Difference between revisions of "M (Origin)"

From Video Game Music Preservation Foundation Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(21 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Infobox Format
 
{{Infobox Format
| Title      = M
+
| Title      = M
| Format      = M
+
| Format      = M
| Developer  = [[Origin Systems|Origin Systems, Inc.]]
+
| Developer  = [[Origin Systems|Origin Systems, Inc.]]
| Released    = 1988-??-??
+
| Header      = Custom
| FirstGame  = [[Times of Lore (DOS)]]
+
| Content    = Notational
| Extension01 = *.m
+
| Instruments = Optional
| Extension02 = *.tm
+
| OutputDA    = No
 +
| OutputMIDI  = Yes
 +
| OutputFM    = Yes
 +
| OutputPSG  = Yes
 +
| Released    = 1988-??-??
 +
| FirstGame  = [[Times of Lore (DOS)]]
 +
| Extension01 = *.m
 +
| Extension02 = *.tm
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''''M''''', it is assumed that M stands for Music, is an audio format created by [[Origin Systems]] and was used in several of their games from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. The format stores game music and, using drivers, can be sent to various output devices including [[AdLib]], [[Creative Music System]], Roland [[MT-32]], [[Sound Master]], [[SSI 2001]], and [[Tandy 3 Voice]], although not every game that used the M format supported these devices.
+
'''M''', it is assumed that M stands for "Music," is an audio format created by [[Origin Systems]] and was used in several of their games from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Each game received a slightly different version of the format, but they're effectively the same. The format stores game music and, using drivers, can be sent to various output devices including [[AdLib]], [[Creative Music System]], Roland [[MT-32]], [[Sound Master]], [[SSI 2001]], and [[Tandy 3 Voice]], although not every game that used the M format supported every device.
 
 
Due to an engineering oversight, care must be taken when playing the music on a Roland MT-32 or compatible. The M format does not include [[SYX|system exclusive]] data, so if an earlier program changed the instruments of your MT-32, it must be manually reset to clear the SysEx data. SysEx data is sent by the game prior to each song being played.
 
  
 +
The format does not store [[SYX|system exclusive]] data for any [[Roland]] devices. Sysex data is sent to the device by the game engine before the song is played. If you plan on recording your own audio, you must first manually send the sysex data to your device or the music will use incorrect instruments.
  
 
==Versions==
 
==Versions==
There appear to be multiple versions of the M format. The first version of the format is seen in [[Times of Lore (DOS)]]. It is compressed with an LZW algorithm. There is also a special M format called ''TM'' which stores a special Tandy soundtrack.
+
There are at least four versions of the M format. The first version was originally made for [[Times of Lore (DOS)]] where it is compressed with an LZW algorithm. The [[AdLib]] and [[Creative Music System]] formats are stored in the M files, and the [[Tandy 3 Voice]] music is stored in separate TM files. A second version was used in [[Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS)]] which uses the same LZW compression, but it incorporates the Tandy music into the M file and adds support for the [[SSI 2001]] and [[Sound Master]]. The third version was used in [[Bad Blood (DOS)]] and appears to use a new, and, as of yet unidentified, compression method. The fourth version is used in the PC-9801 conversion of Ultima 6 which uses a different and yet unknown compression method and adds support for the [[YM2608]] chip. Also, in this version, there is a duplicate of every music file with a "F_" prefix on the file name for an unknown reason, probably for a different output.
 
 
[[Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS)]] uses the same LZW compression, but it incorporates the Tandy music into the M file.
 
 
 
[[Bad Blood (DOS)]] appears to use a new compression format.
 
 
 
It is assumed that the two Ultima Worlds games use the M format as well, since they were built on the Ultima 6 engine, but they have yet to be extracted properly.
 
  
 +
Although the two ''Worlds of Ultima'' games (Martian Dreams and Savage Empire) use the Ultima 6 engine, they use the [[OMI]] audio format, which was also used in the first couple [[Wing Commander]] games.
  
 
==Players==
 
==Players==
 
<div style="float:right;">([[:Category: M Players|Category]])</div>
 
<div style="float:right;">([[:Category: M Players|Category]])</div>
  
* [[AdPlug]] - DOS, foobar2000, UNIX, Winamp, XMMS (Doesn't handle all compression formats)
+
* [[AdPlug]] - DOS, foobar2000, UNIX, Winamp, XMMS (Only works with version 1 and 2, doesn't handle uncompression files.)
  
