____________ __________ ________ _____________ ___________ / ___/ _ / // / _ / _ |/ ___/ _ |/ __ / ___/ // / ___/ __ | /__ / // / // / // / // / /__ _ / /_/ / /__ / __/_ _ / /____/____/____/_//_/____/____/_/|_|_/ /_/____/_/|__\____/_/|_| V2.96 English Documentation --------------------------------» News «---------------------------------- This is the _last_ released version of a SoundCracker as you know it. SoundCracker III is in progress! V2.95 has these improvements: · ProRunner-Ripper · Converts ProRunner to ProTracker · Turbo Scanner (up to 50% faster!) V2.96 has only some debuggings for ECS and AGA amiga. ---------------------------» Installation «------------------------------- To install SoundCracker you do only need to drag its icon into the des- tination you desire. Notice that powerpacker.library has to be present if you want to load packed modules. If you do not have that library, you may copy it from this SC-packet to your Libs:-drawer. And if you are still an user of Kick 1.3, you'll be glad of using the corresponding Icon. This was the complete installation! -----------------------» Starting SoundCracker «-------------------------- Although SoundCracker is a ripper in reality, it is suited marvellous for playing modules. I will explain the general start first, and after that I will give some clues to rip successfully. SoundCracker may be launched either from CLI or from Workbench. No para- meters are required, and CLI will be released at once. ------------------------------» Main-Menu «------------------------------- After starting the main menu appears. You may start all SoundCracker functions from here. The menu consists of the following functions: Search Song | The memory currently known by system get scanned ------------------------+ for a song. The current address and search mode (Fast/Deep) is shown permanently. You may break this process using the right mouse button. Recall Address | SoundCracker owns an address store consisting ------------------------+ of 15 cells. Each cell may store a pointer to a module in memory. You may re-activate a module using this function, pro- vided that it still exists. Load Image | Binary files may be loaded and scanned using ------------------------+ this function. Binary files are modules, demos and games, but they must not be crunched. Only Powerpacked files will be decrunched automatically after loading, when the library got opened. Take care that sufficient Chip-RAM is present. Free Memory | All memory allocated by a loaded file will be ------------------------+ freed. Configurations | You may set diverse options using this function ------------------------+ (see below). Iconify | Workbench appears with a little window in the ------------------------+ right of the top corner. Activate this window and click right mouse button to reactivate SoundCracker. The close-gad- get quits SC immediately. Exit | Quits SoundCracker and frees all used memory. ------------------------+ This function can be delayed to avoid unwanted leaving. --------------------------» How to rip songs «---------------------------- The true purpose of SC is ripping songs, this means "dismantling" music out of demos and games. This happens by searching the system's memory for known numeric sequences and schemes. There are different ways to rip: · Normally the memory's contents stay intact after resetting the machine. You now may load the SoundCracker and scan memory. This assumes that as less memory as possible get changed, so you should load SC directly after booting. · You may load SC and "Iconify" (see above) it at once. Now start your demo from CLI, then reactivate SC. But take care! Lots of demos coded by stupid programmers use absolute addressing, whereby SC may be partially overwritten and will undoubtedly crash. Therefore this method is best suitable for system-conform games and demos that allocates all memory they require. · At least you may directly load and scan the demo using "Load Image" (see above). First you have to decrunch them - you'll need experience in assembler if absolute crunchers (TurtleSmasher, ByteKiller, DefPack etc.) were used, otherwise you only need Powerpacker. SC protects itself against damaged songs and stops playing when immode- rate time is needed. Damaged external playroutines (SidMon, Mark II) are NOT recognized and may force a system crash! You should take care! -----------------------» The Soundtracker-Menu «-------------------------- This menu appears when a Soundtracker-, ProRunner- or SoundFX-song has been found. ProRunner- and SoundFX-scores will be converted into Sound- tracker-format, on SoundFX except of all effects and some sample loops. The following functions are available: Play Song / Watch | The song got played, but the menu will not be ------------------------+ blocked. A second press starts the songwatcher, which shows the currently played notes at the lower part. Since V2.83 multitasking will not be forbidden any more. A further press on the left mousebutton stops songwatcher, the right button stops the whole music. Since no CIA-timing is used, some musics may sound too fast or too