Real Tracker Version 2.01 manual (c) Copyright 1996-1997 Arnaud HASENFRATZ Contents 1. Presentation 1. What is Real Tracker ? 2. Required configuration 3. Features 2. How to use Real Tracker 1. Running the program 2. The main menu 3. The control bar 4. Pattern editor 5. Effects 6. Instrument list 7. Instrument editor 8. Instrument library 9. Order 10. Module vars 11. Channels 12. Scopes 13. Loading and saving modules 14. Configuration 3. Known bugs 4. Futures improvements 5. Greetings 6. Legal informations 7. How to register 8. How to contact the author 1. Presentation 1.1 What is Real Tracker ? Real Tracker is a "sound tracker", a software which allows to compose music with digitalized instruments. It does not need expansive material. 1.2 Required configuration * a PC with a 386 processor or better * 4 MB of RAM or more * MS-DOS 5.00 or more or Windows 95 * a VESA compatible video card * a mouse * one of these sound cards : o Sound Blaster o Sound Blaster Pro o Sound Blaster 16 o Gravis Ultrasound o InterWave based sound card (e.g. : Gravis Ultrasound PnP) If your graphic card is not VESA 2.0 compatible, you should use a software driver like UniVBE, the display will be faster. 1.3 Features 32 tracks, mode surround for each track. up to 255 instruments. up to 999 patterns. up to 999 positions. 8 and 16 bits samples. 10 octaves. Volume and panning envelopes support. Support of all Protracker, Scream Tracker and FastTracker effects. Automatic and intelligent GUS memory resampling (according to the quality of the samples) Multi-windows graphical user interface : support modes from 640x400x256 to1280x1024x256. Full user definable keys. Work in 32 bits protected mode. 2. How to use Real Tracker 2.1 Running the program Command line : RT2 If a module name is specified, it will be loaded and played at start-up. Options : /Sx Select an other card, that the autodetected one * 0 : no sound * 1 : Sound Blaster * 2 : Gravis Ultrasound * 3 : AMD InterWave /Axxx Specify the sound device port address /Ixx Specify the sound device IRQ number /Dx Specify the sound device DMA channel /BxxxxxSpecify the DMA buffer size on Sound Blaster cards. To play music in background under a multitask OS, it is useful to increase this value. /T Use the PC timer instead of the sound device timer (GUS and InterWave) /F Disable linear frame buffer for display. This option must be specified if you use VESA 2.00 extensions like UniVBE and your video card does not support linear addressing. 2.2 The main menu It appears when you click on the right mouse button and allows to open the other windows. The "idle mode" option is displayed when you use a multitask environment like Windows 95. It allows to disable the display in order to switch to an other task. 2.3 The control bar It allows to make global operation and to see information about the module. New Clear the instruments, the notes data or all the module Load Open the load dialogue box Save Save the edited module under the actual name. To change the name, use the "Save as..." function from the main menu Rewind and Allows to move position by position in the module forward Play Start to play. If the playing is stopped, it restart at the beginning of the current pattern. If the pause key is pressed, the playing restart at the current line. If the module is already playing, it restart at the beginning of the current pattern Rep When this key is pressed, the current pattern is looped Oct Display and allows to change the current octave used for the keyboard Tracks Change the number of tracks. When this value is decreased, the tracks are not cleared from the memory and it is still possible to get it by increasing the value again. The number and the field indicate the current instrument Library Open the instruments and samples library. It is possible to open several windows. 2.4 Pattern editor This windows is designed to edit the music. The partition is displayed in tracks. Each track has four columns : * the note * the instrument number * the left effect * the right effect In order to edit anything, the "Edit" button must be pressed. This button can also be activated with the space bar. The notes can be entered with a disposition which simulate a piano keyboard : Note : C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A# C# D# і і іі і і і іі іі і і і іі і і і іі іі і і і іі і і і і іі і і і іі іі і і і іі і і і іі іі і і і іі і і Touche : і іSііDі і іGііHііJі і і2іі3і і і5іі6іі7і і і9іі0і і і АВЩАВЩ і АВЩАВЩАВЩ і АВЩАВЩ і АВЩАВЩАВЩ і АВЩАВЩ і і Zі Xі Cі Vі Bі Nі Mі Qі Wі Eі Rі Tі Yі Uі Iі Oі Pі АДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДБДДЩ Note : C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E Octave -1 Octave 0 Octave +1 The other columns are edited with the standard keys. The two effect columns allows to enter commands to control volume, frequency, panning