|
|
| This is the Help File included with PocketAxe:How to Load a PocketAxe Instrument This is not available in Demo Mode. When PocketAxe is started, the screen will say "Tap screen to start". When you tap the screen, you will be asked to load a PocketAxe Instrument file. (You can also select the menu item File/Open.) PocketAxe instruments come in the following types: Basic instruments - These define the shape of an instrument but the sounds and chords are left undefined. If you open a basic instrument, you will be asked to choose sound and/or chord files to build a configured instrument. (Note that you can use piano sounds in the guitar and vice-versa.) When you have chosen sounds, the now configured instrument will be started. You can Cancel part way though defining the sounds and create a partial instrument. Once you have created a configured instrument you can save it using the File/Save As menu item. WARNING: do not save on top of a basic instrument or it and the configured instruments based on it will be lost. If this happens you will need to reinstall the basic instrument. The basic instrument files are guitar5, guitar 10, guitar20, drums, piano and waver6. The number at the end of the guitar instrument names indicates how many chords can be loaded into the instrument. For the 10 and 20 chord versions, the hardware buttons are used to switch chord banks. The waver6 instrument allows you to load and play up to 6 wave (.WAV) files. Configured instruments - These instruments have sounds and chords defined. If you open a configured instrument, it will be started without asking for further information. Key Signature Guitars - These are partially configured instruments that are already loaded with the chords usually used in the most common key signatures. The key signature guitars all have names that start with a number. For example, 1b-F-Dm, is a guitar for playing songs with 1 flat - in the key of F or D minor. The only question you are asked when you load this instrument is which sound to use with it. Each of the key signature guitars is set up with the following hardware buttons:
Garbage in the File Loading Dialog There is a bad interaction with some flash memory cards and the file loading dialog boxes. This means that phantom file names show up in the list. These file names usually have empty names or garbage characters in them. At present the only work-around is to ignore these files. Play a PocketAxe Instrument NOTE: Not all PocketAxe instruments are configured the same way. The following description is for the most common cases: Holding PocketAxe: Hold the device sideways in your left hand, with the buttons on the left and strum/play with your right hand. (Left-handed instruments are to be created). Strings/Keys/Pads/Notes: These are either rectangles or ovals. You can find them by moving the stylus or your finger over the screen. When touched they will change color and cause a note or chord to be played. See the volume calculation. Hardware Buttons: Adjust volume, notes and chords. Menu Options: Adjust the volume calculation. Hardware Buttons:
Volume Calculation Volume calculation is based on the speed of the stylus moving across the screen, not the pressure of the stylus. PDA devices do not have pressure sensitive screens, so when you tap on a string/key PocketAxe plays the corresponding sound with middle level volume. When you move the stylus across the screen, PocketAxe is able to calculate the speed and translate that to volume. However, it is not the same as the effect of hitting a guitar string with more pressure, so it requires some getting used to. This is further complicated by the fact that the processor in a PDA device is not quite fast enough to keep up with a stylus moving at high speed. This causes the speed calculation to be slightly erratic at times. Because of this, there are several controls in PocketAxe to modify the volume calculation:
Menus
Demo Mode Before you register PocketAxe, you can test that it works on your PDA by using it in Demo Mode. In this mode you cannot load or save instruments. The demo instrument is a guitar with 5 chords loaded. The basic playing functionality is available, except that there is only one chord bank and you cannot shift semitones. Audio Files PocketAxe currently plays only mono wave (.WAV) files with 8 or 16 bit samples. PDA devices have varying capabilities, but can usually play sample rates of 11,025, 22,050 and 44,100. You can load your own wave files directly into the PocketAxe waver instrument to test them. You can also record waves using the PDA microphone (e.g. in the Notes application) and play them back using the waver. Use a QWERTY Keyboard If your device has a built-in or add-on keyboard you can use it with some instruments. Use the shift key to make a louder sound. Use the direction arrows to adjust the overall volume of the soft and loud sounds.
Audio Quality The audio files included with PocketAxe are a compromise between quality and size. They are 8 bit samples, sampled at 22,050 hertz. Also, only every fourth note is included. PocketAxe interprets between the supplied notes to create the other three. The result of these compromises allows a complete guitar/piano sound to fit in 660KB. However, these compromises do degrade the quality of the sound. High quality samples (16 bits at 44,100 hertz), with all notes included use 10MB per sound. You can download higher quality samples or create your own. See also Audio Files and the volume calculation. (Please note also that at least one of the guitar sounds is intended to sound like the amplifier is on fire.) Performance PocketAxe pushes the limits for most PDAs. If you find that sounds are not keeping up with your strumming speed or the volume is inconsistent, try switching off the highlights in Options/Show Active. See also the volume calculation.
|
Contact us: pocketaxe@pocketaxe.com*Pocket PC, Windows and Windows Mobile are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. |