Kasoft Chronicle, Issue 2: Music Special Edition (Pt1of2)
Kade Archer Hansson
(Official Plain Text Version)
Monday 1st August 1994
The Kasoft Chronicle is a Freeware publication of Kasoft Software dealing
with important topics and developments concerning users of Acorn RISC
microcomputers. The opinions contained in this document are those of the
authors alone, and do not necessarily correspond to those of Kasoft
Software. Copyright is maintained by the authors, but this document, and
any
articles it may contain, may be freely distributed in any forms provided
that the wording of articles is not altered in any way, and that
distribution is free of charges. Kasoft is a registered trademark of Kasoft
Software, owned by Kade Hansson.
The Kasoft Chronicle is produced using Computer Concepts Impression Style
publishing package, and is distributed in the Internet User News Service
newsgroup comp.binaries.acorn as a multi-part uu-encoded archive.
This document is a plain text version of the Kasoft Chronicle, put together
by the editor.
-
A Brief Editorial for the Official Plain Text Version
Due to a number of requests for a plain text version of the Chronicle, and
in consideration of the wider Acorn community, I have produced this
document. I have mailed this into the comp.sys.acorn newsgroup. Those with
access to Impression Style are advised that the original Impression Style
document is still available in comp.binaries.acorn. A postscript version
(using standard fonts) is available, and can be obtained by mailing
kad...@postoffice.utas.edu.au.
Kind regards,
Archer
-
Original Editorial
I hope you find our Music Special Edition interesting.
The first issue, the Risc PC Special Edition, was not released to the world
as this one has been. Anyone who would like a copy of the first issue
(which
was in the form of an Ovation document) is welcome to contact me.
Unfortunately, this issue has been one persons work- and one persons
opinion. There are bound to be people out their who disagree with my views,
or who have something to add or suggest. To them, I ask them to put fingers
to keyboard and make some submissions for issue 3. My e-mail address is
kad...@postoffice.utas.edu.au and submissions can be sent to this address.
I decided to produce this document in the form of an Impression Style
document because it allows the inclusion of visual information which often
helps to break up the text. It ended up being around 9 pages and 250K,
which
I consider to be quite large. What do you think? If you think that it would
be better to release the chronicle as a plain text file, a postscript data
file, then I would be interested in hearing from you.
For the present, those who don't have access to Impression Style will have
to obtain printed copies or have someone with the software extract the text
for them. If there is enough demand, I can do this myself. For those having
trouble with some of the fonts, replace Hull.Black with Homerton.Bold and
Olivia with Trinity.Italic.
I hope that The Kasoft Chronicle becomes a regular publication, but that
depends on whether the Acorn users out there support it. In the end, its up
to you.
Happy computing,
Archer
(Kade Hansson, Editor)
-
QTM BOOSTS MUSICAL POTENTIAL (Front Page Article)
The new Queue The Music (QTM) soundtrack player has been released.
Quantum software has released the ultimate 4-channel soundtrack playroutine
for RISC OS computers. The playroutine has been thoroughly tested, and
promises to accurately play all soundtracks compatible with the popular
Amiga-based Protracker.
One and a half years of development has lead to Queue the Music壮 playback
accuracy. Unlike other players, in both the public domain and the
commercial
scene, QTM implements the full repertoire of Protracker effects with
admirable precision. It achieves this precision on all hardware
configurations, including the newly released RiscPC.
Not only is QTM accurate, it also offers remarkable speed. Stephen
Harrison,
the author of QTM壮 playroutine, claims that QTM is faster than all other
players currently available for RISC OS. It has been optimized to take
adapt
its behaviour depending on the processor present. On ARM 2 computers the
playroutine takes around 15% of processor time, and on ARM 3 computers it
takes as little as 9%. To support his claims, a speed tester has been
supplied with QTM so that doubtful users can see the speed benefits for
themselves.
Speed is an important consideration for demo and games writers who want to
use music in their productions. The status of the QTM player as public
domain will mean that users will soon hear the fruits of QTM壮 labour
throughout RISC OS software, from multimedia applications to the latest
games.
In playing the latest offerings from the Amiga soundtrack "MOD" charts, one
can hear why the RISC OS music scene will never be the same again. The
player adds dimensions to the tracks which make other players attempts
sound
feeble. Additionally, the vast library of Protracker compatible songs
available in the public domain ensure the ongoing success of QTM.
QTM is currently only available on the Acorn User June cover disc, but it
will be released into the public domain by early September, Further details
of QTM appear in other articles in the Chronicle.
