History Main / Chiptune

Chiptune music has had a long-standing relationship with wider ElectronicMusic. The TropeMaker for chiptune was Music/YellowMagicOrchestra, a SynthPop {{supergroup}} who featured three tracks on [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestraAlbum their debut album]] in 1978 that recreate jingles and sound effects from popular arcade games of the era with industry-standard synthesizers. YMO leader Music/HaruomiHosono also supervised the production and release of the first all-chiptune album, a 1984 compilation of [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] tunes aptly titled ''Music/VideoGameMusic''. Consequently, while chiptune hasn't reached mainstream status off the internet, electronic music has taken heavy influence from the genre over the years. It has reached a point that truly distinguishing between chiptunes and some subgenres of electronic music such as {{Techno}} and {{Glitch}} is becoming increasingly difficult.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2151 OPM]]: Platform/SharpX68000, numerous UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s by Creator/{{Atari}}, Creator/{{Capcom}}, Creator/{{Irem}}, Creator/MidwayGames, [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]], Creator/{{Sega}}, etc.

* Music/HaruomiHosono (oversaw the making of the first all-chiptune album, a compilation of [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] soundtrack pieces)

Another interesting quirk that chiptunes share with General UsefulNotes/{{MIDI}} is that they can be stored in numerous native formats that take up very little space. A full song can be stored in around 10 kilobytes, compared to perhaps 10 megabytes for an [=MP3=] file. This makes them the ultimate in bandwidth friendly music, particularly if you are stuck on dial-up Internet.

* Somewhat-purists that at least want to write or hear music that is '''possible''' on the sound chip in question. Examples: [[UsefulNotes/{{MOD}} MOD/[=S3M=]/XM/IT]] (tracker) files utilizing carnal knowledge of a specific sound chip. Sometimes also referred to as "Fakebit".

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SN76489 Texas Instruments SN76489]]: Platform/{{Colecovision}}, Platform/BBCMicro, Platform/SegaMasterSystem, Platform/GameGear (with added stereo support), Platform/NeoGeoPocket (another stereo variant), Platform/IBMPCjr and many PC clones (e.g. Tandy 1000) claiming "3 voice" sound. Called [=TMS9919=] when Texas Instruments first used it in the [[UsefulNotes/{{TI99}} TI-99/4]].

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2413 OPLL]]: Japanese Platform/SegaMasterSystem, "MSX-Music" on later UsefulNotes/{{MSX}} machines

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SN76489 Texas Instruments SN76489]]: Platform/{{Colecovision}}, Platform/BBCMicro, Platform/SegaMasterSystem, Platform/GameGear (with added stereo support), Platform/NeoGeoPocket (another stereo variant), Platform/IBMCjr and many PC clones (e.g. Tandy 1000) claiming "3 voice" sound. Called [=TMS9919=] when Texas Instruments first used it in the [[UsefulNotes/{{TI99}} TI-99/4]].

* Creator/{{Atari}} produced custom chips called TIA and POKEY. The TIA was found in the Platform/{{Atari 2600}} and Platform/{{Atari 7800}}, and it also drove graphics. The POKEY, which did Potentiometer (rotary paddles) and Keyboard handling, was in UsefulNotes/Atari8BitComputers, the Platform/{{Atari 5200}}, various UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s (some even used two or four), and even some 7800 cartridges as expansion sound.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Instrument_AY-3-8910 General Instrument AY-3-8910]]: Platform/AmstradCPC, Platform/AtariST, Platform/{{Intellivision}}, UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}, Platform/{{Vectrex}}, Platform/ZXSpectrum 128K. Many early 1980s UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s used two AY-3-8910s; the ''VideoGame/{{Gyruss}}'' arcade board had five.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SN76489 Texas Instruments SN76489]]: Platform/{{Colecovision}}, Platform/BBCMicro, Platform/SegaMasterSystem, Platform/GameGear (with added stereo support), UsefulNotes/NeoGeoPocket (another stereo variant), IBM [=PCjr=] and many PC clones (e.g. Tandy 1000) claiming "3 voice" sound. Called [=TMS9919=] when Texas Instruments first used it in the [[UsefulNotes/{{TI99}} TI-99/4]].

