BeatBox Documentation (c) 1997 James L Boyd BeatBox Distribution -------------------- This is a Shareware demo.Spread it around! There is an extra drawer full of stuff on here for the magazine CD submissions,which can be deleted if you so wish,but everything else should be kept. It was written on an A1200/030 and has only been tested on this (Blizzard 1230IV),an Apollo 1220,and the basic A1200.I think it should work on any WB2+ machine,maybe even 1.3,but I won't swear to it! I'm not sure if other Amigas will have enought chip RAM. Anyway,I've tried not to use any A1200-specific features (eg.AGA etc). Introduction ------------ BeatBox is a drum machine,written because I basically can't afford a real one (I wanna MC-303!). The good thing about this drum machine is that you can use your own samples,and they don't have to be drum sounds. (Another reason for this program's existence is that I originally wanted to write a sequencer,but Blitz Basic seems to be bugged when it comes to changing samples pitches,or at least as far as I can tell.) Features (and restrictions) * Load your own sounds These MUST be in standard Amiga IFF/8SVX format,and NOT MORE THAN 128000 bytes in length (Nasty Things happen when loading samples which are too long ; HINT: Wheeeeeeeeeeeee...Ka-BOOOOOM!!!!! Well,the computer will crash.Blitz,not me.Although I probably could have done something to check this. Just don't do it.). Also,Powerpacked samples won't load (I know,I know...). * Program up to 99 blocks The blocks,for simplicity's sake,are made up from 16 beats.It drove me mad just trying to program this,let alone having different length blocks! * Three (count 'em) sequencing modes,including Realtime Phrase Sequencing. Yes,RPS,the latest cool thing on all the latest keyboards/drum boxes. This lets you play an entire sequence (a block in BeatBox) by pressing one key. RPS Mode 1 - when you choose this from the menus,it starts playing from the current block.If you type in a two digit number (01,02,03 etc) the program will cut straight to the block whose number you have entered,keeping the rhythm (is this how you spell rhythm?!) going while switching to the new block. RPS Mode 2 - Starts the same way,but when you enter a number the program plays to the end of the current block before going on to the one you have chosen. Just try them; it's a lot simpler than it sounds! And remember to enter 2 digit numbers. Also, 00 is always a blank block. Sequencer Mode - This lets you enter block numbers into a series of pages.It's pretty simple,although I recommend naming your blocks while making them,as it makes the sequencer much easier to use. One of the play buttons plays the current page only,the second plays all of the pages,ie.the whole sequence. * Cut 'n' paste editing of blocks/tracks,accessible via the menus. * Loading and saving of projects/sequences When you have programmed your blocks,you can save them using the menu option "Save Project".It brings up a file requester,so you can choose where to save it and name your file. To complicate things slightly,sequences entered in Sequencer mode have to be saved separately. So to reload a whole song,you have to load your Project (ie the blocks) and then go into sequencer mode and load your Sequencer pages. It's a bit awkward,but not too complicated. Er,you may want to check out the (ahem) "Special Features" section (well, the "Bugs" section),regarding loading/saving. * Erm,that's it,really.It does what I want it to do. (Oi,who said "Cop out" ?) Usage ----- The gadgets are labelled clearly.To change samples,you use the gadgets near "Sample".To change blocks,you use the gadgets near "Block".Do you see a simple pattern here? When you load a sample,it goes into the current slot,so make sure to go to the appropriate sample slot before choosing Load Sample from the menus. Similarly,most functions apply to the current block,eg Cut/Paste, Name Block,etc. The left mouse button is used as normal to operate gadgets.When it is over the editing boxes,however,it will enter the currently selected sample into the chosen box.If a sample is already there,it deletes that sample from the box.The right mouse button is used to select a box without entering or deleting samples. When you want to access the menus,you have to put the pointer into the titlebar and press the right mouse button (or use the secret keypress ".") to switch on the menus.Then you have to click again with the right button to use the menus.I recommend not using one of the menu hacks like MagicMenu (cool program) when using BeatBox as it gets confusing,although I happen to use it all the time.Hmmm. To stop using the menus,you must click on a clear area of the screen,or choose an option from the menus,which in most cases exits from the menus automatically.Again,this sounds very difficult,but it's not! I have put some keypresses into the program,but I can't be bothered documenting them; they were really just to make things quicker during development.However,the aforementioned "." (ie full stop) accesses and leaves the menus.While using the menus,you'll see the keys to press for the individual options.Hold the Right Amiga key and press the appropriate key for your desired action. "-" and "+" change the screen colour,which is saved with your project.There are some pretty shocking colours (16 in all) most of which are unused in BeatBox,but are leftovers from an earlier attempt at a sequencer. When using the RPS modes,I recommend using the numerical keypad if your particular Amiga has one.It feels cooler than using the usual number keys. Hell,ignore all of this stuff.It's pretty intchoo- intutiv- intuiv.... er,EASY TO USE.Apart from the... "Idiosyncracies" (look it up) ---------------- BeatBox has some very,er,"special" features. (cough,bugs,cough) The first is a weird thing which