Notes: April 20/93 - updated. June 10/92 - We now accept VISA. Please note our new address as of April 6, 1993: Howling Dog Systems Kanata North Postal Outlet, Box 72071 Kanata, ON, Canada K2K 2P4 Tel: (613) 599-7927 Fax: (613) 599-7926 This is a demonstration version of Power Chords, a graphical music program for Windows by Howling Dog Systems. To run this demo you need: - Windows 3.1 OR Windows 3.0 plus the Multimedia extensions - A sound card or MIDI interface supported by Windows. To install the demo, copy all the files to a diskette or subdirectory, and from Windows, run the supplied install program INSTALL.EXE. (Select the Run command from the File menu in the Program Manager and enter INSTALL.EXE as the command line. Be sure to supply the disk drive letter or subdirectory the files are in.) The help file supplied with the demo version is truncated. Full help is supplied with the retail version of Power Chords. Most of the files on the install diskette are packed. They will not work if you just copy them to your hard disk - they must be unpacked by the installation process. The demonstration files DEMO1.POW through DEMO6.POW have extra support for GS Format in them. If you have a GS Format sound module, make sure that you select GS Format in the MIDI Options dialog box so that the extra GS Data is heard. IF YOU GET NO SOUND FROM YOUR SOUND BOARD WITH POWER CHORDS: ============================================================ Gravis UltraSound: ------------------ This version of Power Chords does not support the patch caching that the UltraSound requires to load its sounds to the on-board RAM. A special bundle version of Power Chords is shipped with the UltraSound that does. In addition, version 1.1 of Power Chords, out May 1/93 will support the UltraSound. Check out a demo of 1.1 when available. Sound Blaster: -------------- Special note for Sound Blaster 'regular' (ie. not SB Pro) users: Try the AdLib driver if the Sound Blaster drivers do not work. 1) Make SURE your sound board is connected to speakers etc. properly. Play a .WAV file to make sure you can hear any output your sound board is producing. (You can play .WAV files from one of many sound products which attach .WAV files to various system activities such as starting Windows, system errors, etc. Or use the Windows Sounds icon - click on "Control Panel" in the Main Window. Then click on the Sounds icon. Use the Test button to make sure you can play sounds through your sound board and speakers.) 2) Select the proper driver for use in Power Chords. Start Power Chords. (Not the demo, and not the tutorial, just regular Power Chords.) From the main menu, select Options - MIDI. Click on the "Output Device" combo box to see the list of available drivers. 3) Select the output driver to use. (See notes below, and Power Chords documentation for more on this.) 4) Click on OK to close the MIDI Options dialog. 5) Test. If the Instrument Window is iconized, double click on the icon. If not, place the mouse cursor on the fretboard and click the *right* (not left) mouse button. You should hear notes sound. If not, try another driver by repeating steps 2 through 5. Here's another test - From the main menu, select File-Open. Select a song file such as MEDLEY.POW. Double click on the Song Window icon if it is not already visible. Click on the Play button at the top left of the song window (it has a triangle in it). You should hear the song play. If you do not, click the Stop button (it has a big square in it) and try another driver (steps 2 through 5 above). IF YOU ARE NOT USING ANY EXTERNAL MIDI INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS A MIDI KEYBOARD: =========================================================================== Make sure the Input Device is set to "". This applies to the majority of sound card users. Instrument Mapping: ------------------- The instrument mapping option in the MIDI Options dialog box should be set to 'General MIDI' in the vast majority of cases for *sound card* users. (Exceptions: Roland SCC-1, MIDILand PCD-GM users, and other users of Roland GS compatible equipment should use Roland GS setting). Driver Notes: ============= Sound Blaster: -------------- If you are using a Sound Blaster Pro without any MIDI instruments use the "SB Pro Stereo FM" driver. If you are using a MIDI device such as a MIDI Keyboard or external MIDI module, connected to the MIDI port on a Sound Blaster Pro use the "SB MIDI Out" driver. If you are using an older model Sound Blaster card (non-Pro), use the Sound Blaster Windows driver provided with the card. If this driver does not work, try the AdLib driver (which comes with Windows 3.1). Switch the drums to channel 16 if necessary (Options - Drum Sounds - the MIDI channel for drums is in the upper right hand corner of the dialog. Test the sounds by clicking on the drum sound names with the right mouse button). Media Vision: ------------- If you are using the on-board FM synthesis on a Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum Plus, or Pro Audio Spectrum 16, use the driver called "Voyetra FM Driver for PAS2". If you are using a MIDI device connected to the MIDI port on a Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum Plus, or Pro Audio Spectrum 16 use the driver called "ProAudio MIDI Output". Roland MPU-401 MIDI interfaces and compatibles: ----------------------------------------------- If you are using a Roland MPU-401 MIDI interface or compatible, use the "Roland MPU-401" driver supplied with Windows, or a later version. If you are going to record from MIDI In, you must select "Roland MPU-401" as the MIDI Input driver as well. Music Quest interfaces are shipped with their own drivers. Make sure you have the latest version as there have been problems with early versions of the drivers. The Key Midiator serial port interface will work with Power Chords. A Windows driver is provided by the makers of the interface. You may have to run Windows in Standard mode to use this interface (WIN /S). Roland SCC-1: ------------- Use the "Roland MPU-401" driver provided with Windows. This will direct the output of Power Chords to the SCC-1. MIDILand PCD-GM: ---------------- Use the "Roland MPU-401" driver provided with Windows. This will direct the output of Power Chords to the PCD-GM card. Power Chords Upgrades and New Products: ======================================= Version 1.1 of Power Chords will be available May 1, 1993. As well, Howling Dog Systems is due to release an exciting children's music program in Spring 1993 called "Mr. Drumstix' Music Studio". Check our forum on CompuServe in MIDICVEN (GO HOWLING) for details. When you purchase Power Chords, make sure you send in your Warranty card so we can keep you posted on special upgrade offers. Power Chords 1.0 is available for $84.95 US or $99.95 CDN (plus applicable taxes) directly from Howling Dog Systems. You may pay by: VISA - just call or e-mail us with your VISA card number Personal Cheque Money Order To order Power Chords or for more information, contact: Howling Dog Systems Kanata North Postal Outlet, Box 72071 Kanata, ON, Canada K2K 2P4 Tel: (613) 599-7927 Fax: (613) 599-7926 On CompuServe: 71333,2166 Visit our forum on CompuServe in MIDICVEN, or GO HOWLING