Last edition at 04/08/2024

Terminology.
------------

Module is totality of patterns; position list determines its playing order.
Into a module all used samples and ornaments, note table number, song author
and title strings, file header and initial speed are included.

Position list is a list of patterns in playing order. Loop position is included
into this term also. Maximum length of position list is 256 positions.

Pattern is totality of lines with notes, commands and parameters. Line
structure is described further. At the other point of view, pattern is totality
of tracks (columns).

Pattern length is a number of lines in pattern.

Sample is base structure of Pro Tracker 3. It is totality of parameters,
which fully determines note sounding (amplitude, noise, envelope and frequency)
in the time.

Ornament is simple sample, which determines only note frequency in the time.
Differ from sample, ornament adjust frequency in halftones. In most cases,
ornaments are used to simulate accords.

Note table (tone table) is a list of values, which are loading into tone
registers of AY-3-8910/12 (or YM2149F, further AY) for each note. The table
determines frequency of each note of Pro Tracker 3. Number of notes is 96 (from
C-1 to B-8). There are four note tables in Pro Tracker 3 (numbers from 0 to 3).

File header is string are identifying the module. For the moment two header
types are known: 'ProTracker 3.x compilation of ', where x is subversion number,
and 'Vortex Tracker II 1.0 module: '. Vortex Tracker II uses the header during
loading module to detect 3xxx command style.

Loop position is a position list item, from which playing is restarted after
replaying of all positions in the list.

Speed (tempo) is number of interrupts per one line of pattern. On ZX Spectrum
interrupt frequency is about 50 Hz.

Pattern.
--------

At the picture you can see schematic structure of pattern's line.


          00|....|..|--- .... ....|--- .... ....|--- .... ....

          11 2222 33 444 5555 6666 444 5555 6666 444 5555 6666
                       Channel A     Channel B     Channel C

Point means the zero digit (0). Vertical lines separate track columns.

'11' track is used for lines numeration, so the track is not editable. The
track width is 3 characters in decimal display mode, and 2 in hexadecimal one.

'2222' track determines envelope frequency. Hexadecimal value is for writing
into R11R12 AY registers (only if corresponding command is present in position
'5555'). When used with a cyclic envelope type (8, A, C and E), it can be
displayed as a note for periods from 0001 to 00FF (Envelope as note mode, the
display range is from C-0 to B-8).

'33' track determines noise offset (hexadecimal number from 0 to 1F or decimal
from 0 to 31 depending of editor options). The number is addition to
corresponding value of playing sample, result is stored in R6 AY register.

Other three tracks are identical between each other. Each of them manages sound
in corresponding AY channel (A, B or C).

'444' cell is for storing note. Note has next structure:

  C-1 or C#2
  123    123

1 - Latin note name (in this case it is DO).
2 - can hold diesis (#), in other case there is minus (-).
3 - octave number. There are eight octaves from 1 to 8. Octave 1 is
contraoctave.

Three minuses (---) means note absence in the cell, in this case '444' cell not
affects to the sounding in channel.

'444' cell can hold sound off command in the channel (R--).

'5555' cells has next structure:

  QF1E

'Q' is a sample number. Value is used only if note or sound off command is
placed in the '444' cell. There are 31 samples, numeration begin from 1. There
is used numeration system with 32 digits (0-9,A-V). Zero value (.) means sample
absence, in this case would be used previously defined sample number. PT3 format
allows to use 'zero sample'. It can be used in future versions as sample number
W.

'F' is a place for envelope commands. If there is number from 1 to E, then it
is value of R13 AY register, simultaneously into R11R12 registers are storing
value of track '2222'. F value is used for disabling envelopes. 0 value means
command absence. For command working presence of note in '444' cell is not
required.

'1' is ornament number (from 0 to F). Ornament #0 works only if previous cell
(envelope) has a non-zero value (i.e. envelope type or envelope off). Ornaments
from #1 to #F can be set independently from previouse cell (new standard in
PT 3.69). For command working presence of note in '444' cell is not required.
So, you can use envelope and ornament simultaneously, but remember that ornament
works only with tone generators. For command working presence of note in '444'
cell is not required.

