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OS/2 Help File
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1994-09-26
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45KB
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1,089 lines
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About PMPoze ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
PMPoze is a music composer/player for MOD files. The composer is notational,
meaning a music sheet (a score) is created that looks very similar to a printed
sheet of music. Digital audio samples are associated with the score which
enable the program to create the actual musical sounds.
The system must have MMPM/2 installed and have a supported sound card.
See: MOD File
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. ModFiles Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The ModFiles menu contains commands that are used to open and play MOD music
files. These are files that traditionally end with the extent .MOD. They are
ready to play and do not involve the use of the score sheet. In addition,
musical samples (.SAM files) may be extracted from the MOD files to use in a
music composition. This menu option also contains the option to exit the
program.
Open... Open a MOD song file or a list of MOD files.
Play File Plays the Opened MOD song file(s)
Terminate Play Terminates all playing (MOD file or score)
Pause Pause the playing of music
Resume Resumes playing of music from the paused position
Next Advance immediately to next song in song list
Loop Repetitively play through the song file list
Sam info... Show samples contained in a MOD file. Samples can be
'played' and, optionally, saved to a file for later use in
the composer.
Edit info... Brings up the sample info in an editor. Changes can be made
and saved.
Exit Exits the program
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.1. Open... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A multiselect file dialog appears with a file mask of *.MOD. All selected
entries will be placed in a mod file list. The Play file command will play
files from this list.
See: MOD File
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2. Play file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This will start the player playing at the beginning of the song file list.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.3. Terminate play ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This will stop the player immediately
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.4. Pause ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Pause will pause the player and reatain the position in the song
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.5. Resume ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Resume will resume playing from the paused position
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.6. Next ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Next will advance immediately to the next song in the song file list.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7. Loop ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Loop will set the player to loop indefinitely through the song file list.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.8. Sam info... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Sam info... option will display the samples within a MOD file. It brings up
a single-select MOD file open dialog. When a MOD file is opened, the following
information about the file is displayed:
o file name
o song name
o sample info - consisting of
- sample name
- sample length
- finetune value
- sample volume
- sample reapeat point
- sample repeat length
The sample names are free-form text and song authors sometimes opt to not
include the actual sample names. Instead you may see copyright information or
an advertisement.
A sample may be selected and played, or it may be saved to a file (usually with
a .SAM suffix).
NOTE - This is a chief source of sample files for use in the composer, but
copyright information should be respected.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.9. Edit info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Sample info is free form text information stored in the MOD file. The default
information is the name of the samples used in the song. This option allows
editing and saving that information. There is room in the file for 21
characters per name and 31 sample names (lines).
Many music authors prefer not to disclose the names of the their samples and
copyright information is often included.
NOTE - Copyright information should not be changed or removed.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.10. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This command will exit the program.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. SamFiles Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The SamFiles menu option contains commands for selecting which sample (.SAM)
files will be used in the creation of the musical score. These files are audio
data and are simialar to WAV files, but contain no header. Typically, they are
recordings of a single musical instrument playing a single note and play for
less than a few seconds. Ultimately, thirty-one samples at most can be used in
the score.
Collect... Select as many samples as desired from a file dialog
Remove Clears all previously collected sample files.
File List... Collect samples using a file list instead of a file dialog.
The file list is a previously created text file with one
fully qualified file name per line.
Sound... This will bring up a dialog box to play the sample. It
allows changing sample frequency, duration, and
experimentation with repeat points.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. Collect... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A multiselect file dialog appears with a file mask of *.SAM. Any number may be
selected. The samples that make up the music score will come from this list.
The File list... option is preferred if this becomes a repetitive task.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Remove ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This removes all previously collected samples and removes the song assignments.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. File list... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The File list provides an expiditious way of loading samples. The file list is
a text file created to match the available sample files as in this example:
C:\SAM\PIANO8.SAM
C:\SAM\BASSDRUM.SAM
C:\SAM\GUITAR3.SAM
...
