609 Reply by roboctopus

(65 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Xuriik wrote:

I'd love to do chipmusic reviews, I think I have the writing skills to pull it off. Should I start a blog?

I was wondering about this.  I'm a technical writer and I listen to a ton of chip.  I was just wondering if there would be interest in starting a chipmusic review blog of some sort.  Something that aspires to quality in both look and content with a small staff that keeps on top of releases.

Does anyone think there would be a reader base for something like that?

Go to forum: General Discussion

610 Reply by roboctopus

(2 replies, posted in Releases)

Great as always!

Go to forum: Releases

611 Reply by roboctopus

(327 replies, posted in General Discussion)

mntnhd wrote:

Probably a stupid question, but I figure I'll ask it anyway. Which artists really demonstrate the most versatility and overall craziness of LSDJ? Besides the obvious choices like Bit Shifter and Nullsleep, I'm looking to dig a little deeper.

Thanks!

I think TreyFrey is a flat-out LSDJ master. 

DEADBEATBLAST's list is good.  (DEADBEATBLAST is good, too.)

I'm not a huge Cheapshot fan, but he knows how to program. 

Also, Peer (the ablum "Dances").  He does some neat stuff.

Zef's programming always impresses me.  As does MONODEER.

Also, this song's bass: https://8bc.org/music/Monomania/West/

Go to forum: General Discussion

612 Reply by roboctopus

(41 replies, posted in General Discussion)

This is a digression, but I would almost argue that in the chip world an EP IS an album.  4, 5, and 6 songs seems to be the norm for a lot of (really good) releases.  I wouldn't mind seeing the whole music biz move towards concise, quality EPs.  A tight, well-sequenced five-song set is really appealing to me. 

Just sayin'.

Go to forum: General Discussion

613 Reply by roboctopus

(41 replies, posted in General Discussion)

I haven't "tracked" on paper, but I've left myself a voicemail with a hummed melody before.

Go to forum: General Discussion

614 Reply by roboctopus

(1 replies, posted in Releases)

Hooray!  Thanks to the really nice pxl-bot team for releasing my EP!

I'd like to add something for people wondering about the music: I've been dabbling in chip since 2006, so I'd like to think the programming and music are competently executed.  There is a lot of diversity here.  While some of the tracks do have a dance influence, my focus is on melody, progression, and mood.

So give it a chance and take a listen.

[Edit - word usage.]

Go to forum: Releases

615 Reply by roboctopus

(4 replies, posted in Releases)

Freque has an interesting textural style that I dig.

Go to forum: Releases

616 Reply by roboctopus

(4 replies, posted in Releases)

I really dig that cover!

Go to forum: Releases

617 Reply by roboctopus

(46 replies, posted in General Discussion)

It depends.  If I'm writing something kind of groove-oriented where the bass and drums are the foundation, I usually just compose it in the tracker.  But if I want something more melodic with a more complex chord progression, I hit the guitar or the piano to start.

Go to forum: General Discussion

618 Reply by roboctopus

(37 replies, posted in General Discussion)

As far as my chip music goes, I start writing on guitar or piano and try and recreate those progressions and melodies on the Game Boy.  I could just record live instruments. (I have lots of instruments, mics, etc.)  But there's something satisfying about working on a little plastic box with very limited resources and making it sound huge.

Plus, my first child just turned 1, and there are not many opportunities in the evening to play the drums or crank the bass amp up.  Chipmusic is my quiet, private musical outlet.

Go to forum: General Discussion

619 Reply by roboctopus

(42 replies, posted in Other Hardware)

I've always wanted something like this.  Analog, simple, nice sounds.  I may end up picking one up.  TraceKaiser, keep us updated on the sync thing.  I'd really like to sync it to some other gear.  Wondering if I can sync it with my Juno 60 arpeggiator or something.

Go to forum: Other Hardware

620 Reply by roboctopus

(76 replies, posted in General Discussion)

I'll like it until all the my aunts and uncles are on there and people I went to middle school with are asking to be my friend.

Go to forum: General Discussion

621 Reply by roboctopus

(155 replies, posted in General Discussion)

4mat wrote:

Maybe, but those kind of posts make me look like a douchebag. wink  So instead here are some links, lots of clever stuff to see happening if you check them out in a tool.  Certainly not "just a playback format".  (oh I'm doing it again)

Dune - the nonstop Ibiza experience
Dizzy - Alternative Samba
Carlos+Norfair - A kind of beauty
Bruno - Uralvolga fine
Substance - Phenomenon 2
Heatbeat - Bicykl0pedia
Dizzy - Johdattelupolska
Audiomonster - Melonmania
Groo - Oolah part 1
Dune - Kusi
A-Move - Rise

Thanks for this.  A-Move - Rise was fantastic. 

