***************************************************************** >>> ShareWare <<< ***************************************************************** This is a SHARWARE product. If you continue to use Smart Play, this means you must like it (or like to use it). All I ask is if you like to use Smart Play you send me $5.00 (Check or money order). Registered users get discounts on other software products written by me, such as Digi-Mix a full featured paint and bit block editor and Outer Limits a fast paced action game (includes GFA Basic 2.0 source code). They also get upgrades at a very low cost. Smart Play Documentation ======================== Many computer owners are now discovering digitized sound samples. You probably own one or two games that use some type of digitized sound in it. Some animation packages now have the ability to incorporate sound samples in there sequence files. This makes for some great affects. The applications are limitless. Now you can enjoy listening to sound samples without buying an expensive interface cartridge. There are now lots of sound sample files available on BBS's across the United States. Smart Play has basically two different functions, edit and play sound sample files. With Smart Play you can edit and save any sound file you load in to memory. There are two ways to play sound samples with Smart Play. The first is to simply load the sound sample, select the play speed and select the play selection. The second is to load a sound sample file into memory and append the last byte in the sample to show the speed of the sample (I will talk more on this later). By using the latter method you can play sounds one after another using yet another feature called "Autoplay". The source code contains a special section on how to load and play ST-Reply sound files. FILES ===== You should have the following files: READ_ME.TXT BASECODE.EXE SMART_PL.PRG For Smart Play to run successfully you must have both SMART_PL.PRG and BASECODE.EXE in the same folder/directory. REQUIREMENTS ============ Smart Play will run on the Atari 520ST, 520FM, 1040ST, Mega 2 and Mega 4. You may use a color or monochrome monitor in any resolution. FUNCTIONS ========= LOAD SPL. ========= To load a sound sample simply select "LOAD SPL.". A file select dialog box will appear and you simply pick your file and select "OK". Once the file is loaded into memory you can edit or play the file. If the sound file has allready been appended the speed will be set automatically. PLAY SPL. ========= No mysteries here just select "PLAY SPL." and you will the sound sample that is currently in memory. SAVE SPL. ========= There are three way you can save a sound sample. The first is after loading a sample you save it WITHOUT editing. The second is after loading a sample you edit the sample, then save the edited sample (Using the Editor). The third is after selecting append (see "APND.") you re-save the sample. APND. ===== In order to have sound samples load and play in the correct speed or "Khz" you must append the current sample in memory. This is done by first loading a sample into memory. You may at this time do some editing if you wish. Next select the proper speed setting (your really setting the proper frequency, but speed is easier to relate to). Now select the "APND." function and re-save the sample. By selecting to append the sample you are changing the first byte in the sample file. Later when you choose the "AUTOPLAY" function the program will look at that first byte to see what speed the sample should be played at. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE SAMPLE! Even though a sample has been appended by Smart Play it does not affect the samples play quality. Other sample players/editors can use appended sample from Smart Play with no ill affects at all. AUTOPLAY ======== To automatically play sample files select "AUTOPLAY". This option works much in the same way slide show programs for picture files do. You simply pick the drive and path/folder name and chose if Smart Play should look for that appended byte for speed adjustment. Once this is done Smart Play WILL LOAD ANY FILE WITH THE EXTENSION ".SPL". This extension is commonly accepted as meaning "SAMPLE". To exit from "AUTOPLAY" just hold down the right mouse button until the mouse cursor turns back into a pointer. Speed of Sample =============== In the mid right hand corner of the screen you will see a box with an arrow on each side of it. This box is used to select the speed the sample will play at. To use this function simply click on one of the arrows. Clicking on the left arrow will make your sample play slower, clicking on the right arrow will make the sample play faster. If you do not know the speed a sample should be played at, just increase or decrease the speed until it sounds right when played. IMPORTANT! If you intend to appended a file for "AUTOPLAY" make sure you have first chosen the correct speed for that sample. The best way to avoid appending with wrong speed is to play the sample just before you append it for "AUTOPLAY". If you do append a sample with wrong speed simply re-append it with the correct speed. EDITOR ====== Using the editor is very simple. First load a sample into memory. Now note the two small boxes with arrows facing in opposite directions. Clicking one of these arrows will allow you to edit your sample. The box above is used to gauge your sample. This box represents your entire sample no matter how small or large it may be. By clicking on the arrows directly below you can cut out section from your sample and save them. After you have begun editing you can select "PLAY SPL." to hear what the edited sample sounds like. When you have finished editing your sample you can save it by simply selecting "SAVE SPL.". To select the speed of the editor note the two small boxes with "S" and "F", just below the editor. If you select "S" the editor will run at a slow rate. If you select "F" the editor will run at a fast rate. TA-DAAAAA Well that just about says it all. If you program in GFA Basic you might be interested in the source code. You can really spruce up a program by adding a sample or two to it. I hope you enjoy using Smart Play. >Richard R Betson >543 E. 4th AVE. >Escondido, CA 92025 >GEnie Mail "TALON.TECH" >SDACE BBS 619-284-3821