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Chapter 6: How to use tracker

6.1: Compression

Various compression methods are supported through pipes. There is a simple-minded configuration file `compression_methods' (check `Makefile' to see where you want to install it). Its format is:

extension       command line in printf format.

For instance,

.gz	        gzip -dc %s

(simple, isn't it ?)

6.2: Environment variables

TRACKER_DEFAULTS
The set of options invoked by default, e.g., my options are
-scroll -freq 44 -color -tolerant
MODPATH
A path where you wish to look for mod files. This is a sh-styled path: `setenv MODPATH dir1:dir2:...'
TRACKER_COMPRESSION
Overrides the default `compression_methods' file... Very useful when, for example, you want to use a binary fetched from the net.

6.3: Command line switches:

Note that tracker now accepts directories as arguments. It will automatically recurse down the tree to find modules.

`-stereo/-mono'
switch between stereo and mono output. Some modules need mono output to sound right. Apart from that, on stereo-capable machines, mono output usually uses less CPU.
`-mix <percent>'
for stereo output, decide how to mix left/right channels. 0 is spatial stereo, 100 is mono. The change tends to be exponential, so you may want to experiment with values around 90+.
`-frequency <freq>'
set the audio output frequency (kHz). The normal output frequency is a `normal' frequency for your machine. Normally <freq> will be rounded to an actual output frequency available on your machine.
`-oversample <n>'
where n is usually 1, 2 or 4. Controls the accuracy of the sound reproduction by trying to use 1,2 or 4 sample values to render a given sample. The higher, the better, but the more CPU it uses. Changing the frequency usually works better, but there are cases where 2 or 4 will give you a better rendering for some module. The default value (1) is quite good at high frequencies, but not so good on, for instance a sparc station 1 at 8000 Hz. The code in `resample.c' is optimized to get oversample 2 and 4 to be reasonably efficient... After 4, you probably won't hear any significant improvement. 0 is a special mode, called linear resampling. See `resample.c' for details.
`-new/old/both'
select a soundtracker format, between new (31 instr), old (15 instr) and both (auto-detect what's going on). You should only use it if tracker gets very confused on a module.
`-picky'
do not allow for any problems in a module.
`-tolerant'
allow for many problems that would normally stop a module
`-repeats / -repeats <n>'
repeat each module n times. With no value (or a 0), repeat the module forever.
`-looping'
make module list loop as a whole.
`-verbose'
show a sample listing for the module.
`-scroll'
scroll-display the module being played.
`-color/-bw'
use with terminals with color-ansi capability (e.g., kterm) to get a colorful scroll.
`-speed <n>'
change the base tempo to n. The normal value is 50 (PAL video frequency). Some modules have been written on a buggy NTSC composer, so you may wish to use -speed 60. Weird values like -speed 10 or -speed 2000 are allowable. Note that the samples may sound a bit strange since you only change the tempo, but the samples till play at the same speed.
`-pal/-ntsc'
pal or ntsc tempo. Shortcut for the `speed' option.
`-speedmode (normal|old|finefirst|normalfirst|alter)'
compatibily hack for old soundtracker tunes and various variants. `old' (also known as VBLANK mode) will force all speed commands to affect only the major tempo. `alter' is an alternate version of the automaton found in some soundtracker tunes. Other options are mostly there for debugging purposes.
`-transpose <k>'
transpose the song up k half-notes. If k is negative, obviously transpose the song down. The results will vary according to the module. This command changes only the pitch independently from the speed, so modules which use samples as `strictly instruments' will work better. Of use when you get bored....
`-start n'
start the module at pattern number n instead of number 0.
`-randomize'
plays the module list in random order.
`-list file'
plays the modules listed in the given file (one module name per line, spaces are significant).

The Amiga version uses ReadArgs style argument parsing, and doesn't recognize the precise same options.

6.4: Sample control

`-cut 012...abcd'
suppress samples from the audio output.
`-add 012...abcd'
add samples to the audio output (exclusive with cut).
`-halve 012...abcd'
halve these samples volume.
`-double 012...abcd'
double these samples volume (exclusive with halve).

6.5: Runtime controls

n
go to next song.
p
restart current song/go to previous song.
>
fast forward.
<
rewind.
S
NTSC tempo (60 Hz). Amiga audio hardware for the reason this exists.
s
PAL tempo (50 Hz).
q
x
e
quit right away.
m
switch to monaural mode.[1]
M
go back to stereo mode.
+
(Sparc only) increase sampling rate.[2]
-
(Sparc only) decrease sampling rate.


[1] This key is equivalent to `-mix 100', i.e., it does not reduce the CPU bandwidth used by tracker as when in true mono mode.

[2] Warning: there is a bug in the SunOS 4.1.3 kernel that may manifest itself when using this option