slow. However, CIA-Speed-Commands are filtered! Play Instrument | All instruments will be listed out. Now you can ------------------------+ play single instruments in different pitches. Left mousebutton plays at C-2, the right one at C-3. Additionally you can use your keyboard like a piano. changes octave, stops the sample immediately. By the way: the lower part shows all important informations about the selected sample. Save Song | The current module get stored as song in the ------------------------+ preset drawer. Save Instrument | Herewith you may save single instruments. The ------------------------+ path connected with the name is prefered, but if it does not exists, SC uses the path preset in configurations. Save Module | The complete module get stored. All samples ------------------------+ are behind song. Samples Behind Song | In memory, all samples follow the song. This ------------------------+ is nowadays used in all modules and will be therefore set as default. Samples Before Song | All samples are before song. Such modules can ------------------------+ only be found in some old demos nowadays. Samples Search | In case of the last two functions having no ------------------------+ success, or a song was found in Fast-RAM or a TJC-Tracker-song was found, this function searches the samples belong- ing to it im memory. SC searches for sample lists (array with pointer to samples) or samples themselves. Rename Song | You can change songname using this function. ------------------------+ Avoid this if possible, otherwise module-col- lectors (like I am) are going bananas trying to keep their collection in order. Rename Instrument | You can change instrument names using this ------------------------+ line. You can also change the paths, insert remarks and baptize nameless instruments. Work at Song | uses a sub-menu. There you can use special ------------------------+ functions to edit Soundtracker-songs. Store Address | Song's address will be stored in one of the ------------------------+ 15 cells. Configurations | takes you into "configs"-menu (see below). ------------------------+ Continue Search | continues... ------------------------+ Background | is in reality the iconify-function. But SC ------------------------+ keeps playing in background and can be stoped anytime pressing both mouse buttons. Additionally, power led is blocked, so programs like Powerpacker won't disturb you any more enjoying the music. If a lot of calculation time is used it may happen that the crash protection breaks the play, but this happens very seldom... Exit | stops searching and returns into main menu. ------------------------+ The lower part of screen shows some informations about the song, like name, address, length of single parts, amount of instruments and patterns, length of song, restart and samplelist-address. At the instrument requester, there are short descriptons at the right of each instrument: · "raw" indicates a "real" Soundtracker instrument. · "IFF" marks an IFF-sample which should be changed into a "raw"-sample as soon as possible using "Decode IFF" (see below). · "Rem" shows that the sample name is a remark, which got removed while optimizing. A star behind the descriptions means that the sample belonging to it is not initialized yet and may whistle. SC uses the ProTracker-playroutine - the currently best one - for re- playing. Since this playroutine handles the loop marks "more correctly" than Karsten Obarski's original, some old songs may sound unaccustomed or even quite terrible. This does not mean that the song is defective! ---------------------------» Work at Song «------------------------------- This menu appears when clicking at the corresponding line in Sound- tracker menu. The following functions are available: Quick Optimize | Decodes IFF-samples, optimizes all samples and ------------------------+ at least the song. Optimize Song | Song gets optimized. This means, that unused ------------------------+ Samples get removed. After that, all instru- ments are sorted alphabetically, so that old D.O.C-Tracker request as less disk changes as possible. Optimize Samples | Samples are shortened. If Optimizer Plus is ------------------------+ turned on (see configurations), a little bit more will be removed, but you may hear a small difference! Songs using synthetical instruments should not be optimized! Decode IFF | Soundtracker forces RAW-samples, this are only ------------------------+ the pure waves. Some songs use IFF samples, so you can hear the IFF header klicking at the beginning. This function converts all IFF samples into RAW samples. Convert Vol. Dec To Hex | In Soundtracker songs, volume will be normally ------------------------+ set in hex, but some composers are not detered from decimal notation. This function converts all volume commands (Cxx) into hex. You should ensure that there are really decimal numbers used, so that the song will not be falsified. Initialize Samples | The first two bytes of a sample must be cleared ------------------------+ to avoid whistling. This function clears those two bytes. Check Song | Song gets checked for errors. Note: some scores ------------------------+ made with SoundFX may be erroneous valued as faulty. Clear Restart | Restart will be set to zero. ------------------------+ Convert ProRunner | If SoundCracker recognizes a ProRunner-Song as ------------------------+ SoundTracker, you can convert it afterwards. But this is quite seldom necessary! Exit | in case you did not want to do anything here. ------------------------+ --------------------------» Other Music Editors «------------------------- Even if SoundCracker's most features are for Soundtracker, it may addi- tionally find musics made using these editors: · Future Composer V1.3 · SidMon V1.x · Delta · Jam Cracker · Mark II (only new ones) All of them opens the same menu containing the following functions: Play Song | The current song get played, JamCracker addi- ------------------------+ tionally uses the equalizer. Modules with ex- ternal playroutines (SidMon, Delta, Mark II) set a corresponding message. ATTENTION: SC does NOT check the integrity of those players, so your machine could crash if you start playing. Use right mouse but- ton to stop. Save Song | stores module to disk. SC requests for the ------------------------+ complete path and name! Store Address | Stores address (see Soundtracker menu). ------------------------+ Configurations | Configurations menu (see below). ------------------------+ Continue Search | guess what... ------------------------+ Background | see Soundtracker menu ------------------------+ Exit | Returns to main menu. ------------------------+ SidMon musics include a short string that will be shown on an info line. Scoopex' SidMon-Ripper changes this text and abuses it as a "rip-counter" (besides it does not calculate the correct length of song). To restore the original string, use this function (sorry Chris): Default Remark | restores the original SidMon remark. ------------------------+ ---------------------------» Configurations «----------------------------- This menu adjusts SC to your wishes. SC loads then after each start. You may change this: Amount of ST-Samples | adjusts how many samples will be stored in ------------------------+ Soundtracker-file. You should use 15 only for old trackers. (Def. 31) Filter | Toggles filter. This has no effect on A1000. ------------------------+ (Def. off) ST Pattern Break | Turns off pattern break. This is useful play- ------------------------+ ing old ST songs. (Def. on) Interlaced View | creates a smoother surface, especially when ------------------------+ a flickerfixer is available. (Def. off) KeyMap | Chooses between USA and german keymap. (Def. ------------------------+ USA) Display Mode | Selects display mode of numbers. ------------------------+ (Def. Dec) Sample Optimizer + | Sample optimizer gains more when this option ------------------------+ has been turned on, but you may hear a differ- ence! (Def. on) Multicolor Equalizer | The equalizer may be motley or only green. ------------------------+ (Def. on) Save ST-Restart | Startrekker's restart may be stored, too. ------------------------+ (Def. on) ST Deepsearch | Increases scanner's sensitivity. You will need ------------------------+ this very seldom since V2.83. (Def. off) Font | You can choose betwenn the original Doubleline- ------------------------+ or the (ugly) Sans-font. (Def. Doubleline) Delayed Exit | This option turns on/off the delayed exit func- ------------------------+ tion. Path Song | Path for Soundtracker-Songs ------------------------+ Path Samples | Path for Soundtracker-Samples ------------------------+ Path Modules | Path for Soundtracker-Modules ------------------------+ Save | Stores configurations to DEVS: ------------------------+ Done | Goes back to menu. ------------------------+ Additionally you can select analyzer patterns using the cursor keys. To concat a prefix to filename, this prefix has to end with ".". Example: ST-00:Modules/MOD. selects a MOD.xxx-prefix. ---------------------------» File-Requester «----------------------------- I will not lose many words here. Press right mouse button if you want to break. The last loaded directory will be stored with the position in it. At the beginning you reach a device list containing all connected devices. After that you can select throuh all menus etc. Use >Parent< to get the superior drawer and >Device List< to reach device list again. Pressing left mouse button upon "Scroll Up" brings you back to the top of the list. Finally V2.9 uses a real scrolling. Great speed, ey... ------------------------------» Editor «---------------------------------- Since version 2.92 the text editor has been improved. Now you can use the cursor-keys to move the cursor. In combination with Shift the cursor jumps to the beginning/end immediately. ----------------» Something for the interested user «--------------------- The four lightbars (proportionaloscope's) at the top of screen are show- ing a so-called equalizer (a bad-fitting name created by D.O.C) normally. While loading a file, this equalizer vanishes and the uppermost bar shows how far the loading process is advanced. While saving, the uppermost bar shows the amount of data being