Falcon-D2D
Direct-To-Disk
Digital Sound Recorder
Overview

Falcon-D2D is a program for the Atari Falcon030 computer that lets 
you record music, voices, or whatever kind of sounds you want, and
then save it in a digital format on your computer's hard disk drive.  
It's sort of like a digital tape recorder, except there's no tape, and
you can edit and manipulate the recording in ways that otherwise
wouldn't be possible or which would require expensive additional 
equipment.

Many computers allow you to digitally record sound, but with most of 
them you have to purchase extra equipment such as a sound card.  And
even then, the length of your recording will probably be limited by 
your computer's memory size.  But with the Atari Falcon030 there is 
another option: Direct to Disk recording (D2D).

Direct to Disk recording requires that the incoming sound can be 
digitized while information is being saved to the hard disk.  In most
computers, this is not possible without expensive add-on equipment. 
However, this capability is built into every Atari Falcon030.

Another feature built into every Atari Falcon030 is a Digital Signal 
Processor, also known as a DSP.  This is a special kind of computer
chip that is designed especially for working with information such as 
digital sound.  It allows you to use special sound effects like echo,
reverb, ring modulation, and more.


Instant Start

Let's run Falcon-D2D and record something.  The first thing we need 
to do is make sure we have something to record.  You will need a
microphone or other sound source such as a cassette or compact disc 
player.  For a cassette or CD player you may also need a cable that
will go from the headphone outputs to the microphone input of your
Falcon030.

NOTE: if you want to connect a line-level signal (like the LINE-OUT 
jacks on stereo equipment) to the microphone input of your Falcon030,
it may be necessary to provide some input attenuation to prevent the 
signal from being too strong.  If the incoming signal sounds loud and 
distorted, quickly disconnect it or lower the signal level.  NEVER
CONNECT SPEAKER OUTPUTS FROM ANY DEVICE TO THE MICROPHONE INPUTS OF
YOUR ATARI FALCON030 OR YOU MAY DAMAGE YOUR COMPUTER!

Locate the FALC-D2D.PRG icon and double-click the left mouse button 
on it to run the program.  In a moment, you'll see the windows for
Falcon-D2D appear on your screen.

Let's start out by clicking the left mouse button on the "File Name" 
button near the center of the screen.  You should now see the system
file selector.  Enter "TEST.TRM" as the filename and then click the 
OK button.

Now we are ready to record our first track with Falcon-D2D.  If you 
are using a cassette or CD player and have a cable running from the
headphone output to the microphone input of your Falcon030, you 
should turn the volume level on the player all the way down.

Now click on the "REC" button with the left mouse button.  Now try 
talking into the microphone.  If you are using a CD or cassette
player, turn the volume up slowly until you can hear something.

Click on the "REC" button once again.  The display at the top of the 
screen should turn bright red and show the words "Recording New Track"
and the red "Recording" LED should light up.  If you're using a 
microphone, you can talk, sing, or make noise through any other means 
you deem appropriate.

After a few seconds, move the mouse pointer to the "Stop" button and 
click the left button.  Congratulations!  You've just recorded your
first track with Falcon-D2D!  Now hit "Play" to play back your 
masterpiece!

(Depending on your setup, you may hear the incoming sound through 
your Falcon030's built-in speaker, through your monitor's or TV's
speaker, or through headphones or a stereo plugged into the 
Falcon030's headphone outout.)

Now let's try something a little different.  Click in the "Falcon-D2D 
Effects" Window at the bottom of the screen.  In the bottom right
corner is an up arrow button and a down arrow button.  Click on the 
up arrow button until the indicator just above it says "Echo".  About
2 inches to the left the arrows is another button that says "Off".
Click it once so that it says "On".  The little red "Effect" LED 
between that button and the arrow buttons should light up.

Now click in the top window again and select the "Play" button.  Now 
you should hear what you just recorded again, only this time it will
have an neat echo.  This is just one of many special effects that the 
DSP chip inside the Falcon030 is capable of generating and combining 
with your original recording.

