Talk:XM (file format)

Latest comment: 17 years ago by Snarius in topic Merge XM into page on Fast Tracker?

Merge XM into page on Fast Tracker?

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I am not sure. I guess it is reasonable to have a separate article for the XM format as not only Fast Tracker 2 uses this format for data exchange. Adam J. Sporka 17:02, 13 May 2007 (UTC)Reply

yeah, a separate article is reasonable. xm is the only format SoundTracker uses as well Even if the article is small it's most helpful here. --Snarius 17:43, 13 May 2007 (UTC)Reply

File Format information

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This is the text that came with FT2.08 and 2.09 explaining the XM format... I don't know if it's useful to add this to the article (and not sure how)


       The XM module format description for XM files version $0104.

       By Mr.H of Triton in 1994.

       - Be prepared! Are you sure you want to know? :-)

============================================================================


   ******************************
   *   The XM file structure:   *
   ******************************

   Offset Length Type

      0     17   (char) ID text: 'Extended module: '
     17     20   (char) Module name, padded with zeroes
     37      1   (char) $1a
     38     20   (char) Tracker name
     58      2   (word) Version number, hi-byte major and low-byte minor
                        The current format is version $0103

     60      4  (dword) Header size
     +4      2   (word) Song length (in patten order table)
     +6      2   (word) Restart position
     +8      2   (word) Number of channels (2,4,6,8,10,...,32)
    +10      2   (word) Number of patterns (max 256)
    +12      2   (word) Number of instruments (max 128)
    +14      2   (word) Flags: bit 0: 0 = Amiga frequency table (see below);
                                      1 = Linear frequency table
    +16      2   (word) Default tempo
    +18      2   (word) Default BPM
    +20    256   (byte) Pattern order table

                        Patterns:
                        ---------

      ?      4  (dword) Pattern header length
     +4      1   (byte) Packing type (always 0)
     +5      2   (word) Number of rows in pattern (1..256)
     +7      2   (word) Packed patterndata size

      ?      ?          Packed pattern data

                        Instruments:
                        ------------

      ?      4  (dword) Instrument size
     +4     22   (char) Instrument name
    +26      1   (byte) Instrument type (always 0)
    +27      2   (word) Number of samples in instrument

   If the number of samples > 0, then the this will follow:

   !     +29      4  (dword) Sample header size
   !     +33     96   (byte) Sample number for all notes
   !    +129     48   (byte) Points for volume envelope
   !    +177     48   (byte) Points for panning envelope
   !    +225      1   (byte) Number of volume points
   !    +226      1   (byte) Number of panning points
   !    +227      1   (byte) Volume sustain point
   !    +228      1   (byte) Volume loop start point
   !    +229      1   (byte) Volume loop end point
   !    +230      1   (byte) Panning sustain point
   !    +231      1   (byte) Panning loop start point
   !    +232      1   (byte) Panning loop end point
   !    +233      1   (byte) Volume type: bit 0: On; 1: Sustain; 2: Loop
   !    +234      1   (byte) Panning type: bit 0: On; 1: Sustain; 2: Loop
   !    +235      1   (byte) Vibrato type
   !    +236      1   (byte) Vibrato sweep
   !    +237      1   (byte) Vibrato depth
   !    +238      1   (byte) Vibrato rate
   !    +239      2   (word) Volume fadeout
   !    +241      2   (word) Reserved
   !
   !                         Sample headers:
   !                         ---------------
   !
   !       ?      4  (dword) Sample length
   !      +4      4  (dword) Sample loop start
   !      +8      4  (dword) Sample loop length
   !     +12      1   (byte) Volume
   !     +13      1   (byte) Finetune (signed byte -16..+15)
   !     +14      1   (byte) Type: Bit 0-1: 0 = No loop, 1 = Forward loop,
   !                                        2 = Ping-pong loop;
   !                                     4: 16-bit sampledata
   !     +15      1   (byte) Panning (0-255)
   !     +16      1   (byte) Relative note number (signed byte)
   !     +17      1   (byte) Reserved
   !     +18     22   (char) Sample name
   !
   !                         Sample data:
   !                         ------------
   !
   !       ?      ?          Sample data (signed): The samples are stored
   !                         as delta values. To convert to real data:
   !
   !                         old=0;
   !                         for i=1 to len
   !                            new=sample[i]+old;
   !                            sample[i]=new;
   !                            old=new;



   ***********************
   *   Pattern format:   *
   ***********************

   The patterns are stored as ordinary MOD patterns, except that each
   note is stored as 5 bytes:

      ?      1   (byte) Note (0-71, 0 = C-0)
     +1      1   (byte) Instrument (0-128)
     +2      1   (byte) Volume column byte (see below)
     +3      1   (byte) Effect type
     +4      1   (byte) Effect parameter

   A simle packing scheme is also adopted, so that the patterns not become
   TOO large: Since the MSB in the note value is never used, if is used for
   the compression. If the bit is set, then the other bits are interpreted
   as follows:

      bit 0 set: Note follows
          1 set: Instrument follows
          2 set: Volume column byte follows
          3 set: Effect type follows
          4 set: Guess what!

