Definitely SunVox. Not only tracker but also excelent synth.

@dpalaoro

Жыл бұрын

❤️👍 Old user here. Forums are fantastic. Shot out to Nightradio!

Seriously one of the most underrated channels on YT right now. Thank you for your advice!

Perfect timing, my dude. I've been trying to convince myself that buying one of those was a bad idea....

you can also run the M8 headless version for free!

@sweatycrabthailand4262

5 ай бұрын

I don't think you can run it for free, it takes some hardware too, and you got to know how to set that up.

Thank you again for great options! What about covering the excellent and free SunVox?

@sawtooth808

Жыл бұрын

Sunvox is free for Mac and PCs, for IPads it will cost you $8, which is still reasonable.

@earthhuman5448

Жыл бұрын

Alex Zolotov is a genius!

@CoolGreenApple

Жыл бұрын

Best tracker, I used it extensively in high school and it is supremely powerful and easy to use

I LOVE my M8. Would gladly spend every penny again. I always have it with me and have created so many tracks since I got it. The developer deserves my hard earned dollars 100%!

And if you like trackers, try Renoise which is a full featured tracker for today's musician. It really puts some of the more popular DAWs to shame by having immense control over samples and automation. Advance users can write scripts/plugins for it as well. Best of all, it will not break the bank at USD 75. Great for beginners and advance tracker-heads.

@FlawdaJittt

10 ай бұрын

There Is nothing renoise can do that FL Studio can't do

@deeemess

8 ай бұрын

@@FlawdaJittt 1. Be a tracker

@sweatycrabthailand4262

5 ай бұрын

​@@FlawdaJitttFL is not a tracker and do not use any of the sample command effects that even standard trackers do not to speak of the more advanced features in renoise. You can basically do anything in any daw, but not with the ease of workflow that renoise offers. Fl too is not for everyone, I hated the workflow.

@VanillaSoul

5 ай бұрын

Renoise is fucking amazing

@pocketrealitty

5 ай бұрын

@@sweatycrabthailand4262 Renoise Redux. Done! 😂

In Milkytracker one instrument can have 16 samples associated to it. You can't layer the samples but if you open the instrument editor and then click the "edit" button next to the piano keyboard you can associate different samples to different keys/notes by selecting the sample and dragging mouse over the piano keyboard.

Hey, love your content! I just want to mention something - there is a thing called Headless M8. It's a free software version of the M8 but you have to put it on a PCB (Teeensy 4.1). So it's a afortable DIY M8 that you can use on a computer (both MAC and Windows). It's something like 30-40$.

@sebastianbotzow

Жыл бұрын

I am obsessed with the headless M8! Perfect DAW workflow. My favorite cheap gizmo.

I have the Polyend tracker and it was a major throwback to when I used trackers on my AtariST. I wanted a polyend tracker to get as far away from my computer as possible when writing but I agree. It’s not for everyone!

@brian2590

Жыл бұрын

This is why i bought the polyend tracker and jumped into eurorack. 30+ years of computer use going back as far as the Atari 800XL and C-64. I am over it. Most of my work and business is automated and i have started to retire into an offgrid mobile lifestyle. Computers waste resources as far as i am concerned. When running off solar power and a limited battery bank this starts to add up. I can get days out of the polyend where a laptop would chew though that power within 6 hours. Good Health is also priceless and worth spending extra for. 30+ years at a keyboard in front of a screen is a great way to trash my body before i am 50. cheers!

Thanks! Impulse Tracker and Fast Tracker were my first music production software in early 90x.

Your videos are very entertaining and useful!

I really enjoy your videos thank you and your sense of humour is great. I hope you're well. Hello from New Zealand

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Appreciated. Greetings from China 🙌

Great video! Love your approach to teachin people!

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Great job you guys have done 🙌 Only wishing the tracker could have a better screen 🤣

@Polyend

2 жыл бұрын

@@playpm Our next Tracker will have the best screen possible ;D Meanwhile, nobodys' perfect! :D

add my vote to the bag of “SunVox” videos too please! also i just checked out the podcast you were on with simon the magpie and analog and i just wanted to say that i definitely think you should try out your take on “bad gear” where you talk about the flaws of certain gear! hearing your take on the workflow and performance issues of hardware would be a great watch, especially for someone who does that for a living! keep up the good work. I’ve really have been enjoying all that you do!

