Short TriloTracker demonstration

Recently, we already reported some interesting tracker-related news. To stay on the subject, Retro development team TriloByte, known from Deep Dungeon and running projects such as Core Crisis, have been busy for a while with a new tracker. It is intended for use in their own games (like the project Moon Over Arba Minch), but will be freeware upon release, which should be due around the end of the year. Minimum system requirements are MSX2, MSX-DOS 2 and at least 256kB RAM.

Based upon applications such as Vortex Tracker II, Fast Tracker II and even Moonblaster 1.4, this new program will enable you to create music for PSG + SCC for use in your MSX products, while keeping most of the functionalities that Vortex Tracker provides.

For those familiar with Vortex Tracker (or tracking in general), most of the handy features you've grown to love are present; multiple events per step, full noise and frequency control, undo/redo, easy cut, copy & paste and ofcourse the 'ornaments'. Tools that go a bit further include real-time editable graphical renditions of PSG instruments and SCC sample waves, a mixer for PSG-SCC balance, selectable blocks past pattern boundaries and the possibility to edit multiple songs simultaneously (if enough memory). TriloByte's John Hassink has published a short video showcasing two experimental songs. It's somewhat crude, but will show you the idea a bit.

Relevant link: TriloTracker v0.3 on YouTube

Comments (31)

By ARTRAG

Enlighted (6933)

06-08-2012, 13:27

John, you should open a paypal accound and rise money selling to people the right to listen your music
;-)

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6033)

06-08-2012, 20:26

This looks and sounds awesome! Great project!

By meits

Scribe (6534)

06-08-2012, 20:35

Need it

By Gradius2

Hero (652)

07-08-2012, 02:17

@1:20 sounds MUCH better!

By RobertVroemisse

Paragon (1326)

07-08-2012, 08:51

Tissue please

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

07-08-2012, 10:40

Nice to see that current state is already news worthy.
This weekend we started with the first real tests. The GUI and re-player code are being tested with 2 skilled composers from different backgrounds (MSX, non-MSX).

It's nice to see these nice results only after halve a day of testing (and fixing 1 or 2 serious bugs). I hope to see some more videos popping up.

By snout

Ascended (15187)

07-08-2012, 13:03

Looks very promising indeed! Can't wait to tamper around with this tracker ^_^ Any chance of adding support for MSX-MUSIC (and/or MSX-Audio) in a future future future version? I really liked using that combination in MuSiCa but I like composing in a tracker so much more than composing in MML...

Like many, I'm still waiting for that one perfect tracker that supports all soundchips...

By alexworp3

Expert (126)

07-08-2012, 13:38

NEED IT !!!!!
WANT IT!!!!

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

07-08-2012, 13:50

The goal of this tracker is to have good ("full" control) but usable music ("low" CPU and RAM/ROM usage) for our projects (games). There might be a chance that we will replace the SCC channels with 5 or 6 MSX-MUSIC channels (no drum).
Adding more channels and more chips will only make it less usable for us.

BUT! Once it's released you are all free to tinker around with the source code to suit it to your needs and release your own versions.

By JohnHassink

Ambassador (5665)

07-08-2012, 15:21

Here you can see some fooling around with the instruments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rBEuScaQDQ

By [WYZ]

Champion (451)

07-08-2012, 20:38

I want to betatest it!

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

07-08-2012, 20:44

[WYZ wrote:

I want to betatest it!

Great!

By ARTRAG

Enlighted (6933)

07-08-2012, 21:23

There are already good trackers for the other audio chips.
I'm worried that adding support for something more than SCC would make the replayer too heavvy for games and slow down the whole development of the tool.
Anyway the coder decides

By RobertVroemisse

Paragon (1326)

08-08-2012, 10:58

I want to betatest too but John already knows that.

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

09-08-2012, 12:01

To al who want to betatest; Thanks. You're noted.

Current tests are to find all bugs in the sound core and to evaluate the implemented features and what features to implement next. There are still some important basic features missing that would make composing a lot less cumbersome (copy/paste and load/save of instruments/waveforms).

Once we finished those features (and have some sort of manual) we'd be glad to welcome more testers. It would be cool to include nice example music on release to get other users started.

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

29-08-2012, 23:42

Here is another video with some new music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TpC7bpiEWw&feature=plcp

By JohnHassink

Ambassador (5665)

30-08-2012, 00:59

OMG old(er) version. Never mind.

By JohnHassink

Ambassador (5665)

25-09-2012, 22:18

Update: import of Moonblaster 1.4 (.MBM) files partially working! Quick 'n' dirty demonstration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZSauCbA1BU

And yes, (partial) import of FastTracker 2 (.XM) files is also present, but it's not up to me to demonstrate that. :)

By ARTRAG

Enlighted (6933)

26-09-2012, 09:45

It is amazing! The MBM song sounds even better on SCC and PSG.
Greetings!!

By Manuel

Ascended (19321)

26-09-2012, 21:09

Hah! This proves that he's actually named Johnny Hassink!

By syn

Prophet (2117)

27-09-2012, 00:48

The demos sound great. Looking forward to use this tracker!

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

27-09-2012, 09:39

Manuel wrote:

Hah! This proves that he's actually named Johnny Hassink!

LOL
OK. I've added a new rule in the converter ("Johnny" = > "John;P"). No more Johnny .....

By mais1976

Master (172)

04-10-2012, 21:30

Hi, can I try this? I'd like to convert a song on guitar to PSG. I've never worked with tracker software before, but yours seems to be the thing I'm looking for. Is it already available for beta testing?

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

05-10-2012, 09:41

Hi mais1976,

You'll have to have some patience. There is no beta version available atm. We are now at version 0.5.x. Which mean that all effects are implemented (aprs, slides, vibratos, etc. etc.) and we are working on MB1.4,XM import and fixing the bugs found (note-audition and some block functions).

Once the bug list has been cleared (and no new ones are found) I think we can release a beta version. But perhaps you could also look at Vortex Tracker II in the mean time. It uses the same principles (you have to make your own instruments) and can eplxoit your PSG to the max (it even supports HW envelopes).

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

23-11-2012, 18:13

Getting there...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ1PoV6ALJM
Just some tiny little issues left, guys, and then it's time for beta-testing! :)

I could also put another song up there which showcases (more) several instrument changes going smoothly 'on the fly'. Just yell if you're interested. ;)

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

23-11-2012, 18:18

This is the one I was talking about (couldn't resist, heheh):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqgM-ebElB0
You can notice the instrument changes going without problems. A huge step forward in the development.

By ARTRAG

Enlighted (6933)

24-11-2012, 14:29

simply awesome!!!!

By syn

Prophet (2117)

24-11-2012, 18:16

that song from your last video, great job on that one! sounds very good

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

21-12-2012, 16:49

Good news! Seems like it's not the end of the world today.

So we are preparing a beta version to be released during this weekend.
We are re-checking the code for obvious bugs and preparing a package (examples etc).

More info here: http://trilobyte-msx.com/TriloTracker

:santa:

By ARTRAG

Enlighted (6933)

21-12-2012, 19:34

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bx4kWAc-fapqekxfVGZzdXY2T2M
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bx4kWAc-fapqNlU3OGRFeTFpd2s
small samples of TT 0.58

By Huey

Prophet (2694)

21-12-2012, 20:02

ARTRAG wrote:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bx4kWAc-fapqekxfVGZzdXY2T2M
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bx4kWAc-fapqNlU3OGRFeTFpd2s
small samples of TT 0.58

Actually those are pre 0.5.5 examples recorde in 0.5.8. Due to a last minute change in the instrument macro the music is out of tune! ;)