file_id.diz
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* »» Protracker 3.01 «« *
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This is a upgrade of ProTracker 1.3/2.0B, and is not based on PT's released
after the original release of PT1.3 by Amiga Freelancers, therefore you may
find features implemented in Pre PT1.3 releases that this version lacks.
However we hope that you'll find this release better than the other PT's
around :) We will ship new releases as soon as bugs are fixed, and new
features are implemented. Final release is scheduled to the Easter of '93.
ProTracker 3.01 was developed from April '92 to January '93 by Ivar Just
Olsen, Tom Bech and Bjarte Andreassen. Thanks to these people without whom
this program would not have been possible:
For demonstration music: Gregorian3 by Krest and Vortex, EX-T-Sheep by
Vortex.
Amiga Freelancers (especially Lars Hamre) for releasing the Sourcecode of
PT1.3/2.0B, Janne S. for numerous suggestions and bugreports, Guardian for
testing PT on his NTSC '040 Amiga, ALFred and U4IA for moral support :), Arild
"WindWalker" Gjerd for letting us borrow his 50MHz '030 for development,
Vishnu for help on the AGA chipset and last but not least a special regard to
the rest of our friends in CryptoBurners. We would also like to send our
regards to our crew of betatesters!
History:
o PowerPacker support. Powerpacker.library must be present in the "sys:libs/"
directory. Version needed: 35.000 or higher. It is however recommended that
you have at least 1MB to use this feature with large modules. Note that
this feature will probably be replaced by xpk.library later.
o Protracker rearranged to MEDRES (or HIRES perhaps? Hi Buddha! :) 640x200x3.
o Format now works with dfx. Remember to specify which drive to format in
the "path" string-gadget.
o MIDI has been kicked out.
o "SpectrumAnalyzer" has been kicked out.
o Protracker now works on Kickstart 2.04 and higher (SCS/ECS).
o Memory display now displays all memorytypes.
o Improved input handler. PT will now live peacefully with Commodities. We hope.
o Invented new fileformat based on Interchanged File Format (IFF) chunks.
See docs elsewhere on this disk for a discussion of this format.
o Hold record mode; waits for keypress before starting to record.
o New filerequester.
o Screen to back gadgets. You may also use Left Amiga + M/N.
o Standalone playroutine supporting Finetune etc. Not fast though :(
o Some speedups in the SampleEd. It was awfully slow at marking in MEDRES!
o Scroll bars added here and there (but not everywhere ;)
o New pointer! The old one was simply too big for the new resolution.. :)
o Setupscreen revised and merged into one.
o Date and time online at mainscreen.
o Task interferance problems fixed (Improved multitasking). No busy waits.
o The dragging routine in the sampler draws pixels instead of lines when
dragging.
o Major rearranging on mainscreen; editor centered and some new buttons for
editing, such as cut/paste, up/down octave etc.
o You may now click into the different tracks with the left mousebutton! :o
o Audio.device channel allocation, to ensure that other programs doesn't mess
with your tunes in a multitasking environment.
o Chords editor with up to 7 notes. (Hi JanneS :)
o PT now works in OS3.0 with AGA chipset (Hi Vishnu).
o The sampler works again! ;)
o Screen positioning (For people with TV's or multisync/flickerfixer)
To do:
o Implement the new fileformat :)
- Commands ranging from 0..0xFF (0..255). All commands that CAN run in
paralell will do. Lotsa other commands (hi JanneS :).
- #Samples and #patterns to word size, I hope it will do for a while! :)
- Maximum sample size from 64Kb to 128Kb. It's there, why not use it?
o Digital filters and noise-reduction in the Sampler. Planned filters include
Lowpass, Highpass and Bandpass (FIR filters). Perhaps Graphic Equalizer too.
o Seek zero/loop in sampler.
o Fix bug in PLST; choosing [MOUNTL] causes hangup :(
o Protracker.library for non-tech programmers wanting to use PT modules in
their programs.
o Pattern (position<->pattern) editor.
o Save module as executable.
o Add icon.
o Load samples/instruments/patterns from an existing module.
