. founded march 12, 1995 _| : _____ t r a x w e e k l y # 75 ______________ |___| _ _______/ /\___________________________ / ____________/ /\__\ _ _______/____/_____________________________ / / _________ \/__/ ______\ \_____________________________ / / / `_ . .~ \____\/ _ __ ___ / / / _____ . _ \ __ ___ _/__/\ / / / / /\ _ The Music Scene Newsletter __ __\__\/ _/__/ / ____/ /__\_________________________________ _____ ___ _ / /\/ /___ __________ _ ______ _ ___ \/ /\ / / /____/ \ \ / /\ / __/\ / /\ \ \ / \ /____/ / / \ / \/ /_ \___/___/ \ \_/___/ / \_/ / / \ ___\ / /_/ /______/\/ \ /______/\/ \ /_____/ // \ \ / / / \ / / \ \ \ \_\ \ \ \_\ \ //____/\____\/ / / / / / \______\/ \______\/ \_____\/ \ \ \ \ / / / / \____\/\____\ / / / / _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ / / / /__/ w /\___/ /\___/ e /\___/ /\__ / l /\___/ /\____/ / / __/____/____/____/____/____/____/____/____/____/____/____/________/ / __\ \____\ e \____\ \____\ k \ ___\ \____\ y \__________/ \____\/ \____\/ \____\/ \____\/ \____\/ \____\/WW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | TraxWeekly Issue #75 | Release date: 25 Oct. 1996 | Subscribers: 869 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- /-[Introduction]------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ Welcome to TraxWeekly #75. This week, we feature a very nice article on percussion tracking using Impulse Tracker from Zinc. And some group colums. Whatever. It's been a very slow week, and I'm sitting here studying for mid-terms. Joy. Enjoy this issue (if you can =)... Gene Wie (Psibelius) TraxWeekly Publishing gwie@csusm.edu /-[Contents]---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ ________ _________________________________________________________________ / ____/_/ __/ \ __/ / _____/ \ __/ __/ ___/_ < \____\ \ \\ \ \\____ __/ __/_\ \ \\____ \_____ \__ \ \ \ \\ \ \ww\ \\ \\ \ \ \ \ \_ _\________\________\\___\____\ \_____\\_______\\___\____\ \_____\_______\ General Articles 1. IT Percussion Tips............................Zinc 2. Snap, Crackle, and Pop........................Psibelius Group Columns 1. Explizit 2. Skyjump Team Closing Distribution Subscription/Contribution Information TraxWeekly Staff Sheet /-[General Articles]-------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ --[1. IT Percussion Tips]------------------------------------------[Zinc]]-- Tired of out-dated tracking tips? Well, in this issue I hope to give some advice using the new-ish Impulse Tracker. Everything mentioned in this article is referring to Impulse Tracker 2.06, but most of them will probably be useful with earlier versions, and even in other trackers. You may disagree with much of my advice. I will concentrate on percussion, but some tips will cover other instruments. I usually track various techno styles, so that will have an impact on my opinions here. Ready? Let's go! i. Panning! The difference between a mono tune and a stereo tune is huge. You have two ears, why not use them both? (so to speak :] ) Most likely you DO use panning, but there's always room for improvement. First of all, everybody knows that the kickdrum should go in the middle. (If you didn't know that, or don't agree, perhaps you should write some of this down!) Most other percussion needn't be right in the middle all of the time, though, and there are several ways to make your samples appear to be in stereo. By the way, A and B work great with many samples, not just percussion. Double up your channels, with each channel an equal distance from the desired panning position. Then: A) Use two samples sounding slightly different. If you don't already have two samples that are slightly different, you can always take a sample, edit it a little in Cool Edit (or whatever you use) and save it under another name. Play both samples at once. B) Use the same sample, but play one just SLIGHTLY after the first, using offsets or delays. C) Use the same sample, but with two different notes playing consecutively. Secondly, panning envelopes can come in very handy in giving the appearance of stereo sound. Many people make mistakes though. These are a few things you may want to take note of: A) If your instrument is panned to the 00 position, there's no point in making your envelope start, or go over to the upper side of the envelope. That would be trying to make the panning position less than 00, which won't actually do anything (correct me if I'm wrong here). The same is true with your envelope trying to go over 64. This is obviously just common sense. B) Panning evelopes for beatloops