Ahirecord
Description:	Advanced AHI HD-Recorder
Download:	ahirecord.lha       (TIPS: Use the right click menu if your browser takes you back here all the time)
Size:	129kb
Version:	1.21
Date:	16 Mar 11
Author:	Thomas Wenzel
Submitter:	Thomas Wenzel
Requirements:	asyncio.library
Category:	audio/record
Replaces:	audio/record/ahirecord.lha
License:	Freeware
Distribute:	yes
Min OS Version:	4.0
FileID:	6284
Snapshots:
Comments:	13
Snapshots:	2
Videos:	0
Downloads:	11  (Current version)
	11  (Accumulated)

Legal stuff
-----------
This program is copyrighted freeware. It may be distributed freely as long
as no modifications are made to the executable and this document. A nominal
fee may be asked to cover distribution costs. However, it may not be
included in any commercial distribution without my permission.

It is based on the HardDiskRecord program from the AHI developer package.

AHI audio system is Copyright ©1994-2007 Martin Blom.


Important
---------
Don't blame me if your AHI driver doesn't work! If this program malfunctions
due to a bug in my code I'll try to fix it as soon as possible. However, if
this program fails because of a badly coded AHI driver or because of a
conflict with one of the numerous hacks or patches out there -- bad luck!


Features
--------
 - Multithreaded level meter and status display
 - Asynchronous writes to harddisk
 - Generates AIFF, WAVE or FLAC files

 - Automatic file generation for recording several tracks sequentially:
   If you specify a default filename using the NAME ToolType, AHIRecord
   will enter rec-pause-mode immediately once you've set the audiomode.
   After you've pressed stop you will be asked for the real filename which
   will be the default filename followed by a three digit number. Once
   you've confirmed that filename, AHIRecord will re-enter rec-pause-mode
   so that you can start recording your next track immediately.
   The three digit "track number" will be increased by one.

 - Unattended automatic recording:
   The TIMER parameter allows you to record for a given number of minutes
   and quit AHIRecord afterwards. This way you can use your favourite
   scheduling program for precisely timed automated recordings. If you
   also want AHIRecord to handle the input level just set ALC=YES.

 - FLAC support:
   The Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is a commonly used codec to
   compress audio files to around 75% or even down to 50% of their size
   without losing quality. However, realtime compression needs lots of CPU
   power. A CyberStorm 68060-50 with fast SCSI DMA hostadapter can
   barely manage a compression level of 5 when recording to hard disk.
   However, a decent PowerPC can usually handle the maximum compression
   level of 8 without any problems.
   If the CPU isn't fast enough then encoder overruns will occur and the
   saved file will be incomplete. In this case the message OUT OF SYNC
   will be displayed in the status window.

  - Keyboard shortcuts:
   A : Audio mode
   P : Prepare File
   R or SPACE : Rec/Pause
   S : Stop/Cancel
   C : Close AHI
   + : Increase Gain
   - : Decrease Gain
   LCOMMAND/RCOMMAND-Q : Quit Program


Tooltypes/CLI parameters
------------------------

 - MODE      Initial AHI audio mode to use

 - FREQ      Initial sampling frequency to use

 - INPUT     Number of the default input to use

 - FORMAT    Initial file format: AIFF_16bit, AIFF_24bit, WAVE_16bit,
             WAVE_24bit or FLAC_16bit

 - COMPLEVEL Compression level for FLAC
             The highest level of 8 is strongly recommended as long as
             your CPU can handle it. FLAC is always lossless no matter
             how high you set the compression level. Higher level
             just means more efficient compression leading to smaller files.
             Playback quality and playback (decoding) CPU load stays the
             same in any case.

 - NAME      Specify a temporary name for a file to be opened at startup
             When you finish the recording you will be asked for the
             final name.

 - TIMER     Limit recording time to specified number of minutes

 - TOTALTIME Set to YES: Display and count total time
             (incl. pauses) instead of recording time

 - GAIN      Initial gain setting (0..100)

 - ALC       Turn on automatic level control (set to YES)

 - AUTOBIAS  Set to YES: Automatically determine and subtract any bias
             from the sampled data. Still experimental, please use with
             caution! Currently not supported for 24/32-bit modes.

