ProTracker 2.3F

[daxb]

Originally Posted by Akira

But it's a standard. If you do start from scratch somehow, it'd have to be 100% compatible with it. And that doesn't sound fun because you're still stuck with the limitations of the protracker module format.

Yes, you see the problem(s). Tracker development stopped more or less in the '90th (see OctamedSoundStudio and DigiboosterPro) and IMHO the main problem was the limited hardware. What Trackers back in the days needed was inbuilt 303Tracker and similar sample "renderer" and other useful stuff. The one in DigboosterPro sucks. However, as already said its decades too late for bigger changes.

Btw. as far as I know there is a Milkytracker port for Vampire cards or the V4. Anybody using it?!

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by no9

While I find having Protracker compatible program as very nice, I consider sticking further to module format as very limiting.

As long as new software, games, the demoscene, keep using Protracker as a format, you cannot just shoo it away. this is why Protracker compatibility is paramount for a Protracker sequencer.

New tracker software to make music just for the sake of making music? Sure, that could be a lot of fun, but then again, need someone passionate enough, and also, who can answer a very big "why bother?" question. Because the biggest thing about Protracker modules is that you can use them in things like games and stuff, but using an Amiga just for music nowadays, although it can have some appealing qualities (maybe), it mostly doesn't make much sense, as it isn't a really exciting or "untapped" platform. The appeal of the Amiga was to bring sample-based music making to a a wider audience, at a budget. I can think of several, far better, more interesting platforms to make music that way, cheaper, and more convenient.

But I am digressing. The point is, an up-to-date 100% Protracker-compatible tracker like bubsy's 2.3F and pt2clone is very much still wanted and needed for a myriad of reasons, but that doesn't stop anyone from doing something else anew (and like, stop posting about it in a forum and go make it, if you're so inclined and talented )

[no9]

Ok, so to not distract this thread from it's original topic I created another one with reply to Akira's post. Please just consider that ideas:

Are we stuck with Protracker's format forever?

[8bitbubsy]

This is a tracker from the early 90s, it's not really comparable to modern DAWs.
I'd like if you kept this talk in another thread, as this is not a generic tracker thread. It's about PT2.3F in particular.

Btw, if you want to get your nick changed, you're better off going here: http://eab.abime.net/showgroups.php

Look for one green/brown nick and send a PM about your nick change request. Selecting a moderator with a green circle to the left means that they are online right now, and the chance of getting a quick reply is bigger.

[TDK]

Use 2.3f to write the music to the recently released game, Turbo Tomato. Thanks @8bitbubsy

[neongod]

Thank you a lot @8bitbubsy for putting so much of your time into this.

I noticed that the string handling is very sensitive for backspace/delete with 2.3F latest (25.01.2023). I tried it both on a real A500 (1.3) and on FS-UAE with A500 settings. It often deletes more characters for one short backspace press. It wasn't like this with 2.3D.
Is it something others experience too and could be fixed?

[8bitbubsy]

I'll look into it.

[8bitbubsy]

PT2.3F has been updated:

- Fixed: Text editing delays were too short when writing/deleting characters and moving the text cursor (in comparison to PT2.3D)
- Fixed: If arpeggio was used in vblank timing mode together with a speed above 31, it would not work correctly (this was my fault)
- Fixed: Changing speed in SETUP was wrongly limited to 0..31 (again, this was my fault)
- Lowered process stack size from 16kB to 2kB, to free up more RAM for systems like a non-expanded A500. The amount of free RAM after running it is equal to that of PT2.3D now.
- The waveform plotter in the sample editor has been given a small optimization. It's still very slow and flickery on a 7MHz 68k Amiga, though...

Download: https://16-bits.org/PT23F.LHA
Bootable ADF: https://16-bits.org/PT23F.ADF

[Jope]

Thanks once again, Bubsy!

[8bitbubsy]

PT2.3F has been updated one more time...

- Another vblank+>31 speed fix, for Note Retrigger (E9x)
- Removed note retrigger LUT (was used to remove DIV). Frees up around 528 bytes of RAM. This optimization was a bit pointless as a bunch of note retriggers at once is very uncommon.

Download: https://16-bits.org/PT23F.LHA
Bootable ADF: https://16-bits.org/PT23F.ADF

[nikosidis]

Tusen takk

[8bitbubsy]

It's time for another PT2.3F update...

Changelog:

 - The following sample editing functions have been optimized to take
   less time to complete:
    1) Resample (Sampler screen)
    2) Volume ("RAMP") (Sampler screen)
    3) Volume change ("VOL") (Edit Op. #3)
    4) Fade Up ("FU") (Edit Op. #3)
    5) Fade Down ("FD") (Edit Op. #3)
    6) Boost (Edit Op. #3, only very lightly optimized)
    7) Filter (Edit Op. #3)
    8) X-Fade (Edit Op. #3, only very lightly optimized)
    9) Mix (Edit Op. #3)
 - The sample chord editor now produces better samples (16-bit mixing
   + normalized gain before converting to 8-bit), and takes up less
   RAM. It's still as slow as before, if not slightly slower.
 - Removed the custom length stuff from the sample chord editor. I
   don't really think they were all that useful.
 - Slightly reduced the duration of "red mouse cursor" errors
 - A sample's waveform no longer "wiggles" while scrolling through it
   in the sampler screen. It still flickers, though.
 - The mouse now moves slightly more smoothly (no crude acceleration)
 - Bugfix: Redraw sample after having mixed ("MIX") samples together
 - Removed the Karplus-Strong (E8x) command/effect. Not only was it
   not documented anywhere, but it was the most useless and annoying
   effect to ever exist. Probably also the least used.
 - Removed CTRL+V (filter all samples) and CTRL+G (boost all samples)
 - Edited and cleaned up the PT help file

Download: https://16-bits.org/PT23F.LHA
Bootable ADF: https://16-bits.org/PT23F.ADF

[kriz]

Epic! Thanks !!

[Estrayk]

Thanks !!!!! you're the man !!

[torturedutopian]

Hi ! First, thanks so much for the PT2 updates !!

Any user tip regarding how to use X-FADE to get perfectly clean samples loops ? I always get gaps in the sound - which are visible when zooming it...

[8bitbubsy]

The X-Fade implementation is very crude in ProTracker. You can't use it to create perfect loops (unlike the better X-Fade in Fasttracker II, for instance).

[torturedutopian]

Thx a lot for your reply !
Is there any alternative (manual or not) on the Amiga ?
Got a DSS8+ and a Minifreak and was looking for a 100% oldschool experience ;-)

[8bitbubsy]

You would probably have to look into more professional audio editor tools for the Amiga. I'm not sure about which one specifically.

[Jope]

Audition4, AudioMaster IV

[torturedutopian]

Thanks for the pointers !