*********T-STAR CD QUALITY MULTITRACK RECORDER VERSION 4.3 HELP*****************************
*** PLEASE NOTE: If your PC and sound card are not DIRECTX enabled  ***
*** and you dont have directsound installed please use Version 2.5. ***
*** Version 4.3 of T-star needs these windows features to function. ***
*** You should have Directx media run time 6.1 installed as well as ***
*** a sound card that supports directsound.                         ***
*** TS needs Win 95, Cel466 (min), 32mb Ram, fast UDMA drive, 16 bit***
*** full duplex sound card, 800 by 600 resn and Small Fonts 96 dpi. ***
*** If you are not set to this display mode - normally you right    ***
*** click on a blank desktop area. click properties - then set mode.***
*** TS is use at your own risk. Please see the legal section of     ***
*** Why Register.Txt (Para 5). You are free to try TS for one week. ***
*** After whch you are requested to register or  remove it.         ***
*** Registration is only 20 dollars. Please see registration        ***
*** details in Why Register.Txt on how to register, and benefits.   ***
*** IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME USER OF TS - before starting recording  ***
*** PLEASE READ THIS HELP, and also INTRO, TIPS, EDITOR, Trouble    ***
*** and Registration docs that are in the Tstar dir. HAVE FUN !!    *** 

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A. HOW TO USE T-STAR.
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   Function.                     Buttons to click.
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 ** Please read Para 9, and  TSTips.Txt (in :\Tstarcd dir) on how to  **
 ** do UNLIMITED TRACK RECORDING and recording tips in general !!   **
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0. Before loading TS.            If you are a new PC user and new to
                                 PC digital audio - there is an easy
                                 way to check you are configured for
                                 audio. Click on START & locate windows
                                 recorder under accessories/multimedia.
                                 Record a few secs of a drum machine. 
                                 If it does not play back OK - then  
                                 please get a tech' to configure 
                                 your PC for audio.
                                 If it plays back OK then do step 1,
                                 - or if TS is already loaded - step 2.
                                 
1. LOAD APPLICATION.             Click on red "T" icon in Windows 
                                 START menu OR go to Tstarcd dir and 
                                 click on red icon.
                                 If you get a message that your not
                                 configured for audio or your 
                                 screen resolution is not set correctly
                                 - please click on the little "X" in 
                                 the top right hand corner of the 
                                 mixer display - and exit - and 
                                 configure your PC for proper full 
                                 duplex audio and/or 800 by 600 96dpi.
                                 Then reload the application - 
                                 and the message(s) should disappear.
                                 ( see Trouble.Txt to help you).
                                 If you get no warning messages - 
                                 proceed to SOUND CARD TEST.
                                 YOU CAN PRINT OUT ALL HELP FILES 
                                 USING NOTEPAD.
                                 
2. SOUND CARD TEST.              When main screen appears.
   (First time use only)         Click red R01 button and record
                                 a few seconds of a drum machine 
                                 or whatever instrument you wish.
                                 Then click STOP. Click PLAY to hear
                                 what you just recorded. Then STOP.
                                 Click F01 to display waveform.
   ( This version records, and mixes using CD quality 16 bit 44.1Khz.
     DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSERT AS A VALID Tnn.Wav any other format.)
                            
   ** you should hear the few seconds of music playing which you
      recorded. If you did not. There could be several reasons.
      1. Speakers were not turned on. 2. You dont have a  
      sound card installed and/or configured properly.
      ( please read Trouble.Txt - and we will help
      you with that).   
   ** if you heard the track playing - please proceed. 
 
