A Guide to Chiptune Music
Chiptune us a genre that holds a unique place in the musical spectrum. Also often referred to as 8-bit music or chip music, takes us back to the days when video game soundtracks were crafted with simplistic, yet deeply evocative melodies that hold the distinct charm of early computing technology. This music, created on or emulating the sound of vintage computers and gaming consoles, has managed to capture the imagination of composers and listeners alike, turning what was once a technological limitation into an art form in its own right.
But chiptune is more than a nostalgic tribute to the video game soundtracks of the past. It's a vibrant, innovative genre that continues to evolve and inspire, providing a canvas for musical creativity that extends well beyond the realm of gaming. From its humble beginnings in the demoscene of the 1980s, chiptune has infiltrated various forms of media and culture, while nurturing a passionate community of artists and enthusiasts who push its boundaries.
I want to delve into the origins, culture, and characteristics of chiptune, and explore its many sub-genres, key artists, and examine the tools used to make this music – particularly the Little Sound DJ (LSDJ), a Game Boy sequencer that has become synonymous with chiptune creation.
The Origins of Chiptune
To fully appreciate chiptune music, it's essential to take a step back in time and understand its roots. The genre’s origins are firmly planted in the technological limitations of the early computing and gaming industry, where small storage space and rudimentary sound chips led to the creation of uniquely simple, yet expressive music.
Chiptune, or chip music, as it was initially known, first made its mark in the 1980s. During this period, home computers like the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and the Amiga, as well as gaming consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Game Boy, were growing in popularity. These machines had basic sound chips that could only produce a limited range of sounds. However, this didn't stop composers from creating memorable and emotionally engaging music that added depth to the gaming experience.
One of the earliest and most influential platforms for chiptune music was the demoscene. This was a subculture where programmers, artists, and musicians collaborated to create complex audio-visual presentations that demonstrated their coding prowess and creativity, despite the constrained capabilities of the hardware.
While initially tied to these computing platforms, chiptune began to evolve as musicians recognized the distinctive, nostalgic charm of the 8-bit sound, and started to incorporate it into broader music production. The advent of music software like trackers, and later, digital audio workstations (DAWs) and software synthesizers, opened up even more possibilities.
The accessibility of tools like LSDJ (Little Sound DJ), a sequencer software created for the Game Boy, played a pivotal role in the democratization of chiptune music. It enabled artists with a Game Boy and a creative spark to produce complex musical pieces, further pushing the boundaries of what chiptune could be.
Today, chiptune is recognized as a genre in its own right, boasting a vibrant scene that has spread across the globe, while still maintaining its nostalgic ties to the gaming and computing history that birthed it.
Defining Chiptune
Chiptune, also referred to as chip music or 8-bit music, is a genre characterized by the use of vintage computer or video game console sound chips to produce music. It captures the aesthetic of the sound of early video games and home computers.
However, understanding chiptune involves distinguishing between chiptune and 8-bit music, as these terms, while often used interchangeably, do have subtle differences.
Chiptune Music:
Chiptune refers to music made by the sound chips of old computers, consoles, or arcade machines. It does not necessarily have to be 8-bit; it could also be 16-bit or 32-bit, depending on the hardware used. The term "chiptune" comes from "chip" (referring to the sound chip) and "tune".
The key characteristics of chiptune music include:
Limited Polyphony: Due to the limitations of early sound chips, chiptune music often features a limited number of simultaneous notes, typically ranging from 3 to 5. This resulted in music with a thin, distinctive texture.
Simplistic Waveforms: The sound chips were only capable of producing simple waveforms like square, triangle, and noise waves, which gives chiptune its distinctively raw and lo-fi tone.
Techniques: Techniques unique to the genre, like arpeggiation (playing rapid sequences of notes to simulate chords that couldn't be played simultaneously), add to the signature chiptune sound.
As a non-purist, I do believe that emulation and synthesis can replicate this accurately, thus broadening and democratising the genre.
8-bit Music:
8-bit music specifically refers to music made using 8-bit sound chips, most commonly found in vintage consoles like the NES or Game Boy. It's a subset of chiptune, with the term "8-bit" reflecting the 8-bit architecture of these consoles.
In a broader sense, "8-bit music" is sometimes used to describe music that emulates the style of chiptune, even if it wasn't made with actual vintage hardware or software designed to mimic these sound chips. However, purists might argue that true 8-bit music can only be made with actual 8-bit hardware or accurate emulations thereof.
In conclusion, while all 8-bit music can be considered chiptune, not all chiptune music is 8-bit. The genre continues to inspire artists and musicians worldwide, as they explore its unique aesthetic and innovate within its constraints. Despite its retro origins, chiptune remains a forward-thinking genre, a testament to the creativity that can thrive amidst limitations.
