Welcome to the Synthia II Demo! We set out to write the most powerful sound/synthesis software for the Amiga in the world, and we have done it. To run the Demo, simply click the Synthia II Demo icon. The Synthia II options are available in the pull-down menus. On most windows there will be a MAKE icon. Click this icon and Synthia II will either create an instrument or modify an instrument. Also, you can tweak the sounds by adjusting the various knobs and waveforms in Synthia II. This demo will load most Amiga and Macintosh sound files with the Sound LOAD/SAVE option in the menus. (However, the SAVE is disabled.) Copying This Disk: Because this is a demo, you are free to copy this disk, as long as nothing on the disk is modified or omitted. What Is Synthia II? Synthia II is a powerful 8 bit sound package. Synthia II starts where Synthia left off. Like Synthia, Synthia II will generate and modify instruments for use with your favorite Music Programs. Synthia II does it better, cleaner, and with more options. With Synthia II, you can do many things. Generate multi-sample instruments for your favorite music program. Synthia II can create up to 16 samples at a single keystroke, and with mathematical precision. This translates to cleaner, louder, and better sound. Synthia II contains several synthesizers, including Additive, Subtractive, Interpolation, FM, PM and more. Synthia II also features two new Drum synthesizers which can do snare drums, blocks, toms, and many other drums. Our Plucked String synthesizer is also very broad, creating extremely realistic plucked string type instruments in six different styles. Add special effects to your instruments. Synthia II includes most standard effects. You can add Wow, Equalization, Flanging, Phasing, even Fuzz Distortion! Use Echo or Reverb to add roomy effects to your sound. Or maybe you want some Chorus effect. Or maybe you just want to equalize the sound slightly with the Graphic Equalizer. There are even exotic effects like FM, PM, or Ring modulation. We didn't leave out the bread and butter either. AM modulation as well as Pitch Shifting is here. Other features are also included. Visual Editing is another powerful feature of Synthia II. Cut, Paste, or simply Draw into a sample. For example, use CUT to remove the silent space off the beginning of a sound. Powerful looping facilities include a number of CrossFade loop adjusts. You may also fine tune your loop using the Fine Looping Window. For instance, if you have a sample with a loop that clicks, you can adjust the loop with the Fine Looping Window to remove the click. Next, crossfading might be nice to smooth out the sound, creating an illusion of a long, continuous sound. Synthia II is capable of dealing with several file types. This allows you to convert samples from one format to another. An example below demonstrates this capability. For instance, you are putting together a sound library for Deluxe Music. You have access to a Sound Design library on a bulletin board (Mac) and want to convert Sound Design files to IFF 8SVX Format so Deluxe Music can use the file. Since Synthia II can read Sound Design files, you would simply load the file into Synthia II, use Resample to convert the Sound Design sample to an IFF 8SVX file, and save it as an 8SVX file. Synthia II can read, write, generate, and do conversions between the following file formats: 8SVX IFF - This format is used by most Amiga Programs and gives you access to most Amiga sounds. You will use this format to design instruments for most programs which play an instrument through the Amiga. AudioIFF (LIST format) - Synthia Pro uses this format. It is a group of AudioIFF FORMS (below) placed in one file. Synthia II can read and write Synthia Pro files. AudioIFF (FORM format) - Alchemy and other Mac Programs use this format and give you access to huge Mac Sound Libraries. AudioIFF (FORM and LIST) are Commodore and Apple approved for sound and will probably be the future sound file standard. Synthia II reads both 16 bit and 8 bit files and will write 8 bit files. SoundScape - This is the Mimetics sound format and allows you to use Synthia II directly with SoundScape products. Sound Design - DigiDesign uses this format on the Mac. Most samples currently on Bulletin boards will probably be in this format and will give you access to some of the biggest sound libraries available. (Synthia II reads Sound Design files but will not write them.) Synthia II indirectly supports stereo/multi-channel sound as well as velocity switches. This can be used to generate multi-sample effects with the Synthia II SMUS Player to play back a sound using these instruments. Synthia II is one of the most powerful sound package available on a popular computer. It can create, modify or convert sounds for almost any purpose. Whether you are designing instruments for use with another program, such as Deluxe Music, or just for fun, Synthia II fits the bill. You can never outgrow Synthia II. So, What Would I Use Synthia II For? 1. Create instruments for your music programs. Synthia II can help you create custom instruments for your music. 2. Add effects to your instruments. For example, you have a special guitar you like, but it needs some flange or reverb. Simply load the guitar, apply some flange or reverb, and save it again. 3. Clean up an instrument. Have you ever dealt with sounds that weren't loud enough? Or maybe they had too much bass in them? Load the sound in, amplify or equalize it to your taste, and save it out again. It's that simple. 4. Loop an instrument. You know all those samples you have which have a slight 'click' in the loop. Load them in and try a CROSSFADE on the EDITING window. It can make all the difference in the world. 5. File conversions. Ever feel envy when you are talking to a Mac owner? Did you ever want access to all those samples available on a Mac? Since Synthia II reads the two most popular Mac formats, you have access to the Mac samples. What's more, you can convert them to Amiga format if you want. The uses for Synthia II are too many to be described here. Synthia II is a MUST for anyone who is serious or curious about sound. It is also for anyone who needs or wants quality in their music work. Look for Synthia II at a store near you. Mean while, enjoy the demo! (Synthia II is similar to Synthia Professional. See reviews on Synthia Professional in Amazing Computing March 1990 issue, and Amiga World April 1990 issue. Reviews also in Computer Shopper, Amiga Plus and others. Additional Information Also available from The Other Guys are Synthia Professional, a package which does everything Synthia II does and can also work with many midi samplers and 16 bits. EZ FM Synth is a very nice FM synthesizer for creating those hot FM type sounds. You may obtain complete demos of Synthia II, Synthia Professional, and EZ FM Synth, for $5.00 to cover handling and media costs. (The demo on this disk is not complete as many modules were deleted to make room for the SMUS player and utilities). You may obtain these disks by writing: The Other Guys 55 N Main Suite 301D PO Box H Logan UT 84321 USA or call tollfree: (800) 942-9402 The Other Guys are accepting software submissions. If you have a program you wish to market, call the above number or write to the above adress. NOTE: There are some environment files on this disk which set up the demo for creating various instruments. To use these environments: 1. Select "Window Environment" from the menus. 2. When the window opens, use the arrows to scroll up and down till "enviroments" appears in the listings in the window. 3. Click "environments" with the mouse. A new listings should apear. 4. Select a desired environment with the mouse. 5. Select "Load". All "Synthia II Demo" windows should close and one single window should open in their place. 6. Select "Make" on the window thats open. 7. After the pointer is no long "Busy", play several keys on your Amiga keyboard to hear the results. SoundScape is a registered trademark of Mimetics Corporation. Amiga is a registered trademark of Commodore. Macintosh is a registered trademark of of Apple, Inc. Deluxe Music is a trademark of Electronic Arts. Alchemy is a trademark of Blank Software.