Category: Platforms

  • PR8 V0.99 released!

    PR8 is a 6-track, pattern-based drum machine that runs on a Nintendo Entertainment System, designed and created by Neil Baldwin.

    PR8 is unlike any other NES music application in that it uses ‘virtual’ tracks that are not explicitly linked to any hardware voice.

    As a consequence, sounds in PR8 (and by association, each Track) are able to simultaneously use any combination of all five of the NES’s sound-generating voices and a simple priority system is employed to dynamically determine which of the 6 tracks have control over them.

    Even though PR8 is referred to as a ‘drum synth’, it is also possible (and quite easy) to create melodic instruments and patterns, though the entry and editing of musical notes is a little more abstracted if you’re used to traditional sequencers or trackers.

    Because of this rather radical approach, the learning-curve for PR8 might be a little steep but patience will reward you with a pretty unique and fun way to create NES music.

    Amazing drum machine-like softare  PR8 for the NES has been finally released! Neil Baldwin’s long awaited new software, running on Pulsar’s engine, has seen its first public release in a romantic today. Only two emulators run this baby so you better get your NES and Powerpak ready for proper action!

    Download it here!

    And be sure to read the extensive manual Neil has created before asking daft questions :P

  • Various Artists — SOUNDSHOCK: FM FUNK MADDNESS

    Various Artists — SOUNDSHOCK:

    FM FUNK MADDNESS!!

    This is FM FUNK MADDNESS!! — an album of songs by 18 FM synth enthusiasts from all over the world, personally selected by zinger (founder and maintainer of soundshock.se).

    Bringing the combination of frequency modulated tones and catchy, funky grooves blended with a portion of jazz and idm, we cordially invite you to join us on a fantastic journey to a world where slap rumble drives the beating of your heart.

    Tracklist

    1. Shogun — V.S.O.P.M. (3:32) | VOPM
    2. Blitz Lunar — Cascade Masquerade (4:11) | FM7, GXOPLL
    3. Kulor — Fashion Queen (2:37) | DX-7
    4. Keishi Yonao — Crush Roll (2:59) | VOPM
    5. Torben “Metal” Hansen — Cascades (3:55) | FM8, Zebra
    6. Bomb Boy — Ignition, Set, GO! (5:11) | Thor
    7. Virt — Five Nine Seven Eight (4:30) | VOPM
    8. hally feat. Seiko Kobuchi — utabism – a synthesizer boy (2:37)
    9. Tsuyoshi Shimokura — FunkOsaka (2:42) | VOPM, MDX
    10. Madbrain — Oskari the Heimfanker (4:38) | AdLib OPL3
    11. Utabi Hirokawa — Stop and Go (Ubiktune edit) (3:22) | Sharp X68000
    12. hizmi — Pendulum II (5:35) | Sharp X68000
    13. Simon Stålenhag — Ripple Boogie (3:14) | FM7
    14. zinger & bacter — Sky Stroll (3:59) | FM7
    15. Dong — Mirror Maze (3:05) | Toxic, Freqatic
    16. Louis G — The Enemy of My Enemy’s My Enemy / No Speed Trap (5:49) | VOPM
    17. zabutom — Endorphemeral (3:24) | Operator
    18. hex125 — pf (NRTDRV funk edit) (3:53)

    Artwork by Tsuyoshi Shimokura

    Released under a Creative Commons-License

    via Various Artists — SOUNDSHOCK: FM FUNK MADDNESS!! | Ubiktune.

  • Phantom of the Floppera

    Test run of my (d)iskette (O)rgan doing Toccata & Fugue.

    People have made floppy drives sing before, but this is my personal take on it.

    Features two 3 1/2″ drives and two 5 1/4″ drives connected to a PIC18f14k50 microcontroller. It interfaces to any MIDI source via MIDI over USB. Straight MIDI would also be possible with an additional small circuit and some minor firmware changes. This initial version can respond to all 128 MIDI notes, and pitch bends +/- 2 semitones.

    As it can produce only four simultaneous notes, and each drive has a different range and tonal characteristics, best results are obtained by arranging compositions by hand. However, it features two modes of operation: in one mode, MIDI channels 1 through 4 are played directly on floppy drives 1 through 4. In the other mode, all 16 MIDI channels are read, and notes are “intelligently” divvied out on a first-come, first-serve basis. “Note stealing” ensures that melody lines sound, but chords are often cut short. One or the other produces acceptable results for many unmodified MIDI files straight out of your favorite media player.

  • Norwegian Kindness – Spaceballs – Amiga Demo – Winner Datastorm 2011

  • Hexadeci – Alone In The Dark

    This music is some of the best Amigacore in the past 10 years – skirting between party music for the post-apocalyptic crowd and a nightmarish take on otherwise light-hearted themes. What’s most remarkable about these tunes isn’t necessarily Hexadeci’s programming expertise he’s totally awesome, or the creative use of seemingly random samples Shakira? A Swiss yodeler?. No, it’s how he manages to effectively tear down dance music to shape his own tastes AND create tunes that are actually MUSICAL, instead of slipping into the same tired traps of hardcore posturing. It’s a fun record and we promise you’ll get some seriously confused looks when you drop a Swiss Yodelcore track at your next house party. Try it. Film it. Send us the video.

    via Radiograffiti