
[                                
                                                
                                                
                                   
                                                
                                                
                                         


                        - ALL SOUND TRACKER -

                           - VERSION 1.02-

                                 by

                 - Patrice Bouchand a.k.a Cagliostro -

                       lundi 11 novembre 1996                                ]

           BE CAREFULL.IT ISN'T BUGFREE , SO YOU SHOULD OFTEN SAVE
           I CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY USE OF AST


  First,thanks for reading this DOC and trying AST.I'm going to attempt to
     be clear enough,but if you don't understand something,write me.

       >>>>>>>>>>>>>  {SORRY FOR MY UGLY ENGLISH]  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[What can AST do ?]

AST is a 32 tracks tracker with dynamic track's allocation .

AST can use
     
-EMU8000 CHIP of AWE32
       *30 voices
       *load sound in RAM
       *use ROM
       *Customized chorus and reverb
       *Total management of filters,lfos and envelopes
       *Direct coding (without adip)
       *Drum tracks
-FM Synthesis
       *9 voices
       *chorus and reverb on AWE32
-MIDI MPU401 INTERFACE (only in out,as long as i haven't got keyboard)
       *16 channels
       *Waveblaster or compatible daughter board
       *Expander,Sampler,Bassline etc..
       *Can use every midi controler
     -the last but not the least PC SPEAKER!!!!!!!


   Briefly,you can compose musical modules which mix all those sounds

   AST format is described in astforma.pas.

[REQUIRERED ]
  *PC 386 with 2Mo and a mouse.
  *a sound card and/or MIDI extension
  *AWE32 with 512ko of ram is strongly advised.

[GLOSSARY]
   -DEFINITION
    Number of command in a time

   -A COMMAND
     It' the smaller track's element.
     A command has that structure: C#1^24 m20
       C  is the note                (A to G)
       #  is the sharp               (# or .)
       1  is the octave              (0 to 9)
       ^  cut the previous note
       24 is the velocity/volume     (0 to 7f)
       m  is an effect               (see effect's table)
       20 is the effect's value      (0 to ff )

    -A TRACK
       It's a set of 16*Definition commands

    -A PATTERN
       it's a set of 32 tracks

    - ORDRE
      it's the order in which patterns must be restituted.

    -POLYPHONY
     it' the number of tracks subsequent to the track where is the cursor,
     which can be modifyed.
     Example,the cursor is on track 3,its polyphony is 2,
     if you press simultaneously  2 keys  of the keyboards, this 2 notes
     will be put on the same line,one on the track 3,the other on the track 4
     That allows you to strike chords.

[DETECTION]
  When you run AST, you see a window with the results of detection

      -For  FM synthesis ,only one baseport is used, $388
       It will be enough for every SB compatible sound card

      -for AWE32,the baseport $620 is default value
        RAM size is automatically detected.

      -For MPU401,baseport $330 is default value.
        If you have an AWE32,{DON'T USE AWEUTIL IN MIDI EMULATION]
        Sometime MPU401 don't work on awe32,so RESET your computer
       (I found this in DUKE NUKEM 3D's help !)

      -for sound blaster,baseport $220 is default value.
        only use to set the SB volume.


 for setting up the baseports, go in divers,config,SBconfig


[START UP ]
    Default destination's tracks is MIDI.
    Use the effects dxy or yxy to set up the destination

[SETUP THE TRACKS'S DESTINATION]
 To assign separately a track, use the effect dxy
 this effect acts on the track where it is placed
   x is the destination
   y is the voice,midi channel,or fm channel

 x =0 >  MPU401   0=<y<=f
              16 channels.
              channel 9 should be drum channel
              Several tracks can be assigned to the same channel
              All this tracks will have the same midi instrument.

 x =1 >  PC speaker...

 x =2 >  FM Synthesis   0=<y<=8
              9 channels.
              you should not assigned several tracks to the same channel
              but this could do nice effects.

 x =3 >    first 16 voices of awe32    0=<y<=f
               16 voices and same thing for assigning same voice
               to several tracks.

 x =4 >  last 14 voices of  awe32    0=<y<=d
             14 voices and same thing for assigning same voice
             to several tracks.


 x =5 >  Drum tracks of the awe32     0=<y<=d
             14 voices and same thing for assigning same voice
             to several tracks.
             the 14 voices of drum tracks are also the last 14 voices
             of the AWE32 so you should not assign the same voice for
             a drum and a normal track

the effect yxy is very similar,exept it acts on the 32 tracks
                x is destination of the first 16 tracks
                y is destination of the last 16 tracks

 the voices are assigned like that:
  first 16 tracks  voices:=min( track, max. voice number)
  last 16  tracks  voices:=min( track-16,max voice number )

