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Starting from 1987 with the release of [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]], trackers became a new type of music programs which spawned the mod ([[Module file|module]]) audio file standard. The Mod audio standard is considered the audio format that started it all in the world of computer music. After [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]] many clones (which often were reverse engineered and improved) appeared, including [[Noisetracker]], [[Startrekker]], [[Protracker]]. Also many deratives appeared, amongst which [[OctaMED]] and [[Oktalizer]]. |
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Starting from 1987 with the release of [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]], trackers became a new type of music programs which spawned the mod ([[Module file|module]]) audio file standard. The Mod audio standard is considered the audio format that started it all in the world of computer music. After [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]] many clones (which often were reverse engineered and improved) appeared, including [[Noisetracker]], [[Startrekker]], [[Protracker]]. Also many deratives appeared, amongst which [[OctaMED]] and [[Oktalizer]]. |
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In those times (and mainly in the period from 1987/88 to 1994/95) when Amiga audio was far superior to any other platform, PC compatible systems begun to be equipped with 8 bit audio cards inserted into 16 bit ISA bus slots. Soundtracker Module files were used on PC computers and were considered the only serious 8bit audio standard for creating music. The worldwide usage of these programs led to the creation of the so-called MOD-scene which was considered part of the [[Demoscene]]. Eventually the PC world evolved to 16 bit audio cards, and Mod files were slowly abandoned. Various Amiga and PC games such as [[Worms (1994 video game)|Worms]] supported Mod as their internal standard for generating music and audio effects.
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In the period from 1987 to 1995 when Amiga audio (which was standard in Amiga computers) was of greater quality than a a standard home computer, PC compatible systems began to be equipped with 8-bit audio cards inserted into 16 bit ISA bus slots. Soundtracker Module files were used on PC computers and were considered the only serious 8bit audio standard for creating music. The worldwide usage of these programs led to the creation of the so-called MOD-scene which was considered part of the [[Demoscene]]. Eventually the PC world evolved to 16-bit audio cards, and Mod files were slowly abandoned. Various Amiga and PC games (such as [[Worms (1994 video game)|Worms]]) supported Mod as their internal standard for generating music and audio effects.
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Some trackers can use both sampled sounds and can synthesize sounds. AHX and [[Hively Tracker]] are special trackers in that they can't use samples, but can synthesize the sound created by Commodore 64 computers. |
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Some trackers can use both sampled sounds and can synthesize sounds. AHX and [[Hively Tracker]] are special trackers in that they can't use samples, but can synthesize the sound created by Commodore 64 computers. |
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Some modern Amiga trackers are: [[Digibooster Pro]] and [[Hively Tracker]]. |
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Some modern Amiga trackers are: [[Digibooster Pro]] and [[Hively Tracker]]. |
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Development of popular Amiga tracker OctaMED SoundStudio was handed over to a third party several times but the first two parties failed to produce result. A third attempt at creating an update will be undertaken by the current developer of Bars 'n Pipes.
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Development of popular Amiga tracker OctaMED SoundStudio was handed over to a third party several times but the first two parties failed to produce useful results [[citation needed]]. A third attempt at creating an update will be undertaken by the current developer of Bars 'n Pipes [[citation needed]].
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====mod format limitations==== |
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====mod format limitations==== |
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Initially trackers (and the mod format) were limited to 4 channel, 8 bit audio (due to restrictions of the Amiga's soundchip) and 15 (and later 31) sampled instruments. By using software mixing some trackers archieved 6, 7 or 8 channel sound at the cost of CPU time and audio quality.
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Initially trackers (and the mod format) were limited to 4 channel, 8-bit audio (due to restrictions of the Amiga's soundchip) and 15 (and later 31) sampled instruments. By using software mixing some trackers achieved 6, 7 or 8 channel sound at the cost of CPU time and audio quality.
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Modern trackers can handle 128+ channel, 16 bit audio quality and can often handle up to 256 instruments. Some even support software synthesizer plugins as instruments.
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Modern trackers can handle 128+ channel, 16-bit audio quality and can often handle up to 256 instruments. Some even support software synthesizer plugins as instruments [[citation needed]].
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===Speech synthesis=== |
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===Speech synthesis=== |