Getting started

This page shows two quick ways to start: turning a sound into FamiTracker instruments, and building a song. First, install SampleToNES.

1. Launch the app and open the Main tab.
2. In the Filesystem browser, double-click an audio file, for example Kick.wav. WAV, MP3, FLAC, OGG, AIFF and AU files work. To reconstruct every audio file in a folder, Ctrl-click the folder instead.
3. Optional: click the recording in the list and check the channels it may use under Source settings.
4. Optional: change General settings, such as the sample rate.
5. Click the button under Output to start the conversion. The first conversion takes longer.
6. When it finishes, click Load to open the result on the Reconstruction tab.
7. Choose Reconstruction ▸ Export instruments ▸ FamiTracker instruments... and name the export Kick. The app writes one .fti file per channel: Kick (pulse1).fti, Kick (triangle).fti, and so on.

That is the shortest path from a sound to instruments you can load in FamiTracker. Converting audio and working with a reconstruction cover the Main and Reconstruction tabs in full.

1. Choose File ▸ New project. The app switches to the Sequencer tab.
2. Have one or more reconstructions ready — make them as above, or open existing ones.
3. Add each as a sample: in the Sequencer's Browser, right-click a reconstruction and choose Add to Sequencer. If its NES frequency differs from the project's, confirm with Add anyway.
4. In the Tracker grid, click a cell and type notes on your keyboard. To assign a sample to a channel, right-click a cell and choose Set voice.
5. Arrange the piece in the Order grid. Under Module options, set the song's length and speed. See timing.
6. Choose File ▸ Export ▸ FamiTracker module... and pick a path for the .ftm file. Bitphase project... next to it writes the same song as a .btp.

The sequencer guide covers the tracker grid, the order, voices, and undo history in full.