		  OnSTAGE Supplementary Notes 
		=========================== 
 
 
This file contains extra information which brings your manual up to 
date. It contains the following : 

Section 1. About this release of OnSTAGE. 
Section 2. Useful tips for using OnSTAGE. 
Section 3. History of amendments in previous releases. 
 
 
Section 1. 
ABOUT THIS RELEASE 
================== 
OnSTAGE Version 1.3  November 1997 


Features 
======== 
 
OnSTAGE 1.3 introduces a major new feature allowing multiple sets 
in memory at once. This is in response to customer requests for 
more songs in memory now that 4Mb machines are common. 
There is a new menu option 'Window' which gives you the choise of 
using 'Set A', 'Set B', or 'Set C'. The 'a', 'b', 'c' keys can also be used. 
These sets act exactly the same way as before and are completely 
independant of each other. The .SET files you save to disk still 
contain 32 songs (one screens worth), and all their own options. 

The only restriction with multiple sets are:- 
In the OnSTAGE editor you cannot change sets whilst loading. The 
current song will stop and be removed from the track window.
 
In OnSTAGE Harware Squencer Mode you cannot change sets 
whilst loading, but the current song will continue to play. 

For users with the OnSTAGE display unit you will now see an extra 
flashing light.  This indicates which set (A/B/C) is currently active. 
The current bank light will still be steady unless it corresponds to the 
current set. For example if you are in Set A, Bank A you will see the 
'A' indicator flashing. If you are in Set B, Bank A you will see the 'A' 
indicator steady but the 'B' indicator flashing. 
 
Fixes 
===== 
 
Version 1.3 has a change in its screen refresh rate to slow it down. 
This gives less accurate timing and bar/beat counters but protects 
against MIDI inaccuracies due to very fast and dense sequences. 
Version 1.3 is 21775 bytes long. 
 
 
 
OnSTAGE Version 1.2  December 1993 
Fixes 
===== 
20 November 1993 
 
Version 1.2 has a few performance related fixes but no user bugs 
have been reported! 

The main features of 1.2 are: 
OnSTAGE 1.2 is designed to be used with or without the hardware 
display unit.  This allows customers more choice when purchasing 
the product. Many users have expressed the desire to be able to run 
without the custom display as they feel more comfortable with a TV. 
OnSTAGE detects whether a display unit is connected and adjusts 
its timing accordingly so the timing errors described in the manual 
will not happen Each program is now uniquely coded by Hands On to 
allow it to be traced to the original owner. You guessed it, this was 
due to piracy. We have no desire to penalise honest customers but 
we need to track down the people who refuse to 'play the game'. 
Version 1.2 is 21101 bytes long 
 
OnSTAGE Version 1.1d March 1993 
Fixes 
===== 
 
5 March 1993 
Version 1.1d contains 2 fixes. One reported by a few users about 
muted tracks sound notes occasionally and one I found while fixing 
the mutes! First, the mute problem was causing odd notes in a chord 
to sound on muted tracks. Now resolved. Another problem I found 
was that if OnSTAGE Edit finds bad MIDI data it gives you an alert 
box. However, after giving the alert it crashes. I fixed that one too. 
Version 1.1d ONSTAGE.PRG is 34738 bytes long 
 
OnSTAGE Version 1.1c February 1993 
Fixes 
===== 
8 February 1993 
Version 1.1c contains a single fix to correct a problem found by 
Phillip Gillis (thanks Phil) in Natchitoches,LA. His MIDI files had a 
segmented sysex dump from an Alesis D4 embedded at the start of a 
track. OnSTAGE was incorrectly reading the sysex headers and 
crashing with 4 bombs. This type of sysex structure is unusual in a 
MIDI file and he did not specify which sequencer produces it. It was, 
however, a 'legal' format as defined in the MIDI file spec so the fault 
was corrected. 
V 1.1c - ONSTAGE.PRG is 34702 bytes 
 
 
OnSTAGE Version 1.1b December 1992 
Fixes 
===== 
18 December 1992 
Version 1.1b contains a single fix to correct a problem found with 
MIDI files having a text event of zero length. Cubase likes to generate 
a track name as text with a length of zero  even if no name is given by 
the user. In this instance OnSTAGE uses the default track name of 
'MIDI Track'. 
Version 1.1b can be distinguished by its date and size:- 
V1.1b - ONSTAGE.PRG is 34698 bytes 
OnSTAGE Version 1.1a August 1992 
Fixes 
===== 
30 August 1992 
Version 1.1a contains a single bug fix to support MIDI instrument 
name in OnSTAGE Edit. Version 1.1a can be distinguished from 
version 1.1 by the size on ONSTAGE.PRG as follows: 
V 1.1 - ONSTAGE.PRG is 34686 
V 1.1a  ONSTAGE.PRG is 34694 
24 June 1992 
All the bugs listed below are fixed in Version 1.1 
Tracklist cleared when a new set is loaded during play back. (Edit 
only). 
Tempo change using keyboard shortcut does not update the song 
time display. 	(Edit only) 
Relative volume or velocity are not correctly applied to events in a 
track if the value 'overflows'. (Edit and MFP) 
Every time playback is stopped MIDI message RESET ALL 
CONTROLLERS is sent on all channels (Edit and MFP) See details 
in later section as this led to quite a few changes. 
Each time play is selected the initial program change and volume 
data are sent on all tracks. Should only be when song is initially 
selected by drag (Edit) or keyboard bank/song keys (Edit and MFP) 
or remote MIDI keyboard (Edit and MFP). 
Click on the track scroll bar grey area does not cause direct jump to 
appropriate track range in the display (Edit). 
Track names from some sequencer's MIDI files are not recognised 
(Edit).  Tempo and relative tempo on the main screen show rounding 
errors (Edit and MFP). 
Occasional track or tempo track misalignment after fast forward or 
rewind on complex MIDI sequences (Edit and MFP). 


