SoundAce v2.2 - (FreeWare)

Copyright (c) 1994 by OSRL/1WSW 
          All Rights Reserved

Released as public domain - 5/19/95 
by: Charles T. (Dr. Tom) Turley, Ph.D.
Founder and Director - OSRL                                                                       
Cofounder and Executive Coordinator - 1WSW

Memory Requirements:

You'll need at least 768K of RAM memory to use SoundAce.  To take advantage of all program capabilities, you need at least 1024K of RAM memory.

If you have only 768K of RAM memory, all of SoundAce's functions will work, except tht you will have only one (1) level of Undo.

If you have more than 768K, but less than 1024K, of available memory, SoundAce will utilize the additional memory and provide additional levels of Undo (up to 3 total).

When you start SoundAce, it will tell you what limitations, if any, exist for your amount of memory.

If you have 1024K memory or more, all of SoundAce's functions will be available.

Please keep in mind that RAM disks, other programs and Desk Accessories may reserve memory for their use, making that memory unavailable to SoundAce.

Notes of Interest:

SoundAce v2.2 is the only FreeWare release of a slotless or slot assigned digitizer control program and sound editor, with many exclusive and unique special effects, found with no other IIgs programs such as; Multiple Undos up to (3), Pitchbends up to (4), Echos  up to (9),  multi-sample mix (DUB/LAYER), with reverse sound directive option, (multiple-select and minipulation/edit) sample/sound oscilloscope twin window functions.

SoundAce was originally released back in 1988, with the SoundAce digitizer card, in a limited edition of only about 200 units, as a commercial software/hardware package from Parallax Inc.  It's been a classic (hard-to-find) rarity, up until now.  

It's amazing, that a program originally released in 1988 for the IIgs, had such a current (State-of-the-Art) function as the multiple Undo.  The MAC programs are just now taking advantage of the multiple Undo options.  But, wonder of wonders, the IIgs had this option available from its early days with SoundAce !

I requested a copy for review from Noah Mittman, who uses it with the original SoundAce digitizer card, for his sound input with his IIgs.

I was so impressed with its many unique, multiple and special effect functions that I contacted the programmer/author and President of Parallax Inc. , (name, current address and telephone listed below) to request, that he allow me to release it as a FreeWare, for all IIgs music users to have and enjoy.   My sincere thanks go to:

Lance Walley
3805 Atherton Rd. Suite # 102
Rocklin, CA. 95765
Tel. (916) 721-8217 

Not only, did Lance gave me premission to release it for all IIgs users, as a FreeWare but, transfered all rights to OSRL and our 1 World Software Wizards (1WSW) team, to continue with updates, improvements and releases as FREEWARE.  

Having made these arrangements for the SoundAce program, I'm presenting the first update with the release of v2.2.  I'll make sure it gets continual updates, with all the improvements our 1WSW team can provide, then I'll release the new FREEWARE updates,as they become available.

Features included follow:

SoundAce works with all known IIgs sound digitizer cards, such as; Sound Meister, HyperStudio, SuperSonic, Audio Animator, etc. as either; a slotless or slot assigned sound (Mono-only) digitizer card driver/control application program. 

It's compatible with GS/OS v6.0.1, can be installed and used from any device, can be launched from the finder, or any of the other launch programs. The program is very fast in its operation and functions.  With many hours of testing it, I've never had any problems with it locking up or crashing.  

I haven't tested it for launch compatiblilty with the commercial MultiTasking programs.  But, I've tested it throughly with our 1WSW team member Dave Swansons FreeWare and ShareWare versions of MultiGS.  It's launchable and functions perfectly with all versions of MultiGS. 

If anybody encounters any problem, of any nature, I would be grateful if you would let me know about it promptly.  That way, we can make corrections with any future updates/releases, that we might have overlooked with our beta testing efforts.  I would also appreciate any update, additional functions or suggestions for improvements, you care to relate to me.

SoundAce is the only IIgs program (to my knowledge) that has the following useful and unique features.  These unique features should be very useful as compliments, with the use of many of the other current and popular commercial and shareware sound editor/digitizer GS/OS application programs such as; DigitalSessions, Sound Edit, SoundShop or AudioZAP. 

The Binary file format can be loaded, edited and enhanced even more, using our FreeWare (P8.system) Second Sight Software (SSS) Sound Editor v1.0 - Revision 3.0, included on this disk.

