============================================================================= Pop-Tunes Ad Lib Inc. ============================================================================= Ad Lib, March 1989 Version 1.5 update -------------------- Pop-Tunes V1.5 offers three new features over earlier versions: 1 - Support of additional wave forms 2 - Decreased memory requirements 3 - Bank file for instrument sounds The wave form is a parameter used in the specification of an Ad Lib instrument sound. The use of the additional wave forms means that a greater variety of sounds can be used. Pop-Tunes V1.5 supports the extra wave forms and can play songs that use instruments that contain these wave forms. Version 1.5 of Pop-Tunes takes up slightly less space in memory than the previous version. As well, Pop-Tunes no longer requires a large sound driver buffer and you may now use a buffer as small as b1000, the minimum size (refer pp. 35-36). However, if you have a processor which is slower than 8 Mhz and you are running an application which makes extensive use of the clock, you may find that some songs (those with many notes at a fast tempo) do not play correctly. If this happens, you can correct the problem by using a large sound driver buffer (at least b8000). The instrument bank file stores many intrument sounds together in one file. The many .INS files are now bundled together in one .BNK file. This results in a significant saving of disk space and makes backing up much easier. If you wish to convert between the old format files and the new format, we have provided a conversion program which is explained in the file BANKMNG.TXT. By default, Pop-Tunes V1.5 uses the default bank file STANDARD.BNK. You may change the default bank name by using the "/I" option. For example: poptunes /Imybank This will cause Pop-Tunes to use MYBANK.BNK instead of STANDARD.BNK. You may also specify the bank file name to be used by placing the bank name in the POPTUNES.DAT file. This is done by putting a comma after the .ROL file name and then placing the bank file name after the comma. (If you are unfamiliar with the POPTUNES.DAT file, refer to pp. 25-26 of the Pop-Tunes User Guide.) The format is then: rol_file_name, bank_file_name song_title Example: HBLUE, MYBANK Hard Blue NOTES: - If the comma is not present, then the bank file name will be interpreted as being part of the song title. - You may specify the path for the bank if you wish. - The bank file name applies only to the song on the same line. (The /I option applies to all songs.) - The bank file name is optional. If it is not present then Pop-Tunes will use the default bank name. - If Pop-Tunes cannot open the specified bank, it will try to open the default bank file. ============================================================================ Notes ----- IMPORTANT: If you are executing from a floppy disk drive, use the /A parameter when loading Pop-Tunes. If this parameter is not present, Pop-Tunes may occasionally have problems opening some of the files it uses. A> POPTUNES /A or... C> a:POPTUNES /A If you plan to use more than one Ad Lib program in a work session, always load the one which uses the largest sound driver buffer first. Once the sound driver has installed itself, the size of its buffer is fixed until you re-boot your computer. ============================================================================= Incompatibilities (version 1.0) -------------------------------- The following is a list of programs which are known to be partially or entirely incompatible with Pop-Tunes. - chkdsk 100% incompatible. If you execute it while Pop-Tunes is installed, your computer will hang. - Microsoft Quick C Execute Pop-Tunes with the option /X if you plan to use the Quick C editor. - Using a mouse Do not move your mouse while Pop-Tunes is active as this may modify your screen when you return to the application. - Animation games Animation games often use the clock, which could cause either the game or Pop-Tunes to slow down. Also note that several games developers will be supporting our card in the near future, in which case Pop-Tunes should not be used because of conflicts accessing the card. - MGA card (Hercules) Will not work in graphics mode. No problem with text screens. - EGA graphics screens If Pop-Tunes is activated while you are in one of the EGA graphics modes, a reduced screen will appear in the top, left hand corner. This screen will be slightly different and the help screens will not be available. If the application program has programmed the EGA card directly, Pop-Tunes may be displayed with unusual color combinations (i.e. white on white) and the application screen's colors may be changed when you exit Pop-Tunes. Your screen will return to normal the next time the application program refreshes the screen. Avoid activating Pop-Tunes while a program is writing an image on the screen. Wait until the screen is quiet. If you wish to use the regular Pop-Tunes screen, you may be able to switch to a CGA mode depending on your graphics card and the application you are running.