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                     Copyright 2000 Sebastian Mate

                  - An "impossible with QB"-program -


 Program:     RealMIDI
 Description: The first REAL MIDI-player for QB!
 Author:      Sebastian Mate (jmate@t-online.de)
 Version:     1.00

 Welcome
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 Yes, this THE first real MIDI-player for QB that is not using any resident
 programs! It's directly reading, interpreting and playing the file on
 your soundcard using the FM-Synthesis or even on your built-in speaker!

 Disclaimer
 ----------
 The programmer assumes no responsibility for any harm or costs
 that comes from using the material contained in these files and to
 you, your computer, or anything relating to your existence. No
 warranty is provided or implied on these files!
 This file is provided as is.
 You can use this program in any way you want, however, please
 give me credits.

 Limitations
 -----------
 Every program has it's possitive and negative aspects. My proggy, too.
 Read them:

  [+]  for professional use
  [+]  doesn't need any TSR-program (memory resident)
  [+]  no errors with other software
  [+]  can play lyrics (requires a small modifaction, see source)
  [+]  easy to run
  [+]  sound-output via FM-Synthesis (soundcard) or internal speaker
  [-]  only MIDI-format 0 is supported
  [-]  only 9 Tracks and 9 voices at one time
  [-]  not a complete drumset with some problems (read below)

 Is RealMIDI good for games?
 ---------------------------
 If you want to play music in the background while the game is running,
 no. RealMIDI is using delays, and this would make your program slow.
 RealMIDI was written to allow you to convert MIDI-files into other
 formats and to write MIDI-applications (sequencers, etc.).

 The Nine Voices
 ---------------
 Yes, RealMIDI only supports only 9 voices at one time and is limited
 to 9 MIDI-Tracks. Why?! The default soundcard can only output 9 channels.
 Other MIDI-players can manage to play 16 or more tracks once using
 only the 9 channels. However, I tried to do so, but it did not work very
 well. The 9 voices: each of the nine channels can output only 1 sound.
 Normaly, FM-synthesis soundcards can generate 32 sounds. The next version
 of RealMIDI can do this.
 You will notice, if you play an other MIDI-0 file with more than 9 tracks,
 that the sequencer shows that "there's something playing". There is nothing
 playing.
 I think: 9 voices once are enouth for a OK sound. If you run this program,
 you will see...

 The drumset
 -----------
 The biggest problem of RealMIDI is the drumset. It can't detect it, so
 you have to set the channel manually. I have noticed, during the sequencing
 the demonstration file, that my sequencer used every time channel 10 for
 the drumset (a MIDI-specification?). But this is out of the 9 channels,
 and I had to make the drumset-track a piano to store it on track 9.
 The dumset is incomplete. It's simply using a snare-drum.

 Credits
 -------
 This program would not be possible without using parts from to two
 other great programmers:
 -> Luke Erren wrote a program that could play MIDI-files using the
    MPU404-interface. You have to connect your computer to a MIDI-keyboard.
 -> Davey W. Taylor, he wrote a FM-Tracer from which I used the support
    for the FM-Synthesis.

 Tons of changes had been made, but now it's working. If you like this
 program and want to get more "impossible with QB"-source, visit my site:
 -> How to connect QB to the Internet
 -> How to translate Enlish to German text (with a QB-program!)
 -> and more...

 http://www.gimi.debox.de

 Any Questions!?
 ---------------
 Oh, please e-mail me! I would be glad to know your opinion about this and
 my other "impossible with QB"-programs. Thx.
 -> jmate@t-online.de

