ProTrackR2 S3 class objects

Outline of ProTrackR2 objects

The ProTrackR2 package has defined a number of hierarchical classes to represent ProTracker modules. This vignette explains how these objects are organised, and how they can be used to work with ProTracker modules in R. We start with the diagram below, which shows an object tree. It shows how object classes are organised and related. It is similar (but not identical) to how ProTracker module files are organised. We follow the tree to explain each object by starting at its root: the ProTracker module.

ProTracker Module objects (pt2mod)

The pt2mod class object is a memory representation of ProTracker module files. The type of this object is externalptr and points to the location in memory where the data is stored for manipulation and/or play back.

An empty module can be created by calling pt2_new_mod("song title"). It can also be initiated by reading a module from a file like this:

library(ProTrackR2)
mod <- pt2_read_mod(pt2_demo())
mod
#> pt2mod 'intro' [01:09]

As you might know, external pointers cannot be accessed directly in R. Instead you need to use the functions and methods presented in this package to approach it. If you want a more ‘physical’ manifestation of the object, you can call as.raw() (which returns the raw file representation of the object). Or write it to a file using pt2_write_mod(). If you want to know what the module sounds like you can simply play it:

play(mod)

Sample list objects (pt2samplist)

The sample list is a collection of distinct instruments (samples) and is represented by the pt2samplist class. Essentially, it is a list of samples (pt2samp class objects; see below). The sample list of a module can be obtained using the $-operator as shown below.

mod$samples
#> sample list [n=31]

See also vignette("sel_assign") for more details about selecting or replacing a sample list. The sample list returned here is the complete list of samples, including empty sample slots. If you want to count the number of non-empty samples in a module use pt2_n_sample(mod).

Sample objects (pt2samp)

ProTracker uses pulse-code modulation (PCM) mono audio samples with 8 bit depth. In this package it’s represented by the pt2samp class. It can either by a list where the first element is a pt2samplelist object and the second is an integer index of the sample in the list. It can also be a vector of raw values, where each value is a PCM sample. The raw form will also hold an attribute named "sample_info" used to interpret the sample. The attribute "sample_info" is a named list containing the following elements:

• length: should be identical to the length of the vector of raw values.
• loopStart: start position (in number of samples) of a loop in the sample (0 when loop is off).
• loopLength: length (in number of samples) of a loop (2 when loop is off).
• fineTune: an integer value (between -8 and 7) to tweak a sample when it is out of tune.
• volume: volume level of the sample. An integer value between 0 (muted) and 64 (max).
• text: 22 UTF-8 characters. Usually describing the sample or the module. It can also contain a message to the audience.

A sample can be initiated by reading it from an audio file using pt2_read_sample(). It can also be selected from a sample list as shown below.

my_sample <- mod$samples[[1]]

See also vignette("sel_assign") for more details about selecting or replacing a sample.

Pattern list objects (pt2patlist)

The pattern list is a collection of distinct pattern tables and is represented by the pt2patlist class. Essentially, it is a list of pattern tables (pt2pat class objects; see below). Note that this list of pattern tables is not necessarily the order in which they are played. This is determined by the pattern sequence (pt2_pattern_table(mod)).

The pattern list of a module can be obtained using the $-operator as shown below.

mod$patterns
#> pattern list [n=4]

The loaded module consists of 4 unique pattern tables. See also vignette("sel_assign") for more details about selecting or replacing a pattern list.

Pattern objects (pt2pat)

A pattern table defines the rhythm and melody of a ProTracker module. The columns in a pattern table represent the four audio channels (red borders in Table 1). Each row (orange borders in Table 1) is subsequently played and specifies which note (blue fields in Table 1) using a specific instrument (sample, cyan fields in Table 1) is heard. It can also specify specific effects such as tremolo, porta or vibrato (green fields in Table 1). See for more details vignette("effect_commands").

Table 1: An example of a pattern table. Note that rows 4 to 62 are omitted.

Row	Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Channel 4
0	C−3   01   A08	C−3   02   C40	A#1   03   F06	A#2   04   000
1	−−−   01   A08	C−3   02   C30	−−−   00   A01	−−−   00   A02
2	−−−   01   A08	C−3   02   000	−−−   00   A01	C−3   04   000
3	−−−   00   000	C−3   02   000	−−−   00   A02	−−−   00   A02
...	...	...	...	...
63	−−−   00   A08	C−3   04   C08	−−−   00   000	−−−   00   A02

A ProTracker pattern is represented by the pt2pat class. It can be a list where the first element is its parent module (pt2mod) and the second element is the index in the pattern list. It can also be a vector of raw values that either represents the file structure of a pattern or its representation in memory used by the play back routine.

A pattern can be initiated with pt2_new_pattern(). This produces a raw representation of a pattern. Here the logical argument compact determines if the notation is compact (TRUE) as is the case in a file, or not (FALSE) as in memory. This is stored as an attribute to the object for its correct interpretation.

It can also be selected from an existing module as shown below.

my_ptn <- mod$patterns[[1]]

Consult vignette("sel_assign") for more information about selecting and replacing patterns.

Cell list objects (pt2celllist)

The cell list is a collection of cells from a pattern table and is represented by the pt2celllist class. Essentially, it is a list of cells (pt2cell class objects; see below). The cell list can be obtained using the [-operator from a pattern as shown below.

## This selects all cells in the first two channels
## of a pattern
my_cells <- my_ptn[,1:2]

Consult vignette("sel_assign") for more information about selecting and replacing cell lists.

Cell objects (pt2cell)

A cell is an elementary unit in a pattern table and contains information about which note to play (blue fields in Table 1), which instrument (sample cyan fields in Table 1) and what kind of effect to apply (green fields in Table 1). It is represented by the pt2cell class and can consist of a list, where the first element is a pt2mod object and followed by three indices i (pattern id), j (pattern row) and k (channel id). It can also be represented by a vector of raw values as stored in file (compact) or in memory (not compact). A cell can be selected from a cell list as shown below.

my_cells[[1]]
#> C-3 01 A08

See vignette("sel_assign") for more information about selecting and replacing cell values.

Command objects (pt2command)

The command objects are used to represent ProTracker effect commands used in specific cells (see vignette("effect_commands")). It is essentially either a pt2cell or a pt2celllist object with pt2command as a child class.

It can be used to select or replace effect commands (see pt2_command() or vignette("sel_assign")). From the diagram at the top of this document you can see that cells also contain instrument and note information. These don’t inherit specific classes as they are represented by simple integer and character values. For more information about those please check pt2_instrument() and pt2_note().