What is OptiMod?
****************
OptiMod is a utility to optimize NoiseTracker and ProTracker modules. All
modules must be in the 31 instruments fileformat and be a
ProTracker/NoiseTracker module. ie OptiMod won't accept any StarTrekker or 15
instruments SoundTracker modules. To use OptiMod on any of them please load
them into ProTracker (or some other Tracker) and save it again.
I began to program OptiMod when I saw that most modules were longer than they
would have to be. And the stupid fileformat of modules doesn't make it
shorter. Unused samples & patterns exists in almost all modules. OptiMod will
try to correct these faults. Some other authors have already tried to do this
but in another way: Azatoth of Phenomena with his ProPacker, but it changed
the whole format and deleted all instrument names etc. There exists some more
programs that do the same thing, The Player is one example.
OptiMod will keep all instruments names & not change the format. It will just
rearrange the patterns & delete unused samples & patterns.
OptiMod will keep the old format, but if you keep all your modules
compressed/packed I would strongly recommend the NewPM option. By using
OptiMod with the NewPM option the module will be saved into PowerMusic
moduleformat. When you crunch/archive them you'll gain about 10% more than
just crunching it.
YOU'LL SAVE ABOUT 40-50% WITH NEWPM OPTION + LhA (by Stefan Boberg)
But now with OptiMod you can optimize modules and they will sound EXACTLY the
same.
OptiMod has also the ability to check who has done the module. If you use the
Verbose (No option), Short or Name mode you'll see the authors name (if any).
OptiMod will search thru all sample names for strings.
Rearrange patterns to take less space.
======================================
For instance by using pattern 0,1,2 & 6. All patterns in the middle will be
saved (3,4 & 5) but unused and empty. This will gain 1024 bytes per deleted
pattern. OptiMod won't delete any used pattern. As long as it's in the
'SongPositions' it will be left. Duplicate patterns will be removed.
Delete unused samples.
======================
Every unused but existing sample will be deleted. Why should you keep them?
Cut away zeros in the end of Samples.
=====================================
If a instrument/sample ends with many zeros they will be cut away. This will
not affect how it sounds, if the zeros is in a loop they will not be deleted.
At least 2 zeros is always left to make the sound not 'click' at the end.
Sample data after a loop is deleted. Watch out if you're using the
command to start playing a sample at a certain offset.
Delete Garbage
==============
If the module contains garbage at the end of the module it will be cut away.
Some rippers save some bytes extra just in case. But OptiMod will cut them.
Please note that Garbage gain can be negative. If it is negative the module
wasn't correct at the start. OptiMod will add some zero bytes were it should
be. (Load it into ProTracker, and you'll see the same result)
NoiseTracker REPLEN
===================
Old NoiseTracker replen to be converted to ProTracker replen. This will
automaticly be done. This will make the module SOUND a lot BETTER. Fixes a
lot of problems.
Clear unused samples
====================
All empty or unused samples data it will reset and clear:
FineTune/Size/RepLen/RepPos/Volume but not SampleName.
If the module has used an nonexistant sample it will not sound BAD in some
badly written players.
SHAREWARE
*********
This program is SHAREWARE! If you use it you are urged to pay the shareware
fee! All users who pay the shareware fee will be inserted to the list of
registred users!
You're allowed to use this program for trial period no longer than two weeks,
if you find this program usable after that trial period you must register
yourself. Register yourself by sending 50 SEK or US$10 (1)(by international
money order/postal money order in SEK, look at Registration Form for more
info). As registred user you'll get the latest version of OptiMod If a new
version is under development I will wait until it's ready before sending the
programs. Please remember that a lot of time and money have been spent on
OptiMod and other QTech Tools. You SHOULD GET yourself REGISTRED now!
Continuing to use OptiMod without being registred is both illegal and
immoral!
Or send the money to Svenska Postgirot PG 9203446-1.
---------- Footnotes ----------
(1) Please compare the fee with shareware fee's for other prograns,
and you'll find that this is the cheapest & best software you'll ever
find.
Author Info
***********
Happy OptiMod-ing! Please send any bug report or enhancement request to:
Address: Joakim Ögren /Q-Tech
Snipgränd 69
S-90624 UMEÅ
Sweden
NetMail: 2:205/420 (Joakim Ogren) (No dots above the O)
History
*******
Changes for OptiMod
Version 0.1
===========
Started: 9206??
* The project started! Wasn't that a good change :-)
Version 1.0
===========
Released: 920704
* It could have been the first public release but I wanted to
Betatest it a while longer.
Version 2.01
============
Released: 921107
* First public release. No known BUGS!!! OptiMod has been Betatested
for a long period of time now.
Version 2.10
============
Released: 921116
* OptiMod will now optimize about 200-300 bytes more, this was
accomplished by cutting away 1 & -1 in samples also. This makes no
noticeable difference but some samplers seems to be a bit untuned
(eg no sound = -1 or 1 instead of 0).