'E' is channel volume. Values from 1 to F determine volume, and 0 for using
previously determined volume. For command working presence of note in '444'
cell is not required.

'6666' cells are for storing special commands.

   11.1
   NDPp

'N' is command number, in this case 1. 0 (.) means command absence.

'D' for some commands determines 'Delay' parameter (period of command working).

'Pp' is command parameter  (for some commands it is two parameters are 'P' and
'p').

Special commands.
-----------------

Pro Tracker 3 allows to use only one additional command per line of channel
track. But PT3 format allows use any number of commands, and it can be used
in future versions of Vortex Tracker II.

Command number 1.

Sound frequency decreasing in the channel. 'Delay' parameter determines period
(in interrupts) of frequency updates, and 'Pp' parameter determines value of
each update (in AY tone register's units).

Command number 2.

Sound frequency increasing in the channel. Works like command 1.

Other names of 1 and 2 commands are 'tone gliss' and 'tone slide' and so on
(glissando, glissade).

PT 3.7 standard allows 1 and 2 special commands with Delay=0. In this case
only single tone frequency changing by 'Pp'-value down or up is occured instead
of glissando.

Command number 3.

Other name of 3 command is 'tone portamento'. It is sliding from previous note
frequency to frequency of note, which is set in current line. You can do easy
transition from one note to another. This is main meaning of command, all other
its features are not documented. Standard ZX Spectrum compiled modules player
(of PT3.5x and older) has error, which can be found, if you are trying to do
sliding between notes in different patterns. Anyway, any Pro Tracker 3 editor,
Vortex Tracker II, new VT II ZX Spectrum player and Ay_Emul handle this
situation rightly. Also, PT3.6x players has errors in portamento playing too,
so, use only VT II ZX PT3-player. Command parameters are identical to commands
1 and 2.

Vortex Tracker II and Pro Tracker 3.6 and higher allow to use another 3xxx
command interpretation for situations like

          D-5 1F.F ....
          --- .... 11.1
          D-5 .... 31.1

Additionally, Vortex Tracker II and all its players allows to do things like

          D-5 1F.F ....
          --- .... 11.1
          --- .... 31.1

Try to hear differences in editor to understand idea. New 3xxx interpretation
is not compatible with PT 3.5 and older, they will play it as usually. Pro
Tracker 3.6x of Alone Coder partially supports new 3xxx style.

All three tone sliding commands can be stopped by command like '1...'; also
sliding can be stopped by setting note or sound off command (R--). All tone
sliding commands stop the command 6 work (if it was before).

Command number 4.

Starts sample playing from position 'Pp'. During note setting, sample starts
playing from zero position (i.e. from its begin). Command 4 allows to start
sample playing from any place.

Command number 5.

Works like command 4, but for ornament.

Command number 6.

Periodical sound off/on in channel. 'P' parameter defines number of interrupts,
during which sound is on (from 1 to F), and 'p' parameter defines number of
interrupts, during which sound is off (from 1 to F). Command 6 stops any tone
sliding (if it was before). If 'P' parameter is zero, than command 6 has no any
effect, though can be used as tone sliding terminator (commands 1-3). And if 'p'
parameter is zero, then command simply turn off sound after 'P' interrupts.

Command number 9.

Envelope frequency decreasing (slide). Parameters are identical to command 1.

Command number A.

Envelope frequency increasing (slide). Parameters are identical to command 2.

'Pp' parameter of 9 and A commands is defined in envelope period units of AY.
To stop envelope sliding use command like '9...' or set new envelope command in
any channel.

Command number B.

Set playing speed ('Pp' parameter). Of course, you can set any speed, but if
you want to play your module on ZX Spectrum by standard PT 3.5 player, then use
only 3-FF range (standard PT player of version 3.5 and lower can't play faster
than speed 3). New players (3.6 and higher) from Alone Coder allow speed 2. In
any editors, in VT II ZX and Atari ST players and in Ay_Emul you can use any
tempo at range 1-FF.

