Amiga Music Preservation - Forum

Amiga Music => Music Request => Topic started by: larryhagman on November 28, 2009, 02:33:52

Title: OMF file format?
Post by: larryhagman on November 28, 2009, 02:33:52
Hi everyone,

Can anyone help me?
I've downloaded some old very cool music from my childhood, I found them at ftp.amiga.org and the problem is that all these files are in OMF file format (Onyx Music File)

And I cannot play them.

http://www.filewatcher.com/b/ftp/ftp.amigascne.org /mirrors/ftp.modland.com/pub/modules/Onyx%20Music% 20File/Tirana.0.0.html

These MOD-like files were part of a music disc called JANGLE from 1994 (from team Onyx)
( http://scene.org/file.php?file=/mirrors/hornet/mu sic/disks/1993/jangle.zip&fileinfo )

The name of the musician is Tirana. This is a PC version, and DOSBOX just simply doesn't work. (sound problem - I've tried all of the DOSBox versions already...)

Isn't there a player which supports OMF by chance? Google doesn't work...  ::)
thnx
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on November 28, 2009, 12:53:45
Hi larryhagman,

I'm afraid there's no player available supporting this format except for the routine included in Jangle itself. I extracted the modules and made them available at MODLAND in the hope that one day we may find some of those songs in their original format (if those do exist) and someone may be able to decipher the format to develop a player/loader/converter.

For example that once worked out for the CBA format which was used in the musicdisk Expoze (http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=12300) by Heretics. After finding a few of the modules in their original format (MOD, S3M) I asked Pailes (author of MilkyTracker) whether adding support for the CBA format was doable, now those can be loaded with MilkyTracker (http://www.milkytracker.org) and optionally saved to MOD or XM format.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: larryhagman on November 28, 2009, 13:18:22
Hi!
Thanks a lot!

I've already found two - unfortunately only -chip tunes from the music disc in .MOD format. (from Hydra/Anarchy)
But nothing more. 2 of 22..

http://www.textfiles.com/artscene/music/mods/MODS/MODLAND/Hydra/laxity%20remix.mod
http://linuks.mine.nu/ftp.modland.com/Onyx%20Music%20File/Hydra/laxity%20remix.omf

..and an another, too. (last betrayal remix)

Then maybe someday.. ?
As I see the easiest way to get an old PC with SoundBlaster and rip to MP3...
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on November 28, 2009, 14:00:29
Hi,

 I've tried to convert this format a loooooong time again (about when the zikdisk was out, in fact), but wasn't successful. I didn't raised the subject again due to the lack of new cases.
 I guess I'm a bit more experienced with formats, now. I'll see if a quick converter can be drawn up.
 Don't jump just yet. I don't guarantee nothing, but at least, I'll have a bit more than a look.

Sylvain
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: larryhagman on November 28, 2009, 14:19:26
Hi Sylvain!

Thank you. Somebody adviced me playing OMF files with http://zakalwe.fi/uade/ , but after your reply I think it will not work. Actually I haven't checked this program yet, only the documentation.

I took a look at the binary files, and they look quite ''regular'' music files, but unfortunately I am not too professional in these formats - and I never was. Once I coded some parts in an S3M player in assembly, but my routine/knowleage already almost gone.. But the header + patterns + 8bit instruments are clearly visible.

I remember about 10-15 years ago I've ripped instrumenst from jangle.exe with a simple cut tool :)

Anyway, thanks everything again!  8)

Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Crown on December 01, 2009, 15:14:03
Maybe it would make sense to trace and contact the coder and/or musician?
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 01, 2009, 18:44:10
That should be rather difficult, the musicdisk was released in 1993.

BTW, Jangle is available under the following FTP link, size 2.04 MB:
Code: [Select]
ftp://hornet.madtracker.org/mirrors/hornet/music/disks/1993/jangle.zip
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: larryhagman on December 02, 2009, 11:02:53
Yes, I think too.
I guess the coder is pretty unreachable for now, already 16 years have passed...
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 05, 2009, 17:43:53
Just to let you know - I'm looking into this.  I've converted quite a few esoteric formats in my time, and this one isn't proving too difficult (helped massively by the ProTracker conversion Larry found, of course!).  I should have something ready by tomorrow.

