Freetar Hero
May 17, 2006 8:45 AM   Subscribe

Freetar Hero - Create and play any song on your PC. In development.
posted by mrgrimm (27 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I can't wait until this is ready. I've been looking for something fun to do with my Guitar Controllers ever since I finished Guitar Hero.
posted by hellphish at 8:48 AM on May 17, 2006


In addition to greatly anticipating Guitar Hero 2...

I know the *I* don't have the skills to make what's needed for this PC version, other people do. So woooo. Looking forward to the possibilities this will open up when finished if it's done well.
posted by Stunt at 9:06 AM on May 17, 2006


Guitar Hero 2 will be out this fall, I think, but this will be... useful.

I am annoyed that this is all over the place before I can download anything, though.
posted by JeremyT at 9:06 AM on May 17, 2006


Fucking amazing.

I was thinking about this specific idea just two days ago, cursing my lack of mad programming skills...
posted by slimepuppy at 9:07 AM on May 17, 2006


This is going to rule because Guitar Hero II, no matter how much I beg, will not have noise/drone/doom tracks on it. (Or any of the crazy other bands I listen to.) Hilarious as it would be.
posted by slimepuppy at 9:11 AM on May 17, 2006


But... your PS2 GH controller can't be hooked up to a PC, can it? I mean, I hope I'm wrong, cause this looks fun, but this essentially will work out to be the same thing as DDR for your keyboard, unless there's a bridge to the Guitar contoller...
posted by jonson at 9:11 AM on May 17, 2006


Jonson, google brings up this, at least.
posted by slimepuppy at 9:13 AM on May 17, 2006


(My Understanding) The PS2 controller is just a USB cable with a proprietary end on it. I have converter cables that let me use PS2 controllers as additional X-Box controllers and I've seen PS2 to PC converters for dance pads. Shouldn't be hard to find.

Also of interest to Guitar Hero folks: a PC-based trainer.
posted by yerfatma at 9:23 AM on May 17, 2006


Lik-Sang carries a wide variety of video game accessories, including PS2->USB converters. I know other vendors carry them as well, but these're the people I've ordered from in the past. I've never played Guitar Hero -- the last console I owned was an Atari XT -- but I've seen it, and it looks like this PC thing might be fun, if I can pick up a used controller somewhere that won't break the bank..
posted by Alterscape at 9:30 AM on May 17, 2006


But... your PS2 GH controller can't be hooked up to a PC, can it?

Lik-Sang.

If the user created data tracks are distributed and accessible with a ratings system I'd be impressed. Until then, it is a pretty good idea and a great way to get some more use out of a proprietary peripheral.
posted by prostyle at 9:30 AM on May 17, 2006


"Does this let you create new "songs" for the game to play with the controller, or do you just play along with songs on your PC with this?"

Pretty much the only text on the linked page is: "This is the first of a two-part project to create a totally FREE PC rhythm based game that you can use any game pad with. Including guitar-shaped ones."

It's a level editor for the Windows game they haven't made yet.
posted by majick at 9:30 AM on May 17, 2006


Also, Neustile, this looks to be more or less a PC clone of Guitar Hero in the making. For a relevant analogy, compare the open-source project StepMania to Dance Dance Revolution. (Sorry for the double-post.)
posted by Alterscape at 9:31 AM on May 17, 2006


So really "Create and play any song on your PC." is a bit misleading.
posted by Witty at 9:56 AM on May 17, 2006


Guitar Hero II allows for co-op (lead and bass guitar) play. Just saying.
posted by yerfatma at 10:04 AM on May 17, 2006


sweet
posted by muckster at 10:11 AM on May 17, 2006


I'm calling bullshit.

The audio in the demo is original tracks from the original artists; we're not hearing sounds or samples coming from the actual application.

