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SOUNDTREKKER I PRE-RELEASE j DOCUMENTATION:
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Contents
--------

Introduction
Compressed modules
FAQ/Troubleshooting
Keyboard Shortcuts

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INTRODUCTION
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SoundTrekker (formerly known as NoiseTrekker by J. Arguelles Rius aka Arguru) is an attempt
to create a tracker program targetting the creation of synth music for 64k intros and allowing
the use of a synthesizer as well as plain samples.

SoundTrekker is a FREEWARE tool, this means that you can use it for free,
anyway, if you're plaining to release any commercial stuff with it,
you MUST contact us for a commercial license of the program.
Also, we DON'T GUARANTEE that this program will run on your platform, read the FAQ below.

If u like the program and find it useful, congratulations, enjoy it
and let's make some experimental shit. =]

What the HELL is it ?

SoundTrekker is a music workstation composed of:

 - 16 Track sampler.
 - Sample editor
 - 16 based pattern tracker style track sequencer.
 - 16 Track synthesizer.
 - 2 303s.
 - Multieffects engine with reverb, distortion, filters, delay, EQs, flanger, etc...
 - Samples compression.
 - Replay routine for your programs.

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COMPRESSED MODULES
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These modules can be recognized as they're using the ".stp" extension (normal modules use ".stm"),
they can be reloaded inside the tracker so the musician can actually hear how damaged by the lossy
compression they've been, there's two commands related to compressed modules:

- Save packed: Create a module with extension ".stp" in the current directory.
- Calc packed: Roughly calculate the size that the module would take once used in an intro.

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STK R5 F.A.Q./TROUBLESHOOTING
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Q> No Envelopes for samples, No Fasttracker support, no 53194 tracks?
   No etc...?, "m... i dont like the gui, the keyshortcuts,
   you should have to..."
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A1> Get a compiler and code the best tracker ever. I'm sure u'll.
A2> Use fastracker, impulse tracker, buzz or whatever stuff you want.
A3> Put your internet explorer and search for some stuff...

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Q> I Cannot run the program! Any idea?
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A> If u have got a SBLive, try disabling EMU driver on your soundcard.
Be sure you have got lastest DirectX drivers for your stuff [gfx/sfx card] and DirectX6.1 or
above installed. [Microsoft DirectX 6.1 or above is required to run STK]
Stk wont run on Windows NT, it will run on Windows 95,98 and 2k.
Also, might not work with some gfx/sfx cards.

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Q> Well, the program runs ok but ... how I can quit it???
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Click 2 times on the exit button.
Or just close the window if you're running stk on windows frame mode.

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Q> Ehh Everything sounds clicks, distorted and weird!!?
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A> Put HIGHER LATENCY ON DISKIO section. This means that the CPU is not
having enough time to render/fill the audio buffer data, and this
produce clicking...
A2> Buy a Pentium 800Mhz if you want better performance in all your soft.

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Q> How I play 303 patterns on stk ?
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A> Use Stk command 31xy and 32xy. 31xy will trigger pattern 'y' (1-8)
from bank 'x' (A-D) from the first 303 unit
[stk has got 2 303 units, like Rebirth]

Example
-------
|     00       |
|              |
|---......31A3 |
|---......0000 |
|---......0000 |

This will start to play the pattern '3' in the bank 'A', from the FIRST
303 unit. The 303 unit 1 will be assigned to the track 0 stream.
This means, that panning, fx setup, filter settings of the track will
be aplied to the sound of the 303 unit 1.
To play the second 303 unit, is the same method but using 32xy, command
instead 31. To stop 303 playing [patterns are played "looped" continuously]
just put a note off on the track were was triggered.

Also, using -3100- or -3200- will replay the patterns that are currently selected on the 303
editor. Good while composing basslines.

Btw: 303 engine will not "eat" the track sampler/csynth engine, so
u can have both playing ex. a bassdrum and a 303 line on the
same pattern. Also, both 303 units can be triggered in the
same track. Well, just play with them :].

