TRACKERS MOONBLASTER EN 09
Contents
TIPS
Some pattern saving tips
For example, if a bass is played first and then the same bass line but with a lead, then the lead can first be turned off by lowering the volume. Before playing the bass for the second time, the volume has to be set hard. This is the same piece played, but now with the lead.
If you want to play a channel first and then the same melody, but then an octave higher, it is useful to use an own voice. This own voice is a copy of an existing instrument, but the multi sample wave 1 has been incremented at register A and B. As a result, all tones by this instrument sound an octave higher. The first melody is played the first time, after which an instrument change is activated at the end of the pattern. This one plays the same melody one octave higher, because this instrument sounds higher.
A handy memory support for the FM-Drumblocks
Put an FM drum on every second-power drum block (so 1,2, 4 and 8) (ie 1 bass drum, 2 snare drum, 4 hi-hat etc). Then you have to add the drum block values, and with that also the drums given on the drum block (1 + 2 = 3, on 3 so a bass and a snare drum, 4 + 1 = 5, so on 5 a bass drum and a hi-hat, etc ). Usually certain combinations are never used in your music, and can be replaced by eg PSG effects.
Smooth transition
The link option is very useful in combination with the pitch bend option. With the pitch bend, the tone is pulled off, after which the link stops the pitch bend and the correct note starts. You can find the right value of the pitch bend with a bit of experimentation. It may be useful to switch off the other channels with CTRL-W. For example, you have:
C5
-
-
-
E5
You can smooth the transition from the C5 to the E5 by:
C5
-
-
-
P+3
L+4
Double pace
To make the tempo exactly twice as fast the following calculation is necessary: 25 min the current tempo gives a certain value. If the tempo has to be twice as fast, then you have to divide this value by 2 (twice as slow, multiply by 2). The value that comes out of it must be deducted from 25 again. The result of this calculation is the new pace. For example, triplets can be easily made by dividing by 3, etc. An example will clarify: Suppose that a song works at tempo 19. The speed that is twice as fast is calculated as follows: 25-19 = 6. 6/2 = 3. 25-3 = 22. So the new pace is 22.
Volume changes with AM voice
With AM Voices, volume changes can have little effect. This is because in AM sound synthesis both registers (A and B) individually have their own volume, while in FM voices the volume in register B is indicated. By creating a number of AM-own voices, where the total level of register a and b decreases with each voice, you can extinguish AM voices with instrument change.
Pitchbend and back
Suppose you want a pitch to be pitched a bit and then back to the old tone, without having to hit it again. You can do this with L + 0. Example:
C6
P+3
L+0
Echo
You can get an echo effect by copying a certain channel with echo steps to another channel. Usually two echo steps gives the best result. You can copy the channel with CTRL-C, see the explanation in chapter 3. Give that other channel the same instrument, only the volume slightly lower. Especially in stereo this sounds fantastic!
Fuller sound
You can make the sound fuller by running it over two channels and tapping the channels a bit. So for example in channel 1 and 2 the same melody, with channel 1 a T + 0 and in channel 2 a T + 1.
Exchanging channels
Suppose you have a piece of music written for MSX-AUDIO, and you want to adjust it for MSX-MUSIC. If you want to use the 6 channel plus drum mode for MSX-MUSIC, channels 7, 8 and 9 can not be played on the MSX-MUSIC. If you find these channels more important than channel 4 to 6, for example, you can switch them with CTRL-X.
Save type work
You can save yourself a lot of typing work by making good use of the block functions. For example, if you often use the same bass line in a song, but always in another root, you can first copy it as a block with CTRL-C, and then you can use [,] and [.] The bass line for each piece to to transpose the desired root.
Number of measures per pattern
When programming music, it is easiest to use a pattern for each measure. Each step is then a 16th note. However, if you also want to use 32nd notes, it is better to use two patterns for a measure. For a three-quarter measure, you can place an ENDOP in the CMD channel in each patterm on step 12.
Stereo effects
You can create brilliant stereo effects with MoonBIaster. However, these do not automatically arise, you will have to program them yourself. You might be inspired by listening to pop music with a headphone. In this way you can hear well what kind of stereo effects the pros use.
