Beat Master By Ian Baxter 
                This Version March 1996

Why?
~~~~
As a guitar player I always like to play along to a metronome but I found 
clicking boring not to mention annoying.  Then I thought I'd get a drum 
machine that would play a beat that I could pactice to. But after going 
through magazines, it seemed that most drum machines were expensive.  So 
I decided that I'd make a program that played a bunch of pre-defined beats 
in a continous loop that I could practice to. 

And?
~~~~
Here it is! I have decided to release into the unfortunate public
Unfortunatley you can't program your own beats or sequence them but you 
can play along to some of mine.  This program is usefull therefore to 
people who cant be botherd to program thier own beats.  Included are some 
basic rock beats and a few more.  Its not really a "Beat Master" I 
suppose but then again "A Couple Of Beats Thing" Didn't sound that as good. 

How?
~~~~
The beats were done in OCTAMed (What Else!) and converted to AMOS format 
(so you can't edit them).  The Programming was done in AMOS Pro and 
compiled Graphics were done in Dpaint IV.  The icon is from an old
coverdisk I dug up.  I would like a flashy Interface that opened on
a window on workbench but unfortunatley I can't program that well.

Instructions?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May I apologise in advance for the patronising nature of this section
(thank you)

Well you probably worked it out but clicking on the Play button 
(wait for it) Plays the current. The Stop button stops the beat.  
The quit button quits the program (I wouldn't have guessed that) and the 
new beat button lets you select a new beat. To select a new beat click 
on the square next to the beat name.  To alter the tempo or volume click 
on the up and down arrows.  At the bottom of the screen the volume and 
tempo are given as numbers 0-63 and 1-100 respectivly.  The fade functions 
were done at the last moment because I thought the program was a little 
skinny.  The top fade button fades the music up to the max volume of 63 and
it appears to do nothing at the start of the program.  This is beacause the 
volume is already at max, reduce it or fade out first.  The bottom fade 
button fades the music out from 63-0 the music isn't turned off its just 
silent. In the bottom right hand corner there is a time guage in minutes 
and seconds.  The cut off function "Cuts" the beat off after a given time 
(Useful) if you know how long a song is (useless if you don`t).  The count
in Y/N lets you decide wether you want a 1-2-3-4 (shown under the
options box) on or off.  If Y is selected the countin will be 
displayed every time you start a beat.  If N is selected the beat
will start without a countin.

Advice!
~~~~~~~
The best way to use this program is to mix it with your guitar or other 
instrument.  If you have a second mic input on your amp then connect a 
lead from the two audio outs on the Amiga to you amp.  Or if you have 
a monitor with a line out use that instead.  Otherwiseyou`ll have to 
turn your T.V up loud.

Hard Disk?
~~~~~~~~~~
If you've got a hard disk (who are you If you have'nt) then you'll be 
glad to know this program can install on hard disk just copy the files
on to your HD .  It runs from the directory BEAT: so you need an 
assign such as Assign BEAT: Dh1:Beat . If you have'nt got a Hard Disk then 
get one its the only way to run an Amiga.

And Finally!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program is freely distributible as long as this document is kept with 
the program and you don't edit it. This program is Freeware so copy for your
friends.  If you like this then cards are welcome.  I always loved the
concept of Card-ware its like kinda cool ya know so send me a card (get it
card ware).  

Contact me at
 
         Ian Baxter
         33 Townfield Lane
         Frodsham
         Warrington
         Cheshire
         WA6 7QZ   

         
This program was written on a A1200 so thats the only computer I have tested
it on if it don`t work SORRY!.  Sorry about the Spwellings. 

That last starement is a lie, I have now tested it on a 600 and... It worked
so there!

What Next
~~~~~~~~~
Well, I have (gulp!) lost the source code to this program in a Hard-drive
crash, so there won't be any updates but It's not like it needs them hey!
If anybody wants to take what I have done and turn it into a masterpiece
then fine I would be proud.  Oh and your welcome to change the beats and
have like a Beat master funky version and a beat master metal extravaganza
(turn it up to 11 and stand the hell back!!!!) That would be amazing