      The user message line above the PLAY and STOP 
      boxes always tells you what T-star is doing !!
      You will notice once a track is recorded the red box
      turns blue to signify this track has been recorded on.
      Now click R02 - and record a few seconds of the second track,
      then click STOP. Click F02 to show waveform.
      While recording you should hear back the first track R01.
      If you did not hear the first track while recording the 
      second - its likely you are not configured for simultaneous
      recording and playback ie : Full Duplex. (Please read Trouble.Txt
      to help you). If you DID hear back the first track while 
      recording the second then you are full duplex.
      Start recording with TS, and HAVE FUN !!
   ** until you get familiar with TS just do short 10 second 
      recordings on each Track. So you can see all the functions.
      Then - as you gradually get comfortable - increase your 
      recording time.
   ** A WORD ABOUT TRACKS POSSIBLY OUT OF SYNCH !!(some sound cards).
      What is it ? When you have just recorded and mixed a new track -
      if its behind or advanced of the beat - assuming your playing
      was spot on with the click track - then its not synchronised.
      A good way to spot this is - after you have recorded a new track,
      click Fnn and select Hide/show waveform in menu to display tks
      waveform.
            
      If its off slightly  - dont despair - i've built in easy
      solutions to synch up recorded new tracks, 
      These are explained fully in section 10 of trouble.txt.
      Using the "Fnn" buttons track shift feature.
           
      Note : Control + Alt + delete held down together in Win 95,
      and then clicking on end task will end a task if the program - 
      should ever - for whatever reason - not respond. 
      It has not happened to me yet. But i mention it 
      to you in case it happens to you - as there are so many different
      configurations out there.
      
      Please note - Track Names/pans/vols are now saved by TS if
      you okay it on exiting Tstar.  
    
      PLEASE NOTE : ALL HELP is now "ON-LINE". 
      Click on HELP in the main display - and an on-line help 
      dialogue displays.
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3. Record a Track.               Always start with R01. Click it and 
                                 start playing your instrument.    
                                 Click STOP to end recording.
                                 R01 will turn to blue from red - 
                                 to indicate the track has been 
                                 recorded on. The track will be 
                                 recorded in CD quality 44.1Khz 16 bit.
                                 Click Fnn to display waveform 
                                 for editing. 
                                 (See editor.txt).
   ** People really will enjoy this feature. You 
      will notice with TS there is no clicking on many different 
      things just to record one Track. 
      Just boot up TS - and click on a track Rec box to 
      record - and away you go. No menus to navigate.
      Nice and simple.
   ** BIG NOTE : in a multitrack track song T01 is the only Track that
      must be recorded for the full length of the song - begin to end.
      Plus add 10 secs leeway.
      TS needs it as a reference. You can even just record silence,
      as long as its there. Most people of course will 
      probably use T01 as a click track for the drummer - or -
      possibly a timing reference. 
      T02 to 28 - can stop anywhere. 
      You CAN listen NOW to real time Mix at different time points -
      using the << and >> buttons (hold and release).

      You can also now use Pall and Sall to play/stop from any waveform
      time. 
      In summary - the "elapsed' time box is the elapsed time of
      the song, and "From" - shows the time point you
      have chosen to start from. This feature is handy for rehearsing
      a difficult "lick" - before you record it !!
      You can also click "P" - when stopped and enter a time.
  ** A feature recently added is delayed recording.
     Keys F1 thru' F12 on the keyboard are tracks 1 thru' 12.
     If you get fed up by having to put down
     your instrument to click on a record box using the mouse - 
     just press the F key of the track you want to record on.
     A delay is built in - to let you get comfortable - then 
     you will see the rec box of the track you selected turn blue.
     You are now recording. Tap the big plus key on the numeric
     keypad to STOP or click STOP. Big plus key starts and stops 
     mix playback.
  
