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InstrumentBuilder
version 1.0
InstrumentBuilder is a graphic tool for creating instruments for the computer music program cmusic (some attempts have been made to make it csound compatible as well). Users drag and drop unit generators on a page, connect them, and "unparse" the instruments directly into cmusic scores. Users can also "parse" cmusic scores, have InstrumentBuilder extract the instrument definitions from them, and create its version of the instruments.
This release of InstrumentBuilder runs under NeXTSTEP 3.x, requires about 4MB of disk space, and is compiled for both black and white hardware. InstrumentBuilder is shareware but costs nothing to register (I only ask that users do register it).
Some Key Features:
· Graphic, user-friendly environment for creating cmusic instruments.
· Drag and drop unit generators into instruments and control-click to connect them.
· Users can unparse directly into existing scores, or they can create new scores.
· Users can parse an existing score, having IB extract the instruments from them.
· IB learns about unit generators at runtime through an external file (ibdef), so it is not locked into a fixed set of unit generators, and default unit generator characteristics can be modified at anytime.
· The unit generator palette can be reloaded at any time -- and from any ibdef file.
· Multiple scores can be open at a time, and scores can have mutiple instruments.
· Cut and paste unit generators between instruments or scores.
· You can save your score as an "InstrumentBuilder Score" (.ibs), thereby saving the placement of the windows, the placement of the unit generators, scale factor of the instruments, etc.
· You can create "Groups" -- a set of unit generators grouped together inside
another unit generator. This allows you to quickly add features to your instrument by dropping a Group into it.
· Groups can be saved in "InstrumentBuilder Group" files (.ibg). These files
can be loaded at anytime, and you can have InstrumentBuilder load them automatically as it loads unit generators from an ibdef file.
· Full on-line Help.
Enhancements from version .99:
· You can now directly connect two ugs by draging from one's out to another's
in. IB will automatically choose the buffer for you (unless you choose
otherwise through the inspector panel).
· In display mode, title's appear on inputs if the field is blank.
· Outputs are now displayed vertically like inputs.
· Sets of unit generators grouped together are now called "Groups" rather than
"Macros" to avoid confusion with cmusic macros like SPACE.
Bugs fixed in this version:
· Printing problem fixed!!!
· Scrolling problem fixed!!!
· Creating Groups has been made more bullet proof and works properly.
Known bugs in this version:
· Sometimes after removing a Unit Generator, the app will crash when that ug is sent a display message.
Included with this release of InstrumentBuilder is the support file "cmusic.ibdef". InstrumentBuilder will need this file, or one like it, in order to know what unit generators are available. This file can be called anything ending in ".ibdef", and can be modified to your hearts content. See the help section on ibdef files for more info on modifying them.
Also included with this release of InstrumentBuilder is a directory called "Examples" containing some cmusic scores to try InstrumentBuilder out with.
Mark Trombino
trombino@wendy.ucsd.edu
Center for Research in Computing in the Arts, U.C.S.D.These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.