Chiptunes roundtable
category: general [glöplog]
viznut, I agree, I don't think modern synthesis or real instruments are inherently better than chip sounds. Using chip sounds as instruments in a broader work can be awesome, like Helix Nebula by anamanaguchi.
My tirade above was about purposely limiting the amount of channels, and purposely limiting ALL instruments to be chip instruments or low-fi mono samples, usually done not to enhance the final product but done for the sake of bragging about the limitations.
I guess the point is that there are two paths you can take: considering the platform as a means to an end, in which case the musical ideas take precedence, or considering the platform as the end itself. People who make what are today called "chiptunes" or "songs on oldskool platforms" are usually doing the latter, while people who were making music on those platforms 15-20 years ago were doing the former.
(PS. I don't consider Helix Nebula or similar efforts to be "oldskool" or even to be chiptunes, so it doesn't apply to what I talked about here.)
My tirade above was about purposely limiting the amount of channels, and purposely limiting ALL instruments to be chip instruments or low-fi mono samples, usually done not to enhance the final product but done for the sake of bragging about the limitations.
I guess the point is that there are two paths you can take: considering the platform as a means to an end, in which case the musical ideas take precedence, or considering the platform as the end itself. People who make what are today called "chiptunes" or "songs on oldskool platforms" are usually doing the latter, while people who were making music on those platforms 15-20 years ago were doing the former.
(PS. I don't consider Helix Nebula or similar efforts to be "oldskool" or even to be chiptunes, so it doesn't apply to what I talked about here.)
viznut: I meant limited as a composing tool, not limited as an instrument of it's own, which, a musical instrument in classical sense, C64 is not. some synthesizer-analogies are valid, but nobody really plays C64. but that's not really relevant.
as for the limits, I'll use one example: SID chip and 3 channels. you want to use chords, along with other basic musical building blocks, but just a basic chord eats up all the channels. wider chords with 4 to 5 voices are out of the question. you can dodge that problem by using arpeggiated chords, and there you have it: a limit is dictating your musical language. you can either use arpeggios or ditch all other musical elements (melody, percussion, bass etc) and the need for using wider chords or leave chords out. make a pick as you can't have it all. most choose to use arpeggios and that's why most C64 music sounds like there's a phone ringing at the background.
nobody would use the word "limited" if there wouldn't be alternative tools for the same job, but with more possibilities.
and I guess SID song remixes are mostly bad because of remixers' low musicality and bad taste combined with doomed song picks. the first back in time CD was filled with general midi nightmares...
as for the limits, I'll use one example: SID chip and 3 channels. you want to use chords, along with other basic musical building blocks, but just a basic chord eats up all the channels. wider chords with 4 to 5 voices are out of the question. you can dodge that problem by using arpeggiated chords, and there you have it: a limit is dictating your musical language. you can either use arpeggios or ditch all other musical elements (melody, percussion, bass etc) and the need for using wider chords or leave chords out. make a pick as you can't have it all. most choose to use arpeggios and that's why most C64 music sounds like there's a phone ringing at the background.
nobody would use the word "limited" if there wouldn't be alternative tools for the same job, but with more possibilities.
and I guess SID song remixes are mostly bad because of remixers' low musicality and bad taste combined with doomed song picks. the first back in time CD was filled with general midi nightmares...
òh and i hate roundtables because it always involves EXPERT O-PINIONS
