Arkos Tracker 3 - Beta !

[Targhan]

It is with great pleasure that I announce the first public release of Arkos Tracker 3! It is a 100% redesigned, recoded version of Arkos Tracker.

Don't worry though:

• Compatibility with the previous versions of AT is ensured.
• The players are unchanged, minus a few bugs (AKY users should re-encode their files though).

A few features:

• Open source.
• A completely new instrument editor.
• Simplified pattern management.
• Undo/redo everywhere.
• Theme-able.

A new temporary website is up and running. Please bear in mind that it has yet to be completed, but many pages and one tutorial already exist.
Please read the first news for more information. This website will replace the current one at some point, and AT2 is considered discontinued.

I hope you will enjoy this new release, as a lot of work has been done to make it happen. Don't forget that it is still beta, so bugs may happen. Don't hesitate to contact me for any problems, or feature request. You can use this forum, or the AT3's forum, or my email in the Contact page of the website.

See ya!

[Prodatron]

Waaahh these are fantastic news, I was waiting for this since eastern!
Let me try this!

[norecess464]

That's awesome. Music creators are really fortunate, the user interface seems to be very clean and well thought.

[reidrac]

And Disark is open source!

Thank you @Targhan <3

[Prodatron]

Today I got the AKG player working on the Enterprise 64/128, using the AY emulation for the Dave written by Istvan and Geco. It's pretty fascinating how well Dave can emulate the AY.

If you are interested in adding it to the official player, just tell me.

I also added an Amstrad PCW driver using the dk'tronics AY/Joystik interface, this was of course much easier.

[GUNHED]

Congratulation! 

[Targhan]

Today I got the AKG player working on the Enterprise 64/128, using the AY emulation for the Dave written by Istvan and Geco. It's pretty fascinating how well Dave can emulate the AY.

If you are interested in adding it to the official player, just tell me.

I also added an Amstrad PCW driver using the dk'tronics AY/Joystik interface, this was of course much easier.

I am! I guess it's "only" the OUTs performed to change, just like for MSX/Spectrum and so on?

Would there be the same for Amstrad PCW?

I guess all this could be added the other players as well.

[Prodatron]

I am! I guess it's "only" the OUTs performed to change, just like for MSX/Spectrum and so on?

Unfortunately not, the sound registers of the Dave look partially similiar to the AY, but there are differences:
http://ep.homeserver.hu/Dokumentacio/Konyvek/EXOS_2.1_technikal_information/hardware/Dave.html

There is a SymAmp plugin written by Istvan and @Geco which makes it possible to play all PSG-based music on the Enterprise in SymbOS:
https://github.com/Prodatron/symsys-sounddaemon/blob/main/App-SymAmp-EP.asm

Now I am using it for the SoundDaemon as well and just replaced the SENDPSGREGISTERS routines in the CPC version of your music and effect players:
https://github.com/Prodatron/symsys-sounddaemon/blob/main/Dmn-Sound-PlayerEPR0.asm
https://github.com/Prodatron/symsys-sounddaemon/blob/main/Dmn-Sound-PlayerEPRfx0.asm

(the full repository is here: https://github.com/Prodatron/symsys-sounddaemon )

I just did it in the most simple way and didn't try any optimization like using the "ayRegisterWriteAllD" of the plugin yet, but will test this later and compare the CPU usage.

Would there be the same for Amstrad PCW?

Yes, the PCW is like the MSX, easy and fast, there is one 8bit OUT for the register selection, and one 8bit OUT for writing the value (and another port for reading it).

I guess all this could be added the other players as well.

That would be great!
The PCW scene isn't very active, but this player variant is really easy to add.
The Enterprise scene is still very active, and of course the music won't always sound exactly like on the AY, but I think it's still good to support it.

[Targhan]

Ok thanks! I'll had this to my TODO list. We can discuss it by the end of the month, since I guess you're going to France, ahah .

[Prodatron]

since I guess you're going to France, ahah .

Yes, I am looking forward to all the great french cheese and wine!

[XeNoMoRPH]

[Targhan]

A new version (3.2.2) has been released! It includes a few bug fixes, and many improvements in the user interface, especially in the Instrument Editor. The tutorials on the website will be updated in the following week(s) to apply these changes, but they can still be fully understood without.

Linux users also have a better packaged-app, and Intel-Mac users will now have a working build.

Enjoy!

[Targhan]

Do you think a Discord server would be useful to discuss Arkos Tracker in a more efficient way than the forum on the website? I think it does. Please "like" this post it you think, or develop any further . Or another medium (Telegramm?)?

[Targhan]

Well, thanks to @Devlin, a section in the Amstrad CPC Community Discord has been opened especially for Arkos Tracker! Don't hesitate to pass by to ask questions, ask for help, etc.

[Targhan]

As a tutorial, I've converted Lop Ears by Andy Severn using AT3. I hope you will like it .

[Targhan]

... and one other small treat before Christmas (... and new year's eve, to be honest): V3.2.3 is here, with a few bug-fixes, tweakings, and one "re-arrange patterns" option many requested. Don't thank me, thank you-know-who.