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::|CONTENTS

1. Restrictions on submit
2. Module optimiziation
3. Playback for voting
4. Tools for creation
5. See also

Mod12k is one of several variants of the S3XMODIT module format that severely restrict the size of your module - in this case, 12 kilobytes (12288 bytes). Mod12k allows for a larger amount of pattern data in submissions while still requiring a very small sample data footprint.

Unlike S3XMODIT, this format provides Chipist points instead of Mixist (more info on classes here). In fact, all of the so-called "mod*k/modXk/limited-k" module formats except the largest one, mod64k, grant Chipist points! Reasons for this include the necessity of very small, shortlooped samples & the general philosophy of needing to say more with less.

Check out the "See also" section below for links to the other mod*k variants and formats closely related to them.

Restrictions on submit

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* Your submission should be 12KB or less (12288 bytes).
* The accepted file formats are the same as in the normal S3XMODIT category: .s3m, .xm, .mod and .it.
* DO NOT use FM instruments in .s3m format; this is a sample-based format only.
* For OpenMPT users: Usage of DirectX DSP effect plugins (or any other VST) is not allowed, as this is a specific feature of the software that will not be reflected in any other program that opens the module. See the OpenMPT format if you want those.

Module optimiziation

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The meat and potatoes of all the mod*k formats is optimizing your module to the best of your ability! Particularly in the smaller variants, it is VERY easy to fill up this amount of space in no time. Luckily, there are many practices you can follow to squeeze in as much info as possible... which is where the fun starts!

Check out the Tinymod Optimization Strategies article for all the hot tips!! (That way it doesn't have to be copied eight times for all eight of these format articles anymore...)

Playback for voting

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

Generally speaking, all tools / editors that allow for playback of one of the specific formats will do. Software which use the modern and very accurate 'libopenmpt' library should suffice as well.

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).

Tools for creation

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As with playback, the most popular tool for the job is currently OpenModPlugTracker (OpenMPT), which adequately handles all S3XMODIT formats. Remember that DirectX effects plugins (or any other VST) are not allowed here though.

You can use the original tracker tool of a given format to make your entry too, 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:
* *.s3m (Scream Tracker 3)
* *.xm (Fast Tracker II)
* *.mod (Amiga ProTracker)
* *.it (Impulse Tracker)

See also

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Here are the other mod*k formats:
* mod04k (format)
* mod08k (format)
* mod16k (format)
* mod24k (format)
* mod32k (format)
* mod48k (format)
* mod64k (format)

Related formats:
* S3XMODIT (*.s3m, *.xm, *.mod, *.it)
* Amigamod (*.mod)
* ModPlugTracker Module (*.mptm)

Related articles:
* Tinymod Optimization Strategies - how to get as much out of these formats as you can
* IT Module Optimisation - some older, more technical stuff than what's written there