S3M (file format)
Encyclopedia
The S3M format is an advanced module
format, and is the successor to the STM format used by the original Scream Tracker
. Both formats are based on the original MOD
format used on the Commodore
Amiga
computer.
The S3M format has many differences compared to its predecessors.
The period table used by S3M is smaller than the one used by the MOD format (only 12 entries, compared to between 36 and 60 for the MOD variations) and uses larger values in order to be able to compute the extra-fine pitch slides. The playback routines, however, use relatively straightfoward formulas to get the final period values used in playback. The key formula for this takes into account the instrument's stored sample rate at middle C.
One feature of the S3M format which is seldom used, is the format's support for FM instruments. These were designed to be played back on sound cards that included an OPL2 or compatible FM synthesis chip. More recently, with the necessary CPU power available, it is possible to perform the same synthesis in software. One example of such software is the Adplug plugin for the Windows
audio player Winamp
.
Module file
Module files are a family of music file formats originating from the MOD file format on Amiga systems used in late 1980s...
format, and is the successor to the STM format used by the original Scream Tracker
Scream Tracker
Scream Tracker is a tracker . It was created by Psi of Finland's Future Crew It was coded in C and assembly language. The first popular version of Scream Tracker, version 2.2, was published in 1990...
. Both formats are based on the original MOD
MOD (file format)
MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
format used on the Commodore
Commodore International
Commodore is the commonly used name for Commodore Business Machines , the U.S.-based home computer manufacturer and electronics manufacturer headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which also housed Commodore's corporate parent company, Commodore International Limited...
Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
computer.
The S3M format has many differences compared to its predecessors.
- The format is a hybrid of digital playback and synthesized instruments. The official format specification document covers space for 16 digital channels and 14 synthesized ones with two unused slots out of a total of 32.
- Separate volume channel in pattern data.
- Supports more instruments than MOD or STM (99 instead of 31).
- Default panning of channels can be specified by the composer.
- Extra-fine pitch slides are added
- Instruments are not limited to a fixed sample rate for a given note. The format stores the instrument's sample rate at middle C.
The period table used by S3M is smaller than the one used by the MOD format (only 12 entries, compared to between 36 and 60 for the MOD variations) and uses larger values in order to be able to compute the extra-fine pitch slides. The playback routines, however, use relatively straightfoward formulas to get the final period values used in playback. The key formula for this takes into account the instrument's stored sample rate at middle C.
One feature of the S3M format which is seldom used, is the format's support for FM instruments. These were designed to be played back on sound cards that included an OPL2 or compatible FM synthesis chip. More recently, with the necessary CPU power available, it is possible to perform the same synthesis in software. One example of such software is the Adplug plugin for the Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
audio player Winamp
Winamp
Winamp is a media player for Windows-based PCs and Android devices, written by Nullsoft, now a subsidiary of AOL. It is proprietary freeware/shareware, multi-format, extensible with plug-ins and skins, and is noted for its graphical sound visualization, playlist, and media library features.Winamp...
.