Lyrician II User Guide

for version 3.0.7 only

TABLE of CONTENT

PART I: Preparing to install
PART II: The basics
PART III: Sequencing lyrics file
         --> Upgrading Lyrician I files
PART IV: Decoding lyrics file
PART V: Program information & version history

First things first:
In case you need help, go to eight22soft's website, accessible from http://www.eight22.com/, or click here. While you are at our website, please sign up for the update newsletter (called eight22update) so that we can inform you when a new release is out.
For personalized support, email to software@eight22.com, or click here for support form.

PART I Preparing To Install

By reading this file, we assume that you have a zipping utility, know how to use such program. If not, please refer to the documentation provided by your zipping utility for more information.

Preferably, Lyrician should be placed in a folder that is easily accessible so that the files can be easily found.

You have to have Microsoft Visual Basic Run-time Library in order to run this program. The file is not included, but is widely available by FTP. This DLL file is required by many other shareware and freeware, too. Be sure that you have this file before you run, or an error will occur. Click here to download it from ZDNet.

PART II The Basics

The purpose of Lyrician is to provide closed caption to music on a computer, so that a user is able to sing along with the song by reading lyrics that appear line by line on the computer screen properly timed.

Lyrician's input file format includes any valid type of ASCII files, such as text files. Lyrician II outputs into LY2 format, which is a formatted ASCII file, but can still be opened by, say Notepad, for modification.

PART III Sequencing Lyrics File

 TO PREPARE AN INPUT FILE

While preparing an input file for the first time, open SAMPLE.TXT for an example.
Essentially, the first line of an input file is the title of the song, and any other supplementary information (it could be left blank). The rest of the input file consists of the lines of the lyrics.

ATTENTION:

  1. delete any trailing punctuation (you do not need them).
  2. if a line contains a comma, enclose the line by double quotes (eg "line goes here, baby"), or, a easier way will be using an advanced text editor (like WordPad), and replace all commas with space and dash
  3. you do not need blank lines between verses.
  4. repeat any repetitive part unless they are together (e.g. do not just write "Repeat Chorus"; when you sing, you won't know what Chorus is).

PREPARING TO CREATE A LYRICS FILE

  1. Press SEQUENCER. A new window pops up.
  2. Click on the open file icon (a open folder), find the input file that you have just created. The LY2 filename will be automatically be filled to the right. If you wish to change the name, alter the text box content.
  3. The lyrics appear line by line in the black box at the bottom. Check if the lines are divided correctly.

TO SEQUENCE

  1. Start WinAmp. Find and select your song.
  2. If the words do not come up immediately, check the PRELUDE option. You may just as well leave it blank. Won't matter. (It only makes the first line "(prelude)" instead of the actual first line)
  3. Press START. WinAmp should start to play your song.
  4. The blue area shows the current line, the pink area the next line.
  5. To go to the next line in lyrics, press the NEXT! button.
  6. If there is a long time between two sections of lyrics, press +INTERLUDE! so that the program inserts a blank line stating "(interlude)"
  7. When the pink area says "[End of Song]", press NEXT! anytime. You'll be prompted whether to stop WinAmp play.

** FILES CREATED USING SEQUENCER VERSIONS 3.x.x ARE NOT BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE WITH OLDER DECODERS.

PART IV Decoding Lyrics File

  1. Start WinAmp. Find and select your song.
  2. Press DECODER. A new window pops up.
  3. Click on the open file icon (an open folder picture button), find the lyrics file that you have just created. The lyrics appear line by line in the black box at the bottom.
  4. Press START. WinAmp starts to play.

*Note: If the lyrics come up too slowly, press NEXT LINE >>.

For an extensive library of lyrics files, go to eight22soft's website, via www.eight22.com.

If you have any Lyrician I file and do not wish to re-sequence then, press LYR->LY2. You will be led to a small utility that automatically updates LYR files to LY2. Do this assumes some uncertainties. The result is in no way guaranteed to be desirable. Re-sequence your file as soon as you have an opportunity.

PART V Program Information & Version History

REQUIREMENTS

MS-Windows 32-bit; VB6 run-time library (as mentioned earlier), soundcard and speakers, mouse, keyboard, ASCII editor, WinAmp.

ABOUT

Lyrician II Version 3.0.7

Copyright (c) 2000 eight22soft. All rights reserved.
Visit on-line at www.eight22.com.
For support, recommendation, or other feedback, contact author at software@eight22.com

The sample files are included for reference uses only.

LICENCE

This program is provided as a freeware, which means that no loyalty is required from its users. It can be distributed in however means provided that the zip archive stays unchanged before, during, and after distribution. However, please do not disassemble this program in anyway so that it could be altered without prior consent of the author.

Version History (only versions in bold are publicly  released)

3.0.7
  • After a great number of revision, and repeated beta testings, finally ready for release.
  • Download WinAmp 2.x from Nullsoft, Inc at www.winamp.com for free. Eight22 is not affiliated or attached to Nullsoft in any way. They just have a great mp3 player.
2.5.x
  • Name changed from Lyrician I to Lyrician II, indicating a complete makeover
  • Discarded traditional computer timer timing method. Complete reliance on WinAmp. WinAmp becomes part of the software requirement, because it is such a popular music player.
  • The reliance on WinAmp vastly improves the consistency of the timer. Now timing is independent of system, but dependent on WinAmp. Lyrician files can now be exchanged much more easily.
  • Lyrician I files (*.lyr) is no longer supported. Included is a utility to convert them to the new Lyrician II file format (*.ly2).
  • All-new pause buttons pause play in WinAmp, too.
2.5
  • Added optional basic WinAmp support, includes play and stop
  • Great improved layout
  • Available upon request for users without WinAmp. Visit www.eight22.com for details.
2.0
  • Fixed many bugs from the alpha release
  • Increased the precision of timing by 80% (from 0.5 to 0.1s)
  • Greatly simplified controls
  • Added graphical control interface
  • Rearranged layout
1.a  
  • First official release of Lyrician I program

Important Copyright Information
When you use lyrics to many commercial songs, a user may be required to obtain written permission from its author's first before one is allowed to copy the material and to use it in Lyrician II. Lyrician II solely relied on its users to abide to copyright laws. Lyrician II's author is not responsible for any copyright infringement, any damage caused because of it, or any compensation sought by the copyright holder. Any problem regarding copyright infringement should be directly directed to the violator, and not eight22soft and its programmers.
To users: For copyright reason, we have to include the following: Making copies of commercial lyrics without prior consent from its authors may constitute copyright infringement. Use them at your own risk.

This user guide is copyright (c) 2000 eight22pub. It supplements Lyrician II 3.0.7