# Lyrician 3 User Guide

for version Ly3 v4.2.x only, including Encoder v1.1.x

## TABLE of CONTENT

- #### PART I: Preparing to Install

- #### PART II: The Basics

- #### PART III: Encoding Lyrics

- #### PART IV: Playing Lyrics

- #### PART V: Program Information

## PART I: Installation

Lyrician 3 now comes with an self-installation program. Follow the instructions on your screen, and all the necessary files will be installed to the appropriate places. The default directories are:

The program files are put under:

> -     C:\Program Files\Lyrician 3

And the Visual Basic run-time DLL system files are saved under:

> -     C:\Windows\System

When you uninstall Lyrician 3, a number of screens will prompt you whether you would also like to remove certain system files. The best advice is to keep them, as many other application, present and future, use the same files, so it is safer not to remove those files.

The following files and directories will be saved under %Lyrician3%:

Lyrician 3 main program:

> -     \lyrician.exe

Lyrician 3 Encoder program (replaces the integrated Sequencer in previous releases):

> -     \encoder.exe

Readme / Help:

> -     \readme.htm

Default initial file. When deleted, it will self-restore:

> -     \lyrician.ini

The skins directory, where skins are put:

> -     \skins

Default skins bundled with the program:

> -     \skins\default

Included sample files:

> -     \sample

## PART II: The Basics

The purpose of Lyrician is to provide closed caption to music on a computer, like a karaoke, 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, rich text. Lyrician 3 Encoder outputs into LY3 format, which is a specially formatted text file.

## PART III: Encoding Lyrics File

(Formerly Sequencing Lyrics)

#### Step 1: Preparing Input

While preparing an input file for the first time, open SAMPLE.TXT for an example.

Find the lyrics to the song that you wish to encode. A recommended engine is http://www.letssingit.com/.

Save the lyrics (and only the lyrics) to a place that is easy to find. Be careful when saving as HTML, as HTML tags will also be interpreted as lyrics. Rich text (RTF) though will have no trouble at all.

Manually fill out any repetitive part if necessary. (e.g. do not just write "Repeat Chorus"; when you sing, you won't know what Chorus is. Replace it with the entire chorus part.)

> > Attention Lyrician I/II users: first line of input files is no longer the song's biographical information. It is now a streamlines process. Also, empty lines and punctuations are allowed in the input files. These fundamental changes to the structure of input file will hopeful drastically decrease encoding time.

#### Step 2: Using @ Wizard

Make sure WinAmp is running.

Go to the Start buttons, Start -> Programs -> Lyrician 3 -> Encoder. The icon is a 3D epsilon.

Start the @ Wizard by clicking on its button (or File -> @ Wizard or press the hotkey F12).

Find and select the input file that you just saved in the previous step. Press Open to continue.

Enter biographical information. Put the name of the artist and the song title. Press OK to continue.

Give the new LY3 file a name. Press Save to continue. Default is <SongTitle - Artist>.ly3.

A dialog box will prompt you whether you wish to select your song in WinAmp, press Yes.

WinAmp will now give a list of available songs that you have. Double click on the song's name. The song may start to play, but that's okay.

#### Step 3: The Finishing Touches

Back to Encoder, check the lyrics under Current File View. To make casual corrections, select a line, right click, and performed any of the available tasks (Add Line, Edit Line, or Remove Line).

To make drastic changes, or to convert RTF files to text files, go to File -> Edit or Ctrl+E. Be sure to press Save when done.

When all works are done, press Start!. WinAmp will start to play the song that you selected, or restart playing the current song.

Press Next Line to go to the next line in lyrics, until the lyrics file reached the end.

Press Stop at any time to abort the process. If the end of the file was not reached, you will be prompted to save the LY3 files. It is recommended that you don't, and try again.

## PART IV: Playing Lyrics

Make sure WinAmp is running.

Go to Start -> Program -> Lyrician 3 -> Lyrician 3. Icon is a play button.

### To play a file...

Open the OPEN button, or Playback -> Open File, or press Ctrl+F (or Playlist -> Open..., or Ctrl+O).

Press PLAY to start.

### To play a file...

Open the OPEN button, or Playlist -> Open..., or press Ctrl+O.

Specify options, such at repeat play (continuous cyclic playback) and randomizing items.

Press PLAY to start.

## PART V: Program Information

#### Requirements

Nullsoft WinAmp 2.x or later, Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT/Me/2000, 3 MB hard drive space, 4 MB RAM, soundcard and speakers, mouse, keyboard, ASCII editor.

#### About

Lyrician 3 Version 4.2.0 /~/ Encoder 3 Version 1.1.0

Copyright (c) 2000-2001 Jay Liu. All rights reserved.
Visit on-line at http://ly3.rocks.it/
For support, recommendation, or other feedback, contact author at jayliu@bigfoot.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)

4.2.0 | Greatly improved interface to play around with for hours at a time ;) Found to be 99.9% bug-free and thus fit for release.
4.0.x - 4.1.x | Introducing the all-new designed Lyrician 3. Public beta releases. Fixed tons of bugs. Thanks to all testers.
3.0.7 | After a great number of revision, and repeated beta testings, finally ready for release. Download WinAmp from Nullsoft, Inc at www.winamp.com for free.
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 Greatly improved layout
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
Please be advised that when you use lyrics to many commercial songs, a user may be required to obtain written permission from its authors due to copyright restrictions. Lyrician 3 author solely relies on his users to abide to these laws. Lyrician 3's author is not responsible for any copyright infringement by his product's users, any damage caused thereof, financial or otherwise. Any problem regarding copyright infringement should be directly directed to the violator, and not the author.
This user guide is Copyright (c) 2001 Jay Liu. It supplements Lyrician 3 v4.2.0