ModPlug Tracker
Encyclopedia
OpenMPT is an open source
audio module tracker for Windows
. It was named by Computer Music as one of the top five free music trackers. It originally started out under the name ModPlug Tracker, and was developed by Olivier Lapicque in September 1997.
, XM
, S3M, and MOD
) present in some websites. ModPlug Tracker, along with a player application named ModPlug Player
later evolved from this plug-in.
In December 1999, Olivier Lapicque sent the module-playing parts of ModPlug Tracker's source code to Kenton Varda, under the GPL
, to write a plugin for XMMS
based on the code. The source code was later released to the public domain
, and the mod-playing code was split off into a separate library, libmodplug, maintained as part of the ModPlug XMMS Plugin project. This project lay dormant from late 2003 until early 2006, when it was picked up again. Today, libmodplug is included in many Linux distributions as a default audio plugin for playing module files.
Due to lack of time, Olivier Lapicque discontinued development of ModPlug Tracker itself, and in early 2004, he released the entire source code under an open license. The ModPlug Player sourcecode is still closed as of July 2010.
and is now known as OpenMPT. The OpenMPT is under active development and distributed as free software
under the terms of the BSD license
, before version 1.17.02.53 under the GNU General Public License
. The Schism Tracker is a sister project also based on the ModPlug code which introduced several backports of bugfixes to the OpenMPT.
user interface
. Most trackers, even newer ones such as Renoise
, have interfaces modelled after the older DOS trackers such as FastTracker II
.
OpenMPT makes use of features common to Microsoft Windows programs, such as context menus for effect selection, "tree" views (for files, samples, and patterns), drag and drop functionality throughout, and the native Look and Feel
of the Windows platform.
It supports both loading and saving of IT (Impulse Tracker
), XM (FastTracker Extended Module), MOD (Protracker
and similar), S3M (Scream Tracker 3
) and MPTM (its own file format) files, imports many sample file formats, and has some support for DLS banks and soundfonts.
The MPT was also one the first Trackers which supports opening and editing of multiple tracker modules in parallel.
MPT supports up to 127 tracks/channels, VST
Plugins, VST instruments and has ASIO support.
OpenMPT had previously introduced non-standard additions to the older file formats. For example, one can use stereo samples or add VST Plugins
to XM and IT
modules, which were not supported in the original trackers.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
audio module tracker for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. It was named by Computer Music as one of the top five free music trackers. It originally started out under the name ModPlug Tracker, and was developed by Olivier Lapicque in September 1997.
ModPlug code origins
Originally called ModPlug Tracker, it was initially developed as a plug-in named MOD Plugin for Internet browsers, to allow users to listen to music modules (for example, ITImpulse Tracker
Impulse Tracker is a multi-track digital sound tracker . It was one of the last tracker programs for the DOS platform. It was authored by Jeffrey "Pulse" Lim, and example music was provided by Jeffrey Lim and Chris Jarvis...
, XM
Fast Tracker
FastTracker 2 is a tracker created by Fredrik "Mr. H" Huss and Magnus "Vogue" Högdahl, two members of the demogroup Triton which set about releasing their own tracker after breaking into the scene in 1992 and winning several demo competitions. The source code of FastTracker 2 is written in Pascal...
, S3M, and MOD
MOD (file format)
MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
) present in some websites. ModPlug Tracker, along with a player application named ModPlug Player
ModPlug Player
ModPlug Player is a module player developed by Olivier Lapicque in conjunction with the original ModPlug Tracker project and the ModPlug Browser plugin. Features include a playlist editor, graphical equalizer, automatic gain control, bass expansion, reverb, Dolby Surround Sound support and the...
later evolved from this plug-in.
In December 1999, Olivier Lapicque sent the module-playing parts of ModPlug Tracker's source code to Kenton Varda, under the GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, to write a plugin for XMMS
XMMS
The X Multimedia System is a free audio player for Unix-like systems.-History:XMMS was originally written as X11Amp by Peter and Mikael Alm in November 1997. The player was made to resemble Winamp, which was first released in May that year. As such, XMMS has supported Winamp 2 "classic" skins...
based on the code. The source code was later released to the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
, and the mod-playing code was split off into a separate library, libmodplug, maintained as part of the ModPlug XMMS Plugin project. This project lay dormant from late 2003 until early 2006, when it was picked up again. Today, libmodplug is included in many Linux distributions as a default audio plugin for playing module files.
