What is Vectrex Studio?

Vectrex Studio is a modern IDE for Vectrex game development. It provides a Python-like language called VPy, a 9-phase Rust compiler, a cycle-accurate emulator, and professional tools for vector art, music, and debugging.

VPy is a Python-like programming language designed specifically for Vectrex development. It provides readable syntax while compiling to MC6809 assembly, eliminating the need to write low-level code by hand.

Is Vectrex development easy with Vectrex Studio?

Yes. Vectrex Studio makes development accessible to programmers from any background. VPy syntax is familiar to Python developers, and the built-in emulator and debugger eliminate the need for physical hardware.

Can I develop Vectrex games without assembly?

Yes. VPy handles all the low-level details. You can focus on game logic. If needed, you can use inline assembly for optimization.

Is Vectrex Studio free?

Yes. Vectrex Studio is completely free and open-source. Download and use it forever at no cost.

What is the difference between VPy and assembly?

VPy is a high-level language with Python-inspired syntax, while assembly is low-level machine code. VPy code is more readable and maintainable, while being compiled to identical machine code as hand-written assembly.

Music Editor · Vectrex Studio

The Music Editor opens when you create or double-click a .vmus file. It provides a piano roll interface for composing music for the Vectrex's AY-3-8910 PSG sound chip, which has three tone channels (A, B, C) and one noise channel.

Music Editor — piano roll with notes on channels A and B, noise track at the bottom, playhead visible

AY-3-8910 basics

The PSG has three independent tone oscillators (channels A, B, C) and one noise generator. Each channel can play one note at a time. Notes are specified as MIDI note numbers; the compiler converts them to PSG register values at build time.

Tools

Tool	Shortcut	Use
Draw	D	Click and drag to create a note; drag right to set duration
Select	S	Click or shift-click to select notes; drag to move
Erase	E	Click a note to delete it
Pan	P / Middle-mouse	Scroll the view

Piano roll

Notes appear as rounded rectangles on the grid. The vertical axis is pitch (A0 at the bottom, C8 at the top); the horizontal axis is time in ticks (24 ticks = 1 beat).

Zoom: scroll wheel adjusts horizontal zoom (0.5×–3×).
Channel colours: each channel (A, B, C) has a distinct colour. Switch the channel view filter in the toolbar to focus on one channel at a time.

Piano roll close-up — notes on two channels with beat and bar grid lines

Noise track

The noise track is a horizontal strip at the bottom of the grid. Draw events here to activate the noise generator. Each event has:

Field	Range	Description
Period	0–31	Controls the noise pitch/colour. Lower = higher pitch.
Velocity	0–15	Volume of the noise burst.

Playback

Control	Action
Play / Stop	Start or stop playback
Speed	Playback rate: 25%–200%
Auto-scroll	Keep the playhead centred while playing
BPM	Tempo setting
Loop	Set loop start and end points

Keyboard shortcuts:

Space — Play/Stop
1 / 2 / 3 — Switch active channel
Delete — Remove selected notes

MIDI import

File → Import MIDI opens the MIDI import dialog. Select a .mid file and choose a mapping mode:

Mode	Description
Merge	All MIDI tracks mapped dynamically to channels A, B, C as notes fit.
Separate	First three MIDI tracks mapped to A, B, C respectively.
Multiplex	Tim Follin-style: up to 6 virtual voices rapidly switched across the 3 channels.

The dialog previews the result with audio playback before you commit. Percussion (MIDI channel 10, low notes) is detected automatically and mapped to the noise track.

Channel instruments

Each channel can optionally reference a .vinstr instrument preset that defines the envelope shape used at runtime. Leave unset to use the default square wave.

File format

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "name": "theme",
  "tempo": 120,
  "totalTicks": 384,
  "loopStart": 0,
  "loopEnd": 384,
  "notes": [
    { "id": 1, "channel": 0, "note": 69, "start": 0,  "duration": 24, "velocity": 12 },
    { "id": 2, "channel": 1, "note": 57, "start": 0,  "duration": 48, "velocity": 10 },
    { "id": 3, "channel": 0, "note": 71, "start": 24, "duration": 24, "velocity": 12 }
  ],
  "noise": []
}

In VPy code:

META MUSIC = music1   # auto-plays on startup
# or manually:
PLAY_MUSIC("theme")
STOP_MUSIC()