Program name : MELODY ASSISTANT
Version      : 5.3.0
Date         : September the 10th, 2000
Status 	     : Shareware
Fee	     : US$15, US$18 by credit card at http://order.kagi.com/?3YH
Author       : Myriad
Address      : 22 rue Pierre d'Aragon, 31200 Toulouse, France
E-Mail       : melody@myriad-online.com
Web          : http://www.myriad-online.com

                1. Introduction
                2. Installation
                3. Documentation
                4. Fee
                5. Our other programs

1. Introduction
----------------

 Melody is a useful software for computer-assisted tunes writing and
 composition.

 Easy to use, it offers a friendly interface and powerful features :

 - Score editor
  If you use often printed scores, it'll be easy to enter them on your
  computer : Melody processes almost all the break symbols used in musical
  writing, and uses them while playing the music. A powerful editor allows
  you to place and move easily the notes on the staves.

 - Digital output
  A complete digital instrument database is integrated to Melody, which
  gives hi-quality musics, even if you don't own professional hardware.

 - Digital tracks, digital effect processors
  You can record a whole track from a CD or a microphone (or load a sound
  file like .AIFF .WAV or MP3 format), and mix it with regular staves.
  On any track/staff you can insert digital effect processors, with
  customizable Overdrive/Reverb/Flanger...

 - Compatibility with other programs
  Your tune files can be played either on PC or Macintosh, since Melody
  exists on both platforms. Melody allows also to import and export musics
  in MIDI 0 or 1 or CMF format.
  Melody can read Band In A Box style files and MOD or S3M files.
  Exporting the whole tune in AIFF or WAV format allows your music to be
  integrated in multimedia projects, or to be written later on an audio CD.
  Exports are reserved to registered copies.

 - Tablatures and chord diagrams
  Guitarists and Bassists haven't been forgotten : Melody calculates
  tablatures and displays the chord diagrams. You can even define your own
  stringed instrument and calculate tablatures for it !
  A complete library of guitar chord diagrams is given with Melody. You can
  complete this library by defining easily your own chords.

 - Karaoke
  You can associate lyrics to a tune, and let the music play in Karaoke
  mode. Of course, Melody loads and processes the MIDI Karaoke file format
  (.KAR).

  With the Virtual Singer plug-in (Shareware, US$15), lyrics are SUNG by a
  voice synthesizer !

 - Graphics and colors
  Graphics in black and white or color (in BMP or PICT format) can be
  inserted at any point on the score.
  All the symbols can be colorized, globally or individually, in order to
  enhance the attractiveness of your document.
  You can drop texts and comments almost wherever you want on the score.

 - Tune printing
  Printing is widely user-definable : you can define integrally the
  printing format.

 - and much, much more...

2. Intallation
---------------
Start the executable file and follow the instructions.
To uninstall the program, use the Start Menu>Programs>Melody
Assistant>Uninstall
option.

3. Documentation
-----------------

 The software manual is given in HTML format in the "Docs" folder.
 We engage you to read it with your usual web browser.
 However, if some problems aren't solved in the software manual, fell free
 to contact us by postal or electronic mail. Please follow the instructions
 given in the "Technical help" chapter of the documentation.
 Note : the manual is searchable with the "?>Search the documentation"
menu
 option.

4. Fee
-------

 If you like this software and want to use it steadily, we ask for a
 $15 fee. (US$18 by credit card on http://order.kagi.com/?3YH)

 Once this fee received, we'll send you back very quickly a personal
 registration code which grants you the access to all the features :
 unlimited number of symbols on a staff, music exports in WAV, AIFF or
 MIDI format, key change at any point in the score ...

 Of course, this personal registration number will remain valid for all
 the future versions of Melody.

 To register your copy, click on the "Order" button in the first window,
 and choose the payment mode (credit card or other).
 Then, you just have to follow the instructions.

 In order to pay off your fee, if you use another payment method than credit
 card (check, cash..), fill in the registration form and print it or copy it,
 then send it to us by post (our address is in the present file header).

- Sorry, we have extra bank charges for checks from outside from France.
  If you live in the USA, you can however pay to Kagi. Select "credit card" as
  payment mode then select "check" in the Kagi's registration window.

- If you pay by international postal order, go to your nearest post office, and
ask for sending your fee to the following post account :
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Owner name     : Myriad
  Owner address  : 22 rue Pierre d'Aragon, 31200 Toulouse, FRANCE
  Account number : 0652487S037
  Account address: CCP TOULOUSE 31900 Toulouse Cheque FRANCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT HINT :
Please ensure that your money order can be cashed in France.

For example, US Postal Service's pink money orders (MP1) are NOT
accepted in France.  >From the United States you MUST USE international
postal money orders using the Authorization to Issue an International
Money Order form set.  (Ref. : USPS Postal Bulletin #21988 12-31-98,
page 47).  Ask your local Post Office for more details.

Anyway, please also send us by regular or electronic mail your
coordinates (or printed registration form) and reference of your money
order.

- if you pay by cash, use only European (EEC) currencies or US dollars.

- You can pay by credit card thanks to the Kagi system, by post mail, fax or
e-mail :
Select the 'Credit Card' payment mode.
Enter then your name, address, and credit card number.
Send the generated registration form to Kagi by snail mail, fax, e-mail, or
pay your fee on the Web at
http://order.kagi.com/?3YH

Note : Due to charges from the Kagi service, the registration fees are
slightly more expensive than the direct payment of the authors by post mail.

5. Our other programs
-----------------------

 OMeR : Add-on for Melody Assistant : optical score recognition
 Fee : US$15

 Virtual Singer : Plug-in for Melody Assistant : To make your
 computer sing karaoke files. Shareware version included in this archive.
 Fee : US$15

 Sapiens : Sapiens is an adventure-arcade game that brings you back
 100 000  years ago for discovering the everyday life of the Homo Sapiens
  Neandertalensis.
  You incarnate a young Hunter from the Light-Foot tribe : you'll have to
  explore your territory, keep up friendly contacts with the other tribes,
  trade objects, make assegai heads and fight for your life...
  The movements are displayed in 3D view and a digital music energizes the
  game.
 Fee : US $10

 Awale :  It is one of the most ancient games still played. The Masai say
  that the Awale was invented by Sindillo, the son of the first man,
  Maitoumbe, and was originally called geshe.
  This fascinating African game (also known as Awele, Oware, Wari, ...) has
  been here very attractively adapted on microcomputer. Play against the
  computer and try to defeat him.
  A very realistic game, with solid wood and clattering stones.
  Its progressive game levels, its 16 different variations from all over
  the world and its Internet features that allow two players to challenge
  over  the Internet makes Awale the best Mancala game ever.
 Fee : US $10

 Harmony Assistant :  Harmony is Melody's big brother. For a more
  complete description of this software, refer to our Website
  Harmony is a commercial software, sold $65.

If you want to get the latest version of all our products, send us
US$10 and you'll receive a copy of the "Myriad Products CD-ROM". Don't
forget to tell us whether you own a Macintosh or a PC, and your
complete postal coordinates.

You can also download all these programs for free on our Website.

----- End of Readme file