 +
==Games==
 +
<div style="float:right;">([[:Category: Games That Use M|Category]])</div>
  
==Games==
+
{| class="wikitable" |
{{Table Header
+
! Released
| Color    = FFF0FF
+
! Title
| Caption01 = Released
+
! Sample
| Caption02 = Title
+
|-
| Caption03 = Sample
+
| 1989-02-??
}}
 
| 1988-??-??
 
 
| [[Times of Lore (DOS)]]
 
| [[Times of Lore (DOS)]]
| {{Song-Box|01 - Times of Lore - DOS - Title.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|101 - Times of Lore - DOS - Title.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1990-??-??
 
| 1990-??-??
Line 48: Line 49:
 
| [[Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS)]]
 
| [[Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS)]]
 
| {{Song-Box|101 - Ultima 6 - DOS - Can't Remove the Pain.ogg}}
 
| {{Song-Box|101 - Ultima 6 - DOS - Can't Remove the Pain.ogg}}
 +
|-
 +
| 1991-11-21
 +
| [[Ultima VI: The False Prophet (PC98)]]
 +
|
 
|}
 
|}
  
 +
==How to Obtain==
 +
For each game that uses this format, the M files are located in the root install folder.
 +
 +
==Technical==
 +
If you want to study the structure of M files, they can be decompressed with the [http://ultima6.ultimacodex.com/lzw-decompressor-for-ultima-6-game-data/ Ultima LZW Decompressor], although [[AdPlug]] can only play them when they're compressed.
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 +
* [http://www.shikadi.net/moddingwiki/M_Format shikadi.net/moddingwiki/M_Format] - Modding Wiki.

Revision as of 14:57, 16 July 2018

M
File:M.png
Developer: Origin Systems, Inc.
Header: Custom
Content: Notational
Instruments: Optional
Target Output
Output - Digital Audio - No.png Output - MIDI.png Output - FM Synthesis.png Output - PSG.png
Released: 1988-??-??
First Game: Times of Lore (DOS)
Extensions
  • *.m
  • *.tm

M, it is assumed that M stands for "Music," is an audio format created by Origin Systems and was used in several of their games from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Each game received a slightly different version of the format, but they're effectively the same. The format stores game music and, using drivers, can be sent to various output devices including AdLib, Creative Music System, Roland MT-32, Sound Master, SSI 2001, and Tandy 3 Voice, although not every game that used the M format supported every device.

The format does not store system exclusive data for any Roland devices. Sysex data is sent to the device by the game engine before the song is played. If you plan on recording your own audio, you must first manually send the sysex data to your device or the music will use incorrect instruments.

Versions

There are at least four versions of the M format. The first version was originally made for Times of Lore (DOS) where it is compressed with an LZW algorithm. The AdLib and Creative Music System formats are stored in the M files, and the Tandy 3 Voice music is stored in separate TM files. A second version was used in Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS) which uses the same LZW compression, but it incorporates the Tandy music into the M file and adds support for the SSI 2001 and Sound Master. The third version was used in Bad Blood (DOS) and appears to use a new, and, as of yet unidentified, compression method. The fourth version is used in the PC-9801 conversion of Ultima 6 which uses a different and yet unknown compression method and adds support for the YM2608 chip. Also, in this version, there is a duplicate of every music file with a "F_" prefix on the file name for an unknown reason, probably for a different output.

Although the two Worlds of Ultima games (Martian Dreams and Savage Empire) use the Ultima 6 engine, they use the OMI audio format, which was also used in the first couple Wing Commander games.

Players

(Category)
  • AdPlug - DOS, foobar2000, UNIX, Winamp, XMMS (Only works with version 1 and 2, doesn't handle uncompression files.)

Games

(Category)
Released Title Sample
1989-02-?? Times of Lore (DOS)
1990-??-?? Bad Blood (DOS)
1990-??-?? Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS)
1991-11-21 Ultima VI: The False Prophet (PC98)

How to Obtain

For each game that uses this format, the M files are located in the root install folder.

Technical

If you want to study the structure of M files, they can be decompressed with the Ultima LZW Decompressor, although AdPlug can only play them when they're compressed.

Links