   It is very simple, but far from optimal. If you want a better,
   you can always repack the patterns in your loader.



   ******************************
   *   Volumes and envelopes:   *
   ******************************

   The volume formula:

   FinalVol=(FadeOutVol/65536)*(EnvelopeVol/64)*(GlobalVol/64)*(Vol/64)*Scale;

   The panning formula:

   FinalPan=Pan+(EnvelopePan-32)*(128-Abs(Pan-128))/32;

      Envelope:
      ---------

   The envelopes are processed once per frame, instead of every frame where
   no new notes are read. This is also true for the instrument vibrato and
   the fadeout. Since I am so lazy and the tracker is rather self-explaining
   I am not going to write any more for the moment.


   ********************************
   *   Periods and frequencies:   *
   ********************************

   PatternNote = 0..95 (0 = C-0, 95 = B-7)

   FineTune = -128..+127 (-128 = -1 halftone, +127 = +127/128 halftones)
   RelativeTone = -96..95 (0 => C-4 = C-4)

   RealNote = PatternNote + RelativeTone; (0..118, 0 = C-0, 118 = A#9)

      Linear frequence table:
      -----------------------

   Period = 10*12*16*4 - Note*16*4 - FineTune/2;
   Frequency = 8363*2^((6*12*16*4 - Period) / (12*16*4));

      Amiga frequence table:
      ----------------------

   Period = (PeriodTab[(Note MOD 12)*8 + FineTune/16]*(1-Frac(FineTune/16)) +
             PeriodTab[(Note MOD 12)*8 + FineTune/16]*(Frac(FineTune/16)))
            *16/2^(Note DIV 12);
      (The period is interpolated for finer finetune values)
   Frequency = 8363*1712/Period;

   PeriodTab = Array[0..12*8-1] of Word = (
      907,900,894,887,881,875,868,862,856,850,844,838,832,826,820,814,
      808,802,796,791,785,779,774,768,762,757,752,746,741,736,730,725,
      720,715,709,704,699,694,689,684,678,675,670,665,660,655,651,646,
      640,636,632,628,623,619,614,610,604,601,597,592,588,584,580,575,
      570,567,563,559,555,551,547,543,538,535,532,528,524,520,516,513,
      508,505,502,498,494,491,487,484,480,477,474,470,467,463,460,457);


   *************************
   *   Standard effects:   *
   *************************

      0      Appregio
      1  (*) Porta up
      2  (*) Porta down
      3  (*) Tone porta
      4  (*) Vibrato
      5  (*) Tone porta+Volume slide
      6  (*) Vibrato+Volume slide
      7  (*) Tremolo
      8      Set panning
      9      Sample offset
      A  (*) Volume slide
      B      Position jump
      C      Set volume
      D      Pattern break
      E1 (*) Fine porta up
      E2 (*) Fine porta down
      E3     Set gliss control
      E4     Set vibrato control
      E5     Set finetune
      E6     Set loop begin/loop
      E7     Set tremolo control
      E9     Retrig note
      EA (*) Fine volume slide up
      EB (*) Fine volume slide down
      EC     Note cut
      ED     Note delay
      EE     Pattern delay
      F      Set tempo/BPM
      G      Set global volume
      H  (*) Global volume slide
      K      Key off
      L      Set envelope position
      P  (*) Panning slide
      R  (*) Multi retrig note
      T      Tremor
      X1 (*) Extra fine porta up
      X2 (*) Extra fine porta down

      (*) = If the command byte is zero, the last nonzero byte for the
            command should be used.

   *********************************
   *   Effects in volume column:   *
   *********************************

   All effects in the volume column should work as the standard effects.
   The volume column is interpreted before the standard effects, so
   some standard effects may override volume column effects.

   Value      Meaning

      0       Do nothing
    $10-$50   Set volume Value-$10
      :          :        :
      :          :        :
    $60-$6f   Volume slide down
    $70-$7f   Volume slide up
    $80-$8f   Fine volume slide down
    $90-$9f   Fine volume slide up
    $a0-$af   Set vibrato speed
    $b0-$bf   Vibrato
    $c0-$cf   Set panning
    $d0-$df   Panning slide left
    $e0-$ef   Panning slide right
    $f0-$ff   Tone porta


============================================================================

   This should be just about everything (I hope?). You will probably need
   some information about the MOD format and maybe about S3M.

   Have fun!

             Fredrik Huss / Mr.H of Triton