@DATABASE OctaMED Soundstudio Help

@REM Features Guide: Memory, Display Options, Information [part 1 of 1]

@$VER: 2.0 (24.07.96) for Soundstudio V1.01
@AUTHOR Ed Wiles (e.d.wiles@dur.ac.uk)
@HELP OctaMED.guide/Help


@REM M E M O R Y


@REM Memory Types


@NODE f8_mety "Memory, Display Options, Information / Memory Types (Chip/Fast)"
@TOC OctaMED.guide/f8
HOW TO...
	@{" Load instruments into Chip or Fast memory " LINK f8_mety_1}
	@{"     Play instruments from Fast memory     " LINK f8_mety_2}
	@{"   Move instruments between memory types   " LINK f8_mety_3}

OVERVIEW
There are two types of Amiga memory: Chip memory and Fast memory.
Graphics and sound must normally be stored in Chip memory, while
other information can be stored in either memory type.

As its name implies, the advantage of Fast memory is its speed, so
it's preferable to store things in there. Even so, unless you have
bought a memory expansion board for your Amiga, all of its memory
is probably Chip. The first 2 megabytes in modern Amigas is Chip
memory; older Amigas may have 1 megabyte or half a megabyte.

So the Amiga usually needs all samples to be stored in Chip memory.
In OctaMED, however, you can store samples in Fast memory as well.
Depending on the channel mode of your song, you may have to use the
`FastMemPlay' feature to play instruments in Fast memory.

It's advisable to store instruments either entirely in Chip or
entirely in Fast memory. For this reason, OctaMED can move all
instruments to either type of memory.

NOTES
* In the Main Control window and Instrument List, an apostrophe is
  displayed after the sample size if the instrument is in Fast
  memory (e.g. 42650'). If the apostrophe isn't there, the
  instrument is in Chip memory.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_mety_1 "Memory Types / How To Load Instruments Into Chip Or Fast Memory"
@TOC f8_mety
	 HOW TO LOAD INSTRUMENTS INTO CHIP OR FAST MEMORY
INTRODUCTION
The Amiga usually needs all samples to be stored in Chip memory.
In OctaMED, however, you can store samples in Fast memory as well:
Simply switch on Instr menu -> Load Samples to Fast Mem.

Any instruments subsequently loaded will be stored in Fast memory
if possible. If there is not enough Fast memory to contain the
loaded instrument, it will be stored in Chip memory as usual.

Depending on the channel mode of your song, you may have to use the
`FastMemPlay' feature to play instruments in Fast memory. Storing   @{" More " LINK f8_mety_2}
instruments in Fast mem in Mix mode is so positively encouraged     @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_plmo_3}
that Load Samples to Fast Mem is automatically switched on in this
mode.

STEPS
1) EITHER Choose to store instruments loaded in future in Fast
   memory.
   > Switch off Instr menu -> Load Samples to Fast Mem

   OR Choose to store instruments loaded in future in Chip memory.
   > Switch off Instr menu -> Load Samples to Fast Mem
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_mety_2 "Memory Types / How To Play Instruments From Fast Memory"
@TOC f8_mety
	     HOW TO PLAY INSTRUMENTS FROM FAST MEMORY
INTRODUCTION
Although OctaMED can store instruments in either Chip or Fast
memory, you may need to activate the `FastMemPlay' feature to play
Fast memory instruments.

This depends on the channel mode of your song. FastMemPlay must be
switched on if the song is in:

	1) 4-channel mode					    @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_plmo_1}
	2) 5 to 8-channel mode, and uses non-paired tracks	    @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_plmo_2}

So in 5 to 8-channel mode where all used tracks are paired, and in
Mix mode, instruments in Fast memory can be played without using
FastMemPlay. FastMemPlay uses a small amount of processor time, but
doesn't noticeably slow down operation (even on my A500!).

Instruments in Chip memory are also played when FastMemPlay is
active. There is usually little or no loss of sound quality with
FastMemPlay, but a small FastMemPlay `buffer size', perhaps 16 or
32, is recommended to minimise distortion if your song contains
synthetic sounds. The size can be 16 to 400.

STEPS
1) If your song needs to use FastMemPlay, open the FastMemPlay
   window.
   > Settings menu -> FastMemPlay

2) Switch on FastMemPlay.
   > Switch on Active

3) Set the buffer size if appropriate.
   > Type a number into Buffer Size

NOTES
* Increasing the buffer size slightly decreases the load on the
  processor. Technically, the number of interrupts are reduced.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_mety_3 "Memory Types / How To Move Instruments Between Memory Types"
@TOC f8_mety
	   HOW TO MOVE INSTRUMENTS BETWEEN MEMORY TYPES
INTRODUCTION
It's advisable to store instruments either entirely in Chip or
entirely in Fast memory. For this reason, OctaMED can move all
instruments to either type of memory.

If there is not enough free Fast memory to move some of the
instruments in Chip memory across to Fast, OctaMED asks you to free
some Fast memory and try again. The same applies for moving to Chip @{" How? " LINK f8_frme_2}
memory.

STEPS
1) EITHER Move all instruments to Fast memory.
   > Instr menu -> Move Samples To Fast Mem

   OR Move all instruments to Chip memory.
   > Instr menu -> Move Samples To Chip Mem
@ENDNODE


@REM Freeing memory


@NODE f8_frme "Memory, Display Options, Information / Freeing memory"
@TOC OctaMED.guide/f8
HOW TO...
	@{"  Check how much memory is free  " LINK f8_frme_1}
	@{" Free as much memory as possible " LINK f8_frme_2}

OVERVIEW
On occasion, especially if your song uses many instruments, you can
run out of memory. But don't panic! There are ways of freeing
memory, many of which are not immediately apparent. Of course,
there are also more obvious ways such as clearing the entire song.

In the Information window, OctaMED shows how much memory (in bytes)
of either type - Chip and Fast - is free. Even though instruments
can now be stored in either type of memory, the main type to watch
is Chip.

But be warned: Appearances can be deceptive! If the Information
window shows `Chip: 20000', this means that IN TOTAL, there are
20000 bytes free in Chip memory. This memory won't be in one large
block, it will be scattered about. So the real number to watch is
the `largest' amount of Chip memory available; in other words, the
largest continuous block of free Chip memory.

OctaMED shows the total and largest amounts of free memory of both
types on the screen's title bar, when you press Ctrl-F.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_frme_1 "Freeing memory / How To Check How Much Memory Is Free"
@TOC f8_frme
	       HOW TO CHECK HOW MUCH MEMORY IS FREE
INTRODUCTION
There are many occasions when you may need to check how much memory
you have available. The most common need is probably before loading
a song or a particularly long instrument.

In the Information window, OctaMED shows how much memory (in bytes)
of either type - Chip and Fast - is free. When a file is loaded
into memory, however, it requires a continuous block of memory at
least as long as the file to be available. To display the largest
continous block of Chip and Fast memory, press Ctrl-F.

STEPS
1) EITHER In the Information window, observe the free memory
   display (bottom-left corner).

   OR Display the total free and largest continuous block of each
   each type of memory, on the screen's title bar.
   > Press Ctrl-F (F stands for Free)
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_frme_2 "Freeing memory / How To Free As Much Memory As Possible"
@TOC f8_frme
	      HOW TO FREE AS MUCH MEMORY AS POSSIBLE
INTRODUCTION
On occasion, especially if your song uses many instruments, you can
run out of memory. But don't panic! There are ways of freeing
memory, many of which are not immediately apparent.

Of course, there are also more obvious ways such as clearing the
entire song together with its instruments, but such drastic
measures may be inappropriate.

STEPS
1) Just about anything that can be loaded can be removed from
   memory. Do you really need any of the following?

   * Song	* Instruments	* Sample list
   * Keyboard shortcuts 	* Song annotation text
   * MIDI messages		* Input maps

2) Remove all instruments unused by your song from memory.
   > Instr menu -> Flush All Unused

3) Free the memory occupied by copy buffers.
   > Edit menu -> Discard Copy Buffers
   > Sample editor's Tools menu -> Discard Copy Buffer

4) Try closing down Workbench (i.e. remove its screen). On some
   systems, this can free as much as 120K of Chip memory. On my
   modest system, it frees about 40K.
   > Settings menu -> Miscellaneous Options
   > Switch off Close Workbench

   * Workbench can't be closed if any programs are running on it.
     Save settings with Close Workbench off to automatically close
     Workbench when OctaMED starts up.

5) As a last resort, free about 5K by sacrificing the sample
   editor's `fast graphics' feature. The sample waveform is drawn
   more slowly, but it's worth it for a whole 5K!
   > Display menu -> Sample Editor
   > Sample editor's Settings menu -> Display Settings
   > Switch off Fast Graphics
@ENDNODE


@REM D I S P L A Y  O P T I O N S


@REM Display Options


@NODE f8_diop "Memory, Display Options, Information / Display Options"
@TOC OctaMED.guide/f8
HOW TO...
	@{"  Change the screen mode   " LINK f8_diop_1}
	@{" Change the screen colours " LINK f8_diop_2}
	@{"      Change the font      " LINK f8_diop_3}
	@{"    `Snapshot' windows     " LINK f8_diop_4}

OVERVIEW
Normally, OctaMED adopts the screen mode, font and colours used by
Workbench. If you so desired, these can be changed; in particular,
there can be separate fonts for screen and window title bars,
window contents and the Tracker editor.

