ARM-play (23.05.1996 - Czech Republic, Europe)
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Purpose of this pack:
=====================
It will allow you to play MIDI files type 0 and 1 in an easy way ;)
AREXX support, all libraries and binaries included. MIDI archive of
nice MIDI files available (all files taken out of the total amount of
over 2500 SMF?s downloaded from the InterNET - sorted in 2 months on
Amiga 500+, 2MB CHIP, 4MB FAST, MIDI, YAMAHA TG-100)
Background:
===========
In the late March 1996 I've downloaded over 2500 midifiles from
different InterNET sites by night. It took me 2 months to transport
the files on floppies to my home computer - Amiga 500+. I was not
able to listen to the files at work (working as a system
administrator at WWW.SCI.MUNI.CZ), although working on SGI
workstations. Back home with a little funny thing - YAMAHA TG-100 -
I went through all the files, listened carefully and now you are able
to download the best MIDI pack available now - not the biggest, but
trully most of the songs are quite good, no SHITs! ;) So the archive
was born. First I used a MIDIPlay by !"#$% ;), but it didn't respond
to all its configuration files, tooltypes and much more very
FRIENDLY. So the only usable thing left "tinymidiplay".
My old script is included in the package. The new one was born
when I've downloaded the TRITON pack (thanx!) and learned the facts
about it in some 10 hours ;) The utility is still only REXX and
nothing more, but anybody can easily modify it to fit his needs (not
like buggy C proggies). On non-accelerated Amigas it may appear to
be a bit slow but in fact, decrunching is MUCH MUCH slower ;)
Complete ARM-play archive is also on Aminet as the file called
"ARM-play.lha". You'll need that file to install FULL archive, but I
have packed all the libraries and support files into THIS package to
allow easy upgrading by changing the main "ARM-play.lha" archive
only.
As I am not granted the permission to distribute "tinymidiplay",
you can find an archive of this on the HP or on Aminet - latest:
/mus/midi/midiplay265b.lha
Disclaimer:
===========
I can NOT guarantee anything else that this pack will probably
succesfully play MIDI files on your Amiga. Please report bugs and
bugfixes ;) to my e-mail account: eliot sci.muni.cz. Thanx!
Caution:
========
The MIDI files may be replayed on any computer able to play SMF?s.
(PC? MAC?)
Requirements:
=============
OS 2.0+ (tested on OS3.0 [39.106]), MIDI interface, GM expander or keyboard
(I suggest something like YAMAHA TG-100 .. TG-500, MU-80 etc. - tested on
my TG-100 and all of the tunes are quite nice on my A500+), running WorkBench
and -> AREXX is a MUST, 'fcourse ;)
Installation:
=============
Copy all the following files (in the case you haven't got them already):
REXXC/RX & REXXC/RXNIL - standard Commodore RX command plus a "niled"
version (doesn't produce ANY output)
C/TINYMIDIPLAY - utility (fast and small) to play SMF0 & 1 files
(not included)
LIBS/#? - all the required libraries (maybe more...)
(I include these as it may be hard for newbies
to build the complete system)
REXX/#? - AREXX scripts by ME + icon by Jofa/Vectors
(thanx dude, will we meet by beer sometimes?)
"MIDIPLAY" is the old REXX controller - simple but works (may have bugs?)
"lowercase.rexx" is usefull - have ya ever dreamed to simply change
as many filenames as you like to lowercase? This will do the
dirty job for you in a sec...
"ARM-play" is the main TRITON REXX proggy - complex and nice looking
(I've included all the latest TRITON REXX libraries - should be complete)
--- HINT: download ARM-play.lha ---
CAUTION: some of the libraries may be OS3.x specific - be warned, 2.x users!
Usage:
======
midiplay
++++++++
Make sure you have installed all the required files. Assign MIDI:
to the directory your SMF?s reside. Make sure NO other programs
(like OctaMED), that use serial port directly, are active (modem and
terminal programs also, right?). Make also sure the STOP SMF0 called
"000-zero" is in place.
Doubleclick a MIDIPLAY icon to bring up a requester (ReqTools),
select tunes to play - these will be played once in a randomly
selected order. You can change the default tool to "RX", so you can
watch the name of a file being played.
This script is also able to co-operate with diskmanagers like FileMaster
(and many others, I think) in the way:
1) run it without parameter -> if playing single file, will stop it ;)
2) run it without parameter -> if not playing, will bring up a requester
3) run it with a parameter -> will load the file and play (previous play
is terminated by the player automatically)
ARM-play
++++++++
This one comes with a complete GUI - make sure your files are located
somewhere and you have installed TRITON ;) Feel free to modify it and
if you come with something special, let me know. You can also call
it with an argument that will be played (but no GUI opens). Report
bugs, bugreports, jokes or just whether you like it or no ;)
Hints:
======
Pack all the MIDI files with SHRI compressor (included). I reached
the best results with this one (thanx to author), although it packs
and depacks for hours ;) (my HD is really small, but if you are free
in space and have non-accelerated Amiga, keep 'em unpacked).
Copyright notice:
=================
This pack is brought to you as a FREEWARE. You are non-exclusively
granted the right to modify the AREXX scripts or write new ones based
on mine. You may NOT modify the binaries, libraries and MIDI files
as these are COPYRIGHTED material by their specific owners. I hope
this is enough to prove myself not being responsible for any damages
or whatever ;) Some of the files may be somewhere else stated as
SHAREWARE !!! (I am sure none of these are commercial, RX command
without REXXMAST is useless, though)
I am not a PROGRAMMER, but a MUSICIAN - please excuse me for bad
English. Programming is my hobby, music will be my work hopefully :)
Send me an e-mail if you like this pack ;) eliotsci.muni.cz
HOMEPAGE URL: "http://www.sci.muni.cz/~eliot/"
I am sorry if someone misses his name in here, kick my ass instead ;)
InterNET access:
================
This pack has its own WWW page located in the Czech Republic on the
Amiga specific FTP server (currently the only REAL one and probably
the LAST one).
URL: http://amiga.chemi.muni.cz/amiga/midi/
URL: http://147.251.64.18/amiga/midi/
site may also be accessed via anonymous FTP at ftp://ftp.chemi.muni.cz/
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Have fun and make Amiga alive! Greets to my musician and Amiga friends,
especially to Daniel Forro. Big thanx to Urban Mueller for Aminet CD 11.
Long live cONTORTIOn!!! ;)
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Signed off, peace and love
Eli0t/cONTORTIOn
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