DefleMask Tutorial 2 - Instrument Types

Now for the final part of the tutorial, where the most important aspect of songwriting is discussed, as well as all of its different forms.
FM Docs Sources
FM by Inside Synthesis:
• Video
FM Synthesis - Synthesizer Academy:
synthesizeracad...
Sega Genesis Technical Manual - Sound Section:
www.smspower.or...
The BGM was made by various users of DefleMask I know from the forum. Here are some of their channels:
/ mcqueen8601
/ @michirin9801
/ littlelamp100

[@Delta225]

Whenever I use samples, they're always really quiet compared to the FM instruments. Is there a trick to get them louder, or should I just make the FM instruments quieter?

[@spoonybard13]

There are volume values to set for the samples, but I usually just make the FM instruments quieter.

[@Delta225]

@@spoonybard13 alright, thank you! :)

[@maria_remedios]

thank you for making these, man!

[@nicolesproducerpack]

Cool.

[@LegendosaurVA]

Hello! Sorry for commenting on such an old video, but I haven't found out how to get two samples to play simultaneously and I'd really like to know how. Like a snare sample and a hi-hat sample, for instance.

[@LegendosaurVA]

Is that a thing where I need to create a percussive sounding instrument that isn't a sample because there's only one channel for samples?

[@spoonybard13]

@@LegendosaurVA If there's only one sample channel, like on the Genesis, then there are a couple ways you could go about that. 1. Snare on the sample channel, with FM or PSG Hi-hats (or vice-versa) 2. Use a sample with both a hihat and snare sound in it

[@LegendosaurVA]

@@spoonybard13 Thank you! I ended up going into the instrument options to try and replicate a hi hat kind of sound, and I'm getting really close!

[@TempoQuill]

Question. What effect controls the sample bank on DefleMask when on the Arcade Board?

[@spoonybard13]

The effect EBxx controls the sample bank.

[@TempoQuill]

Ok. Thanks.

[@spoonybard13]

Also, sorry if you saw my pre-edit reply, where I said that the arcade PCM channels don't have to be activated with 17xx like the Genesis. It's late and I'm a bit dopey, so I should probably call it a night.

[@TempoQuill]

Okay.

[@allen_graphics]

Q: Can u import a midi file into deflemask? I have some project and maybe trying to import the midi into this software

[@spoonybard13]

You can't import MIDI files into DefleMask, but you can use a MIDI keyboard on DefleMask.

[@neroangelo1464]

When I try to record a piece of music the program only allows one key to be pressed but when I'm not recording I can play 3-4 notes at the same time. How can I fix this?

[@spoonybard13]

+Dionysus With the way music trackers like this work, you can only have one note at a time per channel, unlike MIDI softwares, which allow for mutliple notes per channel. I don't know why you can play multiple notes when not recording, but my best bet is that it lets you hear what chords can sound like. At least, that the reason I turn recording mode off.

[@neroangelo1464]

The Spoony Bard Ok, thank you very much.

[@knightrohan1]

You mentioned that one can have an output of their tracks as a vgm file. Me and some forum-dwellers have the question if or if not one can somehow convert ones songs into mp3-files or even WAV. Whachu think?

[@spoonybard13]

+TQA_kinGQuakerII It exports WAVs

[@xCriticalStrikex]

An entire video of technical jargon that teaches very little, unfortunately. I really want to get into this program but it seems absolutely horrid, I've been using LSDJ for years now but deflemask just confuses me, it comes across as unintuitive.

[@carolyne803]

If you're used to FamiTracker, Deflemask is certainly a step up but not impossible. If you're confused by creating your own instruments, you can upload them until you learn to do so. LSDJ seems similar to Famitracker, so I'd suggest trying FamiTracker first if you'd ever like to move to Deflemask (and then you can move on to ModPlug/OpenMPT), as it appears that the difficulty goes Famitracker->Deflemask->ModPlug/OpenMPT. But, yeah, even in the Deflemask user manual it says you're going to have to learn how to create your own FM envelopes at some point, probably, and that it's beyond the scope of the manual so you're going to have to find another source for that. Lol.

[@_scribblesTHEcat_]

I don't know how to add samples to my track can someone please help me

[@Old_Man_Jay]

I appreciate the effort but this video doesn't exactly teach us anything. You quickly gloss over everything so briefly that we might was well just go to the deflemask forum. for example, what exactly are each of the fm operator settings? What about algorithms? which ones are best suited for which instrument type, etc, etc. The Deflemask manual itself leaves out a ton of information a beginner like me needs and this video doesn't do much to fix that problem.

[@spoonybard13]

+Flashback Archive Delek told me that an explanation of FM Synthesis would not be necessary and I purposely left that section open-ended to allow the user to experiment, though I understand your dilemma. I also didn't realize that if you're not a member of the forum you can't download instruments, so there was some slight incompetence on my part. I'm switching out some of the FM documents in the description so that you get a better understanding of how FM synth works. It's for the Genesis, but even though the DT2 parameter isn't covered, you can quickly figure out what it is by using it yourself. Also, Delek says that including FM Synthesis descriptions in the DelfeMask manual would be unnecessary. Due to how complex it is, it would require its own separate manual according to him. I honestly beg to differ, but he's made of stone when it comes to that. Have a nice day!