The names should be fully qualified (drive letter and path) and there can only
be one file name per line. There is no limit to the number of names in this
list.
Hint - try - DIR /F *.SAM > SAMLIST.TXT
Typically, only one such file is needed so the default has to be initialized
only once.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4. Sound... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A file dialog box is opened with a *.SAM file mask. Selecting a sample file
will open another dialog box to play the sample. Optionally, the sample
frequency and duration can be changed.
Note - Owing to the heavily buffered nature of MMPM/2, there is usually a
considerable time delay before the frequency or duration changes become
audible.
Repeat points can be used to make the sample play continuously. The repeat
point marks the start of a loop and the repeat length determines the length of
the loop. These values are in number of bytes and should be chosen based on the
sample file length, which is also displayed in the dialog box. Normally, repeat
points are only used on samples with a constant (non-decaying) tone and
loudness such as a wind instrument. Similarly, string and percussion
instruments are examples that would not contain repeats.
This option is only for testing to obtain the desired effect. To apply the
repeat points to a score, choose the Options menu and select Sample...
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Score Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Score menu relates to creating a music composition in the PMPoze window.
Title... Provides for naming the song. This name cannot be more than
19 characters and is placed in the MOD file. The default is
"Song Title".
Play Score Plays the notes currently making up the score.
Terminate Play Terminates all playing (MOD file or score)
Loop Replay the score from the beginning
Save notes... Save the contents of the current score to a file
Load notes... Load a previously saved music score
Save MOD... Save the contents of the current score as a .MOD file
Info Show additional info about the score
New Clear the current score and restore defaults. (The score
should be saved before using this option.)
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Title ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
There is a 19 character limit to the song title. It is saved in the MOD file.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Play score ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Play score option plays the current score. The score sheet must contain
notes and samples must have been assigned before a score can be played.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3. Terminate play ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This will stop the player immediately
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4. Loop ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This will play the current score repetitively.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.5. Save notes... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This allows saving the current score to a file with a default extent of .NTS.
The samples associated with the score are not saved. If notes are reloaded from
a file, samples must be reassigned. Note that the sample data files are usually
quite large.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.6. Load notes... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This allows retrieving a song score from a disk file and placing it in the
window. The current score, if any, will be replaced. The instrument samples
are not saved with the notes file. Therefore, samples must be re-assigned
before a newly loaded score can be played.
See: Assign Sample
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.7. Save MOD... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This allows saving a score as a MOD file. A wide selection of MOD players exist
for DOS, Windows, and OS/2. Songs that authors wish distributed use this
format.
See:
MOD File
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.8. New ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This clears the current score sheet and restores defaults.
Note - Many songs consist of several thousand notes. It may take several
seconds to execute this command.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Scales Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Scales menu relates to applying global music information to the score
Set staves... Permits assigning a treble or bass cleff to a staff,
or turning a staff completely off.
Key signature... Assigns the key to the song
Time signature... Assigns the time signature to the song
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Set staves ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
There are four staves (tracks) in a score. This dialog allows changing the
default bass and treble of a staff. Optionally, a staff can be turned off so
that it won't be heard.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. Key signature ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Key signatue assigns which notes will automatically be played as sharp or
flat. The key signature is uniquely determined by the number of sharp signs ( )
or flat signs ( ) appearing near the cleff. For example, 3 sharp signs is
A-major (F#, C#, G#), 2 flat signs is B-major (Bb, Eb), and no signs is
C-major.
Notes which are expressly given a sharp, flat, or natural sign override the key
signature.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. Time signature ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Assigns the time signature to a score. The time signatue appears like a
fraction in large type near the cleff. It tells the number of beats and type of
beat in a measure. The most popular is 4/4 (default), meaning 4 quarter-note
beats in a measure. For the beat, the first note in a measure is given more
emphasis than the remaining notes in a measure. PMPoze does not directly
support this concept of a beat, so 4/4 and 2/2 mean the same thing as does 3/4
and 6/8. 4/4 time is sometimes written as a large, lower-case c.
