| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Bagne
ALL YOUR NUDIBRANCH ARE BELONG TO GASTROPODA
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 518
Location: Halifax
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:50 am Post subject: Bagne |
 |
|
I'm new to Anvil Studio.
Is anyone aware of a way to input notes into Anvil Studio (or a similar program) in the same manner as Notate.exe?
Does anyone have any suggestions for their preferred method of editing MIDIs?
Sadly, I'm stuck in my old ways, and much prefer the keystroke input of Notate.exe over the comparatively slower and clumsier mouse input of Anvil Studio.
I haven't been around for a while - Does anyone still use Notate.exe?
Of all the music entry methods I've used (including PrintMusic and AnvilStudio), I like it the best despite the fact that you can't insert, or delete stuff in bulk.
Currently, I'm writing in Notate.exe, converting from BAM to MIDI, and changing the instrumentation in Anvil Studio because the voices often sound bad after conversion.
It's nowhere near as easy as it used to be!!!!!
_________________
Working on rain and cloud formation |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Bob the Hamster
OHRRPGCE Developer
Joined: 22 Feb 2003
Posts: 2526
Location: Hamster Republic (Southern California Enclave)
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I really need to write a new version of Notate. I guess I just keep hoping somebody else will do it first :)
If you want to make your Bams convert to Midi a little more smoothly, move ibank.ibk to ibank.bak and then copy gm.ibk to ibank.ibk
That will force notate to use general midi instruments, which makes the conversion much smoother. (although still far from perfect) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bagne
ALL YOUR NUDIBRANCH ARE BELONG TO GASTROPODA
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 518
Location: Halifax
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wows - that would be super cool.
That would be all I ever need for composing OHRRPG music.
The only reason I'm using Anvil Studio in the first place is because custom.exe and game.exe switched to midi.
I guess I also like the insert/copy/delete functions.
Yeah - I wrote a lot of stuff with Notate.exe
I love that program. If it wasn't for Notate, I don't think I would have ever composed anything.
Is there any guarantee that a midi file will sound the same between two computers? Does it depend on the instrument?
I'd imagine something like "Grand Piano" is fairly consistent, whereas ... "Lead 7" could vary ... yes?
I spend a lot of time fussing over instrumentation - it would be good to know if my effort is worthwhile.
Oh, also ... am I right in thinking that midi files don't have loop functionality? It's just linear, right?
_________________
Working on rain and cloud formation |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bagne
ALL YOUR NUDIBRANCH ARE BELONG TO GASTROPODA
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 518
Location: Halifax
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject: ibank.ibk |
|
|
I tried your file swapping trick -
Will it only make a difference with the conversion, or should I be hearing a difference when using Notate.exe itself?
Oh - btw ... question: do you know how to disable the Alt-Space hot-key for Notate.exe when it's emulated by VDMS?
I had this figured out years ago, but now I forget.
Thank you so much for all your help!
_________________
Working on rain and cloud formation |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Baconlabs
PURPLE IS MANLY
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Posts: 335
Location: Tennessee
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Bagne wrote: | | Is there any guarantee that a midi file will sound the same between two computers? |
No.
MIDI just kinda does that. For instance, many SNES and N64 music libraries are MIDI; you can certainly tell there's a big difference in sound between the two systems.
And then the people at vgmusic.com, who port them to the PC, establish yet another different sound. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bagne
ALL YOUR NUDIBRANCH ARE BELONG TO GASTROPODA
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 518
Location: Halifax
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Seriously?
Mega-bummer!
What about VDMS?
Would anyone know which instruments are more reliable?
_________________
Working on rain and cloud formation |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bob the Hamster
OHRRPGCE Developer
Joined: 22 Feb 2003
Posts: 2526
Location: Hamster Republic (Southern California Enclave)
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Bagne wrote: |
Oh, also ... am I right in thinking that midi files don't have loop functionality? It's just linear, right? |
Standard midi has no looping support.
There is a non-standard loop code that can be inserted into a midi, but the ohrrpgce does not support it in the default music backend music_sdl
The nightly builds with the music_native and music_native2 backends do have support for it, but they don' get tested as often as the music_sdl backend.
| Bagne wrote: | I tried your file swapping trick -
Will it only make a difference with the conversion, or should I be hearing a difference when using Notate.exe itself? |
Hmmm. I forget... maybe it only works after you change instruments. I don't remember for sure, but the old instruments might get cached in the .not file
| Bagne wrote: | Oh - btw ... question: do you know how to disable the Alt-Space hot-key for Notate.exe when it's emulated by VDMS?
