That's how I feel when I listen to anything that uses these chips in an NSF file. It's not a true NES song.. there are some very cool songs that push the limits of the original hardware though, without adding chips.. Hooray for limitations!
Well, yes, sometimes limitations are helpful in art, but the main reason I don't dare to turn classical pieces to 8-bit is for the lack of channels. Sometimes 2 squares and a triangle just aren't enough.
Re: Dave and other expansion chip set appreciators- Hear hear!
Personally, I am always trying to push limits with the synth software I have (FL Studio). I love synth and can't help it, and that's why I welcome ANY expansion into FamiTracker. It just makes it THAT much more interesting. I do it for the music and for the vast possibilities for each chip set used herein.
I also recently discovered MOD2PSG2, and am not complaining when it comes to the (un)limitations of this adorable little chip tracker. It really forced me to think outside the box with it, which bolstered my appreciation for the good ol' NES 2A03. With the SN-whatever (forgot the actual model number, which I will have to look up again) chip for the Mark III, the limits are drowned out by the sheer sentimental value and feel, same thing with the 2A03. This is encouragement alone to support chip trackers. And also pushing the limits, of course.
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You now process Dracula's Rib. Good luck processing it...
I don't think many of us would deny that pure 2a03, when done well, has a great, unique feel to it, despite it's limitations. We love the way it sounds! And we really enjoy listening to new '2a03 only' music that really pushes the limitations. For many of us, that's our favorite chip music. We may not appreciate expansion chip nsfs in quite the same way as pure 2a03 because they don't sound much like the NES games we played as kids. I choose to make pure 2a03, but I sure can appreciate a good expansion nsf, like Rushjet1's Alkali Earth.
There's plenty of mediocre chip music going around (both pure 2a03 and expansion chip 2a03). It's not the expansion chip's fault!
Personally I just crave polyphony. The more channels, the richer the harmony. I will always prioritize the 2A03 sounds, but if I can get my grubby little mitts on a previously-unavailable cache of expansion channels, you can be sure I'm going to use that shit. I'd probably be wasting-- er, spending-- a ton of time right this very minute using VRC7 stuff if the version that supported it were a bit more stable.
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Socrates is a man.
Therefore, all men are Socrates.
That's how I feel when I listen to anything that uses these chips in an NSF file. It's not a true NES song.. there are some very cool songs that push the limits of the original hardware though, without adding chips.. Hooray for limitations!
Well, yes, sometimes limitations are helpful in art, but the main reason I don't dare to turn classical pieces to 8-bit is for the lack of channels. Sometimes 2 squares and a triangle just aren't enough.
I also recently discovered MOD2PSG2, and am not complaining when it comes to the (un)limitations of this adorable little chip tracker. It really forced me to think outside the box with it, which bolstered my appreciation for the good ol' NES 2A03. With the SN-whatever (forgot the actual model number, which I will have to look up again) chip for the Mark III, the limits are drowned out by the sheer sentimental value and feel, same thing with the 2A03. This is encouragement alone to support chip trackers. And also pushing the limits, of course.
MOD2PSG2 is so limited, i guess now it's a lot better than it was, but yeaaah. using noiseasbass is good fun.
Well, back on topic with this beta (sorry to cut you off like this, Rushjet1).
I've re-downloaded the newest beta version & tested out my previous attachment on this thread (test1.ftm, on page one).
I managed to export FDS tracks to NSF 100% correct, but when I do the same for VRC7, VRC7 channels 1 through 6 export with incorrect volume levels.
Even though I used patch 6 for all channels & different volume levels per channel, all VRC7 channels behave as though both the patch's volume & the tracked volume is all set to F.
Check out the attachment; both the FTM & the newly-exported NSF are there (I checked out the error using Nestopia's channel volume control).
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Technology: the one thing that's hated & cursed at by all engineers, technologists, scientists & technicians!
You are incredibly skilled at PSG tracking! Those songs are TIGHT! I loved the Boss music. The other songs were also well done as well, and all sounded like something I'd hear from a Gameboy game - except it's all PSG. Cool!
When I said (un)limitations, I meant that it is limited in technology but unlimited in ways to create art. What I just heard AND certain demos that came with MOD2PSG2 prove this point, and always seem to give me goose-pimples whenever I hear that kind of quality come out of a very limited chipset.
I have had my chip fix today, with its chippy goodness. ^________^
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You now process Dracula's Rib. Good luck processing it...
Just note: PSG is short for Programmable Sound Generator, it is not name of actual chip (well, it actually is, but of another chip). The name of the chip from Master System/Game Gear is SN76489 or DCSG. Nevertheless, it is not alter the fact that RushJet1 pushed it to the limit. However, as far as I remember, he did it in MML, not in the tracker.
I'd say, there are few steps of programming the music, from most low-level and thus difficult, to easiest:
- Assembly code
- MML and other scripts
- Trackers
- Other software with traditional music notation or mouse-driven GUI (modern sequencers)
Trackers allows to use some improvisation, you always can go in jam mode and test your ideas playing on the keyboard, and play already programmed parts easily, together with live play as well. With MML you have to know what exactly you going to program. You also have to always care about notes lengths, which you don't have at all with trackers.
And also pushing the limits, of course. 
) 