Dave Lowe: Latest Versions Of Music Editors Megaman XInfo File

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Text File | 1994-10-31 | 19.6 KB | 581 lines

****************************************************************************** NINTENDO GAMEBOY EDITOR Version 3.1 ****************************************************************************** NEW FEATURES IN THIS VERSION 3.1 Release date 31/10/94 -------------------------- 1. Bug in track plot cured. 2. Bug causing clock to start after ALT L cured. 3. 'ALT X' added to convert GAMEBOY format .SND file to GAMEGEAR format. Procedure is:a) Alt L to load in GAMEBOY file b) Alt X to convert c)Alt S to Save (use NEW filename to avoid writing over GAMEBOY file). 4. Auto parallel port detection of comms. board (allows you to use any of LPT1 2 or 3). If comms. board is found the port number is displayed on screen. 5. Bug causing editor screen to appear blank if entered from Windows in windowed mode cured. 3.0 Release date 22/08/94 -------------------------- 1. New command 'I' (Info toggle) toggles between note names and note values. 2. New pan/note length display. 3. Keyboard repeat speed forced to maximum for quick movement while editing. 4. 'END', 'CTRL HOME' and 'CTRL END' added to move to start/end of current column data. 5. New tiny format adopted - new commands are ALT A (Add column), ALT E (expand column). ALT C (Compress file) can now be used at any time. 6. New max limits: 256 effects ($00-$FF) 256 tables ($00-$FF) 256 voices ($00-$FF) 256 subs ($00-$FF) 128 tracks ($00-$7F) 7. Info box added, showing: current file size, Comms board & Download status. 8. ALT V toggles verify of download (this takes more time, but is useful if you think there may be problems with your ESYS unit) 9. Drumbend voice special added ($40). Note1 value gives amount & direction. 10. ALT F/ ALT N Find & find Next added. 11. All downloads to console now verified. Single byte edits are still sent to the console immediately, but any block edits (C/R/A/ALT A/ALT C/ALT E) are only updated on the PC. When the next 'Play' command is sent, the console is updated and the new data verified. This ensures: a) On-screen editing is always as quick as possible. b) The data is only sent and verified when next needed. If your ESYS has any problems downloading you will know straight away (normally you can just try downloading straight away unless a hardware problem has occurred). 2.3 Release date ??/05/93 ------------------------- 1. General updates for file management and screen layout. 2. Global Offset added for key changes. 3. 'Instant' screen updates bypassing BIOS. 2.2 Internal Release Only ------------------------- 1. Spidersoft bugs removed in ESYS routines after bug report on 11/12/92. 2.1 Release date 30/11/92 ------------------------- 1. Directory re-shown after saves. 2. Effect & Fxtable limits both increased to 80. 3. Bug removed when compressing subroutines grester than 60h. 4. Master limit increased to 24. 5. Improved override of effects over music. 6. Voice atklvl special added. 7. Bug ignoring subroutines over 80h cured. 8. Complex Lo effect special added. 9. Automatic file limits calculated for each load/compression. 10.Voice limit increased to 64. 11.Arpeggio voice special added. 2.0 Release date 25/09/1992 ---------------------------- 1. Default tempo not reset to 125bpm on playing a new master. 2. Swap nibbles effect special added. 3. Waver effect special improved. 4. Mask input for directory. 5. Directory allows multiple columns to display up to 100 filenames. 6. Sub-directories filtered out from directory listing. 7. Music file compression added. 8. Sound effect table call with priority settings. 9. New editor layout to include table column and effect readout. 10.New format music files to accommodate effect table (old files no longer work). 1.4 Internal release only ------------------------- Gate reset to FF at the start of each new subroutine. Stereo display on editor screen. Offset parameter added to music voices for instant transpose. Stereo effects/stereo noise added. Lowest Gameboy note (24h=C1=65Hz) limit now plotted correctly. Error beeps rationalised (on error or any unknown key) Shadow on directory listing. 