apps/codecs/dumb/readme.txt - rockbox - Gitiles

 /*  _______         ____    __         ___    ___
  * \    _  \       \    /  \  /       \   \  /   /       '   '  '
  *  |  | \  \       |  |    ||         |   \/   |         .      .
  *  |  |  |  |      |  |    ||         ||\  /|  |
  *  |  |  |  |      |  |    ||         || \/ |  |         '  '  '
  *  |  |  |  |      |  |    ||         ||    |  |         .      .
  *  |  |_/  /        \  \__//          ||    |  |
  * /_______/ynamic    \____/niversal  /__\  /____\usic   /|  .  . ibliotheque
  *                                                      /  \
  *                                                     / .  \
  * readme.txt - General information on DUMB.          / / \  \
  *                                                   | <  /   \_
  *                                                   |  \/ /\   /
  *                                                    \_  /  > /
  *                                                      | \ / /
  *                                                      |  ' /
  *                                                       \__/
  */


 ********************
 *** Introduction ***
 ********************


 Thank you for downloading DUMB! You should have the following documentation:

    readme.txt    - This file
    licence.txt   - Conditions for the use of this software
    release.txt   - Release notes and changes for this and past releases
    docs/
      howto.txt   - Step-by-step instructions on adding DUMB to your project
      faq.txt     - Frequently asked questions and answers to them
      dumb.txt    - DUMB library reference
      deprec.txt  - Information about deprecated parts of the API
      ptr.txt     - Quick introduction to pointers for those who need it
      fnptr.txt   - Explanation of function pointers for those who need it
      modplug.txt - Our official position regarding ModPlug Tracker

 This file will help you get DUMB set up. If you have not yet done so, please
 read licence.txt and release.txt before proceeding. After you've got DUMB set
 up, please refer to the files in the docs/ directory at your convenience. I
 recommend you start with howto.txt.


 ****************
 *** Features ***
 ****************


 Here is the statutory feature list:

 - Freeware

 - Supports playback of IT, XM, S3M and MOD files

 - Faithful to the original trackers, especially IT; if it plays your module
   wrongly, please tell me so I can fix the bug! (But please don't complain
   about differences between DUMB and ModPlug Tracker; see docs/modplug.txt)

 - Accurate support for low-pass resonant filters for IT files

 - Very accurate timing and pitching; completely deterministic playback

 - Click removal

 - Facility to embed music files in other files (e.g. Allegro datafiles)

 - Three resampling quality settings: aliasing, linear interpolation and cubic
   interpolation

 - Number of samples playing at once can be limited to reduce processor usage,
   but samples will come back in when other louder ones stop

 - All notes will be present and correct even if you start a piece of music in
   the middle

 - Fast seeking to any point before the music first loops (seeking time
   increases beyond this point)

 - Audio generated can be used in any way; DUMB does not necessarily send it
   straight to a sound output system

 - Makefile provided for DJGPP, MinGW, Linux, BeOS and Mac OS X; project file
   provided for MSVC 6 (please contact me if you'd like to submit or request
   support for a new platform; the code itself should port anywhere that has a
   32-bit C compiler)

 - Can be used with Allegro, can be used without (if you'd like to help make
   DUMB more approachable to people who aren't using Allegro, please contact
   me)


 *********************
 *** What you need ***
 *********************


 To use DUMB, you need a 32-bit C compiler (GCC and MSVC are fine). If you
 have Allegro, DUMB can integrate with its audio streams and datafiles, making
 your life easier. If you do not wish to use Allegro, you will have to do some
 work to get music playing back. The 'dumbplay' example program requires
 Allegro.

    Allegro - http://alleg.sf.net/

 Neil Walker has kindly uploaded some DUMB binaries at
 http://retrospec.sgn.net/allegro/ . They may not always be up to date, so you
 should try to compile it yourself first.


 **********************************************
 *** How to set DUMB up with DJGPP or MinGW ***
 **********************************************


 You should have got the .zip version. If for some reason you got the .tar.gz
 version instead, you may have to convert make/config.bat to DOS text file
 format. WinZip does this automatically by default. Otherwise, loading it into
 MS EDIT and saving it again should do the trick. You will have to do the same
 for any files you want to view in Windows Notepad. If you have problems, just
 go and download the .zip instead.

