Computer Concepts Lark Manuel utilisateur
Lark
User Guide
Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 6EX
Tel 0442 63933 — Fax 0442 231632
©Computer Concepts 1994
Manual issue 1.4
June 1994
All rights reserved. No part of this publication, hardware or software may be reproduced or
transmitted
in
any form or by any means without prior permission of Computer Concepts
Ltd. Such written permission must be obtained before any part of this publication is stored in
any
form in a retrieval system of any nature.
Computer Concepts Ltd. have no direct control over the use to which this product is put and
therefore offer no warranty, implied
or otherwise, relating to its use for any purpose other than
that for which it is intended.
The product described in this manual is the subject of continual development and, while all
efforts are taken to ensure that the information given is correct, Computer Concepts Ltd.
cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage resulting from the use or misuse of this
product.
Trademarks:
Lark is a trademark of Wild Vision Ltd.
Acorn is a trademark of Acorn Computers Ltd.
All other trademarks are acknowledged.
Acknow|edgements
We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Acorn Computers Ltd. in the
implementation of the Acorn M1D1 module, and in granting a licence to
distribute the MID1 module.
Thanks also due to Clares Micro Supplies for permission to supply the sample
MID1 files on disc 3.
Contents
About this manual
Typographic conventions
Mouse buttons
1. Introduction 1
What the Lark can do 1
System requirements 1
Possible extras 2
The internal speaker 2
What's on the discs... 3
Specification 3
2. Installation 5
What you should have received... 6
Fitting the Lark card
Archimedes & A5000 7
Risc PC 13
A3000 15
Initial testing (all computer types) 16
Copying the software 16
Updating !System 16
Before using Lark for the first time 17
Testing your Lark 18
3. Getting started 19
Connecting a microphone 19
Connecting an audio input 20
Connecting the audio output (active speakers) 20
Connecting headphones or passive speakers 21
Playback using the computer's internal speaker 21
Playback using external speakers 21
Connection to MIDI 22
4. The software suite 23
Audio Works
23
AudioCtri 24
MIDI
27
Piano
29
5. If problems occur...
31
6. Technical information
39
Lark link positions
39
Stereo line-level socket: pin~out.
40
About this manua|
This manual describes the key aspects of the Lark package: the
expansion card itself, hardware connections and peripherals, and
the associated software. It describes in depth the use of software
applications that are provided exclusively with this product.
However, only the briefest details are given for 'stand alone'
programs for which separate manuals exist. Information about
using these applications can be found in the relevant user guides as
listed in the section What you should have received.
It is assumed that you have a basic knowledge of the RISC OS
conventions and are familiar with standard applications. If this is
not the case, we suggest that you first read the Welcome Guide
supplied with the computer.
Typographic conventions
This manual uses these conventions:
Menu options are shown like this: Preferences.
Dialogue box switches are shown like this: Mute.
Where you use the keyboard for control, the name of the key is
shown in italics. (For example, Return.)
Mouse buttons
We use the Acorn convention for the three mouse buttons:
the left-hand button is called Select,
the middle button is called Menu,
the right-hand button is called Adjust.
Where we say click on something but do not specify a mouse
button, use Select.
Page i
Introduction
What the Lark can do:
It can record sound samples from an external source and manipu-
late them in a wide variety of ways. You can save the samples to
disc in any of several different formats, some suitable for use on
other types of computer.
The Lark provides a high-quality stereo sound output. Using this,
you can output sound samples to, for example, a hi-fi system.
The Lark also includes a MIDI interface. This lets you interface
third-party software on the computer to MIDI-compatible peri-
pherals such
as
keyboards. The Lark's MID] interpreter also
enables you to use the card as a MIDI device in the same way
as a
synthesizer (though you don't get a keyboard).
As with all new software, the best way to gain an appreciation of
the capabilities of these programs is to experiment. If you have
any problems, refer first to the troubleshooting sections of your
manuals. Remember that there are also separate
Audio Works
and
MIDI
manuals.
Please return your product registration card to ensure swift
technical support and eligibility for any future software upgrades.
System requirements
The Lark can be used with Acorn computers with standard, half-
width expansion slots. (These include the A300/A400 series
Archimedes, A540, A5000 and Risc PC computers. The A3000 is also
suitable with certain limitations.) The Lark is
not suitable
for
A3010, A3020, A4000 or A4 portable computers.
Page 1
1 . Introduction
If your computer meets these system requirements:
• RISC OS 3.1 or greater,
• at least 2 Megabytes of RAM (memory),
then you can use Lark for:
• audio sample capture and playback through the stereo
connector on the Lark,
• MID] connection.
Outputting sound samples through the Lark requires an ARM3 or
faster processor. (Suitable processors are standard on the A540,
A5000 and Risc PC; the ARM3 is available as an upgrade to other
computers.) Use of the Lark with ARM2 is untested and thus not
recommended.
Possible extras:
Depending on which features of the Lark package you wish to use,
you will also need some or all of the following:
• audio equipment with line-level input/output, such as hi-fi
equipment, CD player, or amplifier,
• microphone,
• MIDI equipment,
• 'Active' or `MultiMedia' speakers,
• ordinary speakers (connected via headphone socket),
• headphones.
The interna| speaker
On all except A3000 and early A300/A400 series Archimedes, you
can connect the computer's internal speaker direct to the Lark. The
speaker can then play samples at higher quality than the internal
sound system provides.
If you do not connect the internal speaker to Lark, you can only
play samples through the speaker using the internal sound system.
Audio playback using the Lark is always possible through external
speakers via the stereo connector on the back panel of the card or
the headphone socket.
Page 2
1. Introduction
What's on the discs...
Disc 1:
lAudioCtrl– this has two uses:
• to play audio samples, and
• to set-up audio parameters.
!AudioWrks– use this to record and play back audio samples.
For information on these applications, refer to the AudioWorks
manual. For information on using !AudioCtrl to set up the Lark
audio parameters refer to 4. The software suite.
!SysMerge– this updates the !System directory on your computer.
This is detailed later.
Disc 2:
This disc contains a selection of audio samples.
Disc 3:
Sample MIDI files, plus Piano Voice, an example of how to use
your Lark as a synthesizer.
Specification
Input connectors:
5-pin D1N connector (stereo line-level in).
3.5mm jack socket (for external micro-
phone) – see note below.
Output connectors:
5-pin D1N connector as above. 3.
5mm jack socket for headphones.
Extra connections:
15-pin HD D-type connector with pig-tail
attachment for MIDI connection.
Ribbon cable attachment for internal
connection to VIDC sound system (not on .
A3000).
Suitable input spec:
1V r.m.s. or 2V r.m.s. (link selectable)
stereo or mono line-level up to 48 kHz
sample rate.
Max input without damage:
6V p-p.
Output formats:
Stereo line-level output, 1V r.m.s., 2.8V p-p
Page 3
1. Introduction
On-board storage: 2
x 1KB F1FO
A-D conversion:
16-bit
File formats supported:
8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, linear signed, linear
unsigned, VIDC logarithmic, p-law logarith-
mic, mono and stereo samples, import/
export of Microsoft WAV, Armadeus, Data-
Vox, SoundTracker, and RawData formats.
Power requirement:
+5V from computer,
-5V from computer or generated on card.
Note regarding jack sockets:
There are two standard types of 3.5mm jack: European and
Japanese. The jack sockets on the Lark are European specification (
which is of higher quality). Computer Concepts can supply an
adaptor if your equipment uses Japanese specification jacks. The
adaptor is free; return the voucher enclosed with the package.
Page 4
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