VIDEO MUSIC BOX DEMO release notes...


This DEMO is similar to the regular program in all aspects except that
all SAVE commands have been disabled.  


The Video Music Box DEMO program, accompanying files, and documentation
is copyrighted 1992 by Digital Expressions with all rights reserved. 
You may freely copy and transfer this material as long as all associated
files remain intact, unaltered, and this copyright notice accompanies
the files.


Video Music Box was written to assist composition of background music for
Amiga multimedia productions and supports both MIDI and IFF SMUS for
compatibility with all multimedia authoring programs.


Little or no prior music compositional knowledge is required to 
generate basic musical styles from the pre-arranged music pattern
templates and chord progressions. However, for individuals with
increased musical backgrounds there are editor screens to define
additional chord-types, "revoice" chords, create new chord progressions,
and perform basic sequence editing.  An additional utility for
converting MIDI or IFF SMUS sequences into new music pattern templates is
included with Video Music Box (it is not included with this demo).



                 ** Release Note Contents **
                    ====================
      
               1) Obtaining Additional Information
               2) Ordering Information
               3) Demo Disk Contents
               4) HD installation
               5) About Video Music Box
               6) Generate a Sequence
               7) Generate a Soundtrack
               8) Preview Sequence or Soundtrack
               9) Saving a Sequence or Soundtrack
              10) Enter a Chord or Scale
              11) Enter or Edit a Chord Progression
              12) Note Edit Screen



                 ** Obtaining Additional Information **
                    ================================

Please contact us with any additional questions or comments you have, we
are always happy to hear from you.  Write or call:


Digital Expressions
W6400 FireLane 8
Menasha, WI    54952

Phone 414-733-6863      8 AM - 5 PM CST



                 ** Ordering Information **
                    ====================

Please send us $109 U.S. + $6 S&H (at above address) to receive a
current copy of Video Music Box with over 50 pre-saved chord progressions,
over 75 pre-arranged music pattern templates, and 115 page manual.

We will accept a personal check, drawn on a U.S. bank, money order, bank
cashiers check etc.  Sorry, but we do not accept credit card orders.



                 ** DEMO Disk Contents **
                    ==================

This disk should contain the VIDEO MUSIC BOX program and three
directories. The three directories included are: VMB.ENV, Progressions, 
and Styles.  If any of these items are missing, please contact us 
at the address above.

The VMB.ENV(dir) contains chord files, scale files, and preference 
settings. If the program is installed on a HD, this file must be in
the same directory as the VIDEO MUSIC BOX program in order for it to
be found.

The Progressions(dir) contains a sample of the chord progressions from
different styles of songs.  The name assigned to the progression
is derived from the music style of the song the progression is from.

The Styles(dir) contains one files which contains several pre-arranged
pattern templates to apply to chord progressions for creating a background 
music track or an accompaniment.  An icon has been attached to this file.
With the regular version of the program, orchestration suggestions 
for the various styles are included in this directory.



                 ** HD installation **
                    ===============

If installing on a HD, it is recommended that a new directory be
created, and the icons for the VIDEO MUSIC BOX program and the
VMB.ENV(dir) be dragged into that new directory. 

The remaining directories can be installed anywhere convenient.



                 ** About Video Music Box **
                    =====================

Video Music Box is designed to provide an easy to learn and use
environment for multimedia background music composition. The 
program combines the ability to read and save both MIDI and IFF
SMUS file formats with algorithmic composition of common music
styles, and a full screen graphic note editor. Your work can be
previewed over MIDI or the Amiga internal audio using the built-in 
default instruments, or load up to 8 IFF 8SVX instruments. Each
instrument has individual volume adjustment and mute. 

Pre-arranged music pattern templates and chord progressions are used to
allow you to create common styles of music without music training. The bass
and chord parts can use various degrees of note randomisation during 
generation for greater variety.  Existing chord progressions can be 
edited or new progressions can be created and saved using any chord type.
You can even add an original melody that harmonically follows the chord
progression with the tools provided in the graphic note editor.

If you need a soundtrack of specific duration, enter the desired
time and tempo, and Video Music Box will generate it for you.  A
soundtrack can have up to 5 tempo and volume changes.

