Amiga Music Preservation

Here are answers to some of the questions you keep on asking us!

We chose to sort them in 11 different categories:

[01] What, Who and Where

What does AMP stand for?

Those three initials stand for Amiga Music Preservation. When launched on the 14th of December 2000, AMP used to have an html interface and consisted only of a composer database and few interviews. At that time the site was a subsidiary of www.scenet.de.

What is AMP exactly about?

Amiga Music Preservation has created the biggest and most accurate resource on Amiga Music and Amiga Musicians. AMP is meant to bring together the Amiga enthusiasts with the creators of music's we all love. It's the chance for anyone to discover the amazing contribution of Amiga artists to the world of music creation.

Why isn't AMP in French?

There would be no sense in making a site dedicated to a global movement, as it would have for consequences to limit the access to French speaking visitors. As you might know, most Amiga composers and the fans aren't coming from France/Belgium and Switzerland, check the stats if you don't believe.

What makes AMP different from other Amiga scene websites?

AMP is meant to gather, sort and preserve the audio culture of the Amiga. Not only does it provide audio data to the masses but is concerned by preserving ALL this material. Added to that we work on increasing the public knowledge on computer-generated music. We have as goal to get the Amiga demoscene creations to modern art museums across the world.

Who does what in AMP?

We have divided the work in two main streams, which are: Data Processing (under the supervision of Crown and Curt Cool) and Website Architecture (taken care by Monty and Asle). Some other people are also assisting us, their names can be found in the credits page.

Do you make money with AMP?

No we don't, you could call it our tribute to the nice moments the scene gives us. Unlike some "scene" related sites we refuse the idea of implementing any commercial banners, so AMP is and will remain 100% commercial free!

Where are the files hosted?

The databases and all the other files are hosted in our own servers. It's more convenient that way because private companies charge a lot for web space.

What does AMP staff have to do with the Amiga Scene?

We have all been active in the Amiga scene for quite a while now, some of us as early as 1988. So we won't take as an offence to be called "oldschoolers". If you are interested we can reveal that we have been members of such groups as Cryptoburners, Paradox, Analog, Depth...

How much do you really know about Amiga music?

As a matter of fact Monty, Curt Cool and Asle are real Amiga composers. Crown has been collecting modules since 1990 and has tried to compose Amiga modules but his real good friends begged him to stop.

What hardware is being used to create and maintain AMP?

At the moment we have pretty many different configurations: Pegasos 1 (Morphos 1.5), Amiga 4000 (Workbench 3.5), Amiga 1200 (Workbench 3.1), Amiga 500 (Workbench 1.3), Pentium II, III and IV (BeOS, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Windows 2000 and XP). Yes, we do like computers.

What software does AMP staff use?

Mostly OpenSource Software, freeware and shareware. You can imagine that we are very fond of open source, as it represents a great alternative to crappy operating systems and software. [Asle edit : PHP sources and MySQL query are all written under Emacs - FreeBSD, in case somebody wondered ;)] [Monty edit: vi under Linux, EditPlus under MS Windows :) ]

[02] The Technical Aspects

What exactly is an Amiga?

The Amiga was a revolutionary 16 bit computer created by an American electronic firm called Commodore inc as it could record and play back any real audio. When it first came out in 1986, the Amiga 1000 had outstanding audio and video capacities. Several million machines were sold throughout the years until the last Amiga came out in the late 90's (the A4000 Tower). Nowadays some manufacturers have developed new generation Amiga computers going by the name of Pegasos and Amiga One. If you want to know more about the Amiga and its history you should visit http://www.Amiga.com. The Amiga was also very famous for its international demo scene.

What is the Amiga scene?

The Amiga scene is a European computer art movement that saw the light in the mid 80's (1986 to be more exact). It consists in thousands of young people that share a common interest in programming, creating graphics, doing music and swapping. All those persons use pseudonyms and gather in groups (from 5 to 50 persons) in order to release demonstrations (programs) that are often presented at computer parties across Europe. If you want to know more on the demoscene and demonstrations, we invite you to purchase the book called "Demoscene: the art of real time" by Lassi Tasajarvi.

What are Sound/Noise/Protracker?

A tracker is a music editing software specifically designed for computers. It enables anyone to compose quality music using his own samples. These are the three leading trackers available on Amiga. Approximately 80-90% of all music created on this machine was done using Soundtracker, Noisetracker or Protracker.

What is a module?

A module is a piece of music that was created using one of the previously mentioned Amiga trackers. On Amiga, a module has a limited amount of samples, patterns and channels. A module file can vary from few Kilobytes to few Megs and the variety of score is similar to what you can ear in your local radio station: jazz, pop, funk, rock, classical, heavy metal, etc.

