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FamiTracker
Request #1: I think that when you type the P key in the effect column, "P80" should appear by default if there isn't already another number there, since P80 corresponds to the default pitch state of a note. I could perhaps likewise see the Fxx command defaulting to F06 or something, but that one seems less useful. In general, it would be nice if any effect command for which a value of 00 doesn't produce the default behavior came out pre-loaded with the value that does produce the default behavior.
Request #2: It would be wild if, in the instrument editor, one could use a handful of variables that could have their values provided via the effect columns. Let me explain what I mean with an example.
Say you're using the VRC6 expansion, and you want the following instruments:
Instrument 00 - Pulse Width: 3 0 1 2 3
Instrument 01 - Pulse Width: 4 1 2 3 4
Instrument 02 - Pulse Width: 5 2 3 4 5
Instrument 03 - Pulse Width: 6 3 4 5 6
Instrument 04 - Pulse Width: 7 4 5 6 7
Rather than entering each as a separate instrument, one could just enter
Instrument 05 - Pulse Width: n k l m n
The user would supply the values of k, l, m and n through two new effects, let's call them Kkl and Mmn. So, in this case, to get the same sound as Instrument 00, the user could use Instrument 05 as defined above and enter K01 on one effect column and M23 on another. Or, to produce the sound of Instrument 01, he could use K12 M34, or K23 M45 for Instrument 02, and so on.
It could apply to more than just duty cycles and pulse widths, of course; using these variables and corresponding effects, one could produce some killer custom arpeggios without needing to change instruments all the time.
Overly complicated? Perhaps, but it's great for people who love to keep a trim instrument list. Granted, it puts additional strain on the already-taxed effect columns, as well as eating up two more effect names, but I think it would be worth the sacrifice.
[b]- EDIT -[/b]
Request #3: A pair of grace note effects would be [i]wonderful![/i] The effects, say, 5xy and 6xy, would apply a pitch change of x for the first y frames of a note; 5xy would lower the pitch and 6xy would raise it. So rather than using
Instrument 06 - Arpeggio: 2 2 2 0
or
Instrument 07 - Arpeggio: -1 -1 -1 0
one could just use any old instrument but apply effect 623 to mimic Instrument 06 or 513 for instrument 07.
This would be SUPER USEFUL OMG.
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Thirding the P80. Perhaps a Fxx default could load from the song's speed value?
I'm always hesitant about things that add new effect codes. While I think the grace note effects could be cool, it kind of clashes with the idea of the existing effects, that they apply some static effect to the duration of a note (or even until directly cancelled). Similar for the programmable instrument values; that seems like adding scripting for scripting's sake, without much immediate application.
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[quote=icesoldier]I'm always hesitant about things that add new effect codes. While I think the grace note effects could be cool, it kind of clashes with the idea of the existing effects, that they apply some static effect to the duration of a note (or even until directly cancelled).[/quote]
Grace note effects would be a lot like the existing Qxx and Rxx effects, except that they wouldn't slide. Let me go on record as saying that in a world where Qxx and Rxx exist, these grace note effects should also exist. They go hand in hand.
Effects of the future, TODAY!Posted: 2012-06-23 09:44 (Last Edited: 2012-06-23 13:12)
There's some kind of bug/feature/secret devil magic that causes Qxy/Rxy to behave the way you're describing.
Just set up any instrument with an arpeggio (using 0's is fine), and as long as the arpeggio macro reaches the frame where you're using Qxy/Rxy, the note will make a direct jump without the slide.
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I think he probably meant something that an arp envelope like this would perform: 0 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -2 -3 -3 -3 -3 ,etc. because it jumps the specified number of half steps, and you can still hear all the notes in between.
It can do that too; the only condition is that the note/instrument needs to be affected by an arpeggio envelope in the same frame as the command. It doesn't need to be 0, and you don't even need to make long envelopes, either - you can just loop them.
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I don't mean the thing that za909 suggested; I mean that if you wanted a two-frame grace note that was a perfect 4th lower than the note you specify, you'd enter that note and put "552" in the effect column — 5xx being my placeholder effect command for the sake of discussion, 5 being the number of half steps in a perfect 4th, and 2 being the number of frames to wait before moving to the specified note. It would have the same effect as having an Arpeggio envelope of -5 -5 0.
Yes, Xyz. I've heard of Gxx. I use it, just not for this. The problem is that it still requires two notes on two different rows, and you have to put the grace note on the row before the "core note," which isn't always easy and may, particularly in the case of the first note of a song, require an entire frame to be devoted just to the grace note. This idea would only require one note to be entered in the note column.
Necrophageon, can you give an example of how exactly to use this dark magic? I'm experimenting with it and so far the only thing I can get is a situation where the Qxx command has to be on a different row than the note... which defeats the purpose, since the goal is to be able to effect a note change of an arbitrary number of half steps (granted, within the range of 0 to F) [i]before the tracker goes to the next row[/i]. If you're talking about another way to do it, I'm all ears.
You'll have to forgive me, I'm not very good with music theory - I just now went and learned what a grace note is, and I see the problem. Qxy/Rxy will still present the same problems, and I officially second your request for a grace note effect.
Strategies for work-arounds:
The Qxy/Rxy trick works just like I described, but the way you want to use it, if you need one in the beginning of the first row of a pattern, for instance, requires you to put the grace note in the last row of the previous pattern and push it into place with Gxx. (Pattern-spanning grace note.ftm) It shouldn't be much of an issue anywhere else but the first row.
You could alternatively do something crazy like add an extra row to each frame for the purpose of adding grace notes, but you'll have to remember to toss in a Dxx in the second-to-last row if you don't use them, and all of your row-highlights will be off by one when you do. (extra-row grace note.ftm)
I guess you COULD do something totally bat-shit insane like designate an entire pattern to a leading grace note to avoid the problems of both of these solutions..
These are just awful work-arounds, and there's definitely no way to do it on a single row without making a bunch of instruments. I have to admit that a new effect is probably the best solution, unless there's something I've completely overlooked.
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Qxy/Rxy will still present the same problems, and I officially second your request for a grace note effect.