What is the PTM file format?
A .ptm file is a PolyTracker Module - a binary tracker music file produced by PolyTracker, a DOS-era tracker application developed by Lone Ranger of AcmE around 1994-1995. Like other module formats of the period, a .ptm file bundles both sequencing data (patterns, note and effect commands, channel assignments) and raw PCM audio samples into a single self-contained binary, so no external soundfont or sample library is needed for playback.
PolyTracker was designed as an enhanced alternative to ScreamTracker 3, so the .ptm format is structurally close to .s3m: it supports up to 32 simultaneous channels, uses a similar pattern-row layout, and shares much of its effect command syntax. Samples are stored as 8-bit or 16-bit PCM at rates between 8,000 and 44,100 Hz, with the rate defined individually per sample.
The format went through approximately twelve internal revisions; a version byte in the header distinguishes variants. .ptm files have no universal magic-byte signature - identification relies on header structure analysis. Typical file sizes run from 50 KB to 2 MB, with sample data accounting for most of the bulk.
PolyTracker was quickly superseded by Impulse Tracker in 1995. Today .ptm files are a niche relic of the 1990s demoscene; modern playback is handled by OpenMPT, libopenmpt (cross-platform library), and XMPlay on Windows.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWPTM files are binary audio data files with no executable code. Opening one in OpenMPT or XMPlay is safe. There are no known exploits targeting PTM parsing in current players. Exercise usual caution when downloading files from unknown demoscene archive mirrors.
Format details
in a nutshell- Microsoft MapPoint Map File - Microsoft MapPoint (GIS/route planning software, EOL December 2014) also used .ptm for its proprietary OLE2-based map documents. The db_name 'Microsoft MapPoint map file' refers to this meaning, but all db_programs are audio tracker programs - the dominant current format is PolyTracker Module.
- Photometric Texture Map - HP Labs Polynomial Texture Map (.ptm) - a relighting image format for cultural heritage digitization; uses hex signature 50 54 4D 46 at offset 40.
Programs that open PTM files
Windows5 apps
OpenMPT
Open-source File > Open the .ptm file. OpenMPT is the definitive modern tracker/player for all major module formats including PTM. 
Impulse Tracker
Free DOS-era tracker; runs only under DOSBox on modern hardware. Historical reference only. 
Winamp (with in_mod plugin)
Free Winamp with the in_mod (ModPlug) input plugin plays PTM modules. Winamp 5.9x (latest, 2022) is available; ensure the in_mod plugin is enabled. 
macOS2 apps
CocoModX
Free Legacy macOS tracker/player; the macmusic.org link in db is dead. Use a modern libopenmpt-based player instead.
libopenmpt-based player
Open-source Several macOS media players use libopenmpt for module playback (e.g. Nulloy, Clementine with gstreamer-openmpt). Install libopenmpt and a player that uses it. 
Linux1 app
libopenmpt / openmpt123
Open-source openmpt123 --play file.ptm - command-line playback; available in most distro repos (apt install openmpt123). Technical details
deep spec| File structure | Binary header + pattern data blocks + raw PCM sample data |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Channel support | Up to 32 simultaneous channels |
| Sample encoding | 8-bit or 16-bit PCM; encoding defined per individual sample |
| Sample rate range | 8,000-44,100 Hz; rate set individually per sample |
| Pattern capacity | Up to 128 patterns per module |
| Instrument/sample slots | Up to 255 instruments or samples |
| Header fields | 28-byte song name, tempo/BPM value, channel count, pattern order table |
| Format revision byte | Approximately 12 known internal revisions; distinguished by version byte in header |
| Magic bytes | None; identified by header layout structure analysis - no fixed signature |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 2 MB; sample data dominates file size |
| Compression | None; raw PCM samples and uncompressed pattern data |
| Structural basis | Derived from ScreamTracker 3 (.s3m); shares pattern layout and effect command syntax |
| OS origin | MS-DOS (original); modern playback on Windows, macOS, and Linux via libopenmpt |
| Released | Circa 1994-1995 (PolyTracker tracker software) |
| Latest version | No formal versioning; approximately a dozen format revisions existed including customized test versions |
| Specification | fileformats.archiveteam.org |
PTM conversions
Community Q&A
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