The sliders in the bottom window allow you to adjust the amount of 
echo, the echo delay period, and so forth.  Depending on which DSP
effect is active at any given time, the different sliders will be 
labeled in different ways.  If a slider is not labeled, that means it
doesn't do anything with the current effect.


Where do I go from here?

The best way to learn Falcon-D2D is to experiment.  After you have 
read through the remainder of the manual, try the different DSP
effects, experiment with overdubbing, editing, and so on.  Most of 
all, HAVE FUN!

The rest of the manual is a reference that describes the various menu 
choices and buttons in Falcon-D2D's windows.


FILE Menu Items

New -- This option lets you to create a new sound file to record a 
new track.  The system's file selector will appear and allow you to
select the disk drive, directory, and desired filename.

Open -- This option lets you open a previously-created sound file so 
that you can play it back, edit it, or overdub new information.  The
system's file selector will appear and allow you to select the disk 
drive, directory, and desired filename.  You may also create a new
sound file by entering a new filename in the file selector.

Save As -- This option lets you save the contents of the current file 
with a new filename.  The file selector will appear and allow you to
select the desired filename.  A new file will be created with the 
contents of your original file, including the current state of any
editing you have done.  Note:  If you select the same name as the
current file, nothing will happen.  This is because your file was 
automatically saved when you originally recorded it.

Save Block As -- If you have a block selected, this option will allow 
you to save that portion of your file to a separate, new file.  The
system file selector will appear and allow you to enter the desired 
filename.  Your current file will not be affected.

Quit -- This menu item quits the Falcon-D2D program and returns you 
to the GEM Desktop


EDIT Menu Items

Cut -- When a block is selected, this menu item cuts out the sound 
between the block start and block end positions, and saves it the
clipboard so that you can use "Paste" to insert it back into the file 
at another position.  The portion of the track that was cut will no
longer be heard when you play back the track.

Copy --  When a block is selected, this menu item makes a copy of the 
sound information between the block start and block end positions, and
saves it the clipboard so that you can use "Paste" to insert it back 
into the file at another position.  The track will not be affected.

Paste -- When a block of information has been saved to the clipboard 
with "Cut" or "Copy" this option will insert the information into the
current file at the current counter position.

Delete -- This option removes the sound information between the block 
start and block end positions, but does not make a copy of it on the
clipboard.

Clean Up -- Falcon-D2D features risk-free editing.  When you cut, 
copy, paste, or delete parts of your recording, all you are really
doing is changing how the recording will be played back.  All of the 
actual sound information actually remains unchanged until you use the
"Clean Up" option.  The "Clean Up" option takes the original sound
information and all the editing you have done, and makes a new 
version of the file that has all of the editing changes you have made.

Use "Clean Up" only when you are positive that you will not need to 
undo any of your current editing changes.  Once you have done this
operation, any information you have edited out of your file will be 
lost.

Reset File -- This option removes all of the editing changes you have 
done to the current file since it was originally recorded, or since
you last used the "Clean Up" option (whichever was more recent).

Scrubbing -- When this option is selected, and you move the current 
counter position by clicking and dragging the mouse in the display,
you will hear a small loop of sound starting at the counter position. 
 
This helps you locate the desired positions for block start or block 
end while editing.  If this option is selected, a checkmark will
appear next to it in the menu item.

Always Set Mark -- When this option is selected, whenever you click 
the mouse in the display, the block start or block end position will
be changed to where you clicked.  If you click closer to the start of 
the block, the block start position will be changed.  If you click
closer to the end of the block, then the block end position will be
changed.  When this option is not selected, you must use set the 
block by clicking on the "Block Start" and "Block End" buttons when
the counter is in the desired position.


Things in Falcon-D2D Main Window

1) Position Display -- The large rectangle near the top of the window 
is the position display.  The left side cooresponds to the start of
the current track, and the right side cooresponds to the end.  Just 
above the position are three small boxes with numbers in them.  The
numbers in these boxes tell you the counter positions at the start,
middle, and end of the track.

