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Chiptunes |OT| Not just for games anymore

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OnPoint

Member
If you've ever wanted to play the NES as a live instrument, then today's your day. The Chip Maestro came out today.

MsgnnQC.png


It's a cartridge that lets you plug in a midi keyboard to your NES and play it as an instrument. I've had one for a few months but I need to get a compatible keyboard to use it properly. I'd have loved if it had some sort of visual settings option instead of the keyboard-input setup it uses, but it's still pretty cool regardless.

This thread is due for a tunes update as well. I'll pop one up soon.
 

chris121580

Member
My local record store got this in yesterday so I had to jump on it. I don't think I'll ever open it. Strictly for display. So much nostalgia
$_1.JPG
 

OnPoint

Member
If you aren't aware of Star Versus you should be. It's a homebrew NES title that just recently had a full physical cart release.

Anyway, the OST is out, and it's by Knife City. It's pretty incredible considering he was handicapped into using only one pulse channel.

Code:
[img]https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0743268791_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://knifecity.bandcamp.com/album/star-versus-ost"]Star Veresus OST
by Knife City
Click for link[/url]

the soundtrack to Studio Dustmop's amazing new NES shmup fighter STAR VERSUS! 
my first bunch of stuff written in FamiTracker, targeting the FamiTone2 engine! 
only using one pulse channel since PU2 was in use for sfx and stuff like that
 

OnPoint

Member
This thread doesn't seem to see much activity, so here's one of my all-time favorite SID compositions

Geir Tjelta - Artillery

Yo Jett this is awesome. It would be really cool if you could post up a bunch more SID tracks if you're knowledgeable on them and maybe some info on SIDs in general, I'm woefully underexposed to them and they'd be a great addition to the thread.

Couple other recommendations for y'all out there.

Code:
[img]http://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0104943612_16.jpg[/img]

[url="http://chiptuneswin.bandcamp.com/album/chiptunes-win-volume-4"]Chiptunes = Win Vol 4
by Various
Click for link[/url]

A ton of heavy hitters and up-and-comers on this latest
compilation from Chiptunes = Win. Tracks from Monomer,
Twistboy, Nickelpunk and Auxcide among others are sure 
to get your moving.

Code:
[img]http://f1.bcbits.com/img/a1822849645_16.jpg[/img]

[url="http://chipzel.co.uk/album/spectra"]Spectra
By Chipzel
Click for link[/url]

You may know Chipzel from her work on the Super Hexagon
OST, and while this album released in 2013, it shouldn't go
overlooked. Check it out if you want something kinda heavy
but definitely dancy.

Code:
[img]https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a1374352252_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://dataairlines.bandcamp.com/album/lost-floppies-vol-1"]Lost Floppies Vol 1
by Dubmood
Click here for link[/url]

Another oldie but goodie, Dubmood's Lost Floppies Vol 1
is a groovy album with that classic Dubmood sound we're all
so familiar with. If you're not familiar, jump in and find out what
so many already know.
 

Pejo

Member
Wow I don't know how i missed this thread before, but definitely subbed to it now. I need to go back and listen to the stuff mentioned in the thread, then I'll contribute if I have anything else.
 

jett

D-Member
Yo Jett this is awesome. It would be really cool if you could post up a bunch more SID tracks if you're knowledgeable on them and maybe some info on SIDs in general, I'm woefully underexposed to them and they'd be a great addition to the thread.

280px-Sid.jpg


I'll let wikipedia do the heavy lifting for me:

The SID was devised by engineer Robert "Bob" Yannes, who later co-founded the Ensoniq digital synthesizer company. Yannes headed a team that included himself, two technicians and a CAD operator, who designed and completed the chip in five months, in the latter half of 1981. Yannes was inspired by previous work in the synthesizer industry and was not impressed by the current state of computer sound chips. Instead, he wanted a high-quality instrument chip, which is the reason why the SID has features like the envelope generator, previously not found in home computer sound chips.