What is a chiptune then?

A chiptune is a module that has a maximum size of approximately 50 Kilobytes. Most of the samples are usually synthetics so they don't sound like any other music. Some people claim that real great composers are the ones who do chiptunes, as they would be more difficult to compose. Chiptunes on Amiga were very appreciated by cracker for their crack intros, as they require a very limited amount of disk space. Recently a tv documentary on Arte TV said that chiptune represents the future of music in the 21st century.

What were mods created for?

Mostly for fun. Apart for the music used in video games and utilities, the Amiga scene composers have made them not only to become famous but also for the joy of creating. Creating music on the Amiga has made it possible for many talented artists to make a living out of their passion (ex. Romeo Knight, Spaceman). The scene had a true competition spirit that resulted in an incredibly wide spectrum of styles.

Is all the music copyrighted?

Yes they are, the copyright belongs to the composers. Although all tunes are freely distributable (they are in public domain), modules are just like any other art creations protected by the law, and we shall not need to remind you not to mess with the law.

Can I legally copy all the files to my computer, to my friends?

We wouldn't provide you with mod files if you couldn't download and copy them freely. So you can send modules that you have got from AMP to any of your friends. However, it is strictly forbidden to modify the structure/title/author name or to sell them to PD site/libraries.

Can I use a module from AMP in the free/shareware program I have just coded?

You cannot use any of the mod files from AMP on your newly coded program without the prior consent of the composer. How would you feel if someone took part of your work but never asked for the right to use it!? It is totally forbidden to make money with the music if the author doesn't get his share for it. So we can only give you one advice: get in touch with the author of the mod you want to use before releasing your software.

Can I play some of the mods in a Radio/TV show or (short) movie/documentary/commercial film?

Unless you are speaking about a non-profit Internet Radio/TV (e.g. Nectarine or Demoscene TV) you cannot use any of the audio material for professional broadcasting companies. If you absolutely want to use some then all you should do is contact the author(s) and ask if you could buy the using rights from them. If you propose them a fair price then it shouldn't be a problem.

Can I create and sell a module set on CD/DVD rom?

That would be against the law. You simply cannot make money with the Amiga scene musicians. If you really want to make your own mod collection on CD/DVD then you have to provide it for free to anyone that is interested!

Why cannot I download all the mods at once?

AMP hosts more than 20 gigabytes of data so it's not realistic to think we would create a big archive, there wouldn't be any bandwidth left for other users. As a concrete answer to this relatively common question we decided to quote Monty: "It would take years to listen to all the modules we store. What would be the point in downloading them all at once?".

Why don't I manage to download anything?

We are using a simple procedure to check whether users asking to download a file are really connected in amp and not in another website that has linked AMP's modules list (which is actually forbidden!). So if you receive a 403 forbidden message, that's because your browser does not show where you're coming from. It's an HTTP header that could be deleted by some misconfigured Proxy server, Download accelerator programs, and so on... It's also important to make sure your firewall does not strip the referrer information!

Can you give me the e-mail address of Karsten Obarski?

Not that we wouldn't like but he -like most other musicians- doesn't wish we did that. Did you seriously think that anyone gets in touch with GOD himself? ;)

How can I contact one of the Amiga composers?

Check for the information available in the sample text of the module files. You will surely find a postal or e-mail address that will make it possible for you to get in touch with him/her. We advice you not to bother them with ridiculous questions/demands as their time is as precious as anyone else's.

Why does AMP look better when browsing with Firefox rather than with Internet Explorer?

Could it be that Microsoft doesn't respect W3C regulations? Monty designed AMP so that it works best with Firefox and that explains why it doesn't look as nice when using other browsers. We want to remind you that Firefox is absolutely free of charge so download it and have a try. For your convenience we have tested AMP with a wide range of browsers: Firefox, AWeb, Ibrowse, Voyager, Opera, Lynx and Internet Explorer.

How can I ripp the music from an old Amiga demo/pack/...?

Check for the latest version of Prowizard which is available for most platforms on AMP's download page. Aminet hosts quite a great numbers of sound rippers (Exotic Ripper, Serial Ripper, etc.) that you can use with a real/emulated Amiga. If that doesn't work your last hope it to submit your files to Asle, as he is a master in ripping. [Asle edit : you could also use WinUAE which contains the latest PW4PC version ...]

How can I join AMP's staff?

We are no longer seeking for fulltime collaborators so it's unlikely someone joins in the near future. Nevertheless, we always need offline assistant that can support reliable information, new modules and corrections (the same way as XLat and Ijon Tichy already kindly do it). Just send your application to Crown.

