The Very Best of Atari Inside/The Very Best of Atari Inside 1.iso/sharew/musik/zx104.dem/doc/news.txt

Text File | 1995-10-04 | 21.6 KB | 642 lines

         -----------------------------------------

                     --== Zero-X ==--

             DIGITAL SOUND PROCESSING SOFTWARE
                         for Atari

         -----------------------------------------


  News since pre-release 1.a
  ==========================

* Mix:
  Block mark an area (in block mode) and Copy it to the clipboard.
  Block mark a new area in the same sample or load a new sample.
  Select Mix; the contents of your clipboard will be mixed together
  with the block marked area.

* FDI: Better working FDI support

* Lots of minor bug fixes and changes.

* Several menus has been re-placed for a more intuitive user
  interface.

* Improved SCSI SMDI support.

* Improved SDS Midi support (especially for ST/STE users).
  Transfer via midi SDS will now work with more samplers (that
  supports SDS).

* Improved precision in Split drums (but it will get even better)

* CalcBPM:
  calculates the BPM between the LoopStart and LoopEnd.
  Note that correct Sample Rate must be set in the Header.

* SetBPMLoopEnd:
  Set your LoopStart, Select SetBPMLoopEnd and enter required
  BPM and your LoopEnd will be set to that BPM.

* AutoDrumLoop:
  Set your LoopStart, mark the area where the LoopEnd should be and
  select AutoDrumLoop. Your LoopEnd will be set to a position that
  equals the LoopStart.
  Note that you need a drum loop that has been sampled just
  a little bit before and a little bit after the loop.

--- 9501xx ---

* Save Midi file:
  Yes, it's finally here! After a SplitDrum has been performed, you can
  select Save Midi file; then a Standard Midi file will be created
  that you can load into most sequencers (CuBase etc). It contains
  information on when, the drums in your loop were played.
  It will place the drums on keys C2 -->.
  Not available in the Demo version!

* New Levels menu. Please note that the default values SHOULD be
    Respone       :200
    Fine Response :400
    Gate          :1500
  If you are running Split drums and you want more split positions,
  decrease Response, if you want less increase Response.
  If the split positions are so late (you can hear the following drum
  click), increase Fine Response.
  If you want to get rid of split positions that are at a very low
  volume, increase Gate.

* Enhanced SplitSetting menu
  New settings for midi file and CalcBPM functions

* More information on connected SCSI device.
  In Settings, when you CHANGE SCSI ID you will get
  an error message if there is no SMDI with that SCSI ID
  connected.
  In TransferControl the SCSI unit name will be displayed
  even if its not a SMDI SCSI. Send and Receive will
  be disabled if you have no SMDI device connected.


--- 950113 ---

* Swap channels

* Mix stereo to Mono;
  Mixes the two channels in a stereo sample into a mono sample.
  The max volume of the mono mix will be the same as the
  max volume in the stereo sample.

* SCSI Akai S1000/S1100, Falcon & TT only;
  This has not been tested! Please send us bug reports!

* "Bug" fix;
  The current zoom mode remains after a clipboard operation.

* You will be notified if a new zero_x.cfg file will be created.

* Fast dymamic movement of block markers and Drum Split markers.
  They will step one pixel on screen in all zoom levels.


--- 950131 ---

* Reverse block;
  just what it sounds like

* Clipboard to Stereo;
  you are now finally able to  create a stereo sample from two
  different mono samples, the sample in the clipboard will be
  the right channel and the current sample will be the left
  channel

* Insert SplitDrumPosition,
  insets a split drum marker in the middle of the current one

* Move SplitDrumPosition,
  the keys as moving block markers, slow but it works ;-),
  we plan to add drag and drop later on.

* Check SCSI, button in settings with lots of new SCSI
  errors messages added. If you change SCSI ID in setting,
  Zero-X will also perform a Check SCSI.

* Akai SCSI button but no protocol ;-), still working on it.
  If you have an Akai with SCSI, try the Check SCSI button in
  the settings and please let us know what message you get.