 Make sure you preserved the directory structure when you extracted DUMB from
 the archive. Most unzipping programs will do this by default, but pkunzip
 requires you to pass -d. If not, please delete DUMB and extract it again
 properly.

 If you are using Windows, open an MS-DOS Prompt or a Windows Command Line.
 Change to the directory into which you unzipped DUMB.

 Type the following:

    make

 DUMB will ask you whether you wish to compile for DJGPP or MinGW. Then it
 will ask you whether you want support for Allegro. (You have to have made and
 installed Allegro's optimised library for this to work.) Finally, it will
 compile optimised and debugging builds of DUMB, along with the example
 programs. When it has finished, run the following to install the libraries:

    make install

 All done! If you ever need the configuration again (e.g. if you compiled for
 DJGPP before and you want to compile for MinGW now), run the following:

    make config

 See the comments in the makefile for other targets.

 Note: the makefile will only work properly if you have COMSPEC or ComSpec set
 to point to command.com or cmd.exe. If you set it to point to a Unix-style
 shell, the makefile won't work.

 Please let me know if you have any trouble.

 Scroll down for information on the example programs. Refer to docs/howto.txt
 when you are ready to start programming with DUMB. If you use DUMB in a game,
 let me know - I might decide to place a link to your game on DUMB's website!


 ******************************************************
 *** How to set DUMB up with Microsoft Visual C++ 6 ***
 ******************************************************


 You should have got the .zip version. If for some reason you got the .tar.gz
 version instead, you may have to convert some files to DOS text file format.
 WinZip does this automatically by default. Otherwise, loading such files into
 MS EDIT and saving them again should do the trick. You will have to do this
 for any files you want to view in Windows Notepad. If you have problems, just
 go and download the .zip instead.

 Make sure you preserved the directory structure when you extracted DUMB from
 the archive. Most unzipping programs will do this by default, but pkunzip
 requires you to pass -d. If not, please delete DUMB and extract it again
 properly.

 DUMB now comes with a project file for Microsoft Visual C++ 6. To add DUMB to
 your project:

 1. Open your project in VC++.
 2. Select Project|Insert Project into Workspace...
 3. Navigate to the dumb\vc6 directory, and select dumb.dsp.
 4. Select Build|Set Active Configuration..., and reselect one of your
    project's configurations.
 5. Select Project|Dependencies... and ensure your project is dependent on
    DUMB.
 6. Select Project|Settings..., Settings for: All Configurations, C/C++ tab,
    Preprocessor category. Add the DUMB include directory to the Additional
    Include Directories box.
 7. Ensure that for all the projects in the workspace (or more likely just all
    the projects in a particular dependency chain) the run-time libraries are
    the same. That's in Project|Settings, C/C++ tab, Code generation category,
    Use run-time library dropdown. The settings for Release and Debug are
    separate, so you'll have to change them one at a time. Exactly which run-
    time library you use will depend on what you need; it doesn't appear that
    DUMB has any particular requirements, so set it to whatever you're using
    now.

 Good thing you only have to do all that once ...

 If you have the Intel compiler installed, it will - well, should - be used to
 compile DUMB. The only setting I added is /QxiM. This allows the compiler to
 use PPro and MMX instructions, and so when compiling with Intel the resultant
 EXE will require a Pentium II or greater. I don't think this is unreasonable.
 After all, it is 2003 :)

 If you don't have the Intel compiler, VC will compile DUMB as normal.

 This project file and these instructions were provided by Tom Seddon (I hope
 I got his name right; I had to guess it from his e-mail address!). They are
 untested by me. If you have problems, check the download page at
 http://dumb.sf.net/ to see if they are addressed; failing that, direct
 queries to me and I'll try to figure them out.

 When you are ready to start using DUMB, refer to docs/howto.txt. If you use
 DUMB in a game, let me know - I might decide to place a link to your game on
 DUMB's website!


 ********************************************************************
 *** How to set DUMB up on Linux, BeOS and possibly even Mac OS X ***
 ********************************************************************


 You should have got the .tar.gz version. If for some reason you got the .zip
 version instead, you may have to use dtou on some or all of the text files.
 If you have problems, just go and download the .tar.gz instead.