Points of interest: the notes seem to be stored backwards in every pattern (first time I've seen that one!), there is (as far as I can tell, completely useless) three bytes padding before every pattern, and the sample data is unsigned.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 05, 2009, 21:35:38
@swirlythingy

Hijacking a thread and going completely off topic isn't quite polite, you should have used this thread instead.

The MODLAND server is on-line and accessible. You may try one of the mirrors if you have connection issues:
Amigascne : <ftp://ftp.amigascne.org/mirrors/ftp.modland.com>
Exotica   : <ftp://aero.exotica.org.uk/pub/mirrors/modland>
Ziphoid   : <ftp://modland.ziphoid.com>

Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 06, 2009, 00:02:55
Just to let you know - I'm looking into this.  I've converted quite a few esoteric formats in my time, and this one isn't proving too difficult (helped massively by the ProTracker conversion Larry found, of course!).  I should have something ready by tomorrow.

Points of interest: the notes seem to be stored backwards in every pattern (first time I've seen that one!), there is (as far as I can tell, completely useless) three bytes padding before every pattern, and the sample data is unsigned.

Really ? hum ... I can't wait for the result, then. Please share your discovery ! (format desc, converter source code, converted ziks) :)

Sylvain
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 06, 2009, 16:24:04
Here they are!  (I could send the converter source code as well, but as it's written in BBC BASIC for Acorn machines, it probably wouldn't mean anything to you...)

I chose to use StarTrekker because it was the only 8-channel MOD derivative I knew about (and could play), but I'm aware that one or two things aren't quite correct ('Biologii', for example, uses CIA tempo commands).

Hope you enjoy them!
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 06, 2009, 16:59:32
Thanks for sharing with us, however I can't access them through the provided link. Can you please upload them to MODLAND, too? That would be great.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 06, 2009, 17:13:10
How should I do that?  Can I just upload them from my FTP application, and if so, is there a certain place where they should be put?  (Maybe a subdirectory in 'Onyx Music Files'?)
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 06, 2009, 17:27:54
OK - I put them in uploads/omf_conversions.  The format specification's there as well.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 06, 2009, 17:49:52
weird, can't access the link either.
Mail ? (asle at free.fr)
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 06, 2009, 18:22:46
@swirlythingy

Thank s for the upload, excellent job converting the OMF files to StarTrekker modules. However I can tell that all converted 8 channel modules (FLT8) do not play as intended, hence there is some flaw in the conversion process. I hope you can solve that. Maybe Asle can assist you here?

For testing purposes I converted a StarTrekker module each to Protracker and Fasttracker II format using MilkyTracker. While the StarTrekker and Protracker modules are identical except for the header I found that the converted Protracker and Fasttracker II modules both have the same yet slightly longer duration compared to the Startrekker module. Question is which timing is closer to the OMF versions?


@Asle

I uploaded the converted modules once more, hopefully the download works this time.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 06, 2009, 18:26:13
OK, sent.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 06, 2009, 18:35:48
ok, the .rar in the forum works. Let me check this out.
Thanks for sharing !
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 06, 2009, 18:46:05
Thank s for the upload, excellent job converting the OMF files to StarTrekker modules. However I can tell that all converted 8 channel modules (FLT8) do not play as intended, hence there is some flaw in the conversion process. I hope you can solve that. Maybe Asle can assist you here?
When you say it 'does not play as intended', do you mean it sounds normal, just the wrong speed, or that it's really messed up?

Can you please try playing this file and tell me if it works?
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 06, 2009, 18:54:51
When you say it 'does not play as intended', do you mean it sounds normal, just the wrong speed, or that it's really messed up?
They sound messed up.

