G'Day!

Here's a quick overview if you want to start writing mods.


1) Get a nice mod-editor.. nothing too complicated.

   - I recommend ScreamTracker3.2x or newer for PC

   - Available Free from Public Domain, or Internet FTP sites.


2) Have a fairly simple mod handy. Use one of mine if you like.

   - This is just so you can see how a mod is constructed. 

   - Mods are comprised of Samples and information on how to play these 
     samples/instruments. Samples can be created thru the use of a sampling
     program (usually get one with your soundcard on PC and you'll have to 
     buy one on the Amiga).

   - Mods are divided into Patterns, which are 64 slots long usually. They
     can be divided into bars of 4,8,16,32 or even 64 slots. Other timing 
     arrangements can be made with a little more difficulty and by
     continuously changing the speed information regularly you can also add
     some sort of beat to the piece of music.. ie like swing.
     Each slot can contain note information and or special effects commands.

   - A Pattern is again divided into Channels or Tracks.
     Usually one instrument per track is the simplest form of song.
     ie 4 Tracks... 4 voices/samples can be played at the same time.
    

3) Now Time to write some music.

   - Now you have a feel of the editor, ie what keys to press to get sound,
     you can start writing a mod. Either start with a new mod and load up a
     sample, or clear out a previous mod's note information and track order,
     but keep the samples.
     Start with a simple tune first like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
     Write the melody first. Once you have the melody out then
     add some accompliments.. ie chords, or perhaps a drum and bass line.
     I find that by adding a bass drum or hi hat every 4 slots, or every 8
     slots on a speed of 5 or 4 as a metronome helps get the timing correct.

   - How did your song turn out? Got mum or dad nagging you to stop making a
     racket? Well, believe it or not, you've written your first mod. Now try
     something a little bit more complicated, or write some more simple
     tunes. Baa Baa Black Sheep is another good one to start with.

   - Once you have the hang of things, look at more complicated mods, and
     see what sort of tricks you can use to enhance your music, ie sample
     offsets, pitchbending, using the timing commands to add feel to your
     song, echo channels, or in channel echoing... etc.



HINTS:
=-=-=-

Where do I get samples from?
============================

    - TV (Cartoons are good for sound effects)
    
    - Radio
    
    - CDs (Sample and Normal)
    
    - Tape,... if I am REALLY Desperate... too much hiss!
    
    - Other Mods!
    
    - Any Synthesizers I can get my hand's on!
    
    - And the Internet (Very Very Rarely)
    
Sampling (How To)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

    - I try to sample at 22Mhz if possible.. unless I have an instrument
      that can handle a lower rate... ie say 16Mhz.
    
    - Sometimes Drums, Hats, and other small or short samples can be done
      at higher rates since they don't take up as much room as long samples.
    
    - If sampling from CD try a direct from cd reader such as CDInfo14.zip
      which is available at most FTP sites. (this is of course if you have
      a CDROM!)

    - From TV and Radio.. perhaps just have it plugged into the computer
      for a few hours and be ready to press that sample button! Record in
      spurts of 3 minutes or so and cut out what you need instead of trying
      to press the sample button as soon as you hear something..

Sampling Hints
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     - Ok, you've just discovered you have a sampler and the wonderful
       effects it can do. But please bear this in mind, some people get
       cheesed off downloading a 1MB mod to hear it was completely comprised
       of samples from your favorite song strung together.. if you do decide
       to do this then perhaps re-use the samples you already have ... ie
       use the OFFSET command to get MORE out of your sample.

     - The OFFSET Command is WONDERFUL! You can have a sample of a drum riff
       and be able to use the drums within it.. by specifying the offset of
       where the sample is to play you can do some nice things! Try it and
       see!.. or hear rather :)


Well, that's it for now... I Hope this text helps you to start writing the
music you hear other people writing. And I hope to hear some of your stuff
from the Net real soon!


Hear Ya Later!

            Yannis.


IRC:   #trax (AnotherNet Servers... neato.org, irc.netnation.com)
EMail: yannis@gco.apana.org.au
Phone: (+61 02) 8074488