Note: Some printed music sheets might show a whole rest in a 3/4 time measure.
PMPoze does not allow this. Instead, a half-rest and a quarter-rest should be
used.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Edit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Edit commands allow cut/copy/paste operations on the music notes and rests.
Cut selected Cuts (deletes) all notes and rests in the select box. All
cut symbols are copied to the copy buffer for later
pasting.
Copy selected Copies all notes and rests in the select box to the copy
buffer.
Cut measures... Cuts (deletes) all notes and rests in a range specified
in a dialog box.
Copy measures... Copies all notes and rests in a range specified in a
dialog box.
Paste Copies all notes and rests in a copy buffer to the song
sheet. The select box determines the position and must be
created first.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Cut selected ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Cuts (deletes) rests and notes inside the select box. The deleted notes are
copied to a copy buffer for later pasting. The select box is formed by holding
down mouse-button one and dragging at an angle.
CAUTION:
The select box must intesect the staff.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. Copy selected ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Copies rests and notes inside the select box to a copy buffer for later
pasting. The select box is formed by holding down mouse-button one and dragging
at an angle.
CAUTION:
The select box must intesect the staff.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3. Cut measures ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A begining measure number, ending measure number, and a list of track numbers
are entered in a dialog box. Clicking OK will delete all affected notes and
rests and copy them to a copy buffer. The contents of the copy buffer can be
pasted.
Note: It is possible to paste multiple tracks at once.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4. Copy measures ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A begining measure number, ending measure number, and a list of track numbers
are entered in a dialog box. Clicking OK will copy all affected notes and rests
to a copy buffer for each track in the list. The contents of the copy buffer
can be pasted.
Note: It is possible to paste multiple tracks at once.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.5. Paste ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The contents of the copy buffer are pasted (restored) into the paste
destination. The paste destination must be created first. It is formed by
holding down mouse-button one and dragging at an angle to form a box. The box
is usually a skinny rectangle containing no symbols and it must intersect a
track (staff). It may intersect multiple tracks. In this case, each track copy
buffer will be pasted.
It is not possible to cut from one track and paste into a different track. The
destination track must be the same as the source track.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Options commands are an assortment of commands that aid in creating and
playing music.
Control panel... This will bring up a dialog box containing a number of
multimedia contols for controlling the player.
Sample... Brings up a dialog box for changing sample
characteristics that have already been applied to the
music score.
Change Octave... This allows raising or lowering the entire score by one
or two octaves.
Show Guide Shows green grid lines to aid in placing notes off the
staff.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. Control panel ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The control panel is a dialog box with the following multimedia cotrols:
1. speed
Changes the playback speed as a percentage of normal.
2. volume
Changes the volume as a percentage.
3. L/R Mix
This applies only for stereo. It controls the amount of the left channel
playing out the right speaker, and vice versa. 0 percent means there is no
mix. 50 percent gives monophonic play, and 100 percent effectively reverses
the left and right speakers.
4. Bass
Controls the amp/mixer bass. Some audio cards do not support this.
5. Treble
Controls the amp/mixer treble. Some audio cards do not support this.
6. Balance
Conotrols the amp/mixer balance. Some audio cards to not support this.
7. Rate in Samples/sec
Controls the playback sampling rate. This does not have to equal the
recording rate. Lower speeds have lower fidelity but are much less load on
the CPU. Most audio boards can play up to 44100 hertz, but not all can play
at this speed in stereo.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.2. Sample... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This dialog box allows changing how a particular sample is played.
1. Repeat Point
This value is a byte offset. The player branchs to here when it reaches the
lessor of (a) sample length, or (b) repeat point + repeat length. The
player will loop continuously until a new note is encountered.
2. Repeat Length
This value is in bytes. If it is less than or equal to 2, no repeats are
performed. For values greater than 2, the sample plays repeat length bytes
begining with the repeat point
3. Volume
Sets the volume for the sample. A value of 64 is the maximum and is also
the default.
