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So for the time I have been making music I have used emulators. I'm about to move, so I thought now would be as a good a time as any to try and set up a new and proper rig at my place. So my question is, what are the necessities to getting a proper rig together and being able to make music with it?
If there is a topic for this let me know, I just couldn't find it 
That question is a little too open ended. What are you looking to use/what are you writing for?
It was kind of intended to be open ended. It was supposed to welcome all of the different types of rigs, cause I'm completely lost when it comes to all of that, therefor I don't know what kind of rig I'm looking for.
As far as what I'm writing for, looking to open up a Bandcamp in the future, but for now I'm just trying to heighten my skill musically.
Well, what are you emulating? I imagine you should start with a mixer and...idk...two hardware versions of whatever you're emulating.
Ah, I meant like what sound palette or system you were interested in writing for. Then it's much easier to build off of. If you're just doing a laptop based thing then it's a lot more open ended.
Ok, mostly what I hear about is LSDJ, which I would be interested in entering into, but I'm not restricting myself. And I am completely new to the hardware aspect, so I will probably need more explanation.
Excuse my ignorance, but I still don't think I understand what you mean Theta 
Last edited by Ateno (Oct 3, 2013 7:29 pm)
Oh wait, when you say system do you mean like GameBoy and the like? Or have I misinterpreted again?
Oh wait, when you say system do you mean like GameBoy and the like? Or have I misinterpreted again?
Yep, more along those lines. If you've already made up your mind about LSDJ and Gameboy stuff then it's pretty straightforward. However, listen around and maybe you'll find something you love! Perhaps you'll really be into Atari ST stuff and then you could build a setup off that.
Yeah see that was the first thing I wanted to hear about when I started this thread. What are the kind of setups that are out there; that aren't financially lethal that is.
well you need to place it above oil
not really that was a joke but i'm not 100% sure what you mean by a rig... i guess you mean a music making setup
you need to enjoy working with the hardware and more importantly (i think) the software so there might not be much point asking people what they use because it's probably not going to work for you. in any case there is a big gallery of the stuff people use here: http://chipmusic.org/forums/topic/166/p … ome-setup/
which emulators have you been using? which software/roms did you use in the emulators? what did you enjoy the most
really you need to be sure youll enjoy it because its very easy to buy a lot of stuff youll never use
What's your preference in terms of writing and entering notes? Do you like using trackers or is a piano roll more your thing?
If trackers are ok than I would recommend LSDj just because is the most common, it's portable, it's easy to use, midi syncable, etc.
If you prefer more of a piano roll for entering notes like a modern DAW, than I would recommend something Like MSSIAH for the Commodore 64, Midines for the NES, and mGB for the gameboy (using arduinoboy of course)
There is also another option in terms of writing. There is the Synth based softwares. You can again use Midines and mGB(arduinoboy) as live synths using a keyboard to perform the notes live, but you can also get cynthcart for c64 and play it like a synth too. MSSIAH also has a monosynth program. One synth I've really been liking lately is Spritesmod's Gameboy Advance Midi synth cable. That one you'd have to build the circuit and flash the chip yourself but it's fun once the cable is built.
When it comes to chipmusic, there are just so so many options.
My advice would be to either start with the system you have the most nostalgia for, or start with the system that has the specs/number of channels/sounds you desire. I started with Commodore 64 because the chip was more sophisticated, and there was lots of mods for the c64 I could perform. Modding the systems is a BIG part of it for me. So that's another thing to keep in mind. Do you want to mod your own systems or just plug and play?
I would love to mod, but as you can see, I have no idea where to start at all. Piano Roll is mainly what I am using now and some sequencer to do my drums. And synth based is more or less out of the question, because my piano skills aren't exactly up to par. I also think I want something more stationary, and because of such more flexible as far as capability.
What would fit into those categories, and what is the best way to go about procuring such hardware and how to set it all up, and how to mod it?
Edit: But I'm not closed out to trackers, mainly cause I'm ignorant to what they are and do.
Last edited by Ateno (Oct 3, 2013 8:46 pm)
Here's your shopping list 
-A few of whatever platform you'd like to use (gameboys, segas, ataris, nindendos, whatever)
-Flashable cartridges for said gaming platforms with music program
-keyboard/synths, drum machines
-A big enough mixer
-Appropriate cables
-fx pedals are fun
-Speakers
-Headphones
-Beard
-A big desk
-Small TV (if you aren't using a handheld)
-Batteries
Last edited by ShintarouMusic (Oct 3, 2013 8:47 pm)
I would love to mod, but as you can see, I have no idea where to start at all. Piano Roll is mainly what I am using now and some sequencer to do my drums. And synth based is more or less out of the question, because my piano skills aren't exactly up to par. I also think I want something more stationary, and because of such more flexible as far as capability.
What would fit into those categories, and what is the best way to go about procuring such hardware and how to set it all up, and how to mod it?
its like asking someone how to set up an instrument but you havent told them what instrument you want to play
theres loads of choices
~ gameboy
~ c64
~ atari
~ amiga
~ nintendo
~ zx spectrum
~ old pc
~ new pc
~ wacky hacker stuff a la gijs gieskes
~ old fm synths
~ amstrad cpc
~ psp
~ dingoo
thats maybe 5% of the different things you could use to make chiptunes
if youre rich you could just buy any of them and hope that youll be able to figure out how to use it. but if you want to get something you know you will like. the best thing to do is emulate stuff on pc until you settle on something that you like the sound and the interface of
here's a gameboy emulator http://bgb.bircd.org
here's a gameboy tracker http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/
here's a c64 emulator http://vice-emu.sourceforge.net/
here's a c64 tracker http://sourceforge.net/projects/sid-wizard/
here's an amiga emulator http://www.winuae.net/
here's an amiga tracker http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=13329
here's a NES emulator http://nestopia.sourceforge.net/
here's a NES tracker http://blog.ntrq.net/
here's a search engine http://duckduckgo.com
as was mentioned earlier your question is really open ended and thats cool but you need to give us something to work with...
did you ever use any old games consoles? which were your favourites?
do you have any fond memories of old soundtracks and stuff? which?
otherwise people are just going to blindly recommend you what they use and/or tell you to google it - because the possibilities are literally infinite!!!
i hope you find some kind of setup you enjoy though. and dont worry if that setup is just your computer/ipad/mobile phone/whatever. no one is going to judge you for your hardware choices as long as your songs are cool. fwiw i just use a cheap second hand laptop i got for free
here;s one VITAL element of your rig that everyone needs though: a kettle