can be very useful when used properly. The first thing you should do is tune your beatloop (to match the BPM you want to use) to a C-5, and play it while on the panning envelope screen. Alter the length of the envelope so that your sample will end exactly at the end of the envelope. Now you can change your envelope so that it pans back and forth. When you do this, take note of where the kicks and snares are, so you don't accidentally put them in a completely illogical position in your envelope. A neat trick I came across was to take two slightly different loops, and make them cross each others paths, back and forth, with envelopes. This gives a nifty stereo effect. Don't overdo it though! One last thing on this topic. A properly tuned beatloop at C-5 will play twice as fast when you play a C-6. This is obvious, you can use it to your advantage when making a transition. (play part of a common beatloop at half-speed for half the time, for example) C) Don't forget about your ` feature in the pattern editing (in the volume columns). This can always be a saviour when you need to change a panning position AND add that vibrato effect. Your samples farthest from the center should always be at 00 or 64. Some people have speakers closer together, or far apart. Some people use headphones. You see, unless you are tracking strictly for personal use, you should track _as if_ your speakers are side by side; do not worry if the sound seems as if it's coming from too far on one side. This is all relative, of course, but my point is this: Separation default is 128. Anyone with speakers far apart, or with headphones on, can simply turn the separation down. I hope you understand what I'm talking about. ;) This applies to your entire song, not just percussion instruments! Finally, don't forget to take advantage of the neat extras Pulse has put in Impulse Tracker. Sure you might normally keep your hihat at 32 for the entire song, and would never bother changing every individual note to be slightly different, but with the Panning Swing, you can create a hardly noticable effect that will actually improve the sound. And.. USE PANNING DEFAULT!! You will probably change samples in a single channel several times, but you don't need to change the panning every time. For samples that are mainly at one position throughout, use the panning default. That's what it's for. ii. Tuning! I'll keep this one short and general. Instead of finding the correct NOTE to play your percussion samples at, change the C-5 speed to make it sound exactly how you want it, and only use that note (there are exceptions of course). This will simplify your tracking, and also allow you to achieve that perfect sound. Also, if you decide your sample is too low after you've tracked the whole song, you can easily change the speed without changing a note. iii. Volumes! With the same idea as the panning separation thing in mind, you should keep the sample volumes from 00 to 64 relative only to EACH OTHER, and change them relative to other instruments with the GLOBAL volume. This is also to make it easier to change once you discover the song's bass sounds way too loud on a different system - whatever. As far as percussion goes, volume envelopes aren't exceptionally useful, but volume swing comes in very handy :) Even if you've already changed your hi hat volumes to go 64 - 24 - 32 - 20, it will make the song less mechanical if you put in a small volume swing. iv. NNAs! I have a feeling I don't need to, and shouldn't, go into this ;) I will just comment that even though NNAs are very handy for many things, try to control yourself. Don't cram your instruments into one or two channels: spread them out. v. Pitch Envelopes! I've hardly seen any songs yet with pitch envelopes. They can be useful, but not usually with percussion. The odd effect can be created using the Dxx effect, if desired. That covers the basics of the technical aspects as far as percussion tracking goes in Impulse Tracker. I know that's slimming it down, but I didn't want to just release another vague tracking tips article. And if you remember just one thing from this article, remember this: Don't overdo it!