8 bits, but not much glory
By Monte • Mar 29th, 2010 • Category: Mont-agon, Production
Approximately 25 years ago I began playing with sound on the computer. The hardware and software has come a long way since then, but sometimes I long for the good old days, before the dark times… Before the Empire. Sorry, Star Wars geek moment. What I mean is who doesn’t hear an 8-bit video game soundtrack and grin a little?
Like most computer freaks in the 1980s, I programmed computer music on the C64. I’ve mentioned before on this blog my fond memories of the C64, which, by the way, is the best selling personal computer of all time. At its height, commodore had a 40% market share, and that’s hardware, not software. Moving on. As it turns out, the SID chip, which gave the C64 its three glorious oscillator voices, has a profound place in the history of modern music.
As those of you who follow Dirty Sprocket have probably learn, we’re developing a video for my song “One More Disaster”. The video will be set in a retro-futuristic, 1980s IT department, and to accompany the production I’m preparing an 8-bit style video game, complete with 8-bit version of the song. The 8-bit version of “One More Disaster” is done, but it’s technically not 8 bits. Alas, I use four voices, and because I’m a lazy slob who uses “just doing this for fun” as an excuse to exploit current technology, I simulated the sound by dumbing down the ES-1 virtual synth in Apple Logic Studio. So sue me, hardcore nerds. NERDS.
I’ve posted booth the 8-bit and the modern synth version of the song on the Von Varagon Society facebook fan page. Take a listen if you get a chance.
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Who the hell is this guy (or gal) anyway?
Monte is a sad, sad little man. Born and raised in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, he now lives there with his beautiful wife, Michelle Deyo-Amende, and two clever, healthy children, Miles and Madeleine. Sad. He is creative director, and a partner at TDG Communications, a successful advertising agency. Sad. Each day he must commute 30 minutes through pine trees and scenic canyons to his office in the historically colorful town of Deadwood. See, sad.
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