Difference between revisions of "MOD"
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(phew. Spent a few hours for days downloading and comparing versions from pouet.net. May need improvement. After my brain recharges. 8-)) |
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| Title = Module | | Title = Module | ||
| Format = MOD | | Format = MOD | ||
− | | Developer = [[Karsten Obarski]] | + | | Developer = [[Karsten Obarski]], [[Mark Langerak]], [[Michael Kleps]], [[MnemoTroN]], [[Pex Tufvesson]], [[Anders Berkeman]], [[Lars Hamre]] |
| Header = Custom | | Header = Custom | ||
| Content = Notational | | Content = Notational | ||
Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | '''''Module (MOD)''''' is a digital sample-based music format created by Karsten | + | '''''Module (MOD)''''' is a digital sample-based music format created by Karsten Obarski for use with his program, [[The Ultimate Soundtracker]], however, the format is probably best known for its association with [[ProTracker]]. Over the years several other trackers would use the MOD extension, with variations to the format. Some of the other common trackers to use the MOD extension include [[StarTrekker]], [[NoiseTracker]], [[FastTracker]], [[Fasttracker II]], and [[ChipTracker]]. Module files have an *.mod extension, but compressed MOD files will have the extension *.mdz. |
MOD files usually contain only a single track, but games ([[Castle Master (AMI)]], [[Greedy (DOS)]], [[Pizza Worm (DOS)]], two ripped files of [[Star Control 2 (DOS)]]) and later versions of the format can jump to arbitrary positions, emulating multiple songs in one MOD file. | MOD files usually contain only a single track, but games ([[Castle Master (AMI)]], [[Greedy (DOS)]], [[Pizza Worm (DOS)]], two ripped files of [[Star Control 2 (DOS)]]) and later versions of the format can jump to arbitrary positions, emulating multiple songs in one MOD file. | ||
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<div style="float:right;">([[:Category: MOD Editors|Category]])</div> | <div style="float:right;">([[:Category: MOD Editors|Category]])</div> | ||
+ | * [[ChipTracker]] - Amiga | ||
+ | * [[Fasttracker]] - DOS | ||
* [[Fasttracker II]] - DOS | * [[Fasttracker II]] - DOS | ||
* [[ModPlug Tracker]] - Windows | * [[ModPlug Tracker]] - Windows | ||
* [[ProTracker]] - Amiga | * [[ProTracker]] - Amiga | ||
+ | * [[StarTrekker]] - Amiga | ||
==Converters== | ==Converters== | ||
Line 67: | Line 70: | ||
! Title | ! Title | ||
! Sample | ! Sample | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 1987-??-?? | ||
+ | | [[Amegas (AMI)]] | ||
+ | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1988-0?-?? | | 1988-0?-?? | ||
Line 152: | Line 159: | ||
| {{Song-Box|06 - Seiklus - W32 - Sanxion.ogg}} | | {{Song-Box|06 - Seiklus - W32 - Sanxion.ogg}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Technical== | ||
+ | Each MOD file starts with a 20-char ''songname'', and each instrument with a 22-char ''samplename''. Many arrangers filled them with contacts instead. Some editors require the Amiga disk label, resulting in samplenames like "st-01:synthpiano". | ||
+ | |||
+ | The format quickly went through many evolutions, some of which lasted only weeks and are inconsistently named. Format versions used in games or prevailing to this day are: | ||
+ | * Obarski's code dated August 1987 is rather incompatible to anything that followed: All songs play at 125 BPM, a row is called "16tel" (German for "16th"), the only effects are arpeggio and pitch bend, the effect numbers differ, only 15 samples are supported, loop starts are in a different unit (1 byte), samples before loop start are ignored, samples are in separate files, and samples are encrypted. | ||
+ | * In Obarski's code dated December 15, 1987, samples are no longer encrypted. | ||