How can I register to the AMP's mailing list?

Simply go to the mailing list are of AMP and type in the e-mail address to which you want to receive mail. You will receive a confirmation that the registration process has succeeded and that's about it. Be assured that AMP doesn't sell or give away your information to any third party. We keep e-mail addresses private!

How do I send an e-mail to the mailing list?

It's fairly simple really. Go to your messenger program, write anything that you would like other registered users to read an address it to "amp@t-pas.net". Within just a few seconds your e-mail will reach the lucky ones that registered to AMP's mailing list.

What should I use the mailing list for?

The mailing list setup for AMP, makes it possible for you to ask questions or to let people know about just anything that is related to AMP's activities. You will also be informed of updates and changes on your favourite site. Please do not write anything that isn't directly connected to the Amiga music/demo scene. There are newsgroups for all the other matters.

[03] The Sound Formats Encyclopaedia

669 (Composer 669)

8 channels PC tracker created by Tran of Renaissance. One of the first to have that many channels on PC. didn't meet much succes but was used by some well known composers like C.C.Catch.

ABK (Amos Music Bank)

Amiga GMC - Sonix - Soundtracker converter created by François Lionet for use with his programming language AMOS.

AHX - THX (AHX - THX Tracker)

Amiga tracker created by Pink and Dexter of Abyss in 1996. AHX is the later version of THX Tracker which had to be renamed after George Lucas company threatened to sue. AHX offers the possibility to create chiptunes that sound like C64 (Commodore 64) music.

DBM (Digibooster)

Amiga tracker created by Tomasz and Waldemar in 1997. New versions are still under development. Digibooster delivers 8 channels and a midi interface.

DIGI (Digibooster Pro)

Amiga tracker created by Tomasz and Waldemar. This is the enhanced version of Digibooster.

DMF (X-Tracker)

PC tracker. Infos will be added soon!

EMOD (Quadra Composer)

Amiga tracker created by Bosse Lincoln in 1993. Quadra Composer is a fairly new music program that delivers 4 channels and 256 patterns.

FST (Fasttracker 1)

8 channels PC Tracker created by Vogue and Mr. H of Triton.

FTM (Face The Music)

Amiga tracker created by Jörg W. Schmidt in 1990 for Maxon Computer GmbH. Face the Music delivers: 8 channels, line-based editor with S.E.L. (Sound Effect Language).

IT (Impulse Tracker)

PC tracker. Infos will be added soon!

MED (MED / Octamed)

Amiga tracker created by Teijo Kinnunen and Ray Burt-Frost in 1990. Octamed is one of the most famous 8 channels music editor on Amiga.

ML (MusicLine Editor)

Amiga tracker created by Christian Cyréus and John Carehag in 1995. MusicLine makes it possible to pull out some never-heard-on-an-amiga sounds by using realtime calculated waveform processing. It offers up to 8 channels, 5 octaves, 1024 parts, 128 steps, 256 sequencer steps, 255 instruments and 255 wavesamples.

MOD (Protracker - Noisetracker - Startrekker - Soundtracker)

MOD. is the most widely used sound format on Amiga. Mod tunes are created with one of the following programs: Soundtracker, Noisetracker, Startrekker or Protracker. Those trackers have a 4 channel limit with max 31 samples and 128 patterns. Quite many clone of Soundtracker have seen the light throughout the years. Protracker (created by Lars Hamre in 1990) was certainly the most popular.

STK - MOD15 (Ultimate Soundtracker)

Amiga tracker created by Karsten Obarski in 1987. Ultimate Soundtracker was a revolutionary Amiga music editor with high usability & efficiency. Many talented demoscene composers used soundtracker to create their masterpieces making it world famous. Many talented demoscene composers used soundtracker to create their masterpieces making Sountracker world famous. A bunch of coders like Tip and Unknown have created clones.

MTM (Multitracker Editor)

32 channels PC tracker created by Starscream / Renaissance.

OCT (Octalizer)

Infos will be added soon!

OKT (Oktalyzer)

Amiga tracker created by Armin Sander in 1989 for Verlag Mayer. Oktalyzer was one of the most popular 8 channels music editors within the Amiga Demoscene.

OSS (Octamed Sound Studio - MMD3)

Amiga tracker created by Teijo Kinnunen and Ray Burt-Frost in 1996. This is the commercial version of Octamed with new features such as: 64 channels sequencer with real-time effects and sampled editing facilities.

PTM (Polytracker)

PC Tracker created by Lone Ranger of Acme. Not much more info as this wasn't spread farther than to a couple of musicians like Vic.

S3M (Screamtracker 3)

16 channels PC tracker created by Psy / Future Crew.