Milky tracker runs on ARM boards like the raspberry pi. It can be used to create a device like the polyend if one is inclined to DIY.

That was fun. Thank you and God bless 🙂🙏🏼❤️

The best eye opener reviews on youtube.. in my opinion.

You can also DIY a "headless" version of the M8 Tracker: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qnaK1piwnsLIaJs.html (Not my video)

I'm downloading it now......great video as usual. Thanks

Awesome . I'll have to check it out. I ordered the M8 due to it's versatility and portability.

@dwat3r

3 ай бұрын

a laptop is also very versatile and portable. never understood this whole shitting-on-computers thing

This is what I needed! Thank you!

That song in the beginning you made is 🔥

@playpm

Жыл бұрын

Oh, actually it's a demo song from MilkyTracker official, I don't have that much pacience for a tracker 😅

I think the point of hardware trackers is the fact that it gets you away from the laptop and helps you focus on quick ideas without distraction. They can also be possibly more reliable because they aren't affected by viruses. Plus they spark inspiration when using them because they are very attractive looking. Like a flying v guitar, or orange amps, it makes you want to make music. It's art and artists love art. It's like brushing your teeth without a good toothpaste. If the toothpaste tastes bad, you wont want to brush your teeth as much. As a matter of fact, one of the biggest reasons tooth paste was invented was to get people to keep brushing their teeth. That's why hand soap that has a scent or foams up makes people wash their hands more. Do you need to buy a hardware tracker? Nah. This channel is a perfect guide to save you money when you cant afford to. But if you have more than enough money, sure. I own an SP404mk2, and I love it to death. It is a sound palette and a playground for my ideas. I feel like I am playing a guitar or drums, but with bleeps and bloops. That's my opinion anyways.

Renoise is great even as a freeware. Paid version adds ASIO support and wave export, you can save and load projects even on the free version.

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for reminding, I read about it, says it will insert noise/silent if you don't pay.

@pirateradioFPV

2 жыл бұрын

​@@playpm No noise, I've used it for years now. It just adds ASIO support and wave export in the paid version. Everything else is the same as in the "full" version and they actively develop it, to me the 65€ they charge for it is more about supporting the devs to keep the project going because you really don't have to pay for it to use it :)

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Now I wanna redo this episode 🙂

@pirateradioFPV

2 жыл бұрын

@@playpm I'm sure it's fine as I'm sure the fans of the other trackers will also tell you their favourite in the comments 🙃😁

@croay

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely recommend Renoise, it's a huge upgrade from Milky, as powerful as Polyend and M8 and much cheaper.

The algorithm delivers. Thank you, sir.

a trip down memory lane ,I began composing with fast tracker 2 back in 2000, my most complex arrangements are from that early period, then I turned to a Vangelis/Schulze style of layered keyboard playing over programmed beats and sequences. but I've been feeling the pull of the tracker again. digitakt is my tool for now but no chaining, no song mode, is very annoying, I'm stuck in loop mode with it. I don't like using the computer to compose but the hardware solutions are too expensive. maybe what I need is a nice ergonomic setup to go back to using the computer for new projects.

Always on point.

Nice stuff. I made the linked Aalto course material for MilkyTracker. It's great that you found it useful.

Bless you. Back in 1995 we used a souped up Amiga 2000 to produce Drumfunk in our Studio. Octamed efficiency sending midi data to a series of Akai samplers and synths running through a Mackie desk. Beautiful work flow for our particular genre. Drum chopping is in my opinion is rather stimulating using Trackers.

thank god youre on a tracker kick the same time i am, great vid

Ok, I have G.A.S. I admit it. I have a Dirtywave M8 on pre-order but in the meantime I'm messing around with Sunvox on a Palm Tungsten TX. Yep, and it works very well. The TX has a tiny screen, but it is pretty amazing that it runs well on an old Palm PDA. You can get a Palm TX off eBay for $50.00 and the Sunvox version is free.

