Contents |
Description
Pro-Tracker is a music editor, tracker style for MSX-MUSIC and MSX-AUDIO made by Tyfoon Soft in 1991.
Its main target device is the MSX-MUSIC chip, so it only supports 6 FM channels and drums.
The program works fine for MSX-AUDIO as well but doesn't support the use of samples.
Note: The menu screen is not available in the files version.
The Programs
Music Program
Pro-Tracker was inspired on the Amiga version of Pro-Tracker with 63 patterns consisting out of 64 lines, which scrolled bottom to top on your screen.
In edit mode, the computer keyboard can be used as FM music keyboard with two octaves. By using the INS or DEL key, these octaves can be modified together.
The music data for each melodic channel and the drums are entered by using the keyboard. An extra column with special codes is also present, for example to change the playback speed or to send data to the replayer so you can make your demos/games synchronize with the music which is playing.
It is possible to load FAC Soundtracker 1 and FAC Soundtracker 2 files. Pro-Tracker uses its own heavily compressed & efficient .PRO file format. The FAC Soundtracker 2 slides are not converted, but you can add them manually in the Pro-Tracker music program.
Tip: If you press the GRAPH key when booting and launching this program, the current active line of the tracker will be displayed in red instead of yellow.
Launching if you use the files version: BLOAD"PTPROGRM.BIN",R
Preset Editor
Pro-Tracker comes with an included Preset Editor which allows you to create your own instruments to use in your songs. 118 presets are included (also for the drums), those numbered from 01 to 15 are the hardware MSX-MUSiC presets.
In this editor, the computer keyboard can be used as FM music keyboard with two octaves to test the instruments. The mouse is here very useful to change the parameters or select another instrument on which you can work.
Launching if you use the files version: BLOAD"PTEDITOR.BIN",R
Useful keys
Music Program
| Key | Play mode | Edit mode |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Play pattern | Play pattern |
| F2 | Play song | Play song |
| F3 | Load song | Change pattern |
| F4 | Save song | Change instrument |
| F5 | Load software instrument and preset | Load software instrument and preset |
| F6 | Copy channel, drums or codes to buffer | |
| F7 | Copy pattern to buffer | |
| F8 | Copy buffer content to current pattern | |
| F9 | Play song | Play song |
| F10 | Load presets list | Print song |
| Cursors | Change cursor position | Change cursor position |
| O | Insert an OFF | |
| P | Insert a release | |
| BS | Remove note | |
| CTRL + D | Change drums frequency and codes | Change drums frequency |
| CTRL + F | Insert a flipped frequency effect | |
| CTRL + I | Insert a decreasing slide | |
| CRTL + P | Insert a pitch effect | |
| CTRL + S | Load FAC Soundtracker song | |
| CTRL + U | Insert an increasing slide | |
| CTRL + V | Change channel volume | |
| CTRL + X | Toggle MSX-AUDIO/MSX-MUSIC | |
| CTRL + DEL | Access to Transpose DOWN feature | |
| CTRL + INS | Access to Transpose UP feature | |
| CTRL + SELECT | Toggle MSX-AUDIO/MSX-MUSIC | Toggle MSX-AUDIO/MSX-MUSIC |
| CTRL + STOP | Back to menu (in original version) | Back to menu (in original version) |
| DEL | Decrease octave | |
| ESC | Stop current action or Toggle Play mode / Edit mode | Stop current action or Toggle Play mode / Edit mode |
| HOME | Back to begin of current pattern | |
| INS | Increase octave | |
| RETURN | Enter name or value Overwrite to save song (after F4) | Remove note |
| SELECT | Change VDP frequency | Change VDP frequency |
| SHIFT + HOME | Clear memory | Clear current pattern |
| SPACE | Select a file to load (after F3 or CTRL+S) Choose new name to save current song (after F4) | |
| TAB | Navigate between blocks |
Preset Editor
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Cursors | Change cursor position |
| CTRL + STOP | Back to menu (in original version) |
| SPACE | Change parameter at the cursor position |
Extras
To access thexe extras with the original disk, boot without any disk in drive A, then insert the Pro-Tracker disk after booting.
Replayer
By entering FILES, you will find PT_DRIVE.BAS as example of replayer, that can easily be adapted for MSX1 (especially by using WIDTH40 instead of WIDTH80 in line 80).
According the soundchip you want to use, the value of MC needs to be 0 (MSX-MUSIC) or 1 (MSX-AUDIO). The most secure option is to set this value on line 140 and to add a line 145 GOTO 170.
The code source is also provided.
Included musics
Several musics (.PRO files) are included, their number vary according the used version of Pro-Tracker.
| Song (PRO) | Title | Composer |
|---|---|---|
| CRYSTAL | Crystal | Ernst Schuller |
| CYBER-D | Cyber Dream | Breaky-Soft |
| ENDLESS1 | Endless Ending 1 | Breaky-Soft |
| ENDLESS2 | Endless Ending 2 | Breaky-Soft |
| FEASILY | Feasily | Fony |
| FORTHOSE | For Those Who Date | Ernst Schuller |
| GALIOUS | Galious Theme | Breaky-Soft |
| HOUSY | Housy | Breaky-Soft |
| IMMACULA | Immaculate Bass | Tyfoon Soft |
| ITSONYOU | It's On You | Fony |
| KINGKONG | King Kong Tune | Breaky-Soft |
| METALGR | Metal Gear Tune | Breaky-Soft |
| PENGUIN | Penguin Adventure Tune | Breaky-Soft |
| POPCORN | Popcorn | Breaky-Soft |
| PRO-FILE | Pro-File | Ernst Schuller |
| PRO-TECT | Pro-Tect | Ernst Schuller |
| SACLERON | Sacleron | Fony |
| SACLERN2 | Sacleron 2 | Fony |
| SEEYOU | See You | MSX・FAN |
| SILENCE | Silence Echo | Breaky-Soft |
| TEST | Endless Ending 2 | Breaky-Soft |
The original version includes an additional music on the menu screen, it's the same music as in the intro of the Pro-Tracker Demo, it has been composed by Ernst Schuller.
Credits
Trivia
- The original software came on a sector-loaded disk, years later it was converted to a files version by Shadow.
- Eggbert and Fony Demodisk 2 are examples of software using Pro-Tracker Music.
- You can actually use the program online these days: Pro-Tracker Online.