* More checking and less bugs when Converting files.


--- 950222 ---

* Toolbar in the Sample Window!!!!
  A much needed upgrade of the user interface.
  Expect to see the icons improved later on. We have just
  included some quickly designed icons. You are welcome
  to send us suggestions for the layout and design.

* High speed movement of any markers in the SampleWindow.
  Keep <Alt> press when you move the markers (by using the
  keyboard commands or using the toolbar)

* New representation of XFade (cross fade).

* Some bug fixes:
  - Export .RAW now works again.
  - Akai S-1000 SCSI works a little better...
    Please test and report!



--- 950223 ---

* Much improved Convert sample frequency. Very high quality!

* User define Zoom level (an icon in the Toolbar).


--- 950224 ---

* Dynamic Zoom;
  Zoom In and Out takes bigger steps the closer it gets to the
  Overview and smaller the closer it gets to 1:1.
  This gives you a *much* faster zoom.


--- 950302 ---

* Several minor bug fixes and more error messages.

* Improved Akai SCSI support, but still beta...
  Please lend us an Akai S1000 with SCSI!!!!



--- 950308 ---

* Basic support for importing a SampleCell PC-Wav file.
  Loop-positions are supported.

* Much improved import of different PC-Wav formats.

* Several minor bug fixes.



--- 950310 ---

* Several bug fixes regarding Clipboard functions.



--- 950314 ---

* Several bug fixes regarding Clipboard functions (again), and
  other minor problems (.cfg file, etc).

* Major improvements on Akai S-1000 SCSI receive,
  still not perfect though.



--- 950316 ---

* Some minor bug fixes regarding Clipboard functions.




--- 950319 version 1.0 ---

* Bug fixes regarding 'Set Frequency' (F030/STe), replay
  frequency (STe), lock of soundsystem, setting markers at
  beginning of sample window, playing directly after receiving
  from midi or scsi.

* FDI now works on stereo samples only. If you want to listen to a mono
  sample at FDI-frequencies, you must first convert the sound to stereo.

* Removed autorepeat of some toolbar buttons.

* SCSI-Receive for Akai S-1000 now works, but is very slow. We will
  improve this as soon as possible.


--- 950501 version 1.01 ---

* SCSI-Receive for Akai S-1000 improved and speeded up (FAST!!!).

* MIDI-Receive for Roland S-50 now implemented (Send is yet to come).

* MIDI Send and Receive for Ensonic range of samplers now works 100%
  (on ST's as well).

* New Fade-types is added: Fade In and Out with linear or logarithmic
  scale (still a bit slow though).

* Point and click for splitted drums: You can directly select any drum
  simply by clicking on it (i.e. you do no longer have to step through
  all of them).
  Maximum splits are now 150 (previously 49).

* Improved stero support:
  XFade, Silence and Reverse can operate on both channels simultaneously
  (i.e. if you select both channels).

* Blockmode shows also the length of the block.

* Various problems corrected concerning received filenames for Akai,
  updating the window after xfade and zxfade, xfade-markers, digital
  noisegate, user defined zoom, targetdirectories for save, save as...
  and export as..., rubbish in statusboxes (ST) etc etc etc etc




--- 950504 version 1.01a/1.02 ---

* Fixed some problems concerning the sample window.

* Value for User Defined Zoom is now changed in the menues and saved in
  the settings. When the U.D. button is clicked, the specified zoomlevel
  is set like for 1:1 and O.V..




--- 950622 version 1.03a ---

* Support for 14 MB RAM.

* Lots of bugs are fixed.

* Major SPEED improvements for sample Redraw in "Normal mode".
  - Scrolling is very fast even on 14 MB samples.
  - There is no notacible screen redraw (even on 14 MB samples) when
    moving a marker.

* New function BeatSplit;
    There lots of things this can be used for but what is does is
    quite simple. You enter the BPM and the note value and BeatSplit
    will set up a grid (like DrumSplit) that corresponds to your
    entered values.

