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APPLE II MUSIC & SOUND FORUM CONFERENCE LOG
May 8, 1991  10 PM  ET
Topic:  Audiozap
Special Guest:  Ian Schmidt
Forum Leader:  Joyce Madden (AFL JoyceM),
Forum Assistant:  Gene Koh (AFA Gene)
Forum Consultants:  Greg Dib (ELECTMUSIC), Ed Rosenblatt
(AFC Eddie), Lindsay Hough (LindsayGS)
Copyright (c) 1991 America Online
All Rights Reserved
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AFL JoyceM Okay...we need to get started... I am proud to
                    welcome our guest tonight, IRS Man (Ian Schmidt) the author
                    of the ever popular AudioZap.  We will use the dreaded
                    PROTOCOL for tonight's chat...so... This is how it works:
                    Type in a ? if you have a question to ask.  Type in a ! if
                    you have a comment to make.  You will be called upon in
                    turn.

ELECTMUSIC Nice to see ya IRS!

Bill0004  !

AFL JoyceM First of all. Ian, would you like to tell us a
                    little about yourself and what AudioZap is and what it can
                    do?

IRSMan     Okay.  Sounds good.  I'll just rid myself of
                  modesty here...  I am a 17 year old high school senior/ GS
                  Maniac.  AudioZap is the world's best (hehe) program for
                  digitizing and editing and playing sounds.

Cappy      (17!)

Bill0004   !

IRSMan     It is about the only choice for creating custom
                 SoundSmith and Music C. Set instruments. So, I'm ready for
                 comments / questions now.

Cappy      ?

Bill0004   !

ELECTMUSIC ?

Dr Who29   ?

AFC Eddie  Go ahead, Bill.

Bill0004   thanks...  you sound like quite a GREAT
                   programmer, I have AZ (not sure what version but I LIKE IT!
                   It does ASIF (SS insts) well! (done)

GS Maniac  ?

AFC Eddie  Cappy, you're next.

IRSMan     Thanks, Bill.

Bill0004   sure

Cappy      Ok..Umm, now I know that AZ already does more
                than any other sound program I know of for the GS, but at
                the current time, are you planning on any new additions to
                AZ such as an 'echo' effect or a fade in/out??

AFL JoyceM  Q = ?  CAPPY, Greg, Dr. Who, GS Maniac

IRSMan     New additions to AZ are happening all the time.
                 Echo is on my list.  :)

Cappy      kool....  done

Bill0004   ?

A2GS       ?

IRSMan     A new version will be uploaded after this chat.
                 (without echo).:)

AFC Eddie  GA, Greg.

Cappy      kooler!

ELECTMUSIC I am one of those AAnimator owners....

AFL JoyceM ?

ELECTMUSIC do you see your program supporting that card?

AFC Eddie  Q = ? Dr Who, GS Maniac, Bill0004, A2GS.

IRSMan     Aha.  I'm gonna look thru the AA code and see if
                 I can fix it. However, debugging for hardware I don't have
                 is a pain!  :) It'd help if ya could send me a copy of the
                 AA software... :)

ELECTMUSIC (PS, If I can be of any help... don't hesitate to
                     ask!)

A2GS       !

ELECTMUSIC (EMail me your address)

IRSMan     You can just send it EMail on AO :)

ELECTMUSIC done

AFC Eddie  Go ahead, Dr Who

ELECTMUSIC ok

Dr Who29   Re: AA software: A while ago, it was available
                  for d/l in the AE section.   I don't know if it's still
                  around though... Anyways... I don't have any stereo card, so
                  I just use a little cable that I made for digitizing.

IRSMan     I used to use a cable like that. Now I have a
                 Sonic Blaster cranking thru my Pioneer stereo.  AZ really
                 rocks with that config! :)

AFC Eddie  Q = ? GS Maniac, Bill0004, A2GS, AFL JoyceM#

AFA Gene   ! <AA software should be in the AMS applications
                  lib.

IRSMan     I'll check out the AA software, then.

AFC Eddie  Keep going, Dr Who.

Dr Who29   Am I still on?

Bill0004   yup

AFL JoyceM Dr. Who...did you see your answer to your
                    question?

Dr Who29   Anyways, AZ works fine for me

AFC Eddie  GS Maniac, you're next.

GS Maniac  Ok. I had prblems with support of my Sonic
                   Blaster card.

Dr Who29   Anyways, two of my friends have Sonic Blaster
                  cards and they say that the sound is pretty noisy.