4. Finetune
Adjust the tone of a sample by number of half-steps. Legal range is -8 to
+7.
Only samples that have been assigned to a note are listed.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.3. Change octave... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This control allows raising or lowering the octave of the entire score. A
change of one octave changes the note pitch by a factor of two.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.4. Show Guide ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This option display grid lines as an aid in placing off-staff notes. It is on
by default.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Help Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This option is a guide to getting online help
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.1. Index ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This will bring up a display panel showing an index of all avalable help for
PMPoze. Selecting an item from the index will give additional help on that
item.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.2. General help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This option gives a very brief description of PMPoze.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.3. Using Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This option gives information on the help subsystem.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.4. Keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This option gives a description of what keyboard keys are used by PMPoze.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.5. Product information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This option brings up a product information dialog box.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
1. Select the down arrow to the right of the Drive list to display all the
drives on your system.
2. Select a drive from the Drive list.
3. Select a directory from the Directory list.
4. Select a file name from the File list or type in a file name and select the
Open pushbutton to display the file you want to edit.
For specific help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Open pushbutton
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Type the name of the file you want to open in the File name field and select
the Open pushbutton.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Open pushbutton
General help
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the down arrow to the right of the Type of file field to display the
available file types. The sample has set this field for all file types.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Drive list displays the drives on your system. Select the drive that
contains the files you want to edit.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The File list displays all the files in the directory you selected from the
Directory list. Select the file you want to open.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Directory list displays the directories on the selected drive. Select a
directory to display the list of files from that directory in the File list
box.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the Open pushbutton to display the file you want to edit.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Use Save to store the file you are editing. After the file is saved, the text
remains in the window so that you can continue editing it.
Note: If you are editing a new file, select the Save or Save as choices to
display the Save as pop-up so that you can name the file you are
editing. A file must have a title to be saved.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Use Save as to name and save a new file or to save an existing file under a
different name, in a different directory, or on a different disk.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
1. Select the down arrow to the right of the Drive list to display all the
drives on your system.
2. Select a drive from the Drive list.
3. Select a directory from the Directory list.
4. Type the name of the file you want to save in the File name field and
select the Save pushbutton.
For specific help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Save pushbutton
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Type the name of the file you want to save in the File name field and select
the Save pushbutton.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Save pushbutton
General help
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the down arrow to the right of the Type of file field to display the
available file types. The sample has set this field for all file types.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Drive list displays the drives on your system. Select the drive that
contains the files you want to save.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The File list displays all the files in the directory you selected from the
Directory list. Select the file you want to rename and save.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Directory list displays the directories on the selected drive. Select a
directory to display the list of files from that directory in the File list
box.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the Save pushbutton to save the file to the drive and directory you
selected and with the file name you specified.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. MOD File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
MODs are music files that were first popularized on Amiga computers and
subsequently migrated to the PC. They can be characterised as being similar to
a combination of WAV and MIDI files. They contain digital sounds and
instructions on how to play the sounds. The sound pieces are called either
samples or instruments.
MODs have the potential of producing very high quality audio, and because the
instructions allow reuse of the sampled sounds, they are not overly large.
Another advantage is that there are many MOD players for DOS, Windows, and
OS/2. Also, most public bulletin boards carry a selection of MOD files.
The chief drawback of a MOD file is that the play requires a considerable
amount of CPU power. The software has to do all the work in setting sample
frequency and combining the various samples into one or two output channels.
There are a number of different MOD file formats. PMPoze only recognizes the
original 15 sample format and the extended 31 sample format. The player will
skip over any other format. MODs that are saved to a file are saved in the 31
sample format.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Hints ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Written music often contain scripts that are not directly supported by PMPoze.
Many of these can be simulated in some way.
This section contains an assortment of how to answers.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1. Triple notes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Triple notes are three consecutive notes played in the time of two notes. They
are drawn with a heavy, straight bar over them with the numeral 3 written in
the middle of the bar. To enter triple notes in PMPoze, enter one-half the
value of the first two notes. For example, a triple eighth-note would be
entered: sixteenth note, sixteenth note, eighth note.
