Pattern editor

The pattern is where you place notes and effects to be played. A pattern is played line by line from top to bottom. The current step is highlighted, the row number is the column on the far left.

A pattern has four editable sections. From left to right, the “special” column, then each track of the three PSG channels: A, B and C. In stereo listening, channel A is played on the left, B in the middle and C on the right.

The first character indicates the option and the next two are the parameter value. The tempo in particular is defined here. The options are described here.

The three sound channels have the same columns which are:

• Note: several possibilities:
  • for example D-3 or F#4. The first two characters give the musical note, the third gives the octave. To enter a note, use the keyboard keys whose layout mimics that of a piano.
  • Smp to play a sample.
  • Res to mute the sound on the channel (Reset).
• Instrument/Sample number on two characters. This is the number as it is in the instrument/sample list.
• Volume: gives the maximum volume from 0 to &F (by default it is &F, i.e. no volume attenuation).
  • This maximum volume has no effect on hardware sounds.
  • For instruments, this maximum volume is memorized until the next change.
  • For samples, the volume behaves differently, details here.
• Effect: the first character indicates the effect, the next two are the parameter value. See the list of effects.

Note / Ins / Vol / FX / Param
C#4    7F    F      A   35
C#4    7F    -      A   35 => volume maximum is unchanged
D#4    --    F      A   35 => change note but continue instrument
---    --    F      A   35 => volume & effect but no note
C#4    7F    F      -   -- => note & volume at maximum
C#4    7F    -      -   -- => note alone (at current volume)
---    --    D      -   -- => only change maximum volume for current note or sample
---    --    -      A   35 => effect only
Res    --    -      -   -- => stop sound (note or sample), no volume or effect change
Res    --    C      -   -- => stop sound (note or sample), change maximum volume, no option change
Res    --    -      X   00 => stop sound & effects
Smp    03    -      -   -- => sample (at full volume)
Smp    03    4      -   -- => sample at specified volume (full or dimmed)

Voici une liste non-exhaustive des combinaisons invalides. List is not exhaustive:

Note / Ins / Vol / FX / Param
Smp    --    -      -   -- => ignored
---    7F    -      -   -- => ignored

No calculation is made on the samples to avoid consuming CPU time. However, two volume levels are possible for a sample: full or dimmed. The behavior is described below:

Volume column for samples works a bit differently than for instrument notes:
 Smp nn -  => full volume (when no volume is specified)
 Smp nn v  => full volume if v>=8; dimmed volume if v<8 (0 included)
 --- -- v  => full volume if v>=8; dimmed volume if v<8 (0 included)
 --- -- -  => no volume change

In case of simultaneous use of the following resources on several channels, the rightmost channel has priority (C>B>A):

• noise: the PSG has only one noise generator. Noise can be sent on multiple channels, but its frequency will be that of the rightmost channel
• hardware volume envelope: there is only one hardware volume envelope generator in the PSG. The envelope can be used by multiple channels, but its frequency and curve will be that of the rightmost channel
• SID: only one SID is generated. The SID will only be played on the rightmost channel that requests it, at the frequency requested by that channel
• sample: only one sample is played at a time. If several samples are started on the same pattern line, the one of the rightmost channel will be played. On the other hand, regardless of the channel, if a sample is played while another sample is in progress, it will stop it to be played instead.

Several functions are available to save time when writing your patterns. See the keyboard key table for how to use them.

The “skip” counter displayed above the pattern indicates how many lines the pattern advances for each entry. You can for example set it to 0 if you have a lot of modifications to make on the same line.

A clipboard is available to copy or cut then paste a complete pattern channel or line by line. You can cut or copy an entire channel and then paste its content line by line. The “clipboard” counter indicates the current index in the clipboard.

To copy or delete a complete pattern, you must use “Copy” or “Clear” from the main menu. You will need to know his number.

It is possible to insert or remove a step in only one channel or in a whole pattern line, all the data of the following lines are shifted. The lines pushed outside the pattern from the bottom are not lost, within the limit of 4 lines, a kind of pseudo-undo useful in the event of false manipulation!

When entering editor from menu:

In pattern editor: