Ok, I know my way
around, I can sample and use effects, and I've released a few
mods,but just how are certain things done?
-Effects
There are a number of effect
commands available in the newer trackers that we
didn't discuss in Section 1. Be sure that you are familiar with all the
standard commands before you embark this next voyage of discovery. These
effects -have- to be used properly, or they can completely destroy what
would otherwise be a good track.
Let’s start with Stereo Panning. This is the method by which a sound
appears to come from a certain place between the speakers.
- Techniques
Do you use echoes on various
parts of your MODs? If not, why not? They
are an easy way of filling out the sound. Really easy to do as well. Simply
copy a channel into another empty channel, change the volume of the channel
down to under half of its current volume, and insert a row in only that
channel. Play back the pattern, if it sounds nice, you've succeeded.
Inserting only a single row will only work well at slow BPMs, however,
so keep on inserting and playing back until it sounds nice.
One point to remember, and this is something I've seen in many MODs,
even ones produced by masters (I won't give any names), is that if the
echo is fairly long a few notes will be chopped off the end of the echoed
channel when you insert rows. But these notes still exist in the original
channel. When the tune is played back the echo will appear to stop at the
beginning of each pattern, and then start again. This reduces the 'live'
feel of the entire module. Just remember to copy the chopped notes onto
the beginning of the next pattern in the playing list, and everything
will sound fine.
Another cool effect (IMHO) is gating. This is usually done with command
A. Load a long/looped sample and set it to maximum volume. Now input the
channel below (The notes can be anything, but keep the effects the same)
(No Volume Column)
C-5 1 A0F - Starts note, slides volume
--- 1 A0F - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A0F - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A0F - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A0F - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A0F - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A0C - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A08 - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
E-5 1 A0A - Starts note, slides volume
--- 1 A0A - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A08 - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A06 - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
D-5 1 A08 - Starts note, slides volume
--- 1 A08 - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A06 - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
--- 1 A04 - Sets volume to sample default volume, then slides volume
Now play, and you should find that you get this choppy sound that gets
less choppy with the slower slides. That choppiness is gating. Gating
works best when used on strings and vocals, but just play around and
see what you come up with.
- Sampling
- Filtering
There are a number of
features available in most good sampling programs
that can be used to improve the quality of the sound. First of all we’ll
take a look at filters, usually there will be some sort of controllable
low/high pass filter that you can use.
One purpose of using a low pass filter is to remove any noise from a low
pitched bass sample, it can also at fatness up the sample as well. The
most important thing to remember is not to use a low pass which lets
too high frequencies through. A low pass of about 8kHz seems to work
fine in removing noise from most bass samples.