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What is chiptune, chipmusic, 8-bit sound ?

I'll clarify it with simple phrases and examples. And why is it in english ? Because most of assets are in english (and japanese too !). Commonly on Internet, "chiptune", "chipmusic" and "8-bit sound" mean the identical factor. But for me, it's a bit bit completely different.

Only one thing earlier than to start out : the difference between the terms "chiptune" and "chipmusic" is just not essential ! ;) We don't must debate throughout lengthy hours. Historically, hamsta slot the term "chiptune" got here before "chipmusic". Today, these phrases imply same thing.

Chiptune

So, in general, Chiptune define music written in sound codecs where all the sounds are synthesized in realtime by a pc or video sport console sound chip, instead of utilizing pattern-primarily based synthesis. The 'golden age' of chiptunes was the mid 1980s to early nineteen nineties, when such sound chips have been the commonest methodology for creating music on computers. In short, it's the sound of the first demos and video video games.

Screenshot of 'Big Chuj' demo by Hooy-program, on ZX Spectrum

Historically, the chips used have been sound chips equivalent to :

MOS Technology SID 6581/6582/8580 on Commodore sixty four (C64) General Instrument AY-3-8910 or AY-3-8912 on Amstrad CPC, MSX and ZX Spectrum Analog-digital hybrid Atari POKEY on the Atari 400/800 and arcade hardware Yamaha YM2149 on the Atari ST and ZX Spectrum Yamaha YM2612 on Sega MegaDrive/Genesis Yamaha YM3812 (aka OPL2) and YMF262 (aka OPL3) on IBM Pc compatibles Paula on Amiga Ricoh 2A03 on Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or Famicom

For the MSX a number of sound upgrades, such as the Konami SCC , the Yamaha YM2413 (MSX-MUSIC) and Yamaha Y8950 (MSX-AUDIO, predecessor of the OPL3) and the OPL4-based Moonsound were launched as properly, each having its own characteristic chiptune sound.

The Nintendo Gameboy don't have a separate soundchip. It uses digital logic integrated on the primary CPU.

Also, there isn't any soundchip in the Apple II, however there's a 16 channel 8 bit Ensoniq ES5503 DOC wavetable soundchip in the Apple IIGS (GS = Graphics and Sound).

More informations about soundchips on x68000.de

MOS Technology (SID) in Commodore sixty four

Comparison of two soundchip processors (Sega MegaDrive/Genesis) :

[mp3] Sonic the Hedgehog - Music monitor of the famous video recreation [mp3] Track using solely PSG processor [mp3] Track utilizing solely FM processor

Example of a 'actual' chiptune : [mp3] Chris Huelsbeck - 'Shades' - Original chiptune composed in 1986 on Commodore 64 and directly recorded

In 1991, few artists (as 4-Mat and Random Voice) composed modules (MOD, IT...) with massive chip influences, on digital trackers. They used actually brief samples. These chiptunes are 'sample primarily based' as a result of no real soundchip are used. However, they respect demoscene and video-video games spirit, and generally specificities of an actual soundchip.

Example of a 'pattern based mostly' chiptune : [mp3] Random Voice (Edvin Fladen) - 'Monday' - Original module (MOD) composed on Amiga, in 1991. Download it !

Today, many composers continue to make use of computers or consoles with actual soundchip (Nintendo Gameboy is without doubt one of the favorites however Atari ST, Commodore sixty four and others are used too !).

Example of a trendy and 'actual' chiptune on Nintendo Gameboy : [mp3] cTrix - 'Live Tek House Set' - Original chiptune composed on lonely one Gameboy, in 2009

Moreover, when the sound is lower than 8-bit (1, 2, three or four bit) it is mostly thought of as chiptune too. Sound of Nintendo Gameboy is just not 8-bit sound in any respect. The Gameboy sound chip offers four channels with 4-bit sound.

Also, many emulators exist : chiptrackers, audio plugins (VST, AU, RTAS)...

Example of a chiptune in a synthesis emulator : [mp3] Sz1l1 - Benny Hill Theme - Original remix created with GXSCC on Windows, in 2008

An increasing number of trendy machines implement real soundchip. MOS Technology SID (from the Commodore 64) is the most carried out soundchip .

ymVST : a free VST plugin to emulate Atari ST soundchip [mp3] Audio demo by IJS

Chipmusic

This time period define all music genres referring kind of to 8-bit sound. For me, it means a worldwide term. Inside 'chipmusic' term, we will find other terms : - 8-bit music - Amigacore - Bitpop - Blippblopp or Blip-blop - Chipbreak or Chipcore - Chiptune - Chip Metal or Bleep Metal - Chipnoise - Chipstyle - Bitpop - Fakebit - Gameboy music - Lo-fi or Low-Fi music - Low-bit - Microchip - Micromusic - Nerdcore or Chip-hop - Nintendocore - Retro-music - Skweee

Sure, all types are represented. The success of chipmusic/chiptune grow every year. More and more skilled and non-skilled artists use these typical 8-bit sounds !

Few examples : [mp3] Anamanaguchi - 'Jetpack Blues Sunset Hues' - Original Rock tune (Check video right here !) [mp3] Astor - 'So What' - Original 8-bit Jazz remix from the Sort of Bloop album dedicated to Miles Davis [mp3] Benjamin Bear - 'Boxed In' - Original Chip-hop, Nerdcore tune [mp3] JKP - 'Desinfection' - Original Chipnoise [mp3] I Fight Dragons - 'Overture 1.0' - Original tune composed like a trailer or a film soundtrack [mp3] Machinae Supremacy - 'Zogrim Ate My Hamster' - Original Chip Metal [mp3] Mister Beep - '1 Bit Chase' - Original 1-bit (not 8-bit !!! just one !) tune [mp3] Pupajim - 'I am A Robot' - Original Reggae tune with vocal, from the Jahtari label [mp3] She - 'Chiptune Superstar' - Original Disco tune with vocal, from the free album Superstar [mp3] Vincenzo - 'Tuesday 44' - Original Funky tune from his free album Chip Drops [mp3] YMCK - 'A Crimson Rose and a GinTonic (Katamari Tribute)' - Original Jazz tune with vocals [mp3] YTCracker - 'Dugdig' - Original Chip-hop, Nerdcore tune from his free album Nerdrap Entertainment System

Dubmood vs Facteur - Tulle (France), in 2008

Dubmood vs Facteur - Hypnodisko(Tulle, France, in 2008)

8-bit sound

Often, there's a confusion between sound relative to chiptune/chipmusic and 8-bit sound from 8-bit computer systems or consoles. On this following instance, samples are all coded in 8-bit however it isn't a chiptune/chipmusic at all ! Note that on this webpage I take advantage of '8-bit sound' term to outline chiptune/chipmusic because everyone do it. For your knowledges, now, you recognize the difference. ;)

[mp3] Romeo Knight - 'Rise Up' - Original module (MOD) composed on Amiga, in 1989. Download it !

Plagiarism

Shame on all plagiarists, opportunists and non-artistic people (artists ? I do not think so) !

Plagiarism - ChipFlip Oh No Another Plagiarism - ChipFlip Ripper / Plagiarism Reports - MOD Archive Stolen Goods - Micromusic.web

Just two examples :

Timbaland, a famous opportunist producer, ripped off a chiptune of the artist named Janne Suni (aka Tempest). Shame on him !