
        *****************************************************
        *               Pro Patches Lite v1.30            *
        *          by Eero Rsnen (Email: cseera@uta.fi)   *
        *****************************************************


NOTE: THE NAME OF VERSIONS 1.00 AND v1.10 OF THIS PACKAGE WAS "ProPats Lite".
      I HAD TO CHANGE IT BECAUSE IT GOT CONFUSED WITH TOM ROSCOE'S GREAT
      "ProPats" PATCH SET. SO, NOW IT IS "Pro Patches Lite".
                                                 ====

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What is it ?
============

   Pro Patches Lite is an another upgrade for GUS patch set.  It has 145
   replacements for UltraSound patch set. Many of the patches are smaller
   versions of the large ones also available through the internet
   (french horn,brass section, pianos, flutes, basses and many more ... ).
   This one really sounds GOOD !!! Pro Patches Lite also includes handy
   dos-based "patmenu" program to manage custom patch sets
   ( like in ProPats III package, only a lot better ! ).


   Version 1.30 provides: New drum kit collected from Kawai XD5 and K2000 !
                          Rebuilded 1MB patch set for MegaEm 3.06b.
                          Many new and fixed old instruments. 


   NOTE: READ THE INSTALLATION SECTION BEFORE DOING ANYTHING !!!


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Some sources for the patches:
=============================

       ftp: src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/packages/ultrasound/sound/patches/files
            archive.epas.utoronto.ca/pub/pc/ultrasound/submit
            bach.nevada.edu/k2000/sounds
            ...at least these...
            
  packages: Pro Patches I, II and III
            GusPro
            Maxpats
            }gm_set
            GusPerc
            Roland*.zip files
            Proteus*.zip files

    synths: Roland SCC1
            TB Multisound Proteus 1/XR
            EPS 16+
            Kurzweil K2000
            Yamaha tx16w
            Emax
            Kawai XD5 drum machine
            ...Could be also some other...

    All patches edited by me because of various reasons...


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Requirements
============

        * A GUS/MAX/ACE with 1 MB of memory. Well, it could work also with
          512 KB. At least with patch cacheing applications.
        * Your original patches must be in the "midi" directory under your
          ultrasound directory.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Features
========

        * 145 better sounding patches. About 75% of the whole patch set.
          Includes: 88 melodic patches of all cathegories and almost all drum
                    patches ( 57 ).
        * Grows the original patch set (5455kB) only with 40 kB (5595kB) !!!
        * Easy-to-use "Patmenu" program for managing the patch set.
        * Won't overwrite any of the original patches. Makes backups.
          If there is a reason to use the original patches, it can be done
          without touching installation disks.
        * Special game compability mode with reduced patch set size (5250kB).
        * Mega-Em 2.xx compatible - no warnings at all when loading patches.
        * Includes a rebuilded 1MB patch set for Mega-Em 3.06b.
          Also has a special mode for building Mega-Em 3.04b patch set.
          This mode only works with 1024 kB bank.
        * With "loadpats" from 32 bit AIL drivers, GUS can load 75 patches
          in "full mode" and 82 (!) patches in "game compability mode".
          ( With original patches GUS can load 83 patches. )
        * Works with Ultramid's "preload patch set" feature.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What's new ?
============

   This info is moved to file "whatsnew.txt".


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Disclaimer
==========

   This package is provided AS IS without any warranty, expressed or
   implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Installation
============

   NOTE: DON'T JUST UNCOMPRESS THE FILES UNDER YOUR \ULTRASND\MIDI DIRECTORY !
         =====

   1. Uncompress the files pplt_*.a* to some other directory.
      For example: md c:\patches
                   cd c:\patches
                   arj x -y c:\pplt_v??.a??

(!)2. Make an environment variable called "propats" to point to the directory
      you just created. To do this put a line "set propats=<directory>" in
      your "c:\autoexec.bat" file. It could be the first line in the
      autoexec.bat file. In this case the autoexec.bat would look like this
      (the essential line is marked with an arrow) :

    Autoexec.bat 
      @REM ===== Gravis initialization =====
       .
       .
       .
      @REM ===== Gravis initialization ends =====
      @echo off
 ->   SET PROPATS=C:\PATCHES
      path C:\windows;C:\dos;c:\bat;....etc...
      goto %config%                                                     
       .                                                                
       .                                                                
       .
   