SFX - SFX2 (SoundFX)

Soundtracker clone created by Christian Haller and Christian A. Weber.

XM (Fasttracker 2)

32 channels PC tracker created by Vogue and MR. H of Triton. Successor of Fastracker 1, it's still being used nowadays in various tracked compos.

[04] The Composer Database

How can I get myself into AMP's Composer Database?

It's fairly simple, as all you have to do is send an e-mail to crown with details on your career (Handle, Real Names, Country of origin + Country where you live, your ex. Handles and the list of all your Groups).

Should I inform you about wrong and incomplete information?

It's very important you do that! If you find out that the information available online isn't correct please drop an e-mail to Crown. We would very much appreciate you to contact AMP if you can correct/add info on any other musicians listed in the database. We have for a goal to collect 100% certified and complete data on ALL Amiga musicians.

Can you remove my entry in AMP's Composer Database?

Unless you actually never composed any music on Amiga we don't usually remove entries from the database. We are building a precise list of ALL musicians that used the Amiga as a music creation tool and to reach that goal we chose to keep all entries. No matter how few or how many music you have composed!

Why does the database host some PC composers?

There can be two reasons. In the first place it can be that the composer, which is most known for his PC compositions has earlier done several Amiga modules. Otherwise it's most probably a mistake from us. Please don't hesitate to drop us a line on that matter.

Can I export part or all of AMP's composer database and use it in my website?

No way! AMP's composer database is the result of many years spent on gathering and sorting information. In order to avoid legal prosecution we recommend you not to include any part or mirror our database in your website.

How come the famous Amiga composer called "Mr. Xxxx" isn't in your database?

He is either missing -in which case we encourage you to contact us- or included under his newer handle. If you want to make sure that the composer is missing from our database we recommend you do a combined Handle+ex.Handles search.

[05] The Music Database

Why are the files available as "MOD." and not ".MOD"?

Simply because the original file name for modules is "MOD." on Amiga.

What exactly are the "MED." files?

AMP host some exotic formats exclusively created on the Amiga (you can also find formats like "DBM.", "AHX.", "AON.", "OKT.",...). The "MED." suffix means that the file has been composed with Octamed, which is a 8 channels tracker. That's quite an amazing coding trick if you think that the Amiga had a limited amount of 4 audio channels.

Is all the music available in AMP originally coming from Amiga demonstrations?

Many of them are but AMP hosts music that were originally used in video games, utilities and presented at some Amiga parties. A big part of the mods you can download were sent to us by the composers and never got released in any Amiga productions.

Why doesn't AMP host all the Amiga exotic music files?

Some other sites are already doing a good job in collecting exotic tunes so we don't feel like using part of their work. However we might decide to include them when we no longer manage to find new modules.

Why do some of the mods have weird characters as their name?

Simply because the authors of the modules chose to name them that way. The Amiga file system handles most of the ASCII characters so we do not feel like changing the mod names for the unlucky few that use Windows operating system. We suggest you switch to another O.S. (Linux, BSD, Morphos,etc.), as they handle much better those filenames.

Why are all the mod files crunched?

The reason is to save hard drive space because we will be adding a lot of mods in the future. It also makes it faster for you to get the files as the crunching usually reduces the total downloading time by 50%.

What does the suffix ".gz" mean?

Simply that the file is crunched with GZip, which works very much the same way as the classic Zip. UnGzip is supported on most platforms so it shouldn't be a problem for you to unpack the data.

How come I don't manage to play the "MOD." files with my audio player?

Either your player doesn't support mod files or it requires you to rename them to "music.MOD" instead of "MOD.music". We recommend all Amiga and PC users to install Delitracker/Deliplayer as it's one of the best module player on PC/Amiga (site address is to be found in AMP's links page). If that still doesn't work then it could be that you haven't unpacked the tune. You can write us if you need some help on how to play the modules on other platforms.

How come you don't have the mod called "MOD.xxxx"?

There can be several reasons for that situation. The first reason could be that we don't have that specific mod in our possession (we strongly encourage you to upload it to our FTP if you have it). It could also be that the module is already in the database under another name (like its original name instead of a ripped demo name). Last reason would be that we haven't yet sorted it so it will take some weeks before it is available for download.

Can I export part or all of AMP's music database and use it in my website?

Definitely NOT! It's our work and it is not meant to be use by any other website or person. Shall I remind you that it's copyrighted material?! We appreciate that you like our website a lot but tell your friends about AMP rather than try to steal our work.

Can I link some of your mods so that people can download them straight from my website?