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Q> Oh!, the 303 sounds great, will you code a 'buzz' port???
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A> Nope.

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Q> How I can record 303 tweakings on the fly?
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A> Press the button where says "Slider REC:OFF" [top/left screeen]
   and, voil, the 303 tweakings are autofilled on pattern.

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Q> How I can alter 303s CutOff,Resonance, etc.. on the pattern while playing?
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A> Easy, just use the 303 special pattern commands.
They're very useful to automatize 303 stuff.

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Q1> What're the pattern commands effects on stk? Are the same as .xm or .mod?
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This is the complete list of the pattern commands in SoundTrekker:

	General
	-------

	Command '00': No Effect
	Command '01': Pitch Up
	Command '02': Pitch Down
	Command '03': Volume
	Command '04': Trance Slicer
	Command '05': Glide
	Command '08': Set Filter CutOff
	Command '09': Set Sample Play Offset
	Command '0A': Randomize Filter CutOff"
	Command '0B': Filter CutOff Slide Up
	Command '0C': Filter CutOff Slide Down
	Command '0D': Jump To Next Sequencer Position
	Command '0E': Note Retrigger
	Command '0F': Set Number Of Ticks Per Beat
	Command '10': Set Delay/Echo Send
	Command '11': Set Reverb Send
	Command '12': Set Distortion Threshold
	Command '13': Set Distortion Clamp
	Command '14': Set Filter Resonance
	Command '15': Set Filter Type"
	Command '16': Reset Filter LFO
	Command '17xx': Auto Fade In in 'xx' ticks
	Command '18xx': Auto Fade Out in 'xx' ticks
	Command '19': Volume Up
	Command '20': Volume Down


	303 Triggering
	--------------

	Command '31xy': Trigger 303 Bassline [Unit 1] Bank 'x' (A-D) Pattern 'y' (1-8), also '00' will trigger current selected pattern.
	Command '32xy': Trigger 303 Bassline [Unit 2] Bank 'x' (A-D) Pattern 'y' (1-8), also '00' will trigger current selected pattern.


	303 Controllers
	---------------

	Where 'xx' is a number between $00 and $FF [hex]

	Command '33xx': Set 303 [Unit 1] Filter Cutoff
	Command '34xx': Set 303 [Unit 2] Filter Cutoff
	Command '35xx': Set 303 [Unit 1] Filter Resonance
	Command '36xx': Set 303 [Unit 2] Filter Resonance
	Command '37xx': Set 303 [Unit 1] Filter Env Mod
	Command '38xx': Set 303 [Unit 2] Filter Env Mod
	Command '39xx': Set 303 [Unit 1] Filter Decay
	Command '40xx': Set 303 [Unit 2] Filter Decay
	Command '41xx': Set 303 [Unit 1] Tune
	Command '42xx': Set 303 [Unit 2] Tune


	Misc
	----

	Command '80': Set Patch Bank [MIDI]
	              (might not work on all midi equipment)
	              (won't work in the replay routine)
	Command 'F0': Set BPM speed

	Read below how you can send MidiOut controller messages
	and read the manual of your gear to how send RRPN messages
	using this midiOut messages, also, you might find here the
	midi implementation table of your hardware.

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Q> Midi Out??? how to use???
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A> First of all, midi out capabilities of this program are not full. But follow these steps:

0 - Put HIGHER CPU use on disk Io section. The other modes has got
    MIDI disabled.

1 - Go to Midi/CSynth section and select a midi out device to use [stk only supports once at
    the same time].

2 - Go to instrument section, and select a MIDI PRG [by default is 00, that means, no midi
    program selected == no midi sound]

3 - Go to track section and here u can assign a midi channel to each track of stk.

4 - Play notes :]. Note off works. F'x' note cut command also works too, and note-volume command
    [speed] is supported.

Also, you can change midicontrollers in the tracker, using '90' in the panning row:

ex:
	00

  C-302....0000
  ---....90xxyy <-- This will change the value of the controller n.'xx' to 'yy' [both in hex]
  ---......0000

So "---....902040" will change the controller number $20(32) to $40(64).