    The beauty with BeatSplit is that it is very easy to perform
    and that the result always follows the beat pefectly.

  When using BeatSplit on a drum loop:
  - BeatSplit always works on the *whole* sample, i.e. NOT like
    DrumSplit that works only between the loop markers.
    Just select "Keep Loop" (in the BeatSplit dialog box)
    to erase everything outside the loop markers *before* you
    perform a split.
  - Check that correct sample rate is set in "Edit Header".
    If you loaded a RAW sample or if your file header is
    corrupted, this setting is usually wrong.
    If it is wrong, Calculate BPM will not reply the correct BPM.
  - Check that number of bars in the loop is correct in
    DrumSplit Settings. There is no way Zero-X can find this
    out by it self.
    If it is wrong, Calculate BPM will not reply the correct BPM.
  - Select 1/32, and then Create Pattern to make most Drum loops
    extra groovy.

* New function Create Pattern;
  - This function is an add on for BeatSplit. It creates an on/off
    effect on your sample. It automatically runs an SmoothEdges to
    avoid click sounds between the splits.
  - Only one pattern is available but we will add more later on.

* New function; Smooth Edges.
  - After you have selected BeatSplit you can create your own
    pattern by using Silence. When you are finished with that,
    select Smooth Edges to remove the clicks between the splits.

* New function Change Gain in block;
    Change Gain can change the volume in a blockmarked section.
    You enter a percentage value. If you enter a positive value the
    volume will be increased. If you enter a negative value the volume
    will be decreased.

* Sample rate conversion on stereo samples, but only for increasing
  the sample rate.

* Normal Fade In and Out is 100% faster.

* New function Optimize block. Optimize Sample has been removed.
    If you want to optimize the whole sample, you must first select
    Mark All (ctrl+a).

* Get peak now works only a Block marked area.
    If you want to check the whole sample, you must first select
    Mark All (ctrl+a).

* In the Sample Window, when a marker reaches Sample End a "!" will
    be printed after its value, for instance "LoopEnd :100234!".

* Calculate BPM can be reached directly from BeatSplit dialog box.
  - Default BPM values is copied from latest "Caclulate BPM".

* Detune;
    This brand new super cool function will make your mono samples
    sound much fatter or convert them into a stereo file with a
    a wide stereo feeling!
    It works a bit like an oscilator 2 detune on an analogue
    synthesizer.
    It works fine on both sounds and drums.
    On sounds the loop is usually ruined after a detune. To obtain
    a good loop just perform an AutoSearch on Mono files and perform
    a cross fade on stereo files (only on channel number 2, right)

* DrumSplit now supports stereo drum loops.
    Works *almost* as good as on mono drum loops...

* Pause/Continue Icon;
    You can not only Stop the sound but also Pause it by pressing
    the Pause icon in the Toolbar. Next time you press the Pause
    icon, the sound will continue to play from that position you
    paused it in.

* Keep Block and Calculate BPM are available from the BeatSplit
    dialog box.





--- 950911 version 1.04 ---

* Playback marker;
    A tiny little "spike" just above the sample will shows you
    what Zero-X is currently playing.

* Crossfade between two samples (clipboard and current sample).

* A specific Peavey SP MIDI driver.
    It supports the sample name etc.

* Transfer Loop information (positions and status) Exclusively.
    Very handy when you have only changed the loop positions.
    For samplers that supports MSDS.

* Send Stereo samples to Midi Sample Dump Standard (SDS) devices.
    As the MSDS protocol does handle stereo samples, Zero-X will
    automatically convert the stereo sample into two mono samples
    and send them one after the other. The wave number will be
    incremented by one for the second sample.

* Much improved Ensoniq MIDI device driver.
  - Works much better now on ST/E.
  - Supports WS Key Range
  - On "Send all drums" it automatically places the "drums"
    on corresponding MIDI key.

* Load TX16W samples;
    First you have to copy them to a hard disk or another
    diskette with "Cheeta", a share ware copy program.

