The festival showcases the use of the former heavyweights of computing such as the Commodore 64 and Amiga, the Atari ST and 2600, and the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy to create arresting music and visual art.

Artists announced so far include:

• Bit Shifter
• Chromix
• Disasterpeace
• failotron
• Fighter X
• I, Cactus
• Je Deviens DJ En Trois Jours
• Leeni
• little-scale
• Nullsleep
• Rainbowdragoneyes
• The Hunters
• The J. Arthur Keenes Band

via truechiptildeath

Plogue today released its new soft-synthesizer, chipsounds.

“Quite simply put, it beats the s*** out of any other single chip emulation VST currently available,” says 8-bit artist nitro2k01. “chipsounds is a must-have for anyone who’s seriously interested in chip sounds but don’t have access to the real hardware.”

chipsounds is designed to faithfully reproduce the sound and style of vintage video game music and sound effects in plugin format, usable inside any sequencer or DAW, or as a standalone virtual instrument.

Plogue chipsounds will be offered at an introductory price of 75$ until November 1.

chipsounds simulates the following sound chips:

• 2A03
• AY-3-8910
• DMG-CPU
• P8244
• POKEY
• SID
• SN76489
• TIA
• UVI
• VIC-I

chipsounds reproduces the idiosyncrasies of the most sought-after classic sound chips, including their most well-known variations, as sonically accurate as possible without adding any non-authentic aliasing or DSP artifacts. Research and analysis for this project has been made in house on Plogue’s large collection of cartridges, modified consoles and classic computers and also on the chips themselves using custom made circuit boards and low level 8 bit software code.

Despite its popularity, though, the music of C64 games has rarely been analysed in academic articles.
Karen Collins’ Loops And Bloops: Music of the Commodore 64 Games discusses the technical constraints of C64’s SID soundchip and how this shaped the musical aesthetic of music on the Commodore 64:

Technological constraints are nothing new to musical composition, although most discussions arising about the subject have centered on twentieth century concerns.

Mark Katz discusses how the 78 RPM record led to a standard time limit for pop songs, and how Stravinsky famously tailor-made Sérénade en LA for the length of an LP; although he points out, however, that Stravinsky may have been shaped by “his penchant for self-imposed limitations” (Katz, 2004: 3-5).

Critiques of “hard” technological determinism as it relates to musical technologies have dominated the discussion (e.g. Taylor, 1993: 27; Théberge, 1997: 160; Katz, 2004), in favour of a softer approach in which the relationship is more of a negotiation. As with other recent approaches to music technology, I would argue that the relationship between technology and aesthetics is one of symbiosis rather than dominance, what Barry Salt (1985: 37) refers to as a “loose pressure on what is done, rather than a rigid constraint.”

Micromusicians tend to agree, and embrace the constraints as an important part of the creative process, as Teamtendo intimates: “Working with this limited harmonic vocabulary forces you to be creative, and there are some very pleasant discoveries along the way,” or, says Goto80, “it’s fun working with such hardcore limits, forcing you to realize your ideas in other ways.”

In order to explore the constraints of the C64 on composition, I first discuss the limitations of the sound chip, showing the conventional ways in which the chip was used. I follow this with a comparison of well-known, pre-composed songs which were covered on the C64 in various games. I then explore approaches to interactivity and looping in Commodore games music, drawing comparisons between the C64 and its contemporaries.

Full article here.

Let’s get this out of the way up front: The answer is – because it was there.

This video demonstrates an iPod with TouchOSC controlling a vintage Commodore 64 synthesizer (SID Chip), with a home made C64 MIDI interface.

Hacktacular.

Littlescale, we salute you.

This is a two guys, one synth demo of what could be the ultimate Commodore 64 synthesizer, a C64 customized to work with Cynthcart.

via kilobyte242:

fully customized Commodore 64, enhanced for Cynthcart. Features SID2SID installation, Linear/Slider pot for Cynthcart filter, active guitar effects (overdrive and frequency filter) for each SID’s output, an mounted musical overlay, feedback knobs…..for more information check out www.kilobytemodshop.com

kilobyte24 is responsible for this Commodore 64 vs Commodore 64 dualing bassline synth smackdown. It features twin Commodore 64 computers running Mssiah and Cynthcart.

The video’s pretty static – but you gotta love twin C64 bassline synths!

Any readers using Mssiah? If so, leave a comment with your thoughts on it!

A demonstration of Sid Player for the iPhone, an app that puts the sound of the Commodore 64 on your phone. 

Sid Player gives you access to the High Voltage Sid Collection (HVSC) consisting of over 33.000 songs from 1125 authors.

via MichaelMickeyLauer

This is a demo of a modified Commodore 64 – the C64 Vader II White, featuring an acid jam with Mssiah and Renoise.

via kilobyte242:

Demonstrating the C64 Vader II White w/ Mssiah …. check out kilobytemodshop.blogspot.com for more info

This video demos a modded Commodore 64, dubbed “C64 Vader”, running Mssiah’s Bassline app.

via kilobyte242:

custom paint, blue LED, recessed keyboard, SID2SID w/ 6581’s, rca composite video, 1/4 inch audio out for each sid, innovative noise reduction mod, 4 pots

Description:

Enjoy game classics such as ‘Commando’, ‘Arkanoid’, ‘The last V8′ or listen to the music of ‘Rob Hubbard’, ‘Martin Galway’, and many others. Sid Player gives you access to an excerpt of the High Voltage Sid Collection (HVSC) consisting of over 35.000 songs from 1138 authors.

