Current version: 2.4.00 (January 17th, 2012)

Adlib Tracker II is, dare we say, the most userfriendly tracker aimed for the OPL3 FM-chip, and is full of advanced features to simplify your task of making the most of your Adlib-tunes.

Supporting 4 operator instruments, percussion mode, a wide selection of importable song- and instrument types and - maybe foremost - an advanced macro editor that can really push the FM-chip to the limit.

Last but not least, Adlib Tracker II's built-in MIDI support can turn this tracker into a full-fledged standalone FM synthesizer that can be controlled from your favourite DAW.

If you're lucky enough to have an old PC machine lying around with DOS and a Sound Blaster card (see below) - or a brand new computer that can simulate it - don't hesitate to install and get grooving with this ultimate FM-tool of yours!

Features

Adlib Tracker II features:

• Supports 4-operator instruments, melodic and percussion instruments
• Supports up to 255 instruments, 128 patterns, 128 order list entries, 86 effect commands, and 16 extended commands
• Features 2 effect columns and instrument macro-definitions
• MPU-401 compatible MIDI slave mode, can be used to send notes to Adlib Tracker II (version 2.4.00)

Recommended system requirements

The performance of the computer needed to run Adlib Tracker are very moderate. The main criteria is that the computer can handle ISA-cards to be able to use those Soundblaster cards that contains the OPL3-chip. Here is a preferred setup:

• Pentium-compatible processor
• SVGA-capable graphics card
• 8MB+ free extended memory (and 400KB free conventional)
• Sound Blaster compatible sound card (with OPL3-compatible chip, preferably an original Sound Blaster 16)
• Mouse driver
• MS-DOS 6.20 or higher compatible operating system

OPL3 Hardware

From the mid 90's and on there have been many alternative soundcards (and integrated cards) claiming to be "100% Soundblaster compatible". These claims don't always measure up with the reality, which amongst other problems can result in FM-music not sounding the way it is supposed to. In addition, all Creative PCI cards will emulate the FM-synthesis by software in a much lower sample resolution. Bottom line: for the best quality, make sure you get your hands on a real OPL3-chip card.

Soundcards with original OPL3 (Yamaha YMF262)-chips that are supported:

• Adlib Gold (ISA)
• Creative Labs Soundblaster Pro 2.0 (ISA)
• Creative Labs Soundblaster 16 (ISA)

Soundcards with reasonable OPL3 emulation that are supported:

• Creative Labs Soundblaster AWE32 (ISA)
• Creative Labs Soundblaster AWE64 Value / Standard / Gold (ISA)
• Forte Media FM-801 (PCI)

Mileage may vary with any other soundcard. Just try it out!

DOSBox emulation

Using DOSBox you can emulate a complete legacy PC, including a Sound Blaster-soundcard (with OPL3 support), capable of running Adlib Tracker II in its own environment. This will work with any soundcard available and from most modern operating systems.

The OPL3-emulation in DOSBox is reasonably good and comes pretty close to the original sound. Note that DOSBox (0.74) currently does not support the MPU-401 interface, so MIDI functionality will not work.

Audio examples

To get an idea of Adlib Tracker II's FM sound, here are a couple of recorded tracks (also included):

• Benjamin Gerardin - High Tech Environment III (1155 kb - ben\fm36b2.a2m)
• Benjamin Gerardin - Unnamed (1648 kb) (ben\fm63b_rv.a2m)
• Brendan Bailey - A Different Kind Of Hero (769 kb) (brendan\newfil38.a2m)
• Encore - Computer World (1098 kb) (encore\1_cworld.a2m)
• Encore - The Absence Of Julia (1352 kb) (encore\ab_julia.a2m)
• Nula - Onward (1101 kb) (nula\onward.a2m)
• Nula - Super Mario (747 kb) (nula\mario.a2m)

Development

In order to compile Adlib Tracker II, the following software should be installed:

• TMT Pascal Lite v3.90 (freeware)
• TASM v5.00 or newer

The application can be built by executing the included batch files.