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FamiTracker
This song got stuck in my head one day, so decided to recreate it in FamiTracker. I made it in a little under an hour, so let me know if there is anything I should add to it to make it sound better
I challenge you to make a song where there are actual instruments, and not simple beeps and note cuts.
Load someone else's FTM file, and see what they are doing. You'll notice things like volume envelopes and duty cycle patterns. So start with that, you can actually go a long way with just those.
If you want to see what instruments actual games used, you can also use the NSF Importer.
Yes. This is accurate enough, but it's sonically boring.
80's NES titles had this style of music because it was a relatively new thing, and they didn't have fancy 21st century tracker software at their disposal.
Today, we have no such excuses. :P If you're really interested in this hobby, then there is a plethora of great examples waiting for you in the "Demo songs" folder now included with FamiTracker releases.
You have to remember - the community of people you are submitting your work to have been studying this art-form for some time; it's plainly obvious to them that you haven't spent much time with the software when of all the features you have at your fingertips, you have used exactly seven.
It's a fantastic gem of a game you've selected to pay homage to, and I wholeheartedly support your effort. More justice can be done here. If it's a tutorial you're looking for, try [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuKceSByIhU&playnext=1&list=PL26DB24E61362BDE8&feature=results_main]this.
Also, for what it's worth, your volume control is good.
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I agree with both of them. You must use some volume envelopes so your songs don't sound so plain. This would sound a lot better if there were more volume fades and stuff. Go and try some and you will notice they will get better. The demo songs are also a good start.
Out of the song's subject, I might also recommend that you make a single thread for your work since you are uploading many things. This will make it easier to track your work and will use less space.
EDIT: In case you are wondering, the NSF import can be found [url=http://famitracker.com/forum/posts.php?id=2284]here
Thanks for all your support guys! As you guys have said, I AM pretty new at this especially compared to you guys, buy I definitely wan't to get better! I'll make sure to go back and do those things. Again, thanks!
@Necrophageon-Thanks for the tutorial link, but I have already seen it :P
Sorry for being a noob, but what is a duty cycle exactly? And by volume envelope do you mean the volume channel, the instruments volume, or am I completely lost?
Again, sorry if I seem like a total noob right now(and I kind of am...), but we all have to start somewhere right?
[quote=JOEMAN23]Again, sorry if I seem like a total noob right now(and I kind of am...), but we all have to start somewhere right?[/quote]
Yes, we all start from nothing. I don't know how to define "Duty cycle", but it refers to the length of a pulse wave's phase or something. Let's say, a pulse wave with a short duty cycle(12,5% for instance) will have a gritty sound, while one with a long duty cycle(50%) will be softer.
This effect can be achieved by just using the duty macros of an instrument or by the Vxx effect. In 2A03, its useful values are V00, V01, V02 and V03. Experiment with that and you'll understand what I mean and how they sound. There's some info in the help file, and I'm sure this was discussed in another thread(located in FamiTracker Talk).
About volume envelope, consider this as just a sequence of volume values which go one after another, usually meant to be used for fade-ins or fade-outs or even other effects. You can also achieve these by using an instrument macros(which works damn good!) or by putting the volume values on the volume column.
I hope this has helped you.
EDIT: Oh wait, there's the Axy effect for fade-ins and fade-outs. Just make sure you restore the volume on each note you play, and use an A00 when you want to deactivate it.
Also, Bari10 forgot to attach the FTM, but I might also make one later.
Duty Cycle is the Vxx effect in effects column; For the 2a03, v00 is 12.5%, v01 is 25%, v02 is 50%, and v03 is 75% ( but it sounds the same as v01.) Each makes the pulse a little wider, giving it a different sound. It cannot, however, be used for the Triangle.
The VRC6 Pulse channels have 8 duty cycles, and the Sawtooth can reach an extra volume range with v01 (although it will distort after a little while.)
Switching them around (say, v01, then v02, or any order, one right after the other) will make an interesting sound, but if you're using the N163, then you'll be switching through waves in the instrument.
The volume envelope is the instrument's volume, but you can make an envelope in the volume column, as well. You'll usually want to stick with the volume inside the instrument unless you're using faster speeds that allow for better accuracy.
I've uploaded a little FTM with what I'm talking about.
EDIT: Looks like I've been beaten to the explanation by Mr_Master. I'll still keep this up just in case you need it.
