================================================================== reViSiT v0.85.4 Alpha Release (c) Chris Nash, 2004 Important Info Best Viewed: 640x480+, fixed-width font ================================================================== THIS RELEASE IS PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSES OF TESTING AND FEEDBACK. TO THIS END, ALPHA USERS ARE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK THROUGH AN ONLINE FORM, WHICH CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.nashnet.co.uk/english/revisit/feedback.htm ABOUT reViSiT ==================================================== VSTrack is the ultimate union of sequencing and tracking. reViSiT is a VST Instrument (VSTi) plug-in for VST-hosts (such as sequencers) that provides a tracker interface, based on Impulse Tracker II, to the user. Unlike normal VSTi's which simply take MIDI input, reViSiT's editor window is a tracker interface, which takes on the role of the 'music sequencer' - synthesizing both music and sound. ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT ============================================== This document is best viewed in Notepad, or any text editor using fixed-width fonts, on screens with a resolution 640x480 or higher. Its contents are as follows: ABOUT reViSiT ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT (this section) COPYRIGHT and DISCLAIMER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS GETTING STARTED GETTING FURTHER SUPPORT UPDATE HISTORY SUPPORTED HOSTS KNOWN ISSUES / WORK IN PROGRESS CONTACT INFO COPYRIGHT and DISCLAIMER ========================================= THESE FILES ARE FOR USE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. ANY MODIFICATION TO, OR RESELLING OF, ANY PART OF THESE FILES IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED WITHOUT EXPLICIT PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR. BOTH CHRIS NASH AND NASHNET ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS (SUCH AS DATA LOSS, ETC.) ARISING FROM USE OR MISUSE OF THESE FILES. ALTHOUGH THE CODE HAS BEEN RIGOUROUSLY TESTED, THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS IS. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ======================================== The plug-in is provided in .dll binary format, for Windows*, and must be copied to the user's vstplugins directory, before the VST host is loaded. In the host, reViSiT is listed as one of the VST Instruments (VSTi's). Simply select it to load the plug-in. * Other platforms may be supported in subsequent releases. GETTING STARTED ================================================== reViSiT boasts an integrated help system, which can be accessed by pressing F1, inside the program. The pattern editor (F2) is a good place to start - the first of its help pages gives a quick guide to the principles of tracking. UPDATE HISTORY =================================================== v0.85.4 [ADD] New and improved sync support for VST hosts, including FL Studio, Cakewalk SONAR, DirectiXer, Tracktion, among others. [ADD] New Keyboard Mode: "Win32". Essentially Host mode, but processed inside the plug-in. Works with several hosts, including Tracktion, Orion, Aero Studio and Buzz. [ADD] Mouse support for enabling/disabling keyboard. Use 'K' key icon in bottom-right of reViSiT screen. [MOD] Appropriate keyboard mode now selected auto- matically at startup, depending on host. [MOD] Ctrl-Alt-Shift-K "Auto" switch removed. [MOD] Ctrl-Alt-K now turns keyboard support on or off (where applicable). Essentially switches between selected keyboard mode (on) and Host mode (off). [FIX] Support for 16-bit graphics modes. [FIX] Alt-D now selects correct number of rows. [MOD] Alt-B/Alt-E behaviour now mirrors that in IT. [MOD] Alt-J (Volume Amp.) now defaults to last setting. [ADD] Ctrl-J (Default Volume Amp.) added. v0.85.3 [FIX] Fixed bug when Host uses samplerate != 44.1kHz [MOD] 'Auto' Keyboard Mode now default. [ADD] Alt-B/Alt-E/Alt-D IT selection shortcuts added. [ADD] Instrument keymap control now fully-editable with selection and clipboard support [ADD] Alt-V/Alt-W IT Volume shortcuts added. [ADD] Alt-S IT Instrument shortcut added. [ADD] Dedicated sample audition (and, in future, MIDI In) audio channels added (32 live channels + 64 tracked channels = 96 channels