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4. Solo a Track.                 Click Fnn - select solo track to hear
                                 the Track. Click STOP to end solo.
                                 A TIP - you can also solo a waveform 
                                 and hear it using the Fnn. 
                                 ( 3 secs and 1 sec waveforms.)
    ** If you dont hear the Track - possibly you have not enabled 
       your sound card in Windows or sound card mixer panel. 
    ** A TIP : You can always audition any track or mix outside of
       T-star if you wish - by clicking on the icon in the Mysong dir -
       for example Microsofts Activemovie control will play it if you 
       click on the track name or load it into sound recorder that
       comes with Windows.
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5. Set PAN and VOLUME.          Pan is top fader, and volume bottom.
                                Click to set the pan and volume.
                                (click in grey areas).
                                Note : you should not have to put one
                                tracks vol much above halfway.
                                If you find you DO - it could be 
                                that either a sound card vol in Windows
                                mixer is set too low or an external 
                                device is. REMEMBER - volume adds up 
                                as you add Tracks.
                                You should be able to hear really well
                                in your headphones a track at mid 
                                vol slider setting.
                                Note : If you want to boost say a 
                                lead voc - dont boost the lead
                                vocal volume to the right above 60
                                per cent - just reduce the volumes of
                                the backing tracks. A lot of my rhythm
                                tks end up about 25 - 30 per cent up.  
                                For fine pan adjustement use arrows. 
                                Click on Fnn for pan centre & mute.
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6. MIXDOWN Track(s).            Click the MIXDOWN button - and TS will 
                                create a stereo mix of one up to 
                                14 tracks recorded. V.IMP - dont 
                                click on anything to interrupt the 
                                MIX process. The stereo master will
                                be CD quality 44.1Khz 16 bit.(Mix.wav).
                                Click MP to start/stop mix playback.
                                Make sure you clicked on the "0"
                                button to ensure playback from zero.
                                OR Click on the "P" - punch-ins button,
                                and enter a time for the mixdown to 
                                start playing back from.
                                
      ** NOTE : Normally you would MIXDOWN after finishing the song -
      as it can take over a minute or more for a 3 minute song.
      Alternatively - just hit PLAY - and output the real time mix to 
      a DAT machine. If you want to you could then (using ST button)
      record the DAT mix back into T-Star in stereo. 
      And add more tracks.( see Stereo recording tips in Tips.txt) 
      OR you could input Mix.wav into a CDwriter or MP3 program. 
      OR Normalise Mix.wav using your editor before you do a bounce
      for adding more tracks.     
      ** NOTE : Wherever you pan - TS will place the track - just 
      like on a big mixing console. Same with volume. 
      One of the benefits of T-STAR is it saves you buying 
      a mixing console. Not bad for 20 bucks !
      All you need is a little mic/line pre-amp to feed the PC line in.
      I've even used a spare effects unit from a studio i once had.
      ( see Tips for more info.) 
      ** LETS SUMMARISE - 
      Record up to 14 CD quality tracks and then - when you want -
      click MIXDOWN  to mix tracks to CD quality Stereo according 
      to Pan and Volume settings.  
       So - lets say - you had recorded drums on Track 01 - 
      when you are recording your guitar on Track 02 - you 
      will hear the drums play back.
      Then when you record TRack 03 - say a vocal - you will hear 
      Drums and guitar play back. In other words - you always hear
      everything you have recorded to date. The Stereo MASTER is in
      the Mysong directory - called Mix.Wav. Once you have finished 
      your song - if you have a CD writer you can use the software 
      that came with it to point to Mix.Wav - and voila !! - 
      you can make CD's of your music to sell !! 
      or using MP3 software sold on the internet you can compress
      the mixed stereo file to save space. There are many players 
      coming to market that let you play MP3 songs.
      (Please note : TS does not play MP3 files).
   
