======================================================================== ____ ____ _____ ___ ____ ____ ___ __ _____ ___ / \ / \ I\ I / I \ I \ / \ / \ I / I I \ V \____ I I I \ I == I I___/ I____I I I_/ I___ I___/ 1 \ I I I \ I == I I \ I I I I \ I I \ . \____/ \____/ I \I _I_ I \ I I \____/_I_ \_ I____ I \ 0 ======================================================================== A 'SONIX' to '*TRACKER' CONVERSION TOOL !!! This program will read in any sonix 4 voice score and output an ascii file showing the necessary pattern formations for entering into any of the usual music programs. This means you can covert your old or your favourite scores into SOUNDTRACKER, NOISETRACKER, MUSICAL ENLIGHTMENT, GMC, FUTURECOMPOSER, SOUNDFX, BRIANS SOUNDMON, BUG-MON, SID-MON.. etc This program is FREELY DISTRIBUTABLE but not Public Domain. (see notes) This program was written by Spadge (Martyn/Newsflash UK) for all the non-musicians out there such as myself and also as a tool for all other Amiga musicians. ======================================================================= !!! INSTRUCTIONS !!! -------------------- * Load up the program. * Read the garbage on the screen & click the mouse. * Insert your disk containing the sonix score you wish to mess with. * Select the file to convert. (Via requester) * Insert destination disk and enter the path. (Via requester) * Wait for the file to be slung together, some can take a few mins! * That's all!! [Easy huh?] Select CANCEL on the requester to quit or close the window by clicking top-left. ======================================================================= PROGRAM NOTES: -------------- As this is version 1, there may be a few errors and bugs - I haven't spotted any myself but as always there will be a few hiding with their combat jackets on - ready to hit the destruct button... PLEASE report any errors or failings then I can amend them when I update the program. There's PLENTY of scope for improvement, this was the result of just a few hours dabbling and I can't recall seeing anything else like it except for those other sonix 'peekers'. At the moment things are a little slow but never mind, it works and it's certainly quicker than having to do it without this program. Due to me not having any tech-specs on the actual Sonix Smus format I had to dissect it myself which took the majority of the time, and I will add things like the tuning/key etc on the next version (I was too lazy this time). You are free to distribute this as you see fit although I'd like to be asked before it goes onto any PD disks (just so I know where its going) the reason why it's not PD in the true sense is that some PD outfits don't actually do any WORK, they just distribute what other people compile (after changing the credits of course) so until these people stop my programs won't be PD. This program is by no-means state of the art but it DOES work and if I (ie a total NON musician) can convert old sonix stuff such as the work by Andreas Starr (Miami and Last Paradise etc) with the result sounding exactly the same then it really is something! If you're wondering exactly what you could use this program for then think hard because you can... Easily enter sheet music into the 'trackers now by first putting it into SONIX and running the score through this program. This means those fiddly intricate files are laid out for you! Good eh! No need to sit pondering what that little black thing actually is. Even write it into DeluxeMusic and save it as a SMUS file - then run this!! ======================================================================= HINTS & TIPS & NOTES -------------------- Sonix uses a mixture of samples and internal instruments to create its output. All these will be listed in the output file. The synthesised instruments can be over 7 octaves - Soundtracker has just 3. ARGGH! Whaddya do now??? Well, just use your common sense... It pays to examine either the instruments or the score (or both!) before converting it, this way you know exactly what type of sound you're expecting. If the melody is using octaves 4-6 (eg C-5) then you should use (C-2) as the note in Soundtracker... etc etc.. Same with lower notes, it's all down to common sense. Usually it pays to knock 2 off the octave when dealing with the main melody. Basslines will use octaves 2/3 - on soundtracker you'd be using 1/2. Some samples have false octave numbers, that's because of the sampling rate - just mess around until you find the right level. Some scores such as Andreas Starrs' "Last Paradise" uses several copies of the same instrument each with different volumes, obviously you'd just alter the volume in your 'tracker and not have 6/7 of the same instrs. Note: Patterns and Instrument numbers are displayed in HEX on the output to be compatible with the 'trackers. If you want to use the original sonix instruments in the 'tracker score then first