XMPlay 1.4 - Copyright (c) 1998-99 Ian Luck. All rights reserved.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Files that you should have found in the XMPlay "package"
========================================================
XMPLAY.EXE    The executable
XMPLAY.TXT    This file
FILE_ID.DIZ   BBS description file


What's the point?
=================
XMPlay is an XM/IT/MOD/S3M/MTM player for Windows 9x/NT. It's got the
best (most accurate to FT2) XM reproduction to be heard from any player.
All features/effects (including several FT2 quirks) are 100% supported.
The IT reproduction is also practically balls-on, with full support for
all effects/NNA/DCA/filters etc...


Main Features
=============
* Balls-on Accurate
- plays XMs the way nature intended.

* Sample Interpolation
- linear/spline interpolated sample mixing.

* Volume/Pan Ramping
- for output that's smoother than a baby's arse.

* 5 Band Equalizer
- adjustable gain at five frequency bands.

* Spectrum Analyzer
- something to look at while the music plays.

* Surround Sound
- with surround "mode 2", for those mono MODs.

* WAV writer "device" (with CODEC support)
- use XMPlay's output to write your own (non-commercial) CD/MP3s.

* Track list saving/loading
- with "relative paths/drive" and "keep output" options.

* Archive file plugins
- play files from within archives (ZIP/RAR/ARJ/etc...)

* Dragon droppings supported :)
- including support for dragging whole directory trees.

* Help "bubbles"
- right click on any control for a helpful little bubble.

* Nice GUI! :)
- normal/double size, rollovers, customizeable colour scheme.


The SETUP Window
================
Device Options
--------------
You can change which device (if you have multiple devices) to use, and
what frequency/resolution/channels/buffer to use with the device. You
may also choose the "XMPlay WAV Writer" device, to write the output to
WAV files rather than a soundcard. Select "XMPlay WAV Writer (codec)" to
write compessed WAVs.

The WAVs are saved with the original filename, but with ".WAV" replacing
the original extension. Use the amplification slider to control the volume
of the WAV. Be careful not to use a too high amplification level as this
may result in samples being clipped.

TIP: To get the best resolution and avoid clipping, you should switch on
     the AAR (auto amp reduction) option, set the amplification level
     slider to the maximum (far right), and set whatever output options
     you want (EQ/surround/etc...). Then play the whole track through, at
     the end the amp level slider will be at the optimum level. You can
     then play the track again, using the optimum amp level.

After you've made changes to the device settings, close the SETUP window
to apply the changes. If the device does not support the settings you
chose, XMPlay will use the closest settings that the device does support.
If you re-open the SETUP window, you will see which settings are actually
being used.

GUI Colour Scheme
-----------------
You can change the colour scheme of the GUI. Use the scroller on the right
to select the element you wish to change the colour of and then use the
three colour (red/green/blue) bars. When you have finished making changes,
close the SETUP window to apply the changes.

These are the 7 elements you can change the colour of:
        Text (includes the button text/symbols)
        Selected text (includes the button text/symbols)
        Inactive window frame and caption
        Activated window frame and caption
        Button frame
        Selected button frame
        Title text

Reset Track List
----------------
These options decide whether the TRACK LIST should be cleared when adding
new tracks in the various ways.

LIST   = Clear the track list when loading a track list (*.XMP file).
DROP   = Clear the track list when drag'n'dropping.
C.LINE = Clear the track list when loading from the command-line.
         This includes loading tracks from Windows Explorer.

NOTE: When drag'n'dropping (or loading from the command-line) track list
      files (*.XMP), the DROP (or C.LINE) setting takes precedence over
      the LIST setting. In other words, if DROP (or C.LINE) is off then
      the track list will not be cleared even if LIST is on.