   3. Boot your machine to update environment variables.

   4. Go to your "patmenu" directory which is under your Pro Patches Lite
      directory. Run a command "PATMENU S". This should start a process
      for copying the new patches and backuping the old ones.

   5. Try to play some midi files.

   6. Be amazed ;-)


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Instructions and notes (READ!!)
===============================


   Patmenu
   -------

     - You can copy the Patmenu.exe file to some other directory, as long
       as the .ini files stay in the "patmenu" directory. A good place
       is some directory in your path.

     - Before playing games you can enter a command "patmenu p". This reduces
       the size of the patch set. After playing, you must enter
       command "patmenu s" to use all the Pro Patches Lite patches again.
       Note that you don't have to do this for every game ! Do it only when
       you feel that some of the instruments are missing in the game musics.
       Especially games that have different music in every level need this
       mode. For example, a batch file for DOOM would look like this:
       ----------------------------------
         @echo off
         c:\patches\patmenu\patmenu p
         doom.exe
         c:\patches\patmenu\patmenu s
       ----------------------------------

     - When started the first time Patmenu creates a directory called "backup"
       under your \ultrasnd\midi directory. Patmenu uses this directory to
       backup the original patches which are replaced by PPLT patches.
       DON'T EVER remove this directory !!!

     - Read the "patmenu.txt" for more information about the Patmenu program.


   Important Note
   --------------
   
     - I have nothing to do with any other patch sets available !!!
       The name of this package is "Pro Patches Lite"  , not "ProPats"
       nor "Pro Patches". 
       I must admit that the names are quite alike, but I hope this note and
       the change in the name corrects the mistake.


   Ultramid
   --------

     - How to use Pro Patches Lite with ultramid and "-c" parameter:
        * Copy "ppatlite.ini" file to your "\ultrasnd\midi" directory
        * Before loading ultramid enter command "patmenu p".
        * Enter command "Ultramid -nppatlite.ini -c".
       If you get error "Error loading patch", try again.


   Megaem 3.xx
   -----------

     - How to use Pro Patches Lite with MegaEm 3.xx :

        *  If you have version 3.06b or later just copy the "large.bnk" file
           to the same directory with MegaEm. No renaming needed.

        *  If you have version 3.04b or earlier copy the "large.bnk" file
           from your Pro Patches Lite directory to your Ultrasound
           directory and rename it to "1024.bnk".


     - For some reason, if you would like to rebuild the bank file with
       megaem 3.04b or ealier, here is the procedure:
        *  First, delete the old MEGAEM 3 patch set (if exists) in your
           ultrasound directory ( file 1024.bnk ).
        *  Second, enter command "patmenu q".
        *  Then load megaem 3.xx - it should now build a new patch set.
        *  Enter command "patmenu s" to enable all the Pro Patches Lite patches.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Future plans
============

   Making the patch set even better.
   Making the patch set even better.
   Making the patch set even better.

    ...and just may be...

   .INI editor included in the Patmenu.
   Windows version of the Patmenu.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The end
=======

   This package is free sofware. It means that you can use the patches for
   whatever purposes you want to.

   If you have something to ask, comment or suggest my E-mail address
   is "cseera@uta.fi". Don't hesitate to mail me. I really would like to know
   your opinion about this patch set.

   And thanks to everyone who already have done that ! Keep the mail coming.

   If you have only 512kB GUS, this package would make the upgrade to be
   a profitable investement ! ;)

   Making this version of Pro Patches Lite took me an extra effort
   because I am now using Windows 95 and having problems with the old
   Win 3.1 drivers. My machine crashes every time when playing midi files in
   Win 95. However, I recently noticed that the drivers worked with everything
   else (read: with PatchMaker Lite).
   But, everytime I wanted to test the instruments, I had to boot my PC in
   dos mode. It was rather frustrating.

   Well, I can't say any more that I didn't record any of the patches, because
   I did record the Kawai XD5 drum patches. I can now say, that the recording
   is the easiest part of making patches. I just plucked the drum machine to
   my 16 bit SB clone, recorded the sounds at one time, added some volume and
   ripped the intruments from the large file. That was about it...

   BTW: If you know some good sound ftp/www sites, please mail them to me.
        I am running out of good sound sites.


                        *  * *** HAVE FUN !!! *** *  *

                                    E-)