* OptiMod is now even more foolproof.
Version 3.00
============
Released: 921213
* Added support for the new fileformat: PM-module. This is a
moduleformat which is to be used with PowerMusic when it comes.
Read Main doc.
Version 4.00
============
Released: 930129
* Harddisk crash destroyed my source, I had to restart all my work
from v2.99. *#&%
* Added option: SHORT2/S - New listmode.
* Added option: EFFECT/S - Show all effect commands.
* Added option: UNWANTED/S - Spot 'bugs' in a module.
* Added option: NOBUFF/S - No extra buffer. Read Doc!
* Added option: INSTR/S - Show all instruments.
* Great enhancement of the author find routine!
* Now deletes duplicate patterns.
* Deletes data after a sample loop.
* These options will allow you to gain a few more bytes.
* If a sample is empty or unused it will reset and clear:
FineTune/Size/RepLen/RepPos/Volume
Version 4.30
============
Released: 930616
* OptiMod seems to be 100.00 % safe now!
* Added option: NORESAVE/S - Don't save if no gain! (For floppy
users mostly, suggested by Kalle Kiviaho)
* Added Time estimation in Short2 mode. Estimates the time it will
take to play the module. (Not 100% perfect yet.)
* Added conversion for old NoiseTracker replen to be converted to
ProTracker replen. This will automaticly be done. This will make
the module SOUND a lot BETTER. Fixes a lot of problems.
* Enhanced the optimization routines, could save more bytes.
Version 4.40
============
Released: 930625
* New routines in v4.30 caused the modules to crash sometimes, I'm
very sorry for this! * NEVER USE V4.30 AGAIN!!!! *
Version 4.41
============
Released: 930627
* Optimized code, shorter executable.
* I'm not using MCAsm (assembler) anymore cause of all bugs! It
generates wrong code!
* Some 020+ commands (oops) removed to become 100% compatible with
000 processors.
Version 5.00
============
Released: 931215
* Been a while since last update! Sorry for the long delay!!!
* Just to be noticed: Over one & a half year since v1.0 :-)
* New faster PowerMusic decoding routines used, Thanks to Marcus
Ottosson for sending them to me!!!
* Instruments that are used without any note, ie in Chip-mods where
instruments often are used just to change the sound, they're not
'retrigged'. OptiMod will not optimize away those samples anymore.
* Routine that optimizes unused samples rewritten a bit (ie
rewritten alot :-). A nasty bug removed. Haven't occured for me
yet anyway, sample 16 could sometimes be optimized away.
* Nasty bug removed that caused OptiMod to crash if the module was
corrupted (instrument number>31) OptiMod will now repair those
modules.
* If the instrument names are corrupted they will not trash the
display when they are displayed with option INSTR.
* Removed some strange text ('x123x') from the verbose output, it
was printed at top of sample optimization. I must have used it for
some debugging?!
* Added option: REQ - For a small GUI. See REQ, for more info.
* OptiMod didn't seem to handle the situation if there was no output
window availble before, it just crashed. Not anymore.
* OptiMod can now be started from Workbench, it also includes a
beautiful icon. See Template, for more info.
* OptiMod can now handle multiple files to optimize. This will speed
up a lot of things, since OptiMod don't have to be loaded each
time.
* The DESTINATION option has change a little bit. In previous
version did it require a filename as argument. It will now instead
require a directory (due to the Multiple file handling).
DESTINATION is now a keyword. See DESTINATION, for more info.
* The documentation is almost completely rewritten. I hope this one
is better.
* Documenation is included as AmigaGuide-, Text- and DVI-file. Be
sure to use a textviewer that supports bold & italic. The DVI-file
is not 100% finished yet.. I'm sorry for that.
* It's now possible to pay the registration fee to the 'Svenska
Postgirot'. See SHAREWARE, for more info.
Version 5.10
============
Released: 940103
* MAJOR BUG: Most of the options that could be specified from Shell
didn't work!! Major mistake by me! THIS VERSION WILL WORK..
* Niklas Edmundsson found some strange spellingerrors in the
documents, as usual! Fixed!
* Happy New Year... Let this be a year with lots of new & great
software for the AMIGA!
Version 5.20
============
Released: 940316
* OptiMod no longer contains the annoying shareware requesters!!
This is why:
* The future of OptiMod is in YOUR hands! You should send me
the ShareWare-money if use it. I will NOT continue to
develope OptiMod for the public if I don't get any responce!!
Think about this!!
* Registred users won't get the special keyfile, but the will
be inserted into the list of registred users! Using OptiMod
without paying the ShareWare fee is both immoral & stupid!!
* Wanted: A nice MagicWB icon for OptiMod, does anyone feel like
drawing one?
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