CAMD_Toolkit

Short:        CAMD MIDI player + Software Synthesizer
Author:       flowerp@eikon.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de (Christian Buchner)
Uploader:     flowerp eikon e-technik tu-muenchen de
Type:         mus/midi
Replaces:     mus/midi/PlayMF_VU.lha
Architecture: m68k-amigaos
German:       CAMD MIDI Player und Software Synthesizer


       ------------------------------------------------------------
                        Flowerpower's CAMD Toolkit:
               PlayMF + SoftSynth + Piano Meter + Fireworks
       ------------------------------------------------------------

                           >>> Eigth release <<<

* Changes to eigth release:

Renamed this software package from PlayMF_VU.lha to CAMD_Toolkit.lha.

Added an experimental software synthesizer called "SoftSynth".  It is based
on GMPlay 1.3 and requires a working GMPlay 1.3 installation.

* Changes to seventh release:

Brushed  up  the  PianoMeter and the Fireworks tool.  It's possible to save
preferences now!

* Changes to sixth release:

Added  new  rendering  modes  to  Fireworks  tool.  Looks awesome!  Try it!
Programming  the fireworks stuff is a lot of fun.  Seems to be my favourite
toy!



            --------------------------------------------------
               PlayMF - a MIDI file player with XPK support
            --------------------------------------------------

This  is a MIDI file player that reads SMF (.MID) Files and sends them to a
Midi port using the Commodore Amiga MIDI Library (camd.library).

The  original  playmf was part of an example package showing how to program
CAMD  applications.   It lacked proper SysEx support and had a buggy timing
routine.

I re-arranged the source code and rewrote most of the functions.

The  program  has  been  optimized  for  use with the Waveblaster Hack (see
Aminet:    hard/hack/Waveblaster.lha).   Also  known  as  "Project  XG"  in
England.   This is basically connecting a Wavetable soundcard to the serial
port  of  your Amiga.  Try it!  it's easy and quite cheap.  What you get is
excellent MIDI sound.


Requirements
------------

* any MIDI synthesizer connected to your Amiga
  (IMPORTANT: use GMPlay instead if you don't have any synthesizer!)

* OS 3.0 or better.

* 020  processor or better  (this program uses 64 bit instructions for very
  exact timing calculations)

* installed camd.library (available on Aminet)

* installed realtime.library (part of Workbench 3.0 or 3.1 ?)



           -----------------------------------------------------
              Piano Meter - graphical MIDI note visualisation
           -----------------------------------------------------

This  is  a  little  eyecandy.  It will show MIDI notes on a virtual piano.
You  can  separately  switch  on  and off the display of each MIDI channel.
Furthermore  the  program will inform you about the activity on all 16 MIDI
channels.

Piano  Meter  is now able to control the MIDI player "playmf" which is part
of this software package.

The  program  is  (very  slightly)  based on the "vu" example from the CAMD
developer package.


Requirements
------------

* OS 3.0 or better.

* installed camd.library (available on Aminet)

* any MIDI software using CAMD (e.g. Deluxe Music II, playmf)
  or an external MIDI interface for feeding MIDI notes.

* some free pens on your Workbench screen.



                   ------------------------------------
                      Fireworks - see music explode!
                   ------------------------------------

This  is  a  colourful  and  thrilling  little  eyecandy.   It  will  do an
extraordinary  realtime display of MIDI notes that are received on any CAMD
cluster.   You  can  for  example  use  it together with "playmf" from this
package.  The program even has the ability to control PlayMF.

Every MIDI file looks different.  Some songs look like going to light speed
in  "Star Wars".  Others look like the sky over Bagdad during the gulf war.
Some look like a fantastic laser show.

NEW:   Three  differend  rendering  modes should make everyone happy.  I am
especially  proud  of  the  new Fountain Mode.  It simulates gravity and is
still not much slower than the original "Laser mode".

The  notes  will  be sent off into the sky in all directions.  The angle is
varying with the pitch of the notes.  Soft notes will climb up slowly while
loud  notes  will  be  shot  into the sky like flak bullets.  The different
colours  represent  the different MIDI channels.

Play  around  with  the window sizes.  Narrow windows (either vertically or
horizontally) have a nice effect.

With  my  Picasso  II+  running  Picasso  96  1.34a,  I get about 10-25 FPS
depending  on how many notes are currently visible.  I have no problem with
sizing  the window to about half the size of my workbench desktop.  See the
General Tips section if the program doesn't run as smoothly as you wish.

The  option  to  load images as a backdrop into the fireworks window proves
how  fast  Gfx  board  blitters  can  be.  This is really amazing.  Use any
picture you like (as long as your datatypes support it).  But better choose
dark images to have a good contrast to the fireworks.


Requirements
------------

* OS 3.0 or better.

* installed camd.library (available on Aminet)

* any MIDI software using CAMD (e.g. Deluxe Music II, playmf)
  or an external MIDI interface for feeding MIDI notes.

* some free pens on your Workbench screen.

* perferrably a graphics board using Picasso96 for fast window
  refresh.



                  --------------------------------------
                     SoftSynth - the future of GMPlay
                  --------------------------------------

               >>> very early release: WORK IN PROGRESS! <<<


This  type  of program is called a "software synthesizer".  It eats up your
CPU power in order to produce MIDI music.

The CAMD interface makes this program a very versatile utility.  Use it for
listening  to  MIDI  files (with PlayMF).  Use it as a cheap MIDI expander.
Or  use  it  to  play  the  notes  from  Deluxe  Music II or any other CAMD
compatible MIDI sequencer.



Requirements
------------

* currently OS 2.0 or better.

* a working GMPlay 1.3 installation

* installed camd.library (available on Aminet)

* any MIDI software using CAMD (e.g. Deluxe Music II, playmf)
  or an external MIDI interface for feeding MIDI notes.

* perferrably a fast CPU (030 or better recommended)