Commander X16

This is a utility to help understand all the FMxxxx BASIC commands and what the resulting effects sound like.

This sets up parameters for each of the 8 channels that can be passed to FMFREQ or FMNOTE or FMDRUM.

Then there are also settings for the related parameters of FMINST, FMPAN, FMVOL.

It was meant to help with very brief sound effects to be used in BASIC games.

This does not help with FMCHORD or FMPLAY commands, and is not meant as any kind of tracker - it is just a simple sounds-effects tool. And can also quickly show a variety of things the FM chip can be made to do.

In the "Try it Now" you can press L to LOAD a sample file. Then press SPACE to play that sample.


This was made using BASLOAD. The BAS source is actually a text file, that BASLOAD will tokenize as it reads it in.

Version 1.0 has added a lot of features:
- save/load to custom filename
- EXPORT command: export the current settings to the equivalent set of BASIC command program
- AUTO command: automatically play all the active channels continuously (and can continue to adjust settings in real time)
- FMVIB can also be adjusted (effect applies only to certain instruments)
- Each channel has its own post SLEEP delay, if desired

Version 1.1 fixes:
- Fixed a bug where after a COPY channel the sound settings weren't automatically being applied
- Minor cosmetic update on the current channel highlight (now top and bottom) to help make it more clear
- SAVE/LOAD wording updated as a reminder to which operation is being performed (in case pressed wrong button)

Try It Now!

Here is a PSG version of essentially the same utility (PSGFREQ, PSGNOTE, along with PSGVOL and PSGPAN -- but not PSGCHORD or PSGPLAY).

However, PSGFREQ commands don't "stop" (until set to 0 explicitly). So be prepared to press Z to stop the audio. Toggling a channel off will also set its volume to 0.

Intended just to help dial in some brief sound effects within BASIC.

reminder: Possible bug in PSG version during LOAD (maybe only during multi-channel)