Welcome to a selection of new ideas for Octamed by Andy Soar Introduction Reverb on Tracks and samples Echo on Tracks and Samples Chorus on Tracks and Samples Using Drum & Instrument Loops Using 2 Loops at a Time Pitch Values for v2-v4 users About the Modules & Samples How to stop a module Thanks * Use the arrow keys or mouse to navigate through the info * Enjoy the info and I hope you'll get the most out of it * Remember to register - see Introduction/Thanks * If in doubt of the terminology, check your Octamed Guide * This version is written exclusively for Amiga User International * Some of the Tips should be useful to Protracker fans as well * I doth my cap to all persons involved with Octamed and Amiga!!! *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Introduction ------------ Hi. I'm Andy Soar. And just who am I? Well, I've been fortunate enough to have had music published on the Grandslam title "Bump 'n' Burn" and I remixed a score for the TWG conversion of Gametek's "Bloodnet". But that's enough of the self indulgence for now! I've used Octamed for around 2 years and the program never fails to impress the hell out of me! I've learnt quite a few of the idiosyncracies of the program and some useful methods for creating that je ne c'est quoi on tracks that need that something extra. This knowledge I will share with you. I hope you'll find what I have to say useful. This disk is not supposed to replace the Octamed Manual, it's merely a supplement to it. On the full version you'll find some example modules & sounds to help you -I know I can get a bit over technical at times! The contents of this document and all documents on this disk are all (c) Andy Soar 1995. No copying, hiring, lending or re-use of this text without the permission of the author. If you'd like to register for the full version then please send a £5 note or cheque for £5 made payable to Andy Soar: (68 Springfield Road, Grantham, Lincs. NG31 7BE). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Creating Reverb on a Track -------------------------- Creating reverb on a track is an amazingly simple process but you must have a free track to begin with. (It's also a much better method of creating a hall effect without resorting to the Octamed's own echo facility - see Echo). The plus is that you can use this facility on anything from groovy bass line to a loop. First compose the track that you want to have reverbed(!?). Once you've done that enter the EDIT menu and select COPY TRACK (Octamed 5 users will find this facility in the TRACK menu). Now, go to the free track and go to either line 1 or 2 - these are the best places but you could experiment lower down (Remember to double the amount if you've double spaced the track ie 128 lines/96 lines etc). Enter the RANGE menu (or the EDIT menu for v5 users) and select PASTE RANGE. Now on every note that you used add the following command : 0C10. This sets the volume of each note to 10 (if you have altered the volume of the initial sample you might wish to make the volume of the reverb track around 1/3-1/4 volume of the new volume). Now play the block and hey presto! Reverb! It gives life to tracks that are so-called "dry". Strictly speaking, this process is more to do with delay than reverb but it has much the same effect in Octamed! (or indeed Protracker!). Simple eh! Remember, you can use this process on a loop as well - see Loops. Example ------- For the humble beginner, I may as well have been talking about Quantum Mechanics! So here is an illustration of the essentials I have discussed: A bass line perhaps... ----------------------- | 0 | 1 | ----------------------- 00 C-2 10000 - 00000 01 - 00000 - 00000 02 C-2 10000 C-2 10C10 <--- Note that the music 03 E#2 10000 - 00000 is identical to that 04 C-2 10000 C-2 10C10 in the first bar, only 05 - 00000 E#2 10C10 2 lines lower and also 06 C-2 10000 C-2 10C10 note that the volume 07 E#2 10000 - 00000 of the REVERB-ed track 08 C-2 10000 C-2 10C10 is set at 10 (approx 09 D-2 10000 E#2 10C10 1/6 the volume of the 10 E#2 10000 C-2 10C10 original). 11 D-2 10000 D-2 10C10 12 C-2 10000 E#2 10C10 13 - 00000 D-2 10C10 14 C-2 10000 C-2 10C10 15 E#2 10000 - 00000 16 - 00000 C-2 10C10 17 - 00000 E#2 10C10 etc... See how I've done it in my example modules. Creating Reverb on a Sample --------------------------- This is again a very simple and relatively painless procedure! Go into the SAMPLE EDITOR on the instrument you want to add the reverb to. Copy the whole of sample to the buffer. Now paste the sample on to the end of the sound. Range the new sample ending and select CHG VOL 50 - 50 (v5 users just select HALVE). You may need to do this a couple of times. Now range over the end of the sample and beginning of the new area and select cut. You should now have a sample with a form of reverb - this too livens up a "dry" track. If the reverb is not long enough, you may want to copy the new section and use the same procedure. This is not the same as using the ECHO facility. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Creating Echo on a Track ------------------------ You may already know how to do this but I'll just give you a few of my hints for you to try. Octamed has the echo facility built in. It's in the RANGE menu (v5 - EDIT menu). Compose the track you want to add the echo to and when you're done select RANGE TRACK from the RANGE (/v5 Edit) menu. Now make your echo range either 2,3,4 or 6 (these are the best settings but try experimenting!). Now enter the INSTRUMENT menu and adjust the INSTRUMENT VOLUME down to approximately half its' current value - ie if current volume is 64, reduce it to 32. Now select NOTE ECHO from the RANGE(/v5 EDIT) and turn the INSTRUMENT VOLUME back up to the original setting. Now you've got a good echo! Changing the volume makes all the difference here! Remember if the track has more than one instrument you may wish to alter the volume on all the instruments used. Example ------- This is an illustration of what echo should look like. First, I adjusted the INSTRUMENT VOLUME to 32/64. Then I RANGE-d the track and selected a NOTE ECHO value of 3. Then I re-adjusted the instrument volume back up to 64. Anyway, this is what it should look like: ------------ ------------ | 0 | | 0 | ------------ ------------ 00 C-3 10000 00 C-3 10000 01 C-3 10000 01 C-3 10000 02 - 00000 02 - 00000 The track 03 - 00000 And after 03 C-3 10C16 before the ---> 04 C-3 10000 the echo ---> 04 C-3 10000 echo... 05 - 00000 has been 05 - 00000 06 - 00000 put on the 06 C-3 10C08 07 C-3 10000 track... 07 C-3 10000 08 F-3 10000 08 F-3 10000 09 - 00000 09 C-3 10C04 10 E#3 10000 10 D#3 10000 11 - 00000 11 F-3 10C16 12 C-3 10000 12 C-3 10000 13 - 00000 13 D#3 10C16 14 A#2 10000 14 A#2 10000 15 - 00000 15 C-3 10C16 16 C-3 10000 16 C-3 10000 etc... etc... Creating Echo on a Sample ------------------------- Again, I may be preaching to the converted with some of you but creating the right echo can be a pain in the !$%& !!! Enter the Sample menu and add some workspace onto the end of the sample (ie by changing the size buffer by 5-10000k. Select RANGE SAMPLE. Now set the ECHO RATE to 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 or 6000 (ExPeRiMeNt!!!). Set the Decay Rate to 0 and the N or Number Rate to 1. Now select ECHO and you should have a pretty good echo. Try using the echo a few times for this effect. If the above method destroys the best parts of the sample then try this: i) Select your sample and copy it to the buffer ii) Follow the above instructions for your echo iii) now select the MIX option from the sample editor This should emphasize the original sound and make the echo seem more distant. A sort of Hall Echo if you like... There is an alternative, if a bit more tedious method that can be used to achieve echo on a sample. Copy the sample to a free bank. Now add some workspace at the end say around 5-10k. Now cut the new workspace and paste it onto the beginning of the sample. Once you've done that, RANGE the whole of the sample and change the start and finish volume to around 25. Once you've done that, go back to the original sample, copy it to the buffer and go back to the new sample. Finally, mix the two togther and you should have a real echo. This way is a bit more archaic but it does have the advantage of the user having complete control of the echo so you know exactly what where to place the echo if it hasn't worked first time... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Creating Chorus on Tracks ------------------------- Another way to freshen up an ordinary mix is to add a bit of chorus to it. This is another very simple operation and takes no time at all. Chorus is essentially the fattening up of an instrument track by changing the harmonics of it. Simply speaking, a kind of stereo! To use this facility you must have a spare track again! Sorry! Copy the track you want to add the chorus too and paste it from line 0 in the empty track. Now everywhere the note is played add the command 1101 or 1102 (experiment with the last number). 110? is the finetune command. Piff, Paff, Puff!!! Play the track and you have the chorus effect! This operation is so simple, there's no more excuses for empty sounding dance tracks. You can easily get that fat MOOG sound out of your leads and basses... As an appendix to this, if you use the 1102 command, you may wish to make the INSTRUMENT FINETUNE -1, this means that the 2 pitches are actually -1 & +1 instead of 0 & +2 - I know that probably sounds like gibberish but try it and I think you'll find it works! Example ------- For the beginners amongst you, here is an example of how the effect will look in the program:- ----------------------- | 0 | 1 | ----------------------- 00 C-3 10000 C-3 11102<-- 01102 is the command to 01 - 00000 - 00000 raise the finetune of 02 C-3 10000 C-3 11102 the sample in this case 03 D-3 10000 D-3 11102 by 2. 01101 also works 04 E-3 10000 E-3 11102 especially on Vangelis 05 D-3 10000 D-3 11102 style leads. 06 C-3 10000 C-3 11102 07 - 00000 - 00000 etc... Remember, if there's spaces left between the notes, you can still use the Octamed's echo facility. However, also remember that the echo sounds the normal pitch of the sample - so it would be pointless to use the facility on the chorus-ed track. Creating Chorus on Samples -------------------------- Sad to say but if you are an Octamed v1-v4 user there's no way of doing this. Don't blame me!!! The first thing I'd suggest to you is that you get a copy of Protracker 3.1b from your favourite PD library as it has a superb sampler with 12 bit capabilities on it. But if you're a v5 or above user then you have a few new options such as the extremely useful CANCEL FINETUNE command found in the SAMPLE editor's CHANGE PITCH option (Amiga+P). First take your ordinary sample and copy it. Then go into a free sample bank and paste the sample (or swap with buffer etc). Now, from the INSTRUMENT menu, select FINETUNE and move the sample up 1 or 2 notches (ExPeRiMeNt!). Select that CANCEL FINETUNE option from the CHANGE PITCH panel again (or Resample in Protracker). Go back to the first sample and copy it to the buffer again. Return to the second sample and select MIX. Now you should have a much fatter sounding sample than before. You may need to up the volume of the sample and fade out the ending... The effect of this can be heard on this disk and in the "Dance Thing" track sample - 0B. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Using A Loop ------------ There's 2 ways of using a loop in a module - the first is only for use in Octamed - the second can be used in other Tracker programs under various different guises. The two methods combined if you want to use 2 loops in sync with one another (see Using 2 Loops at a Time). Method 1: Firstly, select the instrument you wish to use as a loop - normally a guitar riff or drum pattern (nowadays you can buy sample CDs which have these on as standard - or check out Future Music Magazine or The Mix!). Place the loop (using the loop at C-3 or above if you want it faster) at points 0-16-32-48 (or if you're using a swing beat then use points 0-12-24-36). Once you've done that select PLAY BLOCK. Now, if the loop ends before the next point or the loop is cut off by the next point (and both of these often apply) then you will need to adjust the TIMER. It's easier if you select BPM instead of SPD as BPM is the most common time facility used in the business (plus the fact, if you purchase a sample CD, more often than not they will give you the time signature anyway!). On the second bar, adjust the setting to /4 (this is a crotchet for the musos!). Now adjust the first bar until the sound of the loop is accurately starting and ending in the correct places (best to start at 100/4). When you've done it, there should be no deviation and the loop should sound perfect. If, however, it just doesn't quite fit you may want to adjust the INSTRUMENT FINETUNE to get it into line. (If the loop is per se a guitar loop then try to avoid moving the finetune up to far otherwise you'll have to up the pitch of all your instruments). Method 2: Well, because method 2 is useable by all you protracker fans I really do have to save this for those of you kind enough to register - sorry! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Double Looping -------------- Sorry folks but this section is only available on the full version. This is a very interesting use of two loops at the same time so if you want to find out how this works then simply send me a fiver! I'm afraid you'll have to make do with this next section until then! Getting the most out of a loop ------------------------------ In the reverb section, you saw how you could make a simple "dry" sounding loop sound more "warm". The same effect can be added to a drum loop. Here's how: ----------------------- | 0 | 1 | ----------------------- The loop --->00 C-3 10000 - 00000 01 - 00000 - 00000 02 - 00000 C-3 10C10<--- The reverb-ed loop 03 - 00000 - 00000 etc... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** How to re-pitch a sample ------------------------ This section is completely useless for Protracker 3.1b and Octamed v5 users as the facility is included in the program. But to anyone that's a user of Octamed v2-v4 the following info could be very useful. Here is a list of the sample numbers for altering pitches:- ---------------------------- | C-2 428 | | C-3 214| | C#2 *** | | C#3 ***| | D-2 *** | | D-3 ***| | D#2 *** | | D#3 ***| | E-2 *** | | E-3 170| | F-2 320 | | F-3 ***| | F#2 *** | | F#3 ***| | G-2 *** | | G-3 ***| | G#2 *** | | G#3 135| | A-2 *** | | A-3 ***| | A#2 240 | | A#3 ***| | B-2 *** | | B-3 ***| ---------------------------- The *** denotes that if you want all the above settings then you'll have to register - sorry! The pitch that you want to alter the sample to should be in the destination box. I suppose the best method for getting the ease of use of changing the pitch would be to upgrade - it's always the only way forward. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------------------- THANKS TO:- ---------- Teijo Kinnnunen, RBF Software, CU Amiga, Amiga Format, Amiga User Internatinal, Nico Francois, Cryptoburners, Zero-G, Time & Space, Future Music, The Mix, Tom Ekstrom, Sten Schmidt and Aegis. Thanks to you for reading this!!! Any information, shareware donations or commercial companies that wish to hire my services (as Grandslam, Gametek, and T.W.G. have in the past) then here's the address to write to: Andy Soar, 68 Springfield Road, Grantham, Lincs. NG31 7BE. ENGLAND. I hope to hear from all of you wanting the full version very soon. ---------------------------Happy-Tracking---------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Endings ------- Often ignored, the 0FFE command is very useful. This stops the track completely. Particularly useful if you are using the Octamed as a live tool or indeed for an extra long rolling demo. Plus the fact it avoids the laziness of simply letting a track go on and on forever... And Speaking of Endings... -------------------------- That's it! I've now shared with you some of the great features that are capable out of Octamed (and indeed Protracker!!!). All that's left for you to do is to register the shareware fee of a fiver and send it to me (see Thanks). I hope you get a lot of use out of the ideas here and hope to hear the enhancements on the front of future coverdisks etc... Cheers... ANDY SOAR. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************** * THE SECRETS OF OCTAMED by Andy Soar * *************************************** Examples -------- On the disk you'll find some usful examples of the topics I've discussed including two modules one of which includes the double looping method. These are "Moon Machine", "Dance Thing" and an Intro track. The example samples are quite famous and indeed useful... Hope to hear from you registering soon! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------