Tutorial for Nerdtracker.

Tutorial for Nerdtracker.
by phart010 on 2009-05-03 (#46493)

Hello all. I am new to music composition. What can I refer to when learning to use Nerd tracker or any tracker program. I am not familiar with the interface, and I have not had any luck in finding detailed instructions on functionality. Everything I have read so far assumes the user has an in-depth understanding of the subject and uses technical vocabulary.

Is there a tutorial for nerd tracker that is usable for beginners? Or maybe someone could kindly provide a little overview on the process and some meaning for technical terms. I would really appreciate it. I want to start composing game music ASAP.

by Dwedit on 2009-05-03 (#46494)

Try Famitracker, it's easier to use.

by tepples on 2009-05-04 (#46505)

You could try downloading Modplug Tracker so that you can compose Amiga-style or Super NES-style music. By then, you should be familiar enough with the interface that you can learn the other trackers.

by Memblers on 2009-05-04 (#46509)

Maybe I can help you out. I know NT2 pretty much inside-out, I've been using it for like 12 years. Not that I really make anything new with it anymore though. I wrote the docs for NT2, but I probably assumed the user already is familiar with another tracker. I used FastTracker 2 for many years beforehand, which NT2 is also kind of inspired by. So any type or amount of questions, fire away.

Dwedit is probably right, FamiTracker could be easier to use. If the instrument setup seems a little more daunting, it's only because it's more useful (I'm sure you'll appreciate it, NT2 instruments are simpler but it can be a lot of work to make complex sounds and subtle effects).

Check out http://2a03.free.fr/, there are some NEDs (NT2) and FTMs (Famitracker) around there to check out. There are examples of both in my folder there: http://2a03.free.fr/?p=pub&dir=Memblers

by B00daW on 2009-05-04 (#46511)

The only benefit at this point to using NerdTracker is if you had a DOS or Windows 95 machine still. FamiTracker is actually OK for programming games as well.

by tepples on 2009-05-04 (#46515)

B00daW wrote:
The only benefit at this point to using NerdTracker is if you had a DOS or Windows 95 machine still.

Or if your other composer uses NT2 and you don't want to put two music engines in your game.

by phart010 on 2009-05-05 (#46566)

So I've heard one for Modplug Tracker and two for Famitracker. Which of these is easiest to learn?
I will probably get into all of them sooner or later, but for efficiency, I'd like to focus on just one tracker, whichever is the easiest.

Memblers, thanks for the offer. I'll take you up on that.

by B00daW on 2009-05-05 (#46568)

Memblers is a nice guy and all for offering his hand to help you on a deprecated tracker, but why do that when entire communities use FamiTracker?

by tepples on 2009-05-05 (#46569)

B00daW wrote:
why do that when entire communities use FamiTracker?

Is its file format documented?

by B00daW on 2009-05-05 (#46570)

Wish it was... jsr, would you mind documenting FTM?

by Memblers on 2009-05-05 (#46572)

phart010 wrote:
So I've heard one for Modplug Tracker and two for Famitracker. Which of these is easiest to learn?

I'd say the learning curve is about the same. If you specifically want to do NES music, I'd say to just jump right in with Famitracker.

Really the way I learned a lot of tracking techniques was from watching others (using Cubic Player, that might be a pain to use in Windows though). There are tons of .XM, .IT, .S3M, .MOD, and other tracked formats (which are all very similar).

An easy way to get started, is to load a song in a tracker. Usually there's an option to clear the song, so you can start over with the same instruments.