IRSMan     What kinda problems? My SB works great. :)

Cappy      (so does my SB)

IRSMan     Ahh!  That is a problem.  I fixed it about 30
                 mins ago.  It's in the new

Dr Who29   Do you know what could be causing that? (done)

IRSMan     version i'll upload later. :)

Dr Who29   Great! BTW, what was the problem?

GS Maniac  Good. I just couldn't get it to "hear" my input

A2GS       <--- I had the same problem!

IRSMan     It had to do with the way I was supporting mult.
                 cards in one routine. :)

IRSMan     Note that the input level is still fixed to LINE.
                 :)

GS Maniac  So that is now going to be fixed?

IRSMan     An adjust will be coming soon.  Hang on. :)

AFC Eddie  Next up is Bill0004.

AFL JoyceM GS Maniac, are you finished?

IRSMan     The noise IS gone in the new version .

Bill0004   thanks!

GS Maniac  Done

Bill0004   IRSMan : You seem to be pretty familiar with
                   SoundSmith...  would it be possible to write a program to
                   PORT Amiga IntuiTracker (tm) MOD files to SoundSmith since
                   the Axel-F for SS and Axel-F for IT MOD are EXACT MATCHES?

AFC Eddie  Lineup = A2GS, AFL JoyceM and AFA Gene.

IRSMan     Uhh, what's an IntuiTracker (tm) ? :)

Bill0004   ohh.. I see.  well... it's a GREAT program (not
                   better than SS) for Amiga with 12 tracks! (!) anyway, I
                   think someone wrote a program from SS to IT MOD... I want
                   one the other way!

IRSMan     Hmm.  Do ya know the file format or where to get
                  info? :) Also, is that the wave or song file? :)

Bill0004   I can U/L an IT .MOD file to you if you wish.  It
                   is in SONG format andall insts. are in one file!  (The
                   insts. for MOD Axel-F and SS Axel-F are exact matches!)
                   (pretty weird, huh?)

IRSMan     And, 12 tracks on 4 cheapo D/A converters? Come
                 on. :)

IRSMan     Hmm..  FTA has a program to convert some Amiga
                  insts to the GS.  It's very weird.  It's called SOUND EDITOR
                  1.0.  And I can crash it real easy!

AFC Eddie  A2GS, your comment and question are next.

Bill0004   I would need one to separate the insts. from the
                   file though alone with making the song itself to SS

A2GS       I had the same basic problem as GS Maniac...not
               being able to get the software to "hear" my input....but I
               didn't catch your answer, could you repeat it?

Dr Who29   !

IRSMan     Oh, that's the input level (I assume you mean the
                 SB).  It's fixed on LINE level, so if you use a mike, it's
                 too low.  There will be a way to change that in future
                 releases of AZ. :)

AFC Eddie  Joyce, you're next.

AFL JoyceM In the last dox for AZ, you make a comment that
                    you would be supporting synthLAB waves.  Have you done more
                    on this?  When?  Also, you mentioned that you were working
                    on a wave editor - how is that coming along?

IRSMan     Well, actually I haven't done much with SL.  I
                 still gotta send the money to APDA to get the file format.
                 Sorry I didn't start sooner, but I have no MIDI, so Synthlab
                 isn't my top priority at the moment. :)

AFL JoyceM :)  And the wave editor?

IRSMan     That's the same thing.  Sorry about that.  I
                  really should watch what I type in my doc files. :)

AFL JoyceM :)  Done

AFC Eddie  Dr. Who, your turn (then DYA Jim1).

Dr Who29   OK, comment re: Amiga sound files.... I don't
                  know the format of MOD or the instrument files, but the raw
                  binary samples are just 2s complement stuff, I think, so
                  subtracting 128 from a GS sound will turn it into an Amiga
                  one (so I've heard, I've never actually tried it). Done.

IRSMan     Oh, really?  I've downloaded and unARCed sounds
                 from my local Amiga BBS and they come out as garbage on the
                 GS just playing them straight. :)

Dr Who29   That gap between -1 and 1 is pretty big :) ($FF
                  and $01)

IRSMan     Yes, but that'd just be a phase shift if ya know
                 what I'm saying.:)

Dr Who29   Not really... whenever there's a 0 crossing, the
                  GS will make a loud click

IRSMan     That's true.  Acutally a 0 in the wave will
                  really cause fun with AZ's playback routine.  The new
                  version has a filter zeroes command for that reason.

Dr Who29   Same with LongPlay :-)

IRSMan     Anyway.  Next?:)

AFC Eddie  DYA Jim1, Go ahead..

