This article may lack focus or may be about more than one topic. Please help improve this article, possibly by splitting the article and/or by introducing a disambiguation page, or discuss this issue on the talk page.(September 2017)
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 which doesn't rely on filename extensions; instead, it reads a file's header to determine filetype. A MOD file contains a set of instruments in the form of samples, a number of patterns indicating how and when the samples are to be played, and a list of what patterns to play in what order.
The original version of the MOD format featured four channels of simultaneous audio playback, corresponding to the capabilities of the original Amiga chipset, and up to 15 instruments.
Later variations of the format have extended this to up to 32 channels and 31 instruments.
The format was designed to be directly playable on the Amiga without additional processing: for example, samples are stored in 8-bit PCM format ready to be played on the Amiga DACs, and pattern data is not packed. Playback required very little CPU time on an Amiga, and many games used MOD files for their background music.
A common misconception is that the magic number "M.K." in the 0x438 offset of MOD files are the initials of Mahoney and Kaktus, two prominent Amiga demomakers at the time, who played an important part in the popularity of the format. They in fact stand for the initials of Michael Kleps a.k.a. Unknown / DOC, another developer of the format.[4]
After the Amiga's production ceased, the MOD format has had continued popularity in the Demoscene and as background music for independent video games and Chiptunes. It is not uncommon to hear MOD music in keygens either.
Format overviewedit
A pattern is typically represented in a sequencer user interface as a table with one column per channel, thus having four columns – one for each Amiga hardware channel. Each column has 64 rows.
A cell in the table can cause one of several actions to happen on its column's channel when its row's time is reached:
Start an instrument playing a new note in this channel at a given volume, possibly with a special effect applied on it
Change the volume or special effect being applied to the current note
Change pattern flow; jump to a specific song or pattern position or loop inside a pattern
Do nothing; any existing note playing in this channel will continue to play
An instrument is a single sample along with an optional indication of which portion of the sample can be repeated to hold a sustained note.
Timingedit
In the original MOD file the minimum time frame was 0.02 seconds, or a "vertical blanking" (VSync) interval, because the original software used the VSync timing of the monitor running at 50 Hz (for PAL) or 60 Hz (for NTSC) for timing.
The rate at which pattern data is played is defined by a speed setting. Each row in the pattern data lasts one vertical blanking (or 0.02 seconds) times the current speed setting. The speed setting varied from 1 to 255. In later versions of the format, the vertical blanking was replaced with an adjustable time period staying in the range [0.01, 0.078] seconds. The old speed setting command was replaced with a new one that was used to change both the old speed setting and the new adjustable time period. Unfortunately, some of the old functionality was broken, because the new speed setting command had an identical code value to the old command. Values in the range [1, 31] were interpreted as the old speed settings, but other values were regarded as modifications to the adjustable time period. Hence, values in the range [32, 255] used in some old songs broke in new versions of the player.
Further information on the MOD format can be found at the alt.binaries.sounds.mods FAQ.[5]
Other formats that use the MOD extensionedit
MOD is the file extension for several other applications:
The video file format used on many digital camcorders, such as the JVC Everio, the Canon FS100 and the Panasonic D-Snap SD-card camcorders.
^Driscoll, Kevin & Diaz, Joshua (2009). "Endless loop: A brief history of chiptunes". Transformative Works and Cultures. no.2. doi:10.3983/twc.2009.0096. Retrieved 2011-02-13. Most importantly, Soundtracker provided an environment in which nonprogrammers could access the sophisticated music tools in their home computers without needing to learn a programming language.
^www.soundtracker.org same named later clone of Obarski's soundtracker
^Sweet, Michael (2014). Writing Interactive Music for Video Games. Addison-Wesley. pp. 272–273. ISBN978-0-321-96158-7.
^. Archived from the original on 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2014-07-02., by Michael Schwendt, 1997; distributed in the source of the xmp module player; published at io.debian.net
^"The alt.binaries.sounds.mods FAQ on the MOD format". Retrieved 2020-04-15.
