NeoTracker v1.7
         User's manual

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INTRODUCTION

NeoTracker is a program designed for
editing and playing music with 8-bit
samples, that utilizes up to 1MB of
extended memory and COVOX expansion.

I wish you nice composing

                    Epi/Tristesse
                       07.07.2007

CHANGES HISTORY

Version 1.7 (07.2007)
- added configuration for COVOX
registers address;
- fixed bug that causes infinite loop
when accessing to non-existent drive
under SpartaDOS X

Version 1.6 (03.2006)
- *VBL jumps fixed (works now with
DracOS)
- automatic detection of XMS-bank used
by SDX in the installer
- clearing of memory before starting
both tracker and installer
- volume change in sample window bug
fixed

Version 1.5 (12.2003)
- mixing frequency in module player
increased to 11.75kHz
- some minor bugs fixed

Version 1.4 (08.2003)
- mixing frequency in module player
increased to 11.5kHz
- improved frequency tables
- improved MOD conversion
- improved XMS management
- built-in help added
- audio device selection (POKEY/COVOX)
in installer
- portamento effect commands
- SpartaDOS subdirectories support
added
- separate paths for modules, samples
and patterns
- a few minor updates

Version 1.12p (02.2003)
- same as 1.12, but works only with
POKEY

Version 1.12 (12.2002)
- MOD conversion improved
- some minor bugs fixed

(...)

Version 0.9 (09.2002)
- first public release

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Hardware configuration:

minimal - ATARI 130XE
- one disk drive

basic - +256kB RAM
- Covox
- disk drive or SIO2PC

optimal - +1MB RAM
- Covox
- SpartaDOS X
- SIO2PC lub twardy dysk

Software requirements:

• MEMLO max. $2000

• memory under OS ROM not used

  INSTALLATION

  To install NeoTracker, you should
  prepare about 16kB of free space on any
  disk and load NEO16INS.COM (Under SDX
  use X.COM). After it's load, you can
  set up following features:

• Default directories for modules,
  samples and patterns. They're set up
  every time NeoTracker starts.
  Keys: DEL - move cursor back
  RET,TAB - confirmation
  ESC - wyjcie do DOS

• Extended memory banks. There are
  number of active banks, total number
  of existing banks, and (below) codes
  of all active banks, shown. Inactive
  bank codes are replaced with '=='.
  Keys: -,=,+,* - move cursor
  SPC - toggle bank
  activity
  RET,TAB - confirmation
  ESC - wyjcie do DOS

• I/O Sound. Loading files through SIO
  is much more pleasant when sound is
  off.
  Keys: SPC - toggle on/off
  RET,TAB - confirmation
  ESC - wyjcie do DOS

• Output device. With this option you
  can set up address that your COVOX is
  placed at. Available addresses are:
  $D500 (cartridge), $D600, $D700,
  $D220, $D240, $D260, and $D280.
  Either you can tell NeoTracker to use
  POKEY instead. Stereo is detected
  automatically.
  Keys: SPC - select POKEY or
  COVOX at specified
  location
  RET,TAB - confirmation
  ESC - wyjcie do DOS

• Destination path (Save to:) - defines
  an existing directory name, in which
  NeoTracker with selected settings
  will be saved.
  Keys: DEL - move cursor back
  TAB - back to default
  directory setting
  RET - install
  ESC - exit to DOS

  The simpliest way to install
  (recommended for those, who use older
  DOSes and/or only disk drives), is to
  press RETURN key seven times, and then
  press Y.
  SpartaDOS X users should remember
  to enter direct paths and disable bank
  used by DOS in BANKED mode. Current
  version detects and disables it
  automatically, but you can do set it up
  manually, of course.

  GETTING STARTED

  To run NeoTracker, load NEO.COM. In
  SpartaDOS X, remember to use X.COM.
  After loading, NeoTracker is depacked
  and the tables are generated, and then,
  the main screen appears. It's divided
  into three most important parts:
  pattern editor (on the left), song
  editor (top-right), and the sample
  window (below the song editor). You can
  toggle between these windows with [TAB]
  key.
  On the bottom, there are also three
  smaller windows, that inform about:
  initial playing speed, current octave,
  and status of last operation. The last
  one usually shows the number of unused
  XMS banks for samples (one sample
  occupies one bank) and free pattern
  memory size (in bytes). Besides, below
  the info about current version of
  NeoTracker, there is a place for the
  title of currently edited song.

