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FamiTracker
Hi everyone,
I just finished the Cave Story cover I was working on, and somehow I'm not quite happy with it. I feel like there's something I missed to capture from the original song but I can't figure out what exactly.
This might be because of the lack of channels but again, I'm still new to chiptune and I think it could have been done better.
By the way I didn't use any DPCM samples, maybe I should have...
This is definitely a very well-made debut for you here. As far as I can see, all the right notes are in the right places and it sounds pretty true to the original. If you want to use DPCM, I'd recomment subtle samples like the ones from Lagrange Point.
Of course you can always polish things a little, for example the noise channel sounds a bit too harsh at times.
Also, a thing to keep in mind every time you create a track: Volume Balance is very important. There are quite some channels without volume control (Triangle and DPCM) and if everything else is very loud, those channels will be drowned out. A few guidelines:
- Try and stay under the volume 10 [Hex A] at all times
- The peak volume of the pulse channels should be around 6
- Sustain volume might be around 4
If you keep a low overall volume, the triangle and DPCM channel can be heard way better.
One last tip: Envelope Releases and Loops. I'm not sure if you know about this, but if you type a "/" into the macro field in an envelope, the volume will stay at the value following this slash until a release command is recieved (double line). An example is "6 5 / 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 0" for a simple release instrument. Also, if you enter a "|"-Symbol, the envelope will loop at this point. Example: " | 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 "
And one question - did you cover it by ear, by MIDI or did you look at the XM audio files on CaveStory.org?
It's be interesting to know you way of covering
Good luck and keep tracking
_______________________
The purpose of a programming language is to protect the computer against the programmer.
To add to Alexander, the snare doesn't sound that great. You should make it fade out more (maybe from 9 to 4?) and change the appregio so that it fades up from 0 to 3 or something around there, and you should have a good base for a snare. Also, the bass in the intro is a bit loud, and I'd lower it just a tad.
It sounds very good, however, and stays true to the original! Bare in mind that DPCM is only really good for Sunsoft bass, which isn't very Cave Story-y, or drum-backup, which also isn't very Cave Story like but I use it anyway because it makes the drums sound much nicer.
listening to this makes me think I should really pick that cave story thing i did ages ago
I actually didn't know about the release thing! That's funny because I was wondering earlier this morning what the double lines were used for
So thanks for the tip, it will surely be helpful. To do releases I used to either make really long volume envelopes or create a "fade" instrument, which was not very convenient...
I did know about the | symbol to make a loop though
As for the covering technique, I opened the mp3 file in Audacity and listened bit by bit, paying attention to one instrument at a time. I think that's what you mean when you say "by ear" though but I'm not really sure.
Most of your remarks are about volume so i'll definitely try to focus on that on my later covers.
You guys are really nice, again thanks for your help
[quote=Swarmpan]As for the covering technique, I opened the mp3 file in Audacity and listened bit by bit, paying attention to one instrument at a time. I think that's what you mean when you say "by ear" though but I'm not really sure.[/quote]
that's the method i use for by ear covering. you could download the original files of cave story's music and play them in (i forget which tracker), i think milkytracker can open them. that way you can mute channels and isolate out individual ones you want to listen to.
i have to disagree with alexander about volume control though, there's no set rules to how loud or soft channels need to be, that sort of thing should be determined by the type of song you are doing. but, you are new, so I would focus more on becoming familiarized with all the little nuances of famitracker rather than worrying about volume control out of the gate - that sort of skill comes with lots of practice!
happy tracking! i like this cover.
edit: here you can download the XM files from cave story, which you can easily mute individual channels with: http://www.cavestory.org/download/music.php
[quote=danooct1]you could download the original files of cave story's music and play them in (i forget which tracker), i think milkytracker can open them.[/quote]
You mean OrgMaker, the one Pixel made to compose the Cave Story soundtrack?
Well, I think the best player to analyze the XM files is Open Mod Plug Tracker. I really like this thing for looking into songs.
About the volume control - yeah, Danooct is right (he's by the way the one who made me start with Famitracker to begin with ^.^ ), Volume Control isn't the most important thing ever.
However, it can be somewhat painful to unlearn something like that once you're used to using volume 15 all the time. I learned that the hard way, so I wanted to share this experience with new users so they can start off the "right" way ^^
I learned Volume Control from Tim Follin's tracks - they're great learning material on advanced effects!
_______________________
The purpose of a programming language is to protect the computer against the programmer.
[quote=danooct1] i have to disagree with alexander about volume control though, there's no set rules to how loud or soft channels need to be, that sort of thing should be determined by the type of song you are doing. but, you are new, so I would focus more on becoming familiarized with all the little nuances of famitracker rather than worrying about volume control out of the gate - that sort of skill comes with lots of practice! [/quote]
Of course! However I'd say it is never too early to start taking good habits, I think every piece of advice is helpful when you start learning something new.
[quote=danooct1] edit: here you can download the XM files from cave story, which you can easily mute individual channels with: http://www.cavestory.org/download/music.php[/quote]
Wow that's actually really cool, I didn't know you could do that. Pixel is such a nice guy for providing these
Well, now I'm in the mood for another CS cover, I'll probably post it here once it's finished. This time I'll try to go for VRC6, hope I won't mess up too much Thanks for the support!
Tim Follin's songs are awesome, but way too complex for me to learn from I'm afraid :/ for now that is.
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