 First, run the following command as a normal user:

    make

 You will be asked whether you want Allegro support. Then, unless you are on
 BeOS, you will be asked where you'd like DUMB to install its headers,
 libraries and examples (which will go in the include/, lib/ and bin/
 subdirectories of the prefix you specify). BeOS has fixed locations for these
 files. Once you have specified these pieces of information, the optimised and
 debugging builds of DUMB will be compiled, along with the examples. When it
 has finished, you can install them with:

    make install

 You may need to be root for this to work. It depends on the prefix you chose.

 Note: the makefile will only work if COMSPEC and ComSpec are both undefined.
 If either of these is defined, the makefile will try to build for a Windows
 system, and will fail.

 Please let me know if you have any trouble.

 Information on the example programs is just below. Refer to docs/howto.txt
 when you are ready to start programming with DUMB. If you use DUMB in a game,
 let me know - I might decide to place a link to your game on DUMB's website!


 ****************************
 *** The example programs ***
 ****************************


 Two example programs are provided. On DOS and Windows, you can find them in
 the examples subdirectory. On other systems they will be installed system-
 wide.

 dumbplay
    This program will only be built if you have Allegro. Pass it the filename
    of an IT, XM, S3M or MOD file, and it will play it. It's not a polished
    player with real-time threading or anything - so don't complain about it
    stuttering while you use other programs - but it does show DUMB's fidelity
    nicely. You can control the playback quality by editing dumb.ini, which
    must be in the current working directory. (This is a flaw for systems
    where the program is installed system-wide, but it is non-fatal.) Have a
    look at the examples/dumb.ini file for further information.

 dumbout
    This program does not need Allegro. You can use it to stream an IT, XM,
    S3M or MOD file to raw PCM. This can be used as input to an encoder like
    oggenc (with appropriate command-line options), or it can be sent to a
    .pcm file which can be read by any respectable waveform editor. No .wav
    support yet, sorry. This program is also convenient for timing DUMB.
    Compare the time it takes to render a module with the module's playing
    time! dumbout doesn't try to read any configuration file; the options are
    set on the command line.


 *********************************************
 *** Downloading music or writing your own ***
 *********************************************


 If you would like to compose your own music modules, then first I must offer
 a word of warning: not everyone is capable of composing music. Do not assume
 you will be able to learn the art. By all means have a go; if you can learn
 to play tunes on the computer keyboard, you're well on the way to being a
 composer!

 The best programs for the job are the trackers that pioneered the file
 formats:

    Impulse Tracker - IT files - http://www.noisemusic.org/it/
    Fast Tracker II - XM files - http://www.gwinternet.com/music/ft2/
    Scream Tracker 3 - S3M files -
           http://www.united-trackers.org/resources/software/screamtracker.htm

 MOD files come from the Amiga; I do not know what PC tracker to recommend for
 editing these. If you know of one, let me know! In the meantime, I would
 recommend using a more advanced file format. However, don't convert your
 existing MODs just for the sake of it.

 Note that Fast Tracker II is Shareware. It arguably offers the best
 interface, but the IT file format is more powerful and better defined.
 Impulse Tracker and Scream Tracker 3 are Freeware. DUMB is likely to be at
 its best with IT files.

 These editors are DOS programs. Users of DOS-incapable operating systems may
 like to try ModPlug Tracker, but should read docs/modplug.txt before using it
 for any serious work. If you use a different operating system, or if you know
 of any module editors for Windows that are more faithful to the original
 trackers' playback, please give me some links so I can put them here!

    ModPlug Tracker - http://www.modplug.com/

 BEWARE OF WINAMP! Although it's excellent for MP3s, it is notorious for being
 one of the worst module players in existence; very few modules play correctly
 with it. There are plug-ins available to improve Winamp's module support, for
 example WSP.

    Winamp - http://www.winamp.com/
    WSP - http://www.spytech.cz/index.php?sec=demo

 Samples and instruments are the building blocks of music modules. You can
 download samples at:

    http://www.tump.net/

 If you would like to download module files composed by other people, check
 the following sites:

    http://www.modarchive.com/
    http://www.scene.org/
    http://www.tump.net/
    http://www.homemusic.cc/main.php
    http://www.modplug.com/

 Once again, if you know of more sites where samples or module files are
 available for download, please let me know.