Milky tracker is great, you probably should mention it supports Linux as well. Also if you already own a bunch of Linux based handheld consoles why not try LGPT which is really a more powerful LSDJ which supports samples and is much closer to a M8 than LSDJ. Finally obviously one of the main attractions of M8 is the protability, it's pretty hard to put your MacBook in your pocket...

@reidfamilydroid

2 жыл бұрын

I have LGPT running great on the Miyoo Mini CFW on my Powkiddy Q90. Would recommend!

@MaksimLin

2 жыл бұрын

@@reidfamilydroid Yep I have LGPT running very well on a Anbernic rg280v too. Theres a great tutorial on how to set it up on it here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/lYid2tSFqLWdltY.html

@my4trackmachine

2 жыл бұрын

Used LGPT for years. It's a great little program.

Love milkytracker. it's why i bought the Polyend. I use it for chunky drum sampling and sequencing VCV Rack, which is free!

I really wanted the M8, but then Ableton Note let me pretty satisfied! I think Ableton Note is the perfect pocket groovebox.

Thank you!

Thank you very much! You've saved me a ton of bucks!

thanks, but I'll stick with my headless M8 setup. (It costs less than $45).

@sweatycrabthailand4262

5 ай бұрын

What kind of setup did you do?

Seems like most people won't have the patients to do any of this. Its already daunting enough to learn and know enough to get to the point of being able to use this, that by the time you do, you know there are better easier ways for a reason.

I used FastTracker II when it was new... The one Milkytracker is based on

Yes. Milky tracker makes me happy.

this kinda sums up what i thought about polyend tracker when i first saw it. i mean it is very cool and being a standalone box has it's advantages but literally even a shittiest smallest laptop with any freeware tracker (or renoise) installed gives you exact same capabilities if not more xD plus an inbuilt battery which polyend traker doesn't have :P

Good video. Just Subscribed. Milky Tracker X is nice as well. Extra features.

Awesome!

This channel is so funny 😂❤

I totally disagree with your opinion but I love your ideas and your video was very constructive and informative. Big up.

Even though Renoise and Sunvox do look better and seemingly more powerful, special gratitude for showing the MilkyTracker (made in 🇺🇦) I cannot imagine what a pain In the neck to use dirtywave m8 without a proper keyboard.

@MaksimLin

2 жыл бұрын

Actually because it's UI is optimised for just using a small number of buttons, as LSDJ pioneered using MI is exceptionally fast without a full qwerty keyboard

hell yeah milky tracker is great!

Protracker for Amiga has been free forever. Has no one considered that all "trackers" come from The Ultimate Soundtracker and it's variant evolution Protracker? Milkytracker is also just a Win XP variant of FastTracker2, which creates .xm files. The better choice for creating strictly audio-driven music with a tracker interface should be with Renoise, not Milky. Protracker creates .mod files, FastTracker2 = .xm files, Scream Tracker = .s3m files, and Impulse Tracker = .it files. Still, there is this blind spot and ignorance that tracker music has a significant assocation with Amiga and DOS music. Otherwise, use Renoise for whatever experimenting in interface only. Polyend Tracker continues to fumble with .mod importing.

Before I say anything I want to say these videos are great, some of them are better than others and they are always entertaining and kudos to michael for making the effort and continuing to make them. I simultaneously love these videos and cringe at them violently. I've never watched any of these and thought so myself that the suggested alternatives were actually ALTERNATIVES rofl. You want this sleek neat inspiring machine? How about something not sleek, not inspiring in the slightest? HAVE FUN! Why even buy an instrument at all? I mean all you need is a computer from 20 years ago from a daw from that era and you can probably still crank out a hit IF you can get yourself to want to do that. Want a guitar? How about instead you get a $100 keyboard with a guitar/chord synth, same thing! Want to play the drums? Don't bother even thinking about getting a drum kit, just play samples with a touch screen on your phone, same thing! These videos aren't "wrong", they're kind of just a huge wet blanket; and I'm sure it helps folks save money and maybe inspire them in different way but let's not pretend anything put forth here is even kind of reasonable as an actual alternative.

@playpm

5 ай бұрын

You got it, I made them funnily useful and money saving.

You can also press the 'Cln' button to create a clone of the current pattern for modifying, no need to select-all/copy/paste.