Noisetracker/Soundtracker/Protracker Module Format - 3rd Revision
Noisetracker/Soundtracker/Protracker Module Format - 4th Revision
Music data index site
Modarchive
February 15, 2024
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For the video file format used on many digital camcorders see MOD video format For other uses see Mod This article may lack focus or may be about more than one topic Please help improve this article possibly by splitting the article and or by introducing a disambiguation page or discuss this issue on the talk page September 2017 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 which doesn t rely on filename extensions instead it reads a file s header to determine filetype A MOD file contains a set of instruments in the form of samples a number of patterns indicating how and when the samples are to be played and a list of what patterns to play in what order MODFilename extension modInternet media typeaudio mod audio x modMagic number4 bytes M K at offset 0x438Developed byKarsten Obi ObarskiInitial release1987Type of formatVideo musicExtended toXM Contents 1 History 2 Format overview 3 Timing 4 Other formats that use the MOD extension 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe first version of the format was created by Karsten Obarski for use in the Ultimate Soundtracker tracker software released for the Amiga computer in 1987 1 2 The format has since been supported by hundreds of playback programs and dozens of other trackers 3 The original version of the MOD format featured four channels of simultaneous audio playback corresponding to the capabilities of the original Amiga chipset and up to 15 instruments Later variations of the format have extended this to up to 32 channels and 31 instruments The format was designed to be directly playable on the Amiga without additional processing for example samples are stored in 8 bit PCM format ready to be played on the Amiga DACs and pattern data is not packed Playback required very little CPU time on an Amiga and many games used MOD files for their background music A common misconception is that the magic number M K in the 0x438 offset of MOD files are the initials of Mahoney and Kaktus two prominent Amiga demomakers at the time who played an important part in the popularity of the format They in fact stand for the initials of Michael Kleps a k a Unknown DOC another developer of the format 4 After the Amiga s production ceased the MOD format has had continued popularity in the Demoscene and as background music for independent video games and Chiptunes It is not uncommon to hear MOD music in keygens either Format overview editA pattern is typically represented in a sequencer user interface as a table with one column per channel thus having four columns one for each Amiga hardware channel Each column has 64 rows A cell in the table can cause one of several actions to happen on its column s channel when its row s time is reached Start an instrument playing a new note in this channel at a given volume possibly with a special effect applied on it Change the volume or special effect being applied to the current note Change pattern flow jump to a specific song or pattern position or loop inside a pattern Do nothing any existing note playing in this channel will continue to playAn instrument is a single sample along with an optional indication of which portion of the sample can be repeated to hold a sustained note Timing editIn the original MOD file the minimum time frame was 0 02 seconds or a vertical blanking VSync interval because the original software used the VSync timing of the monitor running at 50 Hz for PAL or 60 Hz for NTSC for timing The rate at which pattern data is played is defined by a speed setting Each row in the pattern data lasts one vertical blanking or 0 02 seconds times the current speed setting The speed setting varied from 1 to 255 In later versions of the format the vertical blanking was replaced with an adjustable time period staying in the range 0 01 0 078 seconds The old speed setting command was replaced with a new one that was used to change both the old speed setting and the new adjustable time period Unfortunately some of the old functionality was broken because the new speed setting command had an identical code value to the old command Values in the range 1 31 were interpreted as the old speed settings but other values were regarded as modifications to the adjustable time period Hence values in the range 32 255 used in some old songs broke in new versions of the player Further information on the MOD format can be found at the alt binaries sounds mods FAQ 5 Other formats that use the MOD extension editMOD is the file extension for several other applications The video file format used on many digital camcorders such as the JVC Everio the Canon FS100 and the Panasonic D Snap SD card camcorders Game modules in Neverwinter Nights AMPL model files Old phpBB modification templates Module files in Femap The extension for the binary variant of the Wavefront obj format The extension for some games using the Vassal game engine The extension for Fortran module files 6 The extension for legacy Visual Basic module files for versions before the release of Visual Basic NET The extension for Go module files used for package versioning Module for ABB Robotics IRC5 and S4 robot controllers Contains robotic motion programs written in the language RAPID Lanner WITNESS simulation software model files Paradox Development Studio uses a MOD format for user created modifications of their games DND adventure modules for Fantasy Grounds a virtual tabletop application GNU GRUB boot modules when found in boot See also edit nbsp Amiga portalModule file Tracker music software Mod disambiguation MOD and TOD video format List of Amiga music format players MIDIReferences edit Driscoll Kevin amp Diaz Joshua 2009 Endless loop A brief history of chiptunes Transformative Works and Cultures no 2 doi 10 3983 twc 2009 0096 Retrieved 2011 02 13 Most importantly Soundtracker provided an environment in which nonprogrammers could access the sophisticated music tools in their home computers without needing to learn a programming language www soundtracker org same named later clone of Obarski s soundtracker Sweet Michael 2014 Writing Interactive Music for Video Games Addison Wesley pp 272 273 ISBN 978 0 321 96158 7 Ultimate Soundtracker module format description Archived from the original on 2010 09 21 Retrieved 2014 07 02 by Michael Schwendt 1997 distributed in the source of the xmp module player published at io debian net The alt binaries sounds mods FAQ on the MOD format Retrieved 2020 04 15 Fortran Programs with Modules External links editNoisetracker Soundtracker Protracker Module Format 3rd Revision Noisetracker Soundtracker Protracker Module Format 4th Revision Music data index site Modarchive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MOD file format amp oldid 1111321169, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