* - zinc [Chill/Profound] rays@direct.ca * unless you happen to be basehead ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --[2. Snap, Crackle, and Pop]----------------------------------[Psibelius]-- Last week, Demonews 132 featured "Q: Who killed snap crackle and pop?" in its introduction. At the same time last week, TraxWeekly featured "A: The "cereal" killer." As a special test to see how many people actually read both DN and TW...well, I'm just hoping most of you just thought this was dumb and decided not to answer. =) The best four are listed below. First Place Tie - Zinc Congratulations to Zinc, who emailed me the correct answer two days after the TraxWeekly release. Unfortunately, since you are a member of TW, you have been disqualified. =) First Place Tie - Trixter Our good friend Trixter emailed Snowman with the correct answer, having only seen the Q: section in DemoNews. Congratulations! Darn, too bad you're a Hornet member, because you're disqualified too. =) Third Place - SirReal "Hey *PAL*! I do hope that 'cereal' is NOT a pun on my nickname erm?" thanks 8) ************************ Simon Chung ************************S * University Of Otago ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dunedin, New Zealand i * ---------------------------------------------------------- r * ----------------------- BSc Student----------------------- R * -----------> simon.chung@stonebow.otago.ac.nz <----------- e * ----------------> sdchung@sol.otago.ac.nz <--------------- a *************************************************************l Fourth Place - f0X > A: The "cereal" killer. > > If you got that last part, you win a prize. Email me. The "Hackers" movie, Emmanuel Goldstein, 2600's Editor? - Herman Fuchs ( aka *f0X ) x@wm.com.br - theEnd ( Musician ) demogroup A big hand for everyone who attempted an answer! That's your prize. Haha. Anyways, on to more important matters... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- /-[Group Columns]----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ --[3. Explizit]------------------------------------------------------------- .____. .....______________.____________________________________________| |__... :::::\__ _____ | ______ \ \______) \_____)_ _____/::: :::::::/ __>/\/ . __/| __/ / /__ \_____ \ \| |:::::: ::::::/ | / \ : \| \_____/ / \ \_ _____/ \ |:::::: :::::/ \__| \_ :::\ / / / | \ / |:::::: :::::\__________/::|______/____|:::\_______/_____/________/_____/___::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::[sYNOPTiC]::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: - E x p l i z i t - The SL Compo 3 has started! Entering in the compo is so simple. Compose yarself a kickass song, fill in the .MDZ file in this archive, AND RENAME IT TO THE TITLE OF YOUR SONG.MDZ, so if your song is called "Work" and the .S3M is called WORK.S3M, rename the .MDZ to WORK.MDZ. You can enter your song from October 17th till November 14. Your song can be any format you want, we don't care much. We don't want to force you into a specific tracker! Just use any tracker you like, this can be Scream/Fast/Impulse or just whatever you prefer personally. There is no max as for size is conserned. We actually don't care how big/bad/strange the song is, but remember that *YOU* need as many votes as you can to win! After November 14, it's time to vote, and you can vote from Nov 15 till Nov 30. We'll publish the results on December 1st! We don't have an on-line voting door yet, so if you can write RA utils, feel free to start. We'll count ALL votes and no vote will be double-counted. You may enter ONE SONG PER COMPOSER. If a certain composer enters more songs, the most recent will be for the compo. If you want, mention the participation in your file_id. We really would appreciate that. When you're done composing you can spread the song like you always do, eg use a mailnet, couriers, internet, I couldn't care less. You must however make sure someone uploads it to SL1210 BBS, numbers at the bottom. E-mailing the song to Ch:ilm is also okay. Everybody can con- tribute. Here are the dates again: OCT 17 - Start of the compo. NOV 14 - FINAL DAY Make sure your song IS UPLOADED on/before this day, or you CAN NOT participate. NOV 15 - Votingforms are public and you can vote online NOV 30 - Make sure you HAVE VOTED on/before this day, or your vote will be void. You can vote a second time, but only your MOST RECENT vote will count. DEC 1 - The big news will be announced! More information on our homepage. Prize: 1 cup of coffee. Ticket not included. :) Ch:ilm [Explizit] postmaster@explizit.