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FamiTracker
This may end up being a fairly lengthy post so bear with me.
I'm trying to figure out everything I would need to play an entire set with songs written in Famitracker at a live event. Sure I could run a cable from the headphone jack on my laptop, to a quarter inch in the soundboard, and just play each song individually as needed. My goal is to actually be able to get everything onto an NES and set that up to play live. Kinda defeats the purpose of writing lo-fi music if people think you're running fruity loops or ableton, with a surplus of synthesizers and channels.
From what I've researched here's what I'll be needing:
An NES system (approximately $40)
A power pak ($150ish)
A cable and converter to run from the NES stereo out to a mixing board quarter inch cable ($15)
So my current understanding of how this would work is this:
1. Write songs in famitracker
2. Export as .nsf files
3. Flash songs onto power pak sd card
4. Put cartridge in, hook up cable, and you're good to go
My only concern is being able to actually SEE what's on the cartridge when I set it up at a venue. I can't exactly cart a T.V. around with me everywhere I go, and when the NES boots I won't be able to see anything. Is there a way to mount/mod a system with a smaller screen of some kind, or is there a company that can do it?
Not sure if I overlooked anything, but any feedback would be rad.
Thanks in advance.
FYI, the Power Pak uses Compact Flash cards, not SD cards.
You could get a Famicom and one of [url=http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~tns/tnshfc3.html]these. Good luck getting them to ship it to you, though. I had to ask someone who lives in Japan to order it for me and then ship it to me.
On the upside though, you don't need a TV to operate the TNS-HFC3. Also, the setup is way easier: just run a 1/8" cable from the HFC3 to your amp, throw NSF files on the root of the SD card, turn on the power switch, hit reset, and there you go. Plus, you can order cartridges with expansion audio and play authentic VRC6, MMC5 etc. music.
On the downside, as I said it's really difficult to get a hold of, and also obviously you need to get a Famicom.
If you insist on using an NES, I'd recommend buying a really small TV and using that to navigate through the Power Pak menus. I went to a live chiptune performance last month to see Heosphoros, and that's what he did.
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I record (some) NSFs on hardware. Feel free to [url=http://www.famitracker.com/forum/posts.php?id=3633]request a hardware render.
Nice. I think the TV/NES route is probably gonna be my best bet, just because they're both easier to get my hands on in the U.S. Although it would be more "authentic" to order and use the TNS-HFC3...not that I'm too concerned with that.
So am I correct in assuming that if I write a song with either the VRC6 or MMC5 module in Famitracker, that it will NOT be able to play on a generic off the shelf NES?
Yeaahhhh...with my luck and technical prowess I would end up soldering my hedgehog to the pliers, and burning down my house at the same time. Think I'm gonna pass on the modding lol.
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[quote=]So am I correct in assuming that if I write a song with either the VRC6 or MMC5 module in Famitracker, that it will NOT be able to play on a generic off the shelf NES?[/quote]
Yes, that is correct. And even with the mod cak suggested, you still wouldn't be able to play MMC5, VRC7 or 5B modules. The only expansion audio mappers available for the Power Pak (so far) are VRC6, N163 and FDS (some will argue the 5B audio is also implemented, but the emulation is only partial, and isn't supported by the NSF player). Also, the N163 is inaccurately emulated (no multiplexer, no aliasing, only waves up to 32 samples long are supported).
So yeah, with the Power Pak you'd only be able to play 2A03 tunes without modding your NES.
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I record (some) NSFs on hardware. Feel free to [url=http://www.famitracker.com/forum/posts.php?id=3633]request a hardware render.
get one of these little digital LCD monitors, hook up your NES and youre good to go. ive been using this old portable dvd player with video inputs thats still going strong to this day for our live shows.
As for a screen, order an LCD screen with composite input. (You need to get a driver board with it since that's what actually converts the composite signal to a format the screen can use; they often come with them.)
You might be able to cut a hole in the top of the NES and fit the screen in. I dunno. I don't have an NES anymore.
Something like this:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Freeshipping-3-5inch-LCD-module-LQ035NC111-LCD-module-with-driver-board/542350462.html
You could also just buy one of those rear-view camera dealies from eBay and rest it on top of the unit. They have basically the same internals as that LCD module; they're just in a case. Yeah, that's probably easier.
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I've been thinking it would be fun to connect MIDI to my NES via my CopyNES USB port. I haven't gotten around to trying it yet though. I could probably use the FTI format to build and store instruments, even.
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