Sample.
-------

Sample defines note sounding in time. Like patterns, sample is totality of
lines with parameters. Lines are played on interrupt frequency (about 50 Hz).
Maximal length of sample is 64 lines. Sample is always looped in PT3. In the
Vortex Tracker II line numeration is made in hexadecimal notation for using
without conversion as parameter of special command 4 (sample offset). Lets see
one line of sample:

             Sample line structure

            1F|tne +000_ +00(00)_ F_ ***************

            11 234 56667 899 AA B CD EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Column '11' is used for lines numeration. Use this number as parameter of
special command 4 (if you need).

Column '2' contains tone mask. 'T' means, that tone sound is allowed, and 't'
means, that tone sound is not allowed in this line.

Column '3' contains noise mask. 'N' means, that noise sound is allowed, and 'n'
means, that noise sound is not allowed in this line.

Column '4' contains envelope mask. 'E' means, that envelope sound is allowed,
and 'e' means, that envelope sound is not allowed in this line.

Column '5' contains sign of tone deviation from its base value.

Column '666' contains value of tone deviation in hexadecimal form. So, range
of tone deviation from its base value is -FFF..+FFF. It's enough, because tone
registers are 12-bit size in AY.

Column '7' contains marker of accumulation of tone deviation. '^' means, that
accumulation is on, and '_' means, that accumulation is off.

Fields '56667' are structure for managing tone deviation. There base tone value
is defined by note setting in pattern in one of channel (corresponding value
from note table). If accumulation is off, sample not changes base, though value
of "base tone value + deviation from sample (field '5666')" is written to AY
tone registers. If accumulation is on ('^' in column '7'), base value is changed
by '5666' units. Base changing is equal to accumulation of deviations. For
example, let's see, how values of '56667' fields are used in tone period
calculation for C-4 note (in note table #2 it is 1A2):

56667 Base Tone     Comment
           register
           value
+000_ 1A2  1A2      
+001_ 1A2  1A3      Base is not changed, but frequency is another
+000_ 1A2  1A2      Back to C-4 note frequency
+002^ 1A4  1A4      Frequency and base both are changed
+002^ 1A6  1A6
-004_ 1A6  1A2      Frequency back to C-4, but base is still offset
-004^ 1A2  1A2      Back base and frequency to initial C-4 note

As you can see, with tone accumulation you can do sliding of tone, with using
right looping. For example, if you'll loop next line:

00|Tne +100^ +00(00)_ F- ***************

than you can hear something like drum (only one sample line!).

In the the displaying tone shift as a note mode, the field '5666' displays the
resulting note calculated relative to the base one (set in the sample test
line). If the result of adding the base note tone period and the tone shift in
the sample line, taking into account all previous accumulations, exactly matches
any note, then the symbol '=' is displayed in front of it. If the frequency is
lower or higher (no more than a quarter tone), then the signs '<' or '>' are
displayed. This display mode may be convenient if you want to write some short
melody directly in the sample, but keep in mind that the frequencies of such
notes will inevitably float when changing the base note or the note table.

Column '8' contains noise/envelope deviation sign.

Column '99' contains hexadecimal noise/envelope frequency deviation from base
value.

Column 'AA' contains absolute (without sign) view of '99' column value.

Column 'B' contains mark of noise/envelope accumulation of deviation (like
tone).

Fields '899 AA B' are structure for managing deviation of noise/envelope
frequency from base value. It manage noise if noise mask is on ('N'), and
envelope in all other cases (even if envelope mask is off). It works like tone
managing. Range of deviation is -10..+0F. For noise it's enough, but not for
envelope. If you need more deviation for envelope, you can use simultaneously
several samples in different channels (all deviations of envelope are summed).
Sometime for managing noise you need absolute value of noise register. In this
case in 'AA' field you can see and edit absolute representation of '99' field
(5-bit value 00..1F).