   ** Note : if there is a track you've recorded that you dont
      want included in the MIX you hear back while recording
      a new Track - simply mute it using its Fnn button. 
      To unmute - just click in the grey area of the volume slider.
      To re-center pan - use the Fnn button.
      Tip : if you dont like a particular 
      section of a track - but like the rest of the Track - 
      simply note the time start and end in the TS time box - 
      and edit the tracks waveform.
      (Please see EDITOR doc to see how easy editing in TS is.)
   ** Note: after MIXDOWN - click MP to play it at least once.
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7. Record Track 02 to Track 28.   Exactly the same as recording 
                                  T01. Click one Rec box - then 
                                   STOP to stop recording.
                                  Set Pan and volume - Then Click 
                                  PLAY. You will now hear the new 
                                  recording mixed in real time. 
                                  REMEMBER the cycle. 
                                  REC box - record - STOP - set 
                                  faders. Then PLAY.
                                  Click a Fnn to show waveform
                                  for editing.
     ** NEW for registered users - click T1528 for 14 more
        tracks to record to.
     ** Please note clicking MIXDOWN might take a bit of time.
        You have to appreciate - each recording can be  possibly
        millions of samples. In summary - mixdown has to process huge
        amounts of information.
        As the PC becomes even more powerfull - 
        as it will very shortly - i hope MIXDOWN time will become
        a non issue. There is no other way to do it - than the 
        approach i've taken technically.
     ** NOTE : to mute a track you dont want included in the mix -
        say a bad take - just move the volume slider of that track
        all the way to the left ie : zero volume, or use its Fnn.
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8. Delete a Track.                To delete a track from the PC - 
                                  just click the tracks Fnn 
                                  box. And click delete label
                                  in the menu that displays.
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9. MX --> 1/2                     This will bounce the stereo CD quality
                                  mix splitting left and right to 
                                  Tks 1 and 2 for unlimited Tracks.
                                  BOUNCE ADDS NO NOISE !!!
                                  Heres how to do mega CD quality 
                                  UNLIMITED multi-tracks !!
                                  After having recorded on all 14
                                  tracks - backup your 14 tks - 
                                  say to a zip disk. Or a back-up 
                                  folder you name on your hard drive.
                                  
                                  Obviously - if you used a click track
                                  at the start - you dont want it 
                                  included in the next pass - same for
                                  a guide vocal -
                                  so - put their vols to zero.
                                  Then do a final MIXDOWN. 
                                  Then click MP to play mix once.
                                  NOW Click on MX-->1/2. Then OK.
                                  Wait for split to finish.
                                  Now - from tk 3 on -
                                  just delete the track and click on 
                                  R03 (red rec box) and record.
                                  Carry on with R04 thru' R14.
                                  ie : delete the track then
                                  record on it.
                                  ie : You are building up on this 
                                  second pass tks 03 thru' 14.
                                  Lets summarise !
                                  Record on 14 tracks, MIXDOWN,
                                  MP to playback once. Then MX-->1/2. 
                                  Now record on 12 more tracks. 
                                   -- and so on - and so on.
                                  ie : UNLIMITED MULTI-TRACK CD
                                  QUALITY RECORDING !
                                  A TIP ! Say on the first pass of 
                                  recording 14 tracks there was a bass
                                  track in the mix - and you wanted it
                                  in the next pass of recording - just 
                                  dont delete it. Then you might decide
                                  to mix it in more heavily. 
                                  Yes ! - you are free to do this !
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10. Punch-in record/playback.     To initiate this function - 
                                  just hit PLAY to play the tracks,
                                  and a few secs before you want 
                                  record or playback to start from -
                                  just click with the mouse on the 
                                  FROM box which will display the
                                  time punch-in a rec or play will 
                                  start from. Then click STOP.
                                  When you hit PLAY again - 
                                  the MIX will playback from that 
                                  time OR - click a red Rnn record
                                  box for record punch-in to start
                                  from that time. The FROM time 
                                  can be changed by clicking again
                                  a different time.
                                  To end this function click on the
                                  "0" button - and record and/or 
                                  play will start from zero !!
                                  If the record punch - in was not 
                                  spot on - dont worry - just use 
                                  the trackshift feature to align spot
                                  on - eg : your playing was late.
                                  You can also enter a time to punch 
                                  in on by clicking the "P" - punch
                                  ins button when stopped.
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11. "Fnn" buttons.                T01 to T28 have a "Fnn" button.
                                  ie : Track functions menu popup.
                                  Click this button if you want to
                                  insert silence in a track to shift
                                  a track back in time - or to delete
                                  samples - if you want to move a 
                                  track forward in time - relative 
                                  to other tracks.
                                  Just enter the number in the boxes
                                  provided and click the appropriate
                                  label. ( Please see Trouble.txt -
                                  section 10 - on how to use this 
                                  feature to align tracks perfectly
                                  for "purrrfect synch".)
                                  The Fun buttons are also used to mute,
                                  delete and solo tracks, and display 
                                  and hide track waveforms. 
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12. Other buttons/Boxes.          The "Elapsed" box gives you
                                  the elapsed time of the song.
                                  Click it to pause/continue playback.
                                  The "From" box is the time 
                                  punch-in will start.
                                  QUIT - to leave.
                                  HELP gets you to this document.                            
                                  (TSHelp.Txt).
                                  
