This file contains the history of MED: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The history of MED began, when I got DOC SoundTracker VI in 1989. I found that it was really easy to compose with it, but the program itself was terrible: No multitasking, no Kickstart 1.3, no way to exit (or was there??? there was no instructions), no keyboard equivalents... Later I got SoundTracker 2.4, NoiseTracker etc. but they still don't multitask... -- Version 1.00 (summer 1989) ------------------------------------------- Then I began creating MED V1.00. It was never released. When it was finished in summer 1989, I immediately started to add bitmapped graphics etc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 1.11 (autumn 1989) ------------------------------------------- In Autumn 1989 MED V1.11 completed. I gave it only to Erkki Hannila. I hope he hasn't spread it, because it contained few bugs... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 1.12 (autumn 1989) ------------------------------------------- I fixed these bugs in MED V1.12. This is the first released version. It contained some mysterious bugs that crashed the machine sometimes... I never found them, but they are probably gone now (maybe they were compiler bugs). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 2.00 (8 Apr 1990) -------------------------------------------- The version V2.00 was the second released version. When I started programming it, I thought it'll be V1.20. But finally the improvement-list grew so large that I decided it must be V2.00!! And here's the the list of the new features/fixes: - Nearly completely rewritten code - New player routine made in assembler - Fast screen rendering routines also made in assembler - New user interface with file requester - MIDI support and up to 16 tracks - Extended keyboard, lots of new keyboard equivalents - Two equalizers (yes, imitating SoundTracker...) - Insert/delete to playing sequence list - Insert/delete blocks - Cut/Copy/Paste rectangular regions - Transposing and expanding/shrinking blocks - SoundTracker module load support - SoundTracker song saving - Can write icon with song - "MOD" save (song + samples) - Writes object files for your own programs - Song packing (not a real packer, but maybe "optimizing save routine") - More octaves (5) - Supports IFF 3- and 5-octave instruments - New commands (filter on/off, note off, stop playing, repeat note) - Repeat with beginning offset 0 works - "Quick note" feature - Insert effects when entering notes with Left or Right Alt - An option to turn off automatic advancing to next line - And maybe something else I've forgotten to put here... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 2.01 (10 Apr 1990) ------------------------------------------- Not a long time from previous release!!! I found few bugs: In Finnish version, version 2.00 didn't save the song to correct directory. In both versions, the icon did not go to correct directory. These are now fixed. What a pity I sent Fred Fish V2.00 (yes, the letter was posted today...my luck!!). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 2.10 (17 Jul 1990) ------------------------------------------- Again lots of new features... - max. 63 samples - block length is modifiable (1 - 256 lines) - relative volumes for each channel and master volume - samplelist - new commands (3, 4, B, FFA, FFB, FFD) - new MIDI commands (modulation wheel, pan, hold pedal) - saves now Sound/NoiseTracker modules (ST-song save removed) - programmable keys (Shift 0 - 9) can be edited/saved - real-time sample display (updated every frame), looks nice - new file format: module (MMD0) - intelligent sample loader, minimizes disk swapping, doesn't reload samples which are already in memory - automatic slide making (+ volume fade) - track numbers always displayed, can be scrolled one track at a time - free memory can be displayed - screen outlook a bit better (more space for sample name), many panels enhanced - an option to read volumes when entering notes with MIDI - each sample can be independently transposed (like play-transpose) - it's possible to highlight lines (reversed colors) for easier positioning of notes - the player tries to flush "serial.device" if allocation failed - delete option in file requester - volumes (command C) can be hex or decimal - blocks can be splitted or joined (thanks to modifiable size) - filename paths can be added/removed when loading samples - better compatibility mode for ST/NT - detaches from CLI (uses cback.o) - a bug in MIDI preset changing fixed - small enhancements everywhere Also there's a new version of MEDPlayer, better instructions (I hope) better playroutine, "medplayer.library", module loader....... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 2.11 (21 Jul 1990) ------------------------------------------- This version contains two small fixes to the previous version: - MED now doesn't insert entered MIDI notes with volume 0 (because it means "note off") - a very, very small bug fixed (when loading MMD0-module, instrument names were not always deleted) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 2.12 (25 Jul 1990) ------------------------------------------- - MED had a bug which affected command FFF with MIDI. It's now fixed. The "modplayer.a" was correct, however. (strange...) - There should be no files missing from the source archive any more (due to a bug in Lharc or me). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 2.13 (24 Sep 1990) ------------------------------------------- - MED loads now all 8 colors... - Block display correctly cleared after "Clr song only". ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Version 3.00 (31 Jan 1991) ------------------------------------------- New major version featuring: - built-in sample editor with sample handling/sampling abilities - simple (C64-style) synthsounds, built-in editor - "hybrid"-instruments (sample with synthsound "programming language") - MED now uses CIAB timers instead of CIAA. This means that MED is now compatible with Kickstart 2.0. - better sample list - an alternative note-display method (more graphical) - play-length timer - enhanced file-requester (no need to wait until all names loaded, can list devices/assigns) - better control over playing speed (now TWO tempo-selection gadgets, (leading to minor compatibility problems with previous versions)) - option to start playing when a key has been hit (for real-time rec) - real-time recording works a bit better - "jump-to-last-used-sample-slot"-gadget - Hold/Decay implemented, allows accurate control over note duration (+ automatic decay after note end) - Insert Line/Delete Line -gadgets - an option to use space bar as an empty note (DEL) - 2×-option removed. Now there's "Spc" (space can be modified) - keypad working changed (can be used as track on/off switch or selecting instrument) - now a range of notes (instead of just a single note) can be assigned to Shift 0-9 - many other options are now also saved when saving keys (screen colors etc.), they're loaded as defaults during start-up - an option to use note B instead of H (in some countries (like Finland) it's H, in others (like USA) it's B) - Workbench screen can be opened/closed from MED - MED can be synced externally (through MIDI), or MED can send MIDI- sync pulses - active sensing msgs can be switched off - gadgets to reset pitchbenders/modulation/presets, send MIDI-reset, and turn local control on/off - MIDI-input channel can be specified (or data can be received from all channels) - MIDI key-up can be received (especially for long notes...) - range for all editing operations can be selected with mouse (dragging using right button) and is displayed - it's possible to select individually tracks used in editing ops - affection of editing ops can be selected: song/block/selected tracks/current track/range, current instr/all - it's possible to change/exchange notes individually e.g. F-2 => E-3 - instrument numbers can be changed or notes with a specified instr number can be deleted - it's possible to type a short "anno" text, that contains e.g. song name, composer, ©... It's displayed when file is loaded (in MED and MEDPlayer) - automatic advance options for many directions (up, down, next track, prev. track, next num, prev. num) - notes in one track can be "spreaded" to many tracks, similar to "polyphonize" in NoiseTracker... - chord-entering mode (the tracks that are used in chord can be selected) - tracks can be turned on/off by clicking the track on the note display - gadgets to turn on/off all tracks, and select all tracks - player recognizes new commands: 8 = set hold/decay for note 9 = change secondary tempo - samples can be saved in IFF-format (optional) - outlook is now a bit better (gadgets are bigger etc...) -------------------------------------------------------------------------