 EXAMPLE :d23     voice 3 of FM synthesis

          y03     first 16 tracks on midi
                  last 16 tracks on first 16 voices of awe32

          y34     first 16 tracks on 16 first voices of awe32
                  last 16 tracks on last 14 voices  of awe32
                  tracks 30,31,32 are assigned to voice 29

 ADVICE : SET THE TRACK'DESTINATION IN THE FIRST PATTERN
[EFFECTS]

The effects differ from the classical effects of other tracker but
they are adjust for your sound card

effet       MIDI                     FM                    AWE32

0xy   You can assign this                         
1xy   effects to MIDI                             
2xy   controler                                   
3xy                                               
4xy                                               
5xy   watch after for more                        
6xy   information                                 
7xy                                               
8xy                                               
9xy                                               

axy   Cut every notes on                           Portamento time filter
      the midi channel                             in ticks
      assigned to the track                          0=>ff (20  default)

bxy   After touch            x:volume fm left      portamento  filter
      0=>7f                  y:volume fm right     0=>ff,filter goes from
                             (awe32 only)          current value to xy

cxy                         set effect type  x:chorus ,y:reverb

dxy                          SEE PREVIOUS TOPICS

exy   portamento             Pitch multiplicator   portamento to note
                                                   y of octave x
      controler  65              0=>ff             y=0  c   do
                                                     1  c#  do #
       0>=7f                                         2  d   r
                                                     3  d#  r #
                                                     4  e   mi
                                                     5  f   fa
                                                     6  f#  fa#
                                                     7  g   sol
                                                     8  g#  sol#
                                                     9  a   la
                                                     A  a#  la#
                                                     B  b   si

fxy   soft pedal             attenuation           Set filter to value xy
      controler 67  0=>7f      0=>ff                          0=>ff

gxy  chorus level           chorus level     0>=ff chorus level     0=>ff
     controler 93 0=>7f     (awe32 only)          

hxy  reverb level           reverb level     0>=ff reverb level     0=>ff
     controler 91  0=>7f    (awe32 only)          

ixy               assigned  instrument xy to the track   0=>7f

jxy                           jump to order  xy

lxy                                                x=1 start  lfo 1
                                                   y=1 start  lfo 2

mxy   modulation                                   lfo1 pitch
     controler 1  0=>7f                             0=>ff

nxy                                                lfo2 pitch
                                                    0=>ff

oxy                                               sample offset 0=>ff
                                                  start  sample at
                                                  position  size *xy/255

pxy   pitch bend                                   set pitch to note y
                                                  
      0=>7f                                        of octave x

qxy   portamento time                              portamento time
      controler 5  0=>7f                           in ticks 0=>ff(20 dft)

r0y                      retrig last note every y ticks

sxy   stereo position(0=>ff)                       stereo position(0=>ff)
      controler 10                                

txy                           Set tempo BPM

uxy   Pitch bend sensitivity                      

vxy   Midi channel volume    effects volume       
      controler  7  0=>7f    vibrato and trmolo  

yxy                            Watch higher

Fxy                                                Random filter
                                                    xy :min filter value

Sxy                                                random pan value
                                                  


[ASSIGN MIDI CONTROLER TO EFFECTS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 ]

you assign those controlers by sending N of the controler+$80 to the effect
After,if you want to set the controler's value, send the value to the effect
per default the effets 1,2,3... are assigned to controlers 1,2,3...
              xy
EXAMPLE     7 86  assign  controler 6 to  effect 7   ($80+6)
            7 02  send 2 to controler 6
            5 9f  assign controler 1f to effect 5    ($80+$1f)
            5 64  send 64 to controler 1f
            5 0f  senf 0f to controler 1f
 See your synthesizer manual to know what midi controlers can be set

[MAIN WINDOWS]
 - I'm not going to describe all mouse's buttons,just try to use it
 - Everywhere right mouse's button is the same that ESC key
 - Everywhere F1,F5,F6,F7,F8,*,/ do the  same thing .
KEYS USED
 F1              :   Help
 F2              :   Track's information
 F3              :   AWE32 instrument
 F4              :   Activ/Desactiv chord mode for the track
 F5              :   Play all song
 F6              :   play current pattern
 F8              :   Stop
 shift+F8        :   initialize MIDI controler
 F9              :   neutralize current track

 arrows          :   move in a track

 espace          :   clear command
 ins             :   insert
 suppr           :   delete command
 tab             :   Next track
 shift+tab       :   Previous track

                :   Increase polyphony / next chord
 &               :   Decrease polyphony / pevious chord

