NeoTracker v1.7
         User's manual

---

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)

---

   (c) 2002-2007 Tristesse