Written by Kade Hansson
-
SOUNDTRACK PLAYBACK
There are a number of different soundtrack file formats, and even more
programs which allow you to play them back. What follows should go some of
the way towards clarifying the situation.
Many thousands of pieces of music exist in one or other of the soundtrack
file formats which can be played back, with no additional hardware, under
RISC OS. These range from simple melodies to classical symphonies, from
jazz
to rock'n'roll to heavy metal, and the contemporary styles of techno, rap
and others. You can even find surprisingly accurate renditions of some of
todays popular music.
Unfortunately, it's not as simple as "load and listen". There are many
soundtrack formats in use, each with there own advantages, disadvantages
and
idiosyncrasies. And while you can obtain a single program which will play
almost all of them, this won't always give you accurate music reproduction.
Even if you know which players are best for which formats, you will still
need to find out the true format of your soundtracks. This is complicated
by
the fact that there is not a one-to-one mapping between RISC OS filetypes
and soundtrack formats, and the mapping that does exist isn't well defined.
Soundtrack Files
Let's begin by summarizing the RISC OS filetypes in use, the formats they
should be used for, and the best players to use for each format.
There are a variety of types of files associated with soundtracks. There
are
pattern files, sample files, song files and module files.
Pattern files: These files contain elementary sequences of notes which are
the building blocks used to form the structure of the song. These files do
not contain complete songs, and are really only useful if you are editing
soundtracks.
Sample files: These files contain sample data: the waveforms of the various
instruments, effects and other sounds used in soundtracks. Sample files are
required by song files, and are used extensively during soundtrack editing,
Song files: These files only contain the pattern data for a soundtrack, and
do not contain any samples. For this reason, song files are much shorter
than module files (see below). The samples required must be loaded
separately before the song can be played.
Module files (or MOD files): These include all sample data within the file,
along with the pattern data. As their name would suggest, module files are
fully self-contained soundtracks.
Coconizer Filetypes
CocoSong (&364): The Coconizer song format is produced by the RISC OS
soundtracker Coconizer, from Armaxess. It can only be played (outside
Coconizer) by Armaxess' proprietary player module CoconizerPlayer. Version
1.02 of this module forms a part of the Freeware Coconizer Wimp Player,
version 1.06a (27 May 1994).
To use a CocoSong file, you must have the necessary sample files. These are
raw 8-bit signed logarithmic sample files (filetype Data &FFD), and they
must be stored in Coconizer's InstXX directories. Once the samples have
been
added, the directories must be rescanned using the Locator option on the
Tools menu of the Coconizer Wimp Player.
CocoTrak (&365): The Coconizer soundtrack module format is produced by
conversion from a CocoSong file. The Coconizer Wimp Player is capable of
performing this conversion, and is also capable of playing a CocoTrak file.
Digital Symphony
Symphony (&10B): The Digital Symphony soundtrack format is used by Oregan
Developments commercial Digital Symphony package. Digital Symphony
soundtracks can only be played by the Freeware DSymphonyPlayer module.
Version 1.00 is available as part of the Digital Symphony PD demonstration
version.
Other RISC OS Soundtrack Filetypes
STModule (&CB6): Soundtrack module in block format. This generic block file
format is used by many RISC OS soundtrackers, including Archimedes
Freelancer's Arc Protracker, Archimedes World's Wimp Tracker and Andrew
Pepperell's AP Tracker, just to name a few. The version used by Arc
Protracker has been extended. STModules are commonly played using Fiennes,
Mercier and Farrow's TrackerModule. Version 4.09 of this module is included
with a number of playback applications, including David Seery's System
PlayTrack.
DTTTune (&CB6): Desktop Tracker soundtrack module. The authors have, rather
foolishly, used the same filetype number as the well established STModule
(&CB6) type for his completely incompatible file format. This will cause no
end of problems to many, who will find that standard players of STModule
will often crash when faced with a DTTTune. A Desktop Tracker file can be
identified by the characters DskT appearing at the beginning of the file
(when loaded into Edit, for example). I recommend that these files be
stored
in a separate directory to avoid confusion. The commercial Desktop Tracker
and its associated support module are the only programs which can play
DTTTunes.
STSong (&7B7): Soundtrack song file. Arc ProTracker supports the loading of
these files, as may other soundtrackers. However, I know of no stand alone
play routines capable of playing them.
Foreign Soundtrack Filetypes
STracker/ProTrack (&000, &001, &701 and others): Amiga soundtrack module. I
personally recommend discontinued use of these unregistered (and hence
uncontrolled) filetypes in preference of the Acorn allocated TeqMusic
(&CC5)
filetype.
