Documentation for Amiga Sampler Software Version 2.0 ==================================================== 0 : Introduction 1 : Screen layout 2 : Command gadgets 3 : Specifications 4 : Installing on a hard drive SECTION 0 - Introduction ------------------------ AmiSound is a software package designed specifically for the Commodore Amiga computer range. It has been designed to work with most sampler hardware on the market and uses the IFF file format for sound files. The package is not copy-protected for your convenience and we therefore request that you keep it for your personal use only. SECTION 1 - Screen Layout ------------------------- The screen is laid out in four distinct sections. --------------------------------------------------------- | Sample Info | --------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | Edit/Zoom Window | | (Current Sound) | | | | | | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------- | | | Command Centre | | | --------------------------------------------------------- | Current Status | --------------------------------------------------------- Sample Info ----------- The Info bar contains information on: 1 - The size of the current waveform being edited (if any). 2 - The current range selected (if any). 3 - The size of the waveform in the copy buffer (if any). 4 - The maximum memory that has been allocated for use. 5 - Whether the current waveform has been modified. 6 - The version name and number. Edit/Zoom Window (current sound) ---------------- This contains a graph of the sound that is available for editing or playing. It is not necessarily the full waveform as you may have zoomed in to examine a particular section. Command Centre -------------- This is the command centre of the program. The uses of the various functions are described in their own sections later. SECTION 2 - Command Centre -------------------------- These are chosen and executed by using the mouse pointer and clicking the left button once. (Please note that they will not execute until the button is actually released). Load ---- This allows the loading of sounds from disc into memory. If a file is chosen then the current sound will be overwritten although the copy buffer will remain as before. A standard file requester will appear allowing you to see files on the disc and to choose one using the mouse. Choose OK to load a file and Cancel to return to the program. Note: If you have the IFF button highlighted then the program will load an IFF sound at the speed at which it was recorded but if the RAW button is highlighted the sound will be loaded at the currently selected speed. Save ---- This allows the saving of sounds from memory to disc. A standard file requester will appear allowing you to see files on the disc and to choose one using the mouse. If you wish to name a file for the first time then click into the name field of the gadget. Choose OK to save a file and Cancel to return to the program. Note: If you want to save in IFF format make sure the IFF button is highlighted. Play ---- This will start playback of the current sound at the current speed and play it once only (unless the loop function is on). The sound will play through both channels and will continue until either the end is reached or the left mouse button is pressed again. Note: If a range is active then the range will be played. loop ---- This will make playback loop continuously until stopped. It only comes into effect when 'play' is chosen. Any length of sound can be looped. Note: If a range is active then the range will be looped. Record ------ (To use this your sampler hardware needs to be connected and ready.) This will record the sounds being transmitted by your sampler to the computer. It works at the current speed. To start listening to the sound (in order to hear when to start) click on this gadget once. When the correct point is reached click the button again and recording will start. (The sound will turn off at this point - this is normal). When either the end of available memory is reached or the left mouse button is clicked again recording will stop and the sound will be graphed. Monitor ------- (To use this your sampler hardware needs to be connected and ready.) This will monitor the sounds being transmitted by your sampler to the computer. It gives some indication of the quality of sound depending on the current speed that has been set. First the sound will be output at the current speed so that you can check the quality. Next the volume of sound reaching the sampler should be adjusted so that the waveform is not too small (quiet) or too large (loud). Finally the sound will be heard again as a final check. When you have finished adjusting click the left mouse button to continue. Zoom-In ------- First a range needs to be set. This is done by clicking the left mouse button once in the Edit Window, (do not hold down the button). Now move the mouse pointer to the left or right. You will see a flashing square indicating the block you could choose to highlight. (Note that you cannot choose a block smaller than 5 pixels across but you can zoom-in as many times as you like). To actually highlight the block click the left mouse button again. The range chosen will now be highlighted. To zoom in to the section chosen click the zoom-in gadget once. Zoom-Out -------- This will zoom out the current sound to the full sound. Cut --- First a range needs to be set (see zoom). This highlighted block will then be cut from the current sound and if memory is available put into a buffer for future use. The cut is permanent so if you are unsure make sure that the sound is saved first. Copy ---- First a range needs to be set (see zoom). This highlighted block will then be placed into a buffer for future use. (If memory is low then the buffer will not be able to be created and an error message will be output). Insert ------ First a section of sound needs to be in the buffer (Using either the Cut or Copy commands). When you choose this option a flashing line appears in the Edit/Zoom Window. This will move left and right for you to postion the start of where you wish the insertion to take place. When you have chosen the correct place click the mouse button again to insert. Reverse ------- First a range needs to be set (see zoom). This highlighted block will then be reversed so that it will be played backwards. (If memory is low then a message may warn that this cannot be done). Filter ------ This turns the low-pass filter on or off. It will only make any effect on Amiga 500 or 2000's. ( The power LED will also turn on and off). IFF --- If you wish to load and save files in IFF standard format this gadget must be on. If it isn't on then loading and saving will take place using Raw format files. RAW --- If you wish to load and save files in RAW (dump) format this gadget must be on. If it isn't on then loading and saving will take place using IFF format files. LO -- This allows the quick selection of 8.363 KHz as the current speed. This is a commonly used low speed setting in other sampling packages. MED --- This allows the quick selection of 19.886 KHz as the current speed. This is a commonly used medium speed setting in other sampling packages. HI -- This allows the quick selection of 34 KHz as the current speed. Speed ----- Move this gadget in the normal way to choose the current speed. Speed is indicated in the box on the right. A speed can be set to the nearest 10Hz. Quit ---- This appears in the normal place at the top left of the screen and when chosen quits the program. SECTION 3 - Specifications -------------------------- Machine requirements : Amiga 500/1000/2000. (NTSC or PAL). Processor requirements : 68000-7.14/68000-14.2/68010/68020. Memory requirements : 256K Bytes, extra memory advantageous, uses fast memory when available. Sampling speed : 6000Hz to 34Khz continuous. Sampling Hardware : Standard Mono parallel port sampler. File types supported : IFF and Raw format. SECTION 4 - Installing on a Hard Drive -------------------------------------- The program is not copy protected and so isasily installed on a hard drive. They are however delete protected so that it cannot be deleted by accident. To move it to a hard drive or another floppy just use workbench to move the icon as usual.