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --[4. SkyJump Team]--------------------------------------------------------- ,g##g_ gg ,gg ~gg pg* ;ga gg pp [ggc ggp [ggggg, M#"4#@ #@ ,@#" 7#a ,#@ l#9 #@ BB [##@ ]##B [#44@#@ ]#L E# #@,@#" @@ #B l#9 #@ BB [#QB [#BB [# 7# ##ga, #@W#X \#y#@ l#9 #@ BB [#[#_QBBB [# _A# `@###g ###@@ Q#@ l#9 #@ BB [#]#C#@BB [#####@ __ "@#a ##"\#G ]#L __ l#9 #@ BB [# #N#CBB [#"""" I#a )#L #@ QB, ]#L ]#L [#? #@ W@ [# M##'BB [# `##ggMB #@ `#@ ]#L ##g@M Y#@g##@ [# f#B BB [# `@#B@" #@ Y#* ]#L `@#@" 9###" [# +#@ UB [# ggggggg pgggggg ,gg gggc ggp (TM) [###### BB####@ 6#@ [##@ ,##B #@ BB____, /#"#@ [#I# QBBB ------------------- #@ B#####9 W@ V#_ [#)#8#@BB | Since 1994 | #@ BB j#@g&#G [# #N#CBB ------------------- #@ BB &#####@ [# MB#^BB E-MAIL: #@ BBggggg #@ Y#, [# Q#B BB ssetti@inf.unitn.it #@ B#####D I#" `#@ [# l#@ BB Hello from D.J. Skyjump okay, some latest news to you straight from SkYjUMP tEAM (SJT) --------------------------[ New Tracks ]-------------------------- 22/10/96 Rime ......................... Ethnic-TripHop Filename: SKY_RIME.ZIP .. 308k ... by Riders --------------------------[ New Music Disk ]-------------------------- 20/10/96 FLYING DONKEYS - Music Disk......... Ambient Filename: SKY_FL13.ZIP ..1.4 MB.... by ApheX Filename: SKY_FL23.ZIP ..1.4 MB Filename: SKY_FL23.ZIP ..1.4 MB Total : 4.3 Mb ============================ FLYING DONKEYS ============================ by ApHEx ThE AmoEBa ProTEuS c 1996 produced by SKYJUMP TEAM ============================ Tracks: ^^^^^^^ 1. CLOUDS (497947) [an ambient-triphop tribute to the ORB] 2. DR ANDIUS PADUVANIS VS. HIS ALCHEMY (873332) [a trance shot from the Betulle Tribe] 3. BALLATA DEGLI ANNOIATI (3393423) [ambient rules!] 4. TEO IS FALLING DOWN (1030341) [kinda goa-trance dancey movement] 5. GET NEW (427824) [chillout song on a theme of FSOL: dedicated to all the psychodynamists of the world] 6. ASINI CHE VOLANO - Flying Donkeys (932763) [ dark-ambient track, dedicated to the unforgettable Charles Bukowski ] All tracks written by ApHEx ThE AmoeBa ProtEUs / SJT -------------------------------------------------- This "Mini" Album is dedicated to Charles Bukowski -------------------------------------------------- Grab it From our WWW Page : http://sdc.wtm.tudelft.nl/skyjump-team/ or from the ftp sites : sdc.wtm.tudelft.nl /pub/music/groups/SKYJUMP-TEAM ftp.cdrom.com /pub/incoming/music/.... Thanx For Your Attention .... See Ya Later D.J.. Skyjump (ssetti@inf.unitn.it) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- /-[Closing]----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ TraxWeekly is available via FTP from: ftp.cdrom.com /demos/incoming/info (new issues) ftp.cdrom.com /demos/info/traxw/ (back issues) To subscribe, send mail to: listserver@unseen.aztec.co.za and put in the message body: subscribe trax-weekly [name] (NOT address) To unsubscribe, mail same and: unsubscribe trax-weekly (in message body) Contributions for TraxWeekly must be formatted for *76* columns, must have a space preceding each line, and have some measure of journalistic value. Please avoid the use of high ascii characters, profanity, and subjects not proper for public discussion. Contributions should be mailed as plain ascii text or filemailed (MIME/UUE only) to: gwie@csusm.edu before 11:00pm PST (North America) every Thursday. TraxWeekly is released over the listserver and ftp.cdrom.com every Friday at 10:00am PST (North America). TraxWeekly does not discriminate based on age, gender, race, political preferences, religious preferences, or eliteness. The staff can be reached at the following: Editor: Psibelius (Gene Wie)..............gwie@csusm.edu Staff: Atlantic (Barry Freeman)..........atlantic@arcos.org Benjamin Krause...................orogork@cs.tu-berlin.de DennisC (Dennis Courtney).........dennisc@community.net Fred (Fred Fredricks).............fred@paracom.com Kal Zakath (John Townsend)........jtownsen@sescva.esc.edu Kleitus (Seth Katzman)............skatzman@global2000.net Mage (Glen Dwayne Warner).........gdwarner@cvn70b.vinson.navy.mil Mick Rippon.......................rip@hunterlink.net.au Trifixion.........................trifix@orion.polaristel.net Zinc (Justin Ray).................rays@direct.ca Reporter: IOR (Jesse Rothenberg)............jroth@csusm.edu Graphic Contributors: Cruel Creator . Stezotehic . Squidgalator2 . White Wizard TraxWeekly is a HORNET affiliation. Copyright (c)1995,1996 - TraxWeekly Publishing, All Rights Reserved. /-[END]--------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ :: ::: : . ..... ..............................:::.................:.... ::: : :::: : .::::. .:::::.:::. ..:::: :::: : :: :: ::: .:: :: :: WW:::: : ::. :: ::: .:: :: .:: :::: : :::.::. ::: .:: .:: .:::::... :: :::.. ... ..: ... ..:::::::::::::::: .:: .::::::: :::::::: ::::::.. ::: ::: ::: : until next week! =) .. ... .. ....... ............... .................:..... .. . :