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip! Definitely gonna try it~

You should check out Renoise and their plugin Redux which you can use in your DAW for sample tracking.

This is off topic, but I just have one (probably dumb) question- Which piece of music gear/groove box do you think, would best fit in the “beginner-friendly” category..? (Beginner, also as in- they’ve never had or bought a groovebox before and they wanna see what’s it’s like to go dawless, but don’t know where to start) And I’m so Sorry to bother you, I know this question is dumb- but I still would really love to know what you think..

@playpm

Жыл бұрын

By beginner if you mean not too much menu diving then it would be korg volcas, but they're way too limited on each own. More function means more controls, means probably more menu diving therefore steeper learning curve, I got no perfect answer, you will always feel like a beginner on every groovebox. If you mean mean beginner on music making/music theory, then I suggest start from piano or guitar, solid music theory supports you to go further.

I was shocked when Polyend Tracker came out. I mean, I remembered my teenage years when my friend had shown me a DAW (it was FL Studio 4, I think) and I was surprised how better and more intuitive it was after trackers which I had been using back then. I have moved to DAWs and never got back. And now, in 2021 (?) Polyend Tracker came out, and I was like, why do I actually need a separate box for that kind of workflow?

@gutterg0d

2 жыл бұрын

Because variety is the mother of creativity. Limitations forces you to try new ways to achieve what you want, which often leads to unexpected and unique exeriences.

@gutterg0d

2 жыл бұрын

... but you don't specifically need anything more than your own body to make music.

@Divuar

2 жыл бұрын

@@gutterg0d The last one is the ultimate truth, brother! Totally agree.

Hey, I'd love to buy a triangle but obviously, considering the cost of such a great instrument, I was wondering if maybe you had a free triangle alternative?

honestly i still might look at getting a polyend just for the sample editing because milkytracker is fairly basic in that respect (or maybe im just mad that theres no timestretch) but its good to get my hands on a tracker before looking at paying for something

I'm using Schism Tracker which is port of Impulse Tracker which run on DOS. It is free 👍 P. S. It is also multi platform MAC/PC/LINUX...

You can make a headless M8 for 30 bucks.

Aside from GAS, I also suffer from MAS (Motorcycle..), unfortunately there is no SW substitute :)

I know very little about the sample world and less than nothing about trackers! I am completely lost but very interested haha!

Yes, I was interested in checking out tracker. You showed me how without dipping into my wallet. Cheers!

Tough to replace the M8 since it's so fast and powerful in a package that honestly kind of makes it super fast with the button combos. I am sure the headless option was mentioned so you can just install it on your laptop and have a M8 for like $30. I went from that to the real thing and for $550, it's worth it, imo. I agree with most of your videos though, especially the MPC one. I just think there is nothing like carrying the M8 around and mastering the button combos. It's a special experience, and not crazy expensive for what it can do. Also you didn't really show how you sequence hardware with MIDI out, which is a big feature of this thing.

@trevor_mounts_music

Жыл бұрын

my 300 dollar laptop runs renoise and has a full sized keyboard - way more convenient imo. The M8 is cool but it is kind of expensive for what it is...

@landonh3535

Жыл бұрын

@@trevor_mounts_music disagree, the m8 is faster than using a keyboard. i have renoise on my laptop too. its also awesome but the m8 is a different experience.

@tezeta3725

6 ай бұрын

Sorry to necro this, but as far as free alternatives go, littlegpt on a handheld gets pretty close to the M8. They're both based on lsdj so they have basically the same control scheme. The M8 is obviously way more powerful feature wise but the general workflow is nearly identical. Totally worth it if you happen to have a psp or ps vita laying around to install it on.

@playpm

6 ай бұрын

@tezeta3725 wow! Thanks for the info, first time hearing it and I'm downloading it now!

@tezeta3725

6 ай бұрын

@@playpm No problem! Like I said the M8 is definitely more powerful, littlegpt doesn't have any synth engines and only very rudimentary ability to manipulate samples (plus probably the worst sounding filter I've ever heard). But as far workflow they're almost identical, they have basically the same button combos so you can get really fast with both of them.

