-frequency list has been expanded to 16kHz, 20kHz and 25kHz, instead of 16kHz and 25kHz. Just to remind you, max frequency when using 25kHz is about 50kHz! Faster keyboard/mouse handler, uses direct patching to the memory and internal handler-routines. Octalyser only reacts to 'C' and '9' command when in edit/monitor mode now. This has been done to prevent some irritating effects when editing the module. (for instance when there is an 'D' or 'B' command!) We have no fucking idea about why the frequency on a MSTE is eventually switched down to 8MHz, but debugging is going on. Special thank-you to Jason of Unit Seventeen for being such a nice guy. (Shit, my mother told me never to lie, but I just had to...) But seriously, when is BlippBlopper comming out? For all of you having access to Fuji-Net (Swedish network for Atari owners) there's a Q-A and info service avaiable there. Just switch on FUJI_OCTA! We must remind you that you haven't heard the best replay quaility available yet. 50kHz replay will be available as soon as some problems with the UCDM3 pipeline are fixed. The guy responsible for 50kHz replay UMP-modules is Blade/New Core, so give him a big applause.. Let me hear you! Ok, that's better... FUTURE PLANS """""""""""" As we promised, there'll be a MIDI support included in Octalyser STE, but having some problems with free-time, this must be delayed until the better occasion. FullEditor will be available in some of the future versions. This will be a killer, that's for sure. However, we won't tell you what it is yet, use your imagination! More CuBase keyboard shortcuts! (Even) better sound quality! 50kHz sound library (drums) for usage with 50kHz replay routines, sampled from my new Yamaha TG-100. New UMP featuring 2 channels, 50kHz all 8 bits and volume control, giving you totaly brainblasting sound quality. (Inspired by a similar driver for EPSS) Built in sample editor. Dunno when it'll be finished, but we have some nice effects finished already! AVR sample format support. You'll be able to save loop-marks and full sample name. The sample libraries due to be released will feature AVR-headers, so you won't need to find loop marks by yourself. Desintegration of the 4Mb bugg!!! Any idea why it screws up? Anybody? Octalyser FALCON. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING SECTION, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME EXPLANATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE NEW SWITCHES MEAN. WE ARE REFERING THE THE 'E', 'B' and 'W' SWITCHES SEEN ABOVE THE PATTERN-LINES. EXAMPLE: < FREQ U 1 ST:01 -- 2 EA BA WR 3 NONE 4 > == == == - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CUT HERE - Current keyboard shortcuts and commands (version 0.82): HELP = Show version information and release date (OCTALYSER BETA, DATE 930403) Insert/Control-I = Add one event to the current channel Delete/Control-Y = Remove one event from the current channel Sh Delete/Sh-Control-I = Add one event to all channels Sh Insert/Sh-Control-Y = Remove one event from all channels Control-B = Mark block start Control-K = Mark block end Control-C = Copy block If SHIFT all channels;if not current Control-V = Move block ----------------- " " -------------- Control-Z = Clear block ----------------- " " -------------- F1 = Toggle octaves U upper frequency L lower frequency F2 = Toggle write-mode for block-functions as: R replace Replaces destination Source Dest Result --- 0000 --- 0000 --- 0000 --- 0000 F-113000 --- 0000 C#2 1000 --- 0000 C#2 1000 C#2 1000 F-113000 C#2 1000 S set Transparently over destination Source Dest Result --- 0000 --- 0000 --- 0000 --- 0000 F-113000 F-113000 C#2 1000 --- 0000 C#2 1000 C#2 1000 F-113000 C#2 1000 Note that shift-F2 flagg decides which part or parts of the even that will be affected! F3 = Clear the current channel F4 = Mark current channel as block F7 = Position $00 F8 = Position $10 F9 = Position $20 F10 = Position $30 Shift-F1 = Toggles edit-mode to be used as: F frequency (C#2 ) T Tone (C#213 ) A All (C#213000) V Volume (C#213C40) Shift-F2 = Toggles block-mode to be used as: F frequense (C#2 ) T Tone (C#213 ) S Samle ( 13 ) C Command ( C ) D Data ( 40) E Effekt ( C40) A All (C#213000) The parts of the events that are visible here will be affected, rest of the parts will stay intact. Shift-F3 = Clear all pattern-data Return = Play Shift Return = Patternplay Arrows work even while the Octalyser is playing a modules, so does mouse too! Tab = Jump to the next channel Shift Tab = Jump to the previous channel Shift + right arrow = kanal 8/6/4 Shift + left arrow = kanal 1 Control + right arrow = next pattern Control + left arrow = previous pattern Space = Stop / toggle Edit ON/OFF Shift-Space = Stop / toggle Monitor