[@Old_Man_Jay]

+The Spoony Bard Ah I see. well, thanks for the reply. I wasn't trying to be rude or anything. I'm just a bit frustrated because I'm trying my best to make decent sounds with deflemask but FM synth is no joke. Definitely harder to use than a subtractive synth.

[@DerpDerp3001]

How do you log the master system noise to 3 frequencies???

[@darpmosh6601]

@@spoonybard13 The link is dead for the FM by Inside Synthesis one.

[@04deoxys]

Noobie question (if you're still looking at comments): The sample I try to load in PSG0 or SN1 is just a loud beep. How to fix?

[@spoonybard13]

Samples cannot be played in PSG channels. That's why you're getting a loud beep, and the same thing happens if you play FM instruments on PSG channels. If you're on the Genesis, enable samples with the 17xx effect, and play the samples in the sixth FM channel.

[@04deoxys]

The Spoony Bard Thank you so much, I can't believe I got a response and this fast lol.

[@benny2194]

It looks like the forum no longer exists, can anyone report or share some instrument links? please.

[@spoonybard13]

DefleMask does have a discord server where people post instruments every so often. I’m planning on making a large repository of instruments for DefleMask as well as a few other chip tune applications someday.

[@benny2194]

@@spoonybard13 Thanks for the reply, a repository of instruments would be of great help. I hope you can do it.

[@capsuleboy]

Man, this is 100000 more difficult that I thought, I thought this would be like guitar rig 5, just choose your sound, tune it and record in audition or whatever. I just downloaded, opened it and watched this video, and I dont know how to change the preset or whatever, and hexagesimal?? - forget it.

[@iiiparadoxiiiify]

I loaded a sample that played sound as I was adding it but once I pushed play song or pattern it would no longer play the sound...do you have any idea why it might be doing that?

[@spoonybard13]

If you're on Genesis mode, make sure you enter 17 01 in the two columns on the far right of the 6th FM channel. If you're on Arcade mode, no effects should be necessary, but make sure the sample is on one of the 5 PCM channels on the far right of the tracker.

[@Mr.madmight266]

The only thing i can't seem to figure out is how to use different wavetables simultaneously in my song pattern(i'm trying to compose PCE songs by the way), no matter what i try it seems like i can't use anything but one type of sound. is it me being a little dumb or maybe it's an error with my PC?

[@spoonybard13]

Cutsie-Kun To use different waveforms, there is a Wave Macro in the instrument editor panel, which corresponds to the waveforms you can load into the program. So, for example if you have a wave loaded as “Wave 2” in the Wavetable menu and you want to use it, set the wave macro for the instrument to “2” in the instrument editor, or use the effect “10 02” in the effect column of the tracker itself.

[@Mr.madmight266]

Thanks for the say. i finally decided to pull off any semblence of talent i have into composing music, and since i like things that are great yet not well known by everyone well that's why i chosed the PC-Engine, plus it sounds a bit different than other systems yet fairly awesome.

[@spoonybard13]

I can't argue with you there. Glad I could help. :D

[@kirojingaming8252]

I need help with this

[@ryanplays113]

my samples of sega genesis is not working!!!

[@spoonybard13]

Make sure you're using them on the 6th FM channel in the Sega Genesis mode, and that you enable samples with the effect "17 01"

[@neroangelo1464]

I can't change my instruments from STD to FM anymore

[@spoonybard13]

+Dionysus It should be possible if you're on the Genesis module, and even then, new instruments are usually FM by default. I don't have a lot of details, but if new instruments are FM by default, all I can recommend is that you change the instrument order so that the new FM instrument is in place of the instrument you wanted to change from STD. I know it's impractical, but I've never encountered this problem, myself.

[@sog6289]

for some reson i cant play a Instrument

[@spoonybard13]

+Bit Sauce There's nothing too complex about it. You simply create an instrument, make sure the TL levels are up and press space to place instruments. If they're not playing after that it must be a hardware issue, which I wouldn't be able to help you with.

[@sog6289]

thanks

[@oceansky8923]

bla ble bloo bla. bla. blo bloo ble. bla bla BLA! blo BLE!

[@Freshy10]

Heh! STD instruments. Gross...

[@AloanMoreira1]

If it only had a left to right horizontal piano roll style of recording where you place, expand or slide up and down dots (notes) instead of numbers, it would've been so much easier!

[@actually_well_]

To be honest this video is not very good. You gloos over and explain what certain things can do, but not how to do them. 1:36 Yes I can loop the volume and arpeggio settings of an STD instrument, but how? As someone who uses famitracker a lot obviously its the horizontal bar at the bottom , but if I hadn't used that program before I would have no idea how to do it. It's be nice if you quickly pointed at or even showed the actual ui components you need to mess with to do the things your talking about instead of assuming the viewer will being to piece it together from the visuals.