2) Level Meter -- This is a VU-style signal level meter like that 
found on a tape recorder.  It allows you to set your recording level.
See the descriptions of "Input Level" and "REC" for more information.

3) Input Level Up/Down -- These buttons adjust the recording level up 
or down.  The idea is usually to have the record level set as high as
possible, but not so high that the sound is distorted or so that the 
red lights at the top of the level meter are lighting up all the time.
See the description of the "REC" button for more information.

4) Volume Up/Down -- These buttons adjust the playback volume level 
up or down.

5) Block Start -- Clicking on the "Block Start" button sets the start 
of your block area to the current counter position.  The counter
position for the block start is always shown to the right of the 
"Block Start" button.  Once you have a selected block, you may use the
"Cut", "Copy", "Delete" and "Save Block As" functions.  The portion of
your track included in the block area will be indicated by a thick 
black rectangle outline in the position display (item 20 in picture).

6) Counter -- The current counter position is always shown in the 
"Counter" display underneath the center of the position display.  The
counter position is also marked by a thin vertical line somewhere in 
the position display (item 21 in picture).  (If the current position
is at the start or end of a track, this line may not be visible.)

7) Block End -- Clicking on the "Block End" button sets the end of 
your block area to the current counter position.  The counter position
for the block start is always shown to the right of the "Block Start" 
button.  Once you have a selected block, you may use the "Cut",
"Copy", "Delete" and "Save Block As" functions.  The portion of your
track included in the block area will be indicated by a thick black 
rectangle outline in the position display.

8) Filename -- Clicking on the "Filename" button is the same as 
selecting the "Open" item in the "File" menu.  Please see the
description of "Open" for more information.

9) Cut -- Selecting this button will cut the sound information in the 
current block.  It is the same as selecting the "Cut" item in the
"Edit" menu.

10) Copy -- Selecting this button will copy the sound information in 
the current block.  It is the same as selecting the "Copy" item in the
"Edit" menu.

11) Paste -- Selecting this button will paste the sound information 
in the clipboard into the file at the current counter position.  It is
the same as selecting the "Paste" item in the "Edit" menu.

12) Clear Blk -- This button will reset the current "Block Start" and 
"Block End" positions to zero.

13) Recording LED -- This LED-style icon will light up when you are 
recording a new track.

14) OVERDUB -- Choosing this button will allow you to overdub new 
information onto an existing track.  Overdubbing is where you play
back a previously-made recording while simultaneously recording new 
information, combining the old and new information into a new track. 
Note: Overdubbing is only possible when the original track is recorded
with a sample rate of 33 kHz or less.  See the description of "Sample 
Rate" for more information on changing sample rates.

15) REC -- Press this button to record a new track.  If you already 
have a track loaded, you will be asked if you want to record over it.
If you choose "OK", the old track will be replaced by the new one on 
your hard disk drive.  After you've pressed the REC button the first
time, the microphone input of the Falcon030 will become live and
you'll be able to hear the incoming sound.  At this point, you may 
adjust the input levels by clicking the mouse button on the up arrow
or down arrow just above where it says "Input Level" at the far left
of the Falcon-D2D main window.

16) REW -- This button moves the current counter position towards the 
beginning of the track, like a "Rewind" button on a tape recorder.  
You may press "Stop" to halt the rewind at any time.  The speed with
which the counter position changes is relative to the length of the 
current track.

17) STOP -- This button stops the program when you are recording or 
playing a track, or when you are fast-forwarding or rewinding.

18) FF -- This button moves the current counter position towards the 
end of the track, like a "Fast Forward" button on a tape recorder.  
You may press "Stop" to halt the fast-forward at any time.  The speed
with which the counter position changes is relative to the length of
the current track.

19) PLAY -- This button plays back the current track.  If a block is 
selected, then only that portion of the track between the block start
and block end positions will be played.

20) Block Indicator -- This black rectangle in the position display 
represents the portion of your track within the current selected
block.  If no block is currently selected, no rectangle will be seen 
in the position display.