 *               :   Increase octave
 /               :   decrease octave

 +               :   Next pattern
 -               :   Previous pattern

 entr           :   select pattern
 shift+entr     :   copy selected pattern on current pattern

 ctrl+b          :   Block begin
 ctrl+e          :   block end
 ctrl+d          :   mark a half track  from cursor
 ctrl+f          :   mark a quarter track  from cursor
 ctrl+l          :   mark whole track
 ctrl+u          :   unmark

 ctrl+v          :   Set velocity of block to velocity of cursor

 ctrl+r          : ramping on effect value  according to first and last
                   command 's effect's value of block

 ctrl+k          : ramping on volume value  according to first and last
                   command 's volume's value of block

 ctrl+a          :  increase a half tone
 ctrl+q          :  decrease a half tone


[KEYBOARD'S KEYS (Sorry ,only french keyboard..) ]
      Ŀ   Ŀ   Ŀ
       "  ' (        _      
Ŀ
 a  z  e  r  t  y  u  i  o  p 

  Ŀ   Ŀ   Ŀ   Ŀ
   q  s     f  g  h     k  l      

 <  w  x  c  v  b  n  ,  ;  :  ! 



[CHORD'S WINDOW]
         Used keys:tab,
                   shift+tab,
                   arrows,
                   esc


10 chords with 4 notes can be set

  you set the difference in half tone with the first note
  in right column, you set the number of used note.

for using chord,just pressed F4 in Main window
for selecting chord ,pressed  ,&

[ORDER'S WINDOW]
It's the pattern's restitution's order

         used keys: +,-
                   arrows
                   suppr:
                   ins  :
                   space:neutralize current order .
                     g  :quit and go to pattern
                     esc:

[RECORD]
If you pressed F10 in main window,the current pattern is going to be played.
Just pressed the keyboard's keys to record your sequence
Tracks are set at the end of recording
you quit this mode as soon as you press a key different of keyboard's key
 and / , *

[FM INSTRUMENTS'S WINDOWS  ]

         Used keys: +,-,
                   arrows ,
                   tab , shift+tab : Next/pevious test voice.
                   pgup,pgdown:Next/previous instrument
                   Keyboard's key:test an instrument
                   esc

you set the FM instruments's parameters
you can set the instrument's name by clicking on this.

if you set " several test voices " to "on" ,test's voice will be increase
as soon as you press a keyboard's keys.So you can strike chord


[AWE32 SAMPLES'S EDITOR   ]
       Keys used :+,-
                  arrows
                  tab , shift+tab : next/previous test's voice.
                  SUPPR:Delete sample from RAM
                  pgup,pgdown:next/previous sample
                  Keyboard's keys:test a sample
                  F3:AWE32 instrument
                  enter :load a wav file.
                  esc

-LOAD A SOUND FILE

    *WAV files are automatically  recognized
     but  you should not load stereo or compacted sample.

    *the other sound files (snd,raw,voc,iff,smp...),can also be loaded
    Try to load them as 8 bits signed,unsigned,16 bits , test it by pressing
    on keyboard's keys ,as soon as sound is good ,you have found !

    *internal samples can be loaded,those files have AIT extension,of course
    they don't use RAM.Their quality isn't very good .

-SAVE A SOUND FILE: Every sample are saved as WAV files
                        (even ROM samples );


-BEGIN,LOOP BEGIN ,END LOOP,loop on/off:I think you understand!

BASE PITCH :for tuning samples

 advice: to tune 2 instruments ,you have to do them play the same notes,on
         2 different tracks,modify their base pitch, as soon as it sounds
         good ,the instruments are tuned.

-click on sample's name to set this.


-TRIM USED PART: unused parts of sample will be cut from RAM

-RESAMPLE 50% : sample will be resample at 50%,it will take less place in RAM
                but some quality will be lost
                Base pitch will be set ,so you will not hear tone's difference

-Chorus,reverb and pan level are only test's value .click on this to modify


-REINITIALIZE AWE32: sometime (rarely),awe32 sputters,
                     you must reinitialize it.
                     This does'nt do anything on samples.
-REVERB,CHORUS : access to CHORUS AND REVERB Selection.

-INSTRUMENT : access to instruments's window.



[AWE32 INSTRUMENTS'S EDITOR    ]
        Keys used +,-
                  arrows
                  tab , shift+tab : Next/previous test's voice.
                  *,/:octave
                  pgup,pgdown:Next/previous test's voice
                  Keyboard's keys:test an instrument
                  F3:sample awe32
                  esc

AWE32 instruments are AWE32 samples with a set of awe32 parameters.
See the AWE32 manual to get more informations about the parameters

-SAMPLE'S NUMBER:It's the instrument's sample.Several instruments can use the
               same sample.Per default,instrument 1 is assigned to
               sample 1 ,2 to 2,etc..

-OVERRIDE : When this parameter is one the envelope goes right to the
             sustain.

