M (Origin)

[[Category: Formats With {{{Header}}} Headers]] [[Category: Formats With {{{Content}}} Content]] [[Category: Formats With {{{Instruments}}} Instruments]]

M
File:M.png
Developer:	Origin Systems, Inc.
Header:	{{{Header}}}
Content:	{{{Content}}}
Instruments:	{{{Instruments}}}
Target Output
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. 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.

M files are compressed with an LZW algorithm and must be decompressed prior to playing.

Due to an engineering oversight, care must be taken when outputting to a Roland MT-32. The M format does not send 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. Also, M files do not store instrument definitions. These appear to be sent by either the driver or program prior to each song being played, which means you can't rely on the file by itself to give proper playback.

In Times of Lore (DOS), there is a special M format called TM which stores a special Tandy soundtrack. Later games save the audio into a single file and use a driver for output.

Players

• AdPlug - Winamp Plugin

Games

Released	Title	Sample
1988-??-??	Times of Lore (DOS)	-
1990-??-??	Bad Blood (DOS)
1990-??-??	Ultima VI: The False Prophet (DOS)