  All the numbers in NeoTracker
  (except for error code) are shown in
  hexadecimal. Maximum number of patterns
  is 128, and samples - 64, but it also
  depends on the amount of free memory.
  When there are no more space for
  patterns or samples, an "Out Of Memory"
  message is displayed. Maximum length of
  each sample is limited by the size of
  one bank (16kB), but there is a
  possibility to use one sample (called
  "long sample", which can be up to 22kB
  ($5800 bytes) long.
  Mixing frequency is:

• 11.75kHz when playing module
• 15.5kHz when playing pattern or
  testing sample

• ca. 13kHz when entering notes

  Note keys layout is as follows:

1st octave:
[S] [D] [G] [H] [J] [L]
[Z] [X] [C] [V] [B] [N] [M] [,] [.]

2nd octave:
[2] [3] [5] [6] [7] [9]
[Q] [W] [E] [R] [T] [Y] [U] [I] [O]

Total range is over five octaves
(63 semitones).

You can use following effects:
- end of pattern (S0) - moves to next
song position AFTER the line in
pattern, where the command is placed
- change speed (S1..SF) - immediately
sets new playing speed
- volume slide down/up (-x, +x) -
volume is decreased/increased at
every frame during pattern position,
where command is placed
- portamento down/up (Qx, Px) - the
value is added to current period;
unfortunately, since the mixing
frequencies in pattern and song
editors are different, it may be not
so easy to tune it perfectly.

Volume table includes 33 different
volumes, from $00 (silence) to $20
(maximum volume).

There is also importing MODs from
other platforms (Sound Tracker format).
Converted are notes in four octaves,
and the following effects: 1,2
(portamento; parameters are NOT
recalculated), 5,6,A (volume slide),
B (jump to position), D (end of
pattern).

PATTERN EDITOR

On the top of the window, there is
an info about current pattern: its
number, and a '+' or '-' character,
indicating if the pattern is empty.
Below, there are 17 of 64 lines of
pattern. Each of them looks similarly
to:

        1E:>D#2 04 20 P5
        ----------------
        aa:znnn ss vv kp

where: aa - line number
z - tag position
nnn - current note, or empty
space meaning continuation
of previous note
ss - number of sample used to
playing current note - if
not shown, means
continuation of previously
used sample
vv - volume change
kp - effect command with
parameter

Keys: (^ = [CTRL], ! = [SHIFT])

note keys - enter notes
[-][=] - move cursor one line up/down
![INS] - insert empty line
![DEL] - delete line
[DEL] - move tagged position
^[Z] - set tag
![P] - jump to beginning of pattern
^[P] - jump to tag

![-][=] - select octave
^[-][=] - select sample
[+][*] - jump to previous/next pattern
^[Q] - jump to any pattern

![<] - clear pattern
^[<] - move pattern to buffer
^[>] - copy buffer to pattern
!^[>] - overlay buffer on pattern
^[L] - load pattern
^[S] - save pattern
[RET] - play pattern
![RET] - play from the beginning
^[RET] - play from tag position
([SPC] - stop)

^[C] - set volume in current line
![+][] - increase/decrease volume
^[,][.] - set effect command
^[+][] - set effect parameter
![SPC] - remove effect command
^[SPC] - remove sample number
^[N] - edit song title
!^[-][=] - change initial speed

Following four options should be run
with [CTRL] (edit sample number), or
[SHIFT] (edit parameter, except [D]).
[+] and [*] keys are for selecting
currently entered value (hexadecimal),
[RET] confirms, and [ESC] quits without
making any changes.