No you can't! Few webmasters allow their users to proceed that way and it really annoys us a lot. We consider that people who want to download the modules should at least pay a visit to AMP. [Asle edit : we have somewhat softened the policy in the following case : the hosting website _must_ be mentioned somewhere close to the link .. like Nectarine did]

Were AMPS's "FST.", "XM.", "S3M.", "IT.", "669." music composed on Amiga?

None of them were, those sound formats were all created on PC. The prefixes you mention are referring to FastTracker 1 & 2, Screamtracker, ImpulseTracker and Composer 669. These trackers are handling 16 to 32 channels and not 04 to 08 like on the Amiga. If you search better you will find some other PC tracker formats in AMP.

Why does AMP host PC originated music?

AMP's primary work is of course to collect all the Amiga music. However we took the decision to include PC originated tunes that are composed by musicians that earlier used the Amiga to create music. We find it important to give visitors the chance to listen to the later works of their favourite artists. It's a nice way to witness their evolution with composing techniques and music styles.

Why doesn't AMP contain any Midi, MP3 or OGG scores?

AMP's goal is to preserve tracked modules and not any streamed music. Some sites already take care of those formats and they do it very well. There is no connection between those formats and tracked music so having them for download wouldn't bring anything important to the tracked music history of a certain composer.

Should I let you know if I don't manage to download a module from AMP?

We hate broken link(s) at least as much as you do, so please inform us when you encounter such a situation. We will of course do our best to repair broken links as fast as we can so that you can download the file(s).

Why don't all composers have music for download?

There can be several explanations: all the music will be online within the next update. Although we can guarantee that all of them have composed modules on Amiga, we might not yet have managed to trace any of their tracks. Last, those persons have composed music on Amiga with the so-called Exotic editors and those are not included on AMP at the moment. That might change though!

How does AMP get all its modules from?

We have a pretty large variety of sources. Let's say that 40 to 50 per cent are hand ripped by AMP's staff. The rest is either sent by the composers themselves or sent by AMP enthusiasts (Thank You!).

What should I do if I find out that one module file available for download is truncated?

That's a very good reason for e-mailing Crown so that he gets that module into his truncated list. Try to provide him with as many details as possible such as author and mod name. That way we avoid receiving e-mails containing the following text: "I think a module from XTD is truncated". It would be very kind of you to send us a 100% working version of that very same module if you have managed to find one.

Why are some Soundtracker/Noisetracker modules available as Protracker?

We don't like people that convert Sound/Noisetracker tunes to Protracker as our aim is to maintain the integrity of ALL mod files. As you might know, there is not such thing as non-destructive conversion. When you convert a Soundtracker into a Protracker it results in the loss/change of effects. You end up listening to a music that isn't identical to the original. So if you spot some of those please send the original tune to Crown so that he can replace it.

How can I still compose Amiga music now that I have a PC?

You might have heard of Amiga emulators such as UAE (WinUAE, WinFellow, etc.) that are nowadays available for most platforms. Once you have installed the software and ROMs you can load Sound/Noise/Protracker and start composing. If you didn't know, we can reveal that all the latest Amiga chiptunes from 4-Mat were composed on an emulated Amiga. Ant it works fine, really!

[06] The Interview Database

What haven't you yet interviewed "Mr. Xxxx"?

Because he has never contacted us. If you have his e-mail address then we will gladly send him an interview form to fill. Our aim is to gather interviews from all referenced musicians so we appreciate any help on that matter.

Why haven't I been interviewed?

Most probably because you kindly visited AMP but never wrote to any of us (e.g. Fab of Paradox!). Please take few minutes of your time and drop us an e-mail so that we can supply you an interview form. We would like to hear from you!. [Asle edit : or simply fetch the interview form here and send it back to us filled up].

Why isn't my interview online yet?

We usually like to gather twenty to thirty of them before making them available to visitors. Unless you answered to it in Chinese it will most certainly find its ways to AMP's interview database very soon.

Can I export part or all of AMP's interview database and use it in my website?

No. All the material you can find in AMP is copyrighted and as such cannot be used by anyone else. Same goes for the interviews as they are AMP exclusives.

Why are all the questions identical in each interview?

The day AMP was launched the decision had already been made to create a static interview form that anyone could fill. That way we could gather a large number of interviews and avoid bothering musicians with +70 questions to answer to. As a matter of fact it's quite nice to read different opinion to a similar question.

How come you don't give out the address, phone and e-mail of interviewed musicians although you ask for them in the interview?

It's true that we ask musicians to give us their postal address and phone number but those information aren't meant to be included when we upload the interview to AMP. We have come to the conclusion that composers don't necessarily wish to get tons of fan mails. They do appreciate to hear that many people like their tunes but it's quite sufficient for them to read the "Oneliner" or the download stats. If you absolutely need to reach one of them why not drop us an e-mail, we will contact them for you.

