NAME

       tse3play  -  play/convert  music  files  (MIDI or TSE3MDL) using the TSE3 sequencer engine
       library

SYNOPSIS

       tse3play [-h] [-ver] [-v] [-list] [-nv] [-np] [-l] [-omidi  output-midi-file  ]  [-omidi0]
       [-omidicomp]  [-otse3mdl  output-tse3mdl-file  ] [-map from-midi-channel to-midi-channel ]
       [-m] [-r] [-gmr] [-gsr] [-xgr] [-unix] [-oss] [-alsa] [-arts] [-stream] [-s  start-time  ]
       [-solo  track ] [-sl usecs ] [ -stop ] [ -e ] [ -mute channel ] [ -pd dir ] file ] [ -port
       port ] [ -fast ]

DESCRIPTION

       tse3play plays TSE3MDL files and MIDI files  using  the  TSE3  sequencer  engine.  It  was
       originally  developed  as  a  test  application  for  the  TSE3 engine, but is now a fully
       featured playback application.

       tse3play can also convert files between the  two  supported  formats.  Whilst  playing  it
       provides  text  based  visual  feedback,  or  can  stream an English representation of the
       contents of the file to standard output.

       MIDI files are a standard file format for the storage of musical (song) data that  can  be
       found  in  abundance  on  the  internet.  They don't contain the actual sounds played, but
       instructions on how to recreate the song (i.e. start note/stop note commands). MIDI  files
       are  most  often  created by a sequencer application (akin to a word processor for music).
       MIDI files often have the extension .mid or .midi

       TSE3MDL ( TSE3 Music Description Language ) files are a similar form of music  file.  They
       are created by sequencer applications based on the TSE3 sequencer engine library. The file
       format contains a great deal more information and harnesses the full  power  of  the  TSE3
       library. TSE3MDL files often have the extension .tse3

       The  type  of  the input file is automatically detected by tse3play tse3play can also load
       legacy TSE2MDL files from sequencers based on the older TSE2 sequencer library.

OPTIONS

       -h, --help
              Provide help on the tse3play command line parameters.

       -ver, --version
              Print version number and exit.

       -v, --verbose
              Give verbose output on what tse3play is trying to do.

       -list, --list-ports
              Lists the port numbers available on your platform.

       -nv, --novisual
              Don't produce visual feedback (text-based output-level indicator).

       -np, --noplay
              Don't play the input file (only perform a conversion - if one is specified).

       -l, --loop
              Loop playback of the input file.

       -omidi, --out-midi <filename>
              Convert the loaded file to MIDI. File type will be MIDI type 1  unless  -omidi0  is
              specified.  The  filename of the output follows this option. You can specify '-' to
              output on stdandard out.

       -omidi0, --out-midi-format-0
              If performing a MIDI conversion, produce an output file in MIDI type 0 format.  For
              most cases the default (type 1) is recommended.

       -omidicomp, --out-midi-compact
              Compact  the  converted MIDI file output. This removes any redundant information in
              the MIDI file that could be removed by using MIDI running status.

       -otse3mdl, --out-tse3mdl FILENAME
              Convert the file to tse3mdl format. The filename of the output follows this option.
              You can specify '-' to output on stdandard out.

       -map, --map-channel F T
              During  playback,  map  MIDI  channel F to MIDI channel T. Channel numbers start at
              zero.

       -m, --metronome
              During playback, produce a metronome tick.

       -r, --reset
              Send a basic MIDI reset message at playback start and end. This will send  a  reset
              message even if -np is specified.

       -gmr, --gmreset
              Send a General MIDI reset message at playback start and end. This will send a reset
              message even if -np is specified.

       -gsr, --gsreset
              Send a GS reset message at playback start and end. This will send a  reset  message
              even if -np is specified.

       -xgr, --xgreset
              Send  an XG reset message at playback start and end. This will send a reset message
              even if -np is specified.

       -unix, --unix-scheduler
              Selects the best Unix scheduler device (either OSS or  ALSA)  as  the  MIDI  output
              method. This is the default behaviour.

       -oss, --oss-scheduler
              Selects the Open Sound System interface as the MIDI output method.

       -alsa, --alsa-scheduler
              Selects  the  ALSA  interface as the MIDI output method. This will only work if you
              have ALSA installed on your computer.

       -arts, --arts-scheduler
              Selects the aRts interface as the MIDI output method. This will only  work  if  you
              have aRts installed on your computer.

       -stream, --stream-scheduler
              Selects  the  standard  output  stream  as  the  MIDI  output  method.  An  English
              interpretation of each MIDI command generated will appear on standard out.

       -s, --start
              Begin playback at the specified clock pulse. The pulses are  divisions  of  quarter
              notes.  tse3play works to a resolution of 96 PPQN.

       -solo, --solo-track
              Play  with the specified input track 'soloed'. This will mute all the other tracks.
              Note that this option will mute the input track from the file,  not  the  specified
              MIDI channel. Track numbers start at zero.

       -sl, --sleep
              Sets  the  time  period  that tse3play returns control back to the operating system
              between updates. The parameter is a number of u-seconds. The default value is  100.
              Specifying a shorter time will make the real time vu bars update more responsively.
              A value of 0 disables the sleep.

       -stop, --no-stop
              Prevents tse3play from exiting once playback has finished.  This  can  be  used  in
              conjunction  with  --echo  and  no specified filename to make the computer act as a
              MIDI Thru box.

       -e, --echo
              Enable the MIDI echo facility, which is a soft MIDI Thru port. Anything received on
              the MIDI in connection will be immediately echoed on the MIDI out.

       -mute, --mute-track
              Mutes the specified track in the input file. The first track is track zero.

       -pd, --patches-dir
              Specifies the path to the directory in which FM or GUS patch files are to be found.
              This is used by the OSS driver to load sounds into the soundcard.

       -port, --force-port
              Forces all output to the specified port.

       -fast, --fast-midi
              Tells tse3play to use a faster MIDI file import routine. This will  make  the  MIDI
              file  playback  start  almost instantaneously (especially noticeable for very large
              MIDI files).  You can only use this if you are not converting a file.

              It has a number of possible side effects; (i) The MIDI file's last  time  stamp  is
              trusted to be correct (it might not be) (ii) Stopping playback half way through may
              produce 'hanging notes'

BUGS

       Naturally, tse3play is completely bug free. The TSE3 library upon which  it  is  based  is
       also  completely  bug  free. However, if you do find something goes wrong then contact the
       author. The program can only be improved with your feedback.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (c) 2000,2001 Pete Goodliffe. See the license file in the  TSE3  doc  diirectory
       for a complete license statement.

AUTHOR

       Pete Goodliffe <pete@cthree.org>

       Trax Software 2001

SEE ALSO

       playmidi(1), TSE3(3)