Due to lack of time, Olivier Lapicque discontinued development of ModPlug Tracker itself, and in early 2004, he released the entire source code under an open license. The ModPlug Player sourcecode is still closed as of July 2010.
OpenMPT
Lapicque's MPT code was taken up by a group of trackers/programmers at SourceForgeSourceForge
SourceForge Enterprise Edition is a collaborative revision control and software development management system. It provides a front-end to a range of software development lifecycle services and integrates with a number of free software / open source software applications .While originally itself...
and is now known as OpenMPT. The OpenMPT is under active development and distributed as free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
under the terms of the BSD license
BSD licenses
BSD licenses are a family of permissive free software licenses. The original license was used for the Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix-like operating system after which it is named....
, before version 1.17.02.53 under the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
. The Schism Tracker is a sister project also based on the ModPlug code which introduced several backports of bugfixes to the OpenMPT.
Usage
OpenMPT's main distinguishing feature is its native WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
. Most trackers, even newer ones such as Renoise
Renoise
Renoise is a contemporary digital audio workstation based upon the heritage and development of tracker software. Its primary use is the composition of music using sound samples, soft synths, and effects plug-ins. It is also able to interface with MIDI and OSC equipment...
, have interfaces modelled after the older DOS trackers such as FastTracker II
Fast Tracker
FastTracker 2 is a tracker created by Fredrik "Mr. H" Huss and Magnus "Vogue" Högdahl, two members of the demogroup Triton which set about releasing their own tracker after breaking into the scene in 1992 and winning several demo competitions. The source code of FastTracker 2 is written in Pascal...
.
OpenMPT makes use of features common to Microsoft Windows programs, such as context menus for effect selection, "tree" views (for files, samples, and patterns), drag and drop functionality throughout, and the native Look and Feel
Look and feel
In software design, look and feel is a term used in respect of a graphical user interface and comprises aspects of its design, including elements such as colors, shapes, layout, and typefaces , as well as the behavior of dynamic elements such as buttons, boxes, and menus...
of the Windows platform.
It supports both loading and saving of IT (Impulse Tracker
Impulse Tracker
Impulse Tracker is a multi-track digital sound tracker . It was one of the last tracker programs for the DOS platform. It was authored by Jeffrey "Pulse" Lim, and example music was provided by Jeffrey Lim and Chris Jarvis...
), XM (FastTracker Extended Module), MOD (Protracker
Protracker
ProTracker is a popular freeware tracker created by Lars Hamre, Anders Hamre, Sven Vahsen and Rune Johnsrud for the Amiga platform. It is amongst the programs that first allowed for widespread creation of music without studio equipment...
and similar), S3M (Scream Tracker 3
Scream Tracker
Scream Tracker is a tracker . It was created by Psi of Finland's Future Crew It was coded in C and assembly language. The first popular version of Scream Tracker, version 2.2, was published in 1990...
) and MPTM (its own file format) files, imports many sample file formats, and has some support for DLS banks and soundfonts.
The MPT was also one the first Trackers which supports opening and editing of multiple tracker modules in parallel.
MPT supports up to 127 tracks/channels, VST
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
Plugins, VST instruments and has ASIO support.
MPTM file format
Due to limitations of the various file formats it is able to save, a new module format called MPTM was created in 2007. However, the format is still in experimental stage and is expected to be changed in the future.OpenMPT had previously introduced non-standard additions to the older file formats. For example, one can use stereo samples or add VST Plugins
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
to XM and IT
Impulse Tracker
Impulse Tracker is a multi-track digital sound tracker . It was one of the last tracker programs for the DOS platform. It was authored by Jeffrey "Pulse" Lim, and example music was provided by Jeffrey Lim and Chris Jarvis...
modules, which were not supported in the original trackers.
External links
- OpenMPT : The official homepage of the OpenMPT project.
- ModPlug Central : ModPlug Tracker, Player and Plugin homepage.
- MODPlug Tracker Project Site on SourceForge
- Original Modplug Website
- Modplug XMMS Plugin (using libmodplug)
- [irc://irc.esper.net/modplug #modplug] on EsperNet - discussion and support