DYA Jim1   Ok..  I just want to say that when I try to
                  sample a sound that is really soft and comes out really too
                  soft to digitize well using the aux out jack of the stereo
                  connected to the digitizer, I connect the digitizer to one
                  of the speaker channels and then I can adjust the volume
                  exactly how I want it using the volume knob of the stereo..
                  works real good, except for the fact that you temporarily
                  have to disconnect one speaker :)

IRSMan     Jim, if you have a Sonic Blaster, that WILL be
                  fixed soon... :)

DYA Jim1   I have a MDIdeas :)

DYA Jim1   it only occurs with some soft sounds and stuff..

IRSMan     Okay.  The MDIdeas has an adjust pot on the card,
                  though.  :)

DYA Jim1   I know that, but I don't like to open my GS up to
                  turn the knob to adjust it for every single sound file :)

DYA Jim1   I try to avoid openings as much as possible :)

IRSMan     True.  That's a good idea.  :)

AFC Eddie  The floor is now open for "!"s and "?"s....

AFL JoyceM ?

ELECTMUSIC ?

AFC Eddie  GA, Joyce.

AFL JoyceM Ian, what future plans do you have to AudioZap -
                    what new and exciting features

IRSMan     Well, one of them may be (gasp) a shrink-wrap box
                 and price tag!!! Seriously, though.  This is highly
                 tentative, but AZ may be the software that runs a  Digital
                 Signal Processor (DSP) card for the IIgs which the Visionary
                 people are working on.  That'd sure be exciting!  :) Other
                 features include 8:3 ACE support, SynthLAB support, Echo,
                 stereo digitize and play, and whatever else YOU ALL WANT!
                  :)

AFL JoyceM Sure would be.  Also, I am in agreement with DYA
                    Jim about the MDIdeas card. Done and thanks.

AFC Eddie  Greg, your turn.

ELECTMUSIC You indicate problems with making AZ compatable
                     with AAnimator, could you elaborate on the difficulty GA

IRSMan     Well, it should work with the Card menu set
                 right, but it doesn't from what I've heard.  It simply
                 doesn't get data from the card for some reason, although I
                 have AEs specs for the card and stuff and I'm sure I'm
                 following them right.  :) (Well, pretty sure. ) :)

ELECTMUSIC Its strange, because the SBlaster software.....
                     seems to be the same as AAnimator software, at least as far
                     as the user is concerned.  done

IRSMan     It's not.  The SB uses the Ensoniq chip for A/D,
                  the AA has its own chip. It's a whole other ball game.  :)

ELECTMUSIC Ahhh,,, thats right! thanks

AFL JoyceM The floor is open now and Protocol is now
                     off...so ask away...

AFC Eddie  More "!"s and "?"s for IRSMan?

IRSMan     You're welcome, EM.

IRSMan     C'mon, I don't bite (at least I can't on the
                  modem).  Hee hee hee. :)

ELECTMUSIC Could you explain what the new version you are
                     uploading contains

AFL JoyceM BTW, AudioZap was our best upload in AMS in
                    August 1990...and he (Ian) continues to make it better.

IRSMan     Ahh.  It contains much that people who have sent
                 money (hint hint!!!!!!) have already seen.  Including Music
                 Studio loading, AE loading, Filter Zeroes, a much better
                 Loop and ASIF with Sustain save format.  Plus a new
                 look which nobody has seen yet.  I trashed the old title
                 pic. :)

Nuzz       ?

AFC Eddie  Go ahead, Nuzz.

Nuzz       Any plans to add rSound support?

DYA Jim1   Yeah!!!  No more old title pic!!!  Great! :) ;)
                   :)

IRSMan     The new one isn't really done, but that's time
                  pressure.  On to Nuzz... rSound support will be in a cool
                  new program called ResZap that I'm working on now.  It's not
                  releaseable, but I promise it'll do for resources what AZ
                 does for sound and then some.  Genesys for the masses, you
                 might say.:)

AFL JoyceM ?

DYA Jim1   obsession with Zap's, huh?! :)

Nuzz       sounds good to me

AFC Eddie  Joyce, Go ahead.

AFL JoyceM What other programs are you working on, besides
                    ResZap?

IRSMan     Weeeeell, I'm working on KeyZap, a FUN sound
                 program which turns your GS keyboard into a semi-pro synth
                 with pitchbend on the joystick and other such excitements.
                 I also am working on a new demo called Monolith which'll
                 look sorta like Nucleus, but instead be a SS and Rush demo.
                 (Rush is a band) :)

DYA Jim1   How is KeyZap going, BTW?  Did you ever debug
                  record mode?

Dr Who29   What's "AE loading" that you mentioned earlier?

AFL JoyceM Will KeyZap also support the mouse, or just the
                    joystick?