Video Music Box operations are organised around four basic objects: 
sequences, soundtracks, styles, and chord progressions.

Sequence -   sequences are time-ordered lists of notes that are loaded
             from disk or generated by Video Music Box from a pattern
             and chord progression.  A sequence may contain the notes
             corresponding to one or more instruments or groups of
             instruments. Up to 20 parts are allowed but only the first
             8 are played or are accessible to the edit screen.  Parts
             can be rearranged with the Edit Score window to play or 
             edit the other parts.

Soundtrack - soundtrack refers to a sequence that has been generated
             to a fixed time length.  Soundtracks can have up to 5
             segments having different tempos and volumes.

Style -      In Video Music Box the distinctive features of a musical
             style are captured in the music pattern templates that 
             are loaded from disk.  Each pattern consists of data to
             generate a rhythm (drum) part, a chordal part (piano,
             guitar, etc.) a bass part, and possibly one or more
             melody/countermelody parts.

Chord Progressions - Progressions are series of chords which Video Music
                     Box uses to generate a sequence.  



                 ** Generate a Sequence **
                    ==================

Use the LOAD PROGRESSION menuitem or gadget to bring up a file requester
to load one of the pre-saved progressions from the Progression(dir).

Use the LOAD STYLE menuitem or gadget to bring up a file requester
to load the DEMOstyles file from the Styles(dir).

Use the mouse pointer to scroll through the list of style patterns,
select one by clicking the mouse over its name in the list window.

Use the GENERATE SEQUENCE gadget or menuitem to generate a sequence from
the selected pattern and loaded progression.

The Generation Preferences window, accessed from the GEN PREFS menuitem in
the SEQUENCE menu, allows global definitions for the midi channels
used for the various generated parts, as well as the MIDI note
assignments for the individual drums in the rhythm part.
 
The menu in the Generation Preferences window allows selection of a 
probability that a bass note or chord voicing will be randomly selected
during the sequence generation process.  This feature greatly increases
the musical variety that can be produced from any given music pattern.

Many of the Blues and Jazz patterns will greatly benefit from some
randomizaton.  


                 ** Generate a Soundtrack **
                    =====================

Video Music Box generates soundtracks from your sequence based on 
time length and tempo requirements.  Each soundtrack may have up to
five segments each of which has a different tempo and volume.

Load or generate a sequence.

Set the desired soundtrack length with the gadget on the lower left
of the main screen.  Lengths may be anywhere from 1 sec to 9 min 59 secs.

Use the Soundtrack Parameters window to set the starting time of each
segment, its tempo and volume.  This window will move forward when the
soundtrack length is set, or can be accessed from the Windows menu.

Click on the GENERATE SOUNDTRACK gadget or menuitem to generate the
soundtrack based on your input parameters.

Soundtrack segment volumes can be adjusted any time before or after
generation of a soundtrack, but the time/tempo cannot be adjusted once 
a soundtrack is generated.



                 ** Preview Sequence or Soundtrack **
                    ==============================

Previewing your work is done with the gadgets on the lower right hand
side of the main screen.  Gadgets exist for REWIND, PLAY, FAST FORWARD,
PAUSE, LOOP (REPEAT).  

The gadget labeled SEQUENCE or SOUNDTRACK toggles between the two
respective objects for preview.

The TEMPO and VOLUME gadgets are only used for SEQUENCE.  Soundtrack
tempos and volumes are set in the Soundtrack Parameters window.
All tempos are in quarter note beats per minute.

Select MIDI or INTERNAL AUDIO playback, from the PLAY PARMS menu in
the main screen.  You may also load IFF 8SVX instruments from this menu.



                 ** Saving a Sequence or Soundtrack **
                    ==============================

These objects are saved as MIDI or IFF SMUS based on selection of
the appropriate menuitems in the Soundtrack or Sequence menus.
When saving as IFF SMUS, you must also set the quantisation values
(Sequence Menu) that is used to convert the MIDI to the classical
durations used in IFF SMUS file format.

Also when saving as IFF SMUS it is a good idea to name the parts
with the instrument names of the IFF instrument that is to be used to
play that part. Many SMUS players will not load a score if they cannot
find the instruments.  Part name are edited in the Score Edit window
accessed from the Soundtrack menu or Sequence menu.

