diversions / things we like: 8-bit and chiptunes music
For some, especially those who played video games throughout their lives, there’s nothing quite like those familiar sounds of 8-bit bikes burning out, Mario going down a warp tube or a pixelated sprite throwing a punch. These sounds, and the music that played alongside the games have been influencing musicians everywhere, finding many incorporating the blips into their electronic music. From these tones ‘8-bit’ or ‘chip-tunes’ music was born and has been developed, harnessed and growing since early video gaming and data processing.
As described by wikipedia: “A chiptune, or chip music is music written in sound formats where many of the sound textures are synthesized or sequenced in real time by a computer or video game console sound chip, sometimes including sample-based synthesis and low bit sample playback. Many chip music devices featured synthesizers in tandem with low rate sample playback.” Basically, chip-tunes can be created in a variety of ways now, but earlier, samples and audio files were incorporated manually on the computer. By chopping and cutting these samples, all sorts of mixes were made. Another breed of musician, however, has also sprung from the woodwork.
While in Montreal I got to experience a bit of the scene first hand. I attended a Toy Company loft party which featured amazing artists like Touchboy, Natty, Battle Lava, BEASTMODE and J Arthur Keenes. The show was spectacular! Pixels flying across the display of screens in front of the DJs, pulsing music playing loudly, sick beats, a mass of people dancing to the beat and lastly the old school gaming setup to go and chill out with a controller in hand while playing Mario Kart! I swear I was in Nerdvana.
Display infront of DJs
Later in the week I got even more in-depth information about the scene in Montreal from none other than XC3N. He’s an organizer of shows like Toy Company, and a chip-tunes DJ himself – he’s consistently updating and changing his gear in order to create an amazing stage show. A lot of time and preparation goes into these shows, especially when they utilize peripherals and hand held gaming consoles to assist in the production of the sound. He has everything from a modded game boy whose the output can be mixed to create thumping electronic beats to a Nintendo DS that can use the stylus and touch pad to scratch voice recordings and samples like any other DJ would use a turntable. He goes as far as to even modify the peripheral devices for comfort and style by switching out the buttons from a game boy with those of a Super Nintendo controller. Understand that there is a lot of complexity involved in projects like this that I can barely even scratch the surface of – however, for those in the want-to-know there are tons of groups, forums and individuals who happily share the craft in order to expand the scene and bring more artists in.
Consoles and wires - with hexawe sticker!
Game boy, mixers and mods, oh my!
XC3N's Studio Shots – more consoles, peripherals and handhelds than most would know what to do with!
This is going on all over the world, and it’s been happening for a while now. Even in Thunder Bay we have many electronic musicians who list chip-tunes, video games and 8-bit music and musicians as their influences to go on and create more beautifully orchestrated pieces under said influences.
Basically, what I’m getting at is this stuff is amazing and here are some videos, audio clips and other miscellanea to convince you of this:
GAME is not OVER goes over the emerging chip-tunes scene in Montreal and what brings the artists to the forefront, willing and able to create instruments skillfully with a lot of tech, time and dedication. There is a bunch of both french-speakers and English-speakers in this video but tons of information about the genre regardless:
Repurpose video, featuring a hacker space in Montreal where like minded tech heads get together, share resources and create wonderfully geeky toys:
An amusing video incorporating a lot of lego pieces into a fun video. Ninjamoped / Rymdreglage – 8-bit trip:
Toy Company: 60Hz Beta Beat 08/10 : check out a clip from the aforementioned loft party!
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