Spectrum v1.6 - Spectrum Analyzer for Aston Shell.
2007 by Rogert Gomez Ocano < rgo@eaaltu.hidro.cu >
Under "coding in free time" credo ;)
21 Feb. 2008.

                     This is one special gift for Krstatzar
                       Your dream become true, man... !!!

*****************************************************************************
**   What is it?                                                           **
*****************************************************************************
         Spectrum is a plugin for the alternate windows shell, Aston 
                        (http://www.astonshell.com).
              It will display a Spectrum Analyzer that follows
           the output of soundcard and displays itself on desktop.

              FOR WORK - YOU MUST CHOOSE SOUND RECORD SOURCE.
                                ---- o ----
                         May be is not very useful,
                         but it is really beautiful ;)

      BASS 2.3 - Copyright (c) 1999-2007 Ian Luck. All rights reserved.
     The latest version of BASS can always be found at the BASS website:
                         (http://www.un4seen.com)



W A R N I N G  !
****************

	Y O U R   S Y S T E M   C O U L D   B E   H U N G  !!!

Some multimedia applications make intensive use of soundcards.
Using Spectrum plug-in can make sound loops or acts funny,
be carefull and disable Spectrum to avoid problems.

Use double click or right click to enable/disable spectrum.


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**   Installation                                                          **
*****************************************************************************

1) This files must be in Aston\Plugins\ folder:
    Spectrum.plg	: Spectrum plugin for Aston
    BASS23.DLL		: BASS 2.3 Copyright (c) 1999-2007 Ian Luck.
    antiSpectrum.exe    : antiSpectrum List Editor helper application.
    antiSpectrum.txt    : antiSpectrum list file.
        
2) Open the Aston Options
3) Click on to the Plugins section
4) Click Add and then select the Spectrum.plg
5) Hilight the Spectrum entry and click the Setup plug-in button
6) Click File and choose Load Settings
7) Pick one of the default apc files that came with the plug-in


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**   Readme Please...                                                      **
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W A R N I N G  !
****************

	Y O U R   S Y S T E M   C O U L D   B E   H U N G  !!!

Some multimedia applications make intensive use of soundcards.
Using Spectrum plug-in can make sound loops or acts funny,
be carefull and disable Spectrum to avoid problems.

Full Screen Application will disable Spectrum automatically.

Use double click or right click to enable/disable spectrum.

You can edit AntiSpectrum.txt file adding windows classname
of know applications to automatically disable Spectrum plug-in.
AntiSpectrum.txt must be in %AstonFolder%/Plugins/ folder

You can edit this file adding windows classname of know applications
to automatically disable Spectrum plug-in.
antiSpectrum.txt must be in %AstonFolder%/Plugins/ folder.

You can easy edit antiSpectrum.txt using the included
antiSpectrum.exe application.


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**   HOW WORK ANTISPECTRUM LIST EDITOR?                                    **
*****************************************************************************

You can run antiSpectrum.exe application by right-click and
selecting apropiate item in context menu. Or you can run
antiSpectrum.exe directly.

When antiSpectrum dialog is show Spectrum will be disabled,
and you can run wanted application.

You must press Refresh button in antiSpectrum dialog and all
running application will be show in the list. Then you can select
the application that need to disable Spectrum to run and press
OK button to accept all changes and close antiSpectrum editor.
Then any time the selected application are running the Spectrum
will be automatically disabled.


Skins?
********
   BIG SKINS NEED MORE CPU POWER, SO BE CAREFULL !!!

Use Bitmaps instead PNGs in the Spectrum Skin to avoid flicker.
In few words:

  DO NOT USE TRASPARENCY IN SPECTRUM SKIN !!!

Using PNGs and trasparencys in Main Skin is OK.


Settings?
***********
Vertical Limit: How many steps do you like for each band?

You must select the appropiate record input channel from
your system mixer.


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**   About...                                                              **
*****************************************************************************

Spectrum Plugin for Aston use BASS23.DLL to handle sound system.
In few words: BASS.DLL do the dirty work.

What's the point?
=================
BASS is a sound system for use in Win32 (9x/ME/2K/XP) software. It's purpose
is to provide powerful (yet easy to use) sample, stream, MOD music, audio CD
and recording functions.

Requirements
============
Spectrum Plug-in requires P-III, 500 MHz minimun to work.

