                            PSYCHO-FRACTAL
                            
                     A Dynamic Psychedelic Fractal
                      Slideshow for the Atari ST

           Copyright 1994 - MEGASTAR SYNTHESISER COLLECTIVE
                              Version 1.0

Program written and compiled in GFA Basic Version 3.5 by GARETH JONES.


This is a Public Domain program and you are free to copy and distribute
this program freely, provided that:-
      i) All the files included are retained, and not altered in any way.
     ii) The program is not sold for profit.

On this disk you should find the following files-

  PSYFRAC.PRG - The Main Program.
  PSYFRAC.SCP - The Slideshow Script.
  PSYFRAC.TXT - This Document.
  PSYFRAC.AVR - My MUM Sampled and Processed.
  COLSWAP.PRG - Palatte Swapping Program.
   FRAC_0.NEO - Introduction Picture.
   FRAC_1.NEO - 16 Mandlebot Fractal Pictures in Neochrome Format.
      "   "      All pictures must be present in order for the program
 FRAC_16_.NEO    to work.

     To run this program you will need a minimum 1 MEG Atari ST working in
medium resolution colour mode, and if using MIDI control an external MIDI
controller preferably with a sequencer function.
     Best results will be obtained if the synthesiser, workstation, or drum -
machine can support the transmission of MIDI clocks and Program Change
messages on MIDI channel 1.



ABOUT PSYCHO
************
     The original PSYCHO was designed to colour-modulate low resolution
pictures on the ST by means of MIDI commands. So the MIDI musician with a
hardware sequencer, workstation, or drum-machine to "play" real-time graphics
to accompany the music.
     The program was able to load any standard NEOCHROME or low-res DEGAS
pictures, so many different art packages, fractal generators, CAD's etc.
may be used as source material. PSYCHO is the able to save these pictures
together with the appropriate settings for future use.
     However since I wrote the original P.D. PSYCHO program and its larger
Authorware version PSYCHO-MOVIE, and I've had many requests to develop a non
MIDI control system. The P.D. release PSYCHO-SCRIPT was the result. All the
"rotational" effects of the P.D. PSYCHO-MIDI can now be operated by an
internal clock. This allows the non-MIDI user to develop their own psychedelic
slideshows.
     PSYCHO-FRACTAL is the first of several "Movie"s generated by PSYCHO-MOVIE
and is a fair representation of the spectacular effects that this program can
generate. The "Movie" is run on a cut-down version of PSYCHO-MOVIE with many
of the editing functions disabled. However I have left some buttons
active to allow the user a chance to experiment with the program. Using "VIEW"
you can change the colour palatte of the pictures. With "MANUAL" you can
improvise your own "Movie" using the ST keyboard or with MIDI program changes.
The "PICTURE LOAD" button allows the user to put their own pictures in the
"Movie" ( but the results can not be saved ).



GETTING STARTED
***************
    If you will be running the program on internal clock then double-click
on the PSYFRAC.PRG. If you are running the program from a MIDI device, make
sure that the MIDI IN socket of you ST is connected to the MIDI OUT socket of
your controlling instrument. Configure your instrument so that it transmits
MIDI Note data, and Program Changes on MIDI channel 1.Then double-click on the
PSYFRAC.PRG .
    Once the program has loaded, intro screen displayed, and the fractal
pictures loaded, the main editing screen is displayed. The program is
automatically set to the internal clock, "MIDI OFF".
    Now click the "SCRIPT START" button. The program should run a 6 and a half
minute selection of pictures modulated by various effects at a tempo set by
the TEMPO value. If you have a MIDI controller set the program to "MIDI ON"
and click "SCRIPT START". The speed of the effects in the Movie is under
direct control of the MIDI Clock messages sent by the controller.
    After the MOVIE has finished, you can view each SCRIPT LINE by clicking
the appropriate SCRIPT LINE SELECT column and clicking the "MANUAL" button.
You can now switch between SCRIPT LINES manually using the "a" to "z" keys on
the ST's keyboard, or in MIDI mode, by Program Change messages. To return to
the Main Screen, just click the mouse.
    Should you want a more leisurely trip around the fractal world use the
"PAGE SELECT" button ( 1,11,21,31... ) to select SCRIPT LINE 201 and click the
"SCRIPT STEP" button. The result is a gentler slideshow with fades and colour
cycling.



THE PSYCHO FAMILY
*****************
    The original PSYCHO program has developed into a whole series of programs.

   PSYCHO-MIDI is a working Public Domain MIDI only version of the PSYCHO-
               MOVIE program. Virtually all the Script functions are enabled,
               however it is restricted to 4 pictures and 16 Modulation Modes.
               This program can only be run under MIDI control.

 PSYCHO-SCRIPT is the Public Domain non-MIDI version of PSYCHO-MOVIE program.
               Virtually all Script functions are enabled and has a 4 picture
               capacity and 11 Modulation Modes.

PSYCHO-FRACTAL is a Public Domain run-only psychedelic fractal slideshow
               generated from the full PSYCHO-MOVIE program. The program
               uses 16 Mandlebrot fractal pictures in Neochrome format.
               Although most functions have been disabled you can experiment
               with the Manual functions and load in your own pictures in to
               the program.

  PSYCHO-MOVIE is the full shareware program which was used to write this
               slideshow. Features include:-

     - Picture capacity, 64 ( 4meg Hard disk ), 32 ( 2meg hard
       disk ), 40 ( 4meg floppy disk ), 16 ( 1meg ), 8 pictures ( 1/2 meg )
     - 30+ modulation modes, including Multiple Animations, Fades, Palattes,
       modulation by MIDI Channel, Notes, and Controllers.
     - 300 SCRIPT LINES all fully editable.
     - Run SCRIPTs either independantly or under MIDI control.
     - 128 SCRIPT LINES directly selectable by MIDI Program Changes.
     - Programmable MIDI channel for MIDI Note modes ( NOTE, NPIC etc. ).
     - Save all pictures as one single .MOV file or save Script files or
       pictures.