Can you please try playing this file and tell me if it works?
That one appears to play correct. Well done! :) Let's do that same treatment to the other 8 channels modules and we should be set. Does the format description need to be updated as well?
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 06, 2009, 19:02:03
When you say it 'does not play as intended', do you mean it sounds normal, just the wrong speed, or that it's really messed up?
The sound messed up.

Can you please try playing this file and tell me if it works?
That one appears to play correct. Well done! :) Let's do that same treatment to the other 8 channels modules and we should be set. Does the format description need to be updated as well?

Hmm.  Yes.  I do not like that at all.

There's nothing wrong with the format specification - there appears to be a bug in Milkytracker (or whatever you're using).  It's obviously a very common mistake - I ran into the exact same problem when testing at this end, until I found an older and less generic player which handled them correctly.

The difference between the two is in the patterns.  StarTrekker (as detailed in the text from Exolon here (http://www.programmersheaven.com/download/15966/download.aspx)) uses an unusual layout, in that the patterns are 'doubled up' - that is, each number in the sequence is multiplied by two, and the odd-numbered patterns contain the data for channels 5 to 8, which is the format I converted them to.

The test file I just posted here does not adhere to this format - rather, all eight notes are kept together in the same pattern, with one pattern being twice as long as usual.

So I could convert them to this specification, but it would be wrong to do so. :(
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 06, 2009, 19:15:23
OK.  I have now uploaded (in the '8ChanExp' directory) the defective modules in 'incorrect' format to MODLAND, just to make sure.

Sorry, next reply will be a while - my parents are insisting that I eat something!
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 06, 2009, 22:08:01
Hi,

 Ok, I've written my own converter. So, thanks for the format description. I really couldn't understand the pattern storing method. Anyway, It's done now.
 I've opted for Taketracker format, myself. It's fairly safe to say those musics were composed on PC, and it's Fastracker 1 or Taketracker. So, IDs are M.K., 6CHN and 8CHN, for me.
 I noticed that you've lost the last char of the sample names, and it seems there's almost always a loop start in your conversion, which is wrong and would hang Protracker, I think (well, for the 4 channel ones ;). So, if no loop, then loop start is 0x0000 and loop size is 0x0001.

 I'll upload this result on AMP shorly.

 Thanks to all for having raised the topic and having brought clues ;)

 C Source attached, for the curious ones.

Sylvain


EDIT : ok, all online now. Hydra ziks were already there. Tonza is known as Zygote.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 07, 2009, 10:57:53
Great job - thanks!  (I knew my conversion wasn't quite accurate, but it sounded like it should have done on anything I played it with... ;) Bearing in mind the problems with more than 4 channels, TakeTracker is probably the best option.)

(EDIT: Has anyone tried to contact @larryhagman?  He was the one who wanted this in the first place, after all...)
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 07, 2009, 18:05:00
Well done, Asle.

Except for your conversion of shiva_furnace.mod which sounds badly wrong (ouch, my ears :P ), and the rhythm of the beat that starts at order 01 is off. You certainly intent to punish us, do you? ;D
I loaded shiva_furnace.stk into MilkyTracker and saved it to Protracker format, the result sounds quite nicely. Check attached file for comparison.

Another old case finally closed. Thanks to all involved.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 07, 2009, 19:19:00
Except for your conversion of shiva_furnace.mod which sounds badly wrong (ouch, my ears :P ), and the rhythm of the beat that starts at order 01 is off. You certainly intent to punish us, do you? ;D
Yep - I recognise that problem.  All the finetunes have been blanked.  'Battle squadron' has a similar problem.  Taking another look at the C code, I can't see anything to write the finetune values anywhere.  It's a signed 16-bit little endian value at offset 22 in the sample info block, and it's the MOD range (-8 to 7) multiplied by minus 487.  Took me some time to work it out! :)

@deus-ex: Incidentally, how did loading the file into Milkytracker and saving it to ProTracker set all the finetunes?  That must be one powerful program! :D

EDIT: Dammit!  Little endian, sorry.  I'm just not used to it being the exception, rather than the rule...
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 07, 2009, 19:35:34
hum .. no finetune, right. I'll see to update the source and the files.
I'm sorry about that, but I simply overlooked the matter.