`Snapshotting' a window is storing its position in memory. The
window can be closed and later reopened at its stored position.
OctaMED usually snapshots windows whenever they are moved, but this
behaviour can be switched off. Various windows can be snapshot or
`unsnapshot' (forgetting the stored position) at will.

NOTES
* When Auto-Freeze Screen (Settings menu) is switched on, the
  screen is automatically `frozen' whenever OctaMED's screen is
  pushed to the back. The Tracker editor and various other screen
  properties stop updating. This frees processor time for
  multitasking.

* In some countries, the note between A# and C is called H rather
  than B. To display H's instead of B's in the Tracker editor,
  switch on Miscellaneous Options window -> H -> B.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_diop_1 "Display Options / How To Change The Screen Mode"
@TOC f8_diop
		   HOW TO CHANGE THE SCREEN MODE
INTRODUCTION
The screen mode is a combination of the screen resolution, the
available width and height, the number of colours and the
AutoScroll status.

Normally, OctaMED adopts the screen mode used by Workbench. It may
be changed through the Settings menu, and saved with settings for   @{" How? " LINK F4.guide/f4_se_2}
use whenever OctaMED is loaded in the future.

Often the screen resolution and available width and height are the
same. A good technique to increase the amount of room on the
screen, however, is to make the screen wider and higher than its
resolution. With AutoScroll switched on, you can reveal the hidden
parts of the screen by dragging the mouse to the screen's extremes.

The range of screen modes available to you depends on your model of
Amiga and the amount of free Chip memory. Generally, the `better'   @{" More " LINK f8_frme_1}
the screen mode appears, the more memory it requires. (Yet another
of life's trade-offs.)

STEPS

EITHER Set a new screen mode.

1) Open the screen mode requester.
   > Settings menu -> Screen -> Screen Mode

2) Select a resolution.
   > Click on a resolution in the list

3) Select the available width and height.
   > Type values into Width and Height

4) Select the number of colours on the screen.
   > Adjust the Colors slider

5) Switch AutoScroll on or off.

6) Click OK. The screen closes and reopens in its new mode.

7) If desired, save the new screen mode with settings.		    @{" How? " LINK F4.guide/f4_se_2}

OR Revert to the screen mode used by Workbench.

1) Select Settings menu -> Screen -> Like WB.

NOTES
* When Like WB is switched on, the screen mode is not saved with
  settings.

* OctaMED's screen is public (name OCTAMED).
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_diop_2 "Display Options / How To Change The Screen Colours"
@TOC f8_diop
		 HOW TO CHANGE THE SCREEN COLOURS
INTRODUCTION
Use the Palette window to change the screen's colours (or its
`palette'). The number of colours on the screen is set as part of
its screen mode.						    @{" How? " LINK f8_diop_1}

There are three sliders in the Palette window: Red, Green and Blue.
Colours are a combination of red, green and blue light, and these
sliders set the intensity of the three primary colours in each
screen colour.

For example, to set bright red, move the Red slider right up and
the Green and Blue sliders right down (similarly for bright green
and blue). Yellow is a mixture of red and green light, so set
bright yellow by dragging Red and Green right up and Blue right
down. The best way to learn about colour combinations is through
experimenting, and sliders are great to experiment with!

Normally, OctaMED adopts Workbench's screen colours. Before you can
change the colours, you must switch off WB Palette in the Palette
window. When WB Palette is on, the screen colours are not saved
with settings.

Older models of Amiga can display 4,096 different colours, while
newer models (A1200 and A4000) can display a whopping 16,777,216!
If you have an older model of Amiga, set Palette Type to the
cryptically-named 4-Bit. If you're blessed with a newer model, set
it to 8-Bit. The setting affects the number of colours you may
select with the three sliders.

STEPS

1) Open the Palette window.
   > Settings menu -> Palette

2) Select the appropriate palette type.
   > Set Palette Type to 4-Bit [older machines] OR
   > Set Palette Type to 8-Bit [newer machines]

3) EITHER Prepare to change the colours.
   > Switch on WB Palette

   OR Revert to Workbench's colour scheme.
   > Switch off WB Palette

4) If WB Palette is now off, select and change a colour.
   a) Select a colour.
      > Click on a colour in the palette strip (top of window)

   b) Change the colour.
      > Adjust the Red, Green and Blue sliders

7) If desired, save the new colours with settings.		    @{" How? " LINK F4.guide/f4_se_2}

NOTES
* Either Palette Type value can be used with any model of Amiga.
  If wrongly set, either 1 in every 4096 colours can be selected,
  or the colour changes once every 16 slider values!
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_diop_3 "Display Options / How To Change The Font"
@TOC f8_diop
		      HOW TO CHANGE THE FONT
INTRODUCTION
The font is the style of writing used on the screen. OctaMED can
can use a different font in three different areas: the main screen
(screen and window title bars, requesters), window contents, and
the Tracker editor.

