TRPLAY 2.1   An Amiga module player for PC
------------------------------------------

Yes, this is yet another MOD player. It can deal with MOD files as big as
your memory can hold it. Each sample can be up to 128K, as this is the
sample length limit on standard MOD files imported from Amiga platforms.

TRPLAY supports three playback devices:
- Internal speaker
- DAC on LPT1, LPT2 or LPT3
- Sound Blaster/Pro

With the two first the sound will be heard in mono (even if your DAC is
stereo, or is the Stereo-in-one version)
With a SB Pro or compatible you can hear the module in stereo the way is
usual on the Amiga (channels 0 & 3 through the left output, 1 & 2 through
the right output).

While the module is being played some keys are available:
- ESC       : Stops the module and returns to DOS
- S         : Shell to DOS leaving TRPLAY in background
- Space Bar : Pause / Resume the module playback

For command syntax, just type TRPLAY at your DOS prompt.

Option QUIET can be used to execute TRPLAY from another program without
corrupting the screen.

Option EXE allows TRPLAY to load a .COM or .EXE program at starting playback.
When the program finishes, TRPLAY stops the module and returns to DOS.

Option MEM lets the user to specify the amount of XMS memory that TRPLAY
will alloc for instruments. Default is 1Mb. The minimum is 64K and the
maximum is limited to the total free XMS memory at TRPLAY startup.

Options PAL/NTSC varies the timing according to the frecuencies used
for Vblank in USA and Europe. If a module behaves bad try to add a PAL
or NTSC command.


NOTE: if, during loading a module, you receive the error: "memory manager
not initialized" or the computer hangs, can be for one of this causes:
- You have not a 80386 or higher CPU.
- You have not configured XMS memory.
- You have not at least 1024K of XMS memory.
- You have not a true compatible 80386 or higher.
- You are not in real mode (i.e, you are executing TRPLAY in a DOS-box under
  Windows, OS/2 or Deskview, or you have installed an EMS memory manager).

Revision history
----------------

2.1  Released: June, 1995.
     - Fixed some bugs related with command-line syntax. Now it should work
     fine with all the options.
     - Fixed a very important bug. Note B-3 never played!
     - MOD Loader routine now accepts samples over 64K. (Not tested).
     - Improved mixing algorithm. Uses some pipe-line advantages on 80386 and
     cache hit ratios on 80386 cache subsystem and internal 80486 cache.
     - Removed 4 IMUL & SAR operations. Instead of that, I've used pre-multi-
     plied tables.
     - Faster in DAC LPT output (self-modifying code applied).
     - Added FILE_ID.DIZ on distribution package (I forgot it on v2.0  ;-)
     - The procedure used for testing the V86-mode has been replaced
     because Windows traps the MOV EAX,CR0 instruction and returns a 0 on
     bit 1 indicating the CPU is in "real" mode. With SMSW AX (non-priviledged
     instruction) the V8086-mode is detected successfully under Windows.

2.0  First available to PD: released: Febrary, 1995
     - Flat memory model support. Even better mixing algorithm.
     - Added more features and Pro Tracker commands
     - XMS support.
     - 80386 needed.
     - Up to 1Mb of instruments per module.
     - Max. sampling rate of 31000 Hz (Amiga limit is 28000 Hz).

1.5  Released: June, 1993. Renamed to TRPLAY.EXE
     - Support of 31 instruments-type MOD.
     - Better mixing algorithm. 16Khz on a 286-based PC.
     - SB 2.0 / Pro support.

1.0  First version, named PONMUSIC.EXE    Released: August, 1992
     - 15 instruments.
     - Internal speaker support.
     - DAC & internal speaker support.
     - Max. sampling rate of 16124 Hz.
     - Requires a 286-16Mhz to play at 8 Khz.
     - Uses conventional memory.

In project: up to 16 stereo channels. Use of internal cache on 486 to
lock the inner loop on it. 8CHN and (maybe) S3M support.


TRPLAY is freeware. You don't have to pay anything for using it although I
hold the copyright on it. You can copy and distribute this program freely
or include it on PD disks/CD's (e.g, the Simtel Collection). The only
requirement is that you must distribute the program without modifications
and with this text file in the package.

For comments about TRPLAY or whatever related to MOD players or computer
music in general:

e-mail    : rodriguj@risc36.fie.us.es

post mail : Miguel Angel Rodriguez Jodar
            Nina de la Alfalfa, 1 ESC.31  1.D
            41009 Sevilla
            Spain