Changes and Enhancements. 
========================= 
 
OnSTAGE now supports 32 channels via an inexpensive device 
known as MODEM MIDI or 16+. This is available from Hands On 
MIDI Software (distributors of OnSTAGE in the UK). All screens now 
show PORT in addition to CHANNEL information. Ports are A - 
ATARI OUT, B - MODEM MIDI/16+.  Future hardware devices will 
be supported as new ports. Port B is also compatable with C-Labs 
EXPORT device. Please note MIDI clock is only sent through Port A. 
Autoplay now allows a variable time (up to 99 seconds) between 
songs.  Previously saved .SET files will default to 0 seconds. To 
cancel the delay press STOP then PLAY and the next song will start 
immediately. All autoplay functions remain the same. 
A new global track edit function has been added. This pops up if you 
click in the song name box just above the track list. This form allows 
you to specify any of the individual track parameters to be updated 
together with their new value.  These will be applied to ALL 
UNMUTED TRACKS when you click on EXIT. This helps with quick 
setups of ports and transpose. Use it to change channel etc.  with 
care. 
The remote keyboard proved to be a problem for some people to 
setup. 
OnSTAGE now presents a set of default values if you have not set 
up your own. 
 
 
OnSTAGE Version 1.0 March 1992. 
This is the first commercial version of OnSTAGE. The software has 
been extensively tested by working musicians over the last 6 months. 
It has been put through its paces in the studio and live 'onstage'. In 
this time it has been through 3 pre-releases to sort out problems 
reported by the testers.  We welcome your comments for future 
enhancements please contact us on the support number given in 
OnSTAGE Edit. 
 
Section 2. 
USEFUL TIPS 
=========== 
 
There is a tutorial section in the manual. After you have clicked and 
tried all the options without referring to the manual (don't we all), we 
strongly recommmend you start there. 
The biggest conceptual problem people have is the fact that 
OnSTAGE .SET files do not contain any actual MIDI data. They are 
a list of which songs belong where in your song banks and where 
they can be found on disk. Confused ?  Read the manual! 
For information the following MIDI control codes are sent by 
OnSTAGE: 
STOP (from PLAY) 
all notes off, all sounds off, channel pressure off 
	STOP (from REWIND/FF) 
same as STOP from PLAY, centre bender, modulation zero, hold 
pedal off 
	PANIC (at any time) 
same as STOP from PLAY and REWIND/FF, reset all controllers 
 
.ONS Files have been the subject of some discussion. The most 
common request is that the data they hold should be saved within the 
MIDI files themselves. We have avoided this because of the way 
OnSTAGE is used by most users. Most of you have a sequencer 
which supports MIDI files and will use that to modify or rearrange 
your sequences (even if purchased as MIDI files).  You will then save 
these in the proprietory files of the sequencer and export them as 
MIDI files for use live. Your 'masters' are the sequencer format files. 
If you now use OnSTAGE to make changes like PORT or 
TRANSPOSE this is stored in the .ONS file and relates to each 
track. Now when you change the sequence and recreate the MIDI file 
OnSTAGE already has its performance data in the .ONS file 
(provided track assignments have remained the same). If we were to 
put the .ONS data into the MIDI file this would be lost next time you 
recreated it from the master. In fact, even if you re-imported the MIDI 
file back into your sequencer the OnSTAGE data would be lost 
because it would be stored as 'SEQUENCER SPECIFIC' data. That 
is information only of interest to OnSTAGE. Your sequencer would 
throw this away as being of no interest. 
 
Section 3. 
UPDATE HISTORY 
============== 
 
Version 1.0 March 1992. 
First commercial release. 
 
Version 1.1 June 1992. 
Small bug fixes and addition of extra MIDI device support. OnSTAGE 
Edit enhancements to include Global Track Edit. 

Version 1.1a August 1992. 
	Added support for sequencers using MIDI Instrument name to 
label tracks rather than MIDI track name. 

Version 1.1b December 1992 
	Fix bug in track name display. 

Version 1.1c February 1993 
	Fix bug in sysex replay. 

Version 1.1d March 193 
	Fix bug in track mute and bad data alert box. 

Version 1.2 December 1993 
	Introduce security code and support for optional display. 

Version 1.3 November 1997 
	Introduces 3 sets in memory simultaneously.