Unfortunately, envelope frequency accumulation in Pro Tracker 3 realized in byte
value, so maximal envelope deviation cannot exceed -128..+127 bounds. It means,
that you can't do complete analog of 9 and A special commands in sample.

Field 'C' contains absolute amplitude value for this sample line.

Field 'D' can contain signs of increasing sample volume by one ('+'),
decreasing sample volume by one ('-'), or sign '_', which means "leave sample
volume without changes".

Field 'E' contains graphical representation of 'C' field (number of '*' is equal
to value of 'C' field).

Value of 'C' field is goes to AY amplitude register after addition with sample
volume. Current sample volume is relative and equal to +0 after sample starts
work. Commands in 'D' field can increase or decrease sample volume. So, -15
sample volume totally deaden sound of tone, and +15 set amplitude to maximum
for any 'C' field value. If you'll loop next line, sound will quiet after 14
interrupts (like staccato):

00|Tne +000_ +00(00)_ F- ***************

moreover first amplitude on AY will be 14, and not 15, because sample volume
decreasing starts at first line of sample (be attentively).

If you'll loop next line, sound will be increased after 14 interrupts. At the
same cause, increasing starts from 1, not from 0:

00|Tne +000_ +00(00)_ 0+

For smoother quieting, loop several lines instead of one. For example:

00|Tne +000_ +00(00)_ F_ ***************
01|Tne +000_ +00(00)_ F_ ***************
02|Tne +000_ +00(00)_ F_ ***************
03|Tne +000_ +00(00)_ F- ***************

will be quieting four times slower than first example.

Looped part of sample is marked with background color in Vortex Tracker II. All
after looped part is not sample, so you must not use offset in special command 4
(sample offset) after sample end.

Ornament.
---------

Ornament is sequence of signed integer numbers; each number determines deviation
of note frequency from base in semitones. As sample, ornament is played on
interrupt frequency.

In the displaying ornament ticks as notes mode, you can clearly see which notes
will be obtained in each tick when applying this ornament to the base note (set
in the ornament test line).

New standard is defined in Pro Tracker 3.6x and supported in Vortex Tracker II
now: if result note is less than C-1 after adding ornament negative value to
track note, then it become to C-1. So, you can use big negative value in
ornament to make C-1 note from any given one (for example, -96). You can use it
in corresponding sample to do note-independent drum. To understand idea, see
SNA+.pt3 module.

Ornament is only one method to organize logarithmical tone sliding, but with
very big step (semitone).

Typically, ornaments are used for accords imitation, though its main meaning
corresponds to its name (music term).

As in sample, you must not use offset in special command 5 (ornament offset)
after looped part of ornament.

Note tables.
------------

Pro Tracker 3 formally has four tone tables (from 0 to 3), but taking into
account changes from version to version, as many as 7 variants are typed. Almost
all of them are made incorrectly (does not correspond to the ideal scale of
1750000 and 1773400).

More or less correctly made table #1 (SoundTracker), traditional for ZX
Spectrum: it is suitable for importing almost all existing music editors on ZX.
It is shifted almost exactly one tone down compared to the ideal scale for
1773400 Hz. In addition, the 24th note is out of tune (in the editor it is
designated as B-2, because of the shift in one tone it should sound like A-2).
But this is the only table that fits 1773400 Hz (original ZX Spectrum 128),
unfortunately.

Table #2 is used for xUSSR AY frequency standard (is idealy closed to 1750000 Hz
scale).

It is not recommended to use tables #0 and #3.

Tables of different Pro Tracker 3 subversions are not identical (the most
different ones are tables #2). Table #1 is unique one, it is same in all Pro
Tracker 3 subversions. You can see also file ToneTables.csv in Excel.

This text author.
-----------------

All comments and wishes send to Sergey Bulba at address svbulba@gmail.com

(c)2002-2024 S.V.Bulba