of STEREO audio) [FIX] Fixed graphics bug with muting channels. [FIX] Miscellaneous fixes of keyboard issues, including comma / decimal point discepency. v0.85.2 [MOD] Interface code overhauled. [ADD] Interfaces for Instrument List added (instrument mode not yet available). [FIX] Shift-key issue on some hosts fixed. [ADD] Initial stereo support added (loading & saving, but patterns only use left channel) [FIX] Selection graphics update issue fixed. [MOD] Audition a row will no longer interrupt playback. v0.85.1 [ADD] The number of channels has been doubled (32->64). [MOD] Keyboard Input now operates in 3 user-selectable modes (indicated on left of the status bar): [1] Host Mode. reViSiT relies on the VST host to pass key input to reViSiT (default - not supported by all hosts). [2] Auto Mode. reViSiT intercepts all key input to the host and tries to determine which is meant for reViSiT, passing the rest to the host (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+'K' - problematic in some hosts). [3] Manual Mode. When active, reViSiT intercepts all key input to the host with- out passing on. Can be enabled / disabled whenever keyboard input is needed. (Ctrl+Alt+'K' to toggle). [ADD] Added playback counter for row, pattern and song position (also indicates if Order List is empty when Song Playback fails). [ADD] Support for Aero Studio (use above Manual Mode). [MOD] Alt-L now reverts back to track select from pattern select. [FIX] Auditioning notes (e.g. in Sample Editor) will no longer interrupt song or pattern playback. [ADD] Added support for END key in Pattern Editor. [MOD] HOME / END keys now behave as in IT2 - e.g. left of column > left of pattern > top of pattern. [ADD] '8' key now auditions pattern row. [MOD] '4'/'8' keys now advance through pattern. v0.85 [ADD] Support added for Logic 5, Cubase VST and several other VST hosts. Keyboard issues fixed. [ADD] Native support for .ZIP archives. Module patterns and samples now automatically zipped to single file (compatible with WinXP, WinZip, etc.). [MOD] Extensive User Interface (UI) redesign, including streamlining and enlargement. [FIX] Numerous additional performance improvements. This version now up to 400% faster than v0.84. [FIX] Muting/Soloing now takes effect during playback. [DEL] Prototype Song Variables screen disabled. v0.84.2 [FIX] Misc. performance improvements [not released]. v0.84.1 [FIX] Sample loading bug resolved. v0.84 Initial Alpha Release for Cubase SX. GETTING FURTHER SUPPORT ========================================== Before seeking further help, please review the contents of this readme.txt (the release notes) - many frequently asked questions (FAQ) are answered here (see KNOWN ISSUES / WORK IN PROGRESS section). Failing that, there should be a number of knowledgable people (including myself) on the nashNET Forums (http://forum.nashnet.co.uk) who may be able to help you with your problem. If all else fails, users can contact me at vst@nashnet.co.uk, and I will endeavour to answer your queries. SUPPORTED HOSTS ================================================== This version of reViSiT has been developed to support as many VST hosts as possible. Although v0.84.x originally targetted the Cubase SX host, more recent versions have been tested, and adapted to work, on a variety of platforms. The following table sumarises the results. If you should come across a host not in the table, please report your findings to vst@nashnet.co.uk. Host Works? Comments ------------------------------------------------------------------ Steinberg Cubase SX Yes v2.0-v2.2 tested. No problems. Steinberg Cubase VST/32 Yes v5 (demo) tested. No problems. Steinberg Nuendo Yes v5 (demo) tested. No problems. Emagic Logic Audio Yes v5.1-v5.2 tested. No problems. Plogue Bidule Yes v0.6602 tested. No problems. Mackie Tracktion Yes v1.6.0.1 tested. No problems. VSTHost Yes v.1.14 tested. No Problems. SAVIHost Yes v1.06 tested. No Problems. Fruity Loops Studio Yes 4.52 tested. No Problems. Ioneo Aero Studio Yes v1.0.11.13 tested. No Problems. Tonewise DirectiXer Yes v2.5 tested. No Problems. Synapse Audio Orion Yes v5.59 tested. No Problems. TobyBar MiniHost Yes* v1.04 tested. *First bar loops. Buzz No v1.2 tested. Host not providing sync. Renoise No v1.27-1.5a3 tested. Unable to load files / host