PSYCHO-MOVIE is available for the sum of 5.00 or equivalent, made payable to
Mr. G.W.Jones at the address given at the end of the document.



GUIDE TO SCRIPT FUNCTIONS
*************************

***** PAGE SELECT ( 1, 11, 21, ... ) *****
    This button ( Top left hand button on the Script display ) controls which
of the thrity SCRIPT PAGES ( 1 PAGE = 10 SCRIPT LINES ) are displayed.

***** SCRIPT LINE SELECT ( 1 - 300 ) *****
    Clicking on this column ( on the far left side of the Script display )
highlights the selected SCRIPT LINE. This automatically changes when "PAGE
SELECT" is altered.

***** PICTURE SELECT ( 1 to Picture capacity, blank ) *****
    Using the left and right mouse buttons the operator is able to select from
the Picture Loctions, the required picture. A blank entry will indicate the
end of "Movie".



GUIDE TO BUTTONS
****************

***** VIEW *****
     Clicking on this button will display the picture and palatte of the
currently selected SCRIPT LINE. To see the effect of using another loaded
palatte on the picture, left or right-click on the palatte-bar. To return
to the main screen, move the mouse off the palatte-bar and click. On
returning to the main screen the palatte selected will be automatically up-
dated on the SCRIPT LINE.

***** MANUAL*****
    Select any other SCRIPT LINE on the selected SCRIPT PAGE using MIDI
Program Change messages 1-128 on a MIDI channel set by the "MIDI EDIT" button.
Or if in "MIDI OFF" mode, keys "a" to "z" selects the 26 SCRIPT LINEs starting
from the first SCRIPT LINE on the SCRIPT PAGE. Also ">" and "<" ("." and "," )
button will move the program forward to the next SCRIPT LINE or back to
previous one .Clicking the mouse will return you to the main screen.

***** SCRIPT STEP *****
    Runs the script from the currently selected SCRIPT LINE. The program will
automatically return to the main screen when the first blank SCRIPT LINE is
reached.

***** SCRIPT START *****
    This runs the script from the first SCRIPT LINE. When the program reaches
the first blank SCRIPT LINE it will loop back to the start. To break this loop
and return to the main screen, click a mouse button.

***** MIDI ON/OFF *****
    This button allows the operator to switch from External (MIDI) clock to
Internal clock. The speed of the clock is set by the TEMPO button.

***** TEMPO *****
    Sets the rate of the internal clock and thereby the modulation and SCRIPT
speed when the program is set to "MIDI OFF".

*** EXIT *****
    Returns you to the desktop.

** LOAD PICTURE *****
    PSYCHO is able to load low resolution colour pictures in Neochrome, and
un-compressed Degas format.
    Once the button has been pressed a dialogue box will appear showing the
Picture Locations and the names of the currently stored pictures in groups of
eight ( 1-8, 9-16, ). You are able to select which group of eight is currently
displayed using the "" button. Select which Picture Location you wish to
load your picture into, and click "OK". A second dialogue box appears, from
which you select the desired picture format. Then select the appropiate file
from the File Selector.



SWAPPING PALATTES
*****************
    You may find that when you rotate the colours of some pictures the
effect is not linear, and the colours become jumbled. This because some art
packages have their colours in logical order, colour1, colour2, colour3,etc.
Whereas other packages ( including PSYCHO, NEOCHROME, KOZMIC ) use the colours
in the hardware order, colour1 colour16 colour2, etc.
    To overcome these difficulties I have included a picture converter
program that will automatically convert the colours from logical order to
hardware order. Just load in a Neochrome or low-res Degas picture into the
program, the order of the palatte colours will be swapped immediately, then
pixel by pixel, the picture data will be converted to match.

NOTE! - The COLSWAP program must be run in LOW RESOLUTION.


USING THE MOUSE
***************
     All parameters can be altered using either the left or right mouse
buttons. To change a value just position the pointer over the corresponding
button and use the left button to raise ,the right to lower. With switches,
the left button is ON, the right, OFF. This makes PSYCHO a very easy program
to operate.


CREDITS
*******
    Biggest thanks goes to M.A.HENDERSON ( Hendy the Mad Mathemagician ) for
his fractal program TRENDY HANDY RANDY HENDY BENDY MANDY which generated
nearly all of the pictures used by PSYCHO-FRACTAL. Secondly to Dave Henniker's
KOZMIC program which was the initial inspiration for the PSYCHO programs.


CLOSING
*******
     If you have any queries or comments about this program please don't
hesitate to write to me at the address below. Any donations, suggestions,
etc. would be gratefully accepted.
     16 May 1994
     Copyright Megastar Synthesiser Collective.

     Write to -
     Mr. G.W. Jones .
     36 Tarn Drive ,
     Creekmoor ,
     Poole ,
     Dorset ,
     BH17 7DQ ,
     Great Britain .

DISCLAIMER - Mr. G.W.Jones and the MEGASTAR SYNTHESISER COLLECTIVE take
absolutely no reponsibilty for any resultant damage to hardware, software,
data, bank balance, or state of mind of anyone running one of their programs.
"NOTHING TO DO WITH US GUV!.

BYE  BYE  !

The Megastar Synthesiser Collective - " One Small Step for the Collective, One
                                        Giant Leap for Mankind. "