or to change the way of playing. Warning : the effects use hexadecimals parameters, that is in base 16. So, the digits are : 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F. For example, we will count like this: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F, 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,1A,1B,1C,1D,1E,1F,20 etc... The button with the track number is used to disable the playing of the track If you click on this button with the right mouse button, the other tracks are disabled and the track is in solo mode. The "Lock" buttons are used to disable the edition of a track The right mouse button works with the same principle. Each track has a field to give it a name. This is useful when you work with many tracks. Is it also possible to give a name to the pattern with the "Name" field. The "Len" counter allows to change the pattern length. The maximum length is 999 lines. The "Step" counter choose the number of line that the cursor advance when a note is entered. The menus make operation on the selected block, the current track or the current pattern. The block can be selected with Shift and the cursor keys or with the mouse. Each menu has "Cut", "Copy" and "Paste" functions. The "Advanced Paste" function, paste only the selected columns in the track. If the "Transparent" option is selected, the events already present in the pattern will not be overwritten. The interpolate function create a number sequence according to the first and last effect parameter in the selected block This is useful to make fade-in and fade-out. The last menu allows to select one of the three edit modes : * Single : to enter note by note * Chords : to enter chords by pressing several keys in the same time * Multi : the cursor move one track right at each note. The "Lock" can be used to avoid unwanted tracks. 2.5 Effects The name and the syntax of the effects are the same that those used by FastTracker 2. Some Scream Tracker 3 effects have also been implemented for compatibility reason. These are designated by a lower case letter. * 0 Arpeggio * E8 Set panning * 1 Portamento up * E9 Retrig * 2 Portamento down * EA Fine volume slide up * 3 Portamento to note * EB Fine volume slide down * 4 Vibrato * EC Note cut * 5 Portamento to note + Volume slide * ED Note delay * 6 Vibrato + Volume slide * EE Pattern delay * 7 Tremolo * F Set speed/tempo * 8 Set panning * G Set global volume * 9 Sample offset * H Global volume slide * A Volume slide * K Key off * B Position jump * L Set volume envelope position * C Set volume * P Panning slide * D Pattern break * R Retrig + Volume slide * E1 Fine portamento up * T Tremor * E2 Fine portamento down * X Extra fine portamento * E3 Set glissando control * a Set speed (ST3) * E4 Set vibrato control * d Volume slide (ST3) * E5 Set finetune * e Portamento down (ST3) * E6 Pattern loop * f Portamento up (ST3) * E7 Set tremolo control * k Vibrato + Volume slide (ST3) Description : * 0xy Arpeggio Cycle quickly between these three notes : the actual note, this note +x semitones and this note +y semitones. * 1xx Portamento up Increase the frequency at each tick at the xx speed. * 2xx Portamento down Increase the frequency at each tick at the xx speed. * 3xx Portamento to note Progressively move the pitch to reach the associated note. * 4xy Vibrato Vibrate the pitch at speed x and depth y * 5xx Portamento to note + Volume slide Combination of 3xx and Axy : Progressively move the pitch to reach the associated note and increase or decrease the volume with the same parameter that the last Axy command. * 6xx Vibrato + Volume slide Combination of 4xx and Axy : Vibrate the pitch at speed x and depth y and increase or decrease the volume with the same parameter that the last Axy command. * 7xx Tremolo Vibrate the volume at speed x and depth y * 8xx Set panning Set the panning position. 0h is left position and 80h the right position. A4h activate the surround mode.. * 9xx Sample offset Begin the sample from offset xx*256 * A0x Volume slide down Slide down the volume at speed x * Ax0 Volume slide up Slide up the volume at speed x * Bxx Position jump Jump to the song position xx * Cxx Set volume Set the current volume to xx. * Dxx Pattern break Jump to the next pattern and start at row xx. Warning : the xx parameter must be in decimal. * E1x Fine portamento up Increase the pitch once * E2x Fine portamento down Decrease the pitch once * E3x Set glissando control Ifx=1, all Porta to note effects will be rounded to the nearest semitone * E4x Set vibrato control Change the vibrato wave form : x=0 Sine x=1 Ramp down x=2 square * E5x Set finetune Use the x finetune value * E6x Pattern loop Ifx=0, mark the beginning of the loop, otherwise repeat the loop x times. * E7x Set tremolo control Change the tremolo wave form : x=0 Sine x=1 Ramp x=2 Down * E8x Set panning Set the panning position. 