21) Counter Position Indicator -- This thin vertical line represents 
the current counter position within your track.  It may not be visible
if the current position is at the very beginning or very end of the 
track.


Things in Falcon-D2D Effects Window

22) MIC -- This option controls if the DSP effects are applied to the 
microphone input before sound is recorded.  If this option is turned
on, then the DSP effects will become part of the recording and you 
will not be able to change or remove them later.

23) DISK -- This option controls if the DSP effects are applied to 
the sound playback.  If you are overdubbing and want to have no
additional DSP effects at all (aside from those which may already be 
part of your existing recording), then use the Effects ON/OFF button,
described below.

24) DSP Effects Sliders -- In the middle of the Falcon-D2D Effects 
window are four sliders.  These sliders allow you to control the
actions of the different DSP effects.  Not all DSP effects use all 
four sliders.  Some may even only use one slider.  If a slider is
labeled underneath, then it is active and changing the slider 
position will change how the DSP effect works.

25) DSP Effects Indicator -- At the top right of the Falcon-D2D 
Effects window is a box that shows the name of the current DSP effect.
To switch between the different available affects, click on the up 
arrow or down arrow buttons (item 29 in picture) located underneath
the right end of the DSP Effects Indicator.

26) DSP Effects ON/OFF -- On the right half of the Falcon-D2D Effects 
window is a button that will be labeled either "On" or "Off".  This
indicates the current status of the DSP effects.  If this button says 
"Off" then no DSP effects will be generated, regardless of the
settings of the "MIC" and "DISK" buttons.

27) Effects LED -- When DSP effects are active, this LED-style icon 
will light up.

28) Sample Rate -- The current sample rate is shown in the lower 
right portion of the window.  Clicking on this box switches between
the different possible sample rates: 50 kHz, 33 kHz, 25 kHz, 20 kHz, 
16 kHz, 12 kHz, 10 kHz, and 8 kHz.  Note: the higher the sample rate,
the better the quality of the recorded sound.  However, higher sample
rates also use disk space more quickly than lower sample rates.

29) DSP Effects Selectors -- Clicking on these arrows will step 
through the available DSP effects.


Disk Space Requirements for Different Sample Rates

The Atari Falcon030 is capable of better than compact-disc quality 
audio.  However, using the maximum quality possible comes at a price.
At the highest-possible quality setting of 16-bit Stereo with a 50 
kHz sample rate, it takes about 200K of disk space for 1 second of
recording/playback time.  That can eat up the free disk space on a
hard disk very quickly.

Fortunately, for most non-professional applications you can get by 
with a lower quality mode and it's quite likely you may not even
notice the difference.  Falcon-D2D only allows you to make 16-bit 
stereo recordings, but you can select from a range of sample rates.
Here's a table of how much approximately how much disk space is
required per second of recording time for each of the different 
sample rates.

50 kHz Stereo -- 192K/second (11.25mb/minute)
33 kHz Stereo -- 132K/second (7.75mb/minute)
25 kHz Stereo -- 96K/second (5.63mb/minute)
20 kHz Stereo -- 81K/second (4.75mb/minute)
16 kHz Stereo -- 64K/second (3.77mb/minute)
12 kHz Stereo -- 48K/second (2.81mb/minute)
10 kHz Stereo -- 38K/second (2.25mb/minute)
 8 kHz Stereo -- 32K/second (1.88mb/minute)

You should figure out the best trade-off between quality and disk 
space requirements for what you are doing.  If you are recording
music, then you probably want the maximum quality possible.  But if 
you are recording only voices, a lower sampling rate may be perfectly
acceptible.


System Requirements & Performance Tips

Falcon-D2D requires a hard disk drive and an Atari Falcon030 computer.

Performance will be best when using a hard disk drive capable of 
sustaining a transfer rate of 400 kilobytes per second or faster.  
This should not be a problem with most hard disk drives manufactured
since 1989.  Slower hard disk drives may require the use of a disk
optimization program (a defragmentation utility) to get the best
performance.