I can't listen to the others right now--no way to open .gz files at work, but I'll check them out later.

Go to forum: General Discussion

622 Reply by roboctopus

(155 replies, posted in General Discussion)

wedanced wrote:

Chip scene? dont you mean LSDJ scene?

Are you asking me?  I didn't use the term "Chip scene", so I'm confused by your comment.

Edit: I see.  You've changed "community" to scene, perhaps? 

To qualify, you can be part of the chip "scene", not use LSDJ, and still not know about MOD/XM stuff, right?  I see a lot of "My first chiptune posts" that are made with DAWs and VSTs.  And people do start out with Famitracker.  So it's perfectly conceivable that someone could be making "chip music" and not know much about XM or MOD stuff.  My point is that within this particular community MOD/XM trackers aren't touted as loudly as LSDJ, Famitracker, or even a lot of VSTs (I see more people touting Plogue Chipsounds, for instance, than Modplug or something.)  But you maybe you were being facetious.

The initial question was "why so few NEW..."   My point is that, simply, within the "Chip" world, as it currently stands, the virtues of MOD/XM are not sang from the rooftops, while other avenues of music creation are.

Crap.  Why did I let this inane thread suck me in?

Go to forum: General Discussion

623 Reply by roboctopus

(155 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Subway Sonicbeat wrote:

But something to tell is that Canoo is running amiga. These chinese handhelds are the future today. I heard of Milkytracker running with some smartphones, or am I tripping?

Also, if those nes roms from Neil Baldwin worked with those handheld emulator would be so fucking easy to make NES music.

The handheld portability is that makes it so fun to make music - at least to me.

I've looked into those handhelds.  I'm thinking about it, but I haven't pulled the trigger.  As far as smarphones go...I'm too cheap to buy a data plan, haha.

I want to expand on what I said previously, though, because I have read complaints about people putting (LSDJ) at the end of their song titles.  I find that useful.  I get in moods where I want to hear a certain type of chip or music.  I can go to 8bc and search for songs that were made with certain chips or programs.  But there are tons and tons of things labeled "LSDJ" or "Famitracker" or "VR6" or whatever.  Last week I was on a c64 kick.  I searched 8bc and found some nice tracks.  Then I got interested in Atari ST stuff.  Less results.  How does someone coming from the Chip Community learn about XM/MOD stuff without people in the chip community touting that they used _____ tracker to make the tune?

For instance: just this week I downloaded Trash80's "Icarus" (I know, late to the party...).  I really like it.  Is it XM?  MOD?  A bunch of hardware synths playing midi stuff?  I don't know.  But I damn sure know Trey Frey used two linked copies of LSDJ to make "Recover".

Go to forum: General Discussion

624 Reply by roboctopus

(155 replies, posted in General Discussion)

herr_prof wrote:

  It is in a constant state of MUSIC READINESS. You can start it up, futz around for a few bars, put it down and pick it up later without worrying of saving or copying files or whatever. The sounds in the rom are all you have to work with, so it is much closer to working with a hardware synth or physical instrument than a daw or making "computer music".

This is one of my favorite things about LSDJ.  I throw the Game Boy in my shoulder bag and turn it on when I get the chance.  Most of my music writing comes in short bursts anyway.

Plus, LSDJ runs off a thumb drive on a tiny, tiny window that no one notices when I'm at work.  big_smile

I do like a lot of MOD/XM stuff, and I'm (very) slowly learning MilkyTracker and Famitracker, but man, the ready-and-waiting quality of LSDJ just *begs* you to dick around with it.

Say: do you think part of it could be that (at least in the "chip" world) people are more up front about using LSDJ or Famitracker or whatever?  You know: "Teh Chip Rockz (LSDJ X4)"  Sometimes I hear a great track on 8bc with no explanation of what made it.  Then you ask and they say, "Oh, I used _____ tracker."  I honestly have no idea what a lot of non-LSDJ/Famitracker people use.  They could be using 7 year old pirated copies of Fruity Loops for all I know.

Go to forum: General Discussion