Deprecated: mysql_connect(): The mysql extension is deprecated and will be removed in the future: use mysqli or PDO instead in /storage/content/49/145849/famitracker.com/public_html/forum/classes/dbHandler.php on line 29
FamiTracker
I just downloaded and began playing with famitracker, but I've already encountered something that has me stumped. After adding a few modules, I noticed that notes added in one module were being mirrored in a prior module. It's driving me crazy.
For example, let's say I have 4 modules. Module 3 isn't supposed to have any square sounds. But when I edit module 4 to add square sounds to it, the same notes get added into module 3. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks in advance for the help...this app and the music many of you have made is very, very impressive. Hopefully I can figure this out a bit better and try to contribute something of my own.
You need to use a different term than "module" as "modules" in terms of tracking are the actual song files created with a tracker. For instance, in FamiTracker, a module would be an FTM file that the program would load. In Impulse Tracker, a module would be an .IT file, etc.
I think you're talking about Instruments, in that you're designing an instrument to be a specific way, and when you write notes in for that designed instrument, as soon as you create a new one and change it's parameters, then the first instruments parameters change with it. This is being caused because you're not looking for "the next empty slot" for the instrument settings.
For example, if you have Instrument 1 having a volume setting of 6 4 2 1 0 (MML code of course), and it's set to a sequence slot of 0 and you check the "effect name" to enable the effect..then any other instrument that uses volume slot 0 will now use that volume sequence.
So you're happy with instrument number 2, but you think the notes are ending too soon so you change it from 6 4 2 1 0 to 6 4 | 2 (making it loop at 2), well great..the note doesn't end, it's got a decent attack..but guess what? Instrument 1 will now change to that number because you didn't go to the "next empty slot" to create a new volume sequence, so that it wouldn't conflict.
It works like that for every effect setting. It can get confusing keeping track of everything. Me, personally, I've learned to try to not even use the "duty" setting unless I'm changing the tone of the instrument very quickly. Otherwise, I'll design generic instruments and change the pulse width/duty in the channel itself.. that way it saves from having to create Square 12.5%, Square 25%, Square 50%, etc instruments. It eliminates redundancy.
I think that's the problem you're having. The sequences in the instruments are there to sort of keep things so you can optimize them to keep the size low. You could have 5 "hihat" instruments, for instance and they all could use one simple volume sequence, but they could all have different pitch settings that give each instrument their own distinct sound.
I hope this helped, it's a little confusing, I know. It requires some practice. But next time you create an instrument just watch that "sequence number" to ensure you're not conflicting with other instruments. You might also want to get a pen/paper ready so you can plan around it all.
Thanks, that was very helpful indeed. I think I'm finally understanding the fundamentals (well, some of them), but a few of the basics still elude me.
For example, I downloaded a few sample tracks to get an idea how to use special effects and such. I noticed a " -- " type symbol that forces a channel to rest. It seems very useful, especially for the triangle, but I can't figure out the command to insert it. So far, I've just been copying it from other songs and pasting it into my own when I need to force a triangle rest. What's the proper way to get this thing into place? I tried all the standard keys and even the F1 - F12 keys, but none of them seem to do it.
I feel like an idiot because I've been unable to answer such basic things for myself, and I appreciate the help!
Usual keys for the keyoff event (--- symbol) are 1 and A. In FamiTracker you can redefine the key, see Configuration dialog, Note cut field (on the right).