Great stuff! Is there an equivalent to the Polyend Tracker's Fill function? I've been thinking about writing my own tracker just to look at that kind of generative function 😅

@dousted2629

2 жыл бұрын

Renoise does

@maximerobin

2 жыл бұрын

Renoise and Sunvox do this. It may be named differently but it's there. The one in Sunvox is pretty extensive. It can generate stuff quite more complex but the way PT implements it is way faster.

@TedCurran

2 жыл бұрын

Renoise's is not quite the same as the Polyend feature, though we are discussing on the forums how to add similar functionality. That's one thing I love about Renoise is that the community often builds extensions and plugins to add features.

@maximerobin

2 жыл бұрын

@@TedCurran That's one important thing about the trackers, many of those tools have great communities.

A teensy 4.1 is around $30-40 USD and you can put M8 firmware on it

I definitly got the urge to order the m8, but it isnt available rn, and the price is a bit steep. Ended up getting a used lenovo laptop running a i5 processir and install linux and renoise ... Paid about 15% of the m8 price and honestly got a lot more features. .

Thats true - computer is more powerfull and cheaper, but nothing like hardware. I hate to make music in Daw etc. but I love my mpc

i never like doing anything on a tracker type of sequencer or work flow because its workflow is very time consuming, but anyways there is also tracker call sunvox which is a tracker that is not free on some platforms but it’s closed to free because the app is only $5.99 and is on almost every platform, window, android and ios for example and its always getting updates and im sure that it can do much more then any tracker hardware…

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

(It just feels great to jump back to 21th century after done with this video)

@SLPGroundSoundMusic

2 жыл бұрын

@@playpm 😂

@maximerobin

2 жыл бұрын

That's exactly that. The tracker workflow is way faster then any other music workflow because it was created by computer minded individuals and not musicians. The learning curve for musicians is steep. Before getting to that that fast workflow, musicians have alot to learn and to unlearn. During this time, it is way slower then making music in another way. And I understand clearly how one won't put the time on it as it seems way less productive and fun to use tracker this time.

@minikuiotoko

2 жыл бұрын

Workflow is the best part about the trackers, nothing is faster than a tracker. Here's 5 minutes of my and maybe your time, too: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qqeosqNmfafLZto.html

@maximerobin

Жыл бұрын

@D34DB34T To each his own. I didn’t say you were faster with it… seeing some people using it, the screens look like tetris tournaments; we can barely know what is going on. So no doubt it could be the fastest way. Since this comment some months ago, it’s not the fastest workflow for me anymore since I use Koala Sampler now. For my way of working it’s the fastest to resample. And the “limited” possibilities compare to the near limitless possibilities of trackers helps for me. Sometimes it’s good to be focus! 😂

Thanks, I didn't want to fork out 500 bucks for msDos or Terminal based synthesis 😘

I'd say Renoise for the win for tracker based workflow and as others have said here, it's free and only paid if you want vst support or wave /aiff export. Whichever, at the price it is it's totally worth it. I think you could have made your point better with a Polyend tracker and possible M8 in front of you, to really get annoyed with the gear 😅 but anyway thanks for gas therapy 👍🏻

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Some just love trackers but don't want to pay that much attention on them 😊

@GregDixson

2 жыл бұрын

@@playpm yea can understand that, but actually the tracker workflow is only half the argument. Polyend sell a black box limited to 8 audio tracks, limited fx per channel and hardware with documented issues, then ships the same product months after release with a plastic casing instead of metal, and at a higher price. Dirtywave M8 is a lot more value for money and transparent in it's build and development process. However, it is handheld with limited input buttons and a small screen. Just think given the gas therapy there's a lot more for you to argue against than the tracker workflow.

1:45 - this is not true, you dont have to pair m8 with anything and it’s more powerful than polyend tracker. The only thing in which PT excels is having more ticks per steps for shuffling. Source: i have both and recently PT is collecting dust while I use m8 most of the time

@jefftheworld

2 жыл бұрын

What is the maximum ticks per step on the Polyend? I didn't realize it went above the maximum you could configure on the M8.

