Version 1.5 update ------------------ Visual Composer V1.5 offers three new features over earlier versions: 1 - Bank file for instrument sounds 2 - Support of additional wave forms 3 - New Open, Save and Save As dialogs The new instrument bank file stores many intrument sounds together in one file. The many .INS files are now bundled together in one .BNK file. This results in a significant saving of disk space and makes backing up much easier. If you have other Ad Lib products which are earlier than version 1.5, you may need to convert between the old and new formats. To convert between the old and new formats, we have provided a conversion program which is explained in the file BANKMNG.TXT. In BANKMNG.TXT you will so find information on ordering updates. By default, Visual Composer V1.5 uses the default bank file STANDARD.BNK, but you may choose another bank file if you wish (for example, if you have created a new bank file using Instrument Maker). To do this, a new command, "Bank File", has been added to the File (F5) menu. The Bank File command works the same way as the Open command, except that you choose an instrument bank file instead of a song file. The wave form is a parameter used in the specification of an Ad Lib instrument sound. The use of the additional wave forms means that a greater variety of sounds can be used. If you have version 1.5 of the Instrument Maker, then the sounds you create which use the wave form parameter can now be used in Visual Composer (and any other Ad Lib software which is version 1.5 or higher). The Open, Save and Save As commands in the File (F5) menu have been changed to allow you to change directories while in the dialog. The scroll box containing the list of file names now contains directory names as well. To change directories, use the up and down cursor keys to select the desired directory name and press F1. If you select the line "..", then you will move one directory up in the hierarchy. You may move up and down through sub-directories as many times as you wish. Song files are selected by pressing return as before. Note that the two commands in the menu for changing directories are no longer necessary and have been removed. Version 1.28 update ------------------- The problem with tempos where a large number of ticks per beat is being used has been resolved. Version 1.22 update ------------------- In addition to the support of the MGA (Hercules) card, the version 1.2 of Visual Composer includes enhancement on the Cut and Copy commands as well as the Interrupt command. The User Guide should therefore be modified as follows: Page 96 The note seen under the paragraphs Cut and Copy should read as follows: "Interpretation data IS included in this operation." Page 99 The paragraph Interrupt should read as follows: "This command is used to interrupt the play back of a song. At the beginning of the playback, a clock symbol momentarily appears in the menu bar. For as long as you see this clock, all commands will be inoperative EXCEPT for the shortcut command Interrupt [CTRL I]." This exception should also be understood when reading the second paragraph of page 58 as well as the last paragraph of page 59. Page 117 The following sentence should be added to the first paragraph: It is especially important to use a bigger memory buffer when working with pieces containing a lot of interpretation data. Some notes may be left out when playing back complex pieces with a memory buffer that has not been enlarged accordingly. If your computer has more than 256K of RAM, it would be preferable, in any case, to increase the size of the sound driver memory buffer to 12K. To do so, change the following line in the ".BAT" file: SOUND b1000 to SOUND b3000