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Forums > C64 Composing > Ideas for a NEW TRACKER

2009-09-06 18:33

Hermit

Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208

Ideas for a NEW TRACKER

Hi, Guyz

I have the same problem as others have nowadays in this fast industrial world: Not too much of FreeTime...
I only would like to compose SID music, leave the programming & gfx.
Only one problem is still in my way: Need for a reliable, full featured music editor.

There are a lot of great tools, I think the best are: XSID, SDI, JCH, SID-Factory, DMC5, Goattracker, (BullSID coming?)

I made a lot of comparisons among them, and Goattracker get the most point in regards of functionality (but not in all).
I like the tracker, but don't like emulated sound. Through
PC64 cable or HardSID you can use real SID, but just under the buggy Windows. I don't know about Linux drivers for these. And don't want hangs/losses anymore while composing.
(BTW I had issue with GT2 in Linux, I couldn't save, maybe the Linux wasn't configured well or the GT2 package was compiled wrong...). A MAC is expensive for me, and I even can't say that MACOSx is as safe as C64..

There are some missing functions from the native C64 trackers, first of all, e.g. a simple function: saving an instrument, that you may made for an hour or so...
(DMC has this function if I know well.)

Other important things that are useful: keyjazz (hear note when typing), instrument-detune, MMC/IDE64 compatibility, multispeed, mute/solo tracks, definable HR-type & timer for all instruments....
Most of even the best trackers lacks one or more of these functions. Some have special keymappings to learn..

All in all, I decided to spend my freetime for writing a native C64 tracker that may have everything that a SID-composer needs.

Tha player routine is in half way, an now this is the point when you can come up with ideas your actual tracker is lacking.
Then in this forum we can discuss if it's possible and useful, and logical, etc...

E.g. let me to share my feature-ideas and the actual plans for the player and editor. These are not the usual features (as e.g. funktempo) but some special things:

PLAYER:
-------
-The player will handle the average maximums, 32 subtunes,
255 long orderlists, max.127 of 255 long patterns, 32 instruments.

-The patterns will basically contain only the notes, and
Instruments+FX-es+values only stored if they're there
(this way we have 4 columns per track in memory virtually,
the player can handle this format already.)

-Orderlists will contain data in similar way, so we have
a 2nd 'virtual' column for
transpose/repeat/jump/end and SUBTUNE-CHANGE commands

-I will implement 'Keyboard-track' command as I did in my
3SID tracker. Cutoff freq. can depend on note-pitch..

-Will try to logarythmize the Pulsewidth & Cutoff freq..
sweeps, making bass-filtering more detailed, and maybe
same table could be used for calculated vibrato/slide.

-There will be wavetable/pw/ctf programs/pointers also for
GATE-off, not only for note-on...

-Some compression could be achieved with signing long empty
places (zeros) with a number...

-Should we still use WF/PW/FI/HR tables, or own tables for
every instruments? (At least from editor view.)

EDITOR:
-INSTRUMENT SAVE function
-MMC64 & IDE64 compatibility (e.g. Sid Factory / SDI have)
-Waveform-displayer for instrument editor, filter/PW bars..
-Any ideas to make arpeggios easier? e.g. note based arps.
-Unused player code/pattern/instrument optimization (GT2)
-Possibility to save directly into SID format (as GT2 can)
-High resolution/interlaced characters or using borders to
have more columns and rows..
-Rewind-back/ loop-play function like in my 3SID tracker
-Memory usage displayer bar / counter / out of memo sign..
-Orderlist: long patterns' numbers displayed longer, so no skew when playing...
-Some help for ringmodulation (sign tracks, calculate f1+f2)
....

As you could see, these would be sophisticated features that could make SID-composing easier...and IMO, they're realizable, it's only question of time ...

Tell me bravely, if you have anything new to mention...

Hermit Software HungaryHermit Software Hungary

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2011-06-24 22:18

Digger

Registered: Mar 2005
Posts: 427

Yiiiiiiihhhhha! That's a great news Hermit. I've been waiting for this editor for around 14 years (no pressure) ;-)

2011-07-26 08:43

Martin Piper

Registered: Nov 2007
Posts: 718

I added the ability to switch between pattern editing modes in Music Studio 2.1.0.7

Lately I've been thinking of what can be done to improve instrument editing and adding some form of MIDI input. But I have no firm plans yet for the next version.

So since I'm just a programmer I really could do with input from musicians.

2011-10-19 15:08

Hermit

Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208

Hi Guys. I owe you with some update about SID-Wizard project:

I had some lags due to other hobbies and tasks, but when I have some time I always return to finish the code of SID-Wizard.

Since my last post I nearly finished the in-place compression/decompression routines for the workfile, so the saved workfiles will be small. Soon I continue with saver/loader menu and subroutines, then some player code optimisations are coming. (And a separate packer/optimizer to further optimize and create/relocate SID and PRG tunes out of compressed workfiles.)
I nearly finished the user manual in LyX which can be exported to PDF/html and even plain text... there are some minor known bugs yet in editor which can cause corrupt data.

I'll release a beta/1.0 hopefully before xmas, with the source codes, so the project will go open-source. So everyone will be able to optimize code or add features....

2011-10-19 18:37

Flex

Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 110

Really looking forward for this as I'm very impressed by all the work you've done so far Hermit.

2012-02-21 08:55

Hermit

Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208

Hi, Guyz

I was quite silent for some months, but it's due to the work I've put into player code and corresponding tracker-code optimization/rewriting of SID-Wizard. There are so many features that I had to solve in very few cycles to keep rastertime...mainly managed it, I guess.
Anyway, the great news is that the release is coming soon, much later than I expected some months ago, but I estimate around one month (including helpdoc and example tunes/instruments).
Stay tuned, and may all of you keep your attitude to C64...

2012-02-22 09:09

DustBin

Registered: Jun 2006
Posts: 12

Can't wait for it! ;-)

2012-03-12 06:50

MC
Account closed

Registered: Jul 2009
Posts: 71

Take your time m8 the tracker only gets one shot at making a first impression. I know what its like with work and other stuff getting in the way of c64 related stuff. 2nd time now I got an email from this website its been 5 months since I visited and my account was again to be erased...

I'm very interested in checking out your wizardry.

2012-03-12 21:38

Digger

Registered: Mar 2005
Posts: 427

Hermit! You're my new hope! :) Great news.

2012-04-03 11:15

Hermit

Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208

You're right with that free-time stuff. That's why I'll work in less hours at workplace as soon it will be possible. It isn't worth for me to give my lifetime for a bunch of money. I think in this rushed world only sceners can understand what I mean by this.

but, back to the topic. I'm on holiday for this week, and it's almost possible to finish the code (relocator and some minor bugfixes are left to solve).
I'll release the pack in 1-2 weeks hopefully, with some test-tunes and instrument-pack made by me and fellow sceners. And a video-tutorial is in plan too, and if you check out Arok Party homepage, you can see I'll keep a seminar in live as well.

Keep your brain and hands warm, the release is near :)

2012-04-03 21:49

MC
Account closed

Registered: Jul 2009
Posts: 71

Great maybe I can toy with it and get some stuff out before X2012.

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