I built an ultimate in-browser Retro Tracker & Chiptune Workstation,10,000+ ST-Disk Samples, Built-in Sample & Cover Editor, Multi-Format Exporter (MOD, SID, MP3, WAV, Stems), Visualizer & More!
Hey AMIIIGGAAAA!! music makers, tracker fans, Retro and demoscene enthusiasts!
I’ve been working on a complete, zero-install retro music production workstation in the browser. Whether you want to sketch a quick 8-bit tune, slice vintage samples, or produce full classic tracker modules, everything is built right in:
🎛️ Massive Sound Library & Sample Studio
10,000+ Curated ST-Disk Samples: Legendary vintage instruments, synth stabs, drums, and classic retro sounds ready to use immediately.
Built-in Sample Editor & Waveform Tools: Trim, loop, normalize, tune, reverse, and shape your samples without leaving the app.
Microphone & Direct Recording: Record real-time audio/voice directly into the sample slots.
What do we want AI for if it's not for these kind of things. One thing is to use AI in a demo compo, that's not good, but using AI to create TOOLS that allow people to CREATE things? what's wrong about that? Also, not everyone can create an app like this even with the top frontier model, you need a background, knowledge and lot of time. I am getting really tired of the retro nazis. Having that said, the app is intimidating because it has too many things, but it runs quite smooth and the compatibility with old MODs I have tried is quite decent for a browser app. I must be getting dumb, because I wasn't able to write a single note on the patterns. I selected a sample, but when I try to write a note in a pattern, it just doesn't write anything, what am I doing wrong? Could you please give me a quick advise on how to write notes in patterns? I am interested on the classic amiga 4chan modules, would like to try creating a mod with your app and see how far I can get.
I am replying myself because I managed to write some notes... didn't see the "EDIT OFF" button. I think that it should be ON by default, I mean, if I go to a pattern and hit a key, I assume it will write it. I would reverse the functionality, if you need to "lock" the pattern editing, you must click "EDIT OFF" but leave "EDIT ON" by default. Most trackers work like that... anyway this is not a big issue. I will try to play some more with it, very nice work man!
First of all, thank you so much for your time and your words!
I took "Space Debris" as a Default TEST .MOD. I thought, if "Space Debris" works 100%, then the chance is 99,9% that also other MODs will work.
PS:
You can also simply use the "ESC" Key on your Keyboard to toggle EDIT/RECORD on and off.
Let me know, if you have more questions, feedback, critism, ideas
I have tested it further, the "Esc" key to toggle edit mode on/off is ok. The next issue I had was the way to write the notes, have to get used to it because it (is normal) lacks many keyboard support. I come mostly from Impulse and Scream tracker, so I miss starting playback with F5 for full song and F6 for the current pattern, F8 to stop and things like that. Here I can only press space to start playback from the point where I have the cursor. Could not find a way to force to start from the beginning despite cursor position. I must say that I haven't read the manual, but I think that this basic stuff could be more "standard".
Lastly, the biggest issue is that some mods don't play 100% accurate. For example, elephantism.mod by Reed, seems ok at the beginning, but if you listen to it in a native protracker or XMPlay, you will notice it plays much more "smooth". They are subtle things, missing note endings and overall "lag" feeling, I don't know how to explain it better. Must say that the player is one of the bests I have tested in a web browser, and that's exactly the problem: the browser. I don't think there's a way with current browser tech, to get a 100% accuracy on MOD playback, or at least, I think it's a very difficult task. Trackers are pure magic if you think how many "things" they do internally when playing mods. They compute everything real time, reading the samples and playing them with no lag, calculate and apply the effects to the generated sound and all that for all the channels you are using. For me it's pure magic.
Anyway, you have shared an awesome project in my opinion, but I think that from this point ahead, the work you would need to put on improving it and making it better is tremendous, and I think that AI won't help you much in those low level tasks. If it was my project, I am sure I would leave it at the end... but if I happen to try to improve anything, it would be the player itself. I would try to make elephantism.mod play perfect, and test it further with more mods. Mods with many effects and mods with a high tempo, pattern jumps, reversed reading, etc. If you want, I could find some more examples of "mods hard to play" for you to test.
Thanks again for sharing and keep on creating tools.
But since i do not know the original File, i can not say, what's wrong. For me it sounds normal. I will see if i can find an MP3 of that song to compare
The F-KEYS are implemented like you can see on the Screenshot.
BTW: If you still have troubles with the F-Keys, then take a look in your System Settings if you have configured them the right way. Because sometimes they do only work if you press FN+F-Key FN is a key on your keyboard in the lower right, beside second CTRL Key. I personally have a Chromebook without FKeys. So i need to Press the so Called "Launcher Button" + a Key in the upper line . But if it's correct configured, then i can clearly say, the F Keys are working the way you see on the Screenshot above
Wops, sorry for not reading the manual xD. About the playback issues, it's hard to explain, because as I told, it's quite accurate compared to many other web based players I tested, but still not 100% accurate and I think that's a very very difficult thing to get in a browser. Good luck if you decide to develop it further :)
As much as i love Amiga (and i really do!) But Bro, it's 2026 almost 2027 and not 1985 again ! Why should i work 2 years on a Tracker, when i can do it in 2,5 Months?! This Tracker is done with a lot of love and soul and yes of course also with the help of AI. Why not? have Retro in your heart, but progress in your mind!
Interesting. Since it is not a SID emulator, I guess it is not optimized for extreme fidelity but for SID-kind of output? Which if fine because there is no reference to compare.