ON/OFF ESC = Quit menu or Octalyser CLR Home = Go to channel 1, position 1 Contrl-E = Toggle edit-type (Full or Normal) Down arrow = position + 1 Up arrow = position - 1 Shift + Down arrow = position + step Shift + Up arrow = position - step + on the keypaden = Next sample - on the keypaden = Last sample Shift + on the keypaden = Next position in the patternlist Shift - on the keypaden = Last position in the patternlist Shift + keypad (not +-) = Choose lower sample ( = 0 = F ) Control ----- " " ------ = Choose upper sample ( = 10 = 1F ) NUMMERIC KEYPAD SHORTCUTS: Enter = Play song '0' = Stop playing '*' = Record / toggle edit-mode ON/OFF - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CUT HERE - We recommend you to print out the keyboard shortcuts list. Information about the module formats for developers """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Headers and sequencer-data is same in both 4 and 8-channel modules. For all of you that want to support extended module formats, here is a short information about how it's done. We assume that you are familiar with the normal ST/NT module format, so only the differences and ID-marks will be explained here. In this version, there's no real format for 6 channel modules, instead 8 channels are saved when using 6 channels mode. The IDs for modules are as follows: If 4 channels, 'M.K.' is saved at offset +1080 If 6 channels, 'CD6 ' is saved at offset +1080 If 8 channels, 'CD8 ' is saved at offset +1080 Pattern data in 6 and 8 channels mode is saved as follows: Step Channel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 L L L L L L L L 2 L L L L L L L L 3 L L L L L L L L .. 63 L L L L L L L L 64 L L L L L L L L L = LongWord, meaning that the length of pattern is 2048. Channels come after each other, unlike FLT8 there 2 4-channel patterns are used to built 1 8-channel pattern! As some new options require to be saved in the module, some improvements have been made in the module-format. The new format will look like: 4 channels, 'CD4n' at +1080 6 channels, 'CD6n' at +1080 8 channels, 'CD8n' at +1080 'n' can be '1', '2' or '3' depending on which base sample frequency is used. Bits that are used at +1083: xxnnnnnn, where nnnnnn is decoded as: 1 = 16kHz, 2 = 20kHz, 3 = 25kHz xx is by default %00 and is currently undefined. Reserved for new features. Command support list, as in ProTracker 2.3A effect command-list """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Marked Commands are supported by Octalyser 0.82. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  0 - Normal play or Arpeggio 0xy : x-first halfnote add, y-second  1 - Slide Up 1xx : upspeed  2 - Slide Down 2xx : downspeed  3 - Tone Portamento 3xx : up/down speed  4 - Vibrato 4xy : x-speed, y-depth  5 - Tone Portamento + Volume Slide 5xy : x-upspeed, y-downspeed  6 - Vibrato + Volume Slide 6xy : x-upspeed, y-downspeed  7 - Tremolo 7xy : x-speed, y-depth  8 - NOT USED  9 - Set SampleOffset 9xx : offset (23 -> 2300)  A - VolumeSlide Axy : x-upspeed, y-downspeed  B - Position Jump Bxx : songposition  C - Set Volume Cxx : volume, 00-40  D - Pattern Break Dxx : break position in next patt  E - E-Commands Exy : see below...  F - Set Speed Fxx : speed (00-1F) / tempo (20-FF) OBS tempo supportas ej „n! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  E0- Set Filter E0x : 0-filter on, 1-filter off Hehe  E1- FineSlide Up E1x : value  E2- FineSlide Down E2x : value E3- Glissando Control E3x : 0-off, 1-on (use with tonep.) E4- Set Vibrato Waveform E4x : 0-sine, 1-ramp down, 2-square E5- Set Loop E5x : set loop point E6- Jump to Loop E6x : jump to loop, play x times E7- Set Tremolo Waveform E7x : 0-sine, 1-ramp down. 2-square E8- NOT USED E9- Retrig Note E9x : retrig from note + x vblanks  EA- Fine VolumeSlide Up EAx : add x to volume  EB- Fine VolumeSlide Down EBx : subtract x from volume EC- NoteCut ECx : cut from note + x vblanks ED- NoteDelay EDx : delay note x vblanks EE- PatternDelay EEx : delay pattern x notes EF- Invert Loop EFx : speed STATISTICS """""""""" Original, unpacked lenght: 273309 bytes Packed lenght: 42552 bytes (84% compression!) External files needed: OCTALYSE.DAT Lenght: 15080 bytes Approximate source lenght: 380+ kilobytes Approximate graphics lenght: 50+ kilobytes (IFF-pictures) plus font Graphics INCBIN format: NeoMaster raw-clipper format Approximate INCBIN lenght: 100kb That's all for now, please stay in touch. You can contact us at the FujiNet. CODE/TBL (OCTALYSER) 7:100/106 ALAN F./REWARD (VODKA BBS) 7:100/102 FidoNet node for Vodka BBS:- 2:206/209 Vodka BBS - +46-21-112076, 00-24 Chaotic BBS - +46-456-25134, 00-24 (ATX1!) The team of Octalyser, (c) 1993 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""