"xStream has just made Cthugha at least twice as cool as it used to be... ...we haven't even scratched the surface with this kind of tool"

"Wow! This is the coolest add-on to Cthugha I've ever seen! ...this is as cool as Cthugha itself, if not even more so"

Rus Maxham (Author of MaCthugha)

"...really powerfull. It is the ultimate tab generation tool"

Krunoslav Pisacic (Author of Cthugha-4-Winamp)

And if you think that sounds good, then just wait until this is finished!

xStream98 SE is an offshoot from my final year project, which is an investigation into the accuracy of numerical particle tracking methods. Don't let this put you off, though - you don't have to understand about this to use the program.

It uses fundamental fluid mechanics to create a flow, which can be interactively designed and viewed on screen. You can then export this to Cthugha as a tab file, enabling fantastic visual effects, which could only be done by using this program.

Click here to see a view of the main program screen.

Click here and here to see some fantastic screenshots from Cthugha-4-Winamp when used with tab files generated by xStream98SE. You can get Winamp from Nullsoft.

Download Alpha Version 2 (144k)

NEW!! Download a DOS compiler for xStream98SE files (40k)

What's new in this version?

Coming soon...

This updated archive of Alpha 2 contains updated sample .XSE files, so if you've already got the original archive you can download the new sample files here...

Download Updated Samples (12k)

I hope you like it: it's my very first proper program. My other programming experience were simple text mode C programs for a Computing course. Please send me, George Elphick, any good xStream files you have created. Also send me any comments and suggestions you have.

I also have some problems that I have come across, if someone wants to help me out?

There is also available a utility for altering the blend values of Cthugha-4-Winamp tab files, called ReBlend. I highly recommend downloading and using it:

Download ReBlend (17k)

 

DOS Compiler for Alpha 2 : 11th May 1998

• Can now compile directly from the command prompt. Intended for redistribution with any other programs.

 

Version Alpha 2 : 1st April 1998

IT WORKS NOW! Several minor bug fixes in exporting tab files:

• Vertical mirroring in buffer fixed
• Tab files are no longer inverted from what is on screen
• No points are ever out of range
• Blend value is no longer 1 out

Also fixed:

• Random envelope now works properly (didn't use proper minimum value and scale). Sorry, but you will have to modify your xse files slightly to account for this (i.e. increase time step and reduce minimum rand factor).
• Can now cancel export of tab file
• Fixed small memory leak
• Default size of 640x480 now fits in the window better (can someone tell me how to make an app start maximised in VisualC++, rather than starting minimised and then immediately maximising?) At some point I will improve the views to have workspace centred, so then you can zoom in and out to see and edit elements off the boundary

• Zoom to... dialog fixed

Added:

• Editable file information (author, description, recommended settings, etc)

• XSE file improvements to provide future functionality (eg multiple envelopes)

This means that the old XSE files will no longer work. However, I have hacked together a little program to convert them to the new format, called OldToNew. Also, there are more sample files to have a look at and play with. Note the use of flow elements outside of the view area.

So what is coming soon? Well with xStream98 Special Effects:

• Ability to have control over envelopes, not just radially, but tangentially and in the x and y directions
• Envelope specific components of velocity (u and v)
• Cosine envelopes with variable phase shifts and non-constant wavelengths
• Multiple envelopes (so you could superimpose a number of cosine waves, for example)
• TAB FILE ANIMATION!!?? Now that really would ROCK!
• New compressed tab file format, which could be up to 90% smaller
• Preview Cthugha translations within xStream
• Flow visualisation with particles...

I have a number of future projects in mind:

• My own plugins for Winamp based on 3D fluid particle visualisation, with stream ribbons, stream tubes, and realistic turbulence.
• Fully fledged flow visualisation tool for Computation Fluid Dynamics (if there is any demand?)