Miscellaneous
-------------
A-/LOOP  = Looping switch
           If enabled, the tracks are played over and over until you choose
           to move on to the next track. If there is only one track in the
           TRACK LIST, then it is always looped. You can choose the A-LOOP
           option, to let XMPlay decide if each track should to be looped.
HI-LIT   = Rollover controls switch
           Rollovers make the controls (buttons/sliders/etc...) light up as
           the mouse moves over them.
AAR/-R   = Auto amplification reduction switch
           If enabled, the amp level will automatically be reduced whenever
           clipping occurs. You may then have to raise the amp level again
           when you play a new track, unless you select the AAR-R option. The
           AAR-R option will automatically reset the amp level to the centre
           before playing a new track.
TIME     = Time display switch
           Displays the position in time, rather than patterns/divisions.
NORM/FT2/PT1 MOD = Decides how MOD files should be played:
         FT2 MOD = FT2 plays MODs slightly differently from the convention,
           infact most trackers play MODs differently from eachother! Anyway,
           if you want to hear MOD files as FT2 plays them, then select this.
         PT1 MOD = This plays MODs as the original ProTracker did, so now you
           can relive those early Amiga days! :)
BIG      = Big GUI (double size) switch
           For those who use hi-res, where the normal GUI size is too tiny.
           Close the SETUP window to apply the change.
AUTOPLAY = Auto play switch
           Automatically jumps to new tracks, either clicked in the file
           selector, drag'n'dropped, or loaded from Windows Explorer.

File Verification
-----------------
FILE SEL = If enabled, the FILE SELECTOR will scan all files, and display
           only the valid ones. Otherwise, files with an XM/MOD/S3M/IT/MTM
           extension (or any archive extension) will be displayed, whether
           they are valid or not. Disabling this obviously increases the
           speed of FILE SELECTOR updates when changing directories.
LIST     = If enabled, all files in track lists (XMP files) will be checked
           before being added to the TRACK LIST. If you have very large track
           lists stored on slow devices (eg. CD-ROM) or inside archives, you
           may want to disable this option to speed up loading track lists.
           When this option is disabled, it also means that the track titles
           will not be scanned leaving the filenames displayed in the TRACK
           LIST window (rather than the track titles).
ARCHIVE  = If enabled, all files in archives are scanned for a valid format.
           Obviously, this can take a while if there are many files to scan
           in an archive. When disabled, only files with an XM/MOD/S3M/IT/MTM
           extension are considered for processing.


The OUTPUT OPTIONS Window
=========================
LI/SI = Linear/Spline Interpolation switch
R     = Ramping switch (off/normal/sensitive)
S     = Surround Sound switch (off/normal/mode 2)
Eq    = Equalizer switch

The graphic equalizer sliders range from +10dB (top) to -10dB (bottom).

The slider on the bottom-right is the pan seperation slider. This obviously
can only affect things when playing in stereo.

The slider on the bottom-left is the amplification slider, this is different
to the volume slider. The volume slider controls the level of the sound
card output, the amplification slider controls the level of the actual
mixing output. The higher the amplification, the greater the resolution of
the mixing output, but if it's too high clipping may occur resulting in
distortion of the sound.

TIP: To centre any of the sliders (EQ/amplification/pan seperation), hold
     either of the SHIFT keys while clicking on the slider.

NOTE: The response speed to these options is dependant on the buffer size,
      the delay will be the length of the buffer chosen in the SETUP.


The TRACK LIST Window
=====================
CLEAR = Clear all tracks from list
SAVE  = Save the current track list
        This will bring up the SAVE TRACK LIST window, in which you can
        enter a filename for the track list. If no extension is supplied,
        ".XMP" will be used. You can also use the following options:
        KEEP OUTPUT = If enabled, the current OUTPUT OPTIONS settings are
                      stored with the track list, to be used as defaults
                      whenever the track list is loaded.
        REL. PATHS  = If enabled, the track filenames are stored relative
                      to the path of the track list file. When disabled,
                      the full paths are stored. If REL. DRIVE is selected
                      then the full paths are stored, except the drive is
                      omitted if it's the same drive as the track list is
                      being saved to.


