WHAT IS A MUSIC MODULE??
Hmmm...good question...
some good answers at the ModFAQ >8)
PLAYERS
So you decided to join the world of PC music modules.
Well, the first thing to do is to listen to other people's works, and to do this
you basically need a PC, a souncard and a module Player.
You will find what you need at this URL:
http://www.hornet.org/music/programs/players
My personal advice, for best fidelty and sound quality is
XmPlay, which plays MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV, XM, MOD, S3M, MTM, IT and streamed formats.
Download it here.
This program is freeware
TRACKERS
Now that you are finally enthusiast of this music, you want to make some by yourself.
All you need is a Tracker Program.
This time the URL where to search is:
http://www.hornet.org/music/programs/trackers
Until 2002, my personal advice was to use
Fast Tracker II, though you could
find Impulse Tracker more usable,
it is just a matter of personal tastes.
But I am heading to future, so I'm currently using
ReNoise.
If you loved trackers and liked FastTrackerII, you will immediately fall in love with ReNoise: it is a Windows
tracker with great built-in VST/VSTi/MIDI support, good DSPs, constantly upgraded, with great support by the
developers and a very active community, which I'm proudly part of as a moderator, betatester and honorary member
of developing team >8| <=== proud
The program is shareware. The free version allows you to use every feature, except for ASIO drivers support
and hi-fi WAV writing (up to 32b/96khz with separate WAV files for each track).
It costs 45Euros (nothing more!) and gives you some more bonus features which you can check by yourself
here.
I strongly recommend to give ReNoise a try:
Lots of people are buying it and are totally satisfied...
trackers are not dead!
Some other Windows trackers are also available, the best in my opinion is
Mad Tracker, which has a good (NOT PERFECT!) compatibility
with FastTrackerII, plus more features. On the other hand,
win trackers requires much more CPU power and use those sucking
DirectX you all should know... Make your choice.
Check also ModPlug tracker, a Windows tracker which still has
many fans, though not being updated anymore.
For those who need a free FT2 clone for Windows and Linux which also supports VST standard, there is Skale.
Samplers/Softsynths/Samples
To make songs, you need instruments. You can find them on the modules you donwload on the net, or
create you own with programs called Samplers or SoftSynths.
The difference between this two class of programs is this:
A sampler modifies a soundwave acquired, for example, with a microphone,
a softsynth generates the wave by synthesis, and is more complex to use.
My advice is to choose what you really need at KVR archive.
Well, now there are you and your PC, let's create. >8)
Go to English or Italian
page of "It-Alien's Opera Omnia" modules collection!!
