X GIVING UP MODULESX___As we are approaching the millennium, my restlessness concerning the steady loss of Amiga composers increases gradually. I have composed modules since 1990, and even though my skills as a composer has developed and improved during the years, the MOD format has not. The most significant alteration happened in 1991, when the amount of samples was more than doubled; from 15 to 31, and some new (And very helpful indeed) commands were introduced. This was the time when the standard of mod's rose to a new level, as we all know.___This is only natural, because the scene was (And still is) filled with brilliant composers, who learns to take advantage of the slightest details of Protracker. Ever since I started tracking, I've always been impressed of original and innovative ideas in some mod's... All the creative usage's of all the commands. But as all composers know, the technical part of Protracker is boring when it comes to a point where it prevents you from doing what you should be doing - Making music, not trying to solve problems such as using a sample bigger than 64k (The limit of one sample) by cutting it up to pieces and spreading it
over several sample positions... I could name a hundred more annoying technical details that appears with mod composing. And four channels are not more today than it was ten years ago. We, the composers of the Amiga scene have had to struggle with the MOD limitations for so many years, that many have grown bored of the restrictions and switched to the PC's superior FastTracker, some have gone MIDI only, and some has just dumped computer composing for good.___Hell, I can't blame them, there have been times when I have been sick of staring at the same Protracker 3.15 (Which I have used since it came, way back in '93) screen. And I am quite sure that if a replacement for Protracker does not become widespread soon, the scene will slowly lose its composers.___Many musicians will object and go on raving about Octamed SoundStudio, for it is a very powerful program; and knocks out the MOD format cold... but the problem is - I've never liked OctaMED nor SoundStudio, and I never will (And I have many MOD composers with me on this one). It is way too different from Protracker, and I don't have the time nor the effort to learn to use it. And so many of my friends in the scene would lose the possibility to enjoy my mod's. The scene seems to be very capable of receiving XM's, even in demos, as in BOMB's Shaft7, where Yolk's 8 channel XM "Temple of Sun Remix" was used.___I am however, not willing to buy a PC to compose on, when I know my Amiga is able to do multi-channel mod's with good enough quality.___Things just can't continue the way they are now. The MOD format is dying. It is only the great composers of the scene that breathes life into it, and I pay all my respects to them, because it is a sacrifice for a good composer to do his very best, with only four channels and 31 samples. All good composers have had to give up great ideas and interesting parts of their music due to the restrictions of the MOD format.___Two years ago, an external tool changed a great deal; a little piece of software called "mod2samp". This made it possible to create a sample out of a mod pattern, and God knows that I've had great use for it. All respects to Hali / Union, the author. But this is no replacement for more channels, and it is definitely and uncomfortable way of composing. The sad part is that it's the only way if we still want to compose in Protracker.___Musicians, it's time to let go of the MOD format. It is dying, and there is no point in holding on to it anymore. I have grown up with it and I love it, but it is old and weak. It is with great sadness I bid my it goodbye... Perhaps not today, and maybe not tomorrow either. But I have let go of it.___This does not mean that I will stop composing. Quite the contrary. For the first time in my life, I have paid money for a piece of audio software, namely DigiBoosterPro, and I am very satisfied. It is Protracker enough for me to master it with ease, and at the same time its improvements are all that I ask for. It is joy to be able to give a damn about the MOD restrictions; and
just *compose*.___I feel good. The reactions DigiBoosterPro has received in the scene are various. For the moment, I don't care... I feel like I have moved on. My only hope is that others will do as well.X by Whiskas/DNF (c) Insomnia'98