If you have any experience with music or MIDI apps, or samplers you can tell this by watching closely. Example: in the 1st track ("Beat It"), the notes on the display are simple points, yet when you listen, many of the guitar notes are hammer-ons, or slde-ups... just like the ORIGINAL recording. EXACTLY like the original recording, actually. Riiiight.
posted by Artful Codger at 10:59 AM on May 17, 2006


Artful Codger: Agreed. I don't know what's going on in that video, but that application doesn't have anything to do with the audio that is playing.
posted by cmicali at 11:11 AM on May 17, 2006


The application is for creating files to be used in a Guitar Hero knockoff/emulator. As in the original Guitar Hero, the music plays, and you're supposed to finger/strum along to it on the big fake fretboard. This app just lets you set which button presses and strums are "right" for a given song.

If you want to make music from scratch with your Guitar Hero controller, check out this hack instead.
posted by Alterscape at 11:32 AM on May 17, 2006


The application is for creating files to be used in a Guitar Hero knockoff/emulator. As in the original Guitar Hero, the music plays, and you're supposed to finger/strum along to it on the big fake fretboard. This app just lets you set which button presses and strums are "right" for a given song.

Ah. Thanks for the clarification.
posted by Artful Codger at 11:49 AM on May 17, 2006


AC: Uhm, why did you think it would do that? It's so you can create new "Guitar Hero" tracks from any song, so you can play along with your favorites.
posted by empath at 11:56 AM on May 17, 2006


Wait, isn't Guitar Hero sort of like Amplitude and Frequency, in that separate sections of the songs have to be recorded separately, so the part the player fills in is distinct from the rest of the track? So that the rest of the song goes on whether or not the player is doing well, sort of thing? Wasn't the fact they needed the songs specially recorded part of the reason for using covers? If so, I'm really not sure how this freeware thing is going to work.
posted by terpsichoria at 12:12 PM on May 17, 2006


So really "Create and play any song on your PC." is a bit misleading.

So sue me. /80s retort

It's the first PC adaptation I've seen. I figured it might elicit a few more links to related projects. The "software" is nothing yet, but something to keep my eye on for sure.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:15 PM on May 17, 2006


Without any reference to Guitar Hero ...

I thought that "Freetar Hero" was enough ... I suppose not. I should have just left the post simply as "Freetar Hero" which I was planning to do, but then everyone whines about a one-post link with no explanation...

posted by mrgrimm at 12:16 PM on May 17, 2006


Wait, isn't Guitar Hero sort of like Amplitude and Frequency, in that separate sections of the songs have to be recorded separately, so the part the player fills in is distinct from the rest of the track?

Yes.

If so, I'm really not sure how this freeware thing is going to work.

Me neither. That's why I was curious what people thought.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:17 PM on May 17, 2006


Its going to work very simply. You load an mp3, you program which buttons you'd like the player to be required to press, you save the level. I'm really not understanding what people are finding confusing about this. Yes, its true that Guitar Hero songs are split into a backup part and a guitar part, but nobody said anywhere that this clone will do the same.
posted by hellphish at 1:47 PM on May 17, 2006


I'm waiting for Keytar Hero, so I can try to do this at home.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:02 PM on May 17, 2006


Wait, isn't Guitar Hero sort of like Amplitude and Frequency, in that separate sections of the songs have to be recorded separately, so the part the player fills in is distinct from the rest of the track? .... If so, I'm really not sure how this freeware thing is going to work.

That is what Guitar Hero does. My guess would be that Freetar Hero will merely emulate the scoring section of the game--whether or not you're pressing the proper buttons on the controller at the proper time. Or at least I hope that's what the first release does; while a version that allowed you to load in multi-tracked music and do what you're describing is certainly possible, I don't want to wait until they get that working.

(Similarly, I would guess that Star Power and the whammy bar will wait for a later release as well. But that and what sounds like even more awesome gameplay just mean that there will be plenty of good reasons to buy Guitar Hero 2 this fall.)
posted by Inkslinger at 7:16 PM on May 17, 2006


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