 - BUFFERS   Set number of async buffers for recording to harddisk.
             A minimum of 4 is recommended. 4 is also the default

 - GPEN      Override the pen number for the green pen returned by AmigaOS
             (only valid on screens of 8-bit depth or less)

 - YPEN      Same for yellow pen

 - RPEN      Same for red pen

 - ICONS     If set to YES, an icon taken from ENVARC:sys/def_sound.info
             will be created for each recorded file

 - PUBSCREEN Public screen name to open window on

 - SAVEPRI   Priority of the save task (defaults to 5 if not specified)
             Use with care!

CLI-Examples
------------
AHIRecord MODE=786438 FREQ=44100 INPUT=0 FORMAT=AIFF_16bit
NAME=Work:Recording.aiff TIMER=45 GAIN=30 ALC=YES


Requirements
------------
AHI audio system V4
AmigaOS 3.0 (68k) / 4.0 (PPC)
asyncio.library V37 (68k) / V50 (PPC)
68020 CPU / PowerPC


Recommended
-----------
68030-25 or faster (68060-50 or fast PPC for FLAC)
High quality 16-bit or 24-bit soundcard (Prelude for example ;)
Play16 to play your recordings (Play16 is freeware, too!)


Revision history
----------------
1.21 - Fixed main window size calculation.
     - Improved default mode and frequency preselection.
     - Changed behaviour to always select default mode and frequency
       if not otherwise specified.
     - Improved out of sync detection.
     - Underlined shortcut keys in button texts.

1.20 - Recompiled 68k version with integer math for FLAC
     - Set default FLAC compression level to 5 for 68k / 8 for PPC
     - Enabled "Prepare File" button after "Close AHI"
     - Added "Out of Sync" message for encoder/saver overrun
     - Limited Gain- and Volume sliders to max. 32 steps
     - Added a few keyboard shortcuts

1.19 - Added TOTALTIME switch
     - Added COMPLEVEL setting

1.18 - Increased listview size to 5 items
     - Added "Close AHI" button
     - Added FLAC support

1.17 - Fixed input ListView to make preselected input visible

1.16 - Fixed time counter in pause mode

1.15a- The 68k version is AHI v4 compatible again

1.15 - This version requires AHI v6
     - Fixed file writing routines
     - Fixed buffer size probing by levelmeter-task

1.14 - AmigaOS4 version available
     - Now writing AIFF files instead of AIFF-C
     - Various code cleanups

1.13 - Improved pen allocation and/or Cybergraphics usage for level meter
     - Increased level meter persistence

1.12 - Fixed GAIN setting
     - AUTOBIAS tooltype

1.11 - Fixed enforcer hit when starting from CLI
     - GAIN tooltype
     - SAVEPRI tooltype

1.10 - New parameters for unattended automated recordings:
       TIMER tooltype
       ALC tooltype

1.9  - 16-bit or 24-bit filemode now individually selectable
     - 24-bit filemode support for both WAV and AIFF
     - Better compatibility with various 24-bit AHI audiomodes

1.8  - Fixed illegal memory access when pressing Pause

1.7  - Fixed a display bug in the format selection cycle gadget
     - Added 24-bit AIFF support
     - Added PubScreen support

1.6  - Removed MAUD support (sorry, folks!)
     - Added mono filetypes
     - Added support for sequentially recording several tracks
     - Added Cancel button to escape from rec-pause mode
     - Improved default filename handling
     - Keeping AHI driver opened so that monitor volume changes
       are possible even after the recording has stopped

1.5  - Fixed a bug in the AIFF saver
     - Added the missing Tooltype for Initial file format

1.4  - Added tooltypes/templates for default values: It makes AHIRecord
       much more convenient to use
     - Added Rec/Pause feature

1.3a   Subtask handling slightly modified. Hopefully more stable now.

1.3  - Fixed a nasty bug in cleanup routine that could lead to crashes
     - New tooltypes for user selectable pens

1.2  - Levelmeter sometimes 'lost' some segments. Hopefully fixed.
       Removed a bug in FORM size of MAUD and AIFF savers. Some programs
       refuse to load the file just because the sizes don't match :-(

1.1  - Optimized levelmeter speed. Should run better on slow Amigas
     - Added WAVE save format

1.0  - First public release


Known bugs
----------
In case of asyncio buffer overflow the program will hang. Don't expect it
to record 44.1 kHz to slow floppy disk :-)