* Phase Shift (adjust?!);
    Great for creating a wide stereo effect on drum loops
    (mono or stereo) or any other part of music.
    It creates a stereo sample from a mono sample, but it also shifts
    the Right channel in time so that the right channel will be a
    little ahead of the left channel. You have the option to set
    the amount.
    Note that "Detune Stereo" is to be preferred to obtain a stereo
    effect on single sounds.

* Save and Load Drum Split positions (in a file of its own).

* L-I Filter;
    Block mark the click or any other event you want to remove and
    select "L-I Filter".
    The L-I Filter will smooth out any vinyl pop/click or any other
    unwanted event etc.

* TimeStretch;
    Makes your sample longer or shorter without changing the pitch.
    Yes, finally it is here and it works on ST --> Falcon.
    This is version 1.0 so its a little slow, only works on
    mono sounds and the stretched size is not very exact,
    especially not on short samples, but it is here and it works!
    We are sure you can have lots of fun with it.

  - 1.00 means no stretch. > 1.00 mean longer and > 1.00 mean shorter.
    The more complex the sound is the longer time it will take to
    stretch it.

  - Select "Bass" if your sample consists mostly of very low
    frequencies. Note that a bass drum is usually better stretched
    with "Other" than with "Bass". Please experiment!
    The "Bass" setting is mostly slower than "Other".

  - We have compared the result of stretching lots of different
    mono samples (drums, vocals, synthesized sounds etc) and the
    quality was as good or better than both  Avalon v2 and
    CuBase Audio Falcon v2 (both Trade marks of Steinberg).
    One big exeption is that CuBase Audio Falcon is capabel of
    stretching music and drum loops farily well, Zero-X is not (yet!).

  - The quality of the result when making a sample longer varies
    very much depending of what kind of sample you are stretching.
    Best result is gained from single sounds with a strong pitch
    and not that much complex frequency spectra. A voice can also
    be stretch very good.
    Effects and drums are harder. Music and drum loops are not
    recommended to use with Zero-X TimeStretch.
    If you want to stretch a drum loop, it is better to stretch
    the drums individually.

  - It is easier, i.e. the result is usually better, to make samples
    shorter than longer.

  - You can easily turn the TimeStretch into a Pitch Shift.
    For instance if you want to Pitch Shift something to a lower
    key, just TimeStretch with a setting > 1.0 and transpose it
    to a lower key on your sampler.
    If you want to Pitch Shift something to a higher key,
    just TimeStretch with a setting < 1.0 and transpose it
    to a higher key on your sampler.
    The quality of the Pitch shift is mostly better if you use
    Convert Frequency instead of transposing it in your sampler.
    We will implement a functions that will do this job for your
    later on.

* Undo;
    Another much wanted function finally has found its way into
    Zero-X. It can Undo almost any memory destructive function,
    i.e. not marker movements.
    Undo *almost* any memory destructive function means that you
    can Undo all functions except for the clipboard functions:
    Cut, Paste, Copy etc.
    On the other hand Paste will Undo a Cut and vice versa.

* Compare Loop;
    In the TransferControl you can now select Compare Loop.
    This will toggle between the loop positions before and
    after an AutoLoop/AutoSearch has been performed.

* BeatSplit/Create Pattern in Stereo;
    BeatSplit and Create Patterns can now be used on stereo
    samples as well.

* Mix from clipboard in Stereo;
    You can now mix to any or both channels in a stereo sample.

* Mute;
    Instead of using Silence and SmoothEdges when you create
    your own patterns use Mute. Mute will do both automatically.
    SmoothEdges is no longer available.

* Adjust Start and End marker (Block and Split) easier;
    Keep Shift pressed and click in the Sample Window. Left mouse
    key will set the Start marker and Right mouse key will set the
    End marker.

* AutoScroll;
    If you use the new way of adjusting the Block size described
    above, the sample will automatically scroll when you reach the
    edge of the Sample Window.

