--------------------------------------------------------------

                      NED Player v3.0
                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                       (c) 1996-1998

                   written by Petr Sumbera
                (xsumbe00@stud.fee.vutbr.cz)
                
                         (27.2.1998)

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS
  -----------------

  1.  What is NED Player?
  2.  Files in archive
  3.  Features
  4.  File formats
  5.  Flags
  6.  Keyboard commands
  7.  Info file (n_player.inf)
  8.  Memory
  9.  Direct from disk playing 
  10. Shell parameters
  11. RSC files
  12. Thank to
  13. Program availability
  14. Contact address


-(1)-What is NED Player---------------------------------------

Simple sample player for ATARI STE/TT/FALCON. It can 
change smooth frequency from 6 to 25 kHz (SW MODE).  
And it automatically recognize some sound formats
(SAM, DVS, SND/AU, WAV, AVR, HSN).

This version of NED PLAYER is SHAREWARE!!! Please read file
SHAREWAR.TXT.


-(2)-Files in archive-----------------------------------------

N_PLAYER.APP	= main program
N_PLAY_H.RSC	= RSC file one (for bigger resolution)
N_PLAY_L.RSC	= RSC file two (for smaller resolution) 

DOC\N_PLAYER.TXT   = this file
   \HISTORY.TXT    = something about history
   \FUTURE.TXT     = future plans
   \SHAREWAR.TXT   = important information :)
   \N_PLAYER.INF   = example of info file

SOURCE\N_AV_SER.C  = you can use it in your programs

CYBER\ORDER_FM.TXT = CyberSTrider's informations
     \SUPPORT.TXT  
     
         
-(3)-Features-------------------------------------------------

- It runs as ACC or PRG
- You can use Drag & Drop
- MultiTOS compatible
- SW MODE (smooth frequency change from 6 to 25 kHz)
- Automatic file format recognize
- Keyboard commands
- Shell parameters
- AV protocol
- ability to play 16 bit files
- Microsoft ADPCM and DVI/IMA ADPCM (WAV)
- Fast RAM support
- Direct from disk playing
- Sample file information

 
-(4)-File formats---------------------------------------------

It recognizes and plays this sound formats:

- SAM (ATARI 'STOS Maestro')
- DVSM (ATARI Falcon 'WinRec')
- SND, AU (Sun, Mac, NeXT)
- WAV (PC)
- AVR (ATARI)
- HSN (ATARI 'CrazySounds')

    data storage              |   format type
  -----------------------------------------------
    8/16 bits linear - PCM    |      
    8 bits mu-law             |   WAV, SND/AU
    8 bits A-law              |   WAV, SND/AU
    4 bits Microsoft ADPCM    |   WAV
    4 bits DVI ADPCM          |   WAV
    8 bits delta pack         |   DVSM
  

Note:

1) If you press LOAD with CONTROL, it will load file
   as normal binary data.
2) NED Player can decode 4-bits mono DVI ADPCM files only.


-(5)-Flags----------------------------------------------------

Flags are letters that can appear behind the name of
file. It is for informatrion.

D  - direct from disk playing mode
H  - only part of file is loaded (not enough memory)
F  - sample is situated in FAST RAM (see memory section)
16 - it will play in 16 bits mode [FALCON VERSION ONLY]


-(6)-Keyboard commands----------------------------------------

 CONTROL-Q  as APP quit
            as ACC close window

 [P]  PLAY  (also RETURN)
 [L]  LOAD
 [S]  STOP   
 [I]  (?) information


-(7)-Info file (n_player.inf)---------------------------------

This file must be in the same directory as the main program.

name "..."      - registration name and key
key  "..."        (see SHAREWAR.TXT)
playonce        - set to playonce mode
dfdbig          - set direct from disk only for big files
dfd             - set direct from disk for all files


-(8)-Memory---------------------------------------------------

NED Player should be runing in ST RAM. Not in Fast RAM. There
is no ability to play by DMA sound. 
                 	
From version 2.8 NED Player use Fast RAM for sound data 
(If no free space in ST RAM). If has been sound data situated
in Fast RAM, you will see flag "F" behind the name of file.
In this case you will not be able to use clasical "HW MODE"
(6, 12, 25, 50 kHz).

Note: If you have MAGNUM RAM (FALCON with FX card ?) you will
be probably able to use all playing modes and you will be also
able to run NED Player from it.


-(9)-Direct from disk playing---------------------------------

From version 3.0 NED PLAYER can play sound data directly from
disk. I mean mainly from harddisk and CD ROM. But you can
use others. For example I have tested flopy disk on FALCON.
Maximum speed was 9 kHz. I am also using HDD_DMN for mapping
my PC's logical disks through parallel port (For speed between
my 8 MHz STE and PC is about 30 kB/s I can play 25 kHz sound
files).

For using direct from disk you should set it up. Press on
informatory button [?] or press [I] and switch to the required
mode:

NEVER  - NED PLAYER will play all samples from memory
BIG    - if it is not enough memroy It will play directly from
         disk
ALWAYS - all files will be played directly from disk

If NED PLAYER is playing directly from disk it uses 50 kB of
memory. If it is stoped it uses 0 bytes of memory.

Direct from disk is written for multitasking use. I recommend
to you test it. Run NED PLAYER as ACC or in multitasking
environment and try to work with others applications. It works!
But sometimes it is stopped. And it can caused others troubles.
But I think it is cool enough, isn't it.

You can also set playing mode (NEVER/BIG/ALWAYS) in INF
file and from the command line.

  
-(10)-Shell parameters----------------------------------------

 N_PLAYER.GTP [-po] [filename]
 	      [-w]  [filename]

 p - it will try automatic play
 o - set to PLAY ONCE mode

 w - no window
     set to PLAY ONCE mode
     start play
     (you will have to wait to the end of sample)

 1 - direct form disk playing for big files 
 2 - direct from disk for all files

Note: N_PLAYER.TTP -w [filename] should works too.

	     
-(11)-RSC files-----------------------------------------------

RSC files of version 3.x are not compatible with previous from
version 2.x. On my page are also available 3D RSC files.
(In this time only for version 2.x. For version 3.x it will be
soon)


-(12)-Thank to------------------------------------------------

- EMPTY HEAD for his help with Falcon debugging,
- FUFIN for his advice about GEM dialog in window.
- Claude Labelle for converting RSC files to 3D interface
  (these files are available on my WWW site [v2.x])
  
	  
-(13)-Program availability------------------------------------

http://www.stud.fee.vutbr.cz/~xsumbe00 


-(14)-Contact address-----------------------------------------

Send suggestions, criticism, comments, bug reports to:

Petr Sumbera

Post:  ul. 24. dubna 283, Zelesice, 664 43, Czech republic
Email: xsumbe00@stud.fee.vutbr.cz
FIDO:  2:421/16.14

If you want to me continu in programming NED PLAYER, please
let me know.