Author: Random

  • Nonfinite – Southbridge released

    Nonfinite’s new album Southbridge is now for sale on II. Nonfinite - Southbridge

    Nonfinite’s sophomore release combines triumphant melodies with thought provoking harmony and infectious head-nodding beats. Nine genre-spanning tracks will keep you moving to the very last note! This album marks the inauguration of Chip-In, a program focusing on providing financial aid to hardware and software developers as well as event promoters within the chiptune community. 25% of all proceeds from this album will be going towards helping the people who make this community truly wonderful and unique!

    01 Assuagement
    02 Matador Pt. 2
    03 Dreamer’s Day
    04 FNH
    05 Give Up
    06 Intermission
    07 Look What You’ve Done
    08 Alien Concepts
    09 Despondent Hearts

    Cover Artwork by Rich Vreeland.
    Additional CD Artwork by Anthony Schmitt.

    Stream it for free on Nonfinite’s Bandcamp page.

    via http://www.iimusic.net/catalog/2009/05/southbridge

    Editors Note: I was given this for review the other day, but they uploaded and it got picked up by Random before i had a chance to publish. Here is my short review.
    (more…)

  • GoatTracker 2.68 for OSX released

    Great news for all SID music enthusiasts running OSX! GoatTracker 2.68 OSX

    GoatTracker is a cross-platform tracker written by Lasse Öörni, producing SID chiptune music for the Commodore 64, and released with source code under the GPL.

    […]

    This Mac OS X port of GoatTracker integrates the cross-platform code with a standard Mac OS X GUI, and adds additional features, such as MIDI keyboard support and comprehensive built-in help.

    Versions of GoatTracker for other operating systems such as Windows and Linux can be found on the Covert Bitops page.

    The previous OSX port of Goat Tracker was version 1.4, which in my experience was running really slow and unstable. After a few minutes trying out the new update on my MacBook, my impression is quite the opposite.

    This time around, the Mac OS X integration is much more complete, offering standard keyboard shortcuts, built-in help windows, and open/save dialogs for songs and instruments. There’s more room for future improvements though. If you’re actively using GoatTracker, please let me know of any ideas and suggestions you might have.

    The port is made by Andreas Varga.

    via http://www.sidmusic.org/goattracker/mac/

  • TCTD Podcast #002 – Vocal and Acoustic Chip (Pt.1)

    This week’s episode of the TCTD Podcast is about chipmusic which is mixed together with other instruments; vocals, guitars, drums, piano – or full orchestras (sampled or not). This is a big subject to to cover, so please note the “(Pt.1)” in the title. In other words, there will be at least one more episode with this theme in the future. Enjoy!

    Click and listen online!

    [audio:http://www.truechiptilldeath.com/wp-content/podcast/tctd_podcast_002.mp3]

    Or download mp3: TCTD Podcast #002

    Don’t forget to subscribe.

    Playlist:
    1. I Fight Dragons – Overture (8bitCollective)
    2. Matt Wilson – Time Travel Is Over Rated (Mindhouse LP)
    3. YMCK – Rain (Family Genesis, Avex)
    4. The Depreciation Guild – Water Window (In Her Gentle Jaws)
    5. gwEm – Space Travel (micromusic.net)
    6. Leeni – Inside Out (Labyrinth, CrunchyCo)
    7. Goto8o – Fantasy (Commodore Grooves, Rebel Pet Set)
    8. David Sugar – Ode to London Transport (Fresh Off The Chip, 8bitpeoples)
    9. Wizwars – Fly Away (8bitCollective)
    10. Virt – Staring at My Spaceship DX EDITION (Big Lion Music)

  • 8Bitone Synthesizer + Sequencer appeared

    8bitone_iphone8Bitone – a “Retro 8-bit Synthesizer + Sequencer” – has been announced to be released for iPhone and iPod Touch in June. It is being developed by the Japanese company Yudo, which have also released a vocoder and audio recorder for the same platform.

    The software is said to “faithfully simulate SSG and PSG instruments”. It will feature:

    • Piano roll style sequencer
    • Up to 128 monophonic voices per song
    • 1 oscillator or LowBitNoise (I assume per channel. Not yet clear what types of waveforms.)
    • LFO
    • Envelope
    • Hi-Speed Arpeggiator
    • .WAV export

    Will be available on the iPhone App Store in June. The price has not been confirmed yet, but their previous iPhone apps costs about $17.

  • iqtu – Rollie Poley Years released

    28Another release from the ever so loved II:

    Rollie Poley Years is dedicated to days in preschool where finding and trapping small bugs was my primary occupation. Because of this, it is my most playful work, moving quickly over melodic ideas like a young child searching for worms in the dirt. The emphasis on lightly crunched distortion and heavily layered mono synths creates a game-oriented sound palette. The 9-song EP wraps into a 14-minute circle, ending with a very different version of the first track that leaves the listener with the taste of sparkling rainbows and happy clouds.

    01 srs ending
    02 mose
    03 strategy5
    04 ummies
    05 nide righter
    06 bugeyes
    07 ans
    08 dinosaur document
    09 sparkling rainbow shit

    Even though some of the tracks on  this album are arguably non-chip, you’ll find a lot of chip like elements and a general lo-fi atmosphere which is very likeable. Well worth a check out!

    via II » Blog Archive » Rollie Poley Years