Category: Amiga

  • Debug Live – Amiga 500 Project (aka cTrix)

    0sideThe Commodore Amiga project is something that I’ve always worked on. It started in 1991ish when I first saw an Amiga at a friends house and was blown away hearing more than a few seconds of digital audio playing from a computer. This was a revolution in it’s day and the Amiga was the first home computer that had stereo audio outputs included as a standard feature! I became obsessed (like many) with a form of composition called “tracking”. Tracking takes tiny snippets of audio (called samples) and plays them back at varying speeds to make a tune. Tracking on the Amiga was limited to 4 samples playing simultaneously. However a sample could be a beat, vocal or sound effect… not just a single note (or “instrument” if you like) so it opened up a world of digital composition only previously available to cashed up studios.

    via Debug Live – Amiga 500 Project (aka cTrix).

  • TCTD Podcast #003 – Reed & Tempest

    Reed and Tempest are two of the funkiest chipmusicians around. This week’s episode is dedicated to their music. Finnish, funky Amiga and C64 music at its very best!

    Click and listen online!

    [audio:http://www.truechiptilldeath.com/wp-content/podcast/tctd_podcast_003.mp3]

    Download mp3: TCTD Podcast 003

    Subscribe:

    Playlist:
    Reed – Jazzberry Juice.mod
    Tempest – Mr. Solid.mod
    Reed – Urethra Franklin.mod
    Reed & Tempest – Hot Buttered.mod
    Reed – Boogie Factor Pt.2.sid
    Tempest – Acidjazzed Evening.mod
    Reed – Saymold, Saymold.sid
    Reed – Urea Geller.mod
    Tempest – Free Fjortis Facials.mod
    Tempest – Zen-bowling.mod

    All songs can be found in original .MOD or .SID format at either Modland (.MOD and .SID), AMP or HVSC (SID).

  • Chris Hülsbeck’s “Symphonic Shades” reprint

     

    symphonic_shades_artworkOne of my favourite composers of the C64 and Amiga eras, creator of marvelous soundtracks like the one for the game Giana Sisters, the amazing Turrican series soundtracks  and the guy who made the first computer sequencer we all call “tracker” (so you owe him a damn lot), has released his record “Symphonic Shades” some time ago, to a mass of hungry fans who got it on “sold out” status sooner than you can identify yet another boring Game Boy square wave. The tracks are rearranged by legend demoscener Mr. Purple Motion as well so this is something worth giving a listen. How would compositions made with chipmusic or chiptune techniques change when performed on “legacy” instruments? Is the composition really that good or does the gimmick of chipmusic give it its only appeal? You should find the answers to these questions checking out this CD (while you make them too about your music).

    So, now on reprint, here’s your chance to grab this record. Let’s read the blurb:

    With its transparent standard-tray the new edition is lower priced 17.95 instead of 22.00 Euro than the first edition. All other details incl. CD content and the extensive booklet with interview, photos and artwork are identical.

    The CD presents all songs of the concert performed in August 2008 in Cologne, which was a world-premiere: Minimalist homecomputer sounds turned into arrangements for 120 musicians of orchestra and choir – a complete symphonic concert dedicated to the works of one video game musician exclusively. The name of this person is Chris Huelsbeck, whos regarded as legend among enthusiasts for his music in game classics of the C64- and Amiga-homecomputer era such as “Giana Sisters” or “Turrican”. The songs were rearranged by demoscene legend Jonne Valtonen aka Purple Motion / Future Crew, director was Grammy-winning artist Arnold Roth.

    My friend The C-Men has a similar project with Jeroen Tel, the C64 Orchestra, where they have repurposed Jeroen and Rob Hubbard’s tunes using an orchestral arrangement. You should check that one out too

     

    Head over to MAZ SOUNDS to preview and purchase this CD. 

    via C64,sk.

  • TCTD Podcast #001 – Happy Chiptune .MODs

    TCTD launches its new podcast!

    Every other Friday a new episode will be released, with a different theme each time. We will dive into some of your favorite artists – and artists you’ve never heard of. We will explore the different styles of chipmusic, it’s various platforms, labels, groups and try to cover all aspects of this wonderful scene. There will be mostly music, but expect some interviews and talking as well.

    The podcast is in first hand run by me, Random, but you can look forward to hearing special guests appear in future episodes, with valuable help, insight and discussion.

    To celebrate that summer is here, this first episode is dedicated to – in all simpleness – Happy Chiptune Protracker .MODs. Enjoy.

    Click and listen online!

    [audio:http://www.truechiptilldeath.com/wp-content/podcast/tctd_podcast_001.mp3]

    Or download mp3: TCTD Podcast #001

    Subscribe:

    Playlist:
    1. Chavez – Mattia’s Adventures.mod
    2. Cerror – Outline.mod
    3. Joule – Jessica & Ellen.mod
    4. Radix – Happy Hours.mod
    5. Goto8o – Midi vs. Imperial.mod
    6. Curt Cool – Bittersweet.mod
    7. Maktone – Eargasm.mod
    8. Nuke – Chip.mod
    9. Kiwi – A Big Bad Party Robot.mod
    10. Mel o’dee – Benny Wildstyle.mod
    11. Archon – Sextynt.mod

    All songs in this week’s episode can be found in original .MOD format at either www.modland.com or www.scene.org. They were converted to .WAV for this podcast using XMplay with Surround Mode 1, panning set to 10 and No Interpolation.

  • Exotica update!

    logo

    My favourite and one of the most complete archives of Amiga music, Exotica, has had a pretty significant update. According to my old friend BuZz:

     

    There have been major changes to the various music collection interfaces. The biggest feature addition is that for most of the tunes you can now Ogg Vorbis encoded audio recordings directly from the search interface.

    These are created on the fly in real-time, and as such are provided for convenience rather than accuracy, however you may well be surprised at how good they sound. To access the Ogg downloads browse or search for a tune, and a button will be displayed above the results that allows you to show the Ogg download links.

    Read more about the new Ogg download feature.

    Exotica is not just a file repository, most every file is coupled with a load of other data and also mirrors many collections of other platforms like the HVSC, converting it into an ambitioous database of old computer music.

    You can access the different sections of this huge collection clicking here.

    via Abime.net.