[07] The Scanned Pictures Database

Why does AMP collect scanned pictures of composers?

We consider it's a nice thing to be able to put a face on the musicians whose work we all remember. The picture database goes hand in hand with the composer database so that's a good enough reason for having them in AMP.

Is it possible to get my picture changed in AMP?

Of course, just drop us an e-mail with your scanned picture(s) as attachment. Make sure to send them in the standard formats and not as RAW or TIF.

What is the format of the scanned pictures?

We accept several standards such as PNG, JPG, GIF and IFF. Needless to say that PNG is most preferred.

Can I export part or all of AMP's scanned pictures and use them in my website?

No, these are exclusively for AMP's use. If you seek for scanned picture you could ask the musicians themselves, as they will most probably send you some.

How many scanned pictures can I send you?

As many as you wish as long as they are not identical. We would like to have several scans for each musician so don't be shy and send us plenty! Musicians who supply more than one picture will get a photo album in the author directory.

I don't have a scanner, could I provide some of my photos by snail mail?

Sure, we will gladly scan them and return you the originals. We prefer to proceed that way rather than never to have any picture from you.

[08] The Download Page

Can I freely use AMP's ASCII mod list?

Sure thing as its main purpose is to help you sort mods and be aware of what we already have in our possession. That way you end up uploading file we don't already have in the music database.

Can I host AMP's ASCII mod list in my website?

We would prefer that you don't. Add a link to AMP so that people can check the site and download the Modlist all by themselves.

How can I submit my utilities to AMP's download area?

If the archive isn't bigger than 2 Megs then simply send it by e-mail to Crown with a short text description. If it's too large to be sent by e-mail then why not upload it to our FTP or send a CD/DVD rom with all files to our snail mail address. We will then check them and decide if they match with AMP's utilities requirements.

Have you tested all the software available for download?

Yes and it's virus free. No spyware either. So you can download and use them all with no fear.

What is AMP exactly seeking for?

Amiga trackers, music rippers or any old and new utilities for all computer platforms that make our life easier.

How can I open the LHA/ZIP crunched files?

Use LHA and Unzip on Amiga. WinRar does the job nicely on Windows. For other platforms you can check on the Internet, there should be plenty of them available.

How come some of the software you provide doesn't actually work with my machine?

In the first place you should make sure that the utility is designed for the machine you use (PC or Amiga) and please read the documentation. If that doesn't help, it could be that the program won't run on high-end or low-end computers. It's maybe time to buy an Amiga 500 or an Amiga One?

[09] The FTP

I don't manage to connect to the FTP

Please follow the procedure as detailed in AMP's FTP area. If that doesn't help we suggest you to try again in a day or two as it could be that our FTP is down. As a last alternative you should drop an e-mail to Monty so that he can help you log in.

How can I be sure not to upload mods that AMP already hosts?

Best is to check with the text Modlist available in the download area. If you are not uploading your OWN mods then please do NOT send mods we already have unless the module is different in size. Keep in mind that AMP seeks for ALL short and long versions of existing modules.

Should I compress the data before uploading it to AMP's FTP?

It's MANDATORY to upload files as zip packets and to test them before you kindly submit them to us. Try as much as possible to create a separate zip file per composer (ex. Heatbeat.zip, Groo.zip, etc.) so that we don't get mixed up with tunes from different authors.

How can I make it easier for AMP staff to sort the mods?

It really eases the work if you don't send mods that we already have and if you create separate author directories. That way we do the sorting in half the normal time and we can update the site on a more regular basis. It's also very important to avoid uploading files without any author information. We receive hundred of mods we can't include as we simply don't know who composed them. Sad!

Why aren't all the mods available for download on your FTP?

The FTP available for upload only. All the modules can be downloaded straight from htpp://amp.dascene.net with a nice and friendly user interface.

Why cannot I see the files I have just uploaded?

It's set to blind mode because we want to avoid hackers from uploading warez and cracked software to our FTP. If you are not sure whether all the files have been correctly uploaded you can contact Crown or Monty.

Should I only upload the mods I have composed?

You are encouraged to send ALL the modules you have in your possession. As we prefer to get all our mods straight from musicians we ask you to send ALL the mods you have composed. Please do not limit your upload to mods you have composed but include ALL the tunes you have, no matter who composed them.

Can I upload any non-released and/or non-finished modules?

That's precisely what we are searching for. So yes, please! AMP seeks for ALL the composed Amiga music ever: previews, short and long versions, very (very) old modules, cooperation tunes, released and unreleased scores!

Can I upload the mods I have ripped myself?

