I really don't think that you'll find any sort of MIDI sequencing program that will have an interface similar to a MOD Tracking program... they are simply too different, apples and oranges so to speak.

That being said, most MIDI sequencers (the old version 3.01 of Cakewalk Pro included, which is what I use) include an "event list" view, which sort of reminds me of the look and feel of a MOD Tracking program interface (albeit the data is decimal, and restricted to MIDI controller maximums; e.g. 0 through 127)... although, in my opinion it would be relatively difficult to MIDI sequence using nothing but event list view.

The closest thing I've seen are Texture and Prism, some of the first MIDI sequencers for PCs, programmed by Roger Powell of the progressive rock band Utopia. They use the word "pattern" to refer to a kind of "event view" (like a note view, but for events) which is similar to the pattern organization used by trackers, but not exactly the same. The patterns are linked together with a link list. They also have an event list view like other sequencers.

Sorry to dig up this old archaic thread, but if you're still looking for a MIDI sequencing program that has a look and feel to it similar a Tracker program:

RF1 System's "MIDI Tracker" -> http://www.rf1.net/software/mt

Screenie here -> http://www.rf1.net/images/mt_screenshot2_full.gif

I haven't tried it out yet, but it looks just like a Tracker, even though it's actually a MIDI sequencer 😀

I used MIDI Tracker ages ago, as a roundabout way of producing .IMF music for a bunch of Wolf3D mods.... not too shabby though it was missing some features (portamento for one).

VileRancour wrote:

not too shabby though it was missing some features (portamento for one).

The thing is, MIDI doesn't natively support portamento (other than in a roundabout way, by using MIDI pitch-wheel controllers in a non-standard obscure manner).

I'm surprised a program like that is for sale...

MIDI still is serious business even though it's not really in wide use as it used to be, like Poser, animated cursors, and flightsim addons. 😜

leileilol wrote:

MIDI still is serious business even though it's not really in wide use as it used to be

Agreed 😀

Like I posted in this message thread:

"MIDI" as a generic term for digital synthesised music
"MIDI" as a generic term for digital synthesised music

rfnagel wrote:

yet (at least, it used to be like this), almost ALL of PC game Redbook music was MIDI composed and MIDI generated

Is Prism anywhere available for download and testing? Texture seems to be available, but Prism?

Also from what I read so far, Prism seems to be a later version of Texture, adding 'gui' functionality, so from my point of view, more a step backward, as you need to use now a mouse and so on. But just for the fun of it, I would like to see what was different there, even not knowing Texture yet, just run it today the first time, for seeing what was existing at that time. Looks very original actually. Too sad, somehow, original ideas are lost more or less.

To make standard MIDI *files* (e.g. .mid ), there's a tracker out there called Midget 2.0 (DOS) or 3.5 (Windows) that works pretty well. The very last versions were released as freeware. Unfortunately its website seems to have gone away but you can find downloads if you google around. You could also look for zTracker which is an Impulse Tracker clone for MIDI that seemed useable enough but was never finished.

If all you want to do is output MIDI, e.g. to control synths through an interface and don't care about the file format, Impulse Tracker works rather well, either through an MPU-401 interface w/o sample playback or AWE/GUS PnP with. It's what I use. FastTracker II also has rudimentary MIDI support but IT's is better. Of course modern trackers like Renoise can also generate MIDI.

You can also use whatever you want (e.g. Impulse Tracker) to track MIDI, then play that back and record it on another PC with a MIDI recorder or on an external sequencer that can save .mid files.

I like the cockpit view in Texture, qwerty control of every feature, non use of a mouse, giving a hardware feel, beautiful simplicity.

Is it possible Texture was a template for designing later Atari ST Notator? Somehow it could be.