Chipmusic • software • Spectrum

1tracker appeared

1tracker a multplatform chiptune cross-tracker, a ‘multitracker’ for short.

Primary goal of the project is to provide an easy way to use many 1-bit music engines for ZX Spectrum with an universal user interface, and to simplify adding support for new engines.

Secondary goal is to make a proof of concept for ‘one interface – multiple platforms – multiple sound engines’ tracker design. This is achieved by using a combination of SDL-based multiplatform front end that needs to be recompiled for every platform with platform independent music engine modules that contain the engines itself with all needed extra code to make them work with the editor.

Capabilities of the multitracker aren’t limited to the 1-bit music. It is possible to add support for almost any format supported by Game_Music_Emu through writing new external engine modules.

Shiru’s Stuff.

Chipmusic • software • Spectrum

New Spectrum48 1-bit engines

Hi. Last times Shiru released several incredible new sound-engines for ZX Spectrum 48K and its beeper, with various number of channels, various synthesis possibilities, and so on.

I decided to test each and every of them and – here are my results.

OCTODE engine provides 9 channels of sound (8 tones + drums).
Test result:

QCHAN engine allows to use 5 channels (4 tones + drums) with various envelopes of instruments and numerous level of volumes.
Test result

TRITONE engine gives 4 channels (3 tones + drums). Also it gives various modulations and volumes plus pretty rich set of drums.
Test result:

LyndonSharp engine is well-known 1-bit sound engine from 80s. Shiru reverse-engineered it so now it’s usable again. The engine has 3 channels, expressive sound and many cool drums.
tests’ result:

All the engines can be found on WOS forum:

Chipmusic • Releases • Sega Mega Drive/Genesis

Today – freezedream now available digitally

The IDM chipmusic-on-chip album ‘Today’ was released as a physical 16-bit cartridge for the Sega Megadrive/Genesis video game console. The sound is generated at playtime by the Yamaha YM2612 FM synthesizer chip that is built into the console.

The concept is to do away with the conventional audio recording which is the standard format for practically all music now released.

Breathing new life into this obsolete Sega console in 2010, ‘Today’ aims to reinvigorate interest in old hardware and the idea of listening to music where the sound is generated each time you listen.

This music has now been captured from the real hardware and made available for purchase.
credits
released 02 December 2010
Music, Artwork, PCB Design & Assembly: freezedream (Nathan Stanley)

Coding/Testing: Alex Cichowski – Thankyou so much for your long hours working out bugs and optimizing things. :)

Player Code: Shiru & Alone Coder

Today | freezedream.

In the News

TCTD Links for 2010-07-14

  • RT @speccynews: All Spectrum releases from this weekend’s DiHalt demo party (Nizhny Novgorod, RU): (direct link) #
  • I Fight Dragons are now up up in the Andro Set: #
  • RT @anamanaguchi: Sooooooooo who wants to hear a new song (1 out of like 40) we did for the Scott Pilgrim game? https://radiomaru.tumblr.com/2010/07/13/brand-new-anamanaguchi-track/#_=_ #
  • GameSetWatch – Man Enough: ‘You Have To Understand, Be A Man’ combines pixel funk and minigame masculinity http://ow.ly/2aXzH #
In the News

TCTD Links for 2010-06-19