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New in Version 2

Before installing

This is a comprehensive list is intended to help customers using version 1 to understand the differences in functionality in version 2.

Tip Tip - View the online demos to help make your preliminary upgrade decision - Just click and view. It's much faster than installing the Pre-reqs to check out the program in Trial mode.

Automatic Sound List conversion - Sound Lists created with version 1 will automatically be converted to version 2 format when opened. Be patient. The conversion takes about one quarter second (0.25) for each converted sound item. A long list can take a while (you do the math). Remember to save after conversion.

Tip Tip - Backup before proceeding - Once you Save the Sound List in version 2 format, it cannot be converted back. It is prudent to make a backup copy of all your version 1 Sound Lists before converting. Simply copy existing Sound Lists to a backup folder. That said, there are NO known bugs in the converter at this time.

Important New Pre-reqs - There are new Pre-requisites that must be installed for Sound Mill version 2 -- Windows Media Player (WMP) 10 or 11; .Net Framework 3.5; and an updated release DirectX. All are free Microsoft downloads. Only the WMP driver dlls are used by Sound Mill -- does not use the WMP user interface.

New program features

  • Audio file formats supported   - Expanded supported of audio formats now includes: WAV
    Newplus now MP3, WMA, MIDI (MID), AU, AIFF (AIF), MPEG (MPG), and WMV
  • Sequencing eliminated   - The sequencing attribute approach is replaced with a new Automation Manager. Sequencing attributes are discarded in the conversion process.
  • Automation Manager   - The new Automation Manager (Automator) is far more powerful and flexible than the version 1 Seqencing approach. Build automation Scripts to play sequences of sounds sequentially or at timed intervals. Features: set number of times to repeat a script; scripts can invoke other scripts (highly modular and reusable); allows for firing sound play after specified amount of time to create intricate timed sequences. The Automator provides a GUI (graphical user interface) to build scripts -- no messy command language to deal with. ( more info )
  • Scheduler   - Schedule automation Scripts to start at a given time of day for pre-show and intermission music and announcements. Also useful for In-store announcements or other public venues that play music programming interrupted by announcements. ( more info )
  • New WMP audio driver added   - This provides a choice of which audio driver you want to use for a given Sound Item, WMP or DirectX. Each has its advantages explained in the Help. Only Wav format audio can use DirectX driver. Some program functions are only available with the DirectX driver and are indicated with the DirectX logo DirectX feature . ( more info )
  • Select Output Devices  - If you have more than one speaker system (for example: a lobby PA and stage speaker towers), pick the devices you want a given Sound Item to play on. ( more info )
  • Password Protection   - Now protect your intellectual property with Sound List passwords. ( more info )
  • Resume button   - added.
  • Pause/Resume Master mode   - Pause/Resume can now applied in two modes. 1) to the current selected Sound Item; or 2) to all current playing Sound Items (including Scripts). ( more info )
  • Category tag   - New Category classifier added for additional tagging. Allows you to group Sound Items by type. Create your own categories. ( more info )
  • Classifiers   - The Classifiers attributes (formerly name Script Locators) allows you to create a new theme for Group Hierarchy (ex. Act, Scene, Page). Logically this is simply a three level hierarchy for grouping Sound Items. So if your Sound List is not for theater use, create your own custom labels. ( more info )
  • Sorting   - New ways to sort. Now pick ascending or decending. And added a sort on Category and an Undo sort.
  • Play Position Time   - Now indicating play position in time (minutes:seconds) . Much more helpful for sound designer and operater than the V1 byte position scheme.
  • Marker Position Value  - Markers position values (for Start, Stop and Fade In / Out) are automatically adjusted for the new Time values. May require a minor manual tweak for short sounds. Check the markers after conversion to V2.
  • Preemptive play mode   - A new Sound Item play mode is added which causes all playing sounds to suspend until a preemptive sound finishes playing. This is useful for injecting timed announcements into a music program with the Automator. Also works when playing sounds manually with the Play button. ( more info )
  • Pre-Delay   - You can now set a Pre-Delay time to delay before playing a sound. Post-Delay was available in V1. Very useful for automation. ( more info )
  • Other new Play Modifiers   - Also see Restore original volume on replay and Loop Seamless for subtle effects. ( more info )
  • Mass Updates   - Improved selection capability now allows you to select a subset of Sound Items to operate on. ( more info )
  • Play on Click and Apply Fx Effects checkboxes moved   - The check boxes are removed and replaced with Behavior toolbar buttons and menu items. ( more info )
  • Delete All Sound Items   - Now allows you to select a set of Sound Items for multiple deletion. And provides Undo. ( more info )
  • Add Run Script Sound Item   - A new Sound Item type is available to run an automation Script. ( more info )
  • Show Mode   - Allows you to run the program with Edit functions disabled. Prevents novice sound operator from making an inadvertent edit while running the show. ( more info )
  • Reports   - Reports (a.k.a. sound plot) now includes descriptions of automation Scripts.
  • List Validation   - Find errors quick. Includes: audio file not found -- maybe it was moved or deleted; script references to Sound Item that got deleted; finds bad references to Outputs and Devices not found when you change the audio interface connected to the computer. (on the Tools menu)
  • Customer Id on About dialog   - has been removed for security and privacy reasons.
  • More...   - See the Sound Mill online help files for a complete description of all features.
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