Features:

  • three separately programmable independent audio oscillators (8 octave range, approximately 16 - 4000 Hz)
  • four different waveforms per audio oscillator (sawtooth, triangle, pulse, noise)
  • one multi mode filter featuring low-pass, high-pass and band-pass outputs with 6 dB/oct (bandpass) or 12 dB/octave (lowpass/highpass) rolloff. The different filter modes are sometimes combined to produce additional timbres, for instance a notch-reject filter.
  • three attack/decay/sustain/release (ADSR) volume controls, one for each audio oscillator.
  • three ring modulators.
  • oscillator sync for each audio oscillator.
  • two 8-bit A/D converters (typically used for game control paddles, but later also used for a mouse)
  • external audio input (for sound mixing with external signal sources)
  • random number/modulation generator

The SID was far beyond anything out there when the C64 was released. The C64 and its SID hold a special place in my childhood. I just love the sound the SID produces, which I believe to be timeless in every respect. Here's a selection of a few of my faves:

Martin Galway - Wizball

Martin Galway - Parallax

Martin Galway - Green Beret

Martin Galway - Arkanoid

Martin Galway - Ocean Loader

Tim Follin - Ghouls 'N Ghosts

Rob Hubbard - Nemesis the Warlock

Rob Hubbard - Commando

Rob Hubbard - Skate or Die

Jeroen Tel - Cybernator 2

Jeroen Tel - Robocop 3

Jeroen Tel - Myth

Chris Hülsbeck - R-Type

Chris Hülsbeck - The Great Giana Sisters

Matt Gray - The Last Ninja 2

Richard Joseph - Barbarian

It's amazing how a game based on Robocop 3 could have something like that, or why a shoot 'em up like Parallax would have an epic 10-minute long main theme. Composers of this era where given free reign to do whatever they wanted, regardless of what they were working on, and so they did.
 

OnPoint

Member
That Robocop 3 theme is sweet. It immediately jumps out as one of my favorites.

Do you know of any current-day chiptune producers using SID? I'm gonna look into it a bit myself, but if you know any offhand that would be a great help.
 

jett

D-Member
That Robocop 3 theme is sweet. It immediately jumps out as one of my favorites.

Do you know of any current-day chiptune producers using SID? I'm gonna look into it a bit myself, but if you know any offhand that would be a great help.

There are several artists that use a SidStation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektron_SidStation

3frSmRI.jpg


The Elektron SidStation is a musical synthesizer sound module, built around the MOS Technology SID mixed-mode synthesizer chip originally used in the Commodore 64 home computer. It was produced by the Swedish synthesizer company Elektron, and was introduced in 1999. As the SID chip had not been manufactured for years, Elektron allegedly bought up nearly all the remaining stock.

But I'm not familiar with any modern-day chiptune composers that produce SID music.
 

OnPoint

Member
Yo if you're sleeping on this DDRKirby(ISQ) album, shame on you. (Also isn't this person a GAF member?)

Code:
[img]https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0955178078_16.jpg[/img]
[url="https://ddrkirbyisq.bandcamp.com/album/the-ecstasy-of-life"]
The Ecstasy of Life
by DDRKirbyISQ
Click for link[/url]

"The Ecstasy of Life" is my debut original artist album. 
Featuring my trademark "9-bit" modern chiptune sound, 
these tracks are a compilation of some of my best work 
over the course of 5 years. 

The title track, "The Ecstasy of Life", was originally 
composed in one hour for a One Hour Compo contest. 
Like the rest of the album, it embodies my primary philosophy 
towards music: Don't stop to think; just let the melodies 
soar and flow.
 

llehuty

Member
Yo if you're sleeping on this DDRKirby(ISQ) album, shame on you. (Also isn't this person a GAF member?)

Code:
[img]https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0955178078_16.jpg[/img]
[url="https://ddrkirbyisq.bandcamp.com/album/the-ecstasy-of-life"]
The Ecstasy of Life
by DDRKirbyISQ
Click for link[/url]

"The Ecstasy of Life" is my debut original artist album. 
Featuring my trademark "9-bit" modern chiptune sound, 
these tracks are a compilation of some of my best work 
over the course of 5 years. 

The title track, "The Ecstasy of Life", was originally 
composed in one hour for a One Hour Compo contest. 
Like the rest of the album, it embodies my primary philosophy 
towards music: Don't stop to think; just let the melodies 
soar and flow.

Good good. At first I was a bit on the fence about the no chip tune sounds, but they complement most of the tracks quite nicely. Also, that pricing is really tight.

