I thought I would write a little about making .MOD files today.
First, if you follow me, you probably know I’m big into chiptunes. Making a four channel MOD is very similar to making chiptunes, your sound palate is somewhat limited, the available channels are limited, and both can be made with trackers - vertical sequencing environments rich with hexadecimal mindfuckery (they’re actually quite easy to use).
If I had to equate making 4 Channel MODs with another form of music, I’d definitely have to say it’s a LOT like making SID files (MODs = Amiga, SIDs = Commodore 64). Even though MOD files rely on sample-based instruments and SID files rely on the SID chips’ and their synthesizers, they’re both also very similar:
- MODs and SIDs both use 4 channels
- Unlike Gameboy or Nintendo chiptunes, MODs and SIDs both can use all 4 channels equallly (Gameboy’s DMG chip channels are [Pulsewave] [Pulsewave] [4-bit DPCM] [Noise], Nintendo’s 2A03 chip - [Pulsewave] [Pulsewave] [Trianglewave] [Noise] [6-bit DPCM])
- Because of this, composers can squeeze as much data in as possible - if the resolution of the drum track is in whole notes, you can put extra notes between the beats to give the illusion of 5 channels.
Another weird feature of MODs is that two channels are hard-panned left and two channels are hard-panned right. This is another “feature” that makes composition a lot more deliberate. You really have to distribute as evenly as you can - I’ve tried to keep one lead track on both sides and split the bass on one side and the drums on another for this particular track. It’s definitely a new concept for me, but it’s interesting.
MODs are also closely related to their younger brothers - XMs. They’re both tracker formats, but while MODs use 8bit samples, XMs use 16bit samples, and dont have many of the restrictions of MODs (more channels can be used, volume envelopes, more effects, longer samples, different loop types [Ping Pong!] in the samples, and a wider range of notes).
All that being said, MODs (like most restrictive formats) can be pretty frustrating to make, but they’re also a whole lot of fun. Go download Open ModPlug Tracker or MilkyTracker and start messing around!