0 is the left position, F is the right position. * E9x Retrig Restart the instrument every x ticks. * EAx Fine volume slide up Increase the volume one time. * EBx Fine volume slide down Decrease the volume one time. * ECx Note cut Stop the instrument at the specified tick. * EDx Note delay Delay the note for x ticks. * EEx Pattern delay Stop the play for a delay of x rows. * Fxx Set speed/tempo Ifx<20h set the number of ticks per rows, otherwise set the ticks frequency. * Gxx Set global volume Set the global volume to xx. * Hxx Global volume slide Works like the Axx command but change the global volume. * K00 Key off End of note. It is better to use the Key Off sign. * Lxx Set volume envelope position Set the volume envelope position to xx. * Pxx Panning slide Works like the Volume slide command but move the panning position. Warning : the xx parameter is the number of semi positions per tick. * Rxy Retrig + Volume slide Restart the instrument every x ticks and change the volume each time according to the y parameter : * y=0: 0 (no variation) * y=1: -1 * y=9: +1 * y=2: -2 * y=A: +2 * y=3: -4 * y=B: +4 * y=4: -8 * y=C: +8 * y=5: -16 * y=D: +16 * y=6: 2/3*volume * y=E: 3/2*volume * y=7: 1/2*volume * y=F: 2*volume * Txy Tremor Set the volume to zero for y ticks then set it back to the initial volume for x ticks. * X1x Extra fine portamento up Works like the portamento up command but the speed is divided by 4 * X2x Extra fine portamento down Works like the portamento down command but the speed is divided by 4 * axx Set speed (ST3) Set the number of ticks per rows. * d0x Volume slide down (ST3) Slide down the volume at speed x * dx0 Volume slide up (ST3) Slide up the volume at speed x * dFx Fine volume slide down (ST3) Decrease the volume one time. * dxF Fine volume slide up (ST3) Increase the volume one time. * exx Portamento down (ST3) Decrease the frequency at each tick at speed xx. * eFx Fine portamento down (ST3) Decrease the frequency at each tick at speed xx. * eEx Extra fine portamento down (ST3) Works like the fine portamento down command but the speed is divided by 4 * fxx Portamento up (ST3) Increase the frequency at each tick at speed xx. * fFx Fine portamento up (ST3) Increase the frequency at each tick at speed xx. * fEx Extra fine portamento up (ST3) Works like the fine portamento up command but the speed is divided by 4 * kxy Vibrato + Volume slide (ST3) Combination of 4xx and dxy : Vibrate the pitch at speed x and depth y and increase or decrease the volume with the same parameter that the last Axy command. 2.6 Instrument List This window display all the instruments used in the module. The "Add" and "Sub" buttons increase and decrease the number of instruments. The "Edit" button open the Instrument Editor. 2.7 Instrument Editor This window define all the parameters of the instrument. An instrument contain one or several samples. The samples are assigned to the notes. The key split is displayed on the piano keyboard. To change the key split, choose a sample in the list and select the notes with the mouse on the piano keyboard. It also possible to test the instrument on the piano with the right mouse button. The settings above the piano bellow to the selected sample. Default It is the volume used when no volume effect is specified on volume the track Base volume Set the volume independently from the default volume and volume effects Base note Note played by the sample at his base frequency Base freq Frequency at which the sample was recorded Length Length in number of elementary samples Loop Switch between no loop, loop and bi-directional loop mode. Warning : for the moment, bi-directional loops are note supported on Sound Blaster cards Panning Set the sample panning. It will be effective only if the "Default panning" option is selected in the "Misc" group. The other settings are divided in three groups. * Volume This group define the volume envelope. It will be used if the corresponding box is checked. The envelope define a volume variation applied to the instrument. One pixel in the envelope editor corresponds to one tick. The left mouse button add or move the points. The right button delete them. If the "Sustain" option is used, the envelope will stop at the sustain point until a Key Off is played. * Panning Define the panning envelope. It works like the volume envelope. The left side is bellow the axis and the right side is above. * Misc Fadeout Speed at which the volume decrease after a "Key off" Vibrato Time in ticks until the auto-vibrato reach is maximal sweep amplitude. Default If this box is checked, the instrument will set its own panning panning to the track it is played. When you load a MOD or S3M file, this option is disabled for all instruments. When you load an XM file, the option is enabled for all instruments 2.8 Instrument library This windows allows to load and save instruments and samples. You can test an instrument before loading it by selecting it and entering notes with the keyboard. Load I Load the selected instrument on the current instrument. Save I Save the current instrument in the directory. RTI or XI Select the save file format of the instruments. Load S Load the selected sample on the current sample. Save S Save the current sample in the directory. RTS or RAW Select the save file format of the instruments. Smp+Instr, Smp, Instr, *.