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| Original author(s) | Olivier Lapicque |
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| Stable release | 1.17.02.54 / 2009-06-24 |
| Written in | C++ |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Platform | x86 |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Tracker |
| License | BSD (since OpenMPT 1.17.02.53) / GPL |
| Website | http://www.modplug.com/ |
ModPlug Tracker (also spelled MODPlug / Modplug Tracker) is an audio module tracker for Windows developed by Olivier Lapicque. ModPlug is considered to be one of the top five free music trackers.[1]
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History
ModPlug was initially developed as a plug-in (called Modplugin) for Internet browsers to allow users to listen to music modules (for example, IT, XM, S3M, and MOD) present in some websites. ModPlug Player and ModPlug Tracker later evolved from this plug-in. The tracker is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. Since version 1.17.02.53, OpenMPT is distributed under the BSD license. The ModPlug Player sourcecode is still closed as of August 2009.
Usage
ModPlug Tracker's main distinguishing feature is its native Windows user interface. Most trackers, even newer ones such as Renoise, have interfaces modelled after the older DOS trackers such as FastTracker II. Although many old-school musicians who use trackers prefer this kind of old fashioned GUI, newcomers have been attracted to ModPlug Tracker's alternative interface.
ModPlug Tracker makes use of features common to Microsoft Windows programs, such as context menus for effect selection, "tree" views for files, samples, and patterns, and drag-and-drop functionality throughout. It supports both loading and saving of IT (Impulse Tracker), XM (FastTracker Extended Module), MOD, S3M (Scream Tracker 3) and MPTM (its own file format) files, loads many sample file formats, and has some support for DLS banks and soundfonts.
In December 1999, Olivier Lapicque sent the module-playing parts of ModPlug's source code to Kenton Varda, under the GPL, to write a plugin for XMMS based on the code. The source code was later released to the public domain, and the mod-playing code was split off into a separate library, libmodplug, maintained as part of the ModPlug XMMS Plugin project. This project lay dormant from late 2003 until early 2006, when it was picked up again. As of December 2009, the last official project release dates to June 2009. Beta versions are released from time to time.
OpenMPT
Due to lack of time, Olivier Lapicque discontinued development of ModPlug Tracker itself, and in early 2004, he released the entire source code under an open license. Consequently, ModPlug Tracker (now known as OpenMPT) is now being developed actively by a group of trackers/programmers at SourceForge. The latest beta version is 1.17.02.54.
Introduction of the MPTM file format
ModPlug has been accused of significantly modifying the file formats it is able to save. For example, one can use stereo samples or add VST Plugins to XM and IT modules, which were not supported in the original trackers. For that reason, the MPTM module format has been created in 2007 [2]. However, the format is still in experimental stage and is expected to be changed in the future [3].
ModPlug Player
ModPlug Player is an accompanying module player developed by Olivier Lapicque in conjunction with the original ModPlug Tracker project. Features include a playlist editor, graphical equalizer, automatic gain control, bass expansion, reverb, mixing, and Dolby Surround Sound support. The player supports a variety of module music files in both native and compressed (ZIP / RAR / LHA) formats.[4]
See also
External links
- MODPlug Central : MODPlug Tracker, Player and Plugin homepage.
- MODPlug Tracker Project Site on SourceForge
- Original Modplug Website
- Modplug XMMS Plugin (using libmodplug)
- #modplug on EsperNet - discussion and support
References
- ^ "Top Trackers". Computer Music (Future Publishing Ltd) (113). June 2007.
- ^ MODPlug Central Forums
- ^ OpenMPT developer board
- ^ MODPlug Player Description
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