The Chiptune Scene
While the demoscene played a crucial role in the origins of chiptune, the genre has since expanded and evolved, creating a vibrant scene that extends far beyond these initial communities. Chiptune culture now spans the globe, with artists, listeners, and enthusiasts congregating both online and offline to share their love for this unique form of music.
Online Communities and Websites
The internet has played a pivotal role in the growth and sustainability of the chiptune scene, offering platforms for artists to share their music and for fans to discover new tracks and artists. Here are a few key online spaces that have been instrumental to the chiptune community:
Chipmusic.org: One of the most prominent chiptune communities online, Chipmusic.org serves as a hub for creators to share their work, collaborate, and discuss everything from production techniques to hardware modifications.
Bandcamp: Many chiptune artists choose to share and sell their music on Bandcamp. The platform's tag-based browsing system makes it easy to discover new chiptune music.
Soundcloud: Similarly, Soundcloud's chiptune community is quite active, and the platform often hosts competitions and projects that inspire artists to produce new music.
Live Performances and Festivals
Despite its roots in vintage technology, the chiptune scene is not confined to the digital realm. Live chiptune performances have become a staple of the genre, with artists using modified vintage hardware and modern synthesizers to create energetic performances that often pair the music with visual art.
Several cities around the world host chiptune festivals and events, such as:
Blip Festival: Held in New York City, Blip Festival was one of the most influential chiptune festivals. Although it concluded in 2012, it had a significant impact on legitimizing and popularizing the genre.
Square Sounds Festival: This festival takes place in multiple cities around the world and hosts artists from various countries, reflecting the international appeal of chiptune music.
Chiptune's distinctive sound and the unique subculture surrounding it have created a lively and passionate scene. It’s a community where nostalgia and innovation meet, and where the creativity born of limitations continues to produce compelling music that transcends boundaries.
Spotlight on Prominent Chiptune Artists
Chiptune music, while rooted in the soundscapes of early video games, has come a long way since its inception. Over the years, various artists have shaped the genre, exploring the limitations and possibilities of the medium to create unique and innovative compositions. Let's take a look at some of these trailblazing artists who have left their mark on the chiptune scene.
Anamanaguchi: This American band is perhaps one of the most well-known acts in chiptune. Blending punk rock and pop sensibilities with 8-bit sounds sourced from a NES and a Game Boy, Anamanaguchi's music is energetic, engaging, and undeniably catchy. Their work includes the soundtrack for the video game "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game".
Chipzel: Based in Northern Ireland, Chipzel (Niamh Houston) has made a name for herself with her dynamic compositions using Game Boys. She is particularly known for her work on the soundtrack of the hit indie game "Super Hexagon".
Sabrepulse: As one of the early artists in the scene, Sabrepulse (Ashley Charles) from the UK is considered a pioneer of chipbreak, a subgenre of chiptune that incorporates breakbeats. His music takes advantage of the full range of sonic possibilities offered by 8-bit hardware, resulting in a rich and complex sound.
Bit Shifter: Operating almost exclusively with a pair of Game Boys, New York-based Bit Shifter explores high-energy, low-bit music composed within severe hardware constraints. His music challenges preconceptions about the limitations of old technology.
Trash80: As the moniker for Timothy Lamb, Trash80 is known for his music that fuses vintage game consoles' sounds with modern electronic music elements. Lamb is also a pioneer in the field of creating music hardware and software, including LSDJ, a popular Game Boy music sequencer.
Tools of the Trade: Hardware and Software
Crafting chiptune music involves a unique blend of vintage gaming consoles and modern musical software. This fusion of the old and the new allows artists to capture the nostalgic charm of 8-bit sounds while taking advantage of the convenience and capabilities of contemporary music-making tools. Here's an expanded overview of the common tools used in chiptune creation.
Hardware:
Game Boy: The Nintendo Game Boy is undoubtedly a favorite in the chiptune world. Known for its signature 8-bit sound chip, this handheld console has become popular due to its accessibility, portability, and unique sound. The Game Boy is commonly paired with LSDJ to create rich compositions and for live performances.
NES: The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is another prominent piece of chiptune hardware. The NES sound chip can create an array of iconic 8-bit sounds, and with the help of software like Famitracker, artists can control the NES hardware to produce a wide variety of chiptune styles.
Commodore 64: This early home computer boasts the renowned SID (Sound Interface Device) chip. Known for its warm and robust analog sound, the Commodore 64 has become a staple in the chiptune genre.
Pocket Operators: Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators are a series of handheld, battery-powered synthesizers. The PO-20 Arcade, in particular, is specifically designed to produce chiptune-style sounds, with 16 synthesized 8-bit video game-style sounds and effects. It's an accessible and portable tool for chiptune creation, ideal for on-the-go composition and live performances.