Thanks to the unique sound aesthetics, Sid music is now considered an art of its own and there’s a constant flow of new creations. A Sid file occupies only few kbytes, thus you can quickly download C64 music via EDGE or UMTS and listen for hours.

If you’ve used Sid Player Lite, leave a comment with yoru thoughts!

This video captures a demo of the Magic Voice cartridge from Commodore - a speech synthesis device that allows the Commodore 64 (C64) computer to talk.

If you’ve got any experience with Commodore 64 speech synthesis with the Magic Voice or other applications. leave a comment!

Commodore 64 Speech Synth TEST

Description:

SAM is a speech synthesizer launched circa 1982 by a company called “Don´t Ask Computer Software”.

Without extra gear, using only with the SID, you can let the C64 speak some words.

Description:

Enjoy game classics such as ‘Commando’, ‘Arkanoid’, ‘The last V8′ or listen to the music of ‘Rob Hubbard’, ‘Martin Galway’, and many others.

Sid Player gives you access to the High Voltage Sid Collection (HVSC) consisting of over 33.000 songs from 1125 authors. Thanks to the unique sound aesthetics, Sid music is now considered an art of its own and there’s a constant flow of new creations.

A Sid file occupies only few kbytes, thus you can quickly download C64 music via EDGE or UMTS and listen for hours. The search function enables you to find your favourites in a blink.

A video from Nate McCoy documenting the making of a MIDIBox SID.

The MIDIBox SID is a DIY synthesizer, based off of the MOS Technology SID sound chip, the 8-bit sound source of the Commodore 64 computer.

More information on the MIDIBox SID:

• http://www.ucapps.de/
• http://forum.midibox.org/
• http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/
• http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/buy.html

Demo videos of the MIDIBox SID.

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=lnTh4e0b-ic
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=FrgdErwTJ5o

Here’s something out of left field:

Shredz64 is a modern day game for the Commodore 64 that makes use of the Playstation guitar controller hooked through the PSX64 interface.

Its design is modeled after the popular “Guitar Hero” series, geared toward the ability to play along to your favorite C64 music on the guitar. Correctly played notes increase your score and applause meter, while incorrectly played notes decrease your applause meter. If the crowd stops applauding, you’re out!

Additionally, Shredz64 features the “shredocity” meter that allows for extra points when you’re doing an awesome job shredding to your favorite chiptune.

With Shredz64, the fun doesn’t stop when you’ve mastered all the included songs. You can add your favorite SID files to the game and record your own custom notes, or download songs other people have created – Shredz64 keeps rocking nonstop.

Download Shredz64 from the Synthetic Dreams site.

Included Tracks

• Axel F Remix – Nantco Bakker [Difficult]
• Dreamball – Johan T. Enyedi [Easy]
• Ex State of Mind – Michal Hoffmann (Randall) [Difficult]
• Ghostbusters – Roger Duijckaerts (ReD) [Difficult]
• Hotel California – Tomas Danko [Medium]
• Lick My Guitar – Hein Holt (Hein Design) [Easy]
• Stairway Intro – Nantco Bakker [Easy]
• Supremacy – Jeroen Tel / Maniacs of Noise [Medium]
• Zak McKracken Remix – Roger Duijckaerts (ReD) [Difficult]
• Zelda Overworld (Final Version) – Sascha Zeidler (Linus) [Difficult]

Odosynth’s 388911 bytes is a freeware/donationware Commodore 64 style virtual synth for Windows. 

Features:

• 1 oscillator with 4 difftent waveforms: Saw Triangle Pulse and Pitched noise
• 3 BPM sequencer with 7 rates and 2 to 8 steps .You can end a sequence or loop it.
• The first sequencer has notes from c to b and octaves from -3 to 4
• In the 2nd (waveform sequencer) you can select saw,triange,noise,ring saw,ring triangle,ring pulse.
• 3rth sequencer for octaves from -3 to 4 
• A filter with envelope from 1 to 8 stages and 13 curves you can select where you want your sustain point.
• Filter types: lowpass,hipass and bandpass.You can activate more than one filter type like on a real c64.
• Cutoff and resonance and a on/off button to save some CPU 
• A pitch envelope from 1 to 8 stages and you can select where you want your sustain point. And has a on/off button to save some cpu
• A PW envelope from 1 to 8 stages and you can select where you want your sustain point.
• A has a on/off button to save some cpu 
• Two LFOs with 19 different waveforms and free speed or 14 bpm speeds
• Ringmodulation with a bitcrucher notes from c to b and octaves from -4 to 4 
• A Bitcrusher
• Volume envelope

8-Bit music is a fairly obscure genre of electronica. The 8-Bit operators, though, made a smart move, organizing many of the most influential 8-bit musicians together to create this compliation of Kraftwerk cover versions. The result sounds like Kraftwerk was hired in the 80’s to create soundtracks for early video games.