Also, based OnPoint for keeping this thread alive. Keep up the awesome work and recommendations ;)
 

OnPoint

Member
Good good. At first I was a bit on the fence about the no chip tune sounds, but they complement most of the tracks quite nicely. Also, that pricing is really tight.

Also, based OnPoint for keeping this thread alive. Keep up the awesome work and recommendations ;)

Aw you're too kind. I'm glad someone appreciates it. This thread doesn't get the love I thought it would (and honestly I could probably post more in it) but if it's making some people happy, well, that was the point.


Streets of Rage tribute? This is awesome. What tracker/program are you using?
 

lazygecko

Member
Same thing I always use. FM8 in FLStudio. I mastered it to simulate the fuzzy output of the actual hardware, and bit reduction + a ring modulator to simulate the scratchy PCM sample playback.
 

OnPoint

Member
Same thing I always use. FM8 in FLStudio. I mastered it to simulate the fuzzy output of the actual hardware, and bit reduction + a ring modulator to simulate the scratchy PCM sample playback.

Been thinking of getting into Genesis tracking but yours sounds pretty authentic given my untrained ears. I might have to look into FLStudio at some point.

I always want to post stuff I made but I didn't make this thread for self promo. I don't know if it would be weird or what being the OP.
 

llehuty

Member
Been thinking of getting into Genesis tracking but yours sounds pretty authentic given my untrained ears. I might have to look into FLStudio at some point.

I always want to post stuff I made but I didn't make this thread for self promo. I don't know if it would be weird or what being the OP.

POST IT. Who cares if you made the OP?

*Anticipates*
 

OnPoint

Member
OK llehuty :)

Here's two off of the Shutshimi LP, where myself and several artists you've seen in this thread before took some of the songs from the game and extended the in-level tracks into full songs. The whole in-game soundtrack and my songs were written in Famitracker, most of them using the Konami VRC6 expansion chip.


You can actually hear the full soundtrack here, should anyone be so inclined.
 

llehuty

Member
OK llehuty :)

Here's two off of the Shutshimi LP, where myself and several artists you've seen in this thread before took some of the songs from the game and extended the in-level tracks into full songs. The whole in-game soundtrack and my songs were written in Famitracker, most of them using the Konami VRC6 expansion chip.


You can actually hear the full soundtrack here, should anyone be so inclined.

*This video is not available*

The tease...
 

jett

D-Member
Yo if you're sleeping on this DDRKirby(ISQ) album, shame on you. (Also isn't this person a GAF member?)

Code:
[img]https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0955178078_16.jpg[/img]
[url="https://ddrkirbyisq.bandcamp.com/album/the-ecstasy-of-life"]
The Ecstasy of Life
by DDRKirbyISQ
Click for link[/url]

"The Ecstasy of Life" is my debut original artist album. 
Featuring my trademark "9-bit" modern chiptune sound, 
these tracks are a compilation of some of my best work 
over the course of 5 years. 

The title track, "The Ecstasy of Life", was originally 
composed in one hour for a One Hour Compo contest. 
Like the rest of the album, it embodies my primary philosophy 
towards music: Don't stop to think; just let the melodies 
soar and flow.

It's hard to keep up with his releases, he releases a lot of stuff on Bandcamp.
 
Same thing I always use. FM8 in FLStudio. I mastered it to simulate the fuzzy output of the actual hardware, and bit reduction + a ring modulator to simulate the scratchy PCM sample playback.

Yeah, FM8 is an amazing VST. I use Mixcraft myself but it's good as an all-purpose high-fidelity Genesis-esque synth that doubly served as the foundation for most of the synths in Halo Reach's soundtrack. It's not really relevant to this thread, but I used a bunch of FM8 sounds when I wrote something for an album a while back that was done in the style of the Genesis sound chip, just with modern production values.

For something relevant to the actual thread, the first link in my tag has a whole bunch of Amiga soundtrack strung together.
 

llehuty

Member
New Prof.Sakamoto album! (And thread bump):

INSERT vol​.​3 - NINJA OR DIE
INSERT is one of my conceptual albums which is a soundtrack of a virtual retro video game.
Volume 3 is a 2D Ninja action game.
Imagine your own visuals and feeling of the world, and enjoy it!
Soundcloud sampler
Bandcamp link

Sequel of:
INSERT vol​.​2 - SOLAR SOLDIER
This album is a concept album. Using sound chips of NES and Gameboy, Professor Sakamoto made a soundtrack of virtual retro shooting game "Solar Soldier".
Youtube sampler
Bandcamp link

This guy is always delivering quality melodies.
 