* Stop/Start the audio playback with the keyboard;
    Press the <0> key to stop the playback and
    press the <Enter> key to start the playback.

* Export Drums;
    Save Drums has been replaced with Export drums so you can save
    in export format Zero-X can handle. You will also get a file
    selector so you can specify where you want to save the "Drums".
    The drums will not be named "drum_xxx" anymore. They will be
    given the name of the sample and the split number will be added
    at its "tail".

* A new layout;
  - Most of the Icons in the toolbar has been improved (we hope...).
  - Several functions has been moved to a more logical menu.

* Well of course there has been bug fixes and other minor
    fixes and changes as well.




--- 951003 version 1.041 ---

* Finally 1.04x is available for Atari ST/E owners as well!

* Several bug fixes

* Major Speed improvements in:
    Optimize Block, Change Gain, Cut, Copy, Paste, SmartCut, Keep block,
    Undo, Stereo --> Mono.

* Undo is also possible on SmartCut, Digital NoiseGate and
    KeepBlock.

* Mute and Create Pattern are much better at smoothing the
    edges to avoid a click sound.


--- 951004 version 1.041a ---

* Optimize Block and Get Peak is much faster.





  So, What's next?
  ================
- We are about to exchange our SCSI driver for a professional
  one. This will hopefully make SCSI transfer available for
  lots of samplers. The drawback is that you will have to pay for
  it. The good thing is that is very cheap, about US$ 25.
  This *may* also mean that SCSI transfer will be available for
  ST owners, but hey, we can't promise anything yet!
  We are doing our *very* best to have the new SCSI version of
  Zero-X available later *this* year (1995).

- Yes, we will support the ST sound chip soon. As you can see
  of the v1.04 list above we have been very busy lately,
  but hopefully it will be in the next release.

- Speed, the TimeStretch will be faster, hopefully *much* faster.




  New functions that are written but not yet 100% included
  ========================================================
* DSP for AutoLoop/AutoSearch.
* PeakSearch on a file larger than current RAM.
* Faster TimeStretch.


  Bugs that we know of (and will try to fix A.S.A.P):
  ===================================================
* SCSI support for K2000 does not work at all
* the File Selector is sometimes not completely erased when
  not using Selectric, please use Selectric!!


  Functions that we are currently working on:
  ===========================================
* SCSI support for Akai S-1000 is still beta,
  please send us reports on this.
* SCSI Ensoniq, Falcon & TT only (not much left)
* More FDI support; Sample from the FDI and Falcon A/D
* True MIDI dump driver for Akai S-950/900/Prophet 2000
* True MIDI dump driver for Prophet VS
* A Frequency/Time 2d FFT display (Falcon DSP only).
* Equalizer (Falcon DSP only)
* Sound support on an ST
* Playback of a Standard Midi file (i.e. via MIDI)
* ASCI support
* Sample rate conversion (Decrease) on stereo samples as well.
* True MIDI dump driver for Akai S-1000
* Support one or maybe two new low level SCSI drivers. This
  will hopefully solve most our current SCSI transfer problem.
* Better precision in the automatic DrumSplit.



  Functions that we plan to add quite soon:
  =========================================
* Resample at a new pitch (tune).
* Resample at a new BPM.
* Do effect on samples larger than RAM:
    Sample rate conversion, Optimise etc
* Basic filtering, LowPass, HighPass, BandPass



  Functions that we plan to add:
  ==============================
* Playback directly from disk (Falcon only)
* Basic D2D editing (Falcon only)



  Please let us know what new functions *you* would like to see
  in Zero-X!


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

  For more information on Zero-X and/or your closest Zero-X distributor
  please contact your local Atari dealer or:

  Copson Data:
  Conny Pettersson      Ph. [phone]
                        Fax [phone]

  Vinga System AB:
  Peter Segerdahl       Ph. [phone]  (office hours)
                        Ph. [phone]  (evenings/weekends only)
                        Fax [phone]
  E-Mail, Internet      [e-mail]