stored already. The only exception occures when saving a Soundtracker module. Then the four bars show different parts: 1st row: Header (names, lengths, pattern list) 2nd row: All patterns 3rd row: Instruments to store 4th row: Amount of data of current instrument -----------------------------» Compatibility «---------------------------- SoundCracker is a product from the "copperlist hack age". Think about this if you use this program. It works with any kickstart and with any processor, but it seems that it fails in an AGA system. You must start SoundCracker from a PAL screen. SoundCracker uses less memory than most other rippers, since most rippers use an own CON-Window, what costs nearly 32000 Bytes. The amount of memory SC shows is the real amount including all graphics etc. SC paralyzes system's keyboard and mouse routines. This may trouble some programs like Mach II. The only solution is to use another program (DMouse/KCommodity) or to renounce. But I promise that I will use a system conform way next time... Because of the own surface it is not possible to query passwords for crypted powerpacker files, so this files are NOT recognized... Sorry! Additionally you should have at least 1MByte memory free when using the decruncher, otherwise you can only decrunch very small songs. Graphic cards are not supported, too, but flickerfixer are working. Unfortunately there is a problem using Kick 2.0: the new easy requester will not be shown by SoundCracker, so if a r/w-error occures you are lost! SC will be improved, I promise! Simple delaying loops and an own event handling troubles multitasking, too. But this will be fixed in the new SC, too! I noticed another problem in NTSC-Mode: SC-Surface showed only lots of trash. Sorry to all NTSC-User! At this place I want to beg all programmers not to write programs (like this) that resists multitasking with more or less success. They prevent this feature to user, and multitasking is a feature that marks out Amiga from other systems like Tartari or MS-Doll. And these programs may not run on super-Amigas (best example: Kefrens IFF-Converter). ---------------------» SoundCracker's History «--------------------------- V1.0 - Ripping of simple ST-Songs and instruments, can be admired on my museum disk... (though it was sort of the first songripper anno '88!) V2.0 - Completely rewritten (was required as hell) - Simple attendance using menus - Auto Stop prevents crashes when playing defective songs - Sample-Scanner against vanished samples - Suitable for old and new modules - Changeable saveing paths V2.1 - Improved menus (more clearly arranged) - Time-theshed mouse key routine (thanks to Andreas) - Even damaged song names will be shown (??...) V2.2 - Re-coded at 100% (was required too!) - Supports ST-songs using 31 samples - Integrated converter between 31 and 15 samples - Configurations - High resoultion analyser (one bar per note) - Expanded info window - Shows numbers in HEX and DEC - Improved FASTRAM-search - Switchable pattern break - Laced view mode (looks great!) - Two resident keymaps (USA and German, of course :-) - Improved "Play Instruments"-Routine (less faults) - OneShot-Mode - Instrument Menu opens a further screen - Song optimizer - Relocateable (no SC2H and SC2L any more...) V2.3 - Sample optimizer - Improved song optimierer - Song-checking - IFF-sample-decoder - Less need of memory - Improved scanner routine - "Restore Song" got senseless - removed - Removed "bug" in scanner routine, higher chances !!! - Warns if samples got lost while saveing - Playroutine now 100% crashfree !!! - CLI parameters to configure while launching - Modules can be load via CLI - Big Bug: STracker 2.4 had some problems loading a few songs... V2.45 - New format of config-file (NOTICE!) - SoundFX-scanner and converter - TJC-scanner and converter - Multicolor-equalizer - Song watcher (shows song like Soundtracker) - Improved requester handler - Very improved instrument-searcher - Even for restart-tracker (credit to Chris) - Analyzer uses 10 selectable images - All scanners uses system's memory list. - Auto-runback frees CLI after launching - Iconify-function: SC stays resident - Parameter parser removed - internal "Load Module" function (has some bugs yet) - Renamed into "Mega SoundCracker" - Some small info-texts in main menu (with fader) V2.65 - Replaced parameter function by "Load Image" - SC now rips JamCracker, too - Info-text using scroller - Disc-access-routines use proportionaloscopes - Pro-Tracker playroutine installed - thus SongWatcher skates, debugging soon... V2.73 - Now rips SidMon, Future, Delta, MarkII - Protracker playroutine completely integrated, watcher debug'd - Instrument player has now piano keys and display for finetune - New, 100% rewritten file requester - Background player - Quick Optimize - Sample Optimizer pro - Even for powerpacked files - Decrunch using proportionaloscope - Re-designed configurations menu - Completely new edited documentation - New decimal converter: up to 8 digits - Address Store to store 16 addresses - More informations in Soundtracker-menu - Iconify: no copper crash any more - From V2.70 to V2.72 