1.3 Release date 03/09/1992 --------------------------- Gate subroutine parameter added to allow staccato phrasing. Tied note subroutine parameter added for legato phrasing. Directory shown on load/save. More accurate realtime clock. Stereo placement (left/centre/right) for each music voice. New notetable - MIDI notes from 24h (C1 65Hz) to 7Fh (F#8 11839Hz). New noise frequency table - smoother sweeps. 1.2 Internal release only ------------------------- Selectable pulse width waves in all 3 channels. Uses 'No' option from ESC to re-initialise and show version number. Current filename remembered correctly after re-initialisation. Limits properly enabled in Gameboy driver for up to 64 effects/ 32 voices. Bug causing crash when copying track cured. All ESYS error crashes trapped. 1.1 Release date 18/08/1992 --------------------------- Version number on top right of PC screen. ESYS crashes greatly reduced. Garbage error on PC screen cured. Tempo values calculated on PC top line display when music is running. With no tempo commands, music now defaults to 125bpm. 1.0 Release date 15/08/1992 --------------------------- Initial release with ESYS bugs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUNCTIONS ESC Escape from editor ('no' option re-initialises ESYS) Alt A Add a column at the cursor position Alt C Compress a music file Alt D Download current music file Alt E Expand a compressed column to full size Alt F Find 1 or 2 hex bytes Alt L Load a music file Alt N find Next matching hex byte Alt O download On/Off Alt S Save a music file Alt T Time signature (e.g. 0006/0008 for 6/8) Alt X convert GameBoy to GameGear .SND format Return/Enter Play current music track Spacebar Stop all music/effects F Fade music (uses value 84h) I Info switch (toggle between note name/ note value display K Keymode (toggle between sharps and flats) S Play current SFX effect (use when editing a single sound) T play current TAB effect (for channel allocated sounds) MOVEMENT Home Move cursor to top of column Ctrl Home Move cursor to beginning of column data End Move cursor to bottom of column Ctrl End Move cursor to end of column data Right & Left Change edit column Up & Page Up Move cursor up Down & Page Down Move cursor down + & Shift + Channel up - & Shift - Channel down [ & ] Play up/down P Play (using setting above) EDITING < & > Up/Down current parameter Keypad * Zero current parameter D Down 1 octave for current parameter U Up 1 octave for current parameter 1/2/4/8 Bitflip current parameter Insert Insert a byte at current cursor position Delete Delete a byte at current cursor position BLOCK C Copy current column into buffer R Replace current column with buffer A Append buffer to current column GAMEBOY FUNCTIONS To help test the music files, several keys have been set up on the Gameboy, as follows: UP/DOWN Increment/Decrement current call number. A Select Music call. B Select Effect call. SELECT Stop music/effects. START Start music/effect. SOUND EFFECT PARAMETERS (SFX) atkdec Attack 00-0F/ Decay 00-0F susrel Sustain 00-0F/ Release 00-0F atkcnt length of atkdec portion endcnt length of susrel portion (FF=continuous) wve ad A/D wave (see waveform table) wve sr S/R wave (see waveform table) freqhi High byte of start frequency (00-FF only 00-07 used) freqlo Low byte of start frequency (00-FF) bend Bend type 00-09 (see below) bendhi High byte of bend bendlo Low byte of bend stereo Stereo placement (10=left/11=centre/01=right) specls Specials (see below) newcnt Extra counter used by specials (see below) newfhi Extra freqhi used by specials (see below) newflo Extra freqlo used by specials (see below) EFFECT SPECIALS 01 Swap bytes (freqhi/freqlo swapped every frame) 02 Complex Hi (freqhi - bendhi/ eor with newfhi) 04 Waver (adds small random to freqlo every frame) 08 Reload (freqhi reloaded with newfhi after each newcnt) 10 Swap nibbles (freqlo nibbles swapped every frame) 20 Complex Lo (freqlo - bendlo/ eor with newflo) EFFECT BEND TABLE 00 No bend 01 Up 02 Down 03 Up start (only during atkcnt) 04 Down start 05 Up/down (up during atkcnt/down during endcnt) 06 Down/up 07 Up release (only during endcnt) 08 Down release 09 Up/down cycle (changes direction every newcnt) EFFECT TABLE PARAMETERS (TAB) prior priority 0 (highest) to FF (lowest) chan0 sfx to be called in channel 0 (FF=unused) chan1 sfx to be called in channel 1 (FF=unused) chan2 sfx to be called in channel 2 (FF=unused) MUSIC VOICE PARAMETERS (VCE) atkdec Attack time 00-0F/ Decay time 00-0F susrel Sustain level 00-0F/ Release time 00-0F wvefrm Waveform (see waveform table) specls Specials (see waveform table) stereo Stereo placement (10=left/11=centre/01=right) offset signed Offset to note (e.g. 0C=up 1 octave/FF=down 1 note) atklvl Attack peak level 00-0F (can be used to set overall volume) atkcnt Attack count 00-03 atkwve Attack wave (see waveform table) note 1/2/3/4 Used by chord/atkwave/atknote specials trills Used by trill special vibrto Vibrato presets 00-12h (0=off) vdelay Vibrato delay 00-FF (in frames) VOICE SPECIALS 01 Arpeggio (uses Note 1/2/3/4 values at half chord speed) 02 Trill note (alternating with normal note) 24-7F/80-FF Normally used with drum sounds. 04 Drum (wave alternates with voice/freq bend down) 08 Chord (uses Note 1/2/3/4 values) 10 Atk wave (Used instead of Wavfrm during Atkcnt) Normally used with 81h value for noise 'chiff' attack. 20 Atk note (used instead of normal note during Atkcnt) 40 DrumBend (note1 sets amount & direction) 80 Fixed (unaffected by global offsets e.g. for drums) NOTE 1/2/3/4 VALUES 24-7F fixed notes (e.g. 3C = C3 = middle C) 80-BF offsets higher (e.g. 8C = 12 up = 1 octave higher) C0-FF offsets lower (e.g. C7 = 7 down = perfect 5th lower) WAVEFORM TABLE 01 gate on 40 pulse width 12.5% 50 pulse width 25% 60 pulse width 50% (square) 70 pulse width 75% (sounds identical to 25%) 80 noise N.B. Noise & pulse waves may be used simultaneously. SUBROUTINE PARAMETERS BYTE 1 BYTE 2 DETAILS 24-7F NOTE 00-7F duration normal note pair 80 VOICE 00-1F voice number change to new voice 81 REST 00-7F duration ADSR is set to release 82 BEND 00-7F bend up reset to 0 with next note 80-FF bend down (use '8' to set up/down) 83 TEMPO 01-FF value global tempo (default is 6C = 125bpm) 84 TIED 0 (dummy) the following note pair is legato 85 GATE 00-FF length notes gated off (released) at length 86 GLBOF 00-FF signed offset global key change FF END - End of subroutine N.B. When using frequency effects in combination, please note that the Trill and Chord specials override all vibrato and bend settings. For minimum Gameboy processor usage set Vibrto=0/ Vdelay=FF when using these specials. MASTER PARAMETERS BYTE 1 BYTE 2 DETAILS 00-3F no. of times 00-BF sequence no. normal subroutine pair 40 loop end - use only after loop start 41-7F loop start - e.g. 46 = loop 6 times FD fade 00-FF time start fade in all channels FE end 00 (dummy) end in all channels FF loop channel 00-5F loop point loop channel to any step e.g. FF/02=loop to step 02 APPENDIX A - NOTE VALUES NAME NORMAL DOTTED DOUBLE DOT TRIPLET Semibreve 30h 48h 54h 20h Minim 18h 24h 2Ah 10h Crotchet 0Ch 12h 15h 08h Quaver 06h 09h - 04h Semiquaver 03h - - 02h Demisemiquaver 2/2/1/1 - - 01h APPENDIX B - FILE COMPRESSION/ TESTING 1. Compressing music files is a simple matter of a keypress, but to get the most efficient compression the following should be noted: a) Effects, Table and Voices are each scanned from the highest to the lowest for the first non-zero entry. b) Subroutines are each scanned from the lowest to the highest existing for any non-zero bytes. c) Masters are scanned from 00 to the current highest, stopping at the first non-zero step 00 in channel 0. You can use this fact to allow temporary edit masters used for perfecting later sections of music - either leave a blank master before your temporary ones, or temporarily insert a 00 byte at step 00/ channel 00 of the first undesired master before compressing the file. APPENDIX C - HINTS AND TIPS 1. The easiest way to set up a project is to add the path of the Gameboy Editor to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. You can then create a directory for each new project. Move to this directory and then use the 'M' command. The driver and editor will then be loaded, but only the project files will show when using Load and Save, making it far easier to manage filenames. 2. Always leave SFX 00 as silence, and leave TAB 00 as 00/00/00/00. This will ensure that effect call 00 = kill all sound effects. Similarly, leave priority 00 for this call only, and give the highest priority effect a value of 01. 