 If you wish to use someone's music in your game, please respect the
 composer's wishes. In general, you should ask the composer. Music that has
 been placed in the Public Domain can be used by anyone for anything, but it
 wouldn't do any harm to ask anyway if you know who the author is. In most
 cases the author will be thrilled, so don't hesitate!

 A note about converting modules from one format to another: don't do it,
 unless you are a musician and are prepared to go through the file and make
 sure everything sounds the way it should! The module formats are all slightly
 different, and converting from one format to another will usually do some
 damage.

 Instead, it is recommended that you allow DUMB to interpret the original file
 as it sees fit. DUMB may make mistakes (it does a lot of conversion on
 loading), but future versions of DUMB will be able to rectify these mistakes.
 On the other hand, if you convert the file, the damage is permanent.


 ***********************
 *** Contact details ***
 ***********************


 If you have trouble with DUMB, or want to contact me for any other reason, my
 e-mail address is given below. However, I may be able to help more if you
 come on to IRC EFnet #dumb.

 IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, and is a type of chat network. Several
 such networks exist, and EFnet is a popular one. In order to connect to an
 IRC network, you first need an IRC client. Here are some:

    http://www.xchat.org/
    http://www.visualirc.net/beta.php
    http://www.mirc.com/

 Getting on to IRC can be a steep cliff, but it is not insurmountable, and
 it's well worth it. Once you have set up the client software, you need to
 connect to a server. Here is a list of EFnet servers I have had success with.
 Type "/server" (without quotes), then a space, then the name of a server.

    irc.homelien.no
    irc.webgiro.se
    efnet.vuurwerk.nl
    efnet.demon.co.uk
    irc.isdnet.fr
    irc.prison.net

 If these servers do not work, visit http://efnet.org/ircdb/servers.php for a
 huge list of other EFnet servers to try.

 Once you're connected, type the following:

    /join #dumb

 A window will appear, and you can ask your question. It should be clear
 what's going on from this point onwards. I am 'entheh'. Note that unlike many
 other nerds I am not always at my computer, so if I don't answer your
 question, don't take it personally! I will usually be able to read your
 question when I come back.


 ******************
 *** Conclusion ***
 ******************


 This is the conclusion.


 Ben Davis
 entheh@users.sf.net
 IRC EFnet #dumb
	/* _______ ____ __ ___ ___
	* \ _ \ \ / \ / \ \ / / ' ' '
	* \| \| \ \ \| \| \|\| \| \/ \| . .
	* \| \| \| \| \| \| \|\| \|\|\ /\| \|
	* \| \| \| \| \| \| \|\| \|\| \/ \| \| ' ' '
	* \| \| \| \| \| \| \|\| \|\| \| \| . .
	* \| \|_/ / \ \__// \|\| \| \|
	* /_______/ynamic \____/niversal /__\ /____\usic /\| . . ibliotheque
	* / \
	* / . \
	* readme.txt - General information on DUMB. / / \ \
	* \| < / \_
	* \| \/ /\ /
	* \_ / > /
	* \| \ / /
	* \| ' /
	* \__/
	*/


	********************
	* Introduction *
	********************


	Thank you for downloading DUMB! You should have the following documentation:

	readme.txt - This file
	licence.txt - Conditions for the use of this software
	release.txt - Release notes and changes for this and past releases
	docs/
	howto.txt - Step-by-step instructions on adding DUMB to your project
	faq.txt - Frequently asked questions and answers to them
	dumb.txt - DUMB library reference
	deprec.txt - Information about deprecated parts of the API
	ptr.txt - Quick introduction to pointers for those who need it
	fnptr.txt - Explanation of function pointers for those who need it
	modplug.txt - Our official position regarding ModPlug Tracker

	This file will help you get DUMB set up. If you have not yet done so, please
	read licence.txt and release.txt before proceeding. After you've got DUMB set
	up, please refer to the files in the docs/ directory at your convenience. I
	recommend you start with howto.txt.


