Game: Daigasso! Band Brothers ("Jam with the Band" in US)
System: Nintendo DS
Guide: Score Maker Pro Stereo Placement Guide
Version: 1.1
Contents:
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01 - Latest Update
02 - Purpose of this guide
03 - Definitions
04 - The Score Maker Pro Stereo Placement System
05 - Moving Channels around
06 - Update History
07 - Acknowledgments
08 - Contact Information
** Copy the above lines for easy searching to sections **
** Disclaimer **
You know what? I really don't care if you want to rip my guide off. I just don't
consider this guide to be of any real value. The information in this guide could
easily have been discovered by anyone, I just happen to be the first to write
about it. As far as I'm concerned this doesn't mean I should take credit for it
seeing as its just a game. I mean, if I was the first to discover a cure for
world hunger, then that's a different story...
So, you unlocked the Score Maker Pro, and you have written an epic
masterpiece that Uematsu would be jealous of. However, there's something not
right with it. But what is it? Oh, that's it - the bass guitar is on the far
left of the stereo mix! Well, fret not, because this guide will explain how the
channels are panned within the stereo spectrum.
Now, all this information is handy BEFORE you start writing, but what if
you're the person above and already has all 8 tracks full of beautiful
harmonies? Fret not, because I will also show you a nifty technique to move your
channels and instruments around without losing a single channel in the process
;).
This is a pretty simple and straight forward guide, so there won't be
many definitions here. But here's some that you may need to know:
Stereo: Basically 2 channels of sound. Most music is done in stereo
because humans have 2 ears to listen with.
Mono: 1 channel of sound. Even if you are using 2 speakers, both
speakers will produce the exact same track of sound.
Pan/Panning: The term used to discribe moving a sound from one end of the
stereo spectrum to the other. Pan far left means is completely
in the left speaker.
This guide also assumes that you understand how stereo panning works in
general. Think of the slider or knob that you have on your stereo system that
lets you move the sound from one speaker to the other and you'll get the basic
idea here.
I'll both explain what goes on with the stereo panning and also give you
a simple ascii diagram of possible combinations of stereo placements you could
have. If anyone discovers anything not in here and thinks it should be added,
just email it to me at the address on the bottom of this guide.
Balance is the key. Think of Yin and Yang :D. The designers created a
system where each track is placed throughout the stereo spectrum to create an
equal balance of sounds left and right. So that nothing is all on the left, or
all in the middle, or all on the right; tracks are dispersed evenly throughout
both sides so no two tracks occupy the same position in the spectrum. It may not
be completely ideal, but if you know which tracks go where in the spectrum, then
you can easily work around it and deliberately place instruments almost anywhere
you want them.
The stereo placement system basically places each track in a set
position within the stereo spectrum. They way it decides what track to put where
lies in the track order. Basically, the lower the track number, the more central
the track placement. Notice how I used the word "lower" and didn't say "track 1
goes in the middle". If you don't use track 1 at all, then the next lowest track
number will be the most central track. Again, notice that I said "the most
central track" and not "in the middle". Another thing the system does is move
lowest tracks around from middle pan to just outside of it depending on the
total number of tracks used. This is basically to create an even balance of the
total tracks in the spectrum. The key to this is if you have an odd number of
tracks, then your lowest track will be in the center. Look at the ascii art for
a visual explanation.
But you might notice that you have all 8 tracks in use and still have
your lowest track centered. The reason for this is because drum tracks aren't
included as part of the stereo placement process. This is due to them having
their own set of stereo placements for each specific instrument within the Drum
Set, therefore already submitting itself into the stereo balancing that all
tracks are succumb to. So if one of your tracks is a drum track, then the total
number track included in the stereo placement process is one less than your
actual total. In other words, if you used all 8 tracks with one being a drum
track, then you will use the 7 channel configuration; if you used 5 tracks with
one being a drum track, then you will use the 4 channel configuration; if you
used 3 tracks with TWO drum tracks then you will use the 1 channel
configuration.
Whew... that's a little long winded, here's a quick re-cap.
1. The lowest most numbered track goes closest to the center
2. Drum tracks are ignored as part of the placement process; minus 1 to
channel configuration
3. Odd number of tracks means lowest numbered track is in the center
4. Drum tracks cannot be used on track 1
I just thought I'd add that "no drums on 1" thing there for the sake of
it ;). Anyway, here's the ascii art that more visually describes the stereo
placement system. The numbers on the charts represent the position from lowest
to highest, NOT the actual track number. So 1 is lowest. Basically, if you used
just tracks 3, 5 and 8; then you would have the "3 Channels" configuration and
track 3 would be in the middle, track 5 no the far left and track 8 on the far
right.