U will need the midi implementation table of your gear to know what u can change with midi
controller messages. Probably, it's at end pages of the manual =].

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Q> Audio & Midi are not synchronized, what I can do???
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A1> Buy cubase.
A2> Buy logic.
A3> Pay for sex.
A4> Well, there is a nasty trick to synchronize both. It's a bit hardcore but work with me.

Simply put one line down to all midi notes on your pattern [use Insert key]and go to
'Disk Io', adjust the latency and just search a value that will make sound sync both audio/midi.

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Q> The program is eating my CPU!!! What I can do?
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A> Sorry, stk needs a powerful CPU. I'm not enough good coder. The decent CPU for stk is a P2 300Mhz
   and 64 mb ram. Try Low CPU usage mode [Disk Io section], but anyway, dont be stupid, buy
   a new one [cpu are cheap now!]. Btw: the tracker uses 4-point spline interpolation
   to get intermediate sample points during sampling engine.
   This means hi CPU consuming but you get pro quality with this.

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KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
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Playing
-------

  Right Control Key: Play song
  Left clicking on 'Play Sng/Pttrn' button: Play song.
  Right clicking on 'Play Sng/Pttrn' button: Play pattern.


Editing
-------

  TAB: Go to next track
  LSHIFT + TAB: Go to prev. track
  SPACE: Toggle Edit mode On & Off. Also stop the player if the song is being played
  DOWN ARROW: 1 Line down
  UP ARROW: 1 Line up
  LEFT ARROW: 1 Row left
  RIGHT ARROW: 1 Row right =]
  PREV. PAGE: 16 Arrows Up
  NEXT PAGE: 16 Arrows Down
  F5, F6, F7, F8, F9: Jump to 0, 16, 32, 48, 63 line
  LSHIFT + F1: Transpose all notes below the current line [the line is included too] of the current track -1 semitone
  LSHIFT + F2: Transpose all notes below the current line [the line is included too] of the current track +1 semitone
  LSHIFT + F3, F4, F5: Cut, Copy, Paste track
  CTRL + F3, F4, F5: Cut, Copy, Paste pattern
  + -: Next / Previous pattern
  LCTRL + LEFT / RIGHT: Next / Previous pattern
  LALT + LEFT / RIGHT: Next / Previous instrument

Tracking
--------

  zsxdcvgbhnjm,l.-: Lower octave
  q2w3er5t6y7ui9o0p: Upper octave
  RSHIFT: Note off
  / and * on the Numeric keyboard: -1 or +1 octave
  + and - on the Numeric keyboard: Selects/Edits the prev or next pattern on the current sequencer position
  Insert / BackSlash: Inserts or Delete an empty note
  Delete [key below Insert on the keyboard]: Overwrite an empty note


Block
-----

  CTRL + B: Set begin of the current block
  CTRL + E: Set end of the current block
  CTRL + X: Cut the select block and copy it to the block-buffer
  CTRL + V: Paste the data on the block buffer in pattern
  CTRL + Z: Paste the data on the block buffer in pattern, but only will insert the effect colums data, it wont overwrite notes
  CTRL + I: Make effect-interpolation between the data on the first and last note on the block

example:

C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00  CTRL+I - Interpolation --->  C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00
C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00                               C-3  04  ..  ..  09  02
C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00                               C-3  04  ..  ..  09  05
C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00                               C-3  04  ..  ..  09  07
C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00                               C-3  04  ..  ..  09  0A
C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00                               C-3  04  ..  ..  09  0D
C-3  04  ..  ..  09  00                               C-3  04  ..  ..  09  10

Cool to make cutoff transitions, etc...
[anyway, you can switch on the Slider Rec to On, and perform parameter-live-recording, such as cutoff,
resonance or panning tweaking, etc..]

CTRL + R: Randomize the effect data on the selection, works similar to CTRL + I, but it randomizes values instead of interpolation.

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