We are not reluctant to receive ripped tunes as long as you can certify that the mod name is the original one and not something like "MOD.Scoopex" or "MOD.Mental Hangover" as it will most certainly end in the bin! It's also very important that you make sure it's a 100% quality ripp with no broken samples/patterns and guaranteed author information.

Can I upload modules whose authors are unknown?

Please don't! It's hard to trace the author: it is time consuming and sadly it's very often hopeless. If you wish, you can send a CD/DVD rom with those tunes so that we can include them to AMP's unknown authors directory as soon as it's available online.

Can I upload my filled interview form to the FTP?

We prefer you send it to Crown, as he is the one responsible for adding interviews to AMP.

Can I upload scanned pictures and/or new info on composers to the FTP?

It's better if you email those things to Crown, as he wishes to get in touch with ALL of you that support AMP!

[10] Contribute and Submit Files

Why should I contact AMP staff?

The first reason is of course that we at AMP enjoy a lot to get in touch with composers and sceners. We also have plenty of questions we would like to ask you. Past and new sceners are an incredible source of information. You can also let us know how much you like AMP and what we should change/add. AMP is made for all of you so give us some feedback dudes!

What kind of composer information is AMP looking for?

As you can see there are plenty of things we are still missing. Of course the basic Handle, Real Names, Country, ex. Handles and Groups characteristics. It's important you mention ALL the information (even very old handles, groups, etc.). We also need composers e-mail/snail mail addresses, telephone numbers and anything else that could make it easier for us to get in touch with them.

Why should I send mods to AMP?

Let's say it straight: modules are the key element in AMP. You support is most important for further updates of AMP. Your contributions help us preserve scene music material.

How can I provide you with mods?

Preferably on a CD/DVD rom sent by snail mail to Crown, as it's more convenient to him. You can otherwise upload the tunes to our 24/7 FTP (whose address is available on the FTP area of the AMP website) or contact Crown for a private e-mail/FTP post. If it really bothers you a lot to upload all your mods to our FTP we can as well leech them all from your HTTP/FTP address.

Why should I send you my own mod collection on CD/DVD rom?

We know that many module fans have burned their own modules collection on CD/DVD rom. Most of those collections contain rare and unreleased tunes that AMP would be delighted to include online. We will check and sort all the CD/DVD collection and get them available for download. Your mod collection helps us set a lifetime preservation process for ALL the Amiga music.

I am an Amiga composer, could I track a music exclusively for AMP?

Two of our good friends have already composed modules exclusively for AMP (4-Mat and Jellybean) and we enjoyed it a lot. So we really encourage you to load your Protracker and create quality tracks so that you too can enter the exclusive circle of AMP's music contributors! :)

Can I upload any music?

Yes as long as they're composed by an (ex) Amiga musician. It's important that you NEVER upload tunes created by musicians that haven't done a single music on the Amiga. As you already know, AMP stand for Amiga Music(ians) Preservation.

Can I upload music composed on other machines than the Amiga?

Of course you can. Our only rule is: the music has to be composed by an (ex) Amiga composer and not by anyone else! We receive a lot of tunes on our FTP that will never be included for the simple reason that they don't match AMP requirements, so please check the files you submit.

Can I upload my own newly released MIDI, MP3 or OGG scores to AMP?

Not that we wouldn't like to listen to your latest tracks but there is no chance they would ever appear on AMP. If you really want us to listen to them, all you have to do is burn a CD/DVD rom and post it to Crown.

How can I transfer all the mods I have on my old Amiga's hard drive?

Use a null modem cable, a RJ45 cable or the software from Cloanto (Amiga Forever). That should do it. If you can afford to buy an Amiga One or Pegasos then all you'll have to do is connect your IDE/SCSI HD to the computer.

How should I do if my Amiga is broken and all my mods are on its hard drive?

We are able to access Amiga hard drives from our machines so it's best if you can send it by post. We will copy all files to a CD/DVD rom and send it along with the HD. None of the files that it contains will be made available online without your prior consent!

How can I transfer all my Amiga floppies to my PC?

A good friend of us has made an incredible utility, which enables you to read Amiga disk directly on your PC. You can get it straight from AMP's download page. All you need is to install the software and 2 disk drives. That software also works with C64, Atari ST floppies. Make sure to send the author an email and donation for his excellent work.

Can I send you my Amiga formatted floppies/hard drives that contain modules?

We will gladly do the transfer for you. Please send them to Crown's postal address and remember to mention your information so that he can send the disk back to you with a nice CD/DVD rom.

Can I send you some Amiga demos so that you ripp the music?

Of course you can. Please send the original Amiga disks by snail mail or a disk image (DMS or ADF) by e-mail to Crown. All submitted material will be returned to you!