+ | * Dated March 1, 1988, ''SoundTracker II'' (a.k.a. ''SoundTracker V2.0'') by [[Mark Langerak]] renumbered Obarski's effects, added changing channel volume in midsong (till next instrument setting), and renamed 16ths to ''lines''. | ||
+ | * In Obarski's code dated March 29, 1988, samples are in the same file as the song, forming a ''module''. In this particular version, the whole song has a tempo setting which is supposed to be in BPM but becomes inaccurate the further it is from 120. | ||
+ | * Dated April 20 and July 19, 1988, ''SoundTracker VI'' and ''IX'' by [[Michael Kleps]] added changing tempo (1–15) and toggling [[Amiga#Models|the Amiga's filter]] in midsong. | ||
+ | * Dated August 1988, ''The D.O.C SoundTracker V2.0'' (a.k.a. ''D.O.C-SoundTracker II'') by Kleps added position jumps (allowing multiple songs within one file) and pattern breaks (without parameter, but already supporting other time signatures). | ||
+ | * Dated April 1989, ''Soundtracker V2.3'' by [[MnemoTroN]] added volume slides, room for 31 samples, and the signature "M.K.". | ||
+ | * Dated 1989 and July 1990, ''Noisetracker V1.0'' and ''V2.0'' by [[Pex Tufvesson]] and [[Anders Berkeman]] added vibrato, portamento, tempos 16–31, replaced Obarski's long-unused tempo setting by the restart-position setting, plays samples before loop, but also unnecessarily changed the loop start unit (2 bytes). | ||
+ | * Dated September 1990 to January 1991, ''Protracker V1.0'' to ''V1.1B'' by [[Lars Hamre]] (with ideas by Anders Hamre) added all remaining effects except for panning and more channels. | ||
+ | |||
+ | VGMPF has not yet examined later trackers. One of them popularly renamed lines to ''rows''. | ||
==How to Obtain== | ==How to Obtain== | ||
− | MOD files usually have to be extracted from a game's resource files, although they're sometimes left as is. | + | MOD files usually have to be extracted from a game's resource files, although they're sometimes left as is. Old MODs are commonly adjusted to other players. |
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
− | * [ | + | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOD_%28file_format%29 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOD_%28file_format%29] - Wikipedia. |
Revision as of 16:46, 23 September 2021
Module | |||||
Developer: | Karsten Obarski, Mark Langerak, Michael Kleps, MnemoTroN, Pex Tufvesson, Anders Berkeman, Lars Hamre | ||||
Header: | Custom | ||||
Content: | Notational | ||||
Instruments: | Internal | ||||
Target Output
| |||||
Released: | 1987-??-?? | ||||
First Game: | Amegas (AMI) | ||||
Extensions |
|
Module (MOD) is a digital sample-based music format created by Karsten Obarski for use with his program, The Ultimate Soundtracker, however, the format is probably best known for its association with ProTracker. Over the years several other trackers would use the MOD extension, with variations to the format. Some of the other common trackers to use the MOD extension include StarTrekker, NoiseTracker, FastTracker, Fasttracker II, and ChipTracker. Module files have an *.mod extension, but compressed MOD files will have the extension *.mdz.
MOD files usually contain only a single track, but games (Castle Master (AMI), Greedy (DOS), Pizza Worm (DOS), two ripped files of Star Control 2 (DOS)) and later versions of the format can jump to arbitrary positions, emulating multiple songs in one MOD file.
To understand the difference between modules and MIDI formats, see digital music comparison.
Contents
Players
- Audio Overload - Linux, Macintosh, Windows
- DUMB Module Decoder - foobar2000
- JAM For Windows - Windows
- ModPlug Player - Windows
- ModPlug Tracker - Windows
- Multi Media Machine - DOS
- OpenMPT - foobar2000, Winamp, XMPlay
- Winamp - Android, Macintosh, Windows
- WSP Module - Winamp
- XMMS - Linux
- XMPlay - Windows
Editors
- ChipTracker - Amiga
- Fasttracker - DOS
- Fasttracker II - DOS
- ModPlug Tracker - Windows
- ProTracker - Amiga
- StarTrekker - Amiga
Converters
MOD to ?
