What is the best Free Tracker download available for Win XP?
This all depends on what you're looking for, my friend.... I will list various options, and you should select what's best for you. Head over to the Web links section to find the software mentioned in here.
If you're looking for Maximum compatibility between both IT and XM formats, with a touch of next generation features added, and interface isn't too big of a concern, Modplug Tracker is your best bet. It's recently been open-sourced as well, so it shouldn't fade away either...
FT2 fans seem to enjoy Renoise, and MadTracker. These programs were made in the "Spirit" of FT2, but their interfaces are noticably different. they both have features disabled in the free versions (eg: record to WAV).
If you were looking forward to FT3, be thankful then, because the FT3 project was forced to change it's name to Skale a few years back... Regardless, this is probably the closest looking thing to FT2 you can find, with a TON of new features. It can be a bit buggy though.
The IT people seem to have trouble finding a similar Interface though... Still, Starlight Tracker is an up-and-coming player that aims to recreate IT2 in Windows. There is also ZTracker, which does MIDI playback, bit has an IT Interface.
If you don't mind learning new command sets or a newpattern layout, and you want a Modular architecture (VST Plugins, etc), I personally recommend Psycle. Psycle is currently Open-source (currently under a Public Domain license), and about 4 known variations exist. Psycle (proper) is the main development fork. there is also a Japanese language port maintained by Watanabe (sp?), which is virtually identical to the main fork. There is also a second Japanese version called PsycleWTL, which supposedly has XM support, and a more powerful sampler. Unfortunately I have not been able to get this to work. Finally there is a 4th fork, to which the major updater has closed the source, which includes Multi-pattern sequencing... This is a controversial build though, and will not be endorsed by the main Psycle community unless source code and licensing gets straightened out (Community politics + Vague licensing policies = Potentially ugly situation).
If you want a modular tracker, and plan to change multiple values per note trigger on a consistent basis, you may want to look at something with a Variable pattern layout such as BUZZ, or Aero... BUZZ is free, older, and is no longer being updated, whereas Aero is New, under development, and costs money for all the features.
As well, if you just want the old DOS software, check out the FAQ section of this site to find out how to run FT2 and IT in Windows 2000/XP. The instructions will also work on other software, but as these were the most popular, we have only covered these two specifically.
I'm sure I've missed some software worthy of this post... I'm just one person, and it's been a while since I've used some of this software... Please respond with any errata or any additions you wish to make.