OnPoint

Member
It's been a long time! Let's playcatchup and jam some releases in here!

Maybe we should kick this thread back into regular gear, eh?

Code:
[img]https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0687219041_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://shirobon.bandcamp.com/album/shirobon-presents-chiptune-for-serum"]Shirobon Presents: Chiptunes for Serum
by Shirobon
Click here for link[/url]

Have you ever wanted to make Chiptune but can't get 
your head around how to use a gameboy? Or perhaps 
you already know how to but want a fun and easy way 
to get your ideas down? Well now you can!

Code:
[img]https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0731153948_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://nmlstyl.bandcamp.com"]NMLSTYL
by NMLSTYL
Click here for link[/url]

Joey, a.k.a nmlstyl (pronounced "animal style") , is 
a hacker musician who is known for pioneering the 
squarewave synth guitar sound. rob martino adds 
a percussion expertise to the mix.

Code:
[img]https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2108877725_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://danimalcannon.bandcamp.com/album/lunaria"]Lunaria
by Danimal Cannon
Click here for link[/url]

Danimal Cannon's latest album is a crushing
mix of chiptune and progressive metal, though
this shouldn't come as a surprise if you've ever
heard his stuff before.

Code:
[img]https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1113810478_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://exploringaudio1999.bandcamp.com/album/space-corgi-lp"]Space Corgi LP
by Little Paw
Click here for link[/url]

SPACE CORGI, his first full length release, is a 
project that has been many years in the making 
( the earliest demos date back to 2012 ) and is 
equal parts upbeat chiptune pop and ambient space rock.

Code:
[img]https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1760035822_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://mattcreameraudio.bandcamp.com/album/treasure-buster-original-soundtrack"]Treasure Buster OST
by Norrin Radd
Click here for link[/url]

Some seriously 16-bit style jams by
chiptune mastermind Norrin Radd.
You'll be having blast processing
flashbacks in no time with this one.
 

OnPoint

Member
Quality bump. That Treasure Buster OST is really good! Good stuff.

Got this recommended by a friend on facebook:


Breezesquad - Mönster

Not 100% chiptune, but the occasional drums really help with the ethnic vibe. Guy likes Perfume and Nakata, so he is good in my books :p

Also, this is an interesting read: The New Faces of Japanese Chiptune

Oh gonna have to check this album out more, but I'm a couple songs in and digging it so far.

Was gonna say about that article that Chibitech needed to be in there. If y'all aren't familiar, well hell...

Code:
[img]https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a3609126516_16.jpg[/img]

[url="https://chibitech.bandcamp.com/album/moenes-vol-1-the-idol-composers-groove"]MoeNES vol 1: the idol composers groove
by Chibi Tech
Click here for link[/url]

Chibi Tech's song are an aural assault
of sounds from the NES you never dreamed
were possible. Seriously, listen to track 8
and be amazed. It's insanity.

I'm new to sorting through this music genre. Is there any particular sub-category to search for in looking for tunes like the Thunderforce OST?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL...0hBYndFX1VoHw%3D%3D&v=ObJVuRTIIS4&mode=NORMAL

I really like the synth that kicks in around 0:48. Want more material like it.

There are definitely people out there nowadays making stuff like that. I'd have to do my research a little more, but at a quick glance:

 

OnPoint

Member
Sorry guys, I didn't get to make this post before they sold out, so hopefully some of y'all got one. Maybe they'll make more?

Code:
[img]http://s0.limitedrun.com/images/1209227/v200_anamanaguchi-power-supply-nes-cartridge.jpg[/img]

[B]Anamanaguchi: Power Supply 10th Anniversary NES Cart[/B]

On the 10th anniversary, Anamanaguchi's debut EP Power Supply is finally available on 
its native NES cartridge form. Seven songs of turbocharged melancholy, low-bit digital
euphoria and hypermelodic youthfulness from the New York chiptune band are set to an
NES visualizer inspired by dmauro's original album art - programmed by Batsly Adams.
Pressing power on the console invites the chips to sing in harmony with each other. First
run is limited to an edition of 100 carts.