                                  A feature was added
                                  to call your favorite audio editor.
                                  Click on the "S" (settings box) at
                                  the top left of song - and enter
                                  the full path of your editor + OK.
                                  ie : C:\xxxxxxx\xxxxx.exe with nothing 
                                  but blanks after the exe.
                                  Then at any point - click "O" - 
                                  of song - and your editor will 
                                  display. If it does not display -
                                  it means it has been entered 
                                  incorrectly. Remember to honour all
                                  upper and lower case letters - 
                                  EXACTLY as in windows explorer.
                                  In your editor - point editor to 
                                  the Mysong dir. All recorded
                                  tracks should display. Click the one
                                  you want to edit. Close it - after
                                  editing - so that sound card resources
                                  are released.
  ** A TIP : If - you save in the external editor to a different 
     valid TS id - ie : T01 thru' T14 - when you close the editor 
     - just click in TS on the tracks rec box - and it will turn blue.
  ** in the Tstar directory are also the following files :
     1. Why Register.Txt - covering legal matters and how to register
        the program. Please note - you must register the program 
        or else wipe it from your drive. 
     2. TSTips.Txt - covering a number of tips so you can get the
        most fun out of your PC and the best use of T-star - 
        and just recording tips in general to help you get started.
     3. The two TS EXE programs, Parms and Def files.
        DONT DELETE THESE - These are the main programs and
        resources. T-star wont work without these.
     4. The Mysong directory which stores the Mixed and recorded 
        Tracks. Dont delete this dir.
     5. Trouble.Txt, Registration Form, and example Track sheet.
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11. How to do effects              Please see Tips.Txt
   and stereo recordings.          Tstar now does FX !!
                                   You can now record in stereo 
                                   using the red ST record button.
                                   Please note : if you just booted
                                   T-starcd and want to go straight 
                                   into stereo recording. Just record
                                   firstly T01 as a blank track or
                                   click track for the full length 
                                   of the song. T-star needs T01 as
                                   a reference. To stop ST record -
                                   just click the STOP button or the
                                   big + key on the RHS of the numpad.
                                   Now click the 13/14 button by ST 
                                   button. This will transfer the 
                                   stereo recording to tks 13 & 14.
                                   If you notice pan is already set up.
                                   Now hit PLAY - and the stereo tk
                                   will be mixed in real time with 
                                   any additional mono tks you lay 
                                   - ie : T02 through 12.
                                   If you want mega stereo tks - its 
                                   easy. Use windows explorer to move
                                   tks 13 & 14 to other spare tracks -
                                   renaming using explorer (Eg : T13
                                   copied and renamed to say T08, and
                                   T14 to T09.) Pan one all left - other
                                   all right. Having done this - now
                                   delete T13,T14, and ST.
                                   Repeat process UNLIMITED times !!              
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12. Registration.                 When you register you
                                  will be sent your own unique
                                  Registration code. Click on 
                                  the G box of S O N G - and enter
                                  the code starting at the extreme 
                                  left of the box provided.
                                  Please dont leave any spaces 
                                  between the code letters and numbers.
                                  Click OK - and you 
                                  are now a registered founding user.
                                  Entitled to unlimited use of the
                                  the program. Please note - it is
                                  illegal to copy the program.
                                  (Please see the legal section)

 ** registered users can click the T1528 button for 14 more tracks !!
                                 
(Please see EDITOR.txt for details on using Back,Fwd,m+,m-, 1 sec.)
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