3. Always make subroutine 00 a bar's rest - the quickest way to declare this is 81 30 FF for a 4/4 time signature. Empty masters will then be read as silence, which lets you hear individual channels. In the same way, by temporarily inserting two 00 bytes at the start of a master channel you can mute that channel (useful when tracking down rogue notes). 4. Use higher unused masters for writing a later section of music. Once perfected, use COPY and APPEND with each channel in turn to add the completed section to the main piece. 5. To abort a Load or Save, press Return with a blank filename. This is also useful for viewing the directory only. 6. To transfer a single voice, subroutine or master from another music file, save your current file, load in the other file and use 'C' (copy) in the desired place. Then re-load your current file and use 'R' (replace) to transfer. 7. Often, improvements to percussion sounds involve changing the note value. By setting all percussion notes to 3C (middle C) the actual pitch of each sound can be universally set using offset, making global changes to the sound far easier. 8. Alt D (Download) is a useful command if you ever get a stray ESYS error. Assuming this is a single misread, and no further errors occur, by downloading the complete music file again it ensures that the Gameboy holds exactly the same information as the PC music file. 9. The default tempo is set to 125bpm when the Gameboy is first initialised. This is a global setting, and any music played will use the current value (shown on the top line of the editor). Using a tempo command changes the global setting permanently until another tempo command is found. This is useful when working with many sections from one piece of music - as long as the main piece sets the tempo initially, every test master will use this global setting, removing the need to add extraneous tempo bytes just to try out all the sections at the correct tempo. 10. Do ensure that each finished tune has its own tempo command as the first command in one of the channels. Don't rely on the first piece setting it for any others - it may not be the first piece to be played! 11. Chord specials - By setting the 80 offset bit of each note you can produce a chord 'shape' which can then be used universally e.g. set 80 84 87 8C for a root position major chord. Then in a subroutine , a C3 plays C major, a D3 plays D major etc. By doing this, you should find that you need far less chord voices. By setting both the 80 and 40 bits an offset down is set. This is useful for retaining the correct subroutine note value when inversions are used e.g. C5 80 83 87 plays G/C/E/G or C minor, 2nd inversion. The advantage of this is that the correct subroutine note is retained, so that in a subroutine a 'C' will always indicate some sort of 'C' chord. 12. The battery backup supply in the ESYS unit will retain the driver and latest music data for years if left undisturbed. It is quite unnecessary to download the driver every time you want to use the editor. However, one precaution needs to be taken. The PC will initialise its parallel port whenever you switch it on - this unfortunately corrupts the ESYS data if the Gameboy is not switched on at the time. However, if you switch on the Gameboy before the PC, it will safely retain its data. When actively working on a project, it is far easier just to load the editor each time. 13. The Arpeggio voice special is a half speed version of the Chord special. Since the chord 'note speed' is a high 64Hz, it can sound distorted, particularly with low notes - the Arpeggio will often improve the overall sound. 14. If you accidentally set the tempo to 000, the notes will never get updated, and resetting the tempo to a higher value will now work. To recover from this condition press 'B' on the gameboy to Re-Initialise the sound driver (this will reset the global tempo to 125bpm. 15. Echo effects in music can be achieved by the following method. Play the first note using the desired voice, and then copy this voice to a vacant slot. Give the new voice an envelope like 0C/0C, and change the wvefrm setting from gate on to gate off e.g. from 61h to 60h. The following notes using this new voice will contine this envelope as it fades away. The same effect can also be achieved by using the existing voice but making all subsequent notes tied, but this often produces much longer subroutines and degrades readability.