- Audio Overload - Linux, Macintosh, Windows - WAV
- Convert (To PSM) - DOS - PSM
- DUMB Module Decoder - foobar2000 - WAV
- Impulse Tracker - DOS - IT
- JAM For Windows - Windows - WAV
- ModPlug Player - Windows 32 - IT, S3M, WAV, XM
- ModPlug Tracker - Windows 32 - IT, MIDI, MP3, S3M, WAV, XM
? to MOD
- ModPlug Player - Windows 32 - IT, S3M, XM
- ModPlug Tracker - Windows 32 - 669, AMF, DSM, IT, MED, MIDI, OKT, PTM, S3M, WAV, XM
Games
Released | Title | Sample |
---|---|---|
1987-??-?? | Amegas (AMI) | |
1988-0?-?? | Bubble Ghost (AMI) | |
1989-??-?? | Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (AMI) | |
1990-??-?? | Beverly Hills Cop (AMI) | |
1990-??-?? | Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (AMI) | |
1992-11-?? | Star Control 2 (DOS) | |
1992-??-?? | Nick Faldo's Championship Golf (AMI) | |
1992-??-?? | Nicky Boom (AMI) | |
1993-10-10 | Halloween Harry (DOS) | |
1993-??-?? | Prehistorik 2 (DOS) | |
1994-??-?? | Arcade Pool (DOS) | |
1994-??-?? | Project-X (DOS) | |
1994-06-06 | Brudal Baddle (DOS) | |
1994-06-15 | Mystic Towers (DOS) | |
1995-05-01 | Terminal Velocity (DOS) | |
1995-??-?? | Radix: Beyond the Void (DOS) | |
1995-??-?? | Rollin (DOS) | |
1995-??-?? | Sergeant Slotte (DOS) | |
1996-11-19 | Stargunner (DOS) | |
1997-10-?? | Dark Earth (W32) | |
1998-12-16 | DX-Ball 2 (W32) | |
2003-08-14 | Seiklus (W32) | |
Technical
Each MOD file starts with a 20-char songname, and each instrument with a 22-char samplename. Many arrangers filled them with contacts instead. Some editors require the Amiga disk label, resulting in samplenames like "st-01:synthpiano".
The format quickly went through many evolutions, some of which lasted only weeks and are inconsistently named. Format versions used in games or prevailing to this day are:
- Obarski's code dated August 1987 is rather incompatible to anything that followed: All songs play at 125 BPM, a row is called "16tel" (German for "16th"), the only effects are arpeggio and pitch bend, the effect numbers differ, only 15 samples are supported, loop starts are in a different unit (1 byte), samples before loop start are ignored, samples are in separate files, and samples are encrypted.
- In Obarski's code dated December 15, 1987, samples are no longer encrypted.
- Dated March 1, 1988, SoundTracker II (a.k.a. SoundTracker V2.0) by Mark Langerak renumbered Obarski's effects, added changing channel volume in midsong (till next instrument setting), and renamed 16ths to lines.
- In Obarski's code dated March 29, 1988, samples are in the same file as the song, forming a module. In this particular version, the whole song has a tempo setting which is supposed to be in BPM but becomes inaccurate the further it is from 120.
- Dated April 20 and July 19, 1988, SoundTracker VI and IX by Michael Kleps added changing tempo (1–15) and toggling the Amiga's filter in midsong.
- Dated August 1988, The D.O.C SoundTracker V2.0 (a.k.a. D.O.C-SoundTracker II) by Kleps added position jumps (allowing multiple songs within one file) and pattern breaks (without parameter, but already supporting other time signatures).
- Dated April 1989, Soundtracker V2.3 by MnemoTroN added volume slides, room for 31 samples, and the signature "M.K.".
- Dated 1989 and July 1990, Noisetracker V1.0 and V2.0 by Pex Tufvesson and Anders Berkeman added vibrato, portamento, tempos 16–31, replaced Obarski's long-unused tempo setting by the restart-position setting, plays samples before loop, but also unnecessarily changed the loop start unit (2 bytes).
- Dated September 1990 to January 1991, Protracker V1.0 to V1.1B by Lars Hamre (with ideas by Anders Hamre) added all remaining effects except for panning and more channels.
VGMPF has not yet examined later trackers. One of them popularly renamed lines to rows.
How to Obtain
MOD files usually have to be extracted from a game's resource files, although they're sometimes left as is. Old MODs are commonly adjusted to other players.
Links
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOD_%28file_format%29 - Wikipedia.