The instrument volumes will be saved as set on the main screen.



                 ** Enter a Chord or Scale **
                    =====================

Chords or scales to be used in chord progressions must be defined in the
chord or scale list respectively.  The contents of these lists are
accessed from the EDIT CHORDS or EDIT SCALE menuitems in the Progression
& Styles menu.

All chords and scales are entered relative to a C root.

Toggle the keys in the keyboard to select notes in the chord.  The
name can be editted in the string gadget above the list window.
ADD adds the defined chord/scale to the list.  EDIT replaces the selected 
chord/scale with the new data.  



                 ** Enter or Edit a Chord Progression **
                    =================================

Select NEW PROGRESSION from the Progression & Style menu to create a
neew progression.

Select EDIT PROGRESSION from the menu to edit an existing progression.

In the window that appears you may enter a chord progression name,
set the length of the progression (in measures), and set the number of
chords per measure.  When these parameters are set press CONTINUE to
access the window in which the chords are actually input.

This next window will have an entry for each one of the chords as set in
the previous window. To enter a chord or scale, click the mouse in
the progression list window to select the particular measure and division 
where you want the chord (or scale) , use the gadgets below the
list window to select the chord or scale root (the note upon which the
chord or scale is built) and the particular chord or scale type.
Click on the SELECT CHORD or SELECT SCALE to enter the indicated
chord or scale into the selected chord position.  Click on CLR to
remove your selected chord/scale.

Select the USE VOICING gadget to tell Video Music Box to use the
chords as voiced in the chord list.  When unselected, the program
will use a chord voicing based on the style, or you can add some
randomisation to the selection of a chord voicing (See Randomisation).



                 ** Note Edit Screen **
                    ================

Select the EDIT NOTE DATA from the Soundtrack or Sequence menus to
edit the Soundtrack or Sequence respectively.

When entering/erasing note data the mouse cursor location is displayed
in the upper left hand portion of the screen in clock time (minutes:
seconds), musical time (measure:beat:tick), and musical pitch.
Video Music Box uses a resolution of 240 ticks per beat.

The various parts/instruments of your sequence are selected for editing by
selecting the appropriate part button to the right of the note display
area.  If there is more that four parts, you access parts 5-8 using
the arrow gadgets to the right of the part selector gadgets.

EDIT existing notes by placing cursor over the note, then click and holding
the left mouse button; the note should turn gray to indication selection.
Drag the cursor left or right to adjust note duration, or up and down to
adjust note pitch. Release button when finished. ERASE note by quickly 
clicking and releasing over the note.


Various editing options are available from the Edit Menu.  If NO PART IS
SELECTED when an edit operation is chosen, that operation will apply
to ALL parts.  If a PART IS SELECTED the operation will apply only to
that part.

The [R] (range) gadget creates a box-type range.  Edit commands then
apply only to that box.  Again, if no part is selected, the operation
applies to the defined range in all parts.  If a part is selected, the
edit operation will apply to the defined range in that part only. Select
this gadget and draw diagonally on the note display and the box will
appear.

The ][ (insert) gadget is used for a variety of edit commands including
PASTE, SPLICE, SLIDE.  Select this gadget, then position the cursor
at over the note display at the desired position, and click the left
mouse button to set the position.

When using the range definition gadgets, the active range will always
be highlighted (grey) so you can see what will be operated on by the
edit command.

The DRAW menu of the Note Edit screen provides some special tools
that can be used to quickly add drum fills, arpeggiate chords,add 
scalar riffs, or melodies that follow the chord progression etc.
The tool is activated when the DRAW [D] gadget on the screen is
selected.  When active, position the mouse cursor over the display,
press and holding the left mouse button.  Still holding the button,
move the cursor slowly from left to right and up and down; notes
will be added. The quantisation and duration of the notes input
is controlled by submenu selections in the DRAW menu.

The pitches of the notes input can be limited to a particular scale or
chord, or to a chord progression if one was loaded when the window
was opened.  Selection among those options is also made in the DRAW
menu.  When using a chord or scale to limit note input, select the
desired root and chord/scale type in the gadget in the upper right
hand side of the Note Edit Screen.


                                ** END **