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2151 OPM]]: UsefulNotes/SharpX68000, numerous UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s by Creator/{{Atari}}, Creator/{{Capcom}}, Creator/{{Irem}}, Creator/MidwayGames, [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]], Creator/{{Sega}}, etc.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2203 OPN]]: [[UsefulNotes/{{PC88}} PC-8801mkIISR]], numerous UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2608 OPNA]]: Later [[UsefulNotes/PC88 PC-88]] and [[UsefulNotes/PC98 PC-98]] models
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2610 OPNB]]: UsefulNotes/NeoGeo, most 16-bit UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s by Creator/{{Taito}}

* Extreme purists that are only interested in writing or hearing music specifically reproduced by the sound chip in question (or ''maybe'' an emulator for that chip). Examples: music written in LSDJ on a UsefulNotes/GameBoy, or NSF / SID files written in a system-specific tracker (to be replayed by the system or at least some plugin)

* The UsefulNotes/{{NES}}, UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, and UsefulNotes/GameBoy, where sound generation is built into each system's custom CPU. The Famicom Disk System was also capable of primitive FM synthesis.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Instrument_AY-3-8910 General Instrument AY-3-8910]]: UsefulNotes/AmstradCPC, UsefulNotes/AtariST, UsefulNotes/{{Intellivision}}, UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}, UsefulNotes/{{Vectrex}}, UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum 128K. Many early 1980s UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s used two AY-3-8910s; the ''VideoGame/{{Gyruss}}'' arcade board had five.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SN76489 Texas Instruments SN76489]]: UsefulNotes/{{Colecovision}}, UsefulNotes/BBCMicro, UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem, UsefulNotes/GameGear (with added stereo support), UsefulNotes/NeoGeoPocket (another stereo variant), IBM [=PCjr=] and many PC clones (e.g. Tandy 1000) claiming "3 voice" sound. Called [=TMS9919=] when Texas Instruments first used it in the [[UsefulNotes/{{TI99}} TI-99/4]].
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_SID MOS Technology SID]]: UsefulNotes/{{Commodore 64}} in two variants, the 6581 and 8580.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2413 OPLL]]: Japanese UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem, "MSX-Music" on later UsefulNotes/{{MSX}} machines

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2612 OPN2]]: The Platform/SegaGenesis / UsefulNotes/MegaDrive and Platform/FMTowns; patch-compatible with the famous Yamaha DX-7

* MOS Technology 8364 "Paula": UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}}
* Sony [=SPC700=]: UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem
* Ensoniq [=ES5503=] "DOC": UsefulNotes/{{Apple II}}GS, Mirage and ESQ-1 synthesizers/samplers

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2612 OPN2]]: The UsefulNotes/{{SegaGenesis}} / UsefulNotes/MegaDrive and UsefulNotes/FMTowns; patch-compatible with the famous Yamaha DX-7

* Creator/{{Atari}} produced custom chips called TIA and POKEY. The TIA was found in the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} and UsefulNotes/{{Atari 7800}}, and it also drove graphics. The POKEY, which did Potentiometer (rotary paddles) and Keyboard handling, was in UsefulNotes/Atari8BitComputers, the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}}, various UsefulNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s (some even used two or four), and even some 7800 cartridges as expansion sound.

* Music/CrystalCastles

Chiptune music has had a long-standing relationship with wider ElectronicMusic. The TropeMaker for chiptune was Music/YellowMagicOrchestra, a SynthPop {{supergroup}} who featured three tracks on [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestraAlbum their debut album]] in 1978 that recreate jingles and sound effects from popular arcade games of the era with industry-standard synthesizers. YMO leader Music/HaruomiHosono also supervised the production and release of the first all-chiptune album, a 1984 compilation of [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] tunes aptly titled ''Video Game Music''. Consequently, while chiptune hasn't reached mainstream status off the internet, electronic music has taken heavy influence from the genre over the years. It has reached a point that truly distinguishing between chiptunes and some subgenres of electronic music such as {{Techno}} and {{Glitch}} is becoming increasingly difficult.

* Janne "Tempest" Sunni, famous for a legal scuffle with Hip-Hop producer Timbaland, over an uncleared sample of his song "Acidjazzed Evening."

Many Yamaha FM synthesis chips are known for a warmer and/or fuller sound. Tend to be less popular than PSG because of complexity:

* A more extreme version of Fakebit, which utilizes chiptune sounds but pays no mind to what is actually possible on a sound chip. Sometimes also referred to as "riptunes". Examples: improper use of the Triforce MIDI plugin, "8 Bit Remixes" made with GXSCC that are very popular on Youtube, or compositions designed to simulate two consoles running at once.