not providing sync. KNOWN ISSUES / WORK IN PROGRESS ================================== Go to http://www.nashnet.co.uk/english/revisit/faq.htm for more questions and answers. The following issues are known in the current version: * "I'm getting a 'msvcr70.dll: File Not Found' error message." --> reViSiT is coded in MS Visual Studio .NET 2003, and should therefore require the msvcr71.dll library. However, the code has been changed to work with the msvcr70.dll file instead - as this is included with Windows XP. Users of previous Windows versions should be able to find this file readily available across the Internet. * "The mouse doesn't work." --> The current version of reViSiT does not support the use of the mouse. All program functions, however, should still be accessible using the keyboard. This omission is to force early users to experience the keyboard (which is more efficient) and test the keyboard handler code. Mouse support will be present in reViSiT Beta versions (v0.9+). * "How do I load samples?" --> Simply go to the sample list, choose a sample slot and hit ENTER. Select a .WAV file and click OK. * "reViSiT doesn't work on ." --> See SUPPORTED HOSTS section for more information. * "The first row sometimes doesn't play, when playing from the VST host's transport bar." --> This is not a problem with reViSiT. Some VST Hosts, upon rewind, do not return to absolute zero themselves. Methods of working around the problem will be investigated for future versions of reViSiT. Currently, the best solution is to offset your whole song by a bar or so. * "The help system does not work." --> The current version of reViSiT only boasts basic help content, such as rudimentary pattern editor (F2) support. Beta and release versions will comprise a more comprehensive help system. See the FAQ for a list of undocumented keyboard shortcuts. * "Sharp changes in parameters produce clicks in the audio." --> Technically, this is not a bug, but a phenomena known as parameter noise. Sizeable instantaneous changes in volume will often lead to apparent audio clips. Nonetheless, future versions of reViSiT will employ parameter interpolation to solve this problem. * "IT Import doesn't load samples or instruments." --> Some features of Impulse Tracker 2 are not supported in the current version of reViSiT - notably, instruments. reViSiT will support both IT samples and instruments, in future versions. * "The sound begins to break up when number of channels are playing simultaneously." --> Most modern computers should be able to acheive the full 32/64 channels of polyphony using the current version of reViSiT. However, performance ultimately depends on the processing power of the host computer. An ASIO driver for your soundcard is highly recommend. See www.asio4all.de for details on how to obtain a generic low-latency ASIO driver that will work with most consumer soundcards. THIS *ALPHA* RELEASE IS NOT PROVIDED IN ANY CAPACITY AS A BENCKMARK OF PERFORMANCE FOR FUTURE RELEASE VERSIONS. * "How do I load my reViSiT v0.84.x files in reViSiT v0.85+?" --> reViSiT's file architecture stores all logical data in XML format ("Module.xml"), and then all sample file data in separate WAVE-compatible files ("Sample X.wav", where 'X' represents the sample number). reViSiT v0.85 automatically compresses all the files into a single ZIP-compatible archive. The result is a flexible, portable, extensible, efficient and accessible format. For example: all files can be unzipped and independently edited by appropriate editors. To convert your old (v0.84.x) to the new format, you can rename the old ".vstr" file as "Module.xml", and rename the old ".smpX" samples as "Sample X.wav" and then use WinZIP (or WinXP, or a zip-compatible compression utility) to zip them into a single file. This file should load directly in reViSiT v0.85+. CONTACT INFO ===================================================== All questions, comments, criticisms (constructive) and bug reports are welcome. Users are recommended to use the feedback URL, or forums (http://www.nashnet.co.uk) stated at the outset, for matters relating to reViSiT. nashNET Website: http://www.nashnet.co.uk reViSiT Website: http://revisit.nashnet.co.uk email: revisit@nashnet.co.uk ==================================================================