alternative font tested. V2.80 - All rippers are fully working - Permanent Filter while playing - Iconify: window position is stored - Volume converter (DEC->HEX) for Soundtracker-songs V2.81 - Switchable Font (Readable / Beautiful) - Some small debugging V2.82 - Power-depacker uses powerpacker.library - Check in Slow-RAM crashed at the end, fixed - Storage Option did not work with Soundtracker, fixed - New RunBack: no memory loss when SC was launched from WB - Kick 2.0: Iconify Window adjusts to height 11 V2.83 - "Background" now opens 11-heighted window, too - Very improved Soundtracker-Scanner - Files and drawers are not mixed in directory (Elmar) - I've integrated "QuickBlitter" - Nearly all scrolling and clearing routines use this speeded blitter access now. - Soundtracker-watcher does not need to forbid multitasking any more - New alternative Font V2.9 - Final release completed, sent to Fred Fish - Directory is not case sensitive any more - Real scrolling in file requester - Function to reach the top of directory. - CLI "version" shows SC-Version now (Credits to Elmar!) » Bug fixed: ST-sample lenght was incorrect calculated. - Decimal converter now notice the sign - Empty directories nevertheless become "Device" and "Parent" - SoundFX converter does better now... V2.91 - ST-Optimizer uses TurboBubbleSort, little faster - ST-Scanner slightly improved - CIA-Speed-Effect-Filter V2.92 - New RunBack: frees memory after exiting SC - New Editor: Cursor-keys are working as well... - Delayed Exit-menupoints to avoid unwanted leaving - Supports PatchEditor - Renamed to "Play Song / Watch", so manual-haters have a chance to see the watcher! V2.93 - Delayed Exit got switchable by configurations - Sent to AmigaMagazin for adding to their PD pool. V2.94 - ProRunner-Ripper - Converts ProRunner into ProTracker - Slightly improved Scan-O-Rithm V2.95 - Turbo-Scanner (up to 50% faster!) - Support-BBS "The Funhouse" (Thanxx Kiwi!) V2.96 - Copperlist supports ECS and AGA registers - ProRunner-Ripper improved. It should now find less trash! - Small ad in Sample 31 :-) - Development stopped! -------------------------» Technical Datas «------------------------------ Name SoundCracker Version 2.96 Releasing date 1994-01-16 Programmed by Richard Körber Title-Charset by Quadlite ST playroutine Pro-Tracker Powerpacker Nico François Beta-Tester Oliver, Elmar Language 100% Assembler Length of source code 182KBytes / about 8500 lines Object-Codes 3 Used hunks 3 (2* Code, 1* Chip-RAM) Surface uses own copperlist Steering completely menu guided Fonts 2 ------------------------------» Bugs «------------------------------------ Currently known bugs are: · Amigas using a VSync Frequency higher than 50 Hz get a very crazy screen! · Crashes sometimes, when scanning Fastram had no success. · My english ;-) -------------------------» Coming Soon... «------------------------------- What happens in future? Well, SoundCracker consists currently of one only block of sourcecode, which needs ca. 30 seconds to be assembled and is very chaotic, anyway. In the beginning I wanted to split the source in several pieces and continue as usual. But meanwhile SoundCracker does only work properly on "low-cost-Amigas", so I decided to totally recode it. The following features are probably included: · Renamed to "SoundCracker Professional", Version 3.00 · More Music Programs: Noisepacker, Oktalyzer, MED etc. · Uses new Protracker III-Playroutine · New Scan-o-rithm: safer and faster (???) · ARexx-Interface · Requires Kick 2.0 or higher · Uses a Window on Workbench · ShareWare, registered Users get an improved version! Changes are subject to change... ;-) ----------------------------» Copyright «--------------------------------- SoundCracker is FreeWare up to this version. It may be included in any club or PD collection as long as NOT MORE THAN all expenses for the used media and copying are charged. Mailboxes are not allowed to raise any dues for downloading SoundCracker! SC may only be distributed as entire and un- changed packet. You will need my permission if you want to include Sound- Cracker to a commercial disk. All other commercial usage is forbidden! The author is not responsible for the use and abuse of this program. You use it at your own risk! SoundCracker-packet consists of the following files: - SoundCracker The program itself - SoundCracker.info Kick 2.0-Icon - SoundCracker.info_13 Kick 1.3-Icon - SoundCracker.doc This english documentation - SoundCracker.doc.info Icon for engish doc - SoundCracker.dok A german documentation - SoundCracker.dok.info Icon for german doc - powerpacker.library The Powerpacker-Library SoundCracker is copyrighted by Richard Körber (alias "Shred"). PowerPacker was written by Nico François. For questions, bug reports, donations and so on write to: -- TriTech -- Richard Körber Hornstraße 20 51465 Bergisch Gladbach Germany Please include sufficient return postage (foreign countries: about 3 DM or an equivalent value in other currencies). Send only Cash or EuroCheque. You can also send an E-Mail to: shred@chessy.aworld.de Or check my home page: http://www.is-koeln.de/einwohner/shred