A module is a kind of song stored electronically on a computer. It could be compared with a music-CD, and
music can be stored on a computer in the same way as on a CD. The problem
with CD-music is that it takes up alot of space, e.g. a five minute long
song with CD-quality sound would require about 50 MB (uncompressed). One
solution is to use low-quality sound, but if you cut down a song to 8-bit,
11kHz, mono, it will still be too big and the only thing you'll be hearing
is crackling noises. This is where the module-technology comes in.
In a module you simply save the instruments(also called samples)
you want to use in the song to disc, and tell them when and how you want it to be played. The real procedure is more complex than this, but you get the picture.
This makes it possible to make high-quality
songs on a normal computer(with a bit of experience, time and a good ear for music).
They won't have to be bigger than 1/2MB or so (this depends on how many
and how long samples you use), so it is perfectly possible to spread them
over the Internet or thru BBS:s. To be able to play modules you need a
special program called a player or a tracker. In a tracker you can also
compose your own music. This program reads the module and its samples and
converts it into music. There are many module-formats, .XM(FastTracker),
.MOD(ProTracker) and .S3M(ScreamTracker) to mention a few, and they are
generally not compatible. Most players can handle more than a single format
though.
Got that? Then lets get on with it then!
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