This text gives information about the effects used in ORACLE. There are 4 types of effects with different modes namely: WWWWWWW WWWWW type: modes: o Frequency Normal, Arpeggio, Modulation and slide o Volume Normal, Modulation and slide o Brightness Normal, Modulation and slide o Keying Normal and retrig Only ONE mode per effect_type can be used at one time! On the next pages, the effects will be explained some with examples. Notes WWWWW The following notes are possible in a NOTE channel: C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B When ever a note is presented, the corresponding frequency will be set, and a KEY_ON command will be executed. However, a NOTE_LINK effect at the secundairy collumn of the same step will NOT do a KEY_ON. Note_Link WWWWWWWWW This effect will only set the corresponding frequency of a NOTE that's been given in the primairy collumn of a step. example: C_4 00 Set note C4 frequency and TRIG it. ___ 00 (KEY_ON) ___ 00 ___ 00 G_4 lnk Set note G4 frequency (KEY ___ 00 remains on) KEY_ON/OFF WWWWWWWWWW A note will only be performed if the KEY of this note is set ON. (see Note/Note_link). When ever a note is done, it can be killed with the "OFF" instruction at the primairy collumn (see also SUSTAIN) example: C_4 00 Set note C4 frequency and TRIG it. ___ 00 (KEY_ON) OFF 00 Kill note (KEY_OFF), no sustain. ___ 00 SUSTAINED KEY_ON/OFF WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW When ever a note is done, it can be killed with either the instruction "OFF" or "SUS". When SUStain is used, the KEY will be set OFF and the Sustain of the instrument will handle the fade_out of the note (also see KEY_ON/OFF) example: C_4 00 Set note C4 frequency and TRIG it. ___ 00 (KEY_ON) SUS 00 Kill note (KEY_OFF), with sustain. ___ 00 WWWWWWWWWWWW Key Velocity WWWWWWWWWWWW Each time a note/key is set ON, the volume will be reset. With the velocity a random volume will be subtracted from the original volume to simulate key_velocity! The depth of this (random) velocity can be: #0 to #F Where #0 will have no velocity effect, so use this to cut the velocity effect. VIBRATION WWWWWWWWW This is a FREQUENCY MODULATION effect, which is given in the primairy collumn and printed as "VIB". The depth and speed of this modulation is not (yet) adjustable. It's a SINUS formed modulation. Note that a Original instrument can also contain VIBration, set at the first operator. TREMOLO WWWWWWW This is a AMPLITUDE (read:volume) MODULATION effect, which is given in the primairy collumn and printed as "TRM". The depth and speed of this modulation is not (yet) adjustable. It's a SINUS formed modulation. Make sure the volume (V) is somewhere between #03 and #3B ! Note that a Original instrument can also contain Tremolo, set at the second operator. WAH_WAH WWWWWWW This is a FILTER (read: brighness) MODULATION effect, which is given in the primairy collumn and printed as "WAH". The depth and speed of this modulation is not (yet) adjustable. It's a SINUS formed modulation. Make sure the brightness (X) is somewhere between #05 and #39 ! ARPEGGIO WWWWWWWW This effect given in the secundairy collumn, will act like an one_channel chord. It rapidly chanches the frequency of the channel without keying. The max. 2 additional (half)notes are based on the original note. example: C_4 47 Plays the following 3 notes: ___ 00 C4 / E4 / G4 ^ C_4 44 Plays the following 2 notes: ___ 00 C4 / E4 ^ VOLUME WWWWWW With this effect it is possible to alter the Amplitude of a channel from #00 to #3F. Any Volume effect (see Tremolo/Volume slide) will be based on this value. A volume given at the primairy collumn, will always be the same for this channel untill another volume command is set. An instrument change does not affect the current volume of a channel! Note that AM instruments (MSX Audio) uses Volume and Brightness to control amplitude output!! INSTRUMENT WWWWWWWWWW Represents the voice/colour of a note. Various instruments are available in Oracle (see: ORIGINAL- / STANDARD- / STANDARD PLUS instruments / SAMPLE and DRUMKIT at the Index files) Instruments must be selected in the "Instrument List" before it can be used. This function will NOT set a new volume! But the Brightness will be updated from the instrument voice data. TUNING WWWWWW This command will adjust the Note_frequencies per channel. The value is signed, so it can be either Positive or Negative with a range from: -#F to +/-#0 to +#F. PITCH BEND WWWWWWWWWW Pitch_bending is another word for Frequency_sliding. Once a note is given, a pitch_bend can be added. The value is signed, so it can be either Positive or Negative with a range from: -#F to +/-#0 to +#F. VOLUME SLIDE WWWWWWWWWWWW With this effect it is possible to make a fast (de-)cresendo. The slide will be based on the current VOLUME (see Volume). The value is signed, so it can be either Positive or Negative with a range from: -#F to +/-#0 to +#F. Use a normal Volume command to cut. BRIGHNTESS SLIDE WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW With this effect it is possible to make a fast brightness slide. The slide will be based on the current BRIGHTNESS (see FILTER/BRIGHTNESS). The value is signed, so it can be either Positive or Negative with a range from: -#F to +/-#0 to +#F. FILTER/BRIGHTNESS WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Controls the sound/voice of a FM_instrument. It regulates sertain hi_frequencies which can sound very 'agresive'. Therefore a FILTER (read: Brightness, also known as the X-effect) command is needed to make instruments sound more 'softly'. Just experiment with it, to understand it's perpose. The max. X-value is set at #3F. This function will only work with Original instruments! An (org)instrument change updates the brightness of a channel. TEMPO WWWWW This function regulates the current Tempo of a replayed song. It is Global, so all channels will respont on this. The max. value is set at #1F. Fast tempo is set maximum by #02 TRANSPOSE WWWWWWWWW With this command it is possible to adjust all notes (global). It will Add/Sub (half)notes to each note, starting at the NEXT row. It is a global function, so all channels will respont on it. The value is signed, so it can be either Positive or Negative with a range: from -#F to +/-#0 to +#F. example: C_4 00 Play note C4 ___ q+3 All following notes 3 half notes C_4 00 Play note D#4 (C4+3) up. RETRIG WWWWWW With this function a Note can be retriged (see: Note or KEY_ON/OFF) The value given at the secondairy collumn represents the speed (Vertical Blanks) between the Keying. The value is set at max. #F TIMER BYTE WWWWWWWWWW When this function is executed, the application can read it's contents to respond on the playing song. For example when a program needs to be timed on a sertain piece of music, it can simply read the TIMER_BYTE. The value is set at max. #F example: ___ y05 Set Timer_Byte contents at 5 ___ 00 PATTERN BREAK WWWWWWWWWWWWW Will cut the current playing pattern, and goes on to the next position/pattern. It is needed to play other timings than just straight 4/4. example: C_4 00 Play the note C4 ___ 00 ___ 00 ___ ptb Cut the pattern after 4 rows. RESET CHANNEL WWWWWWWWWWWWW With this function the original data (set at "Channel Routing") will be set at the current channel. This comes in handy when a piece of music has to be restarted. Just give each channel the Reset command at the secundairy collumn, and the Instrument/Volume and Tuning will be restored as given in the Channel Routing. KILL EFFECT WWWWWWWWWWW The Kill command will cut all Effects playing at the current channel. example: C_4 48 Play C4/E4/G4 (arpeggio) TRM r04 Tremolo and Retig ON WAH 00 Wah_Wah effect. ___ kil Cut all previous effects.