README.TXT for Winamp 3DGL v1.50 beta - Released December 30th 1999 Contents: =-=-=-=-= Note Requirements Quick Set-up Quick Problems Controls Creating Textures OpenGL Help/Information Section About The Author License Acknowledgements * * * * NOTE * * * * Please note this plug-in *REQUIRES* a 3D Accelerator that supports OpenGL. If you did not specifically purchase a 3D accelerator for your computer then you don't have one, and this plug-in will look/run terrible! The OpenGL32.dll that comes with Windows in your SYSTEM folder is NOT sufficient or accelerated to give proper performance! Examples of compatible cards are: Riva TNT (with the latest drivers) 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics / Voodoo2 / Voodoo Banshee / Voodoo3 (with the Quake3 compatible driver installed) Permedia2 Rendition 2x00 (with the beta3 driver from http://www.rendition.com) Examples of cards that will _NOT_ work: ATI anything - Terrible drivers, although some report the Rage Pro working, but poorly. Matrox cards - Drivers don't function properly. 90% of the cards that come with your computer, unless you paid the extra for it, you don't have it! The recommended card for this plug-in is the Nvidia TNT, TNT2, GeForce and any new Nvidia card. * * * * * * * * * * * * For additional information visit the official page at http://3d.technonet.com Requirements =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -> Minimum Processor: Depends on 3D card. P150 is the absolute minimum for 3Dfx Voodoo1 -> Video Card: 3D card with an available OpenGL Installable Client Driver (ICD) Some Quake2 MiniGL MCD drivers will work successfully with the plug-in, others lack required functions. -> Software: Winamp 2.0 or higher is REQUIRED. Quick Set-Up: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Run the Install 2) Place the OpenGL32.DLL driver for your video card in the same location as the Winamp executable (winamp.exe). (Consult the GL section of this readme for further information on this) 3) Select the plug-in from the "Select vis plug-in" option in Winamp configuration 4) Select the plug-in (wa3dgl.dll) from the plug-in list then configure the one you want from the pull-down list of plug-ins. 5) Start playing the music. 6) Activate the plug-in by double clicking in the mini-vis window, or hitting Ctrl-Shift-K 7) Enjoy the show. Quick problems: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Do the colors look wrong? Do you see squares in the tunnel? Go to the graphics tab under the configuration and check off the 'Fix inverted colors' box. 2) Running really slow? Then you didn't properly install the OpenGL driver or you don't have a supported card. 3) Using a 3Dfx and getting crashes? Try selecting the Full-Screen option in the graphics tab. Controls =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Pressing [Space Bar] will change the texture, it scrolls through all the P3D_*.BMP in your winamp\plugins directory files that are selected under the textures option panel in the configuration. Hit [ESC] to exit. Creating Textures =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Textures should be 24bit bitmap files (.BMP), and should have size values divisible by 8, example: 32x32, 64x64, 128x128, 256x256. No higher than 256x256. The files must be named P3D_*.bmp and be in the plug-ins directory. If you wish to create new flares, examine P3Dflare.BMP to see how it's made. OpenGL Help/Information Section: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Contents =-=-=-=-= 1. Finding the right ICD (or MCD) for your video card. 1.1 Figuring out which video card you have 1.2 Finding out where to get the ICD (or MCD) for your card 1.3 Installing the ICD so that Winamp can use it 2. Errors 1.1 Errors in Wa3dgl.dll and what they mean Quick Info: =-=-=-=-=-= If you feel the plug-ins are running extremely slow, and have very poor image quality, than you may not have downloaded the correct ICD for your card, or you may have placed it in the improper directory. Make sure your OpenGL32.DLL is in the same directory as WINAMP.EXE, NOT IN THE PLUG-INS DIRECTORY... 3Dfx owners will have to rename 3Dfxopengl.dll to OpenGL32.DLL before it will work! Don't forget to use [SpaceBar] to change textures! Finding the right ICD (or MCD) for your video card: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1.1 Figuring out which video card you have: ------------------------------------------- In most cases you should already know what 3D accelerator is in your computer, because MOST computers do NOT ship with a 3D accelerator card (exception of high-end DELL and a few other high-end brands) the most common reason for having a 3D accelerator is because you specifically bought one as an add-on. If you don't know, the easiest way to find out is to check your device manager. To open your device manager, right-click the mouse