	****************
	* Features *
	****************


	Here is the statutory feature list:

	- Freeware

	- Supports playback of IT, XM, S3M and MOD files

	- Faithful to the original trackers, especially IT; if it plays your module
	wrongly, please tell me so I can fix the bug! (But please don't complain
	about differences between DUMB and ModPlug Tracker; see docs/modplug.txt)

	- Accurate support for low-pass resonant filters for IT files

	- Very accurate timing and pitching; completely deterministic playback

	- Click removal

	- Facility to embed music files in other files (e.g. Allegro datafiles)

	- Three resampling quality settings: aliasing, linear interpolation and cubic
	interpolation

	- Number of samples playing at once can be limited to reduce processor usage,
	but samples will come back in when other louder ones stop

	- All notes will be present and correct even if you start a piece of music in
	the middle

	- Fast seeking to any point before the music first loops (seeking time
	increases beyond this point)

	- Audio generated can be used in any way; DUMB does not necessarily send it
	straight to a sound output system

	- Makefile provided for DJGPP, MinGW, Linux, BeOS and Mac OS X; project file
	provided for MSVC 6 (please contact me if you'd like to submit or request
	support for a new platform; the code itself should port anywhere that has a
	32-bit C compiler)

	- Can be used with Allegro, can be used without (if you'd like to help make
	DUMB more approachable to people who aren't using Allegro, please contact
	me)


	*********************
	* What you need *
	*********************


	To use DUMB, you need a 32-bit C compiler (GCC and MSVC are fine). If you
	have Allegro, DUMB can integrate with its audio streams and datafiles, making
	your life easier. If you do not wish to use Allegro, you will have to do some
	work to get music playing back. The 'dumbplay' example program requires
	Allegro.

	Allegro - http://alleg.sf.net/

	Neil Walker has kindly uploaded some DUMB binaries at
	http://retrospec.sgn.net/allegro/ . They may not always be up to date, so you
	should try to compile it yourself first.


	**********************************************
	* How to set DUMB up with DJGPP or MinGW *
	**********************************************


	You should have got the .zip version. If for some reason you got the .tar.gz
	version instead, you may have to convert make/config.bat to DOS text file
	format. WinZip does this automatically by default. Otherwise, loading it into
	MS EDIT and saving it again should do the trick. You will have to do the same
	for any files you want to view in Windows Notepad. If you have problems, just
	go and download the .zip instead.

	Make sure you preserved the directory structure when you extracted DUMB from
	the archive. Most unzipping programs will do this by default, but pkunzip
	requires you to pass -d. If not, please delete DUMB and extract it again
	properly.

	If you are using Windows, open an MS-DOS Prompt or a Windows Command Line.
	Change to the directory into which you unzipped DUMB.

	Type the following:

	make

	DUMB will ask you whether you wish to compile for DJGPP or MinGW. Then it
	will ask you whether you want support for Allegro. (You have to have made and
	installed Allegro's optimised library for this to work.) Finally, it will
	compile optimised and debugging builds of DUMB, along with the example
	programs. When it has finished, run the following to install the libraries:

	make install

	All done! If you ever need the configuration again (e.g. if you compiled for
	DJGPP before and you want to compile for MinGW now), run the following:

	make config

	See the comments in the makefile for other targets.

	Note: the makefile will only work properly if you have COMSPEC or ComSpec set
	to point to command.com or cmd.exe. If you set it to point to a Unix-style
	shell, the makefile won't work.

	Please let me know if you have any trouble.

	Scroll down for information on the example programs. Refer to docs/howto.txt
	when you are ready to start programming with DUMB. If you use DUMB in a game,
	let me know - I might decide to place a link to your game on DUMB's website!


	******************************************************
	* How to set DUMB up with Microsoft Visual C++ 6 *
	******************************************************


	You should have got the .zip version. If for some reason you got the .tar.gz
	version instead, you may have to convert some files to DOS text file format.
	WinZip does this automatically by default. Otherwise, loading such files into
	MS EDIT and saving them again should do the trick. You will have to do this
	for any files you want to view in Windows Notepad. If you have problems, just
	go and download the .zip instead.

	Make sure you preserved the directory structure when you extracted DUMB from
	the archive. Most unzipping programs will do this by default, but pkunzip
	requires you to pass -d. If not, please delete DUMB and extract it again
	properly.

