=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-TOTAL IRRELEVANCE=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-                                                                                                                                                 SPECIAL Problems with OctaMED to ProTracker Modules -- OctaMED 4/5 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I have been using MED/OctaMED for getting on for three years now, my first version being MED V1.12 which I found tucked away on the Amiga Format cover disk 7 way back in February 1990, some of the "nightmares" that this version contained would be enough to turn anybody who has only used some of the later versions into a gibbering idiot (don't say anything!), no Module support of any kind, which meant that you had to have your sample disks at the ready or copy all the used samples to a separate disk to make it a standalone song!, no file requester or sample list editor, I can still remember getting some sample disks from a PD library and writing all the sample names down on a piece of paper (around about 200 in all!), and thinking this was normal, but at least it didn't crash like some of the terrible early trackers, then one day a suspicious looking character handed me a copy of Noisetracker, which had a file requester, saved songs as modules and had load of flashy bits and pieces plus if my songs were no good it didn't matter, they looked nice when they played!!, I thought I'd found the perfect music package so I tucked away my written sample list (I wasn't going to throw those away) I had a quick fiddle (about a week) with NT until I realized it looked better but still seemed to crash whenever it didn't like the songs I was writing!, I then ordered MED V2.01, then V2.12 and and the rest as they say is history as far MED/OctaMED goes and infamy as far as my modules are concerned, but anyway onto the real subject of this article.... Over the past few years I have been asked to convert some of my modules from OctaMED to ST/NT format for use from within other products which only support "tracker" modules, Now as great as OctaMED is for creating your music masterpieces I have come up against two problems from time to time and through trial and error, punching anything that was near at the time (and usually regretting it), having a lie down with a cup of Camomile tea while listening to "Blue Valentine" by Tom Waits (great album) to soothe my nerves and bruised knuckles and then writing to Teijo sending him the offending module and pleading for help, I have decided to share all that I know of how to clear these problems, and hopefully avoid any further self-inflicted injuries to fellow MUG members. 1. DISJOINTED MODULES - These are songs that when saved as tracker modules and loaded into Protracker etc. some of the instruments are well, disjointed!!! I have tinkered with this and have discovered that the cause is the length of instrument name, OctaMED allows longer names than trackers, so for them to work correctly with trackers make sure the instrument names are no longer than 22 characters and your module should be played O.K. 2. WHISTLING MODULES - Now here's an odd one unless you're into covering Roger Whitaker songs!, I must admit this has only happened once and the symptom is that some of the samples give off a high pitched whistle after them, when played in a tracker (OctaMED plays them fine) this is caused by odd length samples Teijo tells me and he should know! His remedy for this is simple, for example say the sample length is 1001 go to the SAMPLE EDITOR and change the length in the BUFFER SIZE gadget to 1000 and then when prompted press 'R' to retain the sample. I believe this problem was fixed from version 4.00e onwards. Well I hope these tips have been of some help to anybody who may have encountered these problems. Mind you if the increase in support for OctaMED continues, there will no longer be a need to convert modules, so until that day, happy composing and converting! Dean Murray - 6th October 1993 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-TOTAL IRRELEVANCE=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-