on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop and select "Properties". From there select the "devices" tab. Expand the "Display adapters" option on the list. If you have a 3Dfx card, it may be listed under the "Multimedia" section or "Video and Game adapters" You should now have a list of all the display adapters in your system, jot down the name/manufacturer of your card, and proceed to step 1.2 1.2 Finding out where to get the ICD (or MCD) for your card ----------------------------------------------------------- Now that you know the manufacturer and name of your card, you can try to go to the website for that manufacturer. some common manufacturers are: Creative Labs: www.creativelabs.com Diamond Multimedia: www.diamondmm.com Canopus Corporation: www.canopus.com STB (Simply The Best): www.stb.com and, for all 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics cards: www.3dfx.com IF you have an OpenGL driver for Quake2 for your card, you MAY be able to use it to run the plug-ins, I have had success using the Quake2 MCD for Rendition and 3Dfx with the plug-ins, if the plug-ins behave erratically while using the MCD, discontinue use of it.. If you're unable to find the driver for your card, try doing a search on www.altavista.com or your favorite search engine for: " opengl icd" 1.3 Installing the ICD so that Winamp can use it ------------------------------------------------ Although you installed the plug-ins into your Winamp\Plug-ins directory, you are required to place your OpenGL ICD in the same directory as Winamp, meaning your OpenGL32.dll has to be in the same directory as Winamp.exe If you fail to install the correct driver, you may recieve an error, or, the plug-ins will run very slowly. Some card manufacturers such as 3Dfx have decided to name their DLLs incorrectly, 3Dfx users will have to RENAME 3DfxopenGL.dll to OpenGL32.dll before they can use it. Errors: =-=-=-= 1.1 Errors in Wa3dgl.dll and what they mean ------------------------------------------- Error: Unable to resolve please consult ReadmeGL.txt What this means: The OpenGL32.dll you are using doesn't contain the proper functions, you should make sure that if you're using a Quake2 MCD that it is indeed the latest version and is the proper device for your card. If you're sure you have the latest driver for your card, contact your manufacturer and inform them of the missing functions. Error: Unable to Load please consult ReadmeGL.txt What this means: If it's unable to load OPENGL32.DLL, please consult Section 1 of this file, ensure that you've got the correct driver for your card, and that it is indeed the newest driver. And make sure if you have a 3Dfx that you remembered to rename 3Dfxopengl.dll to Opengl32.dll before copying it into the Winamp directory. About The Author =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Name: C.J. Cliffe Age: 19 Home Location: Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada (Near Kingston) Email: princedewd@geocities.com I am a first year University student at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto, Ontario where I am taking Computer Science. I hang out in #vinylvortex, #mp3rave, #toraves and #nullsoft channels on EFNET, my nickname is (usually) [CJ]. License =-=-=-= This is a freeware program. You can use it free of charge without guilt. This software is freeware, there is no warranty. Use the program at your own risk. The author is not responsible for any damages or problems incurred whatsoever by the use or misuse of the software. There is no charge or registration for the use of this software, however if you feel morally obligated to compensate the author for the use of this software, send an email requesting a mailing address. CD's, Books, and such things will be gladly accepted. If you find any bugs or have comments please send e-mail to princedewd@geocities.com. Full permission for public display of this software is allowable providing no dollar amount is charged specifically for viewing. This means you may display this software at public and pay events providing that no additional admission is charged as a result. Give credit to the author if possible, do not claim it as your own. If you use this software at a public or pay event, please drop the author a note and let him know how it worked out, and what changes could be made to improve it. Emailing photos or stories would be highly appreciated. Acknowledgements =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thanks to Justin Frankel for WinAmp, and his countless hours of assistance. Thanks to _HR_ for the Great textures (mikejc@voicenet.com). Thanks to Fugu on IRC in #3dfx for assisting in Texture Mapping and Z/Wbuffering. Thanks to Montee from #3dfx for the Tunnel Idea. Thanks to everyone who's sent me little emails about quirks and thoughts. Thanks to SGI for developing OpenGL ... 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