What is a tracker ?

[tintin2085]

Hi all,

I have read many times:
- This is a 4 tracker EP

I think it's the name for describe an repetitive music with not many melody but just the rhythmic base mainly just a loop with a little variation ?
The name is probably based on tracker softwares.

I'm not sure so i ask you if anyone know the exact desciption of tracker ?

Thanks in advance.

[Rochey]

Did the EP have 4 tracks/ songs on it?

[nospin]

Hi all,

I have read many times:
- This is a 4 tracker EP

I think it's the name for describe an repetitive music with not many melody but just the rhythmic base mainly just a loop with a little variation ?
The name is probably based on tracker softwares.

I'm not sure so i ask you if anyone know the exact desciption of tracker ?

Thanks in advance.

without hearing the tracks, i would assume they are talking about the type of software program it was made with

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracker

although i've heard many melodic stuff made with these, they are almost always very very 'computer' sounding and rigid rhythmically

The first trackers supported only four channels of 8-bit PCM samples, a limitation derived from the Amiga's Paula audio chipset. However, since the notes were samples, the limitation was less important than those of synthesizing music chips.[1] For example, a process which became a cliché in early pop-rave chart tunes was to sample chords and play them back on a single channel. Rapid chordal stabs, often of fifths, were the hallmark of Altern-8 and other transient techno phenomena. Later tracker software, most famously OctaMED, allowed for eight or more channels, whilst special hardware could allow for 16-bit playback.

you can actually get pretty expressive and interesting things out of these, recently i got an Atari ST emulator and the maxYMiser tracker...

it you are interested i can dig up some links, you can get those for free with some great documentation and resources

[Ronny Pries]

It has nothing to do with Trackers. 4 Tracker = EP with 4 tracks, like you already said.

[Robot Criminal]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracker

although i've heard many melodic stuff made with these, they are almost always very very 'computer' sounding and rigid rhythmically

?
I don't think holden or fake sound very rigid or very computer'ish

[Atheory]

yeah tracks, its another name for song.

[tintin2085]

Some EPs with tracker considered titles:
http://www.nuloop.com/fr/vinyl-records/ ... es_ep.html
http://www.randomcircuits.com/joe/baaz-you-some-ep
http://www.phonicarecords.co.uk/detail.aspx?ID=25630

[Atheory]

those links

"Luc ringeisen again on vinyl club, this time for a 5 tracker ep"
there is 5 songs/tracks on the album

"The STHLM label have been getting things right recently and this two tracker"

there are 2 songs/tracks on this album.


weirdest topic ever.