IRSMan     AE loading (saving too) means that AE Format (AA
                 or SB) files can be used and created with AZ. :)

Dr Who29   Ah, I thought that was already in 0.95 (it's in
                  the Formats menu).

IRSMan     The mouse is a possibilty. :)

IRSMan     Record now works fine on KeyZap.  I used it to
                 belt out a version of "Blue Monday" live.   I recorded the
                 bass line and played the drums, etc. manually.

AFL JoyceM Those programs sure sound exciting.  Any release
                    dates?

AFC Eddie  You mean you can sequence with it?

IRSMan     Release dates on the new stuff: ASAP.  (next
                 month for some of it!) :)

AFL JoyceM I am really looking forward to KeyZap :)

IRSMan     Eddie, you can sequence with it.  It'll save to
                 SS files soon. :)

AFC Eddie  WOW!

AFL JoyceM Only save to SS, no other formats?

ELECTMUSIC Anything with Midi support,IRS?

IRSMan     Other formats are possible, but I think that SS
                 is the BEST prg on any machine. :)

AFA Gene   Finally, a sequencer for SS :)

AFC Eddie  Saving to SMF1 would be the ultimate.

AFL JoyceM SS would be if it were easier to input songs :(

IRSMan     MIDI is a pain.  I don't have it so there's no
                 way for me to implement it. :)

ELECTMUSIC Gene, I don't think it would be a midi sequencer.

IRSMan     BTW, lest you get too exicited over KeyZap, its
                  intended to be pretty simple.

AFA Gene   Anything is better than what we have now :)

IRSMan     However, it does seqence. :)

AFC Eddie  Question about the Line-in input on AZ:  would it
                  make a difference if I used a low, as opposed to High
                  impedance mike?

ELECTMUSIC How about supporting the Midi File Format,
                     IRS.....

IRSMan     BTW, I did two full Rush songs just typing away
                 at SS basically. I know about the fun we have now. :)

ELECTMUSIC You don't need Midi to make those files
                     compatible, and there literally hundreds of the files
                     available online.

IRSMan     Eddie, I don't know about mike impeadence. :)

IRSMan     ELECTMUSIC, I know _nothing_ about MIDI, except
                 that I want about $1200 to buy a Roland and a MIDI box. :)

AFL JoyceM :)

DYA Jim1   <-- finally got a GOOD MIDI keyboard last
                  November :)

AFC Eddie  You deserve that much in shareware fees alone!

Dr Who29   You shoulda saved up for an AA instead :)

IRSMan     What ya got, Jim? :)

DYA Jim1   right after the Passport CO :)

AFL JoyceM Ian, you should download synthLAB and just listen
                    to the songs it plays - you  would be amazed.

ELECTMUSIC Agreed, Eddie

IRSMan     I have SynthLAB.  No insult intended, but Eddie's
                 earlier songs are very good, while I didn't like his later
                 songs.  :)

DYA Jim1   Roland D-70..  I saved up for an eternity, and
                  parents helped out some :)

AFC Eddie  No insult taken, Ian.

IRSMan     I was disappointed with Sing Sing Sing, since we
                  play a neat version of that song in band at school.  Maybe
                  you had a different arrangement. :)

AFL JoyceM Ian, I sent him the sheet music for it...the only
                    one I had.  My fault re the arrangement.

AFC Eddie  That was recorded without my ever having heard
                  it.

IRSMan     Our drummer is especially really good, so
                 anything on the GS'll sound funny. :)

ELECTMUSIC The problem with Eddie's arrangement is that he
                     left out Gene Krupa's drum solo.

IRSMan     That's exactly what I mean, EM. :)

ELECTMUSIC GMTA

IRSMan     BTW, anyone out there wanna try something fun
                 like "Alla Turca" for SL? :)

AFL JoyceM Okay, any more questions for IRSMan - the author
                    of AudioZap.  It is getting late and I know he needs to
                    study and is recovering from the flu.

AFL JoyceM That would be a good one, Ian.   I believe it was
                    in MusicStudio to begin with, right? :)

IRSMan     I have recovered and studied.  Thanks anyway,
                 Joyce. :) (Well, okay.  Sorta headache still) :) Bye, all.
                  Keep rocking with the GS!!!!!!! :)

AFC Eddie  Thanks, IRSMan!

AFL JoyceM Ian...thank you so much for coming by.  And, we
                    all are looking forward to the latest verison of AudioZap
                    and the other programs, including KeyZap.

ELECTMUSIC Thanks IRS ....

AFL JoyceM Again, thanks.

AFL JoyceM ----------------log off-----------------