-BOOLEAN PARAMETER

Those parameters describe what the program must do with new notes.
effect's column shows the effect which is similar to the parameter

                        on                      off                  effet

 set lfo1 lfo 1 restarts each time    lfo1 doesn't restart           l10

 set lfo2 lfo 2 restarts each time    lfo2 doesn't restart           l01

set filter Filter uses the instrument Filter uses  track's           fxy
           's filter value            filter's value                 

set lfo1f lfo1 pitch uses instrument  Lfo1 uses track's value        mxy
          's value                                                   

set lfo2f Lfo2 pitch uses instrument  Lfo2 uses track's value        nxy
          's value                                                   

set panora uses instrument's pan      uses track' s pan              sxy

set chorus Instrument's chorus        track's chorus                 gxy

set reverb Instrument's reverb        Track's reverb                 hxy


If you set "Several test's voices",voice will be increased each times
you press a keyboard's keys.So you can test strike.

Click on instrument's name to change it

-INITIALIZE:Just set the instrument's parameters to default values

-SAMPLE  :Access to awe32 sample.

-REVERB,CHORUS :access to CHORUS and REVERB selection.

[CUSTOMIZED CHORUS  ]
        Used keys : +,-
                  arrows
                  esc

-In this window,sound can be saturate,it is normal...
-Internal chorus's parameters are written in gray ,as example
-click on the name to change it
[CUSTOMIZED REVERB   ]
        Used keys : +,-
                    arrows
                    esc

-In this window,sound can be saturate,it is normal...
-Internal reverb's parameters are written in gray ,as example
-click on the name to change it
[REVERB-CHORUS SELECTION]
       Used key :  esc

Click on the mouse button to select reverb and chorus
Customized reverb and chorus,are the bottom's mouse buttons.
Also watch the effect cxy
[AWE32 DRUM INSTRUMENTS]
        used keys:+,-
                  flche
                  tab , shift+tab : instrument/pitch
                  Keyboard's keys : test the instrument assigned to the key
                  esc


 Those instruments are very similar to channel 9 of midi.
 The principle is that  drum instruments only use one pitch
 Each of 36 instruments are assigned to a note of 3 octaves

EXAMPLE : Instrument 2 is assigned to key C 2 with the pitch 50000
          If you send C 2 to a drum track ,the program will going to
          play the instrument 2 with the pitch 50000

The pitch is the value of the awe32 pitch's register
0==>65535   <=>  0==>176000 Hz

[]
 That's all folks
 Don't hesitate to click everywhere,to test the effects,
 Analyze the demonstration's modules ,they aren't very good
 but they are good example

 AST has been coded with tp7   90% on 386 sx 25 with 4 Mo
                                    10% on p150 with 16Mo
                                    AWE32 with 2Mo
                                    TURTLE BEACH RIO daughter board

*I was using Scream tracker 3 which is really a great tracker,
 it's why you can see that a lot of keys's combination are the same.
*I started to code AST in august 95,i had an SB16 with a RIO daughter
     board,AST used only MIDI, after I implement FM synthesis.
*in november 95,i bought the marvellous AWE32,but i had to wait mars 96 to get
 informations on awe32 programming,


[         REGISTER         ]

 If you want to register AST, you can {send me some modules made with AST]
              or a good english version of this file

{Nothing will enjoy me more than see that someone takes time to use AST]

 I don't ask you money , but you can send me money... ;-)

I'm sorry but i' haven't got modem so here is my address

                       BOUCHAND PATRICE
                       LE BOURG
                       42990  st Georges en couzan
                       FRANCE

                                   Please write me....

if you are AWE32 coder,look at the files AWE_HELP.ME

[ MERCI ------ THANKS -----DANKE ]

** a GREAT,GREAT THANKS TO {CYGNUS-X-1] FOR  THE OMEGA PLAYER AND
   {Vince VU a.k.a JUDGE DREDD] FOR THE UN-OFFICIAL AWE32 PROGRAMMING GUIDE
      I hope this help you to feed your ego (;-)

**Thanks to {Bert Boer,Lada Kopecki,Cubic Team] for releasing player for AWE32,
      HELP ME TO AVOID THOSE CLICKS !

**Thanks to christian braut for the book " la norme midi "
  Arthur Burda and boris Bertelsons for "le superlivre de la SB"
  Mathias Rasch and "  "  "  "  "   for "PC INTERDIT"


[ SOUND CARD MANUFACTURER  ]

If you want that AST use your new sound card ,send me one and a doc.
I will try to do my best...


[        NEXT RELEASE      ]

I would like to implement

       * MIDI keyboards
       * MIDI message editor
       * WAV player
       * using CSP  of AWE32
       * Less clicks ...

                                      A BIENTT...



