Category: software

  • klystrack 1.5 Released

    klystrack has updated to version 1.5 which has a big bunch of new stuff.

    What’s immediately visible is that it no longer looks like crap thanks to gfx from ilkke (who also provided some example material). What’s audible is that klystrack now also does samples (MOD import works pretty well). The user interface has been updated so basic stuff like the right mouse button menu will not be missed. There’s also a basic and very experimental support for MIDI.

    Documentation is not fully updated so keep exploring for new stuff.

    New in 1.5:

    • Improved editing
      • Undo/redo for most actions
      • The “compact” pattern display mode can be configured to display exactly the needed pattern columns
      • There’s now an edit mode similar to most classic trackers (you can jam in the pattern editor without changing pattern data)
    • New audio driver features
      • Wavetable for sampled drums etc.
      • Bitcrush effect has now optional sample rate downsampling
      • Extra parameter column for volume (like in FT2)
      • New commands such as setting filter resonance and restarting the instrument program from pattern data
    • Improved GUI
      • A lot of general laziness has been fixed, e.g. own menu items for opening a sample even in the pattern editor, keyboard control in all editors
      • Editors can be switched with buttons located bottom-right
      • The menu is less obscure with a new added menu button top-left
      • New default theme (no more eyesore)
      • Themes can now use PNG images instead of BMP
      • Program icon
    • Fun stuff
      • VU meters and a fake spectrum analyzer (think Protracker)
      • AHX/Protracker/C64 etc. retro themes
    • Experimental stuff
      • MIDI sync (not tested very well) and MIDI keyboard support (great for instrument editing)

  • psged 0.8 appeared

    Psged is a tracker/sequencer for MSX computers by neuroflip:CORRECTION aorante/303bcn.

    psged

  • PornoTracker for (2a03/NES-Famicom) appeared

    thefox of aspekt demo fame, according to his words, has “finally gotten around to releasing PornoTracker;” as it was used in the creation of the High Hopes demo.  Is this a BitTorrent server for adult media?  Some of us may wish it to be so.  In fact, PornoTracker is a chip music tracker for the 2a03/NES-Famicom designed with the purpose to function as a standard tracker with upgrading its sampling capabilities from standard 1-bit DPCM to a single channel of 7-bit PCM.  In laymans terms, samples sound prettier at the cost of CPU cycles.  Currently PornoTracker outputs to NES format; which can be played on an emulator or RetroUSB PowerPak.  I’ve been told as well that as soon as thefox finds out how to allow PCM support for the standard NSF format, that NSF export will be supported as well.  (#mod_shrine’s  mukunda and tumult have already demonstrated this is possible with SuperNSF except that in this case it’s a utility that converts IT to NSF with 4 additional PCM channels and VRC6 support as well.  See madbrain’s entry “Heim This!” in FamiCompo mini vol. 7.)  I guess we’ll just have to wait for thefox to “get’r done.”  ;)

    Mad props to thefox, aspekt, #nesdev, and #mod_shrine for keeping shit alive and not only pushing audio value envelopes, but the envelope of hardware limits.

  • Public release of LittleFM 0.4

    LittleFM is an alternative file manager for LSDj that lets you store 8 “projects” (savs) in flash memory. These can be saved and loaded just like you would save or load a sav file from/to your computer. In the long run, it’s also supposed to become a full drop-in replacement for LSDj’s own file manager, allowing you to load, save and delete files within a sav. To this end, LittleFM is not yet feature complete. Version 0.4 can only load files, not save or delete them. However, the load function is much faster, slightly more glitch resistant, and warns you when you’re trying to load a file that is corrupted. (Rather than loading forever or crashing as LSDj’s manager might do.)

    via Gameboy Genius

  • YM-64, YM player for Commodore 64

    This somehow passed under my radar.
    YM-64 is a YM music player for the Commodore 64. It takes YM files and converts them either to a program or a SID file.
    The problem I see at this moment is that I think the source code or tools to make this conversion are not available (yet?), however, you can get your ears wet with thousands of YM files already converted to SID or PRG form. I am just thinking there’s a bunch of cool cross-platform possibilities here, since the sound is not 100% exact, you could make new types of sounds in the C64 I believe. Also, YM/AY artists can compose for the C64 :D

    You can mess around and change waveforms the emulator uses on the fly, also filter the sound. It’s kinda fun :P

    Here’s the link to the player.