*Select a filter for the directory list. You can load the following instrument files : * RTI : Real Tracker * XI : FastTracker 2 And the following sample files : * RTS : Real Tracker * IFF : FastTracker 2 * S3I : Scream Tracker 3 * WAV : Windows (only in mono) * SMP, RAW, SND : raw data 2.9 Order This window edits the position table which define the playing order of the pattern. The "Copy" button create a new pattern, insert it in the list and copy the current pattern in it. 2.10 Module vars This window sets the global variables of the module. Frequency tableSelect the way the frequency effects work * Periodic : the basic unit is based on a periodic table * Linear : there is always 64 units by semitones. Initial speed Choose the number if ticks by pattern row Initial tempo Choose the ticks frequency Ticks per second = Tempo/2.5 2.11 Channels This window displays informations about the channels. The panning cursors can be moved and the surround mode can be activated with the right mouse button. 2.12 Scopes The display mode can be changed with the right mouse button. 2.13 Loading and saving modules The tracker can load the following formats : * RTM : Real Tracker * MOD, NST : Protracker * S3M : Scream Tracker 3 * XM : FastTracker 2 Module can be saved in RTM, MOD or XM. If you save in XM and some instruments have not the " Default panning " option selected, the program will calculate a panning for these instruments according to the tracks on which the instrument is played. 2.14 Configuration This dialogue box allows to set default directories, the display format, the sound options and to modify the key map. 3. Known bugs * the 16 bits mode does not works with an SB16 under Windows 95 4. Futures improvments * MIDI in support * Sample editor 5. Greetings I would like to thanks the following persons who have contributed to the realisation of this software. Hardware lending: * Philippe Malais‚ : GUS Max * Julien Nicolet : SB16 * Olivier Picard : his PC :-) Beta-testing and ideas: * Fr‚d‚ric Bertrand * Dominique Bruneau * Aurora / Devotion * Fr‚d‚ric Diebold * Jean-Luc Erny * Joseba K. Garrido * Bertrand Hauser * Patrick Obert * Fran‡ois Queinnec Documentations and tools : * Mark Feldman : PCGPE * FireLight : FMODDOC2 * Psi / Future Crew : S3M format / Scream Tracker * Vogue & Mr H / Triton : XM format / FastTracker 2 Quality music: * Necros * Purple Motion / Future Crew * Skaven / Future Crew * Lizardking / Triton 6. Legal informations * Use this software at your own risk : whatever happens, I cannot be considered as responsible. * This cannot be sold or distributed on a support which is sold (CD-ROM, shareware-disks) without my written authorisation. * THIS VERSION OF REAL TRACKER CAN NOT BE USED PROFESSIONALY OR COMMERCIALLY. Music produced with this unregistered version may not be sold EVEN AS SHAREWARE. 7. How to register Of course, I know that not much sharewares users pay their licences but it is the only way to incite me to continue the evolution of Real Tracker. Besides, the price is particularly low in comparison with the huge work that its realisation has needed. In registering, you get the following advantages : * The full version of Real Tracker and ALL THE FUTURES VERSIONS * you will have your name in the contributor list of the next version * technical support by mail, e-mail and phone * considerables reductions on my futures productions To register, print or copy the "REGISTER.TXT" file, fill it out and send it with your donation of 15$ (or 75 FF) at the address bellow. You will get the complete version in the next 7 days by mail or e-mail. If you have an e-mail account, I will be able to send you regularly the new versions. Otherwise, you will to send me a 3"5 floppy disk and stamps that I will use to send you back the updated version. Warning : the basic registered version cannot be used in a firm. If you need that, you must get the professional licence by contacting me. 8. How to contact the author I wrote this soft for everyone, so, feel free to send me your suggestions and remarks that I will consider for making the next versions. If you discover some bugs, send me a precise description of the circumstances in which the bug appear and your material and software configuration. Snail mail : Arnaud HASENFRATZ 15 rue des Jardins 67560 ROSHEIM FRANCE Internet : E-mail : arnaud.hasenfratz@utbm.fr