I just got nerdtracker2, and every time I try and run the .exe a dos window opens up and closes within a second. I don't know much about these things (I've been using buzztracker for a while now though), so go easy on me eh. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

I got it to stay open by changing a preference in the dos operation. It's having the blaster environment problem and I can't find a DOS driver for my ESS Maestro2e pci sound card even with an hour of searching.


sigh

Windows drivers can set the blaster enviroment, also. Have you ran the 'set' command and confirmed that it's not there?

It could be that the sound card isn't fully SB-compatible. But I used a (really cheap) ESS soundcard temporarily a while back, and I'm almost certain it worked with NT2 at that time. Which OS are you using?

I think I may have found a DOS driver for it here:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/notebooks/download.cfm?ProductType=3300

OK, that link isn't for the 2e version, so maybe it won't work (might be worth a shot.. I dunno). I use win98, I know sound drivers for that OS normally do include DOS support.

If you're using another OS, you might try something like this program:
http://ntvdm.cjb.net/

I have tried NTVDM, but I could never get it to work with NT2 on Microsoft Windows 2000, even with the BLASTER variable properly set per the NTVDM documentation.

Best chance is porting NT2 to Windows. Has anybody approached Michel Iwaniec about this? I'm afraid to ask him myself because I made an utter fool of myself on the nesdev@yahoogroups.com list nearly four years ago.

How much of it would you guess needs to be modified to work with windows?

I know it's a protected-mode program, does that make a difference? I don't know much about PC development, as you can see.

If anyone thinks they may be able to fix it, I'll ask Bananmos if he's willing to supply the source (assuming it's available to him). It would be really useful, because compatability problems are only going to increase as people upgrade their OS.

(if migrating to incompatibe OSes can be considering 'upgrading', heh)

"How much of it would you guess needs to be modified to work with windows?"
I'm guessing just the input and output. If I get the source code, I'll port it to the cross-platform Allegro library. This will allow me to make a DOS version, a Linux version, a BeOS version, a Mac version, and a Windows version. And it'll use Allegro's decent file selector widget, so no more ctrl+L and then type entire path.

"I know it's a protected-mode program, does that make a difference?"
Depends on which extender it used. If we're lucky, then the source should compile with a bit of work in DJGPP (GCC for DOS), and from there, I can port it to run on top of the Allegro library.

I'd be willing to do the porting grunt work; I just don't feel confident in my negotiating skills. If Bananmos turns us down, I guess it'll be time to bite the proverbial bullet and migrate to a new music system.

"if migrating to incompatibe OSes can be considering 'upgrading'"
Old PCs break. New PCs purchased at retail often aren't very compatible with FreeDOS and DOS apps because DOS apps depend on specific hardware implementations of the input and output devices. When DirectX became more popular, manufacturers no longer felt the need to keep backward compatibility with DOS games.

Hey thanks for trying to help. Nothing is working so far and I've spent over 2 hours trying, I'm starting to think this isn't a wise use of my time. I'm not even sure i'm using these solutions right...I'm gonna try and get some help from the tech heads around here at school. A windows port would be lovely.

I just received an e-mail message containing NT2 source code.

Ok, here's the ugly old source to it. Do what you wish with it. I haven't even looked at it in years, so I would probably be as lost in it as anybody else. I keep wishing that it will be replaced with a better program though, since the tracker-based format is far from a neat format. I've had lots of ideas spinning aorund in my heads for years, but have never found the time or motivation nor a suitable widget API to really start coding a replacement for NT2.

So I have somewhat mixed feelings about it being continued, since I can't help but wonder if keeping this old dinosaur alive won't do more harm than good. But anyways, I wish you luck in attempting to port it.

// Michel Iwaniec

Hey, if I could get a copy of the source, I'd gladly make a feeble attempt at a win32 ASM version. I love fast programs. :)

Abonetochew

I've organized a web site about the NT2 porting effort. You can get the ugly old source code here:
http://pinocchio.jk0.org/nt2/

lol. he even included the secret ascii image in the source :)

sorry for misspellings

"After looking at the source for some time ans shakeing my head many times I though to myself, this is wy you should make oop code and this is also why it's importan to comment your source" ;D

But I'm still trying to figure it out, and I won't quit until I understand it all.

sorry for misspellings

Whee! about 1/4 (or 1/5) of NT2.c looked through and lightly commented and changed a bit to my codeing style.. well now I need to sleep some, going through the rest tomorrow and try to structure it up in a more (for me) readable way :)

sorry for misspellings

When going through others' source code with very little whitespace, I've found that a code reformatter tool helps readability very much. It's automated and quick.

As I skimmed the code and said to myself "you'd be putting yourself a step back by basing a player on this source/design". It seems useful only as a source of ideas/documentation on the low-level implementation.

yeah thats what I'm going to use it for.. Iäm going through the code commenting as much as possible so I understand it. Then when I understand all I will try to code my new tracker based on the nt2 source (cuz I've never coded a tracker before, never even coded any sounds applications before)

sorry for misspellings

I agree, a tracked format can be much better done. I've really noticed after using ones like Raster Music Tracker and Goat Tracker, though the soundchip capabilities are different, the methods used would adapt well to the NES.

Something as simple as the envelopes used with MCK make a huge difference. The programs I mentioned above show ways that this can be adapted to a tracked format.

If this new tracker program could import NED files (but not export), I think that would be the best way to continue what NT2 had started.

I can't be much help on the PC side with developing it (other than maybe testing, heheh), but I would totally like to help out with the format design and NES replay code if any help is wanted.