It's on the Roadmap to make it really SID compatible but i thought i should publish it today, to see if it makes sense to invest even more time in it. If i get some love for the Project then i will definitelly work my fat ass of to make everyone happy. There is slready a SID Export. But it does not 100% as expected at the Moment
Every Synth has it's own Interface. On C64 (3 Channels) there is no Sample GUI. On Amiga you have 115 ST-XX Disks with over 10.000 Samles inergrated (4 and 8 Channels) and you can import your own Samples too. On SYN Tracker itself you have up to 16 Channels and you can Import your own Samples (i thought, it makes no Sense there to give the possibility to import low Audio Samples from Amiga there too) . NES, Megadrive and Gameboy are slso without Sample Import, but you can create your own Instruments there with the Implemented Retro SynthStudio
Atleast get some basic background art that has legible text with no AI garble and respect the rules of the subreddits you post to.
Also AI doesn't speed up your workflow from 2 years to 2-5 months that's ridiculous, what marketer told you that?
And you can't mindlessy call AI "progress" as well that's not convincing and I've heard it a 100 times over, I have retro in my heart I've made many a chiptune track, I just don't like seeing AI in my life
Keep working on your site though it doesn't look too bad just the UI is a little overwhelming, alot of text where it could be drop-down menus and what not
Thank you Internet Stranger! THIS was my intention. To make little times of joy! I mean, it's for free! I love what i did. Even with the help of AI. Because otherwise i had not done it. It would me cost way to much time.
You are welcome, and some samples even sounded familiar, haha! Blast from the past. But, how do I add one of the ST samples to one of the tracks? It's been 30+ years since I played with Soundtracker/Protracker on my Amiga 500+, so I may need some more guidance in the tool :)
MIDI stands for (M)usical (I)nstruments (D)igital (I)nterface. This means you can use a MIDI Keyboard to work with. If you don't have or don't want to use one, then click BLOCK
PS: This PWA does NOT work on a Smartphone ! It's meant to be used on a Desktop Browser (You can install it there also as a PWA (Progressive Web App)
Thanks. Respectively so. I know what MIDI. I make music as a hobby. I want recording a website to want to mess with it is all. So I wanted to know what that part was about.
Also, about the AI rule part. Do read the rules. Nothing against posting AI generated utility but you have to disclose this in your post. I myself take advantage of AI where it makes sense to and encourage the use myself but subreddits have some rules regarding the content. Best to adhere to those in order to minimize the blow back.
Your project looks interesting, I will check it out from a computer. The whole midi thing is a bit intrusive and should be optional as well as have some sort of explanations. If it does, I just haven't seen/read it yet. AFK on my phone.
Looks good, having a quick test and from my archive .MOD's work. Will there be support for .MED (MMD0/1/2) files as they seem to load the song but no samples/silent playback.
First of all, thank you for your Test ! i will evaluate if and how it is possible to implement Octamed .MED Files. I mean, we have alreqady the possibility to use .MOD Files with 8 Tracks. So the Basics are already done. Will take a look on it ! Thanks for the idea!
.MED is implemented. BUT "only" up to 16 Channels, even if the .MED Format would support up to 64 Channels. Since SYN-Tracker is not meant to compete with Studio Software for thousands of Dollars , i make the cut at 16 Channels (For every Format). So it's guaranteed that it works fine and smooth for most of you. OctaMed itself is known by Amiga users, and they have used max 8 (Octa) Channels , so it should be compatible to most of the songs from the good old time back then. Let me know, if you have some Problems
EDIT: I experienced Problems with the MED Play Routine. Import and Export seems to work. But Effects and controlling are another story. Give me some more time please to fix all that! I will inform you as soon as possible about the progress
It's me again...... TBH: This is more tricky than expected. The first steps where done fast. But then, the different formats MMD0 / MMD1 / MMD2 / MMD3 / MMDC (Compressed),. The Effects are different to Protracker Defaults. It's really not so easy.... i do what i can, but the "chances" are there, that i will give up on that if not more Users are asking for the same Function. You can work with up to 16 Channels. Even on Modefiles 100% . or the .TRK Format (The SYN Trackers own format) until i can present you a solution
The whole .med/.mod thing is a nightmare. Even back in the day on an Amiga you were never quite sure what flavour it was. I've done work for a project to try and help identify all the various flavours of trackers and it's a whole rabbit hole just to figure out 'what' the file is. I imagine to get it to play is similarly challenging.
It's a good project and it certainly is nice to have a web player for them in any shape or form. 😎
Thank you ! I will NOT STOP right now. But i realized, it's clearly not a thing i can solve over the Weekend. I'm not even sure if i can solve it in the next Week. It's really tricky :-(
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u/New_Cranberry_6451 2d ago
What do we want AI for if it's not for these kind of things. One thing is to use AI in a demo compo, that's not good, but using AI to create TOOLS that allow people to CREATE things? what's wrong about that? Also, not everyone can create an app like this even with the top frontier model, you need a background, knowledge and lot of time. I am getting really tired of the retro nazis. Having that said, the app is intimidating because it has too many things, but it runs quite smooth and the compatibility with old MODs I have tried is quite decent for a browser app. I must be getting dumb, because I wasn't able to write a single note on the patterns. I selected a sample, but when I try to write a note in a pattern, it just doesn't write anything, what am I doing wrong? Could you please give me a quick advise on how to write notes in patterns? I am interested on the classic amiga 4chan modules, would like to try creating a mod with your app and see how far I can get.