			----------------------------
               EASYXMID v1.0 by Stefano Maini - documentation

                            Updated Feb 1, 1998
			----------------------------



			 *** IMPORTANT WARNINGS ***


	1) The author is not responsible for any damage and/or data loss
	   caused by this product. Please read carefully the documentation
	   before using it.


	2) The files stored in this package are all FREEWARE. It means that
	   you may distribute,copy,modify,delete whatever you want. The
	   author is not responsible for any damage and/or data loss caused
	   by modified versions.


	3) This package was checked with the author's best antivirus program.
	   The author apologize for any bugs and/or bad writing sentences
	   found in the original version of the package.


	4) I am Italian, don't expect good English language in this doc !



			*** USER'S INFORMATIONS ***


  1) WHAT IS 'EASYXMID' ?

  EASYXMID is a DOS utility that converts MIDI-format files (*.MID) in
  Fast Tracker 2 format modules (*.XM). Useful when you want to play
  your MIDI songs better than FM chips do (if you don't have a wavetable
  in your soundcard).

  GOOD features:

	+ Easy to use
	+ Very small code
	+ Doesn't need extra memory
	+ Doesn't need extra samples or GUS patches during conversion
	+ Optimized XM channels utilization
	+ Optimized instruments allocation
	+ Extended module output (volume col,8 octaves, note-off, 32 voices)
	+ Volume-pitch-program-tempo change

  BAD features:

	- Slow processing
	- Produces very big XM files (doesn't compress patterns)
	- Midi format 2 not supported
	- STMPTE timing system not supported
	- Panning usupported (no stereo output)

  2) WHAT MUST I HAVE ?

	- A MS-DOS 6.0 platform
	- The utility works well on a 80x386 processor or better.
	- A copy of Fast Tracker 2 to make your converted song working.

  3) HOW THE CONVERSION WORKS ?

  Type at the dos prompt the following command line:        
	
        EASYXMID <source> <dest> <qfact> <drumchn>

  Where: (the arguments must be IN ORDER, don't forget any parameter!)

	<source> Is the name of your source MIDI file. 
		 You MUST specify complete path.
		 Include the .MID extension.
		 No Jolly characters allowed (only 1 file per time!)

	<dest> Is the name of your destination XM file.  
	       You MUST specify complete path.
	       Include the .XM extension.
	
	<qfact> Is the quantization factor. It means that 
		you can skip notes that are too short, reducing
		also the lenght of your XM pattern list.
		<qfact> must be an integer number between 0 and 4.
		Refer to this scheme:

			<qfact>         Skip less than...
			 0               1/4 note
			 1               1/8 note
			 2               1/16 note
			 3               1/32 note
			 4               1/64 note

	<drumchn> is the number of the MIDI channel reserved to drums.
		  Usually is 10, but some MIDIs use 16.

 After the conversion, you will see some informations about channel
 utilization and song lenght.

 Launch Fast Tracker 2 and load your converted XM :
 
	- Reduce your number of channels accordingly to the 
          value written in the songname string.

	- Load your best samples/instruments into the respective slots
	  (Where the MIDI instruments name are stored!)

	- Tune up your samples, check volume and play it !!!

        - Save your fresh XM to disk. (You will notice that EASYXMID
	  stores pattern in uncompressed format. saving it again in
	  FT2 -with pattern compression- will save some disk space)


 That's it! Hope you'll have fun with it.
   

			  *** TROUBLESHOOTING ***                  
		  

	1) The utility don't save changes.

		- Your disk is full. Always keep 1MB free on your HD 
			 (not only for this utility!) 

	2) My converted XM is -NO GOOD- 
	
		Sorry, this utility is a beta release. There are a lot
		of bugs to fix... If you are sincerely interested about
		this program (yeah, I mean you really NEED it, you really 
		WANT to make it WORK) send me an e-mail with your comments 
		about improvements and bug-finding.


						       Stefano Maini

                                                    email: mainet@iol.it
                                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
