ProTracker 2.3A ReadMe, 2.0A effect and format docs, version table

The distribution texts of protracker 2.3A (1993) with the changelog back to 1.0, Lars Hamre's one-page effect list and MOD file-format description from 2.0A, and a later table of every ProTracker version and its makers.

Key claims#

• Distribution (ReadMe, 1993-01-01): Public Domain; the disk holds the program, the PROP module player, PT.TempoCalc.txt, playroutines for Seka/DevPac and for CIA timing, PT.FileFormat.txt, PT.Effects.txt, the online help and its text version, a config and update notes. "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO EDIT THE HELP-FILE!!!" — its first 1024 bytes are an index. Known bugs: files without M.K. at offset 1080 may crash ("There is really no proper way to check if a file is a module"); Startrekker modules; powerpacker sometimes crunches samples improperly.
• History: 1.0 (A) "Full of bugs"; 1.0B fixed the pattern loop, the finetune/glissando clash in E3, fade up/down gurus; 1.0C fixed tone portamento with finetune, removed the MIDI screen; 1.1A ran on Kickstart 2.0, added a keyboard buffer, "Vibrato depth changed to be compatible with NT2.0. Double all your depth numbers if you load old protracker songs", "Funk Repeat changed to Invert Loop", a quadrascope, a tempo gadget (default 125 BPM, CIA range 32–255, also set by F), IFF loops, Setup2 toggles (Override, NoSamples, BlankZero, Slow Mode for the A3000, DMA wait 300/900, tuning tone, CIA/VBlank), hex ST-disk numbers to ST-FF, a sample editor "like Audiomaster" with resample; 1.1B fixed arpeggio timing and IFF loops; 2.1A (Mushroom Studios): powerpacked files, save/load tracks and patterns, auto-insert effect macros, metronome accent, solo with the right mouse button; 2.2A: chord maker, position editor, multitasking on its own screen, MIDI in, save as executable, "9 new toggles"; 2.3A: mountlist, help-file and ESC fixes, the lock password explained. 2.3B (1995): "This AGA fix WORKS!!!" by "D." (Detron).
• 2.0A effect list (Hamre): 0–F and E0–EF as in the help file, with 8 and E8 "NOT USED", E5 finetune, E9 "retrig from note + x vblanks", EC/ED cut/delay in vblanks, F speed 00–1F / tempo 20–FF.
• MOD format (Hamre): 20-byte song name; 31 sample records of 30 bytes — 22-character name, length in words, finetune as a signed nibble (0…7, 8 = −8 … F = −1), volume $00–$40, repeat point and length in words; song length 1–128; a byte "set to 127, so that old trackers will search through all patterns … Noisetracker uses this byte for restart, but we don't"; 128 song positions of pattern numbers 0–63; M.K. at 1080 ("something Mahoney & Kaktus inserted when they increased the number of samples from 15 to 31"; Startrekker writes FLT4/FLT8); patterns of 1024 bytes, four bytes per note: sample number split over two nibbles, a 12-bit period and the effect; period table for tuning 0: C-1…B-1 = 856, 808, 762, 720, 678, 640, 604, 570, 538, 508, 480, 453; C-2…B-2 = 428 … 226; C-3…B-3 = 214 … 113; samples follow the patterns.
• Versions (Sky): 0.89 beta (May 1990, "release for Crusaders") and 1.0A (August 1990) by Amiga Freelancers — Lars "ZAP" Hamre, Anders Hamre, Sven Vahsen, Rune Johnsrud; 1.2 for Kickstart 2.0 (1991), 1.3A/B (1992); 2.0 (1991, based on 1.2, commercial); 2.1A (April 1992) – 2.3A (January 1993; "100 patterns") by Mushroom Studios / Noxious — Peter "Crayon" Henning and Anders "Dolphi" Ramsay; 2.3D (1994, AGA); 3.00–3.18 (1993) rewritten by Cryptoburners; 3.30–3.62 (1996–98) and 4.0 beta (1997) by Tom Beyer / Osiris; parallel branches by Raul Sobon (1.2C–F, two Amigas for 8 channels) and Bagittman.

Practical takeaways#

The MOD period table and the 31-sample/64-pattern/128-position limits are the format; NoiseTracker and ProTracker differ on the restart byte and on vibrato depth (double it for old songs); M!K! marks a 100-pattern module.

Notable quotes#

"Vibrato depth changed to be compatible with NT2.0. Double all your depth numbers if you load old protracker songs."

Pages touched#

protracker · mod-format · lars-hamre · peter-hanning · vibrato · detune · orderlist · recording-samples