Changes in version 0.3b: ------------------------ * - Fixed problem with loading an AY file as the TAP block immediately following the player program. Initial m/code routines are now stored within a BASIC REM statement, and absolute address references are POKEd into the code at run time to handle variations in the BASIC program's location. This removes the 8-second delay on first load, and also makes the BASIC program smaller. Changes in version 0.3a: ------------------------ * - New logo, made of mosaic graphics characters :-) * - Several routines converted to machine code, and a more efficient method of generating and calling the m/c routines used. This has quite substantially speeded-up most of the previously very slow tasks. There is more work to do in this area, but it is getting better! * - Songs that overwrite the system or BASIC areas are now supported. This makes several more files playable, including Matthew Westcott's superb Acoustic Dreams, and a lot of 48K beeper tunes. * - Added an option to load a new AY file directly from playback mode: Just push 'F' during playback (interrupt-driven songs only, obviously). This makes the full complement of playback controls as follows: 'N' jumps to the next tune, 'P' for the previous tune, 'R' rewinds the current tune to the beginning, 'L' returns to the list. 'F' loads a new AY file from tape. Also, numbers 1 to 9 jump directly to tunes 1-9 respectively, while '0' jumps to tune 10. Any other key has the same function as 'N'. Note that the controls are only available for interrupt- driven tunes. * - A few cosmetic changes. Changes in version 0.3: ----------------------- * - The program is re-named "SpecAY". * - When loading a file containing only one song, SpecAY plays it immediately without presenting the file information or song list. * - Several routines, particularly the machine code loaders, have been rewritten to improve both speed and size. The code is now stored directly within DATA statements inside the BASIC program. Don't try to edit the program in the 128 Editor - the Spectrum will crash when attempting to display some lines containing embedded code. LIST does not work too well either. * - Two extra options added to FILE2TAP: You can now choose append the output to an existing TAP file, or prepend the contents of an existing file to the output file. The latter option is useful for adding the loader program onto the AY file in a single TAP. Run FILE2TAP.EXE with no parameters for more details. Changed in Version 0.2a: ------------------------ * - Actually *fixed* the bug in FILE2TAP which occasionally caused a spurious byte to be added to the end of the TAP file. (Thought I had fixed it before, but it was only a partial fix!) Changes in Version 0.2: ----------------------- * - Re-write of the memory manipulation routines to make use of the full 128k of memory. This removes the possibility of "overlaps", and means that almost any AY file should now work. * - Added an option to load up a new AY file, without having to BREAK and RUN, or reload the loader. * - Added a few messages to tell you a bit more about what it's doing, instead of just saying "Please Wait". * - Fixed a bug in FILE2TAP which caused Spectaculator to show a large number of "phantom" datablocks after the real datablock. Changes in Version 0.1b: ------------------------ * - Added playback controls for interrupt-driven tunes: 'N' jumps to the next tune, 'P' for the previous tune, 'R' rewinds the current tune to the beginning, 'L' returns to the list. Also, numbers 1 to 9 jump directly to tunes 1-9 respectively, while '0' jumps to tune 10. Any other key has the same function as 'N'. Note that the controls are only available for interrupt- driven tunes. * - The name of the tune is now displayed during playback, in place of the boring 'PLAYING' message. * - Overlaps are now detected, and an attempt is made to move the source file to make room for the datablocks. I isn't very intelligent yet so won't always find space. If it can't find space, some songs still won't play properly. Changes in Version 0.1a: ------------------------ * - Now supports +3 machines - I hope!