	DUMB now comes with a project file for Microsoft Visual C++ 6. To add DUMB to
	your project:

	1. Open your project in VC++.
	2. Select Project\|Insert Project into Workspace...
	3. Navigate to the dumb\vc6 directory, and select dumb.dsp.
	4. Select Build\|Set Active Configuration..., and reselect one of your
	project's configurations.
	5. Select Project\|Dependencies... and ensure your project is dependent on
	DUMB.
	6. Select Project\|Settings..., Settings for: All Configurations, C/C++ tab,
	Preprocessor category. Add the DUMB include directory to the Additional
	Include Directories box.
	7. Ensure that for all the projects in the workspace (or more likely just all
	the projects in a particular dependency chain) the run-time libraries are
	the same. That's in Project\|Settings, C/C++ tab, Code generation category,
	Use run-time library dropdown. The settings for Release and Debug are
	separate, so you'll have to change them one at a time. Exactly which run-
	time library you use will depend on what you need; it doesn't appear that
	DUMB has any particular requirements, so set it to whatever you're using
	now.

	Good thing you only have to do all that once ...

	If you have the Intel compiler installed, it will - well, should - be used to
	compile DUMB. The only setting I added is /QxiM. This allows the compiler to
	use PPro and MMX instructions, and so when compiling with Intel the resultant
	EXE will require a Pentium II or greater. I don't think this is unreasonable.
	After all, it is 2003 :)

	If you don't have the Intel compiler, VC will compile DUMB as normal.

	This project file and these instructions were provided by Tom Seddon (I hope
	I got his name right; I had to guess it from his e-mail address!). They are
	untested by me. If you have problems, check the download page at
	http://dumb.sf.net/ to see if they are addressed; failing that, direct
	queries to me and I'll try to figure them out.

	When you are ready to start using DUMB, refer to docs/howto.txt. If you use
	DUMB in a game, let me know - I might decide to place a link to your game on
	DUMB's website!


	********************************************************************
	* How to set DUMB up on Linux, BeOS and possibly even Mac OS X *
	********************************************************************


	You should have got the .tar.gz version. If for some reason you got the .zip
	version instead, you may have to use dtou on some or all of the text files.
	If you have problems, just go and download the .tar.gz instead.

	First, run the following command as a normal user:

	make

	You will be asked whether you want Allegro support. Then, unless you are on
	BeOS, you will be asked where you'd like DUMB to install its headers,
	libraries and examples (which will go in the include/, lib/ and bin/
	subdirectories of the prefix you specify). BeOS has fixed locations for these
	files. Once you have specified these pieces of information, the optimised and
	debugging builds of DUMB will be compiled, along with the examples. When it
	has finished, you can install them with:

	make install

	You may need to be root for this to work. It depends on the prefix you chose.

	Note: the makefile will only work if COMSPEC and ComSpec are both undefined.
	If either of these is defined, the makefile will try to build for a Windows
	system, and will fail.

	Please let me know if you have any trouble.

	Information on the example programs is just below. Refer to docs/howto.txt
	when you are ready to start programming with DUMB. If you use DUMB in a game,
	let me know - I might decide to place a link to your game on DUMB's website!


	****************************
	* The example programs *
	****************************


	Two example programs are provided. On DOS and Windows, you can find them in
	the examples subdirectory. On other systems they will be installed system-
	wide.

	dumbplay
	This program will only be built if you have Allegro. Pass it the filename
	of an IT, XM, S3M or MOD file, and it will play it. It's not a polished
	player with real-time threading or anything - so don't complain about it
	stuttering while you use other programs - but it does show DUMB's fidelity
	nicely. You can control the playback quality by editing dumb.ini, which
	must be in the current working directory. (This is a flaw for systems
	where the program is installed system-wide, but it is non-fatal.) Have a
	look at the examples/dumb.ini file for further information.

	dumbout
	This program does not need Allegro. You can use it to stream an IT, XM,
	S3M or MOD file to raw PCM. This can be used as input to an encoder like
	oggenc (with appropriate command-line options), or it can be sent to a
	.pcm file which can be read by any respectable waveform editor. No .wav
	support yet, sorry. This program is also convenient for timing DUMB.
	Compare the time it takes to render a module with the module's playing
	time! dumbout doesn't try to read any configuration file; the options are
	set on the command line.


	*********************************************
	* Downloading music or writing your own *
	*********************************************


	If you would like to compose your own music modules, then first I must offer
	a word of warning: not everyone is capable of composing music. Do not assume
	you will be able to learn the art. By all means have a go; if you can learn
	to play tunes on the computer keyboard, you're well on the way to being a
	composer!

