Index of /atarilibrary/atari_cd04/SOUND/STORMTRK
Name Last modified Size Description
![[DIR]](/icons/back.gif)
Parent Directory 11-May-2007 20:59 -
![[TXT]](/icons/text.gif)
ASTRA.TXT 18-Apr-1994 15:49 4k
STORM.PRG 18-May-1994 17:33 89k
STORM.RSC 18-May-1994 16:59 30k
/\
/\ \ A Quick Users Guide to
/__\ \ The ASTRAsoft StormTracker Demo
_/_ _\_\_ ===============================
* works on ST, STe, TT or Falcon *
* This program needs an 80 column screen and 1Mb memory*
Introduction
============
We hope you'll find most of the standard functions in StormTracker simple
to use and intuitive, so the best way to use this demo is to try things
out! To give you a quick introduction to the main features available each
section of the main window is explained below.
Enjoy!
David Oakley, 18th March 1994.
To find out more...
===================
StormTracker will be available in May 1994 from Goodman International,
price œ24.95 (+p&p outside UK). Once you've had a go at using the demo,
you can get release details by contacting Mike Goodman at:
Goodman International
16 Conrad Close
Meir Hay Estate
Longton
Stoke-on-Trent ST3 1SW
ENGLAND
For technical inquiries or to give comments and suggestions, write to
ASTRAsoft directly at:
David Oakley
6 Watlands Rd
Bignall End
Stoke-on-Trent ST7 8QQ
Internet email: dxo@cs.bham.ac.uk
ICL WINS: D.Oakley
Compatibility
=============
To run StormTracker you must have the following:
o 80 column screen (ST-High or most TT/Falcon modes)
o The full version will run in ST Medium rez, though this
demo doesn't
o 1Mb memory
o Do not run StormTracker in MultiTOS protected mode
o On some Falcons you may need a patch program such as
FPATCH2.PRG to turn on DMA sound
The program has been tested on a 1Mb/4Mb STe, 4Mb MegaSTe and 4Mb
Falcon030. We are interested to hear of any setups that interefere with
StormTracker's running.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Stave
=========
All entries on the stave follow a simple rule: LEFT mouse button adds or
alters a note/fx, RIGHT mouse button removes a note or effect. Notes and
effects added to the stave always overwrite any note of the current voice
which was at that position.
In the case of notes, double clicking the left mouse button on an
existing note sharps/naturals the note without changing the sample
number.
There are two keyboard shortcuts to move around the stave: Cursor keys
LEFT and RIGHT scroll forward and backwards through the stave.
Samples
=======
The sample number of any note to be added to the stave is selected by
clicking the UP/DOWN buttons next to the Sample number. The keyboard
shortcuts for samples all use the numeric keypad and are as follows:
Key Effect
=========================================
Num[+] Increase sample number
Num[-] Decrease sample number
Num[1..9] Select sample #1..9
Shift-Num[0..9] Select sample #10-19
Ctrl-Num[0..9] Select sample #20-29
Sft-Ctrl-Num[0..1] Select sample #30-31
Loading samples is done using the 'Samples' menu (saving is disabled in
the demo version). 'Import' overwrites the current sample, and 'New' adds
a sample at the first empty sample number. StormTracker accepts
signed(.SAM) and unsigned(.SPL) sample files and AVR files as produced by
most AVR/Microdeal software. The Sample Editor is also available to
perform editing on the sample.
Voices
======
Since ProTracker/StormTracker songs have 4 voices, clicking on the icons
'1' to '4' select the current voice. Function keys [F1] to [F4] are the
keyboard shortcuts for these icons.
Block Mode
==========
Clicking the Block icon (next to the voice icons) or pressing [F5]
selects block mode where whole sections of music can be cut or copied and
pasted. To select a section simply hold down the LEFT mouse button and
drag towards the right of the screen. At the right edge of the screen the
stave will scroll so that large sections can be selected.
Clicking 'Cut Block' makes a copy of the selected block, and then gives
you the option of pulling the music after the section back to fill the
gap or simply blanking the cut section.
'Copy Block' makes a copy of the selected block in the block buffer.
When 'Paste Block' is selected, the mouse cursor becomes a pointing hand
when over the stave. Clicking here will paste music from the block buffer
starting at the mouse position, or abort the operation if the cursor is
not on the stave. Any music on the stave is deleted if overwritten by the
pasted block.
Insert/Delete Mode
==================
The Ins/Del mode icon is to the right of the block icon, and shows the
cursor between two notes. Clicking this icon or pressing [Tab] toggles it
on or off.
In Ins/Del mode, space is created on the stave by pressing the LEFT mouse
button and deleted using the RIGHT mouse button. If you are in normal
voice mode (one of the '1' to '4' icons is lit), only the current voice
is affected; in Block mode all voiced are affected.
Effects
=======
Effects are shown on a single line at the top of the stave. If no effects
are present you will see a line of dots, one for each note position.
There are five effects panels, which all appear in the top right section
of the screen. The icons below it show which panel is visible, and these
are as respectively:
Panel Key Contents
========================================
Volume F6 Set volume level; Slide Volume Up/Down
Pitch Slide F7 Slide Pitch Up/Down; Fine Slide;
Slide to Note
Vibrato etc F8 Arpeggio (play 3 notes quickly);
Vibrato; Tremelo
Sample F9 Offset (start sample playback at offset);
Retrigger (repeatedly restart sample);
Cut sample (stop sample after period);
Delay (delay sample playback for period)
Pattern F10 Speed/Tempo (playback speed);
Position Jump (goto position number);
Pattern Break (goto note in next pattern);
Delay (pause playback for period)
All effects are added to a specific voice by selecting the voice and
using the LEFT mouse button on the FX line and removed using the RIGHT
mouse button. All except Pattern Effects affect only the note/voice being
played.
Numeric keypad keys [(] and [)] decrease and increase the effect
parameter respectively.
Positions and Patterns
======================
A ProTracker/StormTracker song consists of a set of up to 64 patterns
which may be played in any sequence. Patterns may be repeated as many
times in the song as needed.
The current position in the song sequence and the current pattern number
are shown in the top left corner of the main window. Changing the pattern
to be played at a certain position is done by moving the sequence cursor
to the position to be changed and then using the Pattern [+] and [-] keys
to select the new pattern.
Patterns can be inserted and deleted using the buttons provided. The
duplicate button ('DUP') creates a copy of the current pattern either
directly after it or at the end of the song.
Note that any pattern which does not appear anywhere in the sequence is
automatically deleted, so to move a pattern in the sequence it must first
be added at the new position and then deleted from the old position.
=========================================================================