fmplay − program to play fms sound files

fmplay [global options] [mixer options] [filename] [sound options]

fmplay [filename] [options] ... [filename] [sound options]

fmplay [global options] [mixer options] [filename] [sound options] ... [separators] [options] ...

This manual page documents the usage of the fmplay command, which is part of the F Modular Synthesizer (fms).

fmplay can play fms sound files. You can specify options such as frequency and volume, but also modulation of these sound properties. fmplay also plays fms midi files with specified instruments / options.

An fms sound event is structured and you may specify options for and seperate between different parts of the fms sound system. There are up to two sound channels which are played simultaneously and an unlimited number of mixers which are part of one channel and are played one after another. Each mixer consists of an unlimited number of sounds which are played simultaneously.

Output is usually played directly to /dsv/dsp via OSS. It can be redirected and written to a file in .wav format.

filename

Path to a fms sound or midi file; may be specified as an absolute or relative path or as a filename in the fms shared sound directory (checked in this order). If no proper filename is specified, a sine wave will be taken as default. All following sound options until the next filename are considered sound options of the specified sound file.

−f frequency

frequency for normal fms sound files in Hertz; default is 441 If the sound file is a "midi" file, -f specifies the concert pitch.

−F filename [modulator options]

The frequency will be modulated following the curve specified with filename, a normal fms sound file. You may specify modulator options with the prefix F (see below).

−v volume

relative volume of specific sound; This only plays a role when several sounds are used. Use mixer volume options to influence the total output volume.

−h filename [modulator options]

The absolute volume will be modulated following the curve specified with filename, a normal fms sound file. You may specify modulator options with the prefix h (see below).

When a file in fms midi mode is played, there are some special options to be considered. Please also specify the lenght of the output, using the mixer lenght option −t.

−mi[0-32] [filename]

This specifies the fms sound file to be used as the midi instrument, either for the whole midi file or - if a suffix of 1 to 32 is used - for a certain attribute type of notes.

−mh[0-32] [filename]

The attack-decay-curve is specified with filename, a normal fms sound file, either for the whole midi file or - if a suffix of 1 to 32 is used - for a certain attribute type of notes. You may specify modulator options with the prefix mh and, if required, the suffix [0-32] (see below).

You can change the properties of any modulation, using the following options. The prefix can be found in this manual at the documentation of the modulation switches (e.g. the frequency modulation with prefix F has modulation options −Fr etc.). For midi attack curves, a suffix can be used optionally.

−PREFIXr[SUFFIX] repetitions

How often the modulation is repeated. 1 by default.

−PREFIXh[SUFFIX] value

maximum value of modulation

−PREFIXl[SUFFIX] value

minimum value of modulation

−a

run in asynchronous mode; this pre-computes the wavetables, which is useful on slow machines

−w filename

redirects output to filename in .wav format instead of addressing /dev/dsp

−q

be less verbose

You may use up to two sound channels, each of which consists of an unlimited number of subsequent mixers, each of which consists of an unlimited number of simultaneous sound files. To use several of these and seperate between them, you may use the following seperator switches.

filename

A filename not expected because of a previous swich which requires a filename indicates that a new sound object should be created within the current mixer. All following sound options will be applied to this new sound object.

−n

sound mixer seperator; the following sound files will be played after the previously declared files in a seperate sound mixer with its own options

−l

sound channel seperator; the following mixers and sound files will be played in the second channel

−t time

lenght of mixer in seconds; 1 by default.

−V volume

total volume percentage of mixer; 100 by default.

−H filename [modulator options]

The mixer volume will be modulated following the curve specified with filename, a normal fms sound file. You may specify modulator options with the prefix H (see above).

−r repetitions

how often the mixer will be repeated; default is 1

−R repetitions

how often the channel is repeated; default is 1, choose 0 for endless loop;

fmfile (1), fmdisplay (1), musplay (1), xfmdisplay (1), xfmspectrum (1), fmsbackend (1).

The program is documented by the fms documentation available from http://ccteam.de/projekte/fms_html.

Daniel Gruen (daniel_gruen@web.de).

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU General Public License, Version 2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.