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::|CONTENTS

  1. Specifications
  2. See Also

One of the variants of the S3XMODIT format, which enforces a maximum module size limit (commonly referred to as "Limited k" or "mod*k"). It earns a BotBr points of the chipist class instead of the mixist class, as achieved in the S3XMODIT format (more info on the different classes here).

See the 'See Also' paragraph for the other mod*k variants and formats closely related to them.



Specifications



Description
This mod*k S3XMODIT variant enforces a maximum module size of 32kB (32.768 bytes). Any module submitted larger than this size, as well as the use of FM instruments in Scream Tracker 3 modules, will be regarded as disqualified / cheating.

# General description comparing nearby mod*k formats, what is possible and different from the others


File Formats
The accepted module files are the same as in the normal S3XMODIT category:
*.s3m (Scream Tracker 3)
*.xm (Fast Tracker II)
*.mod (Amiga ProTracker)
*.it (Impulse Tracker)


Playback
Generally speaking, all tools / editors that allow for play back of one of the specific formats will do. The original tracker software should also be the most accurate.
However it is known that Milky Tracker's *.it playback is not accurate, as it's not fully compatible with the *.it file format (it does not correctly emulate NNAs, instruments, channel commands, and many more aspects of the format and instead tries to convert the *.it to an *.xm).

Software which use the modern and very accurate 'libopenmpt' library should suffice as well.

Two recommended tools for playback are:
OpenModPlugTracker (OpenMPT)
Schism Tracker


Tools & Tips
Trackers
You can use the original tracker tool of a given format to write tracks for, though all of these are written for the MS-DOS platform and require the user to use either a real computer that runs MS-DOS or use a virtual machine (e.g. DOS-BOX) that can emulate a computer running MS-DOS.

Fortunately, there are plenty of modern re-implementations / clones of software that use these formats, that allow the user to work within a modern operating system and doesn't require the user the hassle around with virtual disks / directories to import/export samples, modules, etc.
The most used software for this appears to be OpenModPlugTracker (OpenMPT) at this moment.


Module Optimizing
Since sample data and pattern / sequence data can take up a lot of space, it's important to use mono, 8-bit sample data and not use high speeds for pattern data.

There's the concept of reuse of pattern data so that as little as possible sequence data is duplicated. When working in *.it, you can use the Mxx command to disable/enable channels. This is wonderfully demonstrated in the mod16k song 'Gunjo' by BotBr Maak.

You can also use BoobieSqueezer (for .*xm) or Munch.py (for *.it) to further optimize module data, though these tools can cause some corruptions in very rare situations.

When working in the *.xm or *.it file formats within OpenMPT, you should always export using the 'Compatibility Export' feature, as it often shaves off a 1-3 kilobyte(s) and assumes better compatibility with the original trackers.



See Also



Other Variants
Listed below are the other mod*k S3XMODIT format variants:
mod04k
mod08k
mod12k
mod16k
mod24k
mod48k
mod64k


Related Formats
Listed below are other related formats:
S3XMODIT (*.s3m, *.xm, *.mod, *.it)
Amigamod (*.mod)
ModPlugTracker Module (*.mptm)

Related Articles
IT Module Optimisation




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