[T] - transpose - parameter means the
number of semitones
[X] - change sample no. - parameter
defines target sample number
[V] - change volume - parameter is
multiplied by the volume on each
position in pattern. $40 is
multiplication by 2, $20 - *1,
$10 - *0.5, and so on.
[D] - delete notes - clear all lines,
where selected sample is used

[TAB] - move to song editor
[HELP] - help
!^[ESC] - exit to DOS

SAMPLE WINDOW

Shows the list of loaded samples.
Each line looks similarly to:

    >+04:!MINOR CHORD [L]
    ----------------------
    zuaa:lnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

where: z - tag indicating current
sample
u - a '+' character in this
place means that sample is
used in current pattern
aa - sample number
l - a '!' character means long
sample
nnn... - sample name

On the right, there is a narrow
column, where the following information
is shown:
SMP - sample number
VOL - default volume
LEN - sample length in bytes
REP - loop start position

Keys in sample window:

[-][=] - select previous/next sample
^[Q] - select any sampla
![-][=] - select octave
[RET] - test sample (use note keys,
[SPC] - stop)
^[V] - edit default volume
![+][*] - change default volume
^[S] - save .NSF sample
^[L] - load .NSF sample
^[R] - load .SMP sample (from
ProTracker by MadTeam)
^[D] - remove sample
^[N] - rename sample

[TAB] - move to pattern editor
[HELP] - help
!^[ESC] - exit to DOS

SONG EDITOR

On the top of the window, there are
track numbers and states: if the track
name is underlined, the track is on.
Below, there are 8 lines of song
that looks like the following:

   01 1E:00 1E:0C 04:00 0A:FE
   --------------------------
   aa p1:t1 p2:t2 p3:t3 p4:t4

where: aa - line number
px - pattern number on track x
tx - pattern transposition on
track x

Keys in song editor:

[-][=][+][*] - move cursor
^[Q] - jump to any position
[0..F] - editing values
![1..4] - toggle track on/off
!^[-][=] - change initial speed
[RET] - play module
![RET] - play module from the
beginning
^[SPC] - clear value under cursor
^[N] - edit song title
^[L] - load .NEO module
^[R] - import .MOD
^[S] - save .NEO module
!^[CLR] - clear all data

[TAB] - move to pattern editor
[HELP] - help
!^[ESC] - exit to DOS

FILE SELECTOR

Each I/O operation starts in file
selector. On the bottom of the screen,
the current path appears, and in the
pattern window, the contents of the
directory is visible. MyDOS and
SpartaDOS subdirectories are supported.
If the directory is empty, there is
only 'no files' printed. '..' means
the up-directory.

Keys when loading file:

[-][=] - move cursor
[RET] - enter subdirectory / load
file
!^[1..8] - jump to root directory of
selected drive

Keys when saving file:

[A..Z][0..9][_] - edit name
[DEL] - back space
[-][=] - move cursor
[RET] - enter subdirectory
![RET] - save file
^[RET] - make subdirectory
![DEL] - remove subdirectory (only
MyDOS) or file
!^[1..8] - jump to root directory of
selected drive

If any error during I/O occurs, then
the appropriate message is shown. 'I/O
Error- nnn!' means transmission error
number nnn, and 'Bad file type' means
that file format wasn't correctly
recognized.

CREDITS

The following people created
NeoTracker:

• idea, design, code, testing,
  documentation:
  Epi/Tristesse^O.S.

• idea, testing:
  Pinokio/Tristesse

• XMS-detecting routine:
  Fox/Taquart

  Special thanks to Voy/SSG^DIAL for
  plenty of inspiring information about
  trackers from other platforms, and the
  constant support. :) Thanks also to
  Draco for testing with DracOS.

  NeoTracker v1.7 is free/postcard/
  ware, which means that:

• you use it at your own responsibility
• you may distribute it as long as you
  don't change anything in the archive
  and don't get any payment for it

• you don't pay for it, but if you like
  it, you have to send a postcard from
  your location to the author

  Send comments, suggestions and
  postcards to:

    snail: Adrian Matoga
           ul. Jedziecka 11
           30-698 Krakw
   e-mail: epi@atari.pl
      gsm: +48505713863
  

  gadu-gadu: 2806925
  jabber: epi@student.agh.edu.pl
  irc: #atari8 (IRCNet)

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   (c) 2002-2007 Tristesse