The Equalizer
=============
If you don't have your sound card output going through an equalizer (or a
hi-fi with one) then you can use this option to provide one.

The equalizer's five centre frequencies are 70hz, 350hz, 1000hz, 3500hz
and 10000hz. By using the equalizer you can emphasise or weaken these
frequencies. For example, you can boost the bass by using a positive gain
at the low frequencies, or you can boost the treble by using a positive
gain at the high frequencies. The gains are meusured in dB, a gain of 10dB
doubles the level of the frequency, a gain of -10dB halves the level, a
gain of 0dB leaves the level as it is.


The Keyboard Shortcuts
======================
 P (or Pause) = Pause/Play
         Home = Restart
  left cursor = Rewind
 right cursor = Forward
      Page Up = Previous track
    Page Down = Next track
 (numpad) -,+ = Adjust volume
 (numpad) /,* = Adjust amplification
   Delete,End = Adjust pan seperation
            I = Interpolation switch
            R = Ramping switch
            S = Surround sound switch
            Q = Equalizer switch
            T = Time display switch
     shift+F9 = Display message in INFO 'N' STUFF window (IT/MTM only)


Archive plugins
===============
The archive plugins are available at the XMPlay homepage. To activate
a plugin, simply put it in the same directory as XMPLAY.EXE is in.


Latest Version
==============
The latest version of XMPlay can always be found at the XMPlay homepage:

        http://www.icl.ndirect.co.uk/music/


Copyright, Disclaimer, and all that other jazz
==============================================
This program is free for non-commercial use, so if anyone tries to charge
you for it kick 'em where it hurts.

This software is provided as-is. The author makes absolutely no warranties
on it. You use it at your own risk. The author shall not be held responsible
for any damage that may result from its use, including, but not limited to,
burning your toast while being too engrossed in the XMPlay "experience".

All trademarks and other registered names contained in the XMPlay
"package" are the property of their respective owners.


History
=======
These are the major (and not so major) changes at each version
stage. There are also many bug fixes made along the way too!

1.4 - 9/1/99
------------
* MTM playback
* System file selector option
* REL. DRIVE option when saving track lists
* AAR (auto amp reduction) options
* Archive file plugins
* PT1 MOD option - plays the "original" ProTracker MODs
* Audio CODEC support - writes compressed WAVs
* FILE VERIFICATION options
* Directory drag'n'dropping
* A-LOOP (auto loop detection) option

1.3 - 26/10/98
--------------
* IT playback - all FX/NNA/DCA/filters etc...
* "Mini on top" mode - double-click the caption to toggle
* New amplification slider - larger range
* Pan seperation slider
* Help "bubbles"
* MMX accelerated mixing
* INFO 'N' STUFF window replaces INSTRUMENT LIST window

1.2 - 27/9/98
-------------
* S3M playback
* Play position slider
* Surround mode 2 - ignores pan pos, useful for mono MOD/S3Ms
* WAV writer "device"
* AUTOPLAY/ROLLOVERS/TIME/FT2 MOD options
* Amplification slider
* Optimized equalizer
* Track list saving/loading
* RESET TRACK LIST options
* Variable sized INSTRUMENT LIST/TRACK LIST/FILE SELECTOR windows

1.1 - 2/8/98
------------
* SETUP options window
* Optimized surround sound
* Heavily optimized spline interpolation
* BIG GUI option

1.0 - 15/7/98
-------------
First Release


The "thank you" section
=======================
BIG thanks go to Isao Kasai, Maz, Yello '73, Neurotix, Mike Toomim,
Progg, Frater Sinister, Kaparo, and especially It-Alien, who between
them have helped find a shitload of bugs for fixing.

Also thanks to all who have sent good suggestions and bug reports.


Bug reports, Suggestions, Comments etc...
=========================================
If you have any of the aforementioned you can email:

        xmplay@icl.ndirect.co.uk