(1) Multi-Undos, with a default of up to 3 undos, using a standard IIgs with 1024K of RAM.  The number of undos available, are governed by the amount of memory available.

(2) Two multi-sample/sound (oscilloscope windows) appear by default, which can be used at the same time, to allow full-function cut and paste editing of any part or all of one sample/sound from one window to the other, also allowing for multiple mixing of both samples/sounds : MIX - (Apple-M). (see below information on MIX, for additional special functions and tips)

(3) Options include; standard hardware digitizer slot assignment, presets, system volume control. (The program defaults to slotless scan for a digitizer card)

(4) Loads and saves (for full sample minipulation and multi-mixing or full function cut, copy and paste editing) the following file types; RAW binary (filetype 06, auxtype 0000), compressed binary (filetype 06, auxtype 0001) and Apple Sampled Instrument file (filetype CA, auxtype 8000)  

Note: I would suggest that you not save in this filetype.  It's now used as the icon filetype and is obsolete as: Apple Sampled Instrument file format.

(5) Record: Start/Stop Record, with 3 speeds; Slow, Medium, Fast.  Pressing the ESC key stops recording.

(6) Playback: Start/Stop Playback featuring 3 speeds; Slow, Medium, Fast, with the inclusion of Loop Sample.

(7) Echo: There are 9 different echo effects, you can add to a sample/sound file.
The inclusion of Fade Out is available for each of them, by selecting it and clicking on it with the mouse to activate it with a check symbol.  Echo fade out, when activated, causes all subsequent echos to fade out beyound the highlighted area, as in real life.  If you want your echos to absolutely stop at the end of the highlighted area, turn off Fade Out.  

The Fade Out option is also effective with other functions.  Using the highlight options of the Edit functions, within the sample/sound file, activates the echo functions. ( Note: highlighting sample.sound areas is also required, to activate other functions like, Pitchbend) 

You can have multiple echos for each portion selected/highlighted, as well as multiple Fade Out effects for that selected portion of the file.  This allows you to have any single or up to all 9 echo effects included in different areas, within the sample/sound file you work with, as well as compliment Fade Outs for each.  

This is another unique feature found with no other Sound Editor program.  Using this unique feature, you can obtain some astounding special sound effects. (See: Mix  Special Effects Notes and Tips, below for more details)  

The efficient coding of the program also allows you to save the modified/enhanced file, with the echos, and takes very little space, allowing the new file to be as small as possible in size, when saved.  This is a blessing compared to the other sound editors, that can swell the size of original sample/sound files to 5 or 6 times there original size, when echo effects are used.  

Note: all SoundAce sound/sample binary files are saves as 64k maximum.  SoundAce will only load the first 64k of any sound sample.

The Compressed Binary file format (filetype 06-BIN, auxtype 0001) used by SoundAce, will effectively store the file as a standard ACE compressed file, with a file size about 1/2 the size of the original. 

 While this compressed binary file format can be used with many music programs and sound editors, it isn't usable by several music programs and sound editors, including both; Noise Tracker GS and the SSS Sound Editor, all versions.  If you load it into any program that won't play it with the clearity that it plays in SoundAce, then that program isn't able to deal with the ACE compressed format.

If a sound sample file is loaded that is smaller than 64k, you must highlight only the active part in the oscilloscope window, when you save it, to allow for the least amount of size that SoundAce saves the file with.  It you don't highlight only the actual sound portion of the file when saving, the program will assume it to be a 64k file and save it as such.

(8) Pitchbend: You can add from 1 to 4 impressive pitchbend effects to a your own digitized or loaded sample/sound.  SoundAce has the ability to change the pitch of your sound sample, without affecting the playback time.  This process is meant as an effect only and will introduce gradient distortion to the sound sample. 

There are four pitchbend settings, ranging from "Martian" to "Cheerleaders from Hell."

As their names suggest, Martian give a high-pitched, treble sound, while Cheerleaders from Hell gives a low-pitch, deep base sound. 

To pitchbend part of your sound sample, highlight the appropriate area and choose the desired pitchbend setting from the Pitchbend menu.

As mentioned in the Memory Requirements section of this file, Pitchbend may be unavailable, depending on the amount of memory in your IIgs.

