Introducing the Chipophone – 8bit organ
Linus Akesson’s Chipophone is a homemade 8-bit synthesizer, designed for live chiptune playing.
It has been built inside an old electronic organ. All the original tone-generating parts have been disconnected, and the keys, pedals, knobs and switches rerouted to a microcontroller which transforms them into MIDI signals. Those are then parsed by a second microcontroller, which acts as a synthesizer.
Details at the Linusakkeson site.
Chiptunes in APAC?
Ever heard of chip tunes in Malaysia? Neither have I..
Documentary that covers the south-east Asian scene of chipmusic, a very interesting one if you ask me. You have the input of interesting people that you are not used to hear, for example Ikuma, from a totally different point of view to American or European counterparts. Some footage is “obtained” but most is shot by these young aspiring artists and enthusiasts.
8GB’s first-ever EP release is a small snapshot of the evolution of 8GB through these 4 years of existance.
Akira writes:
The main reason for this is that I am in need of funding for the Blip Festival Tokyo trip and this will help out. Anything you can help with is appreciated but since I don’t believe in taking money from people without giving anything in exchange I thought of this (among other stuff that will appear in the coming weeks). With this I also mean to fund the new A/V set that is in development to premiere in Blip Tokyo in early September. Many, many hours of filming, designing, motion graphics work, gear and have been invested in 8GB since 2004 and it’s getting harder and harder, specially with a tight deadline, a full time job that takes a lot of my energy and such a costy trip to the land of far east.
The Album copy:
On 10 October, the 8-Bit State Security Agency voted 10-2 for a resolution saying that “an armed uprising in chipmusic is inevitable”, and that “the time for it is fully ripe”.
As such began the revolt that lead to the RED OCTOBER, an uprising in chipmusic affairs, featuring 4 tracks of dancefloor-smashing data propaganda.
8GB’s first-ever EP release is a small snapshot of the evolution of 8GB through these 4 years of existance. Being their first ‘proper’, solo release, after years of holding onto tracks for the pleasure of those checking out live shows, the Agency decides to release onto the public a concentrated and powerful package of propaganda, featuring artwork by kiken.corporation.
The new XMP plays over 90 formats – Amiga, Atari, Acorn, Apple IIgs and PC
The Extended Module Player, or xmp, is a portable command-line module player for Unix and Unix-like systems such as Linux, BSD, Solaris, HP-UX and MacOS X, and also QNX, BeOS, Windows, OS/2 and AmigaOS. Xmp plays over 90 mainstream and obscure module formats from Amiga, Atari, Acorn, Apple IIgs and PC. There are experimental plugins for Audacious, Beep Media Player, XMMS and Winamp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXRAXZ6LcU8&feature=player_embedded
Playing the 8bit guitar
It sure don’t sound good but it is a funny experiment.
This a CV sequencer with an arduino microcontroller. It Sequences the pulse width of the guitar. The idea came from tracking (composing) in famitracker, LSDJ and Goattracker. When you compose for the NES or the Gameboy, there are tons of effects you can choose from to make square waves more complex and interesting sounding.
The Arduino code will be posted on this site in the next couple of days so, check it: http://animal-style.com
Attack of the clones – NTRQ 1.6
Mr. Baldwin has updated NTRQ to 1.6. New Features include:
Pattern Cloning
Something you should probably be aware of: I had to modify the NTRQ file format slightly to accommodate the clone/purge feature. This means that from V1.6 onwards, older .sav files will not be compatible. However, starting with V1.6, if you load up NTRQ with an older .sav file it will be automatically upgraded to V1.6 data format. The same also applies to the NSF outputter. It has been updated for V1.6 too and is not compatible with older .sav files. To re-output your old .sav files as NSF you need to first “load” and “save” them (however that happens on your platform of choice) with V1.6 (onwards) first.
DPCM Changes
Funnily enough, I’d been working on the changes to DPCM before I was talked into releasing the cloning feature. As such it’s still in a state of flux somewhat but the changes so far definitely make DPCM usage better (or at least more interesting
)
Looking for classic 8 bit game sounds??
I wouldn´t mind having the OTO Biscuit
Listen in for yourself – Impressed
BISCUIT is a stereo sound effect processor. Thanks to a subtle blend of 8-bit digital and analog processing, BISCUIT is able to create a wide range of sounds. It goes from 8-bit character and lo-fi digital artefacts to numeric distortions.
BISCUIT is very useful to add depth and texture to any kind of electronic sounds. It works best with synthesizers (digital or analog), bassline, drum machines, loops, samplers or computers, but you can use it with any other sources.
BISCUIT is basically an enhanced bit depth and sample-rate reducer, known as “bitcrusher”, followed by an analog filter and a simple mixing section (dry/wet). It also offers other features like removing or inverting each of the 8 bits, changing the sample rate from 250Hz to 30kHz, or adding one of the four effects (waveshaper, delay, pitch shifter and step filter).
Biscuit is MIDI compatible.
You can save the whole BISCUIT settings (pots and switches) in 16 presets.
A SysEx dump function let you save and recall as many presets you want on your computer.
Features
• Stereo inputs and outputs
• Input gain from -∞ to 15 dB with diode clipping
• Real 8-bit Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog converters
• True analog multimode filter with resonance control
• Variable sample clock from 250 Hz to 30 kHz
• Unique capability of muting and inverting each of the 8 bits
• FX section: Waveshaper, Delay, Pitch Shifter and Step Filter
• Separate control of dry and 8-bit signals
• 16 presets
• MIDI compatible
• True relay Bypass
• Rugged metallic Neutrik© jacks
• Built like a tank: Thick metal case and strong build
• Dimensions: 190mm x 60mm x 117mm / 7.48″ x 2.36″ x 4.60″ (W x D x H)
• Weight: 580g / 1.27 lbs
Can 8-bit beat the original song?
Check out for yourself:
Here’s the original song by Kansas
And here’s the 8-bit version, although instrumental version
The Disco King – Carry On Wayward Son
Must say it is a pretty good attempt at least
8-bit music
It’s impossible to explore 8-bit music videos without at least dabbling in the world of chiptunes — music crafted in the style of, and often with the same computer hardware of, old-school games. Chiptune songstress Leeni’s clip for “Underworld” plays like a videogame stage show. Stick around for the eye-popping pixel light show towards the end.
Wired Mag has chosen the top chiptune videos
DATAMASKIN
