================================================================== VSTrack v0.84 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/vstrack/feedback.htm ABOUT VSTRACK ==================================================== VSTrack is the ultimate union of sequencing and tracking. VSTrack 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, VSTrack'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 VSTRACK ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT (this section) COPYRIGHT and DISCLAIMER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS GETTING STARTED 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, VSTrack 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 ================================================== VSTrack 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. KNOWN ISSUES / WORK IN PROGRESS ================================== The following issues are known in the current version: * "The first row sometimes doesn't play, when playing from the VST host's transport bar, using Cubase SX." --> This is not a problem with VSTrack; Some versions of Cubase SX, upon rewind, do not return to absolute zero themselves. Methods of working around the problem will be investigated for future versions of VSTrack. * "The help system does not work." --> The current version of VSTrack only boasts basic help content, such as rudimentary pattern editor (F2) support. Beta and release versions will comprise a more comprehensive help system. Undocumented features include: Keyboard Shortcuts - Alt-F9 Mute/Unmute channel Alt-F10 Solo/Unsolo channel(s) Alt-M Mix clipboard Shift-= Increment current sample Shift-- Decrement current sample * "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 VSTrack 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 VSTrack - notably, instruments. VSTrack will support both IT samples and instruments, in future versions. * "VSTrack doesn't work on ." --> VSTrack has been tested on Cubase SX only (principally SX2). Compatibility with alternative hosts is currently not supported, though may be possible. Future release versions should run under any VST 2.3 (possibly earlier) host, and testing will be extended to Cubase SX, Nuendo and Logic 5*. * Subject to change. * "The sound begins to break up when number of channels are playing simultaneously." --> Performance ultimately depends on the processing power of the host computer. However, improvements in the efficieny of current VSTrack code are planned that will significantly increase polyphony, etc. As such: THIS *ALPHA* RELEASE IS NOT PROVIDED IN ANY CAPACITY AS A BENCKMARK OF PERFORMANCE FOR FUTURE RELEASE VERSIONS. * "Modules saved by VSTrack can be large, in terms of file size." --> VSTrack's file architecture stores all logical data in XML format (extension: .vstr), and then all sample file data in separate WAVE-compatible files (extension: .smpX, where 'X' represents the sample number). Later versions of VSTrack will compress 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 (eg. text editors for .vstr files; sound editors for .smpX). CONTACT INFO ===================================================== All questions, comments, criticisms (constructive) and bug reports are welcome. Users are recommended to use the feedback URL, stated at the outset, for matters relating to VSTrack. nashNET Website: http://www.nashnet.co.uk VSTrack Website: http://www.nashnet.co.uk/english/vstrack email: vstrack@nashnet.co.uk ==================================================================