When SoundAce is started, it will display a message describing the limitations, if any, that exist for your amount of memory.

(I know of no other sound editor that allows you to add pitchbend effects to your sample/sound file.)

(9) Mix:  Allows you to mix the effects and contents of both sample/sound windows into each other, in any part or area of each as highlighted.  It also may well allow you to blend or mix whatever sound is resident in RAM, into either or both of the sample/sound windows.  The Mix is basically the same as; DUB or LAYER, only with greater multiplicity.

Mix, Special Effects, Notes and Tips:

SoundAce can mix two selections to create the illusion of multiple sounds.

To mix two selections, highlight the first selection and choose Copy from the Edit menu.  Then highlight the second selection and choose Mix from the Mix menu.  Both selections will be mixed in a 50/50 ratio.  The mixed result will replace the second selection.

If one selection is shorter than the other, mixing will stop at the end of the shorter selection.

To reverse a section of the sound sample, highlight the area to be reversed and Reverse from the Direction menu.  When the reversed area is played, it will play backwards.

For a very interesting and unique special effect, select an area, reverse it, echo it, and re-reverse it.  When played back, the sample will play normally, but the echos will come before the sounds that created them. 

Hardware

If you want to use a stereo card or any digitizer card, you must first activate the card by choosing Hardware from the Options menu.  SoundAce will ask what slot the card is in and whether or not you want the card turned on.

When you start SoundAce, it is assumed that any stereo/digitizer card is in slot 2, but turned off.

Volume

By choosing Volume from the Options menu, you may set the system volume of your IIgs.  When you start SoundAce, the volume is set to a medium setting.


The DEMO options aren't active, because a sample sound folder, included and coded by name in the programs original release isn't supplied with this FREEWARE release.

If you wish to use the DEMO sample play options, you should be able to, by creating a folder in the same directory with the program named: Demo.Sounds, then include up to 16 standard raw binary file types in that folder named; Demo.Sound1 thru Demo.Sound16.  

Please Note:  The original manual suggest that the Demo.Sounds folder must be on your SoundAce program disk and shouldn't be located inside any other folders.

You may be able to create Demo.Sounds folder and use the DEMO play option, then again you may not be able to, depending on where you place the program and what names you assign to; program file, folders, etc.

I plan to delete this option in the next release of SoundAce, as it takes up a great deal of space within the program and I see no useful purpose that it serves.  If you want it left in, please let me know, before we decide to remove it.

This file contains all perspicuous information for SoundAce, extracted directly from the programs original manual.

I've spent many hours exploring this programs abilities and will give more detailed information on it, as I learn more about it.  

I would appreciate any feed-back, any users can give me concerning, any problems they might encounter with any additional features/functions they may discover.

I'd like to express my gratitude to Noah Mittman for making me aware of the program and furnishing me with a copy.  My special thanks go to the original programmer and author: Lance Walley, for giving me premission to release it as a FREEWARE and for allowing our 1WSW team to obtain all the rights to it, for upgrade and develop with future FREEWARE releases.

Update Notes

Now that I'm involved with the private development efforts of the all-new OmniTracker GS (FreeWare) program project, I've decided to release this program, along with all others from 1WSW/OSRL/SSS, (with their src. codes) into the public domain for everybody to; have, use, enjoy and hopefully continue with their development, upgrades or rewrites.

Perhaps somebody that has a good artistic talent for making icons, would like to make one for the SoundAce program file.

The original source codes for SoundAce (which was compiled/assembled with Merlin 16) are no longer available.  They were destroyed or lost by the original program author.

For your future efforts and for whatever help they might be, I've included with this public domain release, generic src. codes generated  with ORCA -M, via disassembly.  That's the best I can offer with it.   

Now that I'm releasing the program into the public domain, all I'm asking is for you to please give any updates/revisions or rewrites you use it for, full credits and program history, in all future releases.  You might even get a plesant surprise sent to you for your consideration and efforts.

I hope you find this public domain release useful, with your sound and music efforts on the IIgs and I look forward to hearing from you, concerning its public domain release and your efforts with any updates/revisions/rewrites/improvements, etc.

Charles T. (Dr. Tom) Turley, Ph.D. 
115 Santa Clara Street
Brisbane, CA. 94005

Voice (415) 468-1609 
e-mail: DT999@aol.com

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