convert them to 1 OCTAVE iff (always use the MIDDLE note) by using programs such as Audiomaster/Audiomaster2. Obviously you will have to find replacements for instruments that previously used synthetic voices. With a bit of care and thought, you can accurately reproduce ANY sonix score and enjoy the advantages of the resulting 'tracker module (ie games, demos, background music). Example Output Explained: ------------------------- SON-TRACKER 1.1 Output File. ============================ SCORE TITLE : Main VOLUME [max 64] : 63 SPEED [max 64] : 40 Inst: No.1 def Inst: No.2 P1 Inst: No.3 P2 Inst: No.4 Brss Inst: No.5 bass Inst: No.6 str Inst: No.7 silc Inst: No.8 MnLd Patterns are ouput like this: PATTERN No.7 0 --- -- C-4 2 C-3 5 G#4 7 0 1 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 1 2 --- -- --- -- C-3 5 --- -- 2 3 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 3 4 --- -- --- -- G#2 5 --- -- 4 5 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 5 6 --- -- --- -- G-2 5 --- -- 6 7 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 7 8 G-5 9 --- -- D#2 5 D#4 7 8 9 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 9 10 --- -- --- -- D#2 5 D#4 7 10 11 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 11 12 A#5 9 --- -- D#2 5 --- -- 12 13 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 13 14 F-5 9 --- -- F-2 5 F#4 7 14 15 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 --- -- 15 16 --- -- C-4 3 F-2 5 --- -- 16 17 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 17 18 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 F#4 7 18 19 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 19 20 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 --- -- 20 21 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 21 22 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 F#4 7 22 23 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 23 24 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 F-4 7 24 25 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 25 26 --- -- --- -- F-4 4 --- -- 26 27 --- -- --- -- F-4 4 --- -- 27 28 --- -- --- -- F-4 4 F-4 7 28 29 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 29 30 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 --- -- 30 31 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 31 32 F-5 9 C-4 2 A#2 5 A#4 7 32 33 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 33 34 D-5 9 --- -- A#2 5 --- -- 34 35 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 35 36 D#5 9 --- -- A#4 4 --- -- 36 37 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 37 38 F-5 9 --- -- --- -- --- -- 38 39 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 39 40 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 A#4 7 40 41 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 41 42 G#5 9 --- -- F-2 5 A#4 7 42 43 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 43 44 G-5 9 --- -- A#2 5 --- -- 44 45 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 45 46 F-5 9 --- -- F-2 5 A#4 7 46 47 --- -- --- -- F-2 5 --- -- 47 48 --- -- C-4 3 A#2 5 --- -- 48 49 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 49 50 C-5 9 --- -- A#2 5 A#4 7 50 51 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 51 52 D-5 9 --- -- A#2 5 --- -- 52 53 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 53 54 --- -- --- -- A#2 5 A#4 7 54 55 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 55 56 F-5 9 --- -- F-2 5 A#4 7 56 57 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 57 58 D#5 9 --- -- F-2 5 --- -- 58 59 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 59 60 D-5 9 --- -- G-2 5 A#4 7 60 61 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 61 62 C-5 9 --- -- A-2 5 --- -- 62 63 --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- 63 Thus conforming to standard `tracker style. Note and Octave and then instrument no in hex. NB. The `program` bytes are left off for you to fill in as necessary (ie volume, pitch bend etc) as these are not included in smus files as far as each note is concerned. The step number is repeated on the right also - for clarity. Please remember to check the correct octave level for the voice/instrument you are using, in normal circumstances you`ld use 1 or 2 octaves below the one suggested/printed. Try out first in non-record mode. Use Audiomaster or similar program to convert sonix instrument files into IFF or RAW format and add them to your instrument lists. Ok, that`s about all you need to know... Send letters/reports/winks/nudges/bug reports & beer to: Spadge Po Box 13 Deep in the heart of Ossett <--- Northern England! West Yorks Wot no Tory`s ?? WF5 OXA Nowt wrong with our England. prison roofs! Big hellos to all my musical friends all over the place including Al, Bjorn, Richard, Seb, Stein, Tor, Watchman, Fred, Ron Klaren, Mike Archer, Matt West and others I probably forgot. (oops) - Hope this is useful to you!