Is AMP interested in all my old Amiga floppy disks with demos and packs?

AMP, with the help of some friends, is gathering all demoscene material so that it doesn't with the floppies. As you might have experienced, most floppies start having read/write errors after something like 10 to 15 years. We are now in a critical period as many badly spread scene releases vanish with the floppies on which they were copied. Without your help many demos will be lost forever and never find their way to preservation. So visit your parent's home, check your basement and dig your old disk boxes, we count on you!

Can I submit anything else than audio files to AMP?

Yes, because we are seeking for a large bunch of files: internal member lists (with names and addresses) from any Amiga Groups, scanned pictures of any Amiga musicians, Amiga scene releases (demos, packs, diskmags, etc.), computer related paper magazines and anything else you can think of.

I am an Amiga composer, how can I submit my scanned picture(s)?

You are usually asked to send them when you receive AMP's interview form. If you only have one picture to send then we suggest you email it to crown. If by chance you can provide us with several scans then you should upload them as a big zip file to our FTP. Do not forget to name your zip file with your handle (ex. Mantronix_pics.zip).

Is AMP interested in the several scanned photos I have of some Amiga composers?

You bet we are! If you have taken or collected photos of Amiga musicians (maybe coming from some glorious demo parties) please send them to us at once. It eases our work if you rename them with the handle of each musician: "Chromag.JPG", "Virgill.GIF", etc. If some of your pictures contain several persons please try as much as possible to cut them so that you get one musician per picture.

Why are my modules, interview and photo(s) not online yet?

It takes time before we can check, sort and upload all the newly received data. It always finds its place though so don't panic and check AMP on a regular basis. AMP is a hobby you know.

I am a graphic artist, do you think I could paint some logos for AMP?

Yes, it would be very nice of you. Try as much as possible to create a logo that fits AMP's global design (same palette colors) so that we can integrate it smoothly. There is a predetermined size of 400x99 pixels for the main logo. Feel free to paint anything like small and big banners, fonts and templates.

Can I freely link AMP to my website?

Yes, we actually do appreciate that. With your help more people will get to know about our work and that will also increase our chance to reach Amiga composers that browse the web. Your links to AMP participate to its evolution and development so we say Thank You!

Where can I find the AMP banner?

Go to the links page, click on the small banner with your right mouse button and save it in your computer. You can now freely use it as an AMP banner. You can also use any of the big logos if that suits you better.

How can I get my website into AMP's links page?

Drop us an e-mail containing the URL and a small PNG/JPG/GIF banner size 88x31 pixels. If your site matches AMP's links criteria you will get an e-mail from AMP's staff informing you that your website will be linked very soon. We are fond of quality Amiga links so we will gladly add it to AMP's links page.

To whom should I report broken links and any other errors I find?

You can contact anyone at AMP staff. If you don't get an answer to your mail within a week then we suggest you to get in touch with one of us again. We really do our best to remove all broken links and correct errors but we appreciate your help on that matter.

Is AMP searching for old Commodore machines?

Yes, Crown seeks for all Amiga/C64&128 machines from low-end to high-end series. It's very important that we own those as they help us run antic demos and ripp music out of them. Plus they are nice artifacts for our homes. We can of course pay for all posting costs.

Can I contribute to AMP with money or hardware donations?

We might include a donation system someday so that you can support AMP with the amount you wish. Hardware gifts are also very welcome as we are paying for all the equipment, which is being used for maintaining and developing AMP. Ask Monty what he needs and you will surely find a way to make his day!

Could I actually make AMP staff the beneficiary of my testament?

We would be pleased you to do so. It would be nice not to work only for AMP on our free time! If you are into arts sponsorship (hello Mr. Ted Turner!) and wish to support computer art creations you are strongly encourage you to contact Crown.

[11] The Future

What is coming next?

More mods, interviews and scanned pictures will be regularly added. We are also working on an registered user interface in order to make it possible for visitors to get more active and provide information for each module (date of release, demo or party competition of origin, etc.). We wish the audience to participate in strengthening AMP, as they already do with the FTP.

When will AMP preserve all the PC/MAC/C64/ZX/ATARI/etc. music?

Not before we get fed up with preserving Amiga modules. That day shall no come, sorry.

When will there be an unknown authors directory?

Our immediate concern is to preserve material that we can trace. We surely will end up creating an unknown authors directory but it's not on the top of our to-do list right now.

How about an AMP party?

That's a good idea. We are real party animals!

When will there be an AMP forum?

It should be available someday. We know that some of you really look forward to it.

Will I ever see AMP v4.0?

That's a good question. Maybe when Monty retires from his job.. ;)

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