AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

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WaxingAndWaning
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Just completed a NEW TUNE in AXS...Uploaded minutes ago. Been working on-off of it last 3-4 days...

AXS is capable of more potential but I think I gave it a good 'rogering'...Used 4 instances of internal synth with plenty of automation & samples of course...

Track name is Pulp Friction...PULP = a mish-mash of tracker 'sketches'. FRICTION = Not everybody is gonna like it...

Cool for long sustains AXS will keep note on block after block (synth) till a note-off command is seen.

Fun stuff...Give it a try... Other than giving the track a fast fade-out & conversion to MP3 I have done nothing else to it-

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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Starting to work on different SKINS for AXS by changing the default bitmaps...Takes a bit of time to get all the colors synced up...

Also noticed the upper right 'AXS' Logo was still on version 2.03 which was the DOS version so changed it to 3.0 but that needs a bit more work as the 3.0 is a bit too close to the AXS...

Here is a start-

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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

OK...Got some stuff I laid down at KVR might be a help to some HERE trying AXS...

I am just copying-pasting- BEGIN-

Well, That's interesting...Yeah the MIDI input is kinda a buggered mess... I got 4 MIDI keyboards & none really work right...Mostly for the sampler sector OR the FIRST preset of the Synth. If I try to use on any other Synth Preset the sound does not change...

So I DON'T use anything but QWERTY with AXS but I have never had a problem with QWERTY in AXS. I can rip up-down the two-octave range never had sticky or missed notes & that's on XP with laptop or QWERTY keyboards plugged in at least 6 different machines also great on ASUS Transformer Netbook with Windows 10 no problem. No problem being a QWERTY virtuoso on any of these...

HOWEVER!...I do notice AXS act funny if you got any OTHER app using driver at same time...Pitching off & random BPMs this happen even using MP3 player at same time but also tuningfork can't use at same time. Make sure you don't have other crap in the BG borrowing audio driver at same time maybe try a different driver in setup...

One thing MIDI Keyboard might be good for some who prefer realtime automation recording as if your KB has alotta knobs or sliders AXS will automap many controls to it. You can then record pattern commands using the hardware knob as long as you got the 'CAPs LOCK' button pushed at same time... You can use this same method with on-screen knobs & sliders too.

I forgot about that 'cause I don't use that method... I just type in the pattern commands manually at the precise locations needed then 'inbetween' any two commands invoke the 'F9' key which fills in interpolation.

Also I don't know how the pitch bend is supposed to work I just engage the pitch envelope for said synth preset on OSC 1 or 2 or both THEN adjust the DECAY & SUSTAIN carefully in the ADSR sliders for the proper range THEN use the pitch gain command to bend up or down which is the 9xx command usually start with '940' which is knob set at middle (64) then go down as far as '900' or up as far as '97F'...

One other thing whilst I'm thinking about it & underwriting this old tracker is that there is no vibrato command. You might think 'pitch gain' would work for that too but pitch gain is for LONGER lengths otherwise it get's 'stair stepper' sounding which might be what you want for certain FX...

No you gotta use the 3xx 'LFO 1 Rate' command piped into the proper OSC1 or OSC2 pitch button-
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

SOOOooooo... Got the original AXS tune to finish then I'm getting ready to give DreamStation 1 a whirl...

Similar to AXS in that it is a vintage tracker that has internal synth & uses samples too...That's about most all the similarity...

AXS is actually a DOS tracker ported to windows & given out free...A year before it was given out free DreamStation was created & being sold up through 2006 or 2007...

DreamStation has more sonic possibilities, a mixer, meters & such plus real stereo separation internally, But does not record note velocities, does not have FX command 'interpolation', has way less FX commands but DreamStation also has an automation panel which helps.

DreamStation has 2 FX lanes per track but the FX are limited & in proprietary format not actual hex. AXS only has one FX Lane but you can use an unassigned track for any preset you need a second effect command for. I did this in the tune 'Pulp Friction'.