Source: [url="http://www.8bitpeoples.com/products/582739-anamanaguchi-power-supply-10th-anniversary-nes-cart"]8bitpeoples[/url]

Either way, Power Supply was a great batch of tunes and you should enjoy it now :)
 

llehuty

Member
Sorry guys, I didn't get to make this post before they sold out, so hopefully some of y'all got one. Maybe they'll make more?

Code:
[img]http://s0.limitedrun.com/images/1209227/v200_anamanaguchi-power-supply-nes-cartridge.jpg[/img]

[B]Anamanaguchi: Power Supply 10th Anniversary NES Cart[/B]

On the 10th anniversary, Anamanaguchi's debut EP Power Supply is finally available on 
its native NES cartridge form. Seven songs of turbocharged melancholy, low-bit digital
euphoria and hypermelodic youthfulness from the New York chiptune band are set to an
NES visualizer inspired by dmauro's original album art - programmed by Batsly Adams.
Pressing power on the console invites the chips to sing in harmony with each other. First
run is limited to an edition of 100 carts.

Source: [url="http://www.8bitpeoples.com/products/582739-anamanaguchi-power-supply-10th-anniversary-nes-cart"]8bitpeoples[/url]

Either way, Power Supply was a great batch of tunes and you should enjoy it now :)

Helix Nebula is so memorable. And damn, 10 years old already! I first listened to it back in 2009 when I did some "research" after bumping into Dawn Metropolis and enjoying it a lot.
 

OnPoint

Member
Any of y'all coming to MAGFest? When I'm not showing off our game in the indie area I'll probably be up at the chiptune stage. Hell of a lineup this year!

JMSPjeL.png
 

OnPoint

Member
Oh man, Lunaria is pretty sweet. I did link it a few posts above -- it's been out for about a year haha

That said, Danimal DID just release a new video for one of the songs on it a few hours ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSNVKWkT508

On a side note, this thread is probably due for another update post or two. Anyone hear anything interesting lately?
 

JSR_Cube

Member
Hey,

I don't know if anyone has listened to Disasterpeace's recent collaboration. It was released about a month ago.

Ram Son by Lexi & The Cheap Disaster
http://music.disasterpeace.com/album/ram-son

The album is "name your price" so you really can't go wrong. It isn't a soundtrack of anything but it has some pretty awesome tunes in it. Check it out. Fire Sale and El Carte are my favorite tracks so far.
 

OnPoint

Member
New cover by an0va: Never Meant by American Hearts

https://soundcloud.com/an0va/nevermeant

Hey,

I don't know if anyone has listened to Disasterpeace's recent collaboration. It was released about a month ago.

Ram Son by Lexi & The Cheap Disaster
http://music.disasterpeace.com/album/ram-son

The album is "name your price" so you really can't go wrong. It isn't a soundtrack of anything but it has some pretty awesome tunes in it. Check it out. Fire Sale and El Carte are my favorite tracks so far.

The collab was with Cheap Dinosaurs huh? Sounds really good.
 
A friend did the soundtrack for a game we released recently, and we couldn't be more proud of the result. It's a blend of very retro NES-era game soundtrack chiptunes, and the artist's own style of bringing more modern instrumentation to it. It's not as high energy as the kind of stuff usually posted here, since it's meant to be a chill backdrop to the exploration in the game.


You can listen to it here: https://petegresser.bandcamp.com/album/rex-another-island-the-original-soundtrack

Personal favorite: The Sewers

(Apologies if this is considered self-promotion, but we're just that proud of the album, and how the music sounds in-game).
 

llehuty

Member
Oh, GOOD STUFF OnPoint! This is completely up my alley. I really like the mood of Night Driver. Keep up the good work!
 

OnPoint

Member
Good shit, congrats on making that happen! Liked Deadzone best with I think In Memoriam second.

Oh, GOOD STUFF OnPoint! This is completely up my alley. I really like the mood of Night Driver. Keep up the good work!

Thanks y'all!

(Apologies if this is considered self-promotion, but we're just that proud of the album, and how the music sounds in-game).

Hah I just posted my very own EP above your post. I feel like self-promo in here is fine, just don't go nuts? I'll listen to this when I get out of work tonight.
 
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