o Freehand sample-editing.
o ASDR editor for channel modulation.
o Optimise/Rewrite Playroutine.
o Gain/Finished info when (Power)Packing.
o Hypertext on-line help (a la Windows).
o Serial comm. to other protrackers.
o Fix bugs in general ;)
Things you want, but won't get:
o Splitting up each track of a pattern into a seperate "pattern", independent
of the others. After having talked to many musicians, we all agreed this is
all in vain. Nobody seems to be going to use it, due to the serious timing
problems that will arise. Use SIDMON instead, if you're really anxious to
use this feature ;)
o 8 channels Protracker. The Amiga is designed for 4 voices, if this feature
is to be implemented, the CPU has to mix the channels realtime, and will
use all CPU DMA on lowend Amigas. Forget it. Use StarTrekker if you want it.
o Intuition Protracker. Too much work :) maybe some sunny day...
o Beer.
o MIDI implementation. To get an acceptable sequencer, the entire program
would have to be rewritten. Buy a decent MIDI sequencer instead!!!
Don't report these known bugs:
o Keyrepeat sometimes don't stop in pattern editor.
o Turning off audio channels doesn't stop repeating instruments immediately.
o Applications that do not allocate the timers properly, will cause the
music to stop (eg. ProPlay20). However, this is _not_ ProTrackers fault; PT
allocates the used timers gently :) As you see this is not really a bug, but
we just want kill potential "bug reports" in birth ;)
o PT3.01 does not run properly on Amigas with OS3.0 without AGA chip set.
(Why run OS3.0 without AGA when there is almost no difference from
OS2.0 when you don't have the AGA chipset)
o PT sometimes doesn't work ;)
o Load as 31/15 instruments modules, choosing CANCEL, leaves crap in the
songname and instrument names.
o Amiga + N. Use the gadgets located in the top right of the screen.
o PT won't work with various, more or less shabby :), utilities such as
screenblankers and likes.
o Multitasking problems of various character :)
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Protracker 3.01 has been successfully tested on A/B/C2000 (OS1.2 to OS2.04),
A500 (OS1.2 to 2.04), A500+ (OS2.0) and A3000 (OS2.0). All 680x0 CPU's tested.
We reccomend that you do not crunch your PT with Imploder/PowerPacker or likes
if your Amiga has got MC68040 CPU, due to severe problems with the Code/Data-
Cache(s). Tested with MMU too, but not with virtual memory, so be careful if
you have got VM-System. All machines were tested with and without HardDisk
(except the A3000). Not tested on A4000 and A1200 but should work anyways.
Not tested on animals. The authors are not responsible for any damage or loss
of data as a result of using this program. This program may not be included in
PD libraries or likes without written permission from the authors. Also, your
charges for this program may not exceed the expences for disks and postage. You
may only spread this program if you include all files on this disk. Contact one
of the authors (see below) if you have questions in this direction.
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Please send bugreports and suggestions to the internet account (E-Mail):
db62@hp825.bih.no. Please do not flame the account for other reasons, ok? :)
The bugreport should include full description of your hardware and your startup-
sequence and the sofware you were using when you discovered the bug.
Bugreports on BackPlay 1.0B also, please :)
We'd prefer that you direct most of the mail to Tom's E-Mail account, but if
you don't have access to an Internet account (or E-Mail), or if you for any
other reason want to contact one of the other authors, then you may find the
authors addresses below. We do not guarantie any answers, so if you enclose
equipment, eg. disks, then don't expect to get them back. However, we will
try to answer serious letters as far as we can.
Please call our board Home Alone WHQ +477040305 - +4770297 and leave bugreports
to Trixal CRB. Please direct all snail (eg. ordinary mail) concerning
programming to Ivar.
Contact addresses to the authors:
Ivar "Olorin" Just Olsen
Mobergslien
N-5200 OS
Norway
Tom "Outland" Bech
Søre Skogvei 73
N-5037 SOLHEIMSVIKEN
Norway
Bjarte "Krest" Andreassen
Løtvetlia 12
N-5064 STRAUMSGREND
Norway
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