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FamiTracker
Hi, I registered in this forum no more than a week ago after a spree in which I downloaded this tracker and a series of other programs but am now faced with some questions.
This is my first tracker and as such, it's been a bit harsh embracing this type of tool after months using Cubase and Fruityloops so I ask you this:
1 - Where can I get a dmc sample? For DPCM usage. I have hundreds of 'normal' samples but no dmc ones, is there any way of converting them? Or do they have to be nes specific?
2 - I don't quite grasp the concept of 'instruments' that this software employs, isn't it always the same instrument playing only in different channels?
I'm still a newbie in this 'world' so any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance
"instrument" in famitracker means volume settings, duty cycle settings, pitchbend settings, and arpeggio settings.
If you want a 50% pulse wave to play at full volume, set the volume to 15 and the duty cycle to 2.
If you want a 12.5% pulse wave to gradually fade in, set the volume to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 and the duty cycle to 0.
By messing with these settings, you have a lot of different possibilities for creating interesting sounds.
You could make a song with only one instrument but it would be hard to get it to sound interesting.
Here is a link to a simple famitracker file that has some instruments from TMNT1 and Zelda 2.
http://2a03.free.fr/dl.php?file=1036
The third frame is an example showing how you can mix and match instruments.
To make DCM files, create a new instrument, double-click on it, and then select the DPCM samples tab. Then hit the "import sample" button. Load up a .wav file and it will convert it for you.
This is the latest famitracker, you shouldn't have any problems opening ftms with this.
there is an old tutorial..but stuff has changed since then. The best way for you to learn is to open up other peoples FTM files and take a look at what they did. Find a sound you like, and see how they got it to sound like that.
I don't know how much you already know, so I wil l just assume you could use a lot of information.
Here's a quick tadpole tutorial:
create a new instrument by clicking on the picture of the page at the top right. Double click on the "new instrument" to go into the instrument editor.
You will want to create and assign a volume envelope. Put a check in the box for volume. Then, in the MML area, make your first volume envelope. volume can be 0-15. The last number you use is the end of your envelope, that volume will be looped forever. For instance, 15 12 9 6 3 1 will start out really loud, but quickly die down to very quiet and sustain at 1 volume. (Note: Make sure you press enter after typing your envelopes. You'll know its working when you see a visualization of your envelopes)
YYou can't set the volume for triangle or DPCM. But you have to have a non-zero value in your volume envelope to hear your triangle (its volume can either be set to on or off).
You will also need to select a duty cycle. Mark a check on the duty/noise box, and type in your duty cycle in the MML column. You can use 0,1, 2, and 3. (1 and 3 sound the same). Selecting a duty cycle 0-3 is necessary on the 2 square channels. But you don't have to pick just one duty cycle. If you want, you can cycle through different duty cycles as your note plays. For instance, 1 1 2 will play duty cycle 1 for the first 2 frames, and then it will play the rest of the note with a 2 duty cycle.
OK now close out the instrument editor.
Select your instrument by clicking on it, it will be highlighted.
OK, now to put your instrument to use: Click on the three lines "- - -" just to the right of the 000 underneath Square 1. This is the first note of your song. Push spacebar until the screen turns red. Blue screen means you're in jam mode where you can hear your notes but the song data isn't recorded (useful for jamming, making up new stuff as your track is being played). You need to be in edit mode (red).
In the song editor, your keyboard becomes a piano-keyboard: check here to see how it is layed-out. http://www.2a03.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1047
When you enter notes, you will see a letter (which note), a number (which octave), and then a 2 digit number (which instrument is selected)
The columns to the right are used for special effects, like portamento, vibrato, etc.
phew, OK, if you need any more help, ask me specific questions. Hope it helps.
oops I forgot to mention the volume column. It's between the "- -" for the instrument number and the "- - -" for the effects. It's just a single "-". Use 0-F to set the volume.
Yes, you already have a volume envelope set for your instrument, but this is useful. F is full volume, E is slightly quieter, all the way to 1 which is quietest, and 0 = off.
It's useful because without it you would have to create new instruments if you wanted it to get quieter or louder, but now you can use the same instrument with a different value in the volume column.
Another note, I have problems opening that, among other files... Best thing to do is the old fashioned file > open and it should work, rather than drag+drop or otherwise opening the file outside of the program.