Triple note
Entered like this
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2. Ties and slurs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Ties and slurs are curved arcs that connect two or more notes.
A tie connects two adjacent notes of the same tone. It means that the two notes
should be sounded as one note. This effect is achieved in PMPoze by changing
the second note to a rest of equal value.
A slur means the connected notes should be played smoothly. There is no
equivalent of this in PMPoze. The slur should be ignored and the notes should
be entered as written.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.3. Repeat signs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A repeat sign is a double bar with two dots. If the dots face to the left, the
music is continued by jumping back to a repeat sign which has dots facing to
the right. If there is no beginning repeat sign, music is continued from the
beginning of the song. The repeat sign is honored only once. The second time it
is encountered, play continues through the sign.
PMPoze does not use repeat signs. Instead, the repeated music has to be
re-entered. Typically this is done by using the Copy measures option in the
Edit Menu. The quickest way to do this is to copy all four tracks at once and
paste them all at once by making a paste target that spans all four tracks.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.4. References ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
There are a number of books that teach the basics of music notation. One such
book is How To Read Music by Roger Evans, Crown Publishers, Inc., ISBN
0-517-56237-5. Suggested retaile is $7.00.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Product information dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This dialog displays information about the application, such as version
number and copyright notice.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Tool Bar ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The tool bar is used for selecting and placing notes and rests, editing notes,
and editing tracks.
Selecting a note or a rest brings up a cross-hair pointer that is used to place
a note or rest on a staff.
Selecting a blue button brings a blue vertical arrow that is used as a
note-selector pointer This is used to select and edit notes on the staff.
Selecting a red button brings up the I-beam cursor. This is used to make
changes to all notes downstream of the cursor's position on a staff.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.1. Cross-Hair pointer ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Selecting a note or rest in the toolbar window will display the Cross-Hair
pointer. This is used to position a note or rest on a staff by clicking a
location with mouse-button one.
The range of vertical positioning is +- 3 lines above or below the staff. If
the note is beyond these limits, the note-selector.change octave can be used to
reach the desired tone.
The Cross Hair pointer
Selectable notes and rests are:
dotted half note
dotted quarter note
dotted eighth note
dotted sixteenth note
dotted thirtysecond note
whole note
half note
quarter note
eighth note
sixteenth note
thirysecond note
whole rest
half rest
quarter rest
eighth rest
sixteenth rest
thirtysecond rest
dotted thirtysecond rest
A dot on a note or rest makes the count last 1.5 times.
Note: Unlike notes, rests are additive. Thus, most dotted rests are created by
using two rests. For example, a dotted half rest is a half rest and a quarter
rest. Because PMPoze does not have 64th rests (or notes), a dotted thirysecond
rest is needed.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.2. Note-Selector pointer ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Selecting a blue button will bring up a blue vertical arrowhead pointer which
is used to modify notes on the staff. The note is selected by clicking the
pointer on the note hot spot. This is the left most part of the note. For
example, this is where the bulb meets a staff line.
Note selector on a note hot spot
The selectable tools are:
assign accidentals (sharps, naturals, and flats)
change tone by sliding a note vertically
change note duration
change note octave
The actual change is done via a dialog box that appears when a note is
selected.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.3. I-beam cursor ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Selecting one of the red symbols in the toolbar window will bring up the I-beam
cursor.
The cursor should be placed on a track and to the left of any notes that will
be affected. This means the track must contain at least one note.
The I-beam cursor
The available tools are:
assign a sample
set volume
assign an effect
change octave
Pressing mouse button one will bring up a dialog box to perform the action.
See:
Assign Sample
Effect
Track Volume
Track Octave
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Assign Sample Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Assign Sample dialog is brought up by choosing the tool and then clicking
with the I-beam cursor positioned on a staff.