AXS is velocity oriented & includes 4 different ways to make your notes sound different as per different velocities for interesting FX & a 'humanized' approach. Velocity to Amplitude, Velocity to Filter, Velocity to Decay and Velocity to Offset. DreamStation only has a Vxx volume command to change volume at channel mixer OR a Exx to change gain at filter envelope...These are the only 'at the note level' options nut volumes can be automated by knob.

One other curious aspect of DreamStation is a lack of a line-skipping feature, none anywhere, not in manual at all so you just skip one line then have to 'arrow down' to the next spot. Pageup-dn buttons skip NINE lines but iI suppose you could backtrack one...

DreamStation certainly more visually appealing when running-
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DreamStation doesn't have 'smart patterns' like AXS which will be sorely missed...BUTT!...SYNTH is QUITE NICE SOUNDING & was always highly rated back in the day. Was licensed out to Cakewalk for a time as a DXi plugin, was never made a VSTi plugin though...

THERE IS A COOL ASPECT of DreamStation that the DXi plug DOES NOT HAVE...And that's extra buttons for the three OSCs that load WAV files thus any samples you bring in will be ran through the DSP of the synth with all it's glory...This includes slide-to-note, portamento, note 'ties' button, two kinds of vibrato...One which is an FX command type the other is a 'auto-vibrato' that has a delay knob you can set.

All these work with the samples I have already tested, plus you can load up same sample in one, two or all three OSCs to get fuller sound or detune one or two, or other shite...

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Anyway will have new thread soon....

STILL AXS much faster to get going but DreamStation got 32 tracks instead of 16...USE BOTH!!!!
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Spent some time makin' some skins for AXS...

Most these of a 'High-Contrast' theme...Just replace the 3 GIFs in the directory...

Have included a copy of AXS for back-up...No need to just backup the GIFs when entire frickin' program is SO SMALL!!!...


https://anonfiles.com/iaWbU9p7z6/AXSskinZ_rar

OR

https://workupload.com/start/VV2xCYV9YyQ

OR

https://ufile.io/cb8rc208

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WaxingAndWaning
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Well...Poop...

After trying to put skins into practice I soon realized that a PREVIEW image of each would be nice so you can see what you wanna change out rather than blind switching...

So I added that plus cleaned up the naming of folders AND on many of the skins that had knobs in original color still I recolored the knob strips. So DELETE the previous skins & go with this archive-

https://anonfiles.com/51Xbm9qdz9/AXSskinZ_rar

OR

https://workupload.com/start/SqcHsuqS28F

OR

https://ufile.io/khsae642

This is how the new knobs & such look with the skins...You can also switch out different colored knob strips with other background and tools GIFs but best to take screen shot for reference...

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If you wanna try skinning yourself it's just 'replacing colors' & the background & knob GIFs are not critical but the TOOLS.GIF is...There are ALOT of areas you would not think of in that GIF that have a MAJOR effect on the look. Best to try 'color balance' just a bit first no radical color changing that don't work. Just a 'bit' at a time also if your editor has a 'maximum' command that works well. The problem is there are areas that are just a few pixels long in that GIF that determine colors on the tracker in the most unusual places...

You will see if you wanna try...It looks innocent enough but I assure you......

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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

OK...One thing...

I am never suggesting that anyone 'replace' their current Tracker or DAW with AXS...In other forums you get some real stupid comments. This is why I am pretty much just placing posts here.

No SunVox is QUITE an ADVANCED Tracker, Also the prettiest to look at runnin'. However something like AXS is a 'COOL, VINTAGE, SIMPLE, SMALL YET CAPABLE TRACKER 'SIDEKICK' FOR FAST IDEA COMPOSITION' or makin' whole tunes too...

