Author: 8GB

January batch at Micromusic

We kind of let this one slip past this time (I can’t see the newzletter on my inbox. Landed on spam long deleted, or was never sent?) but better late than never, so here’s the January batch of releases from legendary web portal and netlabel Micromusic:

KingAutomatic/CélomalaBit – NapoliRibbonsGameBoyVersion
drx (feat.Tracky Birthday) – Websiiite
vibe/crc – dirty work
La belle Indifference – knit
The Smacker – 2D Lord
The J. Arthur Keenes Band – Rogue
SCSI – End Credits
Binärpilot – Tjaere For Alltid
8GB – Galway Funk
Bacalao – Living Animals [micromusic mix]

Highlights for me?
– Bödenstandig’s DRX delivers a killer tune
– Bacalao’s new album preview track, Living Animals
– J.Arthur Keene’s amazing track, Rogue (my favourite new Game Boy musician)

Get downloading!

January 26, 2009
xum1541 – Fast USB C64 floppy adapter!

Nate's xum1541 prototype

Tired of having to use an archaic Parallel port to connect your PC to your C64 drive?
Don’t want to buy expensive hardware like the u1541, or other memory card solutions?
Want to backup your diskettes with your modern day computer without the hassles involved with stuff like TPC64?

Fear ye not, my friend, a solution is in the works! Actually, currently in alpha stage.

Not long ago I was alerted about xu1541 by Mr. Animal Style, and I was wondering, “why is it that nobody took over this idea and continued it?”. Obviously, someone was on the subject.

Nate Lawson of the Root Labs has taken the xu1541 and improved upon it, creating the xum1541 (pronounced zoom 1541), a USB interface to connect your IEC bus disk device to your modern day computer.

High speed, and supporting parallel cables too, this device will be running easily with the OpenCBM software, and also will support Nibtools (for copying copy protected software)

Best part of this whole deal? The schematics will be free, of course, and it seems this will possibly cost under 40 dollars to build (not bad considering you need a hardware USB controller, based on an Atmel chip… This is not just a cable).

Watch it in action!: (more…)

January 22, 2009
DigiBooster Professional 3 (Amiga) in the works

FT2 look-a-like for the Amiga

DigiBooster Pro was a quite popular tracker for the Amiga in the 90s. Stuck at version 2 something, APC & TCP, a german publisher of Amiga software, is working to deliver an update to this powerful tracker. Currently on internal Alpha #17th, and with a planned demo release in 3-4 months, we had a sneak-peak at this interesting new software.

Looking like a FastTracker 2 sort-of-thing, the features list seems promising, juicy and, judging from the minimum requirementes, this will run in a stock A1200, which is cool. Want to try how the old version felt like? You can download the full version 1.7 and demo versions of the latest and previous releases at the Digibooster webpage.

This is the complete list of features planned so far: (more…)

January 20, 2009
KP Mini IFF sample pack (Amiga)

Neuroflip, oldschool sampling session.

Amiga 1200 freak Neuroflip from Spain has created a sample pack for the Amiga

recording the synth patches of the Kaoss Pad Mini from Korg. He used an Amiga Sound Sampler from Telmex and a copy of Protracker for the job.

The pack can be downloaded for free from the Aminet

A total of 46+1 samples in IFF stereo format at max sample rate is at your disposal!

His condition for you to use the samples, is that you send him back a copy of the MOD file you create. What a deal!

Certainly a cool tool for those that may be starting up with Protracker sequencing.

January 18, 2009
Chipstar Heroes unite

With all the hype around Guitar Hero and Rockband (following the successful trail of the “DDR-type” games), the oldschool machines feel kind of left out of the loop.

Fear ye not, my fellow oldschooler, for beautiful minds in the Amiga and C64 scene bring us software to enjoy ripping it on our old machines, with class.

What’s so cool about this? These programmers are using chipmusic we love or getting our favourites composer to make music, in original format, for these games. Some of them are opening up for submissions so you should pay attention, if you compose in any of these platforms.

Tracker Hero, for the classic Amiga range of computers and as of yet unreleased, shown here playing tracks from Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 and some demo productions.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/isXC8IyKYFA" width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen="true" fvars="fs=1" /]

Shredz64, for the C64, with a tune fromone of my faves, Randall: Ex-State of Mind. This one even interfaces with the original GH controller and is already available. You can even add your fave SIDs to the software!

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/52gcC3Sn-Gw" width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen="true" fvars="fs=1" /]

January 17, 2009