A Rookie's Page of .MOD Music II

               Since you've made it to here, hopefully you 
         have the MODPLUG plugin installed and you're getting playback. 
         Otherwise, this page will not have any real significance. If 
         you don't have it, it can be either downloaded from me here, 
         or from MODPLUG Central. MODPLUG Central also has other useful 
         .MOD tools, such as a .MOD player for WIN95, and a .MOD tracker, 
         which is used to compose .MODs.

               Remember, this *IS* a rookie's page! A .MOD is a music 
            format, like .MIDI, or even .WAV can be, but with major differences. 
            Whereas .MIDI uses synthesized samples, .MOD uses actual instrument 
            samples, therefore sounds more real. .MOD can also incorporate vocal 
            samples, which .MIDI cannot.

               Another basic difference is in file size. .MODs, in their 
            native state, are usually larger than the same time-length .MIDI. 
            However, .MOD files can undergo various stages of compression to 
            reduce their size, and still be playable without any changes. You 
            can .ZIP a .MIDI file to make it smaller, but you have to .UNZIP 
            it to play it. For example, the selection playing here, in it's 
            native state, is about 144k in size. When "packed"(using a special 
            algorithim), it decreases to about 92k. It can be zipped with PKZIP 
            to furthur reduce it's size to just under 60k! The selection playing 
            has undergone all that and is still playable, without you doing 
            anything but using the MODPLUG plugin. To get the same quality, 
            realistic sound from a .WAV file would require a file size of over 
            45 MEG! I do have access to a utility to convert .MOD to .MIDI, but 
            it's too involved for me to mess with. Suffice it say that I will 
            concede that .MIDI may beat .MOD in file size.

               I guess it all boils down to a matter of personal taste. 
            Some people are just more comfortable with .MIDI and .WAV because 
            that's what they see the most of. But, if they like music at all, 
            they're missing out on a lot by not checking out .MODs.If you 
            bothered to install the MODPLUG plugin, and check this page out, 
            I thank you, you've made the effort I've put into this worthwhile. 
            If not....Oh well. I'll still enjoy stopping by time to time, and 
            listening to something different. If you would like to learn
            more, or would just like to get some different music, the links 
            listed below will surely help. Good listening to you, no matter 
            what stirs you!!!!