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Making some chiptunes

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RetrogradeRenegade Retrograde Renegade Since: Jan, 2010
Retrograde Renegade
#1: Jun 8th 2011 at 10:04:27 AM

I quite fancy getting into making some chiptunes, and I wondered, short of wandering around second-hand shops and buying up all the old hardware I can find, if anyone knows of a good way to start making some on the computer. Free (or cheap) programs, equipment, what have you, that are a good start to the electronic music-making process. I can do real-life music making but have no experience on the digital side of things, so I would appreciate any experience you might all have had starting out digi-composing.

Litis from Israel Since: Jul, 2009
#2: Jun 8th 2011 at 10:16:57 AM

There's a thread about making music right at the top of this board. Could've asked that there.

Anyway, if you want to adhere to chiptune reality, you'll have to get software that kinda sorta emulates old school audio hardware. FamiTracker is an example of such software for the NES and is standalone. There are also plenty of VST plugins for you to use (in VST hosts) for that purpose, like basic64, quadraSID (both C64) and Triforce (NES).

If you don't want to be restricted and make what I heard was called "fakebit", just remember to use only basic waves in your synthesizers of choice (triangle, sine, saw and rectangle) and basic types of noise (white and red). And don't use effects, aside from filters.

Refer to this post for slightly more information.

RetrogradeRenegade Retrograde Renegade Since: Jan, 2010
Retrograde Renegade
#3: Jun 8th 2011 at 10:55:10 AM

I'm sorry, I thought that was only for music you'd already written, not for starting out. I'll go there, and thank you for your advice.

inane242 Anwalt der Verdammten from A B-Movie Bildungsroman Since: Nov, 2010
Anwalt der Verdammten
#4: Jun 8th 2011 at 11:44:23 AM

Renoise.

The 5 geek social fallacies. Know them well.
Litis from Israel Since: Jul, 2009
#5: Jun 8th 2011 at 11:47:32 AM

^ Just one of the many VST hosts you could use.

But hands down the most comfortable one.

NEO from Qrrbrbirlbel Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
#6: Jun 8th 2011 at 4:46:41 PM

I think there should be another separate thread more focused on Q&A on making music, the stickied thread is more like showing stuff than helping with stuff.

No regret shall pass over the threshold!
inane242 Anwalt der Verdammten from A B-Movie Bildungsroman Since: Nov, 2010
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