Pattern editor
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Contents |
Pattern editor
The pattern field consists of all channels and works like this: (all fields except note & octave are in hexadecimal)
Use insert-key to insert rows and delete-key to delete rows. Backspace removes a row. Every field can be cleared by using the '-' (dash) key. Additional keys can be found in key commands section.
Channels can be muted by clicking it's name in the channel header, double clicking makes it play solo. (Same as Alt+F9 & Alt+F10)
Note column
Note and octave to play. The editor must be in record mode to insert notes in the column (toggle record / normal mode with space). Keyboard keys are mapped to notes as following: Z = C, S = C#, X = D, D = D#, C = E..., and Q, 2, W, 3... are one octave higher. Octave can be changed either by F2 (octave 0) to F9 (octave 7), or stepped up and down with numpad keys '/' and '*'.
Instrument column
The instrument to use. Selected instrument is automatically inserted unless the instrument mask option is selected. If cleared then the last instrument is used.
Volume column
Sets the volume for a channel, range 0 - F. Works only in square and noise-channels.
Channel effects
Used for channel effects. Format is Yxx, where Y = effect number and xx = effect parameter. Additional effect-columns can be used by clicking the arrows in the channel header.
Toolbars
The buttons are in order:
- New - New module
- Open - Open a file
- Save - Save current file
- Cut - Cut selected pattern
- Copy - Copies selected pattern
- Paste - Paste into pattern
- About - Display about box
- Help - Help button
- Insert frame - Add a new frame
- Remove frame - Remove selected frame
- Move frame down - Move selected frame down one step
- Move frame up - Move selected frame up one step
- Duplicate frame - Create a new copy of the currently selected frame
- Module Properties - Brings up the Module Properties window
- Play - Play the module
- Play pattern - Play and loop selected pattern
- Stop - Stop player
- Record - Record/normal mode
- Previous song - Moves to previous song in list
- Next song - Moves to next song in list
- Settings - Bring up settings dialog
- NSF export - Bring up export dialog
- Octave - Selected octave
- Follow-mode - Enables/disables follow-mode, where the window focuses on the cursor during playback.
- Row highlight & 2nd highlight - Determine how far between the darker and lighter highlighted rows are spaced (respectively)
The control panel
Frame Editor
The section on the left is the Frame Editor (also known in other trackers as the Order list). In FamiTracker parlance, a frame consists of a set of pattern numbers for each of the module's channels. Unlike most trackers, each channel uses independently assigned patterns, which helps optimise file size by allowing reuse of repeated segments in a module without having to copy & paste them over to a new frame.
There is a maximum of 128 patterns for each individual channel, and a maximum of 128 total patterns for your module.
To switch pattern, press the "+" - or "-" buttons below the Frame Editor, or the "Num +" & "Num -" keys while the cursor is focused on the channel you want to change the pattern on. If "change all" is checked, all channels will switch, regardless of where the cursor is. To move between frames within the pattern editor, use Ctrl+Right and Ctrl+Left.
Song Settings & Edit Settings
The Song Settings is where you set up speed & tempo, the number of rows per frame and the number of frames in the module. Numbers can be entered manually by double-clicking the boxes (regular editing is protected to avoid accidental modifications).
Speed and tempo can also be changed by using effect Fxx. The real BPM tempo is calculated by the formula (6 * Tempo) / Speed, which means that under speed 6, the value in the tempo box is the actual tempo. The time base for the song is 60 or 50 frames per second (when using default NTSC/PAL settings), and this is used to calculate the average tempo of the song. This means that some rows may play slightly longer than others. To avoid this, leave the tempo setting at 150 (125 for PAL) and use only the speed setting to change BPM to ensure all rows get the same duration. If you really must have a non-150 tempo, it is recommended to still use 150 bpm, and to alternate between different (usually adjacent) values of Fxx - the tempo will still feel slightly uneven, but at least it's possible to tell which rows last longer, which in turns helps with setting up instruments macros, using effects like Gxx accurately, etc.
The Step setting changes the step behaviour when moving the cursor in the pattern editor. Key repetition enables key repeat behaviour. Use Ctrl+Num+/Ctrl+Num- to change.
Song Information & Instrument List
The Song Information text fields correspond to the Title, Artist and Copyright fields of an .NSF file. These strings are stored in .NSF files upon export (and also seen in the NSF export dialog). The song list selects a song in multi-song files (also known as subtunes).
Lastly, the large space to the right is the Instrument List. The small toolbar is used to create, delete, open, save and edit settings for instrument and the text box is used to name your instruments. Double-clicking an instrument will open the Instrument editor window and allow you to modify it to your leisure.
| FamiTracker Help |
| Sound hardware - Instruments - Importing DPCM samples - Pattern editor - Effect list - Configuration - Module properties - Key commands - Exporting NSF - Change log |