happens with the Load/Save options. Put simply,you should ALWAYS run BeatBox the same way.If you load it from your Workbench,you should always load it from there.If you load it from the no-startup boot thingy,always load it from there. The files BeatBox puts out are simple text files,which for some strange reason,it has trouble loading when a file has been created from,say, the Workbench-run BeatBox and you try to load this into a no-startup run BeatBox.Even files created on your Workbench may not work on somebody else's.I have no idea why (ho ho). However,if you always run it the same way,you shouldn't have any bother. It's for this reason that I'm not including any demo sequences.I have a few and would like to have put them in,but they probably won't work for you. So,create a few blocks with the samples which are automatically loaded into BeatBox (and which incidentally,MUST not be deleted,unless you are replacing them with samples that have exactly the same names) and try messing about with the various options.Try making 3 blocks,then using one of the sequencer modes.Remember that you must save Projects (read "Blocks") separately from the sequences you made in Sequencer mode. Oh,yeah,and loading Projects requires you to load the samples you used in the project as well.This is done automatically,but you have to insert the appropriate disks if they are on separate disks.If you have a hard drive (get one if you haven't - you won't regret it),put your samples all into the same drawer.I put mine into BeatBox:BeatSounds/ which is where the default samples are kept. (BeatBox: is an assign). The tempo control is,frankly,crap. This is related to the playback sequence,which is a bit (OK,very) dodgy,but I wasn't sure how to sort it out properly. I got a new one only yesterday where I had used the Sequencer and exited back to the main screen,and then tried to use the Sequencer again,and it wouldn't come up.I don't know why,but I haven't been able to get this bug again.Weird. Finally (Hmm,maybe not...),it doesn't seem to load Powerpacked samples,even with the MCP packer patch on. Which brings us to... Registration ------------ It's a fiver. WHAT?!!! Registration?! But you keep saying how bugged and generally dodgy this program is! 1) I wrote this for me.I like it.It mostly works,it's easy,and there aren't many Amiga drum machines around (nod to X-Beat). 2) I need money.I don't have much.And I want one of the new Phase 5 PowerPC Blizzards.And an MC-303 or JP-8000 (fat f#@*ing chance). 3) If you like it,buy it. If you don't... don't. You get the full version of BeatBox,which means that you can use up to 99 blocks instead of the paltry 4 (or was it 5?) you get in the demo.You can also load into all of the 20 sample spaces, as your memory allows. You also get the full source code (Blitz) so that you can adjust BeatBox to suit you.Proper programmers can also have a laugh or a true horror experience when looking at the shocking techniques used to make this. I make no claims to being a good programmer.This is real held-together- with-sticky-tape stuff! I was programming in Spectrum Basic up till about 2 years ago! And I was crap at that! The code is Freeware,allowing you to change it to suit yourself. However,if you want to release an updated version,you MUST contact me first with a copy of the program.For the first update to be approved,it must correct the bugs above (Load/Save routines and Playback/Tempo),and also preferably include volume control.All I will require is a copy of the full program,and you'll be able to do what you like with the updated version (ie PD/Shareware).If you make it commercial (!),I'd appreciate a cut. Cheers.Remember that BeatBox is copyright,so you must contact me for permission to make a public release. The cost is 5 Pounds Sterling for the UK,and the equivalent of 10 Pounds in other currencies (sorry,the bloody bank charges).I'll also accept your sister. I DO NOT want anyone to contact me offering a copy of a Mac ROM for use in ShapeShifter instead of money.No Sir.That would be illegal. Just CHECK FIRST that I haven't been sent one.Which I won't have,because that would be wrong.I would destroy the disk and probably send it to Apple or something.So don't try it.Ahem. Cheques or POs/IMOs only please.I will NOT accept responsibility for cash "lost" in the post,although obviously if this is the only way you can send it,I'll gladly accept it (if it gets here). The magic address is: James L Boyd 10 A Thirlestane Place Dundee DD4 0TG Scotland No personal callers/autographs etc. Feel free to write first if you want to check that I'm still at this address (I should be stuck here for quite a while). Boom Chi Boom Chi Boom Chi Boom BLEEP! etc... (Listen! It's BEATBOX!) PS If there are any spelling mistakes in this doc-file,it's not due to my spelling abilities as they're pretty good.My typing's crap. PPS Some Hints 'n' Tips First of all,BeatBox sounds best put through a hi-fi or BIG speakers. Secondly,if you've got it going through a hi-fi or stereo speakers,make use of the tracks which are marked R (for Right!) and L (er,Left),and listen to the cool effects you can get by making one sound change rapidly from side to side! Also,as you probably know,you can record the Amiga's sound onto your hi-fi tape deck if you set the tape to record the AUX/CD channel.It's pretty cool listening to your own sequences like this! Finally,if you can't get it to work,or if it crashes at a particular point (other than those mentioned above),let me know the circumstances and I'll see if I can do anything.I don't have access to anything other than an A1200 (tested both with 030/50MHz Blizzard and Apollo 1220/28MHz,as well as basic A1200),so if it doesn't work on others,I can't really do much. Now "Beat" it! (sorry...) Boy,I'm crap at doc-writing.