Software:
LSDJ (Little Sound DJ): LSDJ is a Game Boy music sequencer known for its depth and versatility. It effectively transforms the Game Boy into a powerful music workstation, with capabilities for intricate sequencing, sample manipulation, and live performance control.
Famitracker: This is a Windows tracker software made for composing music for NES/Famicom systems. Famitracker offers precise control in the music composition process, enabling the manipulation of the NES sound chip's capabilities directly.
DefleMask: A multi-system tracker, DefleMask lets users compose music for a variety of retro systems including the NES, Commodore 64, Sega Genesis, and more. For those looking to experiment with different sound chips and their unique sonic characteristics, DefleMask provides a robust platform.
Nanoloop: Originally a Game Boy cartridge and now available as an app for iOS and Android, Nanoloop combines sequencer, synthesizer and sampler in one package. It offers an intuitive interface and a unique sound, making it a popular choice among chiptune artists. Most interestingly, it comes pre-installed on the Analogue Pocket.
These tools reflect the diversity and complexity inherent in chiptune music production. Artists continue to push the boundaries of what is possible within this genre, utilizing a dynamic mix of vintage hardware and modern software to explore and expand the distinct sonic palette of chiptune.
Chiptune Creation with LSDJ
Creating chiptune music with Little Sound DJ (LSDJ) turns your Game Boy into a powerful music workstation. The software allows for intricate sequencing, sample manipulation, and real-time control during live performances. This guide will provide an in-depth walkthrough of the process, from setting up LSDJ to creating your first sequence.
n.b. I am merely writing this as a placeholder. With an aim of end of 2023-to-early-2024 I plan on creating a video tutorial.
1. Getting Started with LSDJ:
LSDJ can be purchased as a ROM file from the official website, which you can then load onto a flash cartridge, such as the EverDrive GB or the ElCheapoSD. The cartridge can be inserted into a Game Boy like any game cartridge. When you boot up the Game Boy, you will be greeted with the LSDJ interface.
2. Understanding the LSDJ Interface:
LSDJ has four main screens that you can toggle through by pressing the select button. These are:
The Song Screen, where you can arrange different sections of your song.
The Chain Screen, where you can build sequences of phrases.
The Phrase Screen, where you can compose short sequences of notes or beats.
The Instrument Screen, where you can customize the sound of your instruments.
Each screen has different functions, and mastering how to navigate between them is crucial to mastering LSDJ.
3. Building Your First Chain and Phrase:
To start, navigate to the Chain Screen and input a hexadecimal number (00 to FF) to create a new chain. This number represents a unique identifier for the chain, allowing you to use it multiple times throughout your song.
Next, navigate to the Phrase Screen and input different hexadecimal numbers to create new phrases. In chiptune, a phrase is typically a short sequence of notes or beats. The notes are input using a combination of buttons on the Game Boy (for example, A+Up inputs a note, while A+Left/Right changes the pitch).
4. Creating Instruments:
Navigate to the Instrument Screen to create and customize your own instruments. Here you can adjust parameters like envelope, wave, and sweep to change how your instrument sounds.
The envelope controls the volume and decay of a note, wave alters the waveform of the note, and sweep can modify the pitch of the note over time. By manipulating these parameters, you can create a wide range of sounds.
5. Sequencing and Song Construction:
Once you've created chains, phrases, and instruments, you can start building your song in the Song Screen. This involves organizing your chains in the desired order to create the structure of your song.
During sequencing, you can make changes to your chains and phrases in real-time, allowing for a great deal of flexibility in composition.
Creating music with LSDJ is a deep and complex process, but it's also incredibly rewarding. This software turns the humble Game Boy into a powerful tool for chiptune composition, allowing you to explore the unique sonic palette of 8-bit music. With practice and patience, you'll soon be creating your own chiptune masterpieces.
6. Advanced Techniques:
After mastering the basics, you can start exploring some of LSDJ's advanced features. For instance, tables allow you to apply complex modulation to your instruments, enabling effects such as vibrato, slides, or arpeggios. Tables are sequences of commands that are applied to notes and can be triggered in the Instrument Screen.
Command automation is another advanced technique that can add depth and complexity to your music. By inputting commands into the Phrase Screen, you can automate changes in volume, pitch, or instrument parameters. This allows for dynamic changes within a phrase.
7. Live Performance:
LSDJ also features several tools that can enhance live performances. The groove feature lets you create custom swing patterns that can be applied to your chains, adding a more human feel to your sequences. The mute function allows you to mute and unmute channels on the fly, providing a simple way to create breakdowns or transitions.