Several of the musicians on this CD have been pioneers of the genre. Johan Kotlinsk (Role Model) created the LittleSoundDJ tracking cartridge; Oliver Wittchow created Nanoloop, a cartridge for Gameboy sound creation.

The CD is a great introduction to 8-bit music. The music is very accessible, staying fairly true to the original Kraftwerk versions. Each artist approaches 8-bit music differently, though. Some use strictly 8-bit gear, so that you only have 3 or 4 voices, with no effects, while others add reverb and effect, and guitars and other instruments.

Though the different musicians bring a lot of stylistic approaches to the music, it also holds together well as a CD because of the source material and the common use of 8-bit gear.

Here’s a partial rundown of the gear the artists use:

• VARIOUS GAMEBOYS(GB Classic,Pocket,Color,Advance,SP, micro and DS)
• NAN0LOOP 1 & 2 for Gameboy
• COMMODORE 64
• SNES & NES
• SYNTHCART for ATARI 2600
• CYNTHCART for COMMODORE 64
• ELEKTRON SIDSTATION
• LSDJ (LittleSound DJ) for Gameboy
• midiNES for NES
• POCKET MUSIC for GB COLOR, GBA & MusicGenerator for PS1
• ELECTROPLANKTON for Gameboy DS
• GAMEBOY CAMERAS including secret synth
• STYLOVOX Vocoder setup
• VARIOUS circuit-bends ( furbies, speak & spell…)

The music is a lot of fun – not only does it bring back memories of playing ancient video games, but it’s fun as an alternate-universe take on Kraftwerk.

At its best, the music also reveals hidden depths to some of Kraftwerk’s music. For example, the lyrics of Showroom Dummies, which seem to tell the tale of mannequins that come to life in the original, have a fatalistic sense in Role Model’s cover, as if all of us are nothing more than showroom dummies.

All in all – it’s a smart project. By bringing together a group of 8-bit artists and taking on some electronica classics, they’re likely to get more attention than they would have otherwise. But even more important, the music is just a lot of fun.

You can preview the 8-Bit Operators at their label site.
Tracks:

• The Robots (Die Roboter) – Bacalao
• Pocket Calculator – Glomag
• Computer Love – Covox
• Showroom Dummies – Role Model
• The Model – Nullsleep
• Radioactivity – David E. Sugar
• Kristallo – Oliver Wittchow
• Spacelab – 8-Bit Weapon
• Computer World (Computerwelt) – FirestARTer
• Electric Cafe – Neotericz
• Trans-Europe Express – Receptors
• Tanzmuzik – Herbert Weixelbaum
• It’s More Fun To Compute – Bubblyfish
• Antenna – Bit Shifter
• The Man-Machine (Die Mensch-Maschine) – GwEm And Counter Reset

Recorded directly from an original 6581 SID chip (as manufactured in the Commodore 64 home computer), the Eight Bit library includes a unique palette of basses, leads and pads. Puremagnetik has captured the sonic qualities of the SID and reprogrammed them into the Ableton Live and EXS environments.

Features:

• Comprehensive Library of 6581 SID Sounds for Ableton & EXS
• Expressive Macro Control Mapping for Ableton Live 6
• Standalone “Pure SID” Waveforms
• Extensive Voice Layering and EFX
• Over 260MB of Sounds

Eight Bit for Ableton

Ableton Live 6 users can benefit from Eight Bit’s extensive Macro mapping and multi-rack layering of sounds (creating more depth than the original 6581 chip ever could). There are numerous presets for both Ableton Sampler and Ableton Simpler instruments.

Puremagnetik has also included a Pure SID section for easy user instrument building. Pure SID contains simple constructions of the raw SID waveforms, without any effects or sample processing.

Eight Bit for EXS

Eight Bit can also load directly into EXS or any EXS translatable instrument. Eight Bit has been optimized using the latest keymap and sample construction technology for expressive modulation, realistic sustains and group crossfades within the EXS environment.

You can build one, though. The MIDIbox SID, based on the Commodore 64 sound chip, is a very cool DIY project.

This site shows that you can do a lot, if the worthless old computer is a Commodore 64. Back in the days, the Commodore 64 was one of the first personal computers. They were popular before Apple and IBM pushed personal computers into the workplace and home. The 64 featured an innovative sound chip, or SID, that could synthesize music. It had more flexibility and capabilities than was found on most other computers of that time.

Thorsten Klose is a hardcore hardware hacker, and one of his latest instrumental abberations takes undue liberties with a Commodore 64. 64’s were made in huge quantities, so they can be bought for almost nothing. Klose took a junk 64, gutted it, and converted it into a synthesizer based on the famous Commodore SID chip.

But just turning the 64 into a synthesizer wasn’t enough. Since he was left with a perfectly good case, he gutted it, too, created a new front panel, and turned the 64 into a control surface for the synthesizer! His work is amazing, and he’s posted documentation and sample mp3’s that demonstrate what he can do with his unique synth creation.