TeqMusic (&CC5): Amiga soundtrack module. The Teque House music filetype is
registered to Krisalis Software for use in their games, but it is beginning
to gain acceptance as the standard filetype for Amiga soundtrack modules
under RISC OS. These files are produced by a variety of Amiga
soundtrackers,
including various versions of the original SoundTracker, Amiga Freelancer's
ProTracker, StarTrekker and Noise Tracker, just to name a few. These files
can be played by the TrackerModule (mentioned above under the description
of
the STModule filetype), although Quantum Software's QTMTracker module often
yields more accurate playback for 4 channel tunes, especially with
ProTracker modules. Version 1.01 of this module forms a part of the (soon
to
be Freeware) Queue the Music player, version 1.00 (20 Apr 1994). Arc
ProTracker, and the corresponding TrackerModule (version 5.10), plays 8
channel Amiga soundtracks most correctly.
Where to Get Soundtracks
The best source of soundtracks is currently the Commodore Amiga. The Amiga
has been around for quite a while now, and soundtracking (it seems) is one
of the most popular pastimes of Amiga users. If you know anyone with an
Amiga, chances are they will already have a large collection of soundtracks
(aka MOD files), or at least know where to obtain them. Soundtrack files
should be transferred to DOS format discs so that they can be loaded and
played or copied onto a native medium.
If you can use a modem, downloading soundtrack files from a bulletin board
may also be an option. Many bulletin boards, including ones for platforms
other than RISC OS and Amiga, will have some soundtrack files available for
download. Soundtrack files are typically quite large, and so are often
compressed. David Pilling's SparkPlug will usually decompress downloaded
files.
Another possibility, if you have Internet access, is to examine the
Amiga/Aminet directories on your local FTP server. Chances are these
directories are packed with soundtrack modules. You may need SparkPlug or
LHA (which will run on PCs or under PC emulation under RISC OS) to
decompress these modules. A directory worth looking out for is the one
which
contains the Amiga MOD charts. This directory contains the latest and
greatest MODs.
Soundtracks are also often supplied with music software and can often be
found within games and demonstrations. Much of this software can be found
on
discs from public domain libraries, magazine discs, as well as the sources
listed above.
Organize Your Music
The music you obtain is unlikely to have the correct filetype, if it has a
filetype at all. To make it easier to decide which player you should use to
play a particular soundtrack, you should set its filetype so that it
corresponds to its format.
The easiest way to decide what format a soundtrack is is to load it into
Edit, or another text editor:
* Amiga soundtrack module. These modules begin with the song title
and sample/author information.
These files should have their filetype set to TeqMusic &CC5.
* Soundtrack module in block format. These files usually begin with
the string MUSX.
Their correct filetype is STModule &CB6.
* Desktop Tracker files begin with the string DskT. Their file type
is
DTTTune &CB6, but they should be stored in a separate directory,
away from true STModules.
Playing TeqMusic
Amiga Soundtrack modules are the most common format. My soundtrack
collection probably has a ratio greater than 10 TeqMusics to 1 STModule. In
fact, most of my STModules originated on Amiga anyway, and have been
converted, at some stage, to their present guise.
At this point, I offer a word of warning about conversion, Do not convert
TeqMusic files into STModules. Some soundtrackers do this without telling
you, such as WimpTrack. Re-saving will replace the original tune with an
inferior version. This version often does not sound exactly like the
original.
Although Arc ProTracker claims to preserve the soundtracks it converts into
its extended STModule format, it is still a good idea to keep the original
TeqMusic form of the soundtrack.
As I have mentioned, the best player of TeqMusic files under RISC OS is
currently Quantum Software's Queue the Music player. Should you require,
the
Coconizer Wimp Player and System Playtrack are both capable of playing
these
tunes, but can sometimes play complex effects incorrectly if at all.
Queue the Music
The !QTMTrack application provides CD-style control over the playback of
TeqMusic files, particularly those compatible with ProTracker (as most
indeed are). It cannot even attempt to playback STModules, nor can it
correctly play eight channel tunes, such as those produced by the
StarTrekker soundtracker.
To play a soundtrack it is a simple matter of dragging the TeqMusic file to
the QTM icon on the icon bar. Once the song is loaded, it will begin to
play. Simply click on the QTM icon to make the control window appear. This
window gives you the CD functions I mentioned, a volume slider, as well as
an indication of the current position in the song , and the length of the
song (measured in patterns). This seems to be the standard indicator for
tracker players these days, but note that QTM starts counting from zero, so
that 13 / 14 indicates that the last pattern in a 14 pattern song is
playing.
