******************************** * * * LightDrive - Version 1.0 * * ---------------------------- * * By Michael J. Wilson ©1996 * * * ******************************** Introduction LightDrive is a professional-quality utility designed specifically to drive disco or stage lighting using the Amiga parallel port. However, other applications are possible, such as motor control, controlling house lighting while on holiday and so on. To use LightDrive you will need a parallel interface, preferably with mains-switching capability. If you do not own such a unit, details of where to purchase or how to build one can be found in the interface section. Main Menu Options Once loading has finnished you will be presented with the main menu screen. The function of the quit button is obvious, although there is an "are- you-sure?" requester in case it is accidentally clicked on. The disk access button brings up the files menu, which allows you to load, save and delete sequences (which are saved as .Lds files). Please note that only the sequence data is saved - not the music or preferences. If you are using computer music you will have to reload it when you load the sequence again. The Sequence Editor The sequence editor consists of a main sequence display, which you can draw on directly, and a number of editing buttons. Clicking on the LightDrive logo in the top left corner will display a large-scale view of the sequence, which is cancelled by clicking the mouse. Clicking on a square in the main display with the left button will set a bit, wheras the right mouse button will clear the bit. This is for fine editing of your sequence. To change the location of the display you can use the slider bar or the buttons at the bottom of the screen. The time readout on the left shows the current position ofthe display. On the right is displayed the filename of the currently loaded music. Click on this box to load a .Ldm module. Remember that in this version of LightDrive soundtracker modules have to be converted into AMOS music files using the supplied utility before they can be read. Clicking the play button will replace the main display with a playing logo, and will start to play the sequence. The status of the output channels is shown by the indicators on the top right. If music has been loaded, it will be played, but only if the timer starts at 00:00. Clicking on play with the left button starts from the current location, but using the right button automatically starts from the beginning of the sequence and plays the music if present. The record button functions in two ways. If clicked with the left button it will function in Overwrite mode, which records your keypresses directly, wiping anything already at that location. But the Amiga keyboard will not allow some key combinations, and sometimes it is more convinient to make multiple passes for tune, backing, drumbeat etc. So if you click on record with the right button, Simultaneous mode is activated, which allows you to add to what is already at that location. In either mode there will be a short countdown before recording starts. Once again, music will only be played if you are at the very start of the sequence. To record use the function keys F1 to F8. Once again the icons on the top left will display output channel status. In both playing and recording modes the only control still usable is the stop button. To return to the main menu click on the EXIT sign at the bottom right. The LightDrive Player Utility On clicking the play sequence button you are presented with another menu asking you to select player mode. Demo mode displays a nice colour- cycling picture and lets you use the following controls: left mouse to start, right mouse to stop and both buttons to quit. Custom picture is basically the same but allows you to load an IFF file of your choice. The top button takes you to the main player screen. The main control bar works in much the same way as the editor controls but has a backwards-play option instead of the record button. Once again music will only start if you are at the begining of the sequence. At the top left a block of option buttons are displayed. Filter and music toggle on and off the relevant functions - the other two buttons are for use with the marks feature not included in this version. Direct Mode Control For many applications there will not be the time or the need to record a set sequence, and the direct mode screen will be sufficient. On the right are the channel output status indicators and a bank of buttons allowing you to select each channel as on, off or auto. In automatic mode the channel is controlled by the autosequencer pattern selected by the buttons at the bottom. These are: Sequence (Single) -- All the lights flash in sequence, one at a time. Sequence (Double) -- As above but the "dot" then returns in the opposite direction (ever seen Knight Rider? Just like that). Pattern ------------ A series of preset patterns are displayed. Random ------------- At intervals all the AUTO channels are randomly set as on or off. Sound2Light -------- This option only works if you have loaded some music in the editor, and takes over ALL the channels regardless of their status. Channels 1,3,5 and 7 are controlled directly by buffered sample detection, while channels 2,4,6 and 8 are the opposite of the previous channel. OFF ---------------- Stops any music and sets all AUTO channels to off. A speed control is provided at the bottom left. The time displayed is the time taken for the entire sequence to be completed, NOT the switching speed. Hence double sequence will appear to go twice as fast as single sequence at the same speed setting, and random will be about sixty times slower then pattern. At the lowest speed setting random could be used to control lights in a house when the owners are away. Finally each channel has a space for a comment, primarily for use in stage applications to prevent confusion about which light is connected to which channel. To change the comment simply click on the channel designator on the far left of the screen. You may then enter a comment of up to nineteen charachters in length, terminated by pressing return. To prevent the necessity of having to re-enter these comments each time the program is loaded, load and save preferences buttons are provided above the exit sign (in the bottom-right corner). Speed setting, comments, sequence type and channel configuration are saved by this option. The Interface This software is designed to work with the LightDrive intergrated interface system, produced by TeraTron. However, as mentioned earlier any 8-channel parallel interface will do. Switchsoft used to supply an Amiga specific interface, but this was very expensive when fitted with relays and may now be out of production. There are several units designed for PCs that should work, as long as they are the external not the card type. Make sure that the power handling capacity is sufficient for your needs. If you have some experiance with electronics the best idea is to build your own interface from scratch. I don`t have space to go into the details here, but there are basically two methods available. The first is to use a transistor driving a relay (remember to surge-protect it with a diode) on each channel. For greater reliability, power handling and safety opto-isolators driving triacs can be used, although this is more expensive, more complex and requires a better power supply. Features such as overide switchs, housing, connectors and so on are us to you. Registering This is a ShareWare release. If you find it useful please send five pounds to the address below. In return you will recieve the registered version of LightDrive, which include the following new features... * Marks feature enabled - allowing quick jumps and multiple seqments for stage applications. * Improved direct control screen with more options. * External triggering of play and record functions for better synching. * 12 Channel facility using joystick port outputs (interface dependant). * Great party graphics system and more great demo files! and of course peace of mind. Please include another two pounds if you want the AMOS (V1.3) source code, and don`t forget to include your own address! Teratron Teratron is a small group dedicated to bringing you quality Amiga and PC shareware. This is our fourth Amiga release, written over Christmas 1995. Our other releases (registered versions) are available directly from Teratron at the address below. We`re always glad to hear any comments, queries or suggestions. ******************************** * Michael J. Wilson, Dashwood, * * 115 Nash Grove Lane, * * Wokingham, Berkshire. * * RG40 - 4HG * ******************************** If you have any urgent queries or questions, please ring on 01734 - 789229. The Teratron Team At present, members are as follows... * Michael Wilson - Main AMOS and C programming, hand drawn and rendered graphics, digitising, production and design. * Thomas Neill - Main music composition, samples, scanned graphics, game design and video production. * Keavy Wilson - Additional music, design and digitised graphics. * Edward Spurrier - PC programming, conversion and high explosives. * Alex Gough - Playtesting and level design. * Charles Crowe - Bugfinding, constructive critisisim and useful (?) ideas. Our (Amiga) releases to date have been... * The Dragon Compilation - Old freeware games - cheap and cheerful! (£2.00) * Entertainment In Rome -- Multimedia educational presentation. (£5.00) * Motorway Madness ------- Great driving/shoot-em-up for 4 players! (£5.00) * LightDrive ------------- Quality parallel interface driver. (£5.00) Prices are for registered versions. Source code is availiable for all of our releases (please add £2.00 to your order). Finally, I`d like to apologise for the late release, but I decided to completly rewrite the interface and implement DMA port control. See you in our next release! By Michael J. Wilson, 17th December 1995. MJW`95