	The best programs for the job are the trackers that pioneered the file
	formats:

	Impulse Tracker - IT files - http://www.noisemusic.org/it/
	Fast Tracker II - XM files - http://www.gwinternet.com/music/ft2/
	Scream Tracker 3 - S3M files -
	http://www.united-trackers.org/resources/software/screamtracker.htm

	MOD files come from the Amiga; I do not know what PC tracker to recommend for
	editing these. If you know of one, let me know! In the meantime, I would
	recommend using a more advanced file format. However, don't convert your
	existing MODs just for the sake of it.

	Note that Fast Tracker II is Shareware. It arguably offers the best
	interface, but the IT file format is more powerful and better defined.
	Impulse Tracker and Scream Tracker 3 are Freeware. DUMB is likely to be at
	its best with IT files.

	These editors are DOS programs. Users of DOS-incapable operating systems may
	like to try ModPlug Tracker, but should read docs/modplug.txt before using it
	for any serious work. If you use a different operating system, or if you know
	of any module editors for Windows that are more faithful to the original
	trackers' playback, please give me some links so I can put them here!

	ModPlug Tracker - http://www.modplug.com/

	BEWARE OF WINAMP! Although it's excellent for MP3s, it is notorious for being
	one of the worst module players in existence; very few modules play correctly
	with it. There are plug-ins available to improve Winamp's module support, for
	example WSP.

	Winamp - http://www.winamp.com/
	WSP - http://www.spytech.cz/index.php?sec=demo

	Samples and instruments are the building blocks of music modules. You can
	download samples at:

	http://www.tump.net/

	If you would like to download module files composed by other people, check
	the following sites:

	http://www.modarchive.com/
	http://www.scene.org/
	http://www.tump.net/
	http://www.homemusic.cc/main.php
	http://www.modplug.com/

	Once again, if you know of more sites where samples or module files are
	available for download, please let me know.

	If you wish to use someone's music in your game, please respect the
	composer's wishes. In general, you should ask the composer. Music that has
	been placed in the Public Domain can be used by anyone for anything, but it
	wouldn't do any harm to ask anyway if you know who the author is. In most
	cases the author will be thrilled, so don't hesitate!

	A note about converting modules from one format to another: don't do it,
	unless you are a musician and are prepared to go through the file and make
	sure everything sounds the way it should! The module formats are all slightly
	different, and converting from one format to another will usually do some
	damage.

	Instead, it is recommended that you allow DUMB to interpret the original file
	as it sees fit. DUMB may make mistakes (it does a lot of conversion on
	loading), but future versions of DUMB will be able to rectify these mistakes.
	On the other hand, if you convert the file, the damage is permanent.


	***********************
	* Contact details *
	***********************


	If you have trouble with DUMB, or want to contact me for any other reason, my
	e-mail address is given below. However, I may be able to help more if you
	come on to IRC EFnet #dumb.

	IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, and is a type of chat network. Several
	such networks exist, and EFnet is a popular one. In order to connect to an
	IRC network, you first need an IRC client. Here are some:

	http://www.xchat.org/
	http://www.visualirc.net/beta.php
	http://www.mirc.com/

	Getting on to IRC can be a steep cliff, but it is not insurmountable, and
	it's well worth it. Once you have set up the client software, you need to
	connect to a server. Here is a list of EFnet servers I have had success with.
	Type "/server" (without quotes), then a space, then the name of a server.

	irc.homelien.no
	irc.webgiro.se
	efnet.vuurwerk.nl
	efnet.demon.co.uk
	irc.isdnet.fr
	irc.prison.net

	If these servers do not work, visit http://efnet.org/ircdb/servers.php for a
	huge list of other EFnet servers to try.

	Once you're connected, type the following:

	/join #dumb

	A window will appear, and you can ask your question. It should be clear
	what's going on from this point onwards. I am 'entheh'. Note that unlike many
	other nerds I am not always at my computer, so if I don't answer your
	question, don't take it personally! I will usually be able to read your
	question when I come back.


	******************
	* Conclusion *
	******************


	This is the conclusion.


	Ben Davis
	entheh@users.sf.net
	IRC EFnet #dumb