* [[http://sabrepulse.blogspot.com/ Sabrepulse]], barring two EPs.

Chiptune music has had a long-standing relationship with wider ElectronicMusic. The TropeMaker for chiptune was Music/YellowMagicOrchestra, a SynthPop {{supergroup}} who featured three tracks on [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestraAlbum their debut album]] in 1978 that recreate jingles and sound effects from popular arcade games of the era with industry-standard synthesizers. YMO leader Haruomi Hosono also supervised the production and release of the first all-chiptune album, a 1984 compilation of [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] tunes aptly titled ''Video Game Music''. Consequently, while chiptune hasn't reached mainstream status off the internet, electronic music has taken heavy influence from the genre over the years. It has reached a point that truly distinguishing between chiptunes and some subgenres of electronic music such as {{Techno}} and {{Glitch}} is becoming increasingly difficult.

Chiptune music has had a long-standing relationship with wider ElectronicMusic. The TropeMaker for chiptune was Music/YellowMagicOrchestra, a SynthPop {{supergroup}} who featured three tracks on [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestraAlbum their debut album]] in 1978 that recreate jingles and sound effects from popular arcade games of the era with industry-standard synthesizers. YMO leader Haruomi Hosono also supervised the production and release of the first all-chiptune album, a 1984 compilation of [[Creator/BandaiNamco Namco]] tunes aptly titled ''Video Game Music''. Consequently, while chiptune hasn't reached mainstream status off the internet, electronic music has taken heavy influence from the genre over the years. It has reached a point that truly distinguishing between chiptunes and some subgenres of electronic music such as {{Techno}} and {{Glitch}} is becoming increasingly difficult.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDv8Wzo_VjBfHnqWQaLvCJw Hertzdevil]], who uses [=LSDj=] as one of his tools. His most prolific album is the [[Franchise/MegaMan MEGA]] [[Franchise/TouhouProject ZUN]] collection.
* Some members of the ''Music/{{Homestuck}}'' music team; though not all of them. [[Creator/TobyFox Toby "Radiation" Fox]] is the most noticeable.

* [[https://soundcloud.com/freaky-dna Freaky DNA]] (also {{Ambient}})

Chiptune music has had a long-standing relationship with wider ElectronicMusic. The TropeMaker for chiptune was Music/YellowMagicOrchestra, a SynthPop {{supergroup}} who featured two tracks on [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestraAlbum their debut album]] in 1978 that recreate jingles and sound effects from popular arcade games of the era with industry-standard synthesizers. YMO leader Haruomi Hosono also supervised the production and release of the first all-chiptune album, a 1984 compilation of [[Creator/BandaiNamco Namco]] tunes aptly titled ''Video Game Music''. Consequently, while chiptune hasn't reached mainstream status off the internet, electronic music has taken heavy influence from the genre over the years. It has reached a point that truly distinguishing between chiptunes and some subgenres of electronic music such as {{Techno}} and {{Glitch}} is becoming increasingly difficult.

So, while some might consider Chiptunes to epitomize the overuse of synthesizers typical of [[TheEighties Eighties]] SynthPop, other listeners consider them a way of demonstrating the composer's mastery over a limited electronic instrument, and likewise many of those composers enjoy that challenge. Fans and composers of the genre will be quick to point out that the resulting sound is the entire point of writing such tunes. Like any music played by a computer, Chiptunes are mathematically perfect, and it's probably a combination of this perfection with a touch of nostalgia that their fans love.

Chiptune music is a widespread genre, beloved by many on the Internet, but hasn't really reached mainstream status yet. Despite that, Electronic music in general has been heavily influenced by Chiptunes (mostly classic ones from VideoGames in the 80s), and in recent years mainstream music has shown more and more Chiptune influence. It has reached a point that truly distinguishing between chiptunes and some subgenres of electronic music such as {{Techno}} and {{Glitch}} is becoming increasingly difficult.

* Music/YellowMagicOrchestra: TropeMaker for the genre, via their first album. Band leader Haruomi Hosono also supervised the release of the first all-chiptune album, a compilation of [[Creator/BandaiNamco Namco]] songs aptly titled ''Video Game Music''.

* Music/YellowMagicOrchestra: TropeMaker for the genre, via their first album.

* Creator/TobyFox