Furthermore, LSDJ supports MIDI sync, so you can connect your Game Boy to other devices, like drum machines or synthesizers, to integrate it into a larger setup.
Mastering LSDJ takes time and patience, but the payoff is the ability to compose complex and expressive music using just a Game Boy. The software's depth and flexibility make it a powerful tool for any chiptune artist, whether you're a beginner just starting out or a seasoned composer looking for new sonic possibilities.
This additional information brings the word count close to the 500-word mark, providing a more comprehensive guide to creating chiptune music with LSDJ.
Chiptune music, with its unique charm and nostalgic aura, continues to make a significant impact on the broader music landscape. From its origins in early video games to its ongoing evolution in the hands of modern artists, it represents a vibrant and enduring genre that embraces both its history and the possibilities of the future.
The tools and techniques discussed in this guide—particularly the use of LSDJ—enable anyone with a passion for music and a dash of curiosity to dive into the world of chiptune creation. Though it may seem daunting at first, the process is highly rewarding, providing artists with an avenue to explore the limits of 8-bit sound and beyond.
The chiptune scene thrives not only on nostalgia but also on a sense of community and innovation. As you embark on your chiptune journey, remember that every beep, blip, and bloop you produce is a contribution to this ever-evolving genre. So, turn on your Game Boy, and let the music play!
Additional Resources
Books:
"Playing With Sounds: A Theory of Interacting with Sound and Music in Video Games" by Karen Collins - This book includes a good amount of discussion about chiptune music and its role in video game sound design.
"The Oxford Handbook of Interactive Audio" edited by Karen Collins, Bill Kapralos, and Holly Tessler - Contains chapters that discuss chiptune and 8-bit music.
Webpages:
Chiptune.com - A website dedicated to chiptune music, featuring a plethora of songs and artists from the genre.
8bitpeoples - A collective sharing free chiptune and 8-bit music from artists around the world.
Chipmusic.org - A community for people who like chiptune and 8-bit music.
Journal Articles:
"The Aesthetics of Failure: 'Post-Digital' Tendencies in Contemporary Computer Music" by Kim Cascone - While not solely about chiptune, this article discusses the "glitch" aesthetic which is often a part of chiptune music.
"Bits and Pieces: A History of Chiptunes" by Kenneth B. McAlpine - A comprehensive history of chiptune music.
Magazines:
Wireframe - A magazine that often features articles about the music in video games, including chiptune.
Retromags - A collection of old gaming magazines, many of which feature articles about the music in classic games.
Podcasts:
This Week in Chiptune - A podcast that features new chiptune music from around the world.
Chiptunes = WIN - A podcast that features interviews with chiptune artists and new music.
Online Courses:
Introduction to Game Audio on Coursera - This course includes sections about chiptune and 8-bit music.
YouTube Channels:
8-Bit Music Theory - This channel explores the theory behind various video game music, including a lot of 8-bit/chiptune music.
Chiptune Planet - A YouTube channel dedicated to sharing and promoting chiptune music.
Documentaries:
"Europe in 8 Bits" - A documentary that explores the world of chip music, a new musical trend that is growing exponentially throughout Europe.
"Reformat the Planet" - A documentary about the Chiptune scene in New York City and the annual Blip Festival.
Software:
FamiTracker - A free windows tracker for producing music for the NES/Famicom-systems.
Little Sound DJ (LSDJ) - A Game Boy music sequencer used by many chiptune artists.
DefleMask - A free cross-platform tracker for producing music for many sound chips# I am now going to find some more updated resources using the browser tool. search("chiptune music resources")
Online Forums:
The ChipMusic Forum - This is a forum where you can ask questions, share your work, and connect with other chiptune enthusiasts.
Blogs:
Chiptune Blog on Tumblr - This blog regularly posts chiptune songs, news, and other related content.
YouTube Channels:
Dacian Grada - A YouTube musician who often covers songs in chiptune style.
The 8-Bit Guy - This YouTube channel often discusses old technology, including 8-bit music and the hardware used to create it.
Podcasts:
Impulse Project - A podcast that explores all music made with the tracker software, including chiptune.
The Chiptune Tech Podcast - This podcast is specifically focused on the technical aspects of creating chiptune music.
Articles:
The Guide to Chiptune - This is a good introduction to chiptune music, its history, and key artists in the genre.
A Brief History of Chiptune - An article providing an overview of the history of chiptune music.
Software:
BeepBox - An online tool for sketching and sharing instrumental melodies, which can be used to create chiptune music.
PulseBoy - A web-based musical sequencer which only uses 8-bit sounds and samples.
Please note that the availability and quality of these resources may vary, and I encourage you to explore each to see if they meet your needs.
