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FamiTracker
I was thinking of hijacking Raijin's DPCM topic but I think this is worthy of its own thread.
I'm attempting to add vocals to a tune with little to no knowledge of DCPM. jrlepage has tried to explain the rudiments of the zxx command, with the result that I keep typing z00 next to my DCPM samples in the hope that it does something good.
What can I do to add more control of these samples and get this bugger to sound good?
Here's the tune with the line of verse I've made so far.
Here's your problem; DPCM can only accept 1-bit audio samples. The quality will definitely be crappy no matter how you try to control it with effects.
Now, the Zxx command is a volume control command; it will let you increase/decrease the overall volume of the DPCM channel at the cost of the triangle & noise channels' volume (i.e.: Z7F will boost the DPCM channel's volume & decrease the volume of both the triangle & noise channels).
Z00 will do the exact opposite.
In the case of speech, you have to remember one thing; since it's all a 1-bit set of samples, your speech will always be accompanied by static noise that can overpower your speech at maximum volume. So you're actually doing some good by using Z00, but you also need to try & balance the volume of the DPCM channel & all other channels so that your music doesn't overpower it.
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Thanks Tech, that "Z7f is high, Z00 is low" explanation is exactly what I was missing for my comprehension of the Zxx command.
I quite like the low-fi sound to it, but you're right - I have to be careful it doesn't get overpowered by the music.
Another problem I'm finding is fitting those syllables in while retaining clarity. Most of the lyrics at the start there are audible enough I think, except where it says "luck has", and "feeling" maybe. I'm thinking if I have time and antojo I may start the lyrics again in the C64 sam reciter - that'll be a long ball ache though...
What actually sucks, at the moment, is fitting it into a natural sounding rhythm. It's so damn hard!!! and if you want a syllable to come in fast after another one you risk cutting off the end of the 1st syllable.
[i][color=cyan]EDIT: what also sucks is that I put the first word "it's" at the end of the piece for neat looping, but no matter what zxx command I give it I can't get it to sound. does anyone know why?[/i]
[i][color=pink]EDIT 2: Oh, I've worked it out. It's because when the tune gets going it completely overpowers the lyrics. Bum[/i]
Zxx does absolutely nothing to the DPCM channel's volume. It only changes what level the DAC is outputting at, affecting the start position of the sample. The only case where $4011 (the register Zxx writes to) affects volume is if you're using raw PCM, which FamiTracker doesn't let you do.
It is true however that a high value for Zxx (0x7F being max) will reduce the volume of the APU2 side of the 2A03 (triangle and noise).
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Zxx can and will affect DPCM volume if the sample allows for it, which could be construed as "the level the DAC is outputting at," but it has a perceivable effect on DPCM volume nonetheless.
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Actually, jrlepage did clear up a bit of a misunderstanding on my part. I wouldn't exactly construe both points as the same, even though both are interrelated to a point.
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TC, you should learn the hex decimals a bet so you can better utilize the effect. The numbers/letters are : 0, 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ,6 ,7 ,9 , A , B , C , D , E , F.
What makes you believe anyone here isn't familiar with hex??
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I don't mind hex in famitracker, except for when I want to do a bpm change/gradual change using Fxx, then I have to whip out the calculator. Otherwise you just have to memorize the quarters: 0, 4, 8, C, F (10-1). and if you need to be more fine grained you just go two between them. C is also an octave, and the noise pitch register is mod 16 so F is -1 and so on
[quote=Thom]TC, you should learn the hex decimals a bet so you can better utilize the effect. The numbers/letters are : 0, 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ,6 ,7 ,9 , A , B , C , D , E , F.[/quote]
Who's TC?
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[quote=Thom][quote=jrlepage]What makes you believe anyone here isn't familiar with hex??[/quote]
What's wrong with assumptions?[/quote]
They make you an ass.
[quote=Naff_Natty][quote=Thom]TC, you should learn the hex decimals a bet so you can better utilize the effect. The numbers/letters are : 0, 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ,6 ,7 ,9 , A , B , C , D , E , F.[/quote]
Who's TC?[/quote]
You ("topic creator"). See also "OP".
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Follow me on [url=https://twitter.com/jrlepage2a03]Twitter.
I record (some) NSFs on hardware. Feel free to [url=http://www.famitracker.com/forum/posts.php?id=3633]request a hardware render.
[quote=Naff_Natty][quote=jrlepage] You ("topic creator". See also "OP".[/quote]
[color=grey]It's when you count to ten but stop at six.[/quote]
The fu-
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) 
. See also "OP".[/quote]