17 Bit Software 3: The Continuation/17-Bit_The_Continuation_Disc.iso/amigan/amigan 14/riley/play.doc

Text File | 1994-01-27 | 10.8 KB | 291 lines

                       PLAY Documentation
                       ==================

Sonix Score Player 1.0 - December 1, 1987
(C) Copyright 1987 Mark Riley,
All Rights Reserved.

Sonix is a trademark of Aegis Development, Inc.
Amiga and Workbench are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc.


Some Information About PLAY
===========================

PLAY is that program you've been patiently waiting for that'll
let you listen to Sonix tunes without Sonix itself.  Not only can
you play scores, but you can also create PLAY scripts that play
multiple scores, one right after the next.  This allows for
continuous music which is desirable for slide shows and the like.
This is possible since PLAY can start a score playing, while
preloading the next score.  In addition, PLAY may be used from
either the Workbench or the CLI.

This program is ShareWare; it isn't free.  If you like PLAY and
want to continue to use it, please send $10 to the address below.
This will make you a legal user of PLAY.

  Mark Riley - Play
  P.O. Box 234
  Simi Valley, CA 93062

Thank you!  Paying for PLAY will help to reimburse me for the
time I spent on it, as well as to provide improved versions with
time...  If you have any questions or comments regarding PLAY, I
can be reached at the above address or the following services:

BIX: mriley - PLINK: SONIX

PLAY is a quality program, well worth the money you'll spend for
it.  With PLAY you don't need to buy an expensive music composing
program if all you want to do is listen.  So, let PLAY and your
Amiga rock you...

Enjoy!  -Mark-


Important Note
==============

You (as an individual) may freely redistribute PLAY in its
original unaltered (and PAKed) state provided that you do not
charge money for the program. PLAY is intended for private use
only.  It is copyrighted software.  It may not be used (in full
or in part) for commercial applications, nor may it be used for
demonstration purposes associated with commercial applications.
If it is your desire to do so, I may be reached at the above
address or at [phone] to discuss licensing arrangements
for including PLAY or its object code routines into your
application.


What You've Got Here
====================

This file "Play.pak" was created by another utility I put
together called Pak (which is now floating around the various
BBS's.)  In addition to the PLAY files, I've thrown in my LED
program which swaps in/out the audio filter on an Amiga 500 or
2000.

Play           The Sonix score player itself
Play.doc       The file you are now reading
Play.info      An icon for the score player
Score.info     A generic score icon
Script.info    A generic script file icon
Scores.info    A generic scores drawer icon
LED            Swaps audio filter on A500/A2000
LED.info       Icon for the LED program


Playing Scores from the Workbench
=================================

Before you can use PLAY from the Workbench, there's a little
setting up to do.  First off, PLAY and it's ".info" file should
be copied to the root directory of the disk that contains your
Sonix scores.  Secondly, if your scores are located in a
directory other than the root, you need to copy the "Scores.info"
drawer icon into the score directory's parent directory. If your
score directory is named "My Tunes" then the drawer icon should
be named "My Tunes.info".

Thirdly, you need to make copies of the "Score.info" icon file
for each score and place them in the same directory as that
score.  These icons must have the same name as the score file
with ".info" appended at the end.  If a score is named "Jingle
Bells.smus" then the corresponding icon should be named "Jingle
Bells.smus.info".  If the instruments for a particular score are
in a different directory, then you must specify where they are in
the icon file.  To do this, select the icon for the score, then
select the Info item in the Workbench menu.  In the Tool Types
box type the pathname of the instrument directory after the "I="
and Save the info file.  Relative pathnames such as
"I=/Instruments" are ok here.

Now, just double click on a score icon and it should load and
play.  You may also use extended selection to play multiple
scores in the order they were selected.  If PLAY encounters a
problem and can't load the score it will "beep" the display and
try to load the next score (if any.)  If you wish to stop playing
a score, double click on the PLAY icon.  Also, if you try to play
a score while another is playing, the new score will override the
previous one.


Playing Scores from the CLI
===========================

Usage: PLAY [*] [I=instrdir] score[.SMUS]

If you plan on using PLAY from the CLI then copy "Play" to your
commands "c:" directory.  Just specify the pathname for the
instruments directory and the pathname for the score, and PLAY
will load and play that score. You don't need to type the ".smus"
part of the score name as PLAY will do that for you if necessary.
Use quotes if a pathname has spaces in it. If you want PLAY to
run asynchronously, add the asterisk as the first parameter.
This works better than "run" because it allows you to perform an
"endcli" properly.  This is useful for playing songs from a
startup sequence.  To stop a score while playing, just issue a
Ctrl-C to abort (if PLAY is running asynchronously then use "play
*" or start another score playing to abort the original score.)

