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FamiTracker
Hello all.
I apologise for disturbing you all on a fine day like today with my newbie problems, but I just started with Famitracker and, while I have no previous experience in this kind of application I pride myself on learning fast and indeed I already have the hang of making basic instruments and music... but enough of that.
My problem is inconsistency. Volume slides and the volume column do not seem to function properly: In Square1, my downward volume slides simply delay the time until cutting off the note suddenly.
Furthermore, on the volume column: I have absolutely no idea how it works, and in the absence of any apparent command, the only way to stop instruments (where the final sequence is not 0) is to reduce their volume to 0. Any value placed in it has no effect on the actual volume of the notes in question, no matter where it is placed, so in the end I have been forced to use Exx despite it being apparently outdated - And sadly, it does not work on Noise.
Be assured I have read your wiki and gleaned what I could from that, but newb guides are few and far between and I have been working mostly by trial and error. I suspect the Famitracker help file might have the answers and stop me from bothering everyone here - but it doesn't seem to be working either.
Actually, since Exx still works, you can still use it. Mind you, instead of using Exx, you can use the one-letter volume column for values of 0-F (0 being 0 volume & F being max volume, with a 16-step volume range).
Here's an example; let's say I play middle C as my note:
C-3 00 - ---
C-3 is my note that represents middle C, the 00 represents the number of the instrument in use, the single dash represents the volume column & the three dashes represent the effects column.
C-3 00 F ---
C-3 00 E ---
C-3 00 D ---
C-3 00 C ---
...
Optionally, you can use the Axx effect to create a volume fade-out, where you start at a high volume & gradually go down to 0:
C-03 F A01
You can also do a volume fade-in, where you start at a low volume & gradually go up to F:
C-03 0 A10
In all cases, once your volume changes & you want to bring it back up to your master volume (i.e.: your desired volume,) you have to use the volume column to set your desired value.
That means once the volume approaches 0, you have to stop the fade & bring the volume back to your max. Here's an example where I fade my middle C & play a D:
C-3 F ---
--- E ---
--- D ---
--- C ---
D-3 F ---
...
Note how I made my D note play using the F value in the volume column; if I don't do this, the note would still play at the volume level from the line above it (i.e.: the D note would play with the lowest volume used by the middle C note).
Here's the same example, but using the Axx effect:
C-3 F A01
--- - ---
--- - ---
--- - ---
D-3 F A00
...
Note that A00 stops all fade effects created by the Axx command.
If I don't use the volume column to bring my D note back to maximum volume, the A00 command would be pointless because my note would still be silent.
I hope this helps.
_______________________
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Thanks very much for the quick response, although I do understand fully how to use Axx and Exx already.
I experimented a bit more - it seems volume effects don't work too well on instruments with custom volume sequences? Trial and error will probably help the most but thank you for the concise explanations. The problem seems to be fixed but I'll come back to you if I run across anything else. Still can't change volume with the volume column for Triangle.
By the way - is there any effect to simply 'stop' a note or must I make its volume 0 until the next note?
file -> configuration -> note cut
I have mine set to '1'.
Volume column works fine with custom volume sequences. Think of the volume column as a volume multiplier. F = 1, B = .75, 8 = .5, 4 = .25
Each volume in the sequence is 'multiplied' by the volume column.
) 
I'm now making... well, something that can at least be [i]approximated[/i] to music 