Notice that all the odd numbered configurations (on the right) have the
lowest numbered track in the center and that the even numbered configurations
(on the left) have the lowest numbered track sharing the opposite position as
the 2nd lowest numbered track. If you think about it, this is just to balance it
all out.
That pretty much covers stereo placement 101. Use this information
wisely, like putting bass tracks lower or placing 2 string tracks on opposite
sides or something. I'm sure you'll think of a way to use this info ;).
So you've got that perfect song, but you've used up all the tracks and
can't move anything around? Well, actually you can. I'll do both a detailed and
simple explanation. If I get anything wrong here, just email me at the address
at the bottom and I'll update this guide.
Lets correct that track order!
This method just abuses the games ability to differentiate between
copying tracks and copying notes. Most of you probably know about copying
tracks. Its the middle bottom option in the track selection pop-up. BTW,
canceling this option is just a matter of copying to same track. Anyway, you'll
probably also know that this copy option is also present in the track editor
(bottom left purple button, then left middle yellow button). Both these copy
functions are independent of each other. This means, that you can copy an entire
track via the "do re me type" (or track) editor, and still paste it after
deleting the track you copied it from. You just need a track to paste it into
;).
For both explanations, start at the track view screen (the one where you
can see all 8 tracks and the instrument names, not the screen with the playback
controls on the bottom). Skip to the short explanation if you know how to
navigate the editor.
*** PLEASE, PLEASE save your song before you do any of this. I hope I don't need
to state how obvious that is to do. Also, I will not be held responsible if you
delete a track and can't get it back. I've tested everything I've done here and
it works fine for me. If I did however get a step wrong, then please email me
right away at the address on the bottom of this guide and I'll fix it up
asap. ***
Here's the long of it (with menu explanations):
1. Select the track you wish to move and select the top left most option
to get into the track editor
2. Make sure you're at the beginning of the track by holding L until you
can't go back any further
3. Select the left purple button on the bottom of the screen then press
the left yellow button under the green one in the pop-up menu
4. A new button will be highlighted green, press it and this will mark
the start of the section you want to copy
5. The button will turn red, but don't press it yet; hold down the R
button until the whole track is selected (you could go to bar 120 or
just to the end of your song if its easier)
6. When you've reached the end of your selection, press the red button
(it was green before) to mark the end of your selection
7. Now press the bottom right yellow button to exit this pop-up; DO NOT
press the bottom left yellow button (that's the paste button that
you'll use later)
8. Press the bottom right yellow button on the track edit screen to
return to the track selection screen
9. Select the track you just came out of, and press the red button in
the pop-up menu to delete it
10.Now that you have a spare track, move tracks around to your liking
by copying them into the spare track and deleting the original; just
make sure you don't do any copying and pasting within the track
editor itself
11.Once you're happy with where the tracks have been moved to, select
the new spare track you've made for the first track you deleted and
select the top right option in the pop-up to choose the instrument
12.Select the same instrument as before and make sure that it brings
you to the start of the track editor; if it doesn't, just hold down
L until you get to the start
13.Select the left bottom purple button again, and this time just press
the bottom left yellow button to paste in the notes you copied in
steps 3-6
14.You've now successfully moved your tracks around! Have a listen to
the song to make sure its in order; if it isn't then DON'T save the
song, reload it and try again.
Here's the short of it (without menu explanations):
1. Go into the editor for the track you wish to move
2. Copy the entire track from start to finish; do not paste the track
anywhere and
do not copy anything else in track editor
3. Go into the track view screen and delete the track you just copied
4. Begin to move tracks around by using the spare slot you've just
created; don't worry about over riding the copy of notes you've done,
its held separately
5. Once you've freed the track you want, create the track and assign the
same instrument as before
6. In the track editor for the new track, simply paste your notes in
that you copied in step 2
7. Done!
This guide would not be possible without thanking the following:
- PlayAsia; have always been great in importing games, highly recommended.
- Nintendo; always ready to innovate and entertain with their products.
- ndsart; a great new site dedicated to the DS, nice people there too ;).
- Gamefaqs; for hosting this and providing an endless resource to gamers
worldwide.
- You; for reading this guide and therefore making it "useful"... to an extent
anyway ;)