Example:

1> dir
     Scores (dir)
     Instruments (dir)
1> dir scores
  Jingle Bells.smus           Cameo.smus
  YTV.smus
1> play i=instruments "scores/jingle bells"
1> cd scores
1> play i=/instruments ytv cameo.smus
1> cd /instruments
1> play * /scores/cameo
1>


Creating & Using PLAY Scripts
=============================

PLAY scripts basicly allow you to sequence through many songs
back-to-back. This feature is especially useful for slide shows
or demonstrations that require backround music.  You might even
want to setup a sequence of songs you want your Amiga to play in
the backround while you are busy with other tasks.  One important
feature of PLAY scripts is that they enable you to play one score
while loading the next.  This way you get continuous music since
no time is spent loading a score between songs.

To create a PLAY script, you need a text editor of some type.
PLAY scripts consist of a series of options seperated by spaces,
commas, or carriage returns.  Most options consist of a letter,
an equals sign "=", and an argument.  If an argument (such as a
pathname) has spaces in it then enclose that argument in quotes.
When you save your PLAY script, you might want to use the
extension ".play" so that you can distinguish PLAY scripts from
other types of files.  PLAY script options are discussed in the
next section.

You may start a PLAY script from either the Workbench or the CLI.
You must put a copy of the "Script.info" icon file in the same
directory with your PLAY script (appropriately renamed.)  Just
double-click on the icon to start your script playing.  To invoke
a PLAY script from the CLI you use the following:

Usage: PLAY [*] P=script

In addition to aborting a PLAY script with a Ctrl-C, you may stop
the current song and skip to the next with a Ctrl-E.  When
invoked from a CLI, PLAY can report any errors it encounters
within a script file.

Example:

1> dir
     Scores (dir)
     Instruments (dir)
  Demo.play
1> dir scores
  Cool.smus                   Cameo.smus
  Rollover.smus               YTV.smus
1> type demo.play
;This is a demo PLAY script:

d=scores        ;Set current directory
i=/instruments  ;Specify instruments directory

r=2                 ;Repeat the following twice
  v=128 c=3 a=cool  ;1/2 volume & repeated 3 times
  v=-1 a=cameo      ;Use score's original volume
.                   ;End of repeat loop

r=0           ;Repeat the following forever
  a=rollover  ;A bunch of asyncronous scores
  a=ytv
  c=2 a=cool  ;Repeated twice again
  a=cameo
.             ;End of repeat loop
1> play p=demo.play
1>


PLAY Script Options
===================

These options may be used in either a PLAY script or in the
command line itself.  For simplicity's sake, the usage desciptors
do not indicate all of these options.

score       A filename by itself indicates a score to be loaded
            and played. PLAY will append ".smus" to the filename
            as necessary.

A=score     This option tells PLAY to play the specified score
            and proceed immediately with loading the next score.
            This allows for continuously playing music.
            One drawback is that you need enough memory to hold
            two scores and their instruments into memory at
            one time.

I=instrdir  This specifies to PLAY where to look for a
            score's instruments. This applies to all subsequent
            scores until it is changed again with another "I=".
            Relative pathnames are ok here.

D=newdir    PLAY scripts inherit their current directory
            from the Workbench or CLI.  You can specify a new
            current directory with this option.  Relative
            pathnames are also legal here.

C=count     Specifies how many times to repeat a score.
            A value of zero indicates that this score is to be
            repeated forever (or until aborted...)  The count
            value applies only to the next score to be played.

V=volume    Specifies the volume at which the following scores
            will be played.  The valid range is from 0 to 255.  A
            value of -1 uses the score's default volume.

R=repeat    This option allows you to repeat a block of options
            (and scores) a number of times.  The repeat block is
            bounded by the repeat option and a period "." (or
            another repeat option.) A value of zero indicates
            that the block is to be repeated forever. Repeat
            blocks only work from within PLAY scripts.

;comment    A semi-colon ";" indicates that the rest of a
            line is a comment.

P=script    You may link to another PLAY script from
            within a PLAY script.


The LED Program
===============

This program toggles the brightness of the front panel LED.
Also, on the Amiga 500 & 2000 it will swap in/out the audio
filter.  It can be started from either the Workbench or the CLI.
Type "LED ?" to see the parameters for CLI invocation.  While
running a program that uses Amiga sound output, try double
clicking on the icon and you'll notice a substantial difference
when the filter gets swapped out.  It's like someone took the
cotton out of your ears!  You may hear a squealling sound; this
is the aliasing that the filter was designed to eliminate in the
first place.  Double clicking again will turn the filter back on.

Example:  (for using with the CLI)

1> play * ytv   ;Play a score asynchronously
1> led ?        ;Lets you see usage
LED 1.1 - Mark Riley - 11/11/87
Usage: LED [DIM|BRIGHT|TOGGLE]
1> led          ;Toggles status of audio filter
1> led bright   ;Turns filter on
1> led dim      ;Turns filter off
1> led toggle   ;Same as "led" by itself
1>