The list of samples in the dialog comes from the Collect... or the File List...
menu options in the SamFiles menu. The selected sample is assigned to all notes
downstream (to the right) of the I-beam cursor. This permits assigning
different samples to different notes on the same track. All newly appended
notes assume the sample of its predecessor.
REMINDER: A sample must be assigned before any notes can be heard.
When starting up, a sample should be assigned to the first note on each track.
The sound push button previews the sample. The frequency slider can be used to
change the sample frequency by as much as +- two octaves as shown by the major
tick marks. The minor tick marks are in one-note increments.
Note: Samples cannot be assigned or played while the player is running. Thus
the OK button and Sound button are greyed out if the player is playing.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Track volume ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The I-beam cursor. can be used to alter the volume over a track interval.
Select the red speaker symbol, and then select a note on a track by placing the
cursor to the left of the note to be changed. A slider control appears that
allows setting volume anywhere from 0 to the maximum of 64. The volume is only
changed downstream of the I-beam cursor.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. Effect ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Each individual note in a MOD file can be assigned an Effect. Some effects
persist only for the duration of a note, while others, such as volume or speed,
persist indefinitely. To assign an effect, place the I-beam cursor. to the left
of the note to be changed.
There are a total of 16 effects, but not all of these are used by PMPoze. Each
effect can be given a value (a command) that is one byte in size. The command
value is set by the vertical XY-sliders where X and Y are 4-bit hex values, or
nibbles. The different effects interpret this XY-cammand value in different
ways. For example, in some cases, XY is byte value. For other cases, XY are
treated as two independent nibbles as discussed below. Only those effects
marked with a * are supported by PMPoze.
Effect/ Description
0 - arpeggio
play three pitches in rapid succession. X = first interval and Y =
second interval.
1 - pitch slide up
increase pitch at the rate XY.
2 - pitch slide down
decrease pitch at the rate XY.
3 - pitch slide to note
continuously change pitch until it reaches that note. XY is the rate of
pitch change.
4 - vibrato
produces a vibrato effect. X = rate, Y = depth.
5 - note slide + volume slide
6 - vibrato + volume slide
XY
7 - tremulo
XY
8 - (not defined)
XY
9 - sample offset
XY
10- volume slide *
increase or decrease volume. X0 = increase volume at rate X. 0Y =
decrease volume at rate Y.
11- position jump *
jump to pattern number XY. A pattern is 4 measures.
12- set volume *
Set volume to XY where XY is a percentage. Note that 64 hex is 100
percent so the XY range is 0 to 64.
13- pattern break *
jump to the next pattern.
14- (not defined)
15- set speed *
XY is percentange of default speed with 100 (64 hex) being normal play.
Values less than 20 hex are ignored. Thus, the total range is 32 percent
to 255 percent. The speed effect persists until another speed effect is
encountered or until the song ends.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Track octave ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The I-beam cursor. can be used alter the octave of notes over a region on a
track. Select the red figure 8 symbol, and then select a note on a track by
placing the cursor to the left of the note to be changed. A spin button control
appears that allows changing the track octave by +- 2 downstream of this point.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Accidental note ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Accidental notes are notes on the staff that are expressly given a sharp,
natural, or flat sign. These signs take precedent over the Key signature.
The accidentals look as follows:
Sharp Flat Natural
Note: If the first note in a measure has an accidental, all notes of the same
value in that measure are given the same accidental value even though there is
no visible accidental. For example, if the first E note is flattened, all the
E-notes in that measure are also flattened. PMPoze does not do this
automatically. It must be done by the user.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 18. Note octave ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Choosing the blue figure 8 allows raising or lowering a note by 1 or 2 octaves.
This is most often used in a situation where a printed note is beyond the reach
of the staff. A note can be positioned high or low by one or more octaves and
then the tone can be corrected with this option.
An octave covers 7 notes (3-1/2 lines) which can be counted off. Also, the tool
for sliding the note vertically has slider control graduations that may be
helpful.