I had this figured out years ago, but now I forget. |
Sorry, I don't remember, it has been so long since I have used VDMS. Maybe create a shortcut pointing to VDMS and edit the properties of the shortcut? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TMC
On the Verge of Insanity
Joined: 05 Apr 2003
Posts: 3240
Location: Matakana
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 3:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| James Paige wrote: | | I really need to write a new version of Notate. I guess I just keep hoping somebody else will do it first :) |
At one point I was thinking about updating notate to play directly using midi... I think. And it would have be music_native only, I guess. Also, I started a little research into embedding the MAME32 OPL emulator and playing BAM via it (translating to some module format proved to be impossible). Luckily, the old assembly BAM playback code should fit relatively snuggly into the OPL hardware emulation after a ASM->C port :).
| Baconlabs wrote: | MIDI just kinda does that. For instance, many SNES and N64 music libraries are MIDI; you can certainly tell there's a big difference in sound between the two systems.
And then the people at vgmusic.com, who port them to the PC, establish yet another different sound. |
Huh? The native SNES music format is .SPC - well actually, those files (which are always exactly 64kb) are just dumps of the music memory from a running SNES (emulator). Anyway, listening to .SPCs is MUCH better than to a .MIDI someone has sequenced.
| Bagne wrote: | | Would anyone know which instruments are more reliable? |
All of the instruments can sound very different on different computers due to different quality synthesizers/harware and sound fonts. The AGPIANO is going to sound like a piano everywhere, but with a very good synthesizer it will sound nearly like the real thing, while on other computers it... will not.
| Bagne wrote: |
Oh, also ... am I right in thinking that midi files don't have loop functionality? It's just linear, right? |
If you want to create music that sounds the same on all computers, can potentially sound great, supports looping, and is much smaller than MP3/OGG, look to tracker music. The OHR supports MOD, S3M, IT and XM. I think IT and XM are the best. However, these formats are meant for (indeed, ARE) chiptune music, and you have to provide your own instrument samples (I assume you can find a whole lot somewhere).
| James Paige wrote: | | Bagne wrote: | Oh - btw ... question: do you know how to disable the Alt-Space hot-key for Notate.exe when it's emulated by VDMS?
I had this figured out years ago, but now I forget. |
Sorry, I don't remember, it has been so long since I have used VDMS. Maybe create a shortcut pointing to VDMS and edit the properties of the shortcut? |
Right. In one of the tabs of a VDMS shortcut's properties you can disable various windows shortcuts.
_________________
"It is so great it is insanely great." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bagne
ALL YOUR NUDIBRANCH ARE BELONG TO GASTROPODA
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 518
Location: Halifax
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:56 am Post subject: shortcuts galore! |
|
|
I just realized that this thread subject line is my name.
How accidentally narcissistic of me.
Thanks for the info on the IT and XM - I may look into that at some point (I couldn't find mention of them on the WIKI).
Notate works under VDMS now!
HAHA! I've bumbled my way to a solution!
What I would do is right-click notate and select "run with VDMS". But it would ask me if I would like to make a shortcut so that I didn't have to select this option all the time. I said "yes." Now I have a shortcut to Notate.exe that somehow magically emulates VDMS. (How? There's no filepath to VDMS in the shortcut properties or anything of the sort)
When I edit "Properties" on this shortcut, I have to click "Advanced..." and then it lets me change the Alt-Space setting.
This works, but I don't understand why. How do I create one of these shortcuts on my own? (VDMS did it automatically for me)
I know how to make a shortcut to Notate.exe itself, but I don't know how to make a "VDMSound Shortcut". It's also weird that the setting on a shortcut matters more than the setting on Notate.exe itself.
When things make sense to me, I'll put this up on the wiki - it probably should be there. I assume I'm not the only one still using Notate.exe
Like ... Vikings of Midgard ... that must have been Notate.exe, no?
_________________
Working on rain and cloud formation |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TMC
On the Verge of Insanity
Joined: 05 Apr 2003
Posts: 3240
Location: Matakana
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:54 am Post subject: Re: shortcuts galore! |
|
|
| Bagne wrote: | | Thanks for the info on the IT and XM - I may look into that at some point (I couldn't find mention of them on the WIKI). |
Well, they are mentioned, but that's about it: 'Supported music formats'
As far as I'm aware no one has ever actually composed module music for an OHR game :( And I don't think I've seen any used either, which is a huge pity. But there's no reason you can't - it's actually a popular niche.
| Bagne wrote: | This works, but I don't understand why. How do I create one of these shortcuts on my own? (VDMS did it automatically for me)
I know how to make a shortcut to Notate.exe itself, but I don't know how to make a "VDMSound Shortcut". |
So you want a shortcut to a VDMSound-enabled command prompt where you can run any DOS program with sound? Not sure if it's possible, but start by trying to make a shortcut to the Command Prompt link.
