Easiest way to make chiptunes without musical knowledge?

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AmiNeo

AmiNeo

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Hey peeps, I need something to focus my studies on over the summer. I think a part of what the issue was with all my anxiety and inability to focus is that I have nothing specific to work towards.

In prep for next year, I think I'd like to develop some kind of retro themed game. I'm going to try to make it as complete as possible so that will mean chip-tunes and sound effects. I didn't get a chance to do this as much as I would have liked this year, so this will be fun.

Can anyone suggest any inexpensive software I can use to develop a few chip tunes? Once I have a concept and design, I'll work on some themes or something to go along with it and then start the development with the concept clear in my mind. The tunes should also give me a feel for what the game should be like before I start development.

Thanks :thumbsup:
 
I do! :lol:

Don't know much about it however right now. How would I make chiptunes with it? :unsure:


Edit:
Nevermind, checked out the link! :picard

Thanks, I'll look into it. :thumbsup:
 
Just how "without musical knowledge" do you mean? Because the easiest way to make chiptunes if you really don't know from music is to just get someone to do it for you...

Anyway, I see GoatTracker's already been linked, and I'll second that recommendation. The SID is the closest thing to a classic analog subtractive synth that personal computing ever saw, and newer versions of GoatTracker (2+) have a lot of potential for getting the most out of it while maintaining a usable interface. (Hint: filters and modulation. Everything is about filters and modulation on the SID.) NerdTracker II is a bit clunky and even as a Windows port you can tell its DOS roots, but it's a good way to get classic NES sounds. (FamiTracker seems to be more capable, but I've never been able to wrap my head around its interface.) TFM Music Maker is great if you want Sega Genesis-style sounds; FM programming takes some getting used to, but there's absolutely nothing else that sounds like it.

Above all, make sure to pick and use an actual, real-world classic sound chip/emulation thereof and use software specifically geared towards that. This will give character and shape to the music that you're simply not going to get with generic "8-bit" "chiptune" VSTs, and for a novice composer having specific limits on polyphony and timbres will enforce structural thinking in your compositional process.
 
lol, well I have basic understanding of octaves and how chords are put together. Music creation is just not been something I've explored much. I've never written my own stuff and cant read sheet music.
 
Sheet music isn't important if you're working in tracker format. A basic understanding of chords, keys, and time signatures is enough to start with (worked for me!) But take every opportunity to practice composing, even before you get to the point where you want to start adding music into the game!
 
What platform are you talking about mate?

I use renoise for modern tracker... there's quite a few SID emu style VSTs around too!

For the real thing? I wouldn't say inexpensive nor inexperience with music springs to mind :)

I LOVE CHIP TUNES!

.aZtOcKdOg | .Key-J FReeLY
 
Well yeah, I'm not planning on getting really into it as the main focus needs to be on the design and development of the game rather than the music. I just want to make the tunes myself so when it's done I can say it was all me. :D
 
AmiNeo said:
I just want to make the tunes myself so when it's done I can say it was all me. :D
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Watch out, man, that's how I got started. In ten years you'll probably be sitting screwing around in a room with half a dozen pieces of MIDI gear and that game still won't be finished :lol:
 
Well so long as I learn enough to get me through next year with a decent mark, that'll be fine. :D
 
AmiNeo said:
Well yeah, I'm not planning on getting really into it as the main focus needs to be on the design and development of the game rather than the music. I just want to make the tunes myself so when it's done I can say it was all me. :D
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:thumbsup: Awesome man, would love to see some of your works!

.aZtOcKdOg | .Key-J FReeLY
 
OctaMED on your Amiga! You can even get some chord samples so it's easy to put together something that sounds reasonable.

:thumbsup:
 
AndyLandy said:
OctaMED on your Amiga! You can even get some chord samples so it's easy to put together something that sounds reasonable.

:thumbsup:
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Can I export to WAV for use in C#? :lol:

That would seriously be awesome though to make all the audio on a beloved Amiga, hehe.
 
aZtOcKdOg said:
AmiNeo said:
Well yeah, I'm not planning on getting really into it as the main focus needs to be on the design and development of the game rather than the music. I just want to make the tunes myself so when it's done I can say it was all me. :D
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: Awesome man, would love to see some of your works!

.aZtOcKdOg | .Key-J FReeLY
Click to expand...

Hi, thanks matey. I'm still relatively noob right now and have never done anything I'd consider near complete. Just half baked scripts and learning tasks. This will be the first thing I have had the opportunity to do that doesn't have to be a 'best effort before the time limit'.

I did do a website for a charity organisation as part of my CPD. The emphasis was more on project management though than the website itself. They only wanted something simple and took months to get the content to me though so I lost my enthusiasm for the work because they were constantly asking me to change things. In spite of starting it in October, it actually still needs some revisions which they have taken until now to get to me. I have an appointment to see them in a couple of weeks.

This project was the biggest source of stress for me this year more so than anything that happened with the college. I actually spent more time on this than anything else all year, in spite of having 5 other modules. It initially took months to get access to their server and they knew nothing of their current website which hadn't been updated since 2006. In spite of visiting regularly, they didn't have a clear idea of what they wanted until I took initiative and just developed something after which they pulled some designs out that they had all along :picard then after redesigning based loosely on that and telling them I need the final changes by X date, they only gave about half of what was needed by the deadline and much of the new work at the time was undoing hours of work they had asked for previously, because they changed their minds about things like, what pictures should be in the site and I even had to remove 2 pages I had developed.

After this the college I'm doing the first 2 years under decided we hadn't been told how to write up the project properly and the uni that runs the course pulled us in and asked us to rewrite it entirely to their spec.

It was a learning experience though, I now make sure anyone I'm doing work for has a clear outcome in mind before I even open up my computer to work, so I've developed professionally, even if my other coursework took a serious knock.

My programming was the one I wanted to spend most time on and I actually got to spent very little time with it, so this project will be a great way to make up for that.

The site I was working on can be found at www.griffintrust.org.uk


:thumbsup:
 
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