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!
vs
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
GBA MIDI Synth
midi for GBA
- the interface contains the rom (GBA remote boot)
- uses GBA sound hardware so less limitations
- intuitive yet powerful interface
- available at catskullelectronics.com for $55
GBA MIDI Synth
example
deflemask
multi-system Chiptune Tracker
- PC cross platform tracker
- can target many consoles
- export songs as ROMs to play on real hardware
- fairly steep learning curve
- once you learn it, you can make chiptunes for lots of systems
- not widely used for Gameboy
deflemask
example
Paragon5
gameboy tracker
- create music on a computer, then export it to be used in games
- Jake Kaufman used it to make Shantae
- almost completely unused today
Paragon5
example
Carillon Editor
- console based tracker
- PC application to convert songs to be used in games
- used in demos and homebrew
- should be more popular than it is
- great option if you're nordloef
Carillon Editor
How do I get started?
What gear?
Choose your Gameboy
or emulator?
Choose your flash cart
GB USB 64M
$50
InsideGadgets 2MB
$27
MIDI?
Teensyboy Pro Bundle
$60
GBA MIDI Synth
$55
catskullelectonics.com
What should you do?
Use the equipment you have!
Further Reading
.org
chiptuneswin.com
come to chip space!
chip rave tomorrow @ midnight
Thank You
facebook.com/catskullelectronics
twitter.com/catskullelec
slides and links at catskull.net
How to make Gameboy Chiptune
By David DeGraw
How to make Gameboy Chiptune
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