How to make Gameboy

chiptune

About me

Dave DeGraw
Web developer
Father of two
Owner/operator of
Catskull Electronics
First time at MAGFest(!)
involved in chipmusic for a decade

About this talk

What is (Gameboy) "chiptune"?
How is it made?
How should I get started?
Additional resources

What is Chiptune?

Chiptune, also known as chip music or 8-bit music, is a style of synthesized electronic music made using the PSG sound chips in vintage arcade machines, computers and video game consoles. The term is commonly used to refer to tracker format music which intentionally sounds similar to older PSG-created music (this is the original meaning of the term), as well as music that combines PSG sounds with modern musical styles.

- Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiptune)

In other words...

Music made on old video game consoles and computers
OR
music that sounds like it was made on old video game consoles and computers

It's more than just "8-bit" music!

It's about making things do things they aren't supposed to!

Why use the Gameboy?

4 voices
2 square waves
1 free form wave
1 noise generator
stereo output

Arguably the most interesting stock audio hardware of any 8-bit console:

LSDJ Demo

Why use the Gameboy?

original Game Boy (DMG)
Game Boy Pocket
Game Boy Color
Game Boy Advance (SP)
Super Game Boy
Game Boy Player
Good emulators

Common (cheap) hardware:

Why use the Gameboy?

It's a really good console!

Portable
Great battery life
Lots of accessories
Replacement parts
still in production

Great! How do I make Gameboy Chipmusic?

LSDJ
nanoloop(s)
GB <-> MIDI

"external" solutions

LSDJ

little sound DJ

tracker style interface
powerful composition ability
less intuitive if you've never used a tracker
buy the ROM, bring your own flash cart
probably most popular

LSDJ

example

Closed System Blues by Bit Shifter

bit-shifter.bandcamp.com

Nanoloop

sequencer

sequencer interface
compositions sound unique compared to LSDJ
interface is a little more confusing but you'll be making good music faster
available at nanoloop.com for ~$50

Nanoloop

example

One Point Seven by Triac

triac8bit.bandcamp.com

Nanoloop Mono

analog synthesizer cart

does not use native gameboy sound hardware
I don't think this counts as "gameboy chipmusic"?
still really interesting and cool (especially if you like nanoloop a lot)
nanoloop.com for ~$80

Nanoloop Mono

example

Nanoloop 2

nanoloop for GBA

like nanoloop 1 but more!
uses GBA sound hardware, so more channels and complex sound
great option for a portable sequencer
available at nanoloop.com for ~$56

Nanoloop 2

example

Winds of Null by boaconstructor

boaconstructor.bandcamp.com

mGB

midi for your gameboy

exposes the 4 voices as 4 midi channels
can do 3 voice polyphony
can be controlled with midi CC's
less advanced instrument creation compared to LSDJ
must be used with an external interface
great if you already have a DAW

mGB

demo

pushpin

...midi for your gameboy

basically less intuitive but more advanced mGB
external interface required
stock only runs on GBC and above, but there is a version that will work with a DMG/Pocket
not very widely used