I think VDMS creates .PIF shortcuts, which I've never understood, but they are more complicated than normal shortcuts.
| Bagne wrote: | | Like ... Vikings of Midgard ... that must have been Notate.exe, no? |
Heh, what gives you that idea? Vikings was not started until after the OHR supported midi, and is all midi; it's a recent and still in-progress game. 'Game:Vikings_of_Midgard/soundtrack'
_________________
"It is so great it is insanely great." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bob the Hamster
OHRRPGCE Developer
Joined: 22 Feb 2003
Posts: 2526
Location: Hamster Republic (Southern California Enclave)
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:00 am Post subject: Re: shortcuts galore! |
|
|
| The Mad Cacti wrote: | | As far as I'm aware no one has ever actually composed module music for an OHR game :( And I don't think I've seen any used either, which is a huge pity. But there's no reason you can't - it's actually a popular niche. |
If somebody ever does, I would love to add one each of a MOD, S3M, XM and IT to the free music library included with the engine. I think that would be a great way to let people know the formats are available, plus it would make testing those formats with the different music backends a lot easier.
I have installed like a dozen different trackers on my computer, but I haven't figured out how to make an actual song with a single one yet. I am so helpless when it comes to music! :) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bagne
ALL YOUR NUDIBRANCH ARE BELONG TO GASTROPODA
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 518
Location: Halifax
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject: XM or IT or whatever |
|
|
James (or anyone for that matter), do you have any trackers that work?
I've just downloaded 3, and all they have crashed/froze/given error messages.
I'm running windows on a Mac... maybe they don't like the sound card or something...
_________________
Working on rain and cloud formation |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bob the Hamster
OHRRPGCE Developer
Joined: 22 Feb 2003
Posts: 2526
Location: Hamster Republic (Southern California Enclave)
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: XM or IT or whatever |
|
|
| Bagne wrote: | James (or anyone for that matter), do you have any trackers that work?
I've just downloaded 3, and all they have crashed/froze/given error messages.
I'm running windows on a Mac... maybe they don't like the sound card or something... |
Are you running windows using VirtualPC or Parallels? Can you still run Mac programs?
Maybe Milkytracker? http://www.milkytracker.net/ I haven't used it any further than verifying that it works, and it has a Mac native version.
The user interfaces of trackers are always confusing to me. I think they all emulate the style of some old DOS tracker that was beloved by all MOD composers... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bagne
ALL YOUR NUDIBRANCH ARE BELONG TO GASTROPODA
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 518
Location: Halifax
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No, I don't have a windows emulator.
I'm using Boot Camp - the hard disk is partitioned, and I need to reboot to switch the OS.
Yay! MilkyTracker works.
Yeah, this is the kind of software you would use to make trance/techno/electronic music. I suppose you could punch in a melody/harmony if you really wanted to, but it would be substantially easier to do so in Notate :-D
I might try using this sometime - but before I can do anything, I'll need to find some sound samples.
If I make anything worthwhile, I'll send it your way, and you can keep it as a sample
MOD, S3M, XM and IT - are those all file types for trackers?
_________________
Working on rain and cloud formation |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bob the Hamster
OHRRPGCE Developer
Joined: 22 Feb 2003
Posts: 2526
Location: Hamster Republic (Southern California Enclave)
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Bagne wrote: | Yay! MilkyTracker works.
Yeah, this is the kind of software you would use to make trance/techno/electronic music. I suppose you could punch in a melody/harmony if you really wanted to, but it would be substantially easier to do so in Notate :-D |
Yeah, that may be the case. I have heard songs written in tracker formats that have good melodies, with less emphasis on trancey rhythms, but I have no idea how much work they are to make.
| Bagne wrote: | | MOD, S3M, XM and IT - are those all file types for trackers? |
Those are all tracker formats. Their capabilities are all very similar. MOD is the oldest tracker format, and all the others are formats invented by various tracker programs to add new features that mod lacked (although I have no idea what any of those added features are) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