Select the fonts used in the Fonts window. The font names and sizes
are shown. Normally, OctaMED adopts Workbench's font in all three
areas, signified by the Default check boxes. To let you select a
new font, OctaMED loads the names of all fonts in your FONTS:
directory, usually the Fonts drawer on your system disk.

Windows and gadget names automatically adjust to the new font (this
is the short delay before windows are opened). If the font you
choose is too big to display a particular window, however, the
window will open using Workbench's font or, as a last resort, using
topaz 8.

Fonts can be `proportional' or `non-proportional'. In proportional
fonts, each character (letter, digit or symbol) can be any width.
In non-proportional fonts, all characters have a fixed width. While
proportional fonts often look more pleasing, only non-proportional
fonts can be used in the Tracker editor.

STEPS
1) Open the Font window.
   > Settings menu -> Font

2) Set the font used on the main screen, in windows and in the
   Tracker editor.
   a) EITHER Select a new font.
      > Click on a GetFile gadget to the left of a text box THEN
      > Click on a font name in the left-hand list THEN
      > Click on a font size in the right-hand list THEN
      > Click OK

   b) OR Set the font to `default' (Workbench's font).
      > Click Default beside a text box

3) Close the window.
   > Click OK

4) If desired, save the new font settings with settings.	    @{" How? " LINK F4.guide/f4_se_2}

NOTES
* Fonts set to Default will not be saved with settings.

* If you don't have Kickstart 3.0 or higher, we recommend using
  non-proportional fonts. Proportional fonts are correctly
  displayed, but slider values tend to become garbled after a
  while, and certain parts of the program - MIDI Message Editor,
  Synth Program - sometimes flicker as they convert the font to be
  non-proportional.
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_diop_4 "Display Options / How To `Snapshot' Windows"
@TOC f8_diop
		     HOW TO `SNAPSHOT' WINDOWS
INTRODUCTION
`Snapshotting' a window is storing its position in memory. When the
window is later reopened, it appears at the stored position.

OctaMED usually snapshots windows whenever they are moved, but this
behaviour can be switched off. Also, you can return individual
windows, currently open windows or all windows to their usual
positions, forgetting their stored positions. This process is
called `unsnapshotting'. Sometimes you can just move windows around
too much!

The window positions are saved with settings. In fact, the windows  @{" How? " LINK F4.guide/f4_se_2}
currently open are also saved with settings, and reopened when the
settings are loaded.

STEPS
1) If desired, switch off the automatic snapshotting of windows.
   > Switch off Settings menu -> Windows -> Auto-Snapshot

If windows are automatically snapshot:

2) EITHER Unsnapshot the current window.
   > Settings menu -> Windows -> UnSnapshot

   OR Unsnapshot all windows open on the screen.
   > Settings menu -> Windows -> UnSnapshot Open

   OR Unsnapshot all windows in the program.
   > Settings menu -> Windows -> UnSnapshot All

If windows are not automatically snapshot:

2) EITHER Snapshot the current window.
   > Settings menu -> Windows -> Snapshot

   OR Snapshot all windows open on the screen.
   > Settings menu -> Windows -> Snapshot Open
@ENDNODE


@NODE f8_prin "Memory, Display Options, Information / Program Information"
@TOC OctaMED.guide/f8
OctaMED can provide various information about itself and what it is
doing. Some of this information and how to display it is listed here.

* General program information: Project menu -> About. Particularly,
  this displays the e-mail addresses of programmer, publisher and
  documentor. Please write to us!

* This on-line help system: Help key OR Project menu -> On-line
  Help. The usual help viewer is AmigaGuide, but Hyper and XPKGuide
  can also be used. Set the Help Viewer in the Miscellaneous
  Options window.

* Last message displayed on the screen's title bar: Project menu ->
  Last Message.

* The time elapsed since Song Play or Block Play was last clicked:
  Information window's timer.

* OctaMED's `current state': Information window's middle
  information box. Possible states are `Playing song' or `block',
  `Stopped', `Loading', `Saving' and `Awaiting input'.
@ENDNODE

