The term ‘chiptune’ was originally coined for a sub-genre of Amiga music that incorporated instruments similar to those found in the music of 8-bit computers like the C64. Popular with the demo scene, this particular style was also frequently used in game soundtracks from that era. In this podcast we look back at almost 30 years of chiptune making, from the early beginnings with SIDMon and Protracker to more recent efforts by the tracking scene.

Download Episode #027: Chiptunes (87 MB, mp3) here

Playlist:

01 “A New Beginning” – Demo (1997, AHX) by Geir Tjelta

Hiroaki Sano spent much of his early career composing for visual novels of publishers like Discovery or Studio Twinkle. As a master of both FM synth and MIDI arrangements, his soundtracks are pretty good showcases for the stylistic diversity within the music of this genre. This podcast features a selection of tracks that he composed for the PC-9801.

Download Episode #026: Hiroaki Sano (79 MB, mp3) here

Playlist:

01 “At the End of a Fleeting Dream” – Hinadori no Saezuri (1997, PC-9801) by Hiroaki Sano

In the early 90s the C64 gaming market started to dry up as most developers had moved on to 16 bit computers and consoles. This gap was partially filled by a number of disk magazines, like those issued by German publisher CP Verlag. And while the games on these disks were usually nothing to write home about; their soundtracks, often created by people from the demo scene, were a last hurrah for game music on the C64.

Download Episode #025: CP Verlag Chronicles (52 MB, mp3) here

Playlist:

01 “Menu Music” – Magic Disk 64 (10/89) (1989, Commodore 64) by Markus Schneider

Another mixtape with no particular theme. This time we are hanging out with the titular human insects, swing down the highway of funk, and brave the data storm while harboring forbidden feelings for King Golli.

Download Episode #024: Human Insects (76 MB, mp3) here

Playlist:

01 “Title Screen” – Datastorm (1989, Amiga) by Timm Engels

Lock up your daughters, get out the air guitar, and crank the volume up to eleven! This is FM Metal, a collection of some of the finest metal tracks to ever grace FM sound chips.

Download Episode #023: FM Metal (81 MB, mp3) here

Playlist:

01 “Badu’s Menace” – Xak: The Art of Visual Stage (1990, X68000) by Ryuji Sasai, Tadahiro Nitta