@LostStylus

2 жыл бұрын

@@jefftheworld 100 as I remember correctly. M8 has 6 in straight pattern. Does not really bother me too much since you can offset that time in drum samples

@LostStylus

2 жыл бұрын

@@jefftheworld you can also micromove individual steps in polyend tracker

@jefftheworld

2 жыл бұрын

@@LostStylus That's just the default. M8 can be configured with up to 254 step ticks. For a shuffle/swing you can set up to 16 different step tick values in a groove table and each step will use the next number of ticks in the list.

Sunvox ❤️ Have you tried it? You can ise your own samples.

I guess the next step is going to be suggesting free alternatives to sample libraries, no? :)

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

We'll get there 😆

Which Midi keyboard do you recommend for the ipad?

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Each one will work for your ipad, it depends on your playing skill background and what you want to achieve.

Is there a good tracker app for android? To have a similar feeling like with the M8? I mean to make traker music with your phone?

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

Milkytracker is also in Google play store, but the touch experience won't be great, I suggest you try run LSDJ on an Gameboy emulator first.

@k-g-p

2 жыл бұрын

@@playpm Thanks Michael, LSDJ is great, but as you said, it doesnt support samples and doesnt has a "propper" synth engine

milkytracker and lsdj/m8c/ntrq have completely different workflows. people gravitate to the plane-view ui of LSDJ/m8c/ntrq due to the efficiency with switching menus and fleshing out tracks. once you have these menus memorized it is a completely different experience. another point would be to have a portable device that is smol for travel which is not what a laptop is. for instance i used to write a lot of music on the dingoo with ntrq which would fit into my pocket and i would just have headphones with. ultimately i will be purchasing a uconsole to install renoise on as my travel DAW because it hits a lot of reqs im looking for.

I turned my Steam Deck into a M8 for $40 with a Teensy 4.1 and Dirtywave's free M8 Headless firmware.

Try Renoise

Nothing is portable here, you’re better off using m8headless with some handheld device if you want to do it on budget

Good video, for me is better Renoise

A recommendation for something closer to the Polyend Tracker for free is OpenMPT. The Tracker can export IT files, but OpenMPT's own MPTM format extends it with support for VSTs, as well as native effect. It can also emulate the OPL soundchip native to the S3M tracker format, which does not allow the use of effects, but gives limited synthesis. It's Windows-native, but they also support running it in Wine on Linux and MacOS.

Try m8 headless

Use Renoise bro

Why did you not mention the free version of M8.

@playpm

Жыл бұрын

Because you have to buy some Teensy usb chip and an extra monitor and hdmi cable and an SD card for the free software, which not many people have, not like a cheap well-assembled computer.

The desktop version of sunvox is free!!!! Definitely a better solution!!!

I like your videos, pretty funny, but hardware is totally different than using a computer, especially windows which is a PITA to use for music due to the constant need to update the OS.

M8tracker defeated any reason to have GAS on my part 😅

hardware trackers are such a weird phenomenon, trackers were all about using computers

i'm getting that M8. But yeah, sub'd i'm a very gas oriented type of person. I have to purchase like 3 pieces of gear to make half a song. help.

I mean yeah that's cool and all but some people would like to get OFF the computer. Some get easily distracted. Also, you can't take your MacBook with you in your pocket. What's easier to flip out when you're waiting on the bus or on the bus. A MacBook or a smartphone sized Tracker?

Or use pro-tracker on an Amiga, for KZread and instagram likes 😀

👀

lol ( i dont much patient for traker ) great video still hahah

its funny but I thought why do people not just use a laptop instead of these {soy tracker synth boxes}

renoise tracker has a free version as well.

@toitoitoy

2 жыл бұрын

Demo?

@redbirdsaraceno

2 жыл бұрын

@@toitoitoy demos are already on youtube . Another great free tracker software is Sun Vox , ios has it as well buts its a paid version .

Renoise is the best alternative and very cheap for a DAW

Sunvox

Protrekkr is a more modern version of MilkyTracker

@playpm

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, will give it a go!

Even for free the tracker workflow seem like naw lol

Are you speeding up your voice? It sounds very strange... It is very hard to listen but interesting.

@playpm

2 жыл бұрын

No, but I'm sorry for my accent.

thanks for sharing that cool option. still not sure, why the tracker thing seems to be more appealing to some than using a proper DAW. But for those who love it, its a great option to those expensive hardware toys :)