A notable feature of QTM is its song information window. It extracts the
author name if it can find one can be found in the sample list (where they
often appear). This is particularly clever, and works very well. Even if it
fails to identify the author, a quick look at QTM's sample list window can
sometimes reveal a name. Also, the playing time given is very accurate,
unlike many attempts I have seen.
Another feature of QTM is that its preferences window allows you to adjust
the sound quality- something that is often missing.
Playing STModules
The block soundtrack format, which was originally created to take advantage
of the eight hardware channels available in Acorn RISC computers, is played
by a relocatable module known as TrackerModule, often abbreviated to "PM"
or
"PlayMod".
You should be aware that a number of versions of this module exist, and
backwards compatibility cannot be assumed. Version 4.09 is (as far as I can
establish) is the latest version which plays both TeqMusic and STModules.
However, it should be noted that Archimedes Freelancer's have extended the
block format so that it supports ProTracker effects and others. These
extended format STModules can be played by Arc ProTracker itself or by the
version of the TrackerModule supplied with it, 5.10. Note that version 5.10
will not play TeqMusic at all, and that version 4.09 will not play extended
format STModules correctly, if at all.
The TrackerModule is used in several playback applications. One of the most
comprehensive of these is David Seery's System Playtrack.
System Playtrack
The !PlayTrack application provides CD-style control over the playback of
both STModules and TeqMusic. It currently uses version 4.09 of the
TrackerModule, and so is not capable of playing extended STModule format.
Dragging a tune to the PlayTrack icon results in it being played. The
PlayTrack control window, which is called up by choosing the Open, Control
option on the icon bar menu, has the usual CD functions as well as a volume
slider, individual channel mute, overall mute, and a speed indicator. It
also has a position indicator, which is somewhat non-standard in that it
displays the pattern number (counting from zero) followed by the last
pattern number. So, 13 : 13 indicates the last pattern in a 14 pattern
song.
Stereo positioning control is also provided on a separate window.
Apart from the standard song information window and a sample list window,
PlayTrack also features a VU meter, oscilloscope displays, a sample
waveform
viewer and a music monitor display. PlayTrack also allows a static buffer
to
be set up, and the DMA sound clock rate (associated with the sample rate,
and hence sound quality) can be set using the preferences box.
An option available on the PlayTrack menu allows executable modules to be
generated. These require the TrackerModule to be present, and so are not
completely portable. It is not a good idea to convert soundtracks into
executables, as these cannot be loaded into soundtrackers.
Pumping Up the Volume
Once you have the software, you can play music using the internal speakers
of your machine, but this is not the best option. To improve this state of
affairs one must use the headphone jack to connect to a hi-fi amplifier, or
at least your monitor or headphones.
Due to the low quality high pass filter built into most RISC OS computers
(except Risc PC), sound quality isn't as clear as it might be. Apparently
several companies are now selling filter-bypass kits, so this need not be a
problem. You can install a filter-bypass without a kit, but I suggest you
seek advice before doing so.
Feature article by Kade Hansson
Software Mentioned
Titles: Coconizer (!Coconizer) and Wimp Player (!CocoPlay)
Reference: "Making Tracks" article in this issue
Title: Queue the Music (!QTMTrack)
Description: Better wimp player for TeqMusic files (using
QTMTracker module 1.01)
Author: Quantum Software (Stephen Harrison)
Version: 1.00 (20 Apr 1994)
Licence: Freeware release- Sep 1994
Availability: Acorn User June 1994 Cover Disc
PD Libraries- coming soon
Title: SparkPlug
Description: Dearchival (decompression) utility
Author: David Pilling
Version: 2.23 (Jan 1993)
Licence: Freeware
Availability: Internet FTP (ftp.acorn.co.uk)
PD Libraries
Title: System Playtrack (!PlayTrack)
Description: Wimp player for TeqMusic and STModule files (using
TrackerModule 4.09)
Author: David Seery
Version: 1.07 Mk II (29 Jan 1994)
Licence: Freeware
Availability: Internet FTP (micros.hensa.ac.uk)
PD Libraries
Title: Arc ProTracker (!PTracker)
Reference: "Making Tracks" article in this issue
Title: Digital Symphony
Reference: "Making Tracks" article in this issue
Title: Desktop Tracker
Reference: "Making Tracks" article in this issue
Title: Wimp Tracker (!WimpTrack)
Reference: "Making Tracks" article in this issue
-
Continued in part 2...