XM (file format)

Last updated
XM
Filename extension
.xm
Internet media type
audio/xm
Magic number 0x1A at offset 37 [1]
Developed byFredrik Huss (Mr.H of Triton)
Initial release1994 [1]
Type of format Module file format
Extended from MOD

XM, standing for "extended module", is an audio file type introduced by Triton's FastTracker 2. [2] XM introduced multisampling-capable [3] instruments with volume and panning envelopes, [4] sample looping [5] and basic pattern compression. It also expanded the available effect commands and channels, added 16-bit sample support, and offered an alternative frequency table for portamentos.

Contents

XM is a common format for many module files.

The file format has been initially documented by its creator in the file XM.TXT, which accompanied the 2.08 release of FastTracker 2, as well as its latest known beta version: 2.09b. The file, written in 1994 and attributed to Mr.H of Triton (Fredrik Huss), bears the header "The XM module format description for XM files version $0104." The contents of the file have been posted on this article's Talk subpage for reference.

This documentation is however said to be incomplete and insufficient to properly recreate the behaviour of the original program. The MilkyTracker project has expanded the documentation of the XM file format, in an attempt to replicate not only the behaviour of the original software but also its quirks. Their documentation of the XM file format is available on the project's GitHub repository.

OXM (oggmod) is a subformat, which compresses the XM samples using Vorbis. [6]

Supporting media players

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References

  1. 1 2 Kameñar, Vladimir (2007). The Unofficial XM File Format Specification. Colombia: CelerSMS. ISBN   978-958-53602-0-4. OCLC   1262695345.
  2. Varga, Martin (2014). Learning AndEngine. Packt Publishing Ltd. ISBN   978-1-78398-596-8. music composing (using the famous FastTracker 2)
  3. Sawyer, Ben; Dunne, Alex; Berg, Tor (1998). Game Developer's Marketplace. Coriolis Group Books. p. 295. ISBN   978-1576101773.
  4. Perekh, Ranjan (2006). "Audio File Formats and CODECs". Principles of Multimedia. McGraw Hill. p. 247. ISBN   0-07-058833-3.
  5. Alves de Abreu, Valter Miguel (2018-07-17). "Analysing trackers and their formats". Recreating tracker music sequencers in modern videogames: an integrated model approach for adaptive music (MSc). University of Porto. p. 17. S2CID   192364225 . Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  6. Sweet, Michael (2014). "MOD File Sequencing". Writing Interactive Music for Video Games. Addison-Wesley. p. 272. ISBN   978-0-321-96158-7.

See also