What is a .S3M file?
The .S3M file extension stands for a ScreamTracker 3 Module, which is a type of audio file format. This format was specifically used by the software Scream Tracker version 3.0 and later versions. An .S3M file includes sound samples along with music patterns. These music patterns detail the specific notes that are played using the sound samples, orchestrating how the music is heard during playback. This format is somewhat similar to the .MOD file format but is distinct in that it supports up to 16 separate audio tracks, allowing for more complex compositions.
To open and play .S3M files, several software programs are available. One popular option is the VideoLAN VLC media player, which is widely used for various media formats and supports .S3M files as well. Other specialized music tracking programs like Schism Tracker and MilkyTracker can also open these files, providing more features tailored to editing and creating music modules. Although some programs like MODPlug Player and CocoModX that used to support .S3M files are now discontinued, alternatives like Myriad Harmony Assistant and Nullsoft Winamp (with the AdPlug plugin) are viable options for handling .S3M files. These programs allow users to listen to, edit, or create music in the ScreamTracker format.
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