BASS requires DirectX 3 or above. BASS does not require that a soundcard with
DirectSound/DirectSound3D hardware accelerated drivers is installed, but it
does improve performance if there is one. BASS also takes advantage of MMX,
which improves the performance of the MOD music playback.

There is no guarantee that all future BASS versions will be compatible with
all previous versions.

The latest version of BASS can always be found at the BASS website:

        http://www.un4seen.com


Copyright, Disclaimer, and all that other jazz
==============================================
The BASS library is free for non-money making use... if you are not charging
for the software, then you can use BASS in it for free (a mention in the
credits would be nice though!). If you wish to use BASS in shareware or 
commercial products, then see the next section.

This software is provided "as is", without warranty of ANY KIND, either
expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The author shall
NOT be held liable for ANY damage to you, your computer, or to anyone or 
anything else, that may result from its use, or misuse. Basically, you use
it at YOUR OWN RISK.

Usage of BASS indicates that you agree to the above conditions.

You may freely distribute the BASS package as long as NO FEE is charged and
all the files remain INTACT AND UNMODIFIED.

All trademarks and other registered names contained in the BASS package are
the property of their respective owners.


BASS in shareware and commercial software?
==========================================
BASS is available for use in your shareware and commercial software.
The license types available are as follows:

SHAREWARE: Allows the usage of BASS in an unlimited number of your shareware
products.

SINGLE COMMERCIAL: Allows the usage of BASS in a single commercial product.

UNLIMITED COMMERCIAL: Allows the usage of BASS in an unlimited number of your
commercial products. This license is on a per site basis. So if your company
has two sites and both use BASS, then two licenses are required.

In all cases there are no royalties to pay, and you can use all future BASS
updates without further cost. One license covers one person or entity and is
not transferable.

These licenses do not allow reselling of BASS, ie. as part of another
development library. If none of these licenses match your requirements, or if
you have any questions about using BASS in shareware/commercial software,
then please get in touch (email: bass@un4seen.com).

Visit the BASS website for the latest pricing:

        http://www.un4seen.com

  

*****************************************************************************
**   Thanks To                                                             **
*****************************************************************************
   Gladiator Software - For the excellent shell replacement, and for SDK.
            Krstatzar - for the original idea of this plug-in.
             Ian Luck - For the excellent BASS.DLL and SDK.
 
                 And Tnx to all for read all this stuff ;)

                                 

*****************************************************************************
**   Version History                                                       **
*****************************************************************************
v1.6   - 21 Feb. 2008
	 New Refresh Rate (looking better).
	 New Auto Gain Limiter procedure.
	 Fixed: Aston Secure Desktop compatibility bug.
	 Fixed: No more window jump on draging.

v1.5   - 25 Nov. 2007
	 Fixed small bug in AntiSpectrum application.
	 Small corrections in Spectrum code.

v1.4   - 25 Oct. 2007
         Added: Aston Secure Desktop compatibility.
         Added: "Recording Mixer" option in context menu.
         Added: Peaks level skin and Glass skin.
         Added: Decorative frame list for Active and Inactive states.
         Fixed small bug in AntiSpectrum application.
         Small corrections in Spectrum code.

v1.3   - 13 May. 2007
         New AntiSpectrum application. More functional.
         More optimized code, now run over 20% faster.

v1.2   - 19 Apr. 2007
         Added: Full Screen Applications will disable/enable
	        Spectrum plug-in automatically.
         Added: Gain control.
         Added: More info about antiSpectrum. Hope now everybody
                understand how it work.
         Fixed: New frequency algorithm. Now all bands work better.
         Fixed: Now Spectrum show all sound (left and right),
                not only the left channel.                 

v1.1   - 12 Apr. 2007 (First Public Release)
         Added: antiSpectrum List Editor in context menu.
         Best optimized code, now run over 60% faster.

v1.1b2 - 7 Apr.
	 Added: Support list of windows classname
	 to automatically disable/enable Spectrum.
	 Fixed: Some times Spectrum flickering.

v1.1b1 - 23 mar. Free time at home.
	 Added: Taskbar mode in ZOrder (Like DesktopClock plugin).
	 Updated BASS v1.8 to BASS v2.3, run better and crash is gone.

v1.0   - Initial Release.
         It was 11 january and nothing to do. Is raining.
         During this time Enigma say: "Push the limits"...
         So, I deside to make a little coding...


It's not a comercial, it's just for fun and free :)
Rogert Gomez Ocano.