Most probably tomorrow, though, as a great Lakers/Suns is waiting for me ;) (I know, it was staged last night but I wanted to see it).

Sylvain
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 07, 2009, 20:12:01
@deus-ex: Incidentally, how did loading the file into Milkytracker and saving it to ProTracker set all the finetunes?  That must be one powerful program! :D
Heh, If I could explain the "how" I would code a tracker or player myself. :)
Yep, MilkyTracker (http://www.milkytracker.org) is quite a powerfull masterpiece of its own class.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 08, 2009, 17:49:49
ok, fixed the src and reran the converter on all cases. The following musics had finetunes set :
Battle Squadron (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99528) (Tirana)
Extreme close-up (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99531) (Tirana)
Frozen fields (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99532) (Tirana)
Humbug-tra (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99534) (Tirana)
jangle intro (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99541) (Tirana)
Lottovoitto (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99525) (Tirana)
Shiva furnace (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99536) (Tirana)
Sonaric waves (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99537) (Tirana)
Sukkarokki (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99538) (Tirana)
Uubi duubi (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99540) (Tirana)
Shadows love     tnz (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99522) (Tonza a.k.a. Zygote)
zolo (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99520) (Viba)

Quite a few actually. Updated src is attached. And all ziks were updated on AMP.
Sylvain

PS: Who is Viba anyway ? Any clue, anyone ?
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 08, 2009, 18:46:19
ok, fixed the src and reran the converter on all cases.
Muchas gracias, senor. :D

Who is Viba anyway ? Any clue, anyone ?
Nope, no info available. Seems to be a "one-module-only" artist so far.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 08, 2009, 18:58:47
Argh ... Xlat just showed me there's another pb.
It's about the pattern break command (D**). It must contain decimal figures, while, in here, it's hexadecimal. Shows pretty well in the hambug-tra music. *geee* ... I'll update the source (again) and list the affected musics.

Sylvain

OK, here's the, luckily, small list of affected file, that have been replaced :
Humbug-tra (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99534) (Tirana)
Battle squadron (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99528) (Tirana)
Gr-field (http://amp.dascene.net/downmod.php?index=99533) (Tirana)

I hope that's the end of it now .. *geee*.

Oh, and the modified source code is attached.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: swirlythingy on December 09, 2009, 00:23:58
Argh ... Xlat just showed me there's another pb.
It's about the pattern break command (D**). It must contain decimal figures, while, in here, it's hexadecimal. Shows pretty well in the hambug-tra music. *geee* ... I'll update the source (again) and list the affected musics.
Whoopsy!  Good job somebody pointed that out - although I was listening to Humbug-tra earlier today, and I did wonder...

Slightly modified format specification attached.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Crown on December 09, 2009, 10:30:29
ehehe. Asle is like Yoda, he has patience!  :)
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: larryhagman on December 15, 2009, 00:22:08
Thank you guys!  8)
The tracks are really coooool and you all as well !

I've downloaded all the files in MOD format.
The only missing track is Biolunch (it's not here, either http://tinyurl.com/ydyxujz), but its only a short one from Tirana.

Big thanks to everyone!  ;)


Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 15, 2009, 18:07:29
Hi,

 "Biolunch" is the music name _in_ the musicdisk. However, it's "Biologii" in the file itself.
 Hope this help clarify the situation :)

Kind regards,
Sylvain
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: deus-ex on December 15, 2009, 19:08:53
Thanks for the heads-up, Asle. I was quite sure I got them all when I extracted the modules back then.
Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: larryhagman on December 15, 2009, 19:59:22
I see, then it was my mistake, sorry :-)

Title: Re: OMF file format?
Post by: Asle on December 15, 2009, 20:50:40
It's ok, really. Besides, who knows if there's not another prod with such format ?
If anyone knows of any, please, tell it here :)

Sylvain