Music Macro Language: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 09:30, 20 May 2023

Music Macro Language (MML) is a method of transcribing musical notation as sequence data, which then gets processed into binary performance data, akin to MIDI, for a computer to playback. Most popularly, this syntax can be used to create chiptune music.

Syntax

MML has many variations, but the majority of those languages share a similar syntax.

Syntax	Description
`oX`	Set octave for the rest of notes before the next `<`, `>` and `oX`. For example, `o6` will set the octave to 6. The range is depending on platform.
`c`, `d`, `e`, `f`, `g`, `a`, `b`	Play a note. Use `+` or `-` after the letter to specify a sharp or flat, respectively. A number should appear after the note; this number should denote the note's duration. 1 is a whole note, 2 is a half note, 4 a quarter note, 8 an eighth note, etc. If no duration is specified, then the duration will be the value specified by the `l` command.
`r`	Play a rest. Similar to a normal note, the number after it defines its length.
`^`	Play a tie (extending pervious note, rest or tie). Similar to a normal note, the number after it defines its length.
`<`, `>`	Decrease or increase octave by 1. The direction is depending on platform, but both of them should be opposite each other.
`lXX`	Defining the default length of a note when the length is not specified. For example, `l4` will set the default length to a quarter note.
`@`	Set instrument for a channel. The range is depending on platform.
`v`	Set channel volume. The range is depending on platform.

Convert to MML

There are a handful of tools help you convert other sequence formats to MML:

PetiteMM, MIDI to MML command-line converter. Java is required to use this tool.

MML usage in SNES ROM hacking

There are a handful of tools known to incorporate MML syntax into editing the music for existing SNES games:

ZScream Magic, for The Legend of Zelda - A Link to the Past
AddMusicY, for Yoshi's Island
AddMusic, for Super Mario World
LazyShell, for Super Mario RPG

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 | <code>r</code> || Play a rest. Similar to a normal note, the number after it defines its length.
 |-
-| <code>^</code> || Play a tie (extending pervious note). Similar to a normal note, the number after it defines its length.
+| <code>^</code> || Play a tie (extending pervious note, rest or tie). Similar to a normal note, the number after it defines its length.
 |-
 | <code>&lt;</code>, <code>></code> || Decrease or increase octave by 1. The direction is depending on platform, but both of them should be opposite each other.
 |-
-| <code>lXX</code> || Defining the default length of a note when the length is not specified.
+| <code>lXX</code> || Defining the default length of a note when the length is not specified.<br>For example, <code>l4</code> will set the default length to a quarter note.
 |-
-| <code>@</code> || Set instrument. The range is depending on platform.
+| <code>@</code> || Set instrument for a channel. The range is depending on platform.
 |-
 | <code>v</code> || Set channel volume. The range is depending on platform.
 |}
+== Convert to MML ==
+There are a handful of tools help you convert other sequence formats to MML:
+* [https://github.com/loveemu/petitemm PetiteMM], MIDI to MML command-line converter. [https://www.java.com/en/download/ Java] is required to use this tool.
 == MML usage in SNES ROM hacking ==
@@ Line 32: / Line 36: @@
 * [[AddMusic]], for [[Super Mario World]]
 * [[LazyShell]], for [[Super Mario RPG]]
+== See Also ==
+* [http://gocha.hatenablog.com/entry/2013/09/02/Midi2MML_Comparison I Compared Various MIDI to MML Programs (Japanese)]
+[[Category:Audio]]