No, for me it AIN't gonna replace-

-SunVox
-Protrekkr
-Aodix
-Sequential Vibes
- Skale Tracker

But if the smallest SIZE combined with CAPABILITY then AXS would be a winner-

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I tend to like Trackers that have Internal Synths as well as using samples but don't hook VSTs...This is the BEST efficiency as well as needing less samples to have to pack in if your Internal Synth is capable...

Tons of VSTi are sample based so why deal with that sort of interfacing inefficiency when you can just load up the samples yourself & tailor them to your liking?
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Occasionally gonna do 'OldSkool' Tutorial-Tip animated GIFs such as-

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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

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Tuningfork can be got here-

https://16-bits.org/etc/tuningfork.zip


PC9 Metronome not available anymore but is via Wayback Machine-

https://web.archive.org/web/20141020155 ... onome.html



After install you can just take PC9 directory & use portable...

Song file is here-

https://anonfiles.com/c91dr2qcze/BEE_TIN_AXS

OR

https://workupload.com/start/6J89PsLkbRj

OR

https://www.sendspace.com/file/73yyxe
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

If you've taken the previous GIF to heart then it should be no surprise that a vast amount of the old 'grooveboxes' can add some spice & they have the benefit that you can 'align' them to your project by adjusting THEIR BPM to whatever your project is & also using whatever scales-chords you are using.

Because of 'different' sounds add refresh to your music render to WAV then bring on in...simple, simple...

Here is one...The original freeware SawCutter 1.0 which is quite capable of adding spice-

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Grab one from this hard-to-find link-

https://web.archive.org/web/20060517174 ... Cutter.zip
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Here is another 'GROOVEBOX' that can make some nice sounds, Like a raspy rebirth and more...


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Best to check your 'tuning' of your riff with a standard like Tuningfork before export as the tuning can get a bit out--of-whack with knob tweaking...

A cool oldie from the AXS era...

Info here-

https://web.archive.org/web/20050218011 ... /#quickuse

Actual download is here-

https://web.archive.org/web/20060813174 ... ewl101.zip
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Well I just got through 'enhancing' Pulp Friction using trakAx version 2 (perpetual Freeware)...

Subtle volume shaping & not-so-subtle stereo panning along with some dynamics with Ozone...

Sounds better to me, less raspy...Still it's not a 'remix' as it's just a uniform stereo file...




trakAx is a good match for AXS, plus it's free...If you got DX plugins you are set as it uses DX not VST.

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trakAx contains the zPlane Elastique engine so can beat-match too-

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Anyways you MIGHT WANNA GET IT...Long gone in present day but still available on the wayback machine...

DIRECT DL HERE-

https://web.archive.org/web/20071117035 ... _0_108.exe


INFO here-

https://web.archive.org/web/20080314075 ... /features/
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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Here's a couple more Animated GIF tuts covering Pitch Bends & Note Velocity Modulators>>>>

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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

One thing occured to me last night...AXS has NEVER CRASHED ON ME (Yet)!!...

Boy that says something because everything else has...

Tuareg 2.5 - Numerous CRASHES
DreamStation 1 - Numerous CRASHES
Skale Tracker - Several CRASHES
Delta SP - Several CRASHES
Making Waves - Several CRASHES
Protrekkr - Several CRASHES

That's what I been messing with recently but I can't seem to remember anything else NEVER crashing...

In AXS I have made HUGE song files, Loaded a wide variety of samples...NOTHING, NADA

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Re: AXS 3.0b4 Tracker Win32 - Tips & Useful Info>>>News

Post by WaxingAndWaning »

Made this as a useful tool showing increment splits in sampler pitch knob. YEAH, checked out with Tuningfork just to make sure as ODD jump from original neutral ROOT position is 8 steps UP or DOWN & everything else is 5 steps...

Hey, Whatever works...

Good if you are doing multi